Trail by Rail
“Experience modern & traditional Japan with 10 days of unforgettable experiences such as wrestling a sumo wrestler and viewing Mt. Fuji from a cable car ride up an active volcano. Visits many of Japan’s must-see UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”
Explore the futuristic neon wonderland of Tokyo City and the scenic national park centered around the majestic Mt. Fuji. Savour a fabulous traditional kaiseki dinner and relax in a volcanic hot spring onsen before riding the bullet train to ancient Kyoto. Explore UNESCO world heritage temples, shrines, and stunning gardens, and take part in a traditional tea ceremony. Visit the ultra-modern city of Osaka, the incredible Himeji Castle, and the historic city of Hiroshima before heading back to Tokyo to get up close and personal with a sumo wrestler over a traditional sumo lunch and much more.
Itinerary
Day 1: Touchdown in Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo City Sightseeing
Meet our experienced Tokyo guide in your hotel lobby to explore the city together for the next few hours. Get a real feel for Japan’s capital via public transport in this fantastic introduction to the city and be all the better prepared for your own further adventures. This is your chance to ask your questions about Tokyo and Japan life in general. Our typical half day in Tokyo will be:
- Meiji Jingu Shrine in Yoyogi Park
- Harajuku and Omotesando Shopping District [Walk-through and lunch]
- Asakusa Temple and Shopping Street
Day 3: Lakeside Cruise, Hakone Open Air Museum, Ryokan Stay & Onsen
Walk to Shinjuku station together with your tour assistant. Board the local express train from Shinjuku to Hakone, an area inside Fuji National Park famous for magnificent views of the mountain.
After checking into your ryokan, you will explore the Mt. Fuji National Park area around Hakone with your local guide.
- Pirate boat cruise on Lake Ashi with views of the majestic giant, Mt Fuji (weather permitting)
- Cable car up a volcano to see smoke and fumes bellowing out of the volcanic crater and enjoy further views of Mt Fuji (weather permitting)
- Hakone Open Air Museum (Picasso fixtures)
Enjoy the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan’s first outdoor, open-air museum of art. Located in a lushly green 70,000-square-meter garden with a view of the Hakone Mountains, the museum has on permanent display some 120 masterpieces by famous modern and contemporary sculptors. Visit the museum’s five indoor exhibitions, including the Picasso Pavilion with its rotational displays of more than 300 Picasso pieces in this world-class collection, as well as the natural hot spring bath and the art in the outdoor plazas.
Highlight: Dinner and Hot Springs (onsen) at your ryokan
Get dressed up in traditional Japanese yukata evening wear before dinner (provided in your room)!
Day 4: Travel to Japan's Ancient Capital Kyoto City
In the evening, enjoy a tea ceremony at local machiya teahouse.
♥Highlight: Afternoon Tea with Geisha Experience♥
You can enjoy having afternoon tea in the company of an authentic Geisha in a small Japanese-style teahouse in the Gion area of Kyoto. You will get a chance to hear about the training and life of the Geisha and an opportunity for an informal Q&A translated through your tour leader and a chance for some photos after. This will be followed by a picturesque walk through the quintessential Kyoto back streets! Dinner at teppan yaki style restaurant (pay locally).
Day 5: Full Day Guided Tour in Kyoto
Meet our Kyoto guide in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast.
Highlight: Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Kyoto
Our local guide will design this day based on the weather, traffic, and number of people in our group. You will travel around Kyoto using public transportation and/or taxis as appropriate. Typical Kyoto sights on tour include:
Lunch and transport will be included today as well as your tour guide for the full day.
Day 6: Free time for optional day trips in the Kansai region
Day 7: Bullet trains back to Tokyo
Day 8: Intimate Lunch & Meeting with Ex-Sumo Wrestler
Highlight: Sumo Wrestling Challenge With Special Chanko Lunch
You will enjoy a dining experience like never before. Eat, train, and fight like a real Japanese sumo wrestler during this sumo demonstration and authentic ‘Chanko Nabe’ (hotpot) lunch. Discover the history, training, and rules behind the typical sumo match as you watch three real clashes. You can even try it yourself during a skirmish with a retired wrestler. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, dig into a tasty
Chanko Nabe lunch, a filling meal of hotpot, rice, miso, salad, French fries, and more, is used by these hulking fighters to gain weight. You’ll get a chance to take some photos with the sumo giants and learn about the behind-the-scenes stories and daily life of a real sumo wrestler while enjoying an authentic chanko lunch. This is one lunch in Japan that will never be forgotten.
Day 9: Final Free Day in Tokyo
Day 10: Trip Ends
Dates and Prices
| Triple Room | €3,180 | £2,790 | US$3,560 | AU$5,420 |
| Twin/Double | €3,500 | £3,080 | US$3,930 | AU$5,660 |
| Single Room | €4,490 | £3,975 | US$4,810 | AU$7,730 |
Accommodation
Tokyo (Two Nights)
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nishi Shinjuku (or similar)
Set in a lively location just a few minutes walk from Japan’s busiest station, Shinjuku, where three million people walk through every day, this chic and modern hotel offers convenience and an atmosphere like no other. Shinjuku district is everything you expect Tokyo to be. Neon lights. Bustling streets. Old, worldly alleyways. Mom-and-Pop shops, bars, restaurants, and all sorts of other forms of entertainment. Walk for five minutes to the nearest subway station. And about 15 minutes to Shinjuku. Attractions nearby feature Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, and the Samurai Museum, with lots and lots of wonderful shops, restaurants, karaoke, and bars on your doorstep.
Hakone (1 night)
Gora Kansuirou (or similar Japanese-style Ryokan)
Hakone is one of Japan’s best-known hot spring areas. Since the Meiji period (1868–1922), Gora has enjoyed an unsurpassed reputation as a holiday retreat in Hakone, and it is here that you will find Gora-Kansuiro, a traditional Japanese hotel (or ryokan). In addition to 14 undeniably atmospheric guest rooms and hot springs with water that flows directly from the source, the hotel is also home to a beautiful Japanese garden. Gora-Kansuiro is in a convenient location, a three-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. The hotel offers a traditional Japanese ryokan atmosphere for your enjoyment. This includes authentic kaiseki ryori (Japanese multi-course cuisine), in-room baths, and our open-air bath with a view of a garden overflowing with natural splendour, one that will allow you to experience the beauty of Japan’s four seasons.
Kyoto (4 nights)
The Chapter Hotel, Kyoto (or similar 4*)
We chose this hotel for its location and facilities—walking distance to the Termachi shopping street, where you can find lots of authentic shops unique to Kyoto. The rooms are modern and tastefully decorated. If you fancy a special night out, Kyoto’s Ritz Carlton is around the corner with exquisite dining options. This hotel has a public bath area, which is a bonus for a western-style hotel. They serve Ramen Happy Hour in the evenings, so if you feel like skipping dinner, dine in for free!
Tokyo (2 nights)
Daiwa Roynet Nishi-Shinjuku Premier (or similar)
Set in a convenient location with a chic and modern atmosphere, get comfortable. Spacious guest rooms feature French-brand beds, and some have massage chairs. Stay connected with free WiFi, and connections for mobile phones are also available.
At Light Metropolis restaurant sample Japanese Modern with a variety of rich Japanese and Western breakfasts. Menus regularly change according to the season. Offerings include homemade smoothies, colourful cold DERI, and the long-established Yamayasu dried vegetable toppings for a Chinese-style porridge. Take a five-minute walk to Nishi-Shinjuku Station and a minute walk to Shinjuku Station. Attractions nearby feature the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, and the Samurai Museum.
Tour Testimonial
Whats Included
| Date | Service |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 4* Western (8 nights) or Superior Ryokans (1 nights) with hot springs and kaiseki dinner (total 9 nights/ 10 days) |
| English-speaking tour leader |
*If your tour has less than 5 people on it, we will arrange the tour on a semi-escorted basis. You will be met in each area by our local assistants and guides on days you don’t have private guides. |
| Private Tour Guides | Local English-speaking tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto |
| Transfers | All transfers included from arrival to departure airports |
| Entrance Fees | Included into all sights listed in itinerary |
| Cultural Experiences |
|
| Meals | Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, and 2 evening meals (including one traditional kaiseki dinner) |
| Other Inclusions: |
|
|---|
| This package does not include: |
|
|---|
