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Tokyo, Japan
Arrive Japan Tokyo Narita Airport
6:05pm
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Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūǒ-ku
104-0041, Tokyo, Japan
- Buy Suica card and top up 5000yen
- Ask to have Luggage transfer
- Narita Express to Tokyo Station(~3050yen . 1H)
- JR Train to Hacchobori Station (~150yen . 3mins)
- 10min Walk to Hostel
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Tokyo, Japan
Welcome meeting at 6pm
Have physical copies of insurance and contact information.
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Tokyo, Japan
Look down on one of the busiest intersections in the world at Shibuya station and visit the statue of Hachiko - the famous loyal dog. Indulge in the depachika food hall. Maybe grab lunch to eat in Yoyogi Park (home to many events from the first Japan olympics) before our visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine. That afternoon we will visit Harajuku - the home to quirky youth pop culture. The rest of the day is free for exploration. Tonight is also the perfect opportunity to hit Tokyos nightlife, whether it’s a bar with laser shows or karaoke!
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Kanazawa, Japan
Bullet train bound for Kanazawa (3.5h)
This city is best know for Kenrokuen - the 17th century gardens - and as home of the Samurai.
Find beautifully preserved Samurai and Geisha districts, historic temples and some awesome markets.
Oyama Shrine - free
Omicho market tour - free
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art - free
Nagamachi Samurai District - free
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Kanazawa, Japan
Explore Kanazawa on foot today, on a walking tour of the Higashi Chaya district. Get lost among Geisha as you walk through alleyways and traditional Chaya houses, known locally as places of tradition, feasts and entertainment. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at one of the local tea houses. The afternoon will then be free for you to explore on your own.
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Kyoto, Japan
Today, catch a train through the Japanese Alps to Kyoto - once the imperial capital of Japan and one of the most beautiful cities in the country. With over 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, Kyoto is a great place to get lost in. With a good bus network linking all its key sites, you can hop on the bus to get around today - maybe visit the magnificent, gold-plated Kinkaku-ji Temple with its expansive grounds in Kyoto's northwest, or Nijo Castle - the feudal-era castle famous for its squeaking 'nightingale floors, designed to alert inhabitants to approaching ninja. In the early evening, meet up with your leader for a walk through Kyoto's famous Gion district - the heart of the city's Geisha culture.
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Kyoto, Japan
Join your leader this morning for a walk in the wooded hills of Inari Mountain, famous for its Shinto 'fox temple' and atmospheric red torii gates. The afternoon is free for you to explore. Cycling is also a great way to see the city, and renting a bike is inexpensive.
Make sure you try some of Kyoto's famed Kyo-ryori (Kyoto cuisine) or wander the food market of Nishiki in the city's heart.
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Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima is a bustling metropolis with a tragic history and this morning, you'll travel there via bullet train. When you arrive, your leader will take you to the Peace Park and the ruins of the A-Bomb Dome building - one of 11 structures left partially standing as a reminder of the destruction of nuclear war following the atomic bomb blast on 6 August 1945. The Peace Park contains monuments and a sobering museum dedicated to Hiroshima and international peace.
The afternoon is free to rest, relax or continue exploring the city. Tonight, try Hiroshima's most famous dish - okonomiyaki (savoury pancake of cabbage, meat or seafood) - grilled in front of you on a sizzling hotplate.
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Hiroshima, Japan
Today you'll jump on a local train and a ferry to spend the day at the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous 'floating' Torii Gate and the grand Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Hike through the woods to the peak of Mt Misen for some stunning views of the Inland Sea stretching far out below you. Be sure to watch out for inquisitive and eternally hungry deer that roam the island.
Back in Hiroshima, you can enjoy a free evening tonight.
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Osaka, Japan
Travel by bullet train to Osaka today - what better way to finish your trip than in a city with the motto 'kuidaore' (eat until you drop)! Osaka is Japan's unofficial culinary capital, with its tiny backstreets overflowing with restaurants and bars serving up local delicacies. You can also discover Japan's answer to fast food - Osaka is credited with the first kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi restaurants after its inventor (the owner of a sushi restaurant with staffing issues) watched beer bottles on a conveyor belt at the nearby Asahi brewery. When you arrive, head out on a leader-led walking tour of the Dotombori district, famous for its shopping and entertainment. At night, this place is lit with the colour of hundreds of neon lights! Today, you could also take on a taiko drum lesson or try a traditional Japanese Onsen. For dinner, maybe try takoyaki (grilled octopus), an Osaka speciality.
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Osaka, Japan