• Delve Deep Japan

Delve Deep: Japan

Up to 15% off selected departures on this trip

Trip Overview

TRIP VIBE = iconic sights and in-depth adventures with a local Trip Leader. Don't just want to see Japan, but EXPERIENCE it? In all its ancient, futuristic, kooky, incredible glory? You're in luck. In under two weeks, this Delve Deep trip gives you the highlights and the hidden gems. The culture and the crazy. The ultra-modern and the historic. The scenery and the cities. And all the ramen, okonomiyaki, udon, katsu, yakitori and sake your fat pants can handle (you packed those, right?). This is your insider guide. Japan is waiting.

Worth noting…
On this trip you’ll be travelling like a local – including riding the Shinkansen (aka bullet train)! Because carriage space is limited on Japanese trains, we’ll transport your luggage on a few days. You’ll just need to bring a small overnight bag to cover you for these nights. Pssst: optional activities are subject to availability, but there’s *always* something fun to do in Japan – trust us.

Tales From Topdeckers

Trip itinerary

  1. Tokyo (Japan)

    1

    You ready for 12 UNbelievable days of delving deep into Japanese culture? Discovering the ultra-modern, the ancient traditions and alllll the local eats – plus the weird, whacky and totally wonderful in between? We thought so. First: say konnichiwa to your fellow explorers. Then: we’ll kick things off with a group dinner at a local restaurant. Nihon e yokoso – welcome to Japan!

    • Meals
      • Dinner
  2. Tokyo

    2
  3. Tokyo

    3
  4. Tokyo – Takayama

    4
  5. Takayama – Hiroshima

    5
  6. Hiroshima

    6
  7. Hiroshima – Osaka

    7
  8. Osaka

    8
  9. Osaka – Kyoto

    9
  10. Kyoto

    10
  11. Kyoto

    11
  12. Kyoto

    12

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 Hida folk village
  • - Visit the morning riverside markets in Takayama
  • - Half-day tour of Takayama
  • - Visit a sake brewery in Takayama
  • - Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum
  • - Visit the Itsukushima Shrine on the island of Miyajima
  • - Half-day tour of Osaka with Trip Leader
  • - Experience Buddhist morning rituals in Osaka
  • - Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
  • - Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto
  • - Visit the Arashiyama bamboo forest
  • - Visit the Nishiki food market in Kyoto
  • - Walking tour of Kyoto’s Gion district with Trip Leader

Accommodation

-

-8 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin or double), 1 night in traditional ryokan, 2 nights in a temple lodge

Transport

- High-speed trains and public 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

- Visit Tokyo Disneyland: from 13,200 JPY (booking in advance recommended)

- Hida beef dinner: from 6,000 JPY

- Traditional onsen experience (tattoos not allowed): prices available locally

- Full day tour of Universal Studios: from 13,200 JPY (booking in advance recommended)

- Osaka nightlife tour: from 10,267 JPY

- Dress as a geisha or samurai: from 10,533 JPY

Views & Reviews

Latest Reviews

Average rating based on 37 reviews
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  • Jasmine De May 2023

    I had a fantastic trip leader (Marion) she did a great job with taking us from place to place on the trains. All our hotels were amazing and clean and in a good location.

  • Anonymous April 2023

    Regarding where this tour takes you, it ticks all the boxes. While there could have been some rearranging with how long is spent in different places, I loved every city we travelled to. Like I said before, all of our inclusions were cancelled due to it being peak season (no excuse as I have been to many places with Topdeck during peak season and this was no issue) so we had to research and come up with our own ideas. While this worked well for me as I love a bit of freedom with travel and wasn't interested in some of the inclusions, I do feel as though the things we did in our free time could have been inclusions. There are so many opportunities for unique experiences in Japan, so making them inclusions would just be beneficial to everyone. While it was annoying we weren't informed that we would be without our suitcases for most of the trip (again, better forward planning from Topdeck is needed here - just put it in the Trip Notes!), the service of sending our luggage ahead make travel by train so much easier. Japan is a busy and crowded place, so I understand that having a typical tour experience where we get a lot of information about each city might be difficult to do, but I really missed that part of the tour because I like learning about each place I am going to. It's a great trip, but it is really up to you and your friends to make it great.

  • Mary T April 2023

    I didn't purchase anything from the tour [other than the tour itself] as the options were cancelled for us

Read all 37 reviews

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