About this trip
A 14-day sweep across Japan that moves from Tokyo through the Japanese Alps and Kyoto down to Hiroshima and Osaka, covering a lot of the country's greatest hits in one go.
Expect a mix of shrines, castles, gardens and old towns, with UNESCO sites like Shirakawa-go and Kiyomizu-dera alongside city staples such as Asakusa and Dotonbori. There's also a day built around Mt Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko, and a stop at Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.
You'll stay in 3-star hotels throughout, with longer stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Okayama and Osaka giving you a bit more time to settle before the next move.
What you'll do
- Explore Meiji Shrine, Asakusa and Nakamise Street in Tokyo
- See Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko and pass through Hakone National Park
- Visit the UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go and Takayama's old town
- Walk up to Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto
- Tour Himeji Castle and pay respects at Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima's Itsukushima Shrine
- Eat your way through Kuromon Ichiba market and Dotonbori in Osaka
- You change base regularly, with one-night stops in Nagano and Kanazawa before longer stays in Kyoto, Okayama and Osaka
- Covers a broad sweep of the country, so it suits travellers who want an overview rather than deep time in any one place
Worth it if you're a first-timer wanting affordable coverage of multiple regions with strong guides. Think twice if you need detailed site explanations, tight itinerary pacing, or predictable group punctuality.
- Guides consistently stand out as knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely helpful with free-time advice and last-minute accommodation.
- Excellent value for 14 days covering multiple regions; bus driver safety and bathroom breaks praised; breakfast buffets solid.
- Rushed pacing means limited time to properly explore each area; some guides' English clarity caused confusion on daily logistics.
- Final hotels occasionally underwhelming and cramped; plan dinner spots ahead on free days; some hotel locations poor for independent exploration.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Sep is cheapest — from £4,905, about 9% below the priciest month (Mar).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Narita · 20 Sept – 21 Sept
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