• 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. Meaning? Pack light! You’ll need to make sure your luggage is no bigger than 160 cm in total (height x width x length) for travel on the Shinkansen (aka bullet train).

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 in the traditional Asakusa district, where craft shops and steaming food stalls line the buzzing streets. 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 11,600 JPY

- Hida beef dinner: from 4,000 JPY

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

- Full day tour of Universal Studios: from 11,600 JPY

- Visit Osaka Castle: prices available locally

- Osaka nightlife tour: from 9,600 JPY

- Dress as a geisha or samurai: from 8,400 JPY

- Bento Box cooking class: from 10,700 JPY

Views & Reviews

Latest Reviews

Average rating based on 31 reviews
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  • Anonymous February 2023

    Firstly let me say that I love Topdeck and I absolutely recommend this trip. Katherine the trip leader was one of the best I’ve had - she went out of her way to make it an excellent trip for all of us.

    There were some things that were pretty disappointing and some clear communication would have really helped. I was disappointed to discover on the first day (no heads up prior from TD) that most of the extra activities were cancelled or substituted out. I really wanted to do the sushi demo and the ramen making class and neither were available despite being on the itinerary. Same goes for the day trip to Mt Fuji. We also paid quite a lot of money for a “nightlife tour” in Osaka which didn’t go ahead and instead of getting refunded, we got taken out to a dinner with a budget for food/drinks that was CONSIDERABLY less than what we’d originally paid. We were all pretty bewildered at why we weren’t offered a refund. what was our money used for? Also, the trip details mentioned that to ride the bullet train we needed a suitcase within certain dimensions, which I arranged. Then whilst on the trip we were told twice that we had to go 2+ days without our suitcase and could only take a backpack/overnight bag. I had no idea this would happen (it was not in any of the pre-trip information) and only had a small backpack which couldn’t fit what I needed. Some clear communication up front would have made that so much easier for everyone.

  • Anonymous October 2022

    It is extremely overpriced and badly planned. If it weren't for our guide adjusting the itinerary where possible, the tour would have been horrible. There was no warning before the trip started that there would be not just one overnight with a backpack, but the stay in Osaka would be two nights with only a backpack. We could have taken our suitcases but were advised not to. I would have prepared for this before leaving home if I'd known.

  • Bailey L February 2019

    Excellent

Read all 31 reviews

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