Legend of Japan

Looking for the ultimate Japan adventure? Want to discover the history, culture and food scene of Japan in 12 incredible days? Been dreaming of visiting Japan, but you don't know where to start? We've got you sorted! This adventure takes you through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and more in 12 days. With SO many bucket-list moments, this is the ultimate way to explore Japan in a stress-free way. Leave the planning up to us and thank us later for curating the ultimate route across one of the most amazing countries in the world!

 

 

 

What's Included

Activities
Sushi Class Hiroshima Peace Museum Sake Tasting Exploring Tokyo Senso-Ji Temple Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai Hiroshima Orientation Walk Ropeway Cable Car Pirate Ship Cruise Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Gion Exploring and Tea Ceremony Fushimi-Inari Red Gates Golden Temple Visit Samurai Experience Osaka Castle & Neon Streets Night Cemetery Walking Tour

Accommodation
11 nights Accommodation Mix of hostel dorms and twin share rooms

Transport
Public Transport (Metro, Bus and Train) Bullet Train (Shinkanshen)

Tour Leader
Your Guide! Like travelling with your best mates and one of them happens to know where they're going!

Meals
Breakfast x 1 Lunch x 1 Dinner x 1
Where we stay!
Tokyo
Hakone
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Osaka

Welcome to Japan! Tokyo is our first stop and we have fabulous hostel lined up for you. It's easy to get to from the airport and it's nearby all sorts of great things! There's cool shops, sushi and plenty of other things to get you started on your Japanese Adventure.

It's time for Hakone, this town is in the mountains and its famous for its stunning views over Mount Fuji and Lake Ashinoko. Here will discover the beautiful nature of Japan and of course get some epic photos along the way.

japan - accommodation - kyoto 2

Welcome to Kyoto! It's so beautiful here! Get a good night's sleep, and then we'll explore the Kinkaku-Ji Golden Temple and the famous Bamboo Forest!

It's time for Hiroshima! Here we're staying at another great hostel, with amazing staff and a perfect location, we'll feel right at home here :)

Osaka is up next, and we have another hostel to relax in at night! We'll need a good night's sleep because we've got a big few days ahead. We'll drop our bags off at the hostel and head to Neon Street, which luckily for us is not too far away.

Bucket List
Wander through Osaka
Sushi Class
Group of young travellers visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Visit Hiroshima
Tokyo Exploring

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12
Day 1

Welcome to Tokyo!

You've touched-down in Tokyo with Dear Community! It's even better than the photos, right? Once you have landed, make your way over to the hostel, check in, meet your amazing Tru Leader and, if you're not too jet-lagged, head out to explore! This evening, we’ll meet for a welcome dinner and get to know each other before enjoying our first night out in the city.

Tokyo
Day 1 - Tokyo Japan - lanterns
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - city night 3
Day 2

Temples and Sake!

Today, we're kicking off with a walk around Tokyo to get familiar with this epic city. Our amazing Tru Leader will show you around, you'll visit some of their favourite spots (you might even stop for a matcha on the way!) No walking tour would be complete without visiting the Senso-Ji Temple, so we'll explore this amazing temple, soaking in some culture before we tick off another Japanese must this afternoon. Fancy trying the local tipple? Sake tasting is calling our name! After sampling the different flavours of rice wine, we'll head out for a night in Shinjuku. Think bright lights and 10/10 vibes! The perfect first full day in Japan.

Tokyo
Exploring Tokyo, Senso-Ji Temple, Sake Tasting
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - temple people
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - city night
Day 9 Kyoto - sake brewery
Day 3

Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine and more!

Morning! It's our final full day in Tokyo, and we're exploring some more of the city's highlights. We'll explore Yoyogi Park, which is a stunning spot in the middle of the crazy city, Meiji Shrine, an iconic spot in this city and Omoide Yokocho, a super cool area, full of food spots and bars, which translates to Memory Lane! After another busy exploring, we'll head for some food and get ready for an early start tomorrow - but if karaoke is calling your name, that can be on the cards too, of course!

Tokyo
Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - activity 2
Day 4

Views on Views on Views

Ready for a more peaceful part of this amazing country? Odawara is where we are heading next, and it is known for being home to a beautiful castle! It's also the gateway to Hakone, so it's the perfect place to be. Once we arrive, we'll jump on a cable car to take in some of the views before heading for a sightseeing cruise! We'll then check into our next accommodation and have some free time in the afternoon to do whatever you fancy, hit up some bakeries, more local attractions, or just chill - completely up to you!

Hakone
Ropeway Cable Car & Pirate Ship Cruise
Day 10 Hakone Mount Fuji - Pirate ship
Mount Fuji Autumn
Day 5

Bamboo Forest, Gion Exploring and Tea Ceremony

Kyoto is calling! We're headed to our final stop on this whistlestop tour of Japan. We'll arrive in the early afternoon and take our time exploring the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. This afternoon, we'll also get to explore some of Gion and discover its famous Giesha district. In the evening, we'll also experience a traditional Tea Ceremony in the Golden Temple, if you're looking for a proper immersive experience - this is it!

Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Gion Exploring and Tea Ceremony
Day 8 Kyoto - Bamboo Forest with geisha
Day 6

Fushimi-Inari Red Gates and Samurai Experience

Ready for more bucket-list moments? We'll you're in for a proper trip today! This morning we'll get up early to explore the Fushimi-Inari Red Gates to explore before the crowds. Afterwards, we'll visit the Golden Temple, it's even more beautiful in person! After an amazing morning, it's only right we have an afternoon to match it - how does a Samurai class sound? We'll get all dressed up, learn the basic skills and try them out in this awesome experience.

Kyoto
Fushimi-Inari Red Gates, Golden Temple, Visit Samurai Experience
Day 9 Kyoto - iconic attraction
Day 9 Kyoto - iconic attraction 3
Day 7

Night Cemetery Walking Tour

Grab your matcha, we’re off to Koyasan! We're headed towards an area in the mountains that's famous for its numerous temples. In the afternoon, we'll have some free time before heading out on a walking tour of the oldest cemetery in Japan. We'll learn all about its history and be immersed in the spirit!

Koyasan
Night Cemetery Walking Tour
1 x Dinner
Day 8

Osaka Exploring

Did someone say bullet train? We're travelling towards Osaka and we're jumping on the fastest form of land transport - we'll zoom over 500km toward Osaka. Once we arrive, we'll visit the stunning Osaka Castle, it's like something out of a Disney movie! This evening, after a bit of free time, we'll explore Dotonbori, famous for its bright neon signs. The retro vibe of the neighbourhood is super fun and the perfect backdrop for a great night out!

Osaka
Osaka Castle & Neon Streets
1 x Breakfast
Day 4 - Osaka Japan - city day
Day 9

Exploring Hiroshima and visit the Downtown District

Ready for some history? We're heading to Hiroshima this morning, one of the two cities that were victim of the atomic bombings in 1945. Today, it's a bustling city that is SO worth visiting. We'll start our time here with an orientation walk around some of the key locations before heading downtown to the heart of the city.

Hiroshima
Hiroshima Orientation & Downtown Walk
Stunning view of Hiroshima lake
Group of young travellers visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Day 10

Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

It is only right that we lean into the history of such an infamous location, so today we will head to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Here we'll learn about Hiroshima before, during and after the events on 6th August 1945. After a powerful morning, we'll have a free afternoon for you to spend as you please, explore more of the city's highlights, browse the shops or head to one of the many parks in the city for a peaceful escape.

Hiroshima
Peace Museum & Orientation Walk
View of Itsukushima Shrine from the shores of Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan
Day 11

Slicing and dicing in a Sushi Class

This morning we're up early to head back to Osaka! After spending the last 10 days being surrounded by amazing food and sensational sushi, it's only right that we make our own, right? Before lunch, we'll head over to slice and dice at a traditional class, and we'll get to taste the fruits of our labour for lunch - what a treat! For our final afternoon in Osaka, we'll head out, with full bellies, for a few hours of sightseeing and soaking in every last magical moment. Then it's time for one last group meal - we're not crying, you are...it's going to be emotional for sure!

Osaka
Sushi Class
1 x Lunch
Day 3 - Japan Tokyo - sushi
Day 12

Chilled Checkout

Can you believe how fast these last 12 days have flown! Time does fly when you are having the time of your life in one of the most amazing countries on earth. Whether you are headed home or you have a few more days of exploring, your Tru Leader will be there to guide you in the right direction. See you next time Dear Community!

Osaka
Help with onward travel
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - activity

Trip Departure Dates

Dates START - ENDAvailability REMAINING SPOTSPrice PER PERSON
February 2026
DATE: START - END5 Feb 2026 - 16 Feb 2026 priceU$2,750.00

FAQS

Where does the trip start & finish?

The trip starts in Tokyo and finishes in Kyoto

Which airport do I need to fly into?

You can fly into either Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT).

How do I get to the start hostel?

There are many options, as Japan’s public transport is frequent. You can jump on a bus from the airport, take the monorail or jump in a taxi! The hostel is around 40 minutes from Haneda Airport and 1 hour and 15 minutes from Narita Airport.

What is the closest airport to the end destination?

The closest airport to the end destination is Kansai International Airport (KIX).

What accommodation is included on this trip?

The accommodation on this trip is shared dorms and twin share hotel rooms. For the duration of the tour you will only be sharing with members of your group.

How much is a night’s accommodation at our start hostel?

If you would like to book a pre-night please contact our sales team on info@trutravels.com

What is the currency?

The currency is ¥ Japanese Yen.

Bring some cash to use for the first few days. You will also need cash if you are travelling to the start accommodation by train. There are plenty of ATMs all over Japan where you can withdraw money as you go so you don’t have to carry huge sums of cash around. The main currency used is Japan is the Yen (¥.) Make sure to let your bank know that you will be travelling abroad and to check for any international charges for using your card.

Is my money protected?

Yes! You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.

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