Japan Express – Osaka to Tokyo

This eight-night tour begins in Osaka, with an evening welcome meeting to meet your CEO and fellow travellers. You’ll move on to spend a night in a mountain temple at Kōyasan, where shared bathhouses and the quiet of Buddhist lodgings offer a distinct contrast to the cities.

The itinerary includes visits to the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum, an excursion to Miyajima Island to see the torii gate that appears to float on water, and a group walk in Kyoto’s Gion district. Time on Lake Ashi involves a boat ride with views of Mt Fuji, while Nijo Castle and its gardens provide a dose of samurai-era Japan.

The tour travels exclusively by Japan’s public transport, mostly bullet trains, buses and ferries, so travelling light is essential. Group meals include traditional kaiseki dinners, but otherwise you’ll find plenty of opportunities to try local delicacies independently, from sushi trains to small neighbourhood restaurants. The tour is by G Adventures and runs with a maximum of 15 participants.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. G Adventures publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.