Australia
USA
Self-Guided Adventure
Tailor-made
7 Night Price Cruncher
7 Nights: from US$1529 per person (twin share) Trip Code: SGA006
Japan has long had a reputation for being one of the world's most expensive countries. Yet a trip to Japan needn't break the bank; superb value budget hotels & Japanese inns, cheap & efficient local transport and great food at fantastic prices mean a week in Japan is accessible to nearly everyone! Read more >
Starting in Tokyo you will spend three nights based in the old town district of Asakusa, surrounded by quaint shops and restaurants just moments' walk from Senso-ji -Tokyo's oldest and perhaps best-loved temple.
After getting to know the capital city you will move on to the Fuji-Hakone National Park for a taste of what rural Japan has to offer. The contrast with Tokyo is dramatic, and if you are lucky with the weather you will have some spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the surrounding countryside.
Here you will stay in a traditional Japanese inn sleeping on thick futon mattresses placed directly on the tatami mat floor. The inn has a large outdoor hot spring bath which can be reserved for private use - a great opportunity to experience the Japanese passion for onsen bathing!
From Hakone you will catch the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto for a three-night stay in Japan's city of history and culture. Kyoto is one of the best places in the world to visit temples, shrines, gardens and historical buildings of every kind. It's also home to a wealth of arts & crafts, vintage shopping and restaurants. Be sure to check out our recommendations in your tailor-made InsideJapan Info-Pack!
Please note
In order to keep travel costs down, this trip is designed to start in Tokyo (either at Tokyo Narita or Tokyo Haneda Airports) and finish in Kyoto with a departure from Osaka Kansai Airport. For this you will need an "open-jaw" flight ticket into Tokyo and out of Osaka Kansai. Alternatively if you would prefer to fly home from Tokyo we can tailor the itinerary to take you back to the capital.
Looking to upgrade?
Our Price Cruncher package has been designed to be as inexpensive as possible whilst still offering comfort and quality along the way - tried and tested accommodation in great locations along with some of the classic Japan sights. However, if you would like a slightly longer trip, or prefer higher grade accommodation do ask us or check out our other Self-Guided Adventures.
Our Golden Route itinerary is a 9 night itinerary and has classic, superior and deluxe options available. And of course, we can tailor a trip to be exactly what you are looking for.
What's included
- Seven nights' accommodation
- Breakfast every day
- All transport between destinations including an arrival shuttle transfer
- Shinkansen bullet train ticket
- Manaca transport card with 2,500 yen credit for city transport
- Hakone Free Pass for local transport in the Hakone region
- Tea ceremony experience in Kyoto
- Your personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination unless otherwise specified
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
- Baggage handling and luggage forwarding
Trip Highlights
- Travel on the world-famous bullet train
- Gaze at Mount Fuji from Hakone National Park
- Soak in hot springs and enjoy traditional Japanese lodgings
- See the shrines, temples and gardens of Kyoto
- Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony
- Explore Tokyo from Asakusa to Ikebukuro
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
What, where, when and how...
7 Night Price Cruncher - 8 Days - Accommodation
7 Night Price Cruncher - 8 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Explore the many faces of Tokyo, from the manga cafés of Akihabara “electric town” to the old-town district of Asakusa and peaceful Hamarikyu Gardens.
Upon arrival at the airport you will use a shard shuttle transfer to make your way to your hotel in the historic Asakusa district of the city.
Tokyo is renowned for its futuristic architecture, high-rise buildings and characteristic neon signage – but in Asakusa you'll find an old-fashioned atmosphere much more akin to the Tokyo of yesteryear. Just a short walk from your hotel is Senso-ji, the oldest and best-loved temple in the city, whilst across the river you'll find Tokyo's newest landmark: the 634m Tokyo Skytree.
Your second and third days in Tokyo will be free for you to explore the city's many faces, from the famously busy scramble crossing at Shibuya to the comic book stores of Akihabara “electric town”.
If you're hankering after some peace and quiet, you need only head to Hamarikyu Gardens or take a leisurely stroll around the Imperial Palace grounds for a break from the buzz of the city.
In the evening, we recommend making your way to Shinjuku to take advantage of some of the country's best restaurants, bars, clubs and karaoke establishments. Alternatively, you might like to head out of the city to visit seaside Kamakura, the opulent templesa and shrine of Nikko, or hike up Mount Takao for views of Mount Fuji.Overnight: Richmond Asakusa
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Day 4
Soak in a hot spring in the shadow of Mount Fuji in one of Japan's most beautiful national parks.
Leaving Tokyo behind you will travel by Shinkansen bullet train to the lakes and mountains of the Fuji-Hakone National Park, where you will have a full day to explore the area.
Soak in hot springs, visit the world-class art galleries, take a pirate ship cruise on lake Ashi and hopefully catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji towering above the skyline. All transport in the National Park, by ropeway, cable car, switch-back railway and boat is covered by the included Hakone Freepasses.
In the evening you can retire to your traditional ryokan inn for the night. Here you'll have a chance to relax in the outdoor bath which can be reserved for private use.Overnight: Fuji Hakone Guest House
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Day 5-8
Discover the cultural heart of Japan as you go geisha-spotting, participate in a tea ceremony and wander the temples and shrines of Kyoto.
The final stop on your adventure is Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, leaving it with a rich heritage of some of the world's finest temples, shrines, gardens and other historical buildings.
Whether you decide to head north to visit the stunning Golden Pavilion and the Zen gardens at Ryoan-ji Temple or choose to wander Nishiki Market for a taste of some weird and wonderful Japanese food, your stay in Kyoto is bound to be a highlight of your trip.
As part of your itinerary we have included a tea ceremony experience at a traditional teahouse near the historic Gion quarter – a fascinating insight into Japanese culture.
Sadly your adventures must come to an end, and on your final morning we will provide a train ticket from Kyoto Station direct to Osaka Kansai Airport in good time for your departure. Have a safe flight home.Overnight: OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo
-
Day 1-3
Explore the many faces of Tokyo, from the manga cafés of Akihabara “electric town” to the old-town district of Asakusa and peaceful Hamarikyu Gardens.
Upon arrival at the airport you will use a shard shuttle transfer to make your way to your hotel in the historic Asakusa district of the city.
Tokyo is renowned for its futuristic architecture, high-rise buildings and characteristic neon signage – but in Asakusa you'll find an old-fashioned atmosphere much more akin to the Tokyo of yesteryear. Just a short walk from your hotel is Senso-ji, the oldest and best-loved temple in the city, whilst across the river you'll find Tokyo's newest landmark: the 634m Tokyo Skytree.
Your second and third days in Tokyo will be free for you to explore the city's many faces, from the famously busy scramble crossing at Shibuya to the comic book stores of Akihabara “electric town”.
If you're hankering after some peace and quiet, you need only head to Hamarikyu Gardens or take a leisurely stroll around the Imperial Palace grounds for a break from the buzz of the city.
In the evening, we recommend making your way to Shinjuku to take advantage of some of the country's best restaurants, bars, clubs and karaoke establishments. Alternatively, you might like to head out of the city to visit seaside Kamakura, the opulent templesa and shrine of Nikko, or hike up Mount Takao for views of Mount Fuji.Overnight: Richmond Asakusa
-
Day 4
Soak in a hot spring in the shadow of Mount Fuji in one of Japan's most beautiful national parks.
Leaving Tokyo behind you will travel by Shinkansen bullet train to the lakes and mountains of the Fuji-Hakone National Park, where you will have a full day to explore the area.
Soak in hot springs, visit the world-class art galleries, take a pirate ship cruise on lake Ashi and hopefully catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji towering above the skyline. All transport in the National Park, by ropeway, cable car, switch-back railway and boat is covered by the included Hakone Freepasses.
In the evening you can retire to your traditional ryokan inn for the night. Here you'll have a chance to relax in the outdoor bath which can be reserved for private use.Overnight: Fuji Hakone Guest House
-
Day 5-8
Discover the cultural heart of Japan as you go geisha-spotting, participate in a tea ceremony and wander the temples and shrines of Kyoto.
The final stop on your adventure is Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, leaving it with a rich heritage of some of the world's finest temples, shrines, gardens and other historical buildings.
Whether you decide to head north to visit the stunning Golden Pavilion and the Zen gardens at Ryoan-ji Temple or choose to wander Nishiki Market for a taste of some weird and wonderful Japanese food, your stay in Kyoto is bound to be a highlight of your trip.
As part of your itinerary we have included a tea ceremony experience at a traditional teahouse near the historic Gion quarter – a fascinating insight into Japanese culture.
Sadly your adventures must come to an end, and on your final morning we will provide a train ticket from Kyoto Station direct to Osaka Kansai Airport in good time for your departure. Have a safe flight home.Overnight: OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure 7 Night Price Cruncher
Read more >The service provided made booking easy, navigation around the country stress-free, and made solo travel feel safe. Even when concerns arose while on the trip, calling…
Self-Guided Adventure 7 Night Price Cruncher
Read more >Hans was our contact to help us develop our tour. He was responsive, personal and friendly. We only had one minor issue while in Japan, and I received a quick response…
Tour Gallery
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure 7 Night Price Cruncher
Read more >The service provided made booking easy, navigation around the country stress-free, and made solo travel feel safe. Even when concerns arose while on the trip, calling…
Self-Guided Adventure 7 Night Price Cruncher
Read more >Hans was our contact to help us develop our tour. He was responsive, personal and friendly. We only had one minor issue while in Japan, and I received a quick response…
5.0 out of 5 from 7 reviews Show all 7 Night Price Cruncher Reviews
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