Explore Japan by Rail 21 Days

Fully Escorted Tour

$11,600 pp twin share*

Sit back and relax as you travel on some of the world’s fastest high-speed trains, including the world famous Shinkansen. This fully escorted tour will take you by train all over Japan, using your Japan rail pass. Stay in accommodation that is conveniently located near stations. Visit historic Hiroshima and Kyoto. Enjoy the Japanese countryside of Takayama and the excitement of Tokyo. This Japan by Rail Tour will operate with an experienced JTB escort and local guides where applicable who will assist with the entire trip, from sightseeing to shopping and dining.

23 OCTOBER 2022 DEPARTURE

ITINERARY
TOUR DETAILS
TESTIMONIALS
ENQUIRE

Narita/Haneda Airport – Tokyo

Upon arrival at Narita/Haneda Airport, clear customs and immigration before boarding a transfer service to your accommodation in Tokyo for 3 nights. Transfer services can be provided from either Narita or Haneda Airports in Tokyo. Additionally JTB can arrange early check in or prior accommodation and any other arrangements before the tour begins.

Tokyo

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast your Japan journey begins with a full day sightseeing tour of Tokyo, Japan’s capital. Visit some of the major sights including Tokyo Sky Tree with 360 panoramic views of the city, Tsukiji Fish Markets and Asakusa Kannon Temple – Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist Temple & Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.

Tokyo – Hakone

Breakfast

Today embark on a full day of sightseeing visiting the Hakone and Lake Ashi region. Visit Mt Fuji, Japan’s national icon. Drive up to the Mt Fuji 5th station of the mountain and its viewing spots. Enjoy a cruise on lake Ashi, then ride the ropeway for a sectacular panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and surrounding area. Return to Tokyo early evening.

Nagasaki

Breakfast
Luggage transfer from Tokyo to Hiroshima

Take a domestic flight to Nagasaki city. After arrival at Nagasaki Airport, transfer to hotel by coach.
Nagasaki is located on the west coast of Japan’s Kyushu Island and is known for it’s volcanoes, beautiful offshore islands, historic buildings and hotsprings.

Luggage transfer from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Travel with an overnight bag for 2 nights 3 days.

Nagasaki

Breakfast

Full day sightseeting by coach visiting famous places in Nagasaki including Old Glover Garden and Peace Memorial Museum. Glover Garden is an open air museum that exibits several of the city’s former foreign residents and buildings. The main attraction is the Glover House, the oldest wodden Western-style building in Japan.

Nagasaki – Hiroshima

Breakfast

Travel by train to Hiroshima. Upon arrival visit Miyajima Island, World Heritage listed Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. The striking red shrine and it’s torii gate are unique for being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide. Then visitng Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome.

Hiroshima – Kyoto

Breakfast

Take the JR bullet train to Kyoto city via Himeji. Visit Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle due to it’s elegant, white apperance considered one of Japan’s most spectacular castles. In the afternoon continue onto Kyoto city.

Luggage transfer from Hiroshima to Kyoto. Travel with an overnight bag for 1 night 2 days.

Kyoto

Breakfast, Lunch

Full day sightseeing in Kyoto by chartered coach, visiting the Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Heian Jingu Shrine, Sanjusangendo Hall and Yasaka Jinja. Experience a traditional tea ceremony. Kyoto city offers plenty of incredibly well preserved remnants of a time long gone, from countless Buddhist temples to hundreds of Shinto shrines, each has its own unique story to discover.

Kyoto

Breakfast, Dinner
Kyoto Century Hotel

Optional sightseeing with tour escort by public transportaton, visiting Arashiyama and Sagano area (Bamboo Grove), Zen temple and Togetsukyo Bridge. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto’s top sights and for good reason. Standing amid the soaring bamboo stalks is like being in another world. Dinner tonight at a local restaurant in Kyoto.

Kyoto – Osaka – Kyoto

Breakfast

OFree day in Osaka today. Osaka is a vibrant city known for it’s amazing casual food, shopping malls and nightlife. It’s arguably Japan’s street food capital, and among food lovers famous for it’s snacks including takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

Kyoto – Kanazawa

Breakfast
Kyoto to Takayama. Carry an overnight bag

Depart for Kanazawa by JR limited express. Upon arrival at Kanazawa, optional sightseeing by coach, visiting Kenrokuen Garden and Nomura Samurai House. Kanazawa is known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, art museums and handicrafts. Kenrokuen Garden is one of the 3 top gardens in Japan.

Luggage transfer from Kyoto to Takayama. Travel with an overnight bag for 1 night 2 days.

Kanazawa – Takayama

Breakfast

Travel to Shirakawago, one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites by coach. Shirakawago was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Once you arrive, the Gassho-style houses and beautiful, nostalgic surrounds will make you feel as though you have stepped back in time. Travel onto Takayama. Upon arrival explore Sanmachi Historic District famous for it’s preserved streets.

Takayama – Tateyama

Breakfast, Dinner

Travel by coach to Tateyama Station. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a unique, scenic mountain route through the Northern Japan Alps. Here enjoy a cable car ride to Bijodairaa and take the hightland bus to Murodo. Arrive Murodo and walk to your hotel.

Takayama – Matsumoto

Breakfast

Another full day in Tateyama before travelling onto Nagano. Enjoy a trolly bus ride through Tateyama Tunnel. Take the ropeway to Kurobedaira and cable ride from Kurobedaira to Kurobeko. Visit Kurobe Dam, a spectacular feature of enginerring. Take another trolly bus to Ogisawa. Upon arrival at Ogisawa Station transfer to accommodation.

Matsumoto – Sendai

Breakfast
Matsumoto to Sendai.

Full day sightseeing in Matsumoto by coach visiting Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s premier historic casltes and Daio Wasabi Farm. Then transfer to Nagano station and take the train north all the way to Sendai (via Omiya).

Luggage transfer from Matsumoto to Sendai. Travel with an overnight bag for 1 night 2 days.

Sendai

Breakfast

Optional sightseeing with tour escort by public transportaton, boarding Matsushima Bay Cruise, enjoying panoramic views on the bay, where around 260 islands can be seen at a glance. Also visit Godaido Hall and Zuiganji Temple.

Sendai – Aomori

Breakfast
Sendai to Aomori.

Today travel to Aomori via Akita and Hirosaki by train. This will take a full day.

Luggage transfer from Sendai to Aomori. Travel with an overnight bag for 1 night 2 days.

Aomori

Breakfast

Full day sightseeing tour of Aomori by coach. Visit Oirase and take a cruise on Lake Towada. Aomori prefecture is the northern most prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region, commanding a cast coastline stretching out north, east and west. It’s known for it’s abundandt nature, apple production and summertime Nebuta festivals.

Aomori – Hakodate

Breakfast
Aomori – Tokyo

Travel to Hakodate by bullet train. Visit Hakodateyama Mountain after hotel check-in before dark. On a clear night the views from the mountain are spectacular over the city and bay and included among Japan’s three best night views.

Luggage transfer from Aomori to Tokyo. Travel with an overnight bag for 1 night 2 days.

Hakodate – Tokyo

Breakfast

Walk around Motomachi area before heading to the airport. The Motomachi neighbourhood is full of historical buildings such as churches and foreign residences. The exotic atmosphere of the streetscape and the sweeping views of the port from the slopes give the area a picturesque flavor.

Take a domestic flight back to Tokyo and transfer to hotel by train.

Tokyo – Narita/Haneda Airport

Breakfast

Your tour finishes today after breakfast. Hotel rooms are available until the regular check-out time. Transfer to Osaka Kansai or Itami Airport is included after the tour concludes. Additionally JTB can arrange late check or any other travel arrangements after the tour finishes.

Tour Inclusions:	20 nights accommodation with daily breakfast 2 lunches and 3 dinners Return airport transfers Train station to hotel transfers where required Tokyo 1 day tour Kyoto 1 day tour 2 days Tateyama, Kurobe Alpine route tour Japan Rail Pass 14-day Economy Class Suica prepaid IC card Domestic flights from Tokyo – Nagasaki and Hakodate – Tokyo 6 luggage transfers: Tokyo – Hiroshima, Hiroshima – Kyoto, Kyoto – Takayama, Nagano – Sendai, Aomori – Tokyo
Guide Service:	This tour will operate with an experienced JTB escort and local guides where applicable who will assist with the entire trip, from sightseeing to shopping and dining.
Group Size:	Minimum 10 / Maximum 21 people
Baggage:	Luggage transfers as per tour itinerary are recommended by JTB as there is limited space on local transport. The Japan hotel luggage transfer service is very reliable; your large luggage will be safe when you send it on to the next city.
Hotel Accommodation:	Tokyo Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda Hilton Nagasaki Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Ekimae Hotel Mystays Premier or Hotel Vista Kanazawa Washington Hotel Plaza or Hotel Wing International Takayama Hotel Tateyama Hotel Buena Vista Matsumoto Hotel Metropolitan Sendai Hotel JAL City Aomori Hotel & Spa Century Marina Hakodate Tokyo Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda *Accommodation is subject to change at any stage of the same category
General Remarks:	A fair amount of walking is involved on this tour. Hotels are subject to change of the same category Daily schedule is subject to change due to weather, transport or any other unforeseen circumstances. Minimum 10 persons for the tour to operate, maximum 21. *Child reduction prices are also available, please contact JTB. Double rooms can be requested upon booking. Request base only. Single supplement has been calculated based on Single Room use. Twin room single use will be required additional charge. Non smoking rooms may not be available at some properties, in which case the rooms will be deodorised. Please note that some of the properties/restaurants on this tour may not be able to cater for special dietary requirements. JTB does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. However, the locations visited during a JTB Fully Escorted Tour may involve a considerable amount of walking and climbing stairs. JTB recommends that travellers with disabilities be accompanied by their own assistant, capable of providing all necessary assistance. JTB Fully Escorted Tours do not include special assistance to participants with disabilities. JTB reserves the right to refuse participation in Fully Escorted Tours if it considers that such participation is reasonably likely to impose an unjustifiable hardship on JTB or its personnel. Alternatively, JTB would be pleased to organise Independent Tours for travellers with special needs.

Japan is a wonderful country!

Japan is a wonderful country. Our guide was knowledgeable and very easy to get along with. He catered for everyone's individual needs. Very highly recommended.

What a pleasure to travel by train

What a pleasure to travel by train with plenty of legroom and ease of getting on and off. Having a tour guide and travelling in a small group ensured that any concerns or queries were promptly attended to. Spring temperatures were warm and pleasant. The amount of walking was not strenuous and the overall pace of the tour was relaxing.

I loved the train experience

I loved the train experience and the variety of activities, places and information by the guide. He helped me understand better how Japan "ticks". I particularly enjoyed the tea ceremony and the stay at the Ryokan.

A very comprehensive tour showing us the many faces of Japan

This was a very comprehensive tour showing us the many faces of Japan, old and new - A fascinating country with delightful welcoming people. Train network was a great way to travel. Our tour guide was outstanding - helpful at all times and knowledgeable!

Most enjoyable tour

Most enjoyable tour, excellent tour escort, not too many shrines or temples but the Japanese culture was well presented without information overload.

A memorable tour

A memorable tour with tour escort. Not only did we see so much on foot and from the trains we also learnt about Japan's history and culture.

Comprehensive tour in 21 days

Quality of guides and explanation of culture/locations. Mr Kawakami is the best tour guide we have ever had - we have toured extensively in north/south America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Comprehensive tour provided on Japan Rail network and great accommodation quality.

We covered so much of Japan!

This was my first trup with JTB and I am very pleased to have chosen this tour. We covered so much of Japan and were shown many cultural and natural sights. The train experience was also fun and memorable. The tour guide was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and approachable. He was the key reason we enjoyed the overall experience!