Spirit of Japan

Want a whistlestop tour of Japan? Look no further! From a Samurai class and sake tasting to wandering through the stunning Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, we're cramming bucket-list activities into one incredible week. You'll visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone, three of Japan’s must-see destinations. We're here for a good time, not a long time! Whoever said good things come in small packages was clearly talking about this tour!

 

 

 

What's Included

Activities
Exploring Tokyo Senso-Ji Temple Sake Tasting Samurai Experience Yoyogi Park Meiji Shrine Omoide Yokocho Ropeway Cable Car Pirate Ship Cruise Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Gion Exploring Tea Ceremony Fushimi-Inari Red Gates Golden Temple Visit

Accommodation
6 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!
Where we stay!
Tokyo
Hakone
Kyoto

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!

Bucket List
Samurai Class
Day 4 - Osaka Japan - train mount fuji
Incredible views
Bamboo Forest
Tokyo Exploring

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
Day 1

Welcome to Tokyo!

You're here! You've made it to Tokyo with Dear Community for one epic week of sushi, sake, karaoke and temples! Make your way to the hostel, drop off your stuff and get ready for the adventure to begin. We'll all meet up for a welcome dinner tonight, get to know each other and head out for our first taste of Japanese nightlife.

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 our final full day in Japan? Today we're ticking the final few bucket list moments off the list! This morning we are up early to visit the Fushimi-Inari Red Gates, the earlier we get there, the quieter it'll be! After this, we'll explore the Golden Temple before heading over to the moment you've all been waiting for...IT'S SAMURAI TIME! We'll *master* the art of Samurai and learn from the professionals. This is an epic way to round off our short but sweet Japanese adventure.

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

Chilled Checkout

It's time to say goodbye! If this is your final day in Japan, safe travels! If you are staying on a little longer for some more exploring, your Tru Leader will be on hand to give you some pointers and suggestions for exploring more. It's been the most amazing week, and we've made memories to last a lifetime. See you next time!

Kyoto
Help with onward travel

Trip Departure Dates

Dates START - ENDAvailability REMAINING SPOTSPrice PER PERSON
January 2026
DATE: START - END29 Jan 2026 - 4 Feb 2026 priceU$1,595.00

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).

What is the closest airport to the end destination?

The closest airport to the end destination that offers international flights is Kansai International Airport (KIX). You’ll need to take a train from Kyoto Station, which takes around 75 minutes to reach the airport.

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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