No meals included

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.

In Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers.

1. Tattoos

Tattoos are not common or widely accepted in Japan. There is no cause for concern, but do your best to cover your tattoos when possible and note that you may not be permitted to enter public spas or onsens (hot springs).

2. Japan Rail Pass

Please note that only foreigners traveling as a tourist are able to use a Japan Rail Pass. If you are a Japanese citizen
esident or traveling on a student/business/military/diplomatic visa, please advise us at time of booking as you will not be able to take advantage of the rail pass.

3. Multi-share Accommodation

18-to-Thirtysomethings accommodation in Japan is multi-share. For more information, see About Accommodation.

4. Combo Trip

Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

5. Luggage size restriction – Effective from May 2020 onwards

All G Adventures tours in Japan use the world-famous Shinkansen bullet trains, which have a restriction on maximum luggage size. Your luggage must be less than 160cm in total. This is roughly the size that most airline companies consider as “carry-on baggage” and allow in overhead storage compartments.

We strongly recommend bringing a day pack or backpack to use during the day, in addition to your carry-on sized luggage. Please see “What to take” under Tour details for more information.

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world and space is at a premium. Therefore, hotel and hostel rooms are small. Additionally, some Japanese hotels do not have designating non-smoking rooms. Therefore, we ask hotels to deodorize rooms before check-in.

Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure. Some nights on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing a room. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities.

Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken. For private accommodation please see our Japan tours in our Classic Travel Style.

We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as you are expected to carry your own luggage. You will be walking with your luggage in busy public train stations to catch connecting trains, so it is highly recommended that you travel light, have easy to handle luggage, and are capable of walking up and down the stairs with your luggage without any assistance. A large bag will be an inconvenience to you and slow you down!

We recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg (22-30 lbs). Large suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips. We suggest travellers bring a rucksack or rolling bag of small to medium size. You will also need a day-pack to carry daily essentials like water, cameras, passport, etc.

It’s essential to pack as lightly as possible for rail travel in Japan. All G Adventures tours use the world-famous Shinkansen bullet trains, which have a restriction on maximum luggage size.

Any luggage brought on board must be less than 160cm in total (calculated as the sum of the height + width + depth of your luggage). This is roughly the size that most airline companies consider as “carry-on baggage” and allow in overhead storage compartments. We strongly recommend bringing a day pack or backpack to use during the day (for daily essentials like water, cameras, passport, etc.).

Please note that travellers who bring luggage that exceeds this restriction will be directly penalized by the Central Japan Railway Company. Any luggage between 160–250cm will require a fee of 1,000 JPY per luggage, for each leg of your train journey, and is strictly subject to availability. Any luggage over 251cm in total is prohibited on the Shinkansen trains.

If you absolutely must bring more than what fits into a single carry-on bag plus day pack, you may bring a second carry-on bag which also must be less than 160cm in total. Please note, however, that as with all G Adventures tours, you must be able to carry your luggage unassisted.

Luggage Transfer – Japan’s “takuhaibin” service is a convenient and reliable way to transfer luggage from one location to another throughout the country. Pick-up/drop-off/delivery dates and times can be easily scheduled (usually overnight) and costs are moderate. Service can be arranged at most hotels and airports. Using takuhaibin to send your luggage between hotels, or from hotel to airport, is a great way to travel light and avoid hauling large bags on crowded trains or up and down stairs – just be sure to pack an overnight bag with everything you’ll need until you’re reunited with your luggage the following day.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Explore central Tokyo on foot and join a guided orientation walk to get your bearings. Your CEO highlights useful landmarks, transit hubs, and neighbourhood essentials so you can navigate confidently.

Pass through areas like Asakusa and the Senso-ji temple precinct, glimpse the spectacle of Shibuya Crossing, and tune into the city’s blend of tradition and tech. Expect practical tips, photo stops, and pointers for ramen joints and convenience-store hacks.

Glide across Japan at near-silent speed and ride the Shinkansen bullet train, famed for precision and comfort. Watch cityscapes blur into mountains and rice paddies as you zip between major hubs.

Experience to-the-minute punctuality, seamless platform transfers, and the pleasure of an ekiben station bento lunch at your seat. With routes linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka, high-speed rail becomes part of the adventure as much as the destinations.

Wander the preserved merchant streets of Sanmachi and join a guided orientation walk through Takayama’s historic heart, set against the Japanese Alps. Slip past lattice-fronted houses and ages-old storefronts that still trade in lacquerware and craft.

Spot Shinto shrines and Edo-period streets, and learn how a cedar sugidama ball signals fresh sake at local breweries. Your CEO shares tips for tastings, markets, and scenic riverside strolls you can enjoy later on your own.

Experience traditional hospitality as you stay in a Japanese ryokan, sleeping on futons atop tatami mats. Unwind in a serene setting where slippers at the door and low tables set the tone for slow living.

Embrace bathing culture with a calming soak in an onsen hot spring after a day’s travels. Learn simple etiquette—rinse before entering, relax quietly—and feel the restorative warmth that defines countryside Japan.

Cruise across the bay by ferry to Miyajima, a sacred island where deer wander freely and sea and shrine merge into one spellbinding scene. Arrive to the vermilion icon of Itsukushima Shrine’s torii gate, which appears to float at high tide.

Stroll temple paths, sample island snacks, and pause for photos and reflection along the Seto Inland Sea. The shifting light over water and wood creates a painterly calm that lingers long after you depart.

Follow your CEO into Kyoto’s spirited nightlife and join your Big Night Out in the city’s bar-lined lanes. Raise a glass in a convivial izakaya, then, if you fancy, sing your heart out at karaoke.

Between historic alleyways and riverside nooks near Pontocho and Kiyamachi, discover the city’s playful side after dark. Expect clinking glasses, warm welcomes, and stories that carry well beyond last orders.

Design your perfect Kyoto day while tapping into insider suggestions from your CEO. Choose tea rituals, artisan quarters, or temple-lined hills—this flexible time lets you explore what calls to you most.

With pointers to Fushimi Inari’s torii trails, Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage, and quieter neighbourhood shrines, you’ll uncover the city’s layered spirit at your own pace. This Discover Moment typically falls mid-journey across day 5–6.

Celebrate your journey in Japan’s kitchen and immerse yourself in Osaka’s nightlife. Follow neon reflections along the canal, stop for street bites, and toast with new friends beneath towering signs.

Feel the charge around Dotonbori and the Ebisu Bridge, where the famed Glico Running Man blazes overhead. It’s a high-energy finale with laughter, local flavours, and a last chance to share highlights before the lights dim.

Experience chanoyu as a tea host whisks bright-green matcha to a fine froth in a serene tatami room. Learn the graceful choreography of bows, bowls, and seasonal sweets that reflect wabi-sabi aesthetics.

Hear how this ritual shaped Zen-inspired culture in Kyoto, from utensils to garden design. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; your CEO can help arrange a respected local venue.

Step into tradition as stylists dress you in a kimono or yukata, complete with obi sash and seasonal patterns. Wander historic lanes and capture studio-quality portraits or street scenes near atmospheric wooden townhouses.

Learn the cultural meaning behind fabrics and motifs, then enjoy time to explore dressed in classic style. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; sizes and styles are available for all travellers.

Walk beneath thousands of vermilion torii gates that climb Mt Inari toward small shrines and fox statues, messengers of the Inari deity. The light shifts dramatically through the tunnels, creating vivid photo moments.

Pause at viewpoints over southern Kyoto or continue toward quieter upper trails. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour (local transport and any donations
efreshments extra).

Visit UNESCO-listed Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden stage cantilevered over the hillside, famed for city views and seasonal colours. Wander past pagodas toward the Otowa Waterfall, where three streams symbolize longevity, success, and love.

Descend through the preserved lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, lined with crafts and sweet shops. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour (temple admission and local transport extra).

Pay respects at the A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) and walk to the Cenotaph and Children’s Peace Monument, draped in paper cranes that echo the story of Sadako Sasaki.

Inside the Peace Memorial Museum, exhibits convey the city’s loss and renewal with moving clarity. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour; your CEO can advise on timing for a reflective, unhurried visit.

Explore an Edo-period strolling garden designed as miniature landscapes—arched bridges, island pavilions, and maple-lined paths around a central pond. Each turn frames a new, contemplative view.

Learn how daimyo gardens symbolized harmony between people and nature, then pause for photos and reflection by the water’s edge. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour (garden admission extra).

Visit the reconstructed keep of Hiroshima Castle, nicknamed “Carp Castle,” rising above moats and stone walls. Exhibits trace the city’s samurai heritage and castle-town origins.

Climb to the top floor for views across treetops and modern boulevards—a striking contrast of eras. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour (castle admission extra).

Ascend by ropeway to Mt Misen for sweeping views across the Seto Inland Sea, then follow forested trails past temple halls tied to Kobo Daishi’s ascetic practices.

Watch islands dot the horizon and feel cool sea breezes at the summit. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour (ropeway ticket and refreshments extra); hiking portions are adjustable to your pace.

Follow the cedar-ball markers of historic sake breweries and sample regional styles—from crisp junmai to fragrant ginjo—poured into tiny cups at the counter.

Learn how mountain water and cold winters shape flavour in Hida’s brewing tradition, then browse for bottles to take home. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour (tasting fees vary by brewery).

Follow sizzling griddles and neon reflections to sample takoyaki octopus balls, fluffy okonomiyaki, and crispy kushikatsu skewers in Osaka’s culinary playground.

Learn the stories behind favourite snacks and the city’s “kuidaore” philosophy—eat until you drop—while weaving canalside alleys. This optional tasting is at additional cost and bookable on tour; pay-as-you-go lets you try exactly what tempts you most.

Celebrate everyday innovation where Momofuku Ando created instant ramen in 1958. Tour playful exhibits, then design your own Cup Noodles by choosing soup base and toppings before sealing your custom creation.

It’s a tasty slice of modern culture that pairs nostalgia with hands-on fun. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour (museum activities and transport extra).

Head into the city’s electric after-dark scene and connect with new friends amid lantern-lit alleys and buzzing backstreet bars. Follow your CEO to lively pockets where locals gather for skewers, small plates, and cold beer.

Soak up the atmosphere of Shinjuku’s tiny taverns and photo-ready neon, or slide into a booth for late-night bites. The mood is social, relaxed, and quintessentially Tokyo—perfect for swapping first impressions and enjoying a free evening together.

Meet your fellow travellers and meet your Tour Director (CEO) to set the tone for your Japan adventure. Get practical tips on navigating trains, discovering neighbourhood food spots, and cultural etiquette so you feel confident from the start.

Hear how your Japan Rail Pass works, what to expect from multi-share stays, and where to find late-night snacks. This friendly briefing, typically on day 1 in Tokyo, helps you hit the ground running and enjoy a free afternoon with smart local pointers.