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Self-guided cities & Shirakawa-go by rail
Japan in 11 Days, 8 Nights in Destination
From
$3,849
$2,499
/person
-35%
Hannah
Travel crafter
Take a self-guided 9-day journey through Japan, using your included Japan Rail Pass to explore avant-garde Tokyo, serene Kyoto, picturesque Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go, plus 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 from + $280
- WHAT'S THIS?
Categories available
charm included
superior from + $400
- WHAT'S THIS?
Itinerary
Touch down in Tokyo 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 culinary capital Osaka before seeing Kyoto’s cultural sights. End your adventure in Tokyo before returning home.
1st Day: US - Night on board
Arrival at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Tokyo. 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: Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo, a dazzling metropolis rich in history and tradition. You will be met at the airport by our representative who will talk you through your itinerary, deliver your travel documents, provide helpful information and recommendations for your free time and assist you with your self-transfer to the hotel. Once settled at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to start discovering this exciting city of contrasts and its delicious cuisine. We recommend heading to one of the many food markets where you can sample lots of different dishes at bargain prices! Overnight stay in Tokyo.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
The B Akasaka Mitsuke or similar
247 Reviews
See our full selection
3rd Day: Tokyo
Enjoy a day free day to explore Tokyo at your leisure. You could 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.
*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
247 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Full day Tokyo city tour
Light
See more
4th Day: Tokyo - 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 historic Higashi Chaya district, filled with traditional tea houses where you will be able to see the celebrated geishas perform. Overnight stay in Kanazawa.
*This is the first day you will use your JR Pass in your itinerary. You will need to activate it at a JR office of Tokyo station 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.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Tokyo station and from Kanazawa station to your hotel.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa ... or similar
462 Reviews
See our full selection
5th Day: Kanazawa
Embark on a captivating full-day adventure in Kanazawa, starting from 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. Your journey will then take you to the enchanting village of Shirakawa-Go, famous for its picturesque Gassho-style houses that resemble hands joined in prayer. Continue to Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three gardens, where you can marvel at the beauty of all four seasons. Throughout the day, immerse yourself in Japanese culture by participating in additional crafting activities and creating traditional sweets (Wagashi) or painting Daruma dolls, depending on the schedule. Overnight stay in Kanazawa.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa ... or similar
462 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Full day tour of Kanazawa and the Shirakawa-go village
Moderate
See more
6th Day: Kanazawa - Osaka
Using your Japan Rail Pass, travel to Osaka, the gastronomic capital of Japan.
After checking in at your hotel, you can start 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, where we highly recommend exploring the bustling alleys of Dotombori and Shinsekai. Overnight stay in Osaka.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Kanazawa station and from Osaka station to your hotel. Estimated train journey Kanazawa-Osaka: 2-3h. (There are no direct trains Kanazawa-Osaka. You will need to do a transfer at Tsuruga station).
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Agora Place Osaka Namba or similar
254 Reviews
See our full selection
7th Day: Osaka - Kyoto
Using your Japan Rail Pass, travel to Kyoto, the historic and cultural capital of Japan.
After checking in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. 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.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Osaka station and from Kyoto station to your hotel. Estimated train journey Osaka-Kyoto: 30min.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi by... or similar
20 Reviews
See our full selection
8th Day: Kyoto
Today you are free to explore Kyoto as you wish. Be sure to take advantage of your 24h 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 ecursion to Nara and Uji* with temple visits and an included matcha experience! Overnight stay in Kyoto.
*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.
Important note: 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
20 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Nara & Uji day trip with matcha experience
Light
See more
9th Day: Kyoto - Tokyo
Today, bid farewell to Kyoto as you board a bullet train back 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.
You will need to self-transfer from your hotel to Kyoto station and from Tokyo station to your hotel. Estimated train journey Tokyo-Kyoto 2.30-3h.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
The B Akasaka Mitsuke or similar
247 Reviews
See our full selection
10th Day: Tokyo - Night on board
Sadly it's time to say goodbye to the Land of the Rising Sun. On this day transfer to either Haneda or Narita airports using your Tokyo Subway Pass (for Haneda) or your JR Pass (for Narita)*. Night on board.
*Some rail companies or routes might not be covered by these passes. Please check beforehand or with the station staff.
11th Day: US
Arrive in the US and end your unforgettable Japanese adventure.
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Categories Available:
charm
From $2,499
Selected
- Accommodation in Charm category hotels
superior
From $2,899
- Accommodation in Superior category hotels.
Accommodation: 8 Nights
Included activities
Available Activities
The price includes
- Included in all our trips. more information
- Departures from main US departure airports.
- International flights: US - Tokyo, Tokyo - US.
- 2 Tokyo Subway Pass of 48h each, 1 Kanazawa 24h bus pass, 1 Kyoto Bus/Subway Pass 24h.
- 8 nights accommodation in Charm category hotels.*more informationSee hotels included
- 7-day Japan Rail Pass.**more information
- 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
*The cancellation policy applicable is according to the Terms and Conditions available and agreed at the time of your purchase
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.
*Non-smoking rooms: unfortunately, hotels in Japan have a reduced number of non-smoking rooms and we can not guarantee you will be allocated one advance.
<<The physical Japan Rail Pass is sent to each clients' home before their trip>>
Please send an email to customerservice@exoticca.com with the full Address where you want to receive the JR Pass.
**We recommend activating your Japan Rail Pass on day 3 of your trip, before taking the train Tokyo - Kanazawa. The Pass can be used during 7 days, which will cover your train journeys between Tokyo-Kanazawa, Kanazawa-Osaka, Osaka-Kyoto and Kyoto-Tokyo. To activate the Pass, please visit any JR Office at a major JR train station 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 travelers from the US.
Time zone
UTC + 08:00 or UTC + 09:00.
Other useful information
You are not expected to leave a tip.
Tourist Office website
https://us.jnto.go.jp/
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 +1 888-488-0592 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.
Pay in installments
Pay only 60% today to reserve your trip.
Pay the rest in installments depending on your departure date
Exoticca Travel Stories
Creating unforgettable memories, one traveler 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.
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