- Tour code
JPNADV02
- Start
Kyoto
- End
Tokyo
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
This nine-day trip moves from old Japan to new: four nights in Kyoto, a night at a hot-spring ryokan on the Izu Peninsula, and three nights in Tokyo.
Kyoto is where the trip does its slowest, deepest work: a pottery lesson built around wabi-sabi, Zen meditation with a monk, a forest hike up Mt. Kurama and an evening in Pontocho's lantern-lit lanes. A day trip to Osaka adds the castle and a guided street food crawl through Dotonbori.
From there you ride the bullet train toward Izu for a green tea plantation and a night at a ryokan with natural hot springs in Shuzenji, before Tokyo brings Harajuku, Meiji Jingu, a sushi class near Tsukiji, Akihabara's arcades and a final group dinner.
Your Soca Islands Host handles the trains, transfers and bookings, and groups are small, from 6 to 16 travelers. Plenty of people join solo, and shared meals and a karaoke night make it easy to feel part of the group.
Why This Journey
Japan can feel intricate on a first visit: rail passes, etiquette, menus you can't read and districts that all seem to blur together. This trip gives you a clear route and hands-on moments, from shaping clay in Kyoto to rolling sushi in Tokyo, so the culture makes sense from the inside.
It suits first-time visitors and solo travelers who want both sides of the country, the temples, gardens and onsen of traditional Japan alongside Tokyo's neon, food and pop culture, with free time in each city to follow your own interests.
Where You'll Stay
Kyoto (4 nights): Cross Hotel Kyoto, in downtown Kyoto near Pontocho. Shuzenji (1 night): Arai Ryokan, a traditional hot-spring inn. Tokyo (3 nights): Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier, within walking distance of Tsukiji. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds; at the ryokan, rooms are Japanese-style with futon bedding.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Osaka Itami (ITM) or Kansai International (KIX), and out of Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Shrines, mountain villages and hands-on craft workshops
Sushi-making, Osaka street food and a taste of sake
An onsen soak and karaoke nights with the group
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and personal expenses
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Kyoto is an easy place to land: slower than Tokyo, full of temples and quiet lanes. Your airport transfer brings you into the city, and if you arrive early you could walk the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari or the Arashiyama bamboo grove on your own.
Late in the afternoon you'll meet your Soca Islands Host and the rest of the group, then head out together for a first taste of Japanese food.
Start at a temple founded some 1,200 years ago in the forested hills on Kyoto's eastern edge.
Then get your hands dirty in a private pottery class, where wabi-sabi, the idea of finding beauty in imperfection, shapes what you make. After lunch, a local monk guides you through Zen meditation.
Your evening is free to find dinner in the city.
Less than an hour out of Kyoto, the forest trail up Mt. Kurama winds past temple buildings and cedar roots to wide views over the hills. Come down into the little town of Kibune for an unhurried lunch by the river.
Back in the city, walk the Kamo River at sunset and wander Pontocho Alley, lined with izakayas and tucked-away cocktail bars. It's a good night for your first bowl of udon or ramen.
Take a day trip to Osaka, nicknamed the nation's kitchen. Look out over the city from Osaka Castle, then dive into the neon canal-side streets of Dotonbori with a guide, tasting takoyaki, okonomiyaki and fish-shaped taiyaki.
You'll return to Kyoto well fed.
Ride the bullet train toward the Izu Peninsula, stopping at a green tea plantation to walk the rows and sip tea where it's grown.
Then settle into a ryokan in Shuzenji, a hot-spring town of bamboo groves and temples, for a restful night and a soak in natural onsen waters.
Move on to Tokyo and start in Harajuku, the capital of Japanese street style, packed with offbeat boutiques along Takeshita Street and the backstreets around it.
Next, step into the forest calm of Meiji Jingu Shrine. Your first night ends with microphones in hand, because no visit to Tokyo is complete without karaoke.
Spend the morning among the food stalls of Tsukiji's outer market, then take part in a hands-on class where the group learns to make sushi.
Later, walk through Hamarikyu Gardens, a former shogun's garden beside Tokyo Bay, or explore the city's streets on your own.
Head to Akihabara, Tokyo's electronics and gaming district, for arcade games, claw machines and stores stacked with anime and manga.
Tonight the group gathers for a celebratory dinner and a toast to the trip.
Share a final breakfast with the group before your departure transfer to Haneda or Narita, or carry on with your own travels.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Cross Hotel Kyoto
A contemporary hotel on Kawaramachi-dori, just south of Sanjo, in the middle of downtown Kyoto. Pontocho Alley, the Kamo River, Nishiki Market and the covered shopping arcades are all a few minutes' walk away, and Gion is just across the river.
The KIHARU Brasserie on the ground floor serves a buffet breakfast, and the location makes evenings easy: the group can walk to dinner rather than ride back across the city. Superior Twin rooms are available; the official site gives conflicting room sizes, so sizes are not shown here.
Hotel websiteArai Ryokan
A traditional hot-spring inn in Shuzenji Onsen on the Izu Peninsula, founded in 1872 and registered as a national cultural property. Its wooden buildings sit beside the Katsura River in the old center of the town, a short walk from Shuzenji Temple and the bamboo forest path.
There are 25 Japanese-style rooms with tatami floors and futon bedding, and natural hot-spring baths.
Hotel websiteMitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier
A modern hotel on the upper floors of a tower in Ginza 8-chome, between Ginza and Shimbashi. Tsukiji Outer Market and Hamarikyu Gardens are within walking distance, and Shimbashi and Higashi-Ginza stations, about five minutes away on foot, link easily to Harajuku and Akihabara.
The Italian restaurant serves a buffet breakfast with Japanese and Western dishes, and a lounge bar overlooks the city.
Rooms are 26.3 m² (283 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$2,277 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 10, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) or Kansai International Airport (KIX), and out of Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT).
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: Cross Hotel Kyoto (4 nights), Arai Ryokan in Shuzenji (1 night, a traditional ryokan with hot-spring baths) and Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier (3 nights).
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival transfers from Osaka Itami (ITM) or Kansai (KIX) and departure transfers to Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 group dinners are included, including the final celebratory dinner in Tokyo. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our The Japan Trip trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
Similar trips
The Japan Trip 9 days, 8 nights
- Travel dates:
Apr 10 – 18, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 3 monthly payments of about $1,970Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Apr 17 – 25, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 3 monthly payments of about $1,970Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Apr 24 – May 2, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 3 monthly payments of about $1,970Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Oct 2 – 10, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 9 monthly payments of about $657Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Oct 30 – Nov 7, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 9 monthly payments of about $657Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Nov 6 – 14, 20279 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$6,899$6,209 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$2,277Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 10 monthly payments of about $591Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
Your impact
With this purchase you are supporting local guides, drivers, hosts, accommodations and businesses.
Secure your spot
Trips 90 days or more away need just a $300 deposit per person. Between 60 and 89 days, it's 50% at booking.
Flexible payment plan
Pay the balance in equal monthly payments. Everything is due 60 days before departure, so trips departing sooner are paid in full at booking.
