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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Grand Tour of Japan by Rail

Japan north to south: Sapporo to Fukuoka by bullet train, 16 days

Illustration of Grand Tour of Japan by Rail

Great Rail Journeys operates this 16-day escorted tour across Japan, departing London Heathrow and returning there after traversing three islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu. The journey runs north to south from Sapporo to Fukuoka, with a UK Tour Manager accompanying the group throughout. You will ride four Shinkansen bullet trains at speeds up to 186 mph, visit Mount Fuji from Hakone's cable car, cruise Lake Ashi, explore Kyoto's temples and gardens, participate in a zen tea ceremony, witness Hiroshima's Peace Memorial sites, and walk past Miyajima's O-Torii Gate. Most days combine guided tours of cities and cultural landmarks with free time to explore independently. You stay in 4 and 5-star hotels, receive breakfast daily and four dinners, and have all rail, coach, and ferry transport arranged. The pace is balanced, with two-night stays in larger cities and single nights in smaller destinations, making it well suited to repeat rail travellers seeking guided comfort and cultural immersion.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement from GBP 6,899 is substantially above half the standard rate; confirm the exact charge for your room type when booking.
  • The tour includes four dinners; most other meals are independent, so budget accordingly for lunch and dinner on free evenings.
  • Group size reaches up to 40 travellers, which may affect the pace of some guided walks in busy sites like Kyoto temples.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    Overnight flight to Hokkaido

    Meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow, ready for the flight to Japan. Japan brims with fascinating culture, spirituality and modernity, spread over an archipelago of more than 14,000 islands.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sapporo

    Arriving in Sapporo

    Arrive in Sapporo, the mountainous capital of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's main islands. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome meeting and welcome drink before heading out for the first dinner together at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Sapporo

    The historic port city of Otaru

    Explore Otaru with an English-speaking guide. Visit the preserved canal area lined with late 19th-century warehouses, the Old Aoyama Villa, and the Otaru Music Box Museum. Free evening in Sapporo.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Hakodate

    Around Uchiura Bay by rail to Hakodate

    Travel by Hokuto limited express train to Hakodate, skirting around Uchiura Bay. Afternoon sightseeing tour including Goryokaku fortress and the Motomachi district. Evening ascent of Mount Hakodate by ropeway cable car, followed by dinner at a local beer hall.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Tokyo

    To Tokyo aboard the futuristic Bullet train

    Early morning visit to the Hakodate fish market. Board the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo (513 miles in just over four hours), travelling beneath the Tsugaru Strait and emerging on Honshu. Arrive mid-afternoon in Shinjuku. Free evening to explore.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Tokyo

    Uncovering the charm of Tokyo on a guided tour

    Coach tour of Tokyo with English-speaking guide: Harajuku's Meiji-Jingu shrine, Shibuya crossing, Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa. Rest of the day free to explore independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Hakone

    A journey to lakeside Hakone in Mount Fuji's shadow

    Travel from Shinjuku station on the Shonan Express to Odawara, then by Hakone Ropeway cable car with possible views of Mount Fuji. Arrive at Lake Ashi for a pirate boat cruise across the crater lake to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Matsumoto

    Spectacular Mount Fuji views and on to Matsumoto

    Visit the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre and observation deck. Travel to Matsumoto to visit Matsumoto Castle ('Crow Castle') and the Nakamachi District. Evening at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Kanazawa

    Matsumoto miso factory and a scenic drive to Kanazawa

    Tour of a miso factory. Drive along the Mitsuboshi Kaidou road, visiting Takayama Jinya government building and the preserved village of Shirakawa with its gassho-zukuri thatched houses. Arrive in Kanazawa. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10railovernight: Kyoto

    Colourful gardens and samurai history in Kanazawa

    Morning stroll through Kenrokuen garden. Visit the Nomura House samurai residence. Free time at Omicho market. Board the Shinkansen to Tsuruga, then regional train to Kyoto. Free evening in Kyoto.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11railovernight: Kyoto

    Uncovering the traditions of captivating Kyoto

    Visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) temple. Participate in a zen tea ceremony. Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum. Tour of the Gion neighbourhood and performance at the Gion Corner Theatre. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12railovernight: Hiroshima

    The serenity and wildlife of ancient Nara

    Coach to Nara for a guided walking tour of Todaiji Temple (Great Buddha) and the deer park. Travel to Osaka by coach, then board the bullet train to Hiroshima. Free evening in Hiroshima.

    Meals: Breakfast

  13. Day 13railovernight: Hiroshima

    Exploring Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

    Guided tour of Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum. Afternoon travel by train and ferry to Miyajima Island for a walking tour including Itsukushima Shrine and the O-Torii Gate. Return to Hiroshima. Dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14railovernight: Fukuoka

    By bullet train into the mountains of Kyushu

    Bullet train from Hiroshima to Hakata (Fukuoka) on the island of Kyushu (150 miles in just over an hour). Guided sightseeing tour including Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine and the Kyushu National Museum. Western-style farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  15. Day 15overnight: In flight

    Fukuoka and homeward bound

    Free time after breakfast to explore Fukuoka independently, including Kushida Shrine, Asian Art Museum and Ohori Park. Afternoon transfer to the airport for the overnight flight back to London.

    Meals: Breakfast

  16. Day 16

    Arriving in London

    Land back in the United Kingdom. Journey comes to a close and travellers are free to continue their onward travels home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Travel by Hokuto Limited Express train from Sapporo, skirting Uchiura Bay to Hakodate, then ascend Mount Hakodate by ropeway cable car at sunset.
  • Day 5Board the Shinkansen bullet train from Hakodate to Tokyo, travelling 513 miles in just over four hours beneath the Tsugaru Strait.
  • Day 7Ride the Hakone Ropeway cable car with views of Mount Fuji, then cruise across Lake Ashi on a pirate boat to the hotel.
  • Day 11Participate in an authentic zen tea ceremony in Kyoto, then attend a performance at Gion Corner Theatre in the historic Gion neighbourhood.
  • Day 13Travel by train and ferry to Miyajima Island to walk past the O-Torii Gate and explore Itsukushima Shrine.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 13 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Sapporo, Fukuoka to London Heathrow
  • Breakfast each day
  • 4 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between Sapporo to Hakone, Kyoto to Hakata (1 item per person)
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes Standard Class rail travel on the Hokuto Limited Express, four Shinkansen bullet trains, and a regional train to Kyoto, as well as all coach and ferry travel.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish, and most days include guided tours with English-speaking guides.
What is the single supplement?
Single rooms cost from GBP 6,899 versus GBP 5,499 for double occupancy; confirm the exact amount for your chosen hotels.
When does the tour operate?
Departures run in March, April, May, September, and October, with dates in 2026 and 2027. Check Great Rail Journeys for current availability.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Four dinners are provided at local restaurants; lunch and most other dinners are independent.
What is not included?
Travel insurance and cancellation protection are not included; most lunches and dinners are independent, as are drinks and personal expenses.

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