Delve Deep: Japan 2025-26

Delve Deep: Japan 2025-26

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12 Days From

$3919

Delve Deep: Japan 2025-26

12 Days Starting in Tokyo and ending in Osaka

Visiting: Tokyo, Takayama, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka

Tour operator:

Topdeck

Tour code:

TJJTR5

Specialist Group:

18-30 Somethings

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

10 - 20

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

18-39

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Active, Small Group

From: $3919

NB: Prices correct on 10-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour 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.

Highlights

  • - Visit the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

  • - Walking tour of Tokyo’s Harajuku and Shibuya districts with Trip Leader

  • - Experience the Goma Ritual of consecrated fire at Fukagawa Fudo-do Temple

  • - Bullet train to Takayama

  • - Visit the morning riverside markets in Takayama

  • - Visit to Hida folk village

  • - Sake tasting at a local brewery

  • - Visit Takayama Jinya

  • - Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

  • - Okonomiyaki dinner experience in Hiroshima

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Tokyo (Japan)

Location: Tokyo

Meals Included: Dinner

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!

Day 2: Tokyo

Location: Tokyo

Meals Included: Breakfast

Down your cup of matcha cos we’ve got an INCRED day ahead of us. First up, it’s time for the Meiji Shrine to SHINE. Tokyo’s grandest Shinto shrine – take in all the spiritual vibes, make an offering and wander the blooming (or not) gardens. Important: you gotta cover that skin up when visiting this place – and any other religious site in Japan. Next, we’re heading to the quirky Harajuku district (aka cosplay heaven) with our in-the-know Trip Leader. Expect kawaii culture galore: neon tutus, rainbow-coloured wigs, bubble tea and fairy floss. We’ll also swing by the legendary Shibuya Crossing – it’s all the crazy. Then: we’re off to check out the Goma Ritual of consecrated fire at Fukagawa Fudo-do Temple. Your wishes could be part of this next-level experience. And tonight? Get ready to party at an Izakaya (Japan’s equivalent of a pub). This is real culture in real time.

Day 3: Tokyo

Location: Tokyo

Meals Included: Breakfast

It’s your last day in Tokyo – so, you do you. Wanna spend your day breathing in the fresh mountain air? Join a day tour of Mount Fuji and Hakone. Outta-this-world scenery. Gobsmacking beauty. A side of Japan you only see IRL. It’s giving allll the feels. This evening: quiz your Trip Leader on where to find the best ramen – and be prepared to order on a ticket machine with pictures of the dishes. It might be a lucky dip, but that’s what adventuring is all about.

Day 4: Tokyo – Takayama

Location: Tokyo

Meals Included: Breakfast

Rise and shine – it’s an early start to get the iconic Shinkansen (bullet train FYI) to Takayama. Glue your face to the window as we zoom through the incredible Japanese Alps. Once we’ve pulled in, we''ll check into our authentic AF accommodation: a traditional ryokan – complete with tatami-matted floors and sliding doors straight out of The Last Samurai. Then it’s time for a taste of traditional life with a visit to Hida Folk Village. And tonight? There’s an optional Hida beef dinner with the gang on the menu – vegetarians look away now.

Day 5: Takayama

Location: Takayama

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – so we’ll kick things off traditional-style in the ryokan before visiting the bustling morning riverside markets. Tighten those Nike laces to explore Takayama Jinya – the last remaining government outpost from the time of the Samurai and Shoguns. This arvo, sample some of the good stuff at a local sake brewery. Then: time to do whatever you want. Explore. It. All. The nooks and crannies. The narrow streets. The tranquil waters. Take your trip mates along for the ride. Tonight: dinner’s on you. It’s all about that beef – if you missed out last night, now’s your chance. And it’s better than any maccas. Trust us.

Day 6: Takayama – Hiroshima

Location: Hiroshima

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Hiroshima: we’re coming for you. Grab a delish bento box to tuck into on the train. When we arrive this afternoon, we’ll make our way to the Memorial Peace Park and its museum. Here, we’ll discover the tragic events of 6 August 1945 when the world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped on the city. Later, an included group dinner''s on the cards at a local okonomiyaki restaurant. Savoury teppanyaki pancakes = YUM. Get ready to show off your expert chopstick skills (or drop even more stuff down your T-shirt).

Day 7: Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima

Location: Hiroshima

Meals Included: Breakfast

All aboard the ferry to the island of Miyajima! First up, check out the incred Itsukushima Shrine. Then, we''ve got the whole afternoon to explore before settling in for sunset. The floating torii gate is pretty spectacular. Back in Hiroshima: use your free time wisely. Put those super-stretchy pants to the test and do as the locals do: inhale more okonomiyaki or tuck into some local oysters with a glass of sake. When in Japan, right?

Day 8: Hiroshima – Kyoto

Location: Hiroshima

Meals Included: Breakfast

Another day of living your best life, let’s get it! Today, we’re hitting the tracks to Japan’s traditional capital, Kyoto. Home to over 2,000 temples and shrines, this place ticks all the spiritual boxes. We’ll visit the incredible Fushimi Inari Shrine – with plenty of time to hike to the top and explore the torii gates. Getting hangry? Grab some lunch before we stop by the Nishiki food market. Drool = 100% guaranteed.Then: the afternoon’s yours for exploring.

Day 9: Kyoto

Location: Kyoto

Meals Included: Breakfast

Rise n shine travel besties, it’s time to see what Kyoto’s got to offer. And we’re delving in deep with a full day of sightseeing. First up: Kinkaku-ji. Alter ego: Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Zen vibes allll day. Ready to feel like you’re in an enchanted land? Arashiyama’s gonna make your eyes sparkle. You’ve got some free time here, so make the most of it! Get lost in the bamboo forest. Cross Tokugetsukyo Bridge. See Tenryu-ji Temple and its lush garden. After breathing in fresh Japanese air and making those calves work wonders, bellies will be ready to rumbleee. Gather the gang and hit Pontocho. Atmospheric. Traditional. Bombastic-side-eye-exclusivity. This place is where REAL Kyoto foodies thrive.

Day 10: Kyoto – Osaka

Location: Kyoto

Meals Included: Breakfast

And just 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. Wanna put it to the test? We’ve got a date with Dotonbori Market on the agenda. Authentic street food that slaps? Sorted.

Day 11: Osaka

Location: Osaka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Tuck into another included brekkie before heading out to do your own thing. It’s your chance to uncover the real Osaka – so make every second count. Foodie? Opt for a ramen and gyoza cooking class that’ll have you scribbling down recipes like there''s no tomorrow. Culture-fiend? Hit Shitennoji Temple – one of the oldest in all of Japan. Tonight, we’ll regroup and head to a local eatery for a send-off to remember. And later? It starts with a ‘K’ and ends with an ‘E’. Nope, not kale. K-A-R-A-O-K-E time! This has been one hell of a trip.

Day 12: Osaka

Location: Osaka

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast it’s sayonara to the Land of the Rising Sun and our newfound travel fam. Swap Snapchats and start planning that next adventure.

What's Included

  • Transport

    High-speed trains and public transport

  • Guide

What's Not Included

  • Insurance

  • International Travel

Check out our Q&As

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Curious? Open-minded? Same. Topdeckers are a mixed bunch, but that’s what makes us special. They come from all over the globe and are aged between 18 and 39. Like you, they’re looking to feel real. To experience more. To embrace the unknown. To grow and connect – without judgement.

  • Is there an age limit on Topdeck trips?

    Yes. Our trips are specifically designed for those aged 18-39 years of age.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    https://www.topdeck.travel/resources/booking-flexibility

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    We operate Single Share across across all touring styles and will match you with someone of the same gender

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    E-Documentation will be sent

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes, we work dilligenltly with our partners to acheive this

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes you can on European Tours

Reviews of this operator

Sarah, Traveller  

Road Trip USA

01-Oct-2020

"The tour leader and bus driver were exceptional at all times. The optional activities were great and catered to a lot of different people. The tour as a whole was great and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would definitely book with Topdeck again."

Tobin, Traveller  

Japan Highlights

29-Nov-2019

“Incredible experience! I had done a tour with another company in Europe so thought I knew what to expect but was blown away with my Topdeck tour. Better accommodation, such a great group of people and our trip leader was incredible. Saw so much stuff I would have missed without him. Highly recommended!”

Emily, Traveller  

Jordan & Israel

08-Aug-2019

“I felt so safe everywhere we went and would go back in a heartbeat if I could! Can't wait to make my way back to Egypt! I would recommend this to everyone, any doubt you have about Egypt or any of the Middle Eastern countries will be washed away as soon as you step off that plane!”

Axel Taylor (Google Reviewer)  

So Topdeck, you have better...

07-Apr-2024

So Topdeck, you have better not of cancelled my trip that I paid over $6000, and now I can’t even login into my own account because of some 403 Error and need permission to gain access to my account. Get it sorted out because I am not flying all the way over to Lisbon Portugal to find my reservation at the hotel has been cancelled. This is absolutely unacceptable and disgraceful. You even got my flights wrong when I went to Tokyo back in 2017 and I ended up at the wrong airport. Topdeck get your act together and sort it out. And let me back into my own account.

Jayden Urch (Google Reviewer)  

Will cancel your trip 1...

16-Sep-2023

Will cancel your trip 1 week beforehand

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Topdeck allows you to make 1000 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Topdeck allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform topdeck, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Topdeck requires a minimum deposit of 60 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of topdeck charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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