Japan Budget Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Cycle rural roads through peaceful Japanese countryside
• Discover temples, Zen gardens and geisha districts in Kyoto
• Ride the tranquil Fukui coast by the Sea of Japan
• Visit the Unesco-listed historic village of Shirakawa-go

Highlights

• Try your hand at traditional calligraphy in Shinjuku, then learn to cook your own okonomiyaki on a relaxing boat cruise around Tokyo Bay – Tokyo really is fun for the whole family!
• Explore Hakone by cable-car, pirate ship and with a peaceful walk around the lake – maybe even catch a glimpse of the iconic Mt Fuji on a clear day, before relaxing in the soothing waters of an onsen.
• Visit Himeji Castle – Japan's most impressive samurai castle – then dive into Kyoto culture with a walk around the famous Goin district.
• Learn about an important chapter of Japan’s history at the Hiroshima Peace Park, followed by a visit to the relaxing island of Miyajima where deer roam the streets.
• Take a daytrip from Kyoto to Arashiyama and cruise along the Hozu River on a boat ride – this route along the river is over 400 years old and surrounded by lush rolling mountains – then, visit the bamboo forest.

Highlights

• Journey from old world to new on a cultural adventure through Japan
• Explore a lantern-lit Gion in the early evening, the most famous geisha district in Kyoto
• Experience an icon of modern travel: the incredible high-speed bullet train
• Take a poignant moment to reflect at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima

Highlights

• Learn the tricks of the trade when you take part in a hands-on sushi-making class in Tokyo, pick local produce from the market before a cooking class in Kanazawa and make your own okonomiyaki in Osaka.
• Meet local farmers during a day trip from Kyoto to the Uji region, the home of green tea production. Tour the green tea and matcha farms, enjoy a hot cuppa, then walk the streets of Uji city, stopping on the way to see the Ujiami Shrine.
• When you’re not busy eating, enjoy iconic experiences like wandering the streets of Tokyo, Kenroku-en garden in Kyoto, the glowing signs of Osaka’s Dotonbori district, learning Buddhist history in Koya-san and walking through Kyoto’s Gion district.
• Feast on delicious Japanese cuisine, from street food to restaurant favourites – including ekiben, sushi, matcha, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and fresh seafood.
• Sip on sake, the national drink of Japan, during a visit to a local sake brewery in Kyoto. Learn how sake is made and maybe even pick up a bottle (or two) to take home.

Highlights

• Explore beautiful and fascinating Kyoto
• Enjoy historic pilgrimage walks along the Kumano Kodo
• Immerse in Japanese culture off the beaten track
• Walk the Nakasendo Way from Tsumago to Magome
• Learn about the pearl-collecting Ama Divers while staying in Toba