Trip Overview
Is this trip for you? MODERN. SHORT-BUT-SWEET. CAPTIVATING.
You could spend another week stuck in traffic, slugging it out at work or cringing through another episode of Too Hot To Handle...OR you could spend 7 jam-packed days stuffing yourself on culinary delights in Osaka, exploring the ultra-modern Tokyo, getting high (in cable car) at Hakone and belting out karaoke in Kyoto. It's up to you.
Worth noting…
On this trip you'll be travelling like a local... by train! This means a bit of walking between stations and hotels so we recommend packing light with a backpack or small case.
YOUR #TOPDECKER TRAVEL MOMENTS
Trip Itinerary
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Tokyo
2This 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? Put on your Sailor Moon outfit and explore Tokyo’s famous Akihabara district on an optional tour. Or if the snow-topped peaks and gleaming lakes of Mt Fiji sound more like you – there’s a day trip to the Fuji Five Lakes region on the cards too. Later, you can wander the futuristic neon-lit streets of Shibuya or spend your evening on an optional tour of the buzzing Shinjuku district. With heaps of restaurants, bars and blaring dance joints – this place is where boredom goes to die. 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
- Group karaoke experience
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Day trip to Mount Fuji from: 16471 JYP
- Anime Manga Tour from: prices available locally
- Evening walking tour of Shinjuku from: prices available locally
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Included Today
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Tokyo
3It’s your last day in Tokyo – so, don’t waste a second. Our suggestion? Get the low-down on East Tokyo with an optional cycling tour. Pedal past the district’s awe-inspiring shrines and temples, uncover the local sake bars and hip art galleries – and get inside scoop on those hidden gems with a local guide. Or add ‘sushi-making-ninja' to your LinkedIn profile after learning from the pros at an optional sushi making experience. Non-sushi-lovers (whoever you are) should check out Omoide Yokocho (aka Piss Alley – we know, stay with us). Despite the unfortunate name, this tiny narrow street is lined with all the best izakaya restaurants. Pull up a pew with the locals, order a yakitori grill and dig in. This is about as authentic as it gets. Tonight, there’s an optional show at the Robot Restaurant. Think: giant robot battles, crazy decor, dazzling lasers and all round only-in-Japan madness.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Sushi making experience from: 8824 JPY
- East Tokyo neighbourhood cycling tour from: prices available locally
- Visit the Robot Restaurant from: 9,000 JPY
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Meals
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Tokyo to Kyoto
4Rise and shine – 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). Love Katsu curry? Find a CoCo Ichibanya for dinner tonight. It’s cheap AND delicious.
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Included Today
- Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
- Train ticket to Kyoto
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Dress as a Geisha or samurai from: 9,600 JPY
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Included Today
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Kyoto
5Time to explore this place with the local experts. 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. Loose yourself, find yourself, then grab a biru at a local watering hole. And for dinner tonight, head to Nishiki Warai for seriously good yakisoba and okonomiyaki. *wipes drool from chin*.
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Included Today
- Visit the 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 to 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 Umeda Sky Building. SD cards full of EPIC views over the city – the rest of the afternoon is yours for the taking. History buff? There are plenty of temples and an awesome castle to explore. Or hunt down Ichiran Ramen for a unique lunch experience. Whatever you get up to, just make sure you’re back in time for tonight’s included dinner in the Dotonbori district (aka Eat Street). This is your last night with the gang, so head to the buzzing Uranamba district for micro bars, plenty of sake and round two of a slightly-out-of-tune battle of the ballads. The Drunken Clam karaoke bar is where it’s at.
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Included Today
- Train ticket to Osaka
- Osaka metro tickets
- Visit 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 hear the ski season here is pretty sick.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
What's included
Included Experiences
- Full-day city tour of Tokyo
- Group karaoke experience
- Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
- Visit the Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Visit the Arashiyama bamboo forest
- Visit Umeda Sky Building
- Visit Osaka Castle
Accommodation
-6 nights in hostels
Transport
High speed trains and public transport
Optional activities
-Day trip to Mount Fuji from: 16471 JYP
-Anime Manga Tour from: prices available locally
-Evening walking tour of Shinjuku from: prices available locally
-Sushi making experience from: 8824 JPY
-East Tokyo neighbourhood cycling tour from: prices available locally
-Visit the Robot Restaurant from: 9,000 JPY
-Dress as a Geisha or samurai from: 9,600 JPY
Views & Reviews
Latest Reviews
Average rating based on 5 reviews
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Tamzyn S February 2020
good, wish more time was spent in Osaka rather than Kyoto though
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Kelera February 2020
Great tour guide, was slightly disapointed with the group dinner at the end as it seemed a bit rushed. But other than that enjoyed the group and all the activities and sights I got to experience.
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Anonymous December 2019
I probably will not travel with Topdeck again because I found that it was not really an informational tour. They basically dropped us off at the spot and told us a meeting time. I thought there could have been more. Also the restaurants they chose as included meals were too cheap and not worth the money. I would have preferred to have them actually put more effort in quality food choices that reflected the culture.
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