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Splendours of Japan (9 Days)

9 days
From Tokyo to Kyoto
4.0
12 traveler reviews
Splendours of Japan (9 Days) - Trafalgar
From
$4,695
-15%
US $3,991
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Plan your adventure:
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Visit the Imperial Palace Plaza
  • Explore Mt. Fuji
  • Discover the Matsumoto Castle
  • See the Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Konnichiwa Tokyo
  2. Day 2 Explore Vibrant Tokyo
  3. Day 3 Off to the Five Lakes District
  4. Day 4 Majestic Mt. Fuji and Timeless Takayama
  5. Day 5 Experience Gokayama and on to Kanazawa Dive Into Culture Make Travel Matter
  6. Day 6 Traditional Kanazawa
  7. Day 7 Onwards to Kyoto Connect with Locals
  8. Day 8 Discover Enchanting Kyoto
  9. Day 9 Sayonara Japan
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Customer Photos

Operated by

Trafalgar

Number of tours

384

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

5 hours

Response rate

88%

Trafalgar has been hand crafting unique guided holidays for nearly 70 years. They were the first to introduce travellers to the local experience and continue today where destinations come to life through their hand-picked insider experiences. They pave the way by presenting locals who share their...

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Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Good
    4.0
  • Itinerary
    Good
    3.8
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.1
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • Splendours of Japan (9 Days) reviewer 1
    · October 5th, 2024
    Avoid Trafalgar’s Splendors of Japan with Hiroshima Tour & Terrible Experience with Trafalgar's Guest Services I strongly advise against booking Trafalgar’s Splendors of Japan with Hiroshima tour. While our guide was professional, they spoke to us like we were children, which quickly became condescending and frustrating. The itinerary was poorly planned, with way too much time spent on the bus and not nearly enough time at the actual attractions. Despite the sweltering heat, there were no adjustments made to accommodate the weather, leaving us uncomfortable and exhausted. The hotels were outdated, and no precautions were taken to ensure guests' health, which was especially concerning during a group tour. The experience felt far too touristy and staged rather than authentic, making it a huge letdown for anyone hoping to truly experience Japan. Group meals were also disappointing—unimaginative and lacking local flair. Considering the price, this tour is not worth it. Between the rushed schedule, uninspired itinerary, and lack of concern for guests' comfort and health, it was a major disappointment. I would recommend looking elsewhere if you want a meaningful, well-organized trip to Japan. Additionally, our experience with Trafalgar’s Guest Services was extremely disappointing. We contacted them during our tour with urgent concerns, and it took days for them to respond. When they finally did, their answer was dismissive—they told us we’d have to wait until after the trip for any resolution. This left us feeling helpless and unheard while still on the tour. After the trip, we reached out again hoping for some accountability, but instead received a detailed response that completely brushed off all of our concerns. They offered no remedy or compensation for the issues we raised, despite how much we paid for the tour. It was clear that they were not interested in making things right. We expected better service from a company like Trafalgar, and this experience left us frustrated and dissatisfied. I would not recommend relying on their guest services for any meaningful support.
    Show more
    Trafalgar commented on this review
    Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We appreciate your input and apologise for any inconvenience you may have experienced. Our team has initiated a case to review your booking, and our Guest Relations Department will contact... Show more
    Trip date: September 2024
  • KG
    · March 24th, 2024
    A pretty comprehensive tour
    Trafalgar commented on this review
    Thank you for choosing Trafalgar for your travel adventure; we appreciate your positive review and being our guest.
    Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 1Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 2
    Trip date: March 2024
  • VB
    · November 18th, 2023
    The itinerary provided a very wide and varied taste of Japanese culture. The tour guide was personable and excellent.
    Trafalgar commented on this review
    Thank you for taking the time to share your review with us. We appreciate hearing from our clients and learning about their experiences. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the exciting itinerary we had planned for you and that you found our Travel... Show more
    Trip date: October 2023
  • Splendours of Japan (9 Days) reviewer 4
    · August 29th, 2023
    Nicely organized tour. Perfect hotels. Great food everywhere. Very comfortable busses. Extremely well organized, knowledgeable and caring tour director.
    Trafalgar commented on this review
    Thank you for sharing your review and photos with us. We're grateful for your positive feedback. We are delighted to learn that your Travel Director made you feel at home while sharing their expertise, insider tips, local secrets, and top... Show more
    Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 1Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 2Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 3Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 4Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 5Splendours of Japan (9 Days) customer review photo 6
    Trip date: August 2023
  • DD
    · April 19th, 2023
    Tour itself was quite good but Trafalgar's communication is extremely slow and definitely sub standard. Also lied about final destination; it was Kyoto NOT Osaka as advertised. They also are way too slow at providing a proper itinerary, we missed out on Imperial Palace in Tokyo because they didn't know the opening tines
    Show more
    Trafalgar commented on this review
    Thank you for sharing your feedback with us during your time in Japan. Our Splendours of Japan starts from Tokyo and ends in Osaka; however, at times, for the safety of our valuable guests, there are occasions of last-minute changes to an itinerary due... Show more
    Trip date: April 2023
  • Splendours of Japan (9 Days) reviewer 6
    · April 16th, 2018
    Awesome itinerary and tour.
    Trip date: March 2018
  • AP
    · April 16th, 2018
    Great tour, well paced for elderly people. Hotel locations were excellent.
    Trip date: April 2018
  • EW
    · November 18th, 2017
    This tour was an excellent introduction to the special features of Japan: its history, culture, contemporary developments and aesthetic achievements. Well chosen events and locations meant we were introduced to Shinto and Buddhist traditions, technological advances, sushi making, traditional paper making, types of saki, and a wide range of geographical features from Mount Fuji-san to traditional gardens and samurai temples. Tokyo and Kyoto were focal points, but we also travelled through the Japanese mountains entering an amazing complex of roads and tunnels through steep terrain, tree-covered hillsides and cultural heritage sites. Our tour guide, Kaito, provided a continual commentary of interesting background and explanation. There were numerous high points and no lows.
    Show more
    Trip date: November 2017
  • PH
    · April 27th, 2017
    The tour was excellent as was our tour director
    Trip date: April 2017
  • S
    · April 25th, 2017
    We have just returned from 9 day tour. Our tour director Naggi was great. She did everything to accommodate all our needs. The locations and the hotels themselves were very good. It is true that the hotel in Nagano was not on the same level but we were brought in at the end of the very long day so nobody had any desire to leave the hotel for any exploration and we got an excellent opportunity to change into kimonos, experience Japanese onsen and had the great buffet dinner. My greatest complaint is with Trafalgar's itinerary. For the first day in the itinerary it says 'see the Tokyo skytree' but it should say " mention the Tokyo skytree". "5th station" on mount Fuji - none though there were weather problems. The worst part though was that we drove to the Goykayama in anticipation of washi paper demonstration but instead were had 30 minutes in Mr. Murakami house for the very mediocre presentation, drove an 1.5 hour to Kanazawa and then told that by the way tomorrow we should drive back to Goykayama to watch washi paper demonstration. How can any company plan such things?! If for whatever reason washi demonstration could not be done on the day of the tour they should have replaced it with for example pottery demonstration which Kanazawa is famous for. As the result when the group came back after 3 hour roundtrip it started raining and there was no time to enjoy one of the real highlight of the tour - Kenroku-en garden. The itinerary in Tokyo is very poor. They could have done Edo Museum, Asakusa (greatly overrated) and Imperial Palace (worth 40 minutes) in one day, leave out sushi preparation as optional but on the second day organize the day trip to Nikko. Moreover Nijo castle is the real highlight in Kyoto (not planned) while overcrowded Fukushima Inari (planned) is curious at best. Bottom line: the itinerary deserves C+ at best.
    Show more
    Trip date: April 2017

Dates & Availability

9 days
Splendours of Japan (9 Days)
From Tokyo to Kyoto

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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • What is the policy on travel insurance?

      Travel insurance is highly recommended for all travelers to cover unexpected circumstances. It is not typically included in the tour price.

    • How can I sustain my dietary needs during the tour?

      While specific dietary needs such as vegetarian or halal can be requested, they cannot be guaranteed. It's advisable to communicate your needs beforehand.

    • Can I bring my pet on the tour?

      Pets are generally not allowed on tours, but you can contact the tour provider for any possible exceptions or support in making alternative arrangements.

    • Are there any specific rules for children traveling on the tour?

      Children must be accompanied by an adult, and specific accommodations like twin or double rooms need to be arranged accordingly.

    • Can I customize parts of the tour?

      Customizations such as upgrades to accommodations or travel class may be available at an additional cost. Details should be discussed with the tour operator directly.

    • What type of transport will be used during the tour?

      Transport options range from coach buses to limited express trains, depending on the itinerary sections.

    • Are there any group size limits for the tour?

      The tour has specific group size limits which can influence the overall experience. Please inquire directly with the provider for detailed information.

    • What are the details regarding post-tour accommodation?

      Post-tour accommodation can be arranged at additional costs and will be at specified hotels unless alternatives are requested and confirmed.

    • What is the COVID-19 vaccination policy for the tour?

      As of January 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are highly recommended but not mandatory. However, specific entry requirements for venues and airlines must be adhered to by the traveler.

    • Can I arrange an airport transfer at the end of the tour?

      Airport transfers on the last day of the tour can be arranged, but please confirm specifics related to your drop-off location with the tour provider.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Trafalgar with your enquiry, they usually respond within 5 hours.

    Good to Know

    • Currency
      ¥
      Yen
      Japan
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

      Type A
      Japan
      Type B
      Japan
    • Vaccines
      • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
      • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
      • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before January 12th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 12th, 2025, a minimum payment of $200 is required to confirm your booking with Trafalgar. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Trafalgar will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Trafalgar" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

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