Trip Overview
Worth noting…
On this trip you’ll be travelling like a local – including riding the Shinkansen (aka bullet train)! Because carriage space is limited, we’ll transport your luggage from Tokyo to Kyoto on Day 3. You’ll just need to bring a small overnight bag to cover you for this night. Pssst: optional activities are subject to availability, but there’s *always* something fun to do in Japan – trust us.
Tales From Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Tokyo
2Rise and shrine! We’re off to check out Meiji Jingu this morning – Tokyo’s grandest Shinto shrine. Take in all the spiritual vibes, make an offering and wander the blooming (or not) gardens. Next, we’re heading to the uber-kooky Harajuku district (aka cosplay heaven) with our in-the-know Trip Leader. Expect: neon tutus, rainbow-coloured wigs, bubble tea and fairy floss. We’ll also swing by the iconic Shibuya Crossing. It’s all the crazy. And your free afternoon? Learn how to make taiyaki fish-shaped cakes in a local cooking class. Later: thought you could come to Japan and not get involved in some K-A-R-A-OKE? Think again! Gather the gang and bust out some bangers at tonight’s included karaoke bar experience.
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Included Today
- Visit the Meiji Shrine
- Walking tour of Harajuku and Shibuya with Trip Leader
- Group karaoke experience
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes) making experience: from 5,600 JPY
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Included Today
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Tokyo
3This is your day, 100% your way. But if you need some recommendations, we’ve got your back. Ready to plunge into a world of manga and anime? Explore Tokyo’s famous Akihabara district on an optional tour. Later, you can wander the futuristic neon-lit streets of Shibuya or join an optional tour of the buzzing Shinjuku district. With heaps of restaurants, bars and blaring dance joints, this is where the locals go to party.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Anime & manga tour of Tokyo: from 13,200 JPY
- Evening walking tour of Shinjuku: from 11,200 JPY
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Meals
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Tokyo – Kyoto
4Up and at ‘em: it’s an early start to get the Shinkansen (bullet train FYI) to Kyoto. Home to over 2,000 temples and shrines this place ticks all the spiritual boxes. After lunch, we’ll visit the incredible Fushimi Inari Shrine – with plenty of time to hike to the top and explore the torii gates. Then the afternoon is yours. If you want, spend the rest of the day dressed up as a geisha or samurai (we told you it would get weird). Tonight, we’ll regroup for an included dinner – another chance to show off your chopstick skills. Or not.
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Included Today
- Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Train ticket to Kyoto
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Optional extras
- Dress as a geisha or samurai: from 10,533 JPY
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Included Today
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Kyoto
5Time to explore this place with our expert Trip Leader. We’ll tick off the Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion before moving on to Arashiyama to visit the Tenryu-ji Temple. Grab a bite to eat then head out to explore the sprawling bamboo forest and Togetsu-kyo bridge. Then, the rest is up to you. Lose yourself, find yourself, then grab a biru at a local watering hole.
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Included Today
- Walking tour of Kyoto with Trip Leader (including Kinkaku-ji Temple)
- Visit the Arashiyama bamboo forest
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Kyoto – Osaka
6Just when you thought your jeans couldn’t get any tighter – today we’re headed for Osaka: the foodie capital of Japan. Here, they even have a word for “scoff till you drop”: kuidaore. Down your cup of matcha – we’ve got an intro tour to the city starting with the majestic Osaka Castle and the Umeda Sky Building. SD cards full of EPIC views over the city – the rest of the afternoon is yours for the taking. Whatever you get up to, just make sure you’re back in time for tonight’s included dinner.
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Included Today
- Train ticket to Osaka
- Visit the Umeda Sky Building
- Visit Osaka Castle
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Included Today
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Osaka
7Time to say sayonara to the Land of the Rising Sun. Swap those Insta handles – you’re going to need them to organise next year’s reunion trip. What’s next? We've got Delve Deep trips to Southeast Asia which you can hop straight on. Just saying...
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
What's included
Included experiences
- - Visit the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo
- - Walking tour of Tokyo’s Harajuku and Shibuya districts with Trip Leader
- - Group karaoke experience in Tokyo
- - Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
- - Walking tour of Kyoto with Trip Leader (including Kinkaku-ji Temple)
- - Visit the Arashiyama bamboo forest
- - Visit the Umeda Sky Building
- - Visit Osaka Castle
Accommodation
- 6 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin or double)
Transport
Optional activities
- FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
- Taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes) making experience: from 5,600 JPY
- Anime & manga tour of Tokyo: from 13,200 JPY
- Evening walking tour of Shinjuku: from 11,200 JPY
- Dress as a geisha or samurai: from 10,533 JPY
Views & Reviews
Latest Reviews
Average rating based on 7 reviews
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Stephanie Lo June 2023
Amazing tour guide and top spots. Only advice would be to spend a bit more time with Kyoto and Osaka.
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Anonymous May 2023
Like I stated previously. This is a great trip for those wanting a quick, week long hit of the essence of Japanese culture. Would highly recommend.
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Anonymous May 2023
Overall it was an amazing trip. The tour guide Katherine was very friendly and knowledgeable and went above and beyond for us. The hotels in Osaka and Tokyo weren’t great and could’ve been more centrally located. Kyoto hotel was amazing. Topdeck also doesn’t include a Shinkansen ticket for the Kyoto to Osaka leg so it was frustrating taking the all stops train and it took longer than it should have. The tour should have included more buses instead of having to rely on public transport. Osaka also felt very rushed as it was only 1 night, they should’ve had 2 nights there. Other than that, the trip was incredible, met some amazing people and all the sights were awesome!
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