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Self-guided cities & Shirakawa-go by rail
Japan in 11 Days, 8 Nights in Destination
Hannah
Travel crafter
Take a self-guided journey through Japan, using your included Japan Rail Pass to explore serene Kyoto, picturesque Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go, bustling Tokyo, and dynamic Osaka.
Trip Highlights
- Kanazawa
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Shirakawa-go
- Tokyo
Included
All flights
Accommodation
Some transfers
Activities
Availability
Departures available until December 2025
Available Group tours
Solo travelers available
- WHAT'S THIS?
Categories available
charm included
superior from + £ 300
- WHAT'S THIS?
Itinerary
Touch down in Kyoto ready to explore Japan independently with your included Japan Rail Pass! Travel to Kanazawa and check out one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Spend the day in Shirakawa-go and discover the historic architecture from this region. Head next to capital Tokyo before ending your adventure with Osaka’s neon lights and gastronomic delights.
1st Day: UK/Ireland - Night on board
Arrive at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Osaka. Night on board.*
*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
2nd Day: Kyoto
Land at the Osaka airport, where you will be met at the airport by our representative to talk you through your itinerary, deliver your travel documents, provide helpful information and recommendations for your free time and assist you with getting to the hotel. Self-transfer* from the Osaka airport to Kyoto by either bus or train. Your included Japan Rail Pass** will cover this 1.5-hour journey, along with all of the train travel on this itinerary.
Once settled at your Kyoto hotel, the rest of the day is free to start discovering this exciting city. We recommend exploring the emblematic neighborhood of Gion, known for its traditional architecture and admired geishas. Its narrow alleys and wooden houses create a unique atmosphere at dusk that makes you feel like travelling back in time! Overnight stay in Kyoto.
*Please note that the last train and bus from the Osaka airport to Kyoto station departs at 23:00. Late arrivals will need to hire a taxi to the hotel.
**This is the first day you will use your Japan Rail Pass in your itinerary. You will need to activate it at a JR office before using it for the first time. The Pass allows you to book any JR train or bullet train free of charge (except for Mizuho and Nozomi trains and except for Superior class seats). You will be able to choose the train departure time or combination on that day that best suits you but be aware that there might exist different train combinations (direct, changing trains once, changing trains twice, etc) depending on your departure time, which can affect the entire trip duration.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi by... or similar
23 Reviews
See our full selection
3rd Day: Kyoto
Today you are free to explore Kyoto as you wish. Be sure to take advantage of your 1-Day subway and bus pass that grants you access to public transportation all over the city! To get the most out of your sightseeing day, you can join our optional excursion to Nara and Uji* with temple visits and an included matcha experience! Overnight stay in Kyoto.
*Optional Nara & Uji day trip with matcha experience: Depart by bus from Kyoto station towards Nara. Stop first at the Todaiji temple, whose Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden building in the world. Next, visit Nara Park and meet the local deer, considered sacred messengers of the gods. Head to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a celebrated shrine with 3,000 stone lanterns. Enjoy an included Japanese lunch before continuing on to the city of Uji. Stop at the famous Byodo-in Temple, which is depicted on the 10-yen coin. End with a matcha making experience unique to this region and a drive by the Uji river. Return to Kyoto station for your overnight stay.
This activity does not operate on Saturdays. The tour departs from Kyoto station. You will receive the exact location once in-destination. Make sure to self-transfer with plenty of time to meet at 7:50 AM.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi by... or similar
23 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Nara & Uji day trip with matcha experience
Light
See more
4th Day: Kyoto - Kanazawa
Using your Japan Rail Pass, travel to Kanazawa, a historical jewel of a city and home to some of Japan's most beautiful landscaped gardens. Once settled and checked in, you can take advantadge of your Kanazawa 1-day Bus Pass to start exploring the city. We recommend visiting the famous Omicho market, also known as Kanazawa's "kitchen", where you can find a wide variety of fresh seafood, local produce, and specialty foods and which has been in operation for 280 years. Overnight stay in Kanazawa.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Kyoto station and from Kanazawa station to your hotel. There are no direct trains between Kyoto and Kanazawa, a train transfer is needed in Tsuruga station. The estimated total train journey from Kyoto to Kanazawa is 2 hours.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa ... or similar
464 Reviews
See our full selection
5th Day: Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Kanazawa
Embark on a full-day adventure from the Kanazawa train station. Start with the enchanting village of Shirakawa-Go, famous for its picturesque Gassho-style houses that resemble hands joined in prayer. Continue to Kenrokuen Garden, where you can marvel at the beauty of all four seasons, and walk past Kanazawa Castle. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture by participating in additional crafting activities, creating traditional sweets (Wagashi) or painting Daruma dolls.Your journey will then take you to the historic Higashi Chaya District known for its traditional geisha culture. Delight in a hands-on gold leaf workshop and savor the unique experience of gold leaf ice cream. End at the train station and overnight stay in Kanazawa.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa ... or similar
464 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Full day tour of Kanazawa and the Shirakawa-go village
Moderate
See more
6th Day: Kanazawa - Tokyo
Today, bid farewell to Kanazawa as you board a bullet train to Tokyo using your Japan Rail Pass.
Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free to discover this vast metropolis using your 48h Tokyo Subway Pass. We suggest exploring the futuristic Odaiba island or the teamLab museum before indulging in some delicious ramen around Shinjuku. Overnight stay in Tokyo.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Kanazawa station and from Tokyo station to your hotel. The estimated train journey from Kanazawa to Tokyo is 2-3 hours.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
The B Akasaka Mitsuke or similar
253 Reviews
See our full selection
7th Day: Tokyo
Enjoy a day free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure. You could use the 48h Tokyo Subway Pass and get to know the shopping district of Akihabara, known for its anime culture and camera bargains, or Shibuya, where you can see its iconic crosswalk and eclectic restaurants. You can also join our optional bus tour* to see all the city’s most important sights at once! After a fun day, return to your hotel for an overnight stay in Tokyo.
*Optional Tokyo full-day bus tour: Self-transfer to the famous 'Love' statue in Shinjuku to meet at 7:50 AM. Drive past Harajuku shopping district and stop to visit the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. See the Imperial Palace area among other highlights before stopping in the historic neighborhood of Asakusa, home to the Senso-ji Temple Kaminari-mon Gate and the Nakamise shopping avenue. Enjoy a Matcha tasting experience and a Japanese lunch at a local Izakaya restaurant and climb the Tokyo Skytree tower, from which you will admire the infinite Tokyo skyline. In the afternoon, board a river cruise that will take you through Tokyo Bay to Odaiba island and end the tour back at Shinjuku.
Warning: Please leave your hotel with time and plan your self-transfer ahead. The bus will leave at 8AM with no exceptions.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
The B Akasaka Mitsuke or similar
253 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Full day Tokyo city tour
Light
See more
8th Day: Tokyo - Osaka
Using your Japan Rail Pass, travel to Osaka, the gastronomic capital of Japan.
After checking in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. We recommend a visit to the Dotonbori district, well-known for its abundant neon lights and restaurants serving up traditional fare from the region. Overnight stay in Osaka.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Tokyo station and from Osaka station to your hotel. The estimated train journey from Tokyo to Osaka is 2-3 hours.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Agora Place Osaka Namba or similar
259 Reviews
See our full selection
9th Day: Osaka
Today you can continue self-exploring the city with your Osaka Metro + City Bus card. You will also have an admission ticket for the Osaka Castle, where you have the chance to learn about the history of one of Japan's most famous landmarks. You can use your transportation card to discover the vibrant culinary scene of Osaka. We recommend adding our optional photoshoot in Osaka castle* or a walking tour and Shinsekai street food experience**. Overnight stay in Osaka.
* Optional photoshoot at Osaka castle: create unforgettable memories with your friends and family during a 1h of fun private photoshoot with the impressive Osaka castle as background.
**Osaka walking tour and Shinsekai street food: Set off with your English-speaking guide for a tour of Osaka's commercial centre: the Shinsekai neighborhood is known for its dynamic feeling and vibrant street life! Stop by the main attractions and discover Osaka's vibrant street food scene, especially its kushikatsu (skewers) with meats, vegetables, and seafood.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Agora Place Osaka Namba or similar
259 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Osaka castle private photoshoot
See more
Osaka walking tour and Shinsekai street food
Light
See more
10th Day: Osaka - Night on board
Sadly it's time to say goodbye to the Land of the Rising Sun. On this day, use your airport shuttle bus ticket to transfer to the Osaka airport*. Night on board.
*Airport transfer only included for flights departing from 9AM. For earlier departures it's the client responsibility to self-transfer to the Osaka airport.
11th Day: UK/Ireland
Arrive in the UK/Ireland and end your unforgettable Japanese adventure.
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Categories Available:
charm
From £ 2,399
- Accommodation in Charm category hotels
superior
From £ 2,699
- Accommodation in Superior category hotels.
Accommodation: 8 Nights
Day 2 to 4
REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi by Vessel Hotels
Location
Kyoto
Category
Nights
2
Rating TripAdvisor travelers
The hotels we select comply with our high standards and requirements per category. The allocation is dependent on availability and seasonality, so you can be assigned any of our selection, including the following: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Hachijoguchi, Hotel Elcient Kyoto, Hotel Mystays Kyoto Shijo, Urban Hotel KyotoGojo Premium, Vessel Hotel Campana Kyoto Gojo, Via Inn Kyoto Shijo Muromachi
Included activities
Available Activities
The price includes
- Departures from main UK/Ireland departure airports.
- International flights: UK/Ireland- Osaka, Osaka - UK/Ireland.
- 7-day Japan Rail Pass.*more information
- 8 nights accommodation in Charm category hotels.See hotels included
- Kyoto Bus/Subway 1-Day Pass, Kanazawa 1-Day bus pass, Tokyo Subway 48h Pass, Osaka Metro + City bus 1-Day Pass.
- Visits and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerarySee itinerary
- All air taxes and fuel surcharge.
- Japanese SIM Card (One card / passenger, only internet - up to 3GB).
- Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival.**more information
Not included
Meals, airport transfers and any other services not mentioned in what's included.
This tour doesn’t include a guide on a daily basis. It is the responsibility of each passenger to self-transfer between hotels and meeting points for activities/excursions and between hotels and JR train stations.
The Japan Rail pass does NOT cover the NOZOMI or MIZUHO class bullet trains. On some train journeys you will need to transfer trains to get to your destination.
A number of Japanese cities impose an accommodation tax, which must be paid directly to the hotel. It usually ranges between 100-200 JPY / day.
The Shirakawa included tour and the optional excursions in Tokyo and Kyoto include a guide, while the visit to Osaka is completely independent.
<<The physical Japan Rail Pass is sent to each clients' home before their trip>>
Please send an email to clients@exoticca.com with the full Address where you want to receive the JR Pass.
*We recommend activating your Japan Rail Pass upon your arrival to Japan, before taking the train Osaka Airport - Kyoto. The Pass can be used during 7 days, which will cover your train journeys between Osaka-Kyoto, Kyoto-Kanazawa, Kanazawa-Tokyo and Tokyo-Osaka. To activate the Pass, please visit the JR Office at KIX Airport and request the activation (the Pass can't be activated at minor stations such as metro or non-JR train lines). The Pass allows you to use any JR train or bullet train.
The JR Pass does not come with fixed train schedules, so it is the customer’s responsibility to choose their train combination and train departure time. We recommend departing in the morning to have more train options to choose from and to avoid arriving to the next city too late.
Baggage allowance on the trains is the same as the international flight allowance - there is no weight restriction.
**Airport Meet & Greet: An agent will be waiting for you at the Arrivals hall of the airport, where they will deliver all necessary documents for this trip (transportation tickets, Sim card, activities information and meeting points, etc). They will talk you through your itinerary, provide helpful information and recommendations for your free time and assist you with your self-transfer to the hotel.
Whenever the Meet & Greet service can't be arranged or you can't find them at the arrival hall (due to flight delay, arrival terminal sudden change, etc), the travel documents will be sent to your hotel.
For those passengers who book a trip without international flights through Exoticca, you will need to share your flight details with us with at least 30 days before arrival to Japan if you want to enjoy the M&G service.
Entry requirements
Valid passport with at least six months validity.
Visa
No visa is required.
Currency
Japanese Yen.
Language
Japanese.
Electricity
110 V. Adapter required.
Health
There are no mandatory vaccinations for travellers from the UK.
Time zone
UTC + 08:00 or UTC + 09:00.
Other useful information
You are not expected to leave a tip.
Tourist Office website
https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/
Remember to download your e-ticket to confirm the times of your flights and to complete online check-in using the airline’s website, or directly at the check-in desk at the airport.
Accommodation at the hotels is as indicated. In the event of any changes to accommodation, they will always be of the same, or a higher category. The category of hotels is not standardized across all countries in the world. For this reason, the criteria may differ depending on the destination country's own standards.
In the case of adverse weather conditions, for safety reasons or for any other reasons deemed appropriate, the order and duration of the excursions included in the itinerary may be changed or cancelled without prior notice.
This is a semi-escorted tour, during which only some of the booked activities are carried out with a local English-speaking guide. There is no 24-hour guide on site.
If you have reduced mobility, require the use of a wheelchair, or you would prefer this tour to be a private experience for you and your group, you must contact our Experts at +44 20 8068 3176 before booking to ensure that your needs can be met.
While on the road, it is highly unlikely that the vehicle will be equipped with wifi or bathroom facilities, though rest stops will be made for long trips. We recommend purchasing a new SIM card at the airport or placing an e-SIM before travel to guarantee internet connection.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office offer up-to-date travel advice by visiting https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Exoticca Travel Stories
Creating unforgettable memories, one traveller at a time
We really enjoyed our trip to Japan
Before we left for Japan I was a little concerned that our holiday would probably be centred around cities but came to realise that the cities were excellent centres from which to plan a variety of day trips.
UK Foreign Travel Advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
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