Japan in Winter by Train | Plus Ski | 2026-2027

• 13 Breakfast (B)

• Bangkok: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Nara: The currency (that can buy you some unbeatable authentic sushi) in Japan is the Japanese Yen (¥).
• Tokyo: This will depend on which city you arrive at.TokyoTokyo is serviced by two major international airports, Narita and Haneda. You’re welcome to take a taxi to the hotel, but these tend to be quite expensive. That’s why, the best way to reach our hotel is by train. You can purchase tickets from the counter at the airport. And the journey will take you 1-2 hours.Osaka The Kansai International Airport in Osaka is around 45 minutes away from our hotel by bus. And the best way to get there is by bus, that’ll drop you off close to our hotel. You can get your tickets at the counter. We don’t recommend getting a taxi since they tend to be quite expensive.
• Nara: You can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29” x 20” x 10”), with a max weight of 20kg (44lbs) – plus one piece of hand luggage suitable as a carry-on for flights on this trip.You’ll travel between a few destinations via the Shinkansen (bullet train), and won’t have your main luggage because of the space restrictions. But there’s no need to worry, because we’ll send everything forward to the next hotel via truck.In Hiroshima and Mt Koya, you’ll need to bring an overnight bag since you won’t have your main luggage with you. Your Trip Manager will advise you about what you should bring for each day.
• Nara: Starstruck by the Shinkansen? Same. All bullet train tickets are one-use-only tickets (and not passes). So, you won’t be able to use them after the trip has concluded.
• Nara: A Japan Rail Pass can be quite handy while travelling in Japan. But since we’ve got you covered for the transport, you won’t need a Japan Rail Pass. You’re always welcome to ask your Trip Manager where you can buy one once the trip ends.
• Nara: Currently, Street Kart or Mario Kart aren’t offered on any Contiki trip. Who knows what the future holds, though?
• Sapporo: You’ll need to arrange your own ski passes and equipment for this trip.
• Nara: Yep, of course. You’ll have to carry your ski gear onto the train and store it in the overhead luggage space throughout the journey.And if you’d like, you can send your gear from Osaka to Tokyo for a small fee (we love not worrying about our luggage when in Japan!). Your Trip Manager will sort that out for you.

• Kyoto: From ancient temples and colourful shrines to peaceful gardens and geisha-famous streets, this guided tour will show you the best of Kyoto. You’ll visit some of the city’s most celebrated landmarks, including Kiyomizu Temple and the Golden Pavilion, with included entry to Sanjusangendo Temple, while soaking up the traditions, culture and everyday buzz that make Kyoto so unforgettable.
• Hiroshima: Visit the Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum to commemorate the lives lost after the atomic bomb was dropped on the city. 
• Hiroshima: This way to amazing! These are the sites you always see in those impossibly tranquil pictures of Japan. IRL. 
• Hakone: Prepare to be impressed. An awesome cable car ride is set against dream-like views of Mount Fuji. 
• Tokyo: Check out the Sensoji Temple, one of the most significant temples in Japan, decked with a 5-storey pagoda. Don’t forget to snap a pic under the giant red lantern!
• Tokyo: Get a piece of Japan to take back home from one of the many little stalls here on Nakamise Street, just a short walk from the Sensoji Temple.
• Tokyo: Visit this Shinto shrine in Shibuya, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. You’ll have the chance to wander through a tranquil forest, passing under the world-famous Tori Gate. And ofc, stop for a picture in front of the many colourful Sake barrels, and make a wish at the sacred Camphor tree.
• Tokyo: Get ready for a riot of colour and vibrant fashion. This was (and still is) a home for Japanese fashion. Grab a vintage bag, a pair of sneakers or a kawaii outfit. And don’t get us started on the food! You’ll find rainbow cotton candy, candy covered strawberries or a rainbow cheese sandwich.
• Tokyo: It’s only the biggest pedestrian intersection in the world! Come watch the world go by (and grab an iconic picture) on the crossing.
• Tokyo: Settle in for a full-day train journey north, with time to relax and watch Japan roll by. Enjoy the ride as the scenery slowly shifts toward Hokkaido. Oh, and don’t forget to pack some snacks the day before.

Contiki

Meet your Trip Manager and travel crew and head out together to explore the local area of Osaka. This informal group outing offers a first look at the streets, shops and everyday rhythms of the city.

Osaka is known for its lively neighbourhoods and food culture. Exploring on foot gives you a chance to get your bearings, notice the details of your surroundings and begin getting to know your fellow travellers.

Explore Kyoto on a guided city tour featuring celebrated sights such as Kiyomizu Temple and the Golden Pavilion, alongside colourful shrines, gardens and streets associated with the city’s geisha traditions. Included entry takes you inside Sanjusangendo Temple.

Sanjusangendo is renowned for its long wooden hall and ranks of Buddhist statues. Together, these places reveal different sides of Kyoto’s heritage, from hillside temple settings to the ceremonial arts preserved in its historic neighbourhoods.

Discover Hiroshima on a sightseeing tour that considers the city’s past and present. Visit Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum to learn about the atomic bombing of 1945 and commemorate the lives lost.

Exhibits and personal accounts at the museum give human context to the event, while the park offers space for reflection. The experience also introduces Hiroshima as the living city that emerged through reconstruction, making its message of peace especially tangible.

Travel by train and ferry to Miyajima Island, where wooded scenery and roaming deer frame a visit to Itsukushima Shrine. See its celebrated torii gate standing in the water at high tide or against the exposed shore when the tide recedes.

The shrine’s buildings extend over the tidal flats, reflecting a centuries-old relationship between sacred architecture and the Seto Inland Sea. Walking around the island offers close-up views of its gates, coastal setting and distinctive atmosphere.

Ride the Hakone Ropeway above the mountain landscape of Hakone, taking in broad views from the cable car. On a clear day, the horizon may reveal Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak and one of its most recognisable landmarks.

Hakone’s volcanic terrain provides a striking contrast to the country’s cities. The elevated ride makes the scenery the focus, with changing perspectives across the mountains; views of Fuji depend on the weather.

Explore Tokyo on a sightseeing tour spanning old and new. Walk Nakamise Street to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, visit the forested grounds of Meiji Shrine, and encounter Harajuku’s expressive fashion scene and the bustle of Shibuya Crossing.

Temple gates, shrine paths and crowded streets show how distinct traditions coexist in the capital. Look for Senso-ji’s large red lantern, the sake barrels near Meiji Shrine and the shifting crowds at Shibuya’s famous pedestrian intersection.

Join an optional group dinner at a local kushi-katsu spot in Osaka. Share an evening over skewers, drinks and conversation in a lively neighbourhood setting. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Kushi-katsu—ingredients skewered, coated in breadcrumbs and fried—is a familiar part of Osaka’s casual dining culture. The meal offers a sociable way to try a local speciality rather than simply choosing a restaurant on your own.

Try an optional okonomiyaki lunch in Hiroshima and discover one of the city’s best-known dishes. Watch for its distinctive layers of batter, cabbage and noodles, usually finished with savoury sauce. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki differs from versions in other parts of Japan, where ingredients are often mixed together. Tasting it in the city gives a memorable local flavour to your visit and a closer look at its informal food culture.