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First Class Holidays · Independent Tour

Trains & Traditions of Japan

17-day rail tour across Japan from Tokyo to Hakone with local guides

Illustration of Trains & Traditions of Japan

First Class Holidays' Trains & Traditions of Japan is a 17-day independent tour that uses the Japan Rail Pass to connect seven major cities across the country. Beginning in Tokyo and ending in Hakone, the journey takes you by bullet train and local services through Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. On day 2 in Tokyo, an English-speaking guide helps you exchange your rail voucher and make seat reservations for your journeys ahead. At each destination, local guides join you for comprehensive city tours and hands-on cultural activities. In Kanazawa, you learn traditional gold leaf embellishment on lacquered plates; in Kyoto, you visit the Golden Pavilion temple and Nijo Castle; in Hiroshima, you explore the Peace Memorial Museum and travel by ferry to sacred Miyajima Island. You have free time to wander at your own pace on several days, particularly in Takayama's historic neighborhoods and Kyoto's temple districts. The pace is relaxed, with most cities offering two or three nights to settle in. This tour suits independent travellers who value guidance at key moments and enjoy the efficiency of Japan's renowned rail network.

What to know before you look closer

  • International flights to Japan are not included in the quoted price; First Class Holidays can arrange these separately
  • Meals are not included except where specified in the itinerary; you arrange your own dining
  • Day 2 and Day 3 descriptions in the itinerary are identical; confirm the exact schedule with the operator

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    On arrival meet your driver and be transferred to the hotel by private vehicle. Check in for a 3-night stay.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    On day 2, meet with your English-speaking private guide who will assist you in exchanging your rail voucher for your actual rail pass and assist with making any seat reservations for your various journeys. Continue your day visiting some of the main sights of Tokyo with your guide.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    On day 2, meet with your English-speaking private guide who will assist you in exchanging your rail voucher for your actual rail pass and assist with making any seat reservations for your various journeys. Continue your day visiting some of the main sights of Tokyo with your guide.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Takayama

    Takayama

    Leave Tokyo today, board the train to Takayama for a 2-night stay. After checking in the day is free for you to explore.

  5. Day 5overnight: Takayama

    Takayama

    Today, you will visit the morning markets, known as Asaichi, there are 2 morning markets held daily in Takayama. Begin the day at the more recent one, started in the early 20th century, then on to the older one, originating in the early 1800s. Takayama's markets are a great example of traditional establishments surviving the pressure from large chains and stores. With both markets near the old town, it is a wonderful area to stroll by, sample some of the delicious food, and admire the architecture. Towards the end of the tour, you may stop by a local sake brewery and try jisake, local sake at one of the breweries of Takayama.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Kanazawa

    Kanazawa

    Your next train brings you to Kanazawa for a 2-night stay. After checking in the day is free for you to explore.

  7. Day 7overnight: Kanazawa

    Kanazawa

    Meet your English-speaking local guide at your hotel for a comprehensive tour of Kanazawa. See Japan's top three gardens, Omicho Market and Kazue Machi, one of the preserved tea house districts. Here you can try your hand at one of the traditional crafts that Kanazawa is famous for, gold leaf embellishment. Roll up your sleeves and learn how to decorate a lacquered plate with delicate and intricate gold leaf, making a unique souvenir in the process. You will also walk to the neighbouring Higashi Chaya, the largest preserved geisha district in Kanazawa. Explore Shima Teahouse, which has been converted into a museum. Admire the beautiful details of this space that has been kept in the traditional style, observing the costumes and musical instruments that geisha used to entertain patrons. After learning more about Kanazawa's fascinating past, return to your hotel for the rest of the evening at leisure.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Your next train brings you to Kyoto for a 3-night stay. After checking in the day is free for you to explore.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Explore the former imperial capital of Japan with a knowledgeable local guide, utilising Kyoto's comprehensive bus system to visit some of the city's famous World Heritage Sites. Start your day with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) which was originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun but, at his request, became a Buddhist Temple after his death. Next, make your way to Nijo Castle, an ornamental castle famous for its architecture, decorated sliding doors and 'chirping' nightingale floors. Then, head to Heian Shrine, built on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the capital's foundation in Kyoto. Finally, make a visit to Kiyomizu Temple (Pure Water Temple) and enjoy the panoramic views of Kyoto from the 13-metre-high veranda jutting out from the Main Hall.

  10. Day 10overnight: Kyoto

    Kyoto

    A free day for you to explore as you please.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Hiroshima

    Hiroshima

    Your next train brings to you Hiroshima for a 2-night stay. After checking in the day is free for you to explore.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Hiroshima

    Hiroshima

    This morning, meet your guide before transferring by public transit to Memorial Peace Park, Hiroshima's tribute to its tragic past and hopes for the future. Visit the Peace Memorial Museum next, whose exhibits display artefacts and photographs of the bombing and its aftermath. After some free time for lunch take the train to the ferry to cross the shore to Miyajima Island, an ancient holy site, a sacred and beautiful national treasure of Japan. Featuring stunning Shinto shrines, Buddhist pagodas and temples, spectacular natural beauty, and charming Edo-style walkways, the island offers a slice of ancient Japanese culture. Afterwards, make some time to stop and shop at the charming souvenir shops in town, or try some local delicacies before returning to the mainland and your hotel.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Osaka

    Osaka

    Your next bullet train brings you to Osaka. On arrival meet your guide and walk around the main attractions of this vibrant city.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Hakone

    Hakone

    Today, you will board the train heading towards Odawara station. Continue on by train to your hotel in Hakone and check in for a 2-night stay.

  15. Day 15overnight: Hakone

    Hakone

    This morning you will be met at your accommodation in Hakone by your guide for the day to explore Hakone National Park, one of Japan's most iconic parks in the shadow of Mount Fuji. Throughout the tour you will have a chance to take a glimpse at this awe-inspiring mountain, weather permitting. Explore Hakone using an included 3-day pass which provides local transport. Take the cable car from Gora Station to the Hakone Ropeway and soar above the active volcanic site, Descend the mountain to Togendai, where you'll board a pirate ship and sail across Lake Ashi. A crater formed by a volcano nearly three-thousand years ago, these charming waters offer beautiful views of the enveloping mountains. Included in today's tour is entrance to the Hakone Open Air Museum, one of the must-see places in Hakone.

  16. Day 16railovernight: Tokyo

    Tokyo

    Use your Hakone Free Pass to make your way to Tokyo today, to catch the train for your onward journey to Tokyo.

  17. Day 17

    Departure

    Your package ends with the check out from your hotel and an included transfer to the airport. We can assist with your onwards journey either within Japan or beyond.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Exchange your Japan Rail Pass voucher with an English-speaking guide and make seat reservations for your train journeys
  • Day 5Visit Takayama's two morning markets, Asaichi, including the older market originating in the early 1800s
  • Day 7Learn traditional gold leaf embellishment on a lacquered plate in Kanazawa, one of the city's famous crafts
  • Day 9Visit Kinkakuji Temple, the Golden Pavilion, originally built as a Shogun's retirement villa and later converted to a Buddhist temple
  • Day 12Tour the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, then take the train and ferry to Miyajima Island, an ancient sacred site

Included

  • 16 nights accommodation
  • Admission fees, tours and transfers as described
  • Transportation, rail journeys, transfers and ground transportation as shown

Not included

  • Flights to Japan - we can arrange this, Please contact us for details.
  • Meals and Sightseeing not shown as included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Japan Rail Pass is included, covering bullet trains and local services throughout the route. Day 2 includes assistance exchanging your rail voucher and making seat reservations.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Independent with local guide support. You travel by train independently between cities, and English-speaking local guides join you at each key location for guided tours and cultural activities.
How many nights do you spend in each city?
Tokyo 3 nights, Takayama 2 nights, Kanazawa 2 nights, Kyoto 3 nights, Hiroshima 2 nights, Osaka 1 night, Hakone 2 nights.
What is included in the price?
16 nights accommodation, Japan Rail Pass, admission fees, tours, transfers, and ground transportation as described in the itinerary. Flights, meals, and sightseeing not listed are not included.
How much free time is there?
Free days or afternoons to explore on your own are built into the schedule, including full free days in Takayama (day 4), Kanazawa (day 6), and Kyoto (day 10).

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