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Euroventure · Group tour

Japan Group Tour

13-day guided group tour across Japan by train and public transport

Illustration of Japan Group Tour

Euroventure's 13-day Japan Group Tour is a budget-friendly, guided journey through seven Japanese cities, starting in Tokyo and ending in Osaka. An Adventure Leader accompanies your group of up to 18 throughout the tour, handling logistics and coordinating activities while you explore by bullet train, local rail, and public transport. Your 7-day JR Rail Pass covers most journeys, including the spectacular runs from Hakone to Kyoto and Kyoto to Hiroshima. The itinerary balances major sights with cultural immersion: you will take a sushi-making class in Tokyo, hike to the Great Buddha in Kamakura, cross Lake Ashi by pirate ship, attend a geisha performance in Kyoto, and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Miyajima's floating torii gate. You will stay in dorm rooms in backpacker hostels (except a capsule hotel in Osaka) and move frequently, typically one to four nights per city. This tour suits first-time rail travellers, budget-conscious explorers, and those who want the structure of a group and guide while experiencing Japan's major regions.

What to know before you look closer

  • Accommodation is in dorm rooms in most cities; only Osaka offers a private capsule hotel (paid). Single or double room upgrades are available at extra cost.
  • Meals and drinks are not included in the from-price. Flights to Tokyo and from Osaka are your own arrangement.
  • The group is capped at 18 people, but you'll be sharing dorm accommodation with other travellers.
  • The group moves frequently, staying only one to four nights in each city; this is a fast-paced itinerary.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Arrive in Tokyo and meet your Adventure Leader at the hostel. Take in views of the capital from a skyscraper before exploring Shinjuku, Akihabara and Harajuku.

  2. Day 2overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Time in a traditional bathhouse, a visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, the Imperial Palace Gardens, and the ancient Sumo district.

  3. Day 3overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Explore Asakusa and Sensoji Temple, take a sushi-making class, and visit the Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko statue.

  4. Day 4overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Final day in Tokyo, with the Edo-Tokyo Museum and Sumo Museum among the highlights, before travelling on to Kamakura.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Kamakura

    Tokyo to Kamakura

    After brunch in Tokyo, train to Kamakura, Japan's medieval capital. Check out ancient shrines and hike to Kotoku-in temple to see the Great Buddha statue, then relax on the beach.

  6. Day 6overnight: Hakone

    Kamakura to Hakone

    Cross Lake Ashi aboard a pirate ship, with views of Mount Fuji on a clear day, and sample local Fuji-style black eggs.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Kyoto

    Hakone to Kyoto

    Board your first bullet train to Kyoto, covering around 440km in just over two hours. Wander the hillside streets to the stunning Kiyomizu temple.

  8. Day 8overnight: Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Attend a live geisha performance featuring a tea ceremony, puppet show, traditional music and flower arranging.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kyoto

    Kyoto (day trip to Arashiyama)

    Hike through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, visit a monkey park, and take a trip to Nara.

  10. Day 10overnight: Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Final day in Kyoto, taking in the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and the city's temples, shrines and nightlife, before heading to Hiroshima.

  11. Day 11overnight: Hiroshima

    Kyoto to Hiroshima

    Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, then take a ferry to Miyajima Island to reach the Itsukushima shrine and its torii gate standing in the sea.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Osaka (capsule hotel)

    Hiroshima to Osaka

    Bullet train to Osaka, arriving in time for lunch. Explore the food capital of Japan around Nanba, Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.

  13. Day 13rail

    Osaka to Tokyo

    Say goodbye to the group over breakfast in Osaka before catching the final bullet train back to Tokyo, arriving at 13:42pm as the tour ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: take a sushi-making class in Tokyo, then visit the Shibuya Crossing.
  • Day 5Day 5: hike to Kotoku-in temple to see the Great Buddha statue in Kamakura.
  • Day 6Day 6: cross Lake Ashi aboard a pirate ship with views of Mount Fuji on a clear day.
  • Day 7Day 7: board your first bullet train to Kyoto, covering around 440 km in just over two hours.
  • Day 8Day 8: attend a live geisha performance featuring a tea ceremony, puppet show, traditional music, and flower arranging in Kyoto.
  • Day 11Day 11: visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, then take a ferry to Miyajima Island to reach the Itsukushima shrine and its torii gate standing in the sea.

Included

  • Accommodation in dorm rooms (excluding capsule hotel in Osaka)
  • Transport within Japan including a 7-day JR Rail Pass
  • An Adventure Leader who travels with the group throughout Japan
  • Included activities: Tokyo skyscraper views, Tsukiji Outer Market, Asakusa & Sensoji Temple, sushi-making class, Akihabara, Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge and East Gardens, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Sumo Museum, Daibutsu Buddha at Kotoku-in, Zeniarai Benzaiten hike (Kamakura), Old Tokaido hike and Lake Ashi cruise (Hakone), Kiyomizu Dera, Hozugawa River cruise, Iwatayama Monkey Park, Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, cycling city tour, Daisen-in meditation class, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion (Kyoto), Peace Memorial Museum and Miyajima day trip (Hiroshima), Osaka Castle

Not included

  • Visas
  • Flights to tour start and end points
  • Meals and drinks
  • Optional activities

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. A 7-day JR Rail Pass and all transport within Japan on trains and public transport are included. Flights to Tokyo and from Osaka are not included.
Is the tour guided or independent?
It is a guided group tour. An Adventure Leader travels with the group throughout the 13 days.
Which trains does the tour use?
The tour uses the Shinkansen (bullet train) for longer journeys between cities, such as Hakone to Kyoto and Kyoto to Hiroshima. Local trains and public transport connect shorter distances.
What accommodation is included?
Accommodation is in dorm rooms in hostels across Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. A private capsule hotel is provided in Osaka. Single or double room upgrades are available at extra cost.
When does the tour run?
Departures are scheduled for August, September, and October 2026. The price is GBP 1,899 (USD 2,536) for all confirmed departures.
Are meals included?
No. Meals and drinks are not included, though many activities such as the sushi-making class and geisha performance dinner are part of the package.

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