17-Day Enchanting Japan Adventure Small Group Tour from Tokyo: Nagano, Hakone, Osaka, Koyasan, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

Welcome to Tokyo! Once you arrive and check in at the hostel you'll then have plenty of time to recover from your flight and relax before you meet everyone in your group.

First up is a visit to the Senso-ji Temple; Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, before heading over to the Meiji Shrine. Next up we discover colourful Harajuku as well as the iconic Shibuya Crossing (the world's busiest intersection!) Later we'll experience some of Japan's quirky restaurants and hilariously tiny bars in Shinjuku. 
Small Change: Discover Japan's spiritual heritage with a guided visit to Tokyo's largest Buddhist temple and a revered Shinto shrine.

We are starting our day with full bellies, learning the art of sushi rolling by a sushu master. Next up, we'll be exploring Tokyo with a bit of free time, followed by the futuristic sounds of Akihabara. This 'Electric City' is famous for its arcades, maid cafes, Japanese photo booths and game centres. 

It's time to experience the 200mph famous bullet train! We'll reach Nagano just in time to try out the ancient art of origami, then take a chilled out dip in an Onsen (a volcanic hot spring)! This evening we'll live like the locals and settle in to our traditional Japanese Ryokan, sleeping on tatami mats and comfy futon bedding.
Small Change: Immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Nagano with origami and soba noodle-making classes, led by local artisans.

This morning we'll dive deeper into Japanese cuisine, by learning how to roll our own Soba noodles! We'll then venture out into the mountains, spotting the region's famous snow monkeys, or Japanese Macaques. These red-faced troublemakers play amongst the trees in summer & warm by bathing in the natural hot springs in Winter. We'll then take our time exploring the gorgeous lakes and forests of Shiga Kogen National Park (summer), enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Today we'll shoot off again by bullet train to the stunning Hakone, a spot famous in Japan for it's jaw dropping views of Mount Fuji.

We'll spend the morning exploring the stunning region of Hakone by pirate ship and cable car, where on a clear day you'll have unrivalled views of Mount Fuji. Next up is Osaka, where we'll head out for a BBQ dinner on us and fuel up for a night out, Osaka style. Get ready to bust out some karaoke classics!

Spend the morning relaxing or exploring Osaka's awesome shopping. Later we'll visit the incredible Osaka Castle, first built over 400 years ago. Here we'll learn about Japanese history and Japan's ancient warriors, the Samurai. We'll finish up by heading over to Dotonburi, Osaka's famous canal region and home to some of the best food in the country!

We head back to the mountains today for a once in a lifetime experience - staying overnight in a 1000 year old Buddhist temple in the fascinating town of Koyasan. Here we'll be taught meditation by the monks and served their traditional cuisine. Later we'll have a night time stroll through Japan's largest cemetery. 
Small Change: Visit a traditional Buddhist Temple, discovering their traditions and culture that has been going for centuries. 
 

Today we wake up early for an unforgettable experience - watching the Buddhist monks perform their morning prayer service and fire ceremony. We will be served traditional breakfast by the monks before travelling to our next incredible destination, Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. Tonight we get to learn about Japan's mysterious Geishas with a tour of Gion.
Small Change: Explore Kyoto's historic streets on our Geisha walking tour and step into the world of Japan's iconic artists.
 

Make sure your phone's charged today! First up is the Instagram famous Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama, perfect for shots surrounded by the towering bamboo. We then head to the beautiful Golden Pavilion. Tonight's a free evening to hit up a sushi restaurant, find a bar, or challenge your mates to a round of bowling.

Today the endless bright Torii gates of Fushimi-Inari await us! One of Japan's most iconic shrines will blow you away as we explore the winding trails of the ancient mountain. In the afternoon, we will be taught how to wield a traditional sword by a Samurai master who's dedicated their life to the art of the sword. Experience the finesse of these weapons as you channel your inner warrior. Tonight we'll have our last dinner and drinks together to celebrate our time in Japan!
Small Change: As part of our commitment to giving back, we invite groups to contribute to the Samurai House Fund at the end of your tour by donating loose change or any remaining yen, which will be directed towards the restoration and maintenance of the Samurai House building in Kyoto.

Today, we'll hop on a local train and spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful gardens and temples of Nara. Known for its impressive Buddha statue, Nara is also famous for its friendly, bowing deer. After making some new friends, we'll head back to Kyoto in the evening to prepare for our next adventure.

Tea Ceremony, Peace Memorial Museum & Atomic Dome – This morning we'll experience a traditional tea ceremony. After drinking our cups of matcha, we're heading further south to Hiroshima on the bullet train. Once we get there, we'll check out the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, along with the Atomic Bomb Dome, which commemorate the tragic bombings of 1945. As we stroll through the park, we'll stop at memorials dedicated to the victims. While the stories might be tough to hear, they're an important part of modern history that will deepen our understanding of Japanese society today.

Known as one of Japan's most beautiful spots, we'll hop on a ferry to Itsukushima, aka Miyajima Island, to check out the iconic floating Torii Gate in the bay. With temples, friendly deer, and lots of hiking trails, we can explore the island at our own pace. Later tonight, we'll explore the local bars.

We're heading back to Osaka on the bullet train for some last-minute shopping and sightseeing. Tonight, we're off to explore Shinsekai, the 'New World,' a retro neighborhood in downtown Osaka packed with quirky restaurants and izakayas. We'll raise a glass and 'kanpai' to the epic trip we've had together!

Your amazing 17 day adventure comes to an end. You can either check out and make your way back home, stay on longer in Osaka or continue your travels in Japan.