Say konnichiwa to the land of sushi, samurai & sake! In a country where the ancient and the modern collide in truly mesmerising style, you’ll make your way from Osaka to Tokyo, taking in temples, teppanyaki, geishas and gardens, plus miniature deer along the way. With time at the end to shred on the slopes.
  • 12 Breakfast (B)
  • Kyoto: Tea houses. Nijo Castle. The Golden Pavilion. Geishas. It’s all so surreal. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a film set.
  • Hiroshima: Visit the Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum to commemorate the lives lost after the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.
  • Hiroshima: This way to amazing! These are the sites you always see in those impossibly tranquil pictures of Japan. IRL.
  • Tokyo: Step into this live video game of a city and see Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple, Meiji Temple, Harajuku and the Shibuya Crossing.
  • Hakone: Prepare to be impressed. An awesome cable car ride is set against dream-like views of Mount Fuji.
  • Tokyo: This will depend on which city you arrive at.TokyoTokyo is serviced by two major international airports, Narita and Haneda. You’re welcome to take a taxi to the hotel, but these tend to be quite expensive (costing around US$200). That’s why, the best way to reach our hotel is by train. You can purchase tickets from the counter at the airport. And the journey will take you 1-2 hours.Osaka The Kansai International Airport in Osaka is around 45 minutes away from our hotel by bus. And the best way to get there is by bus, that’ll drop you off close to our hotel. You can get your tickets at the counter for ¥1600. We don’t recommend getting a taxi since they tend to be quite expensive.
  • Nara: Generally, not. Most of our travellers can get a visa on arrival in Japan. But your visa requirements can change according to your citizenship (and also according to the length and purpose of your visit). We always recommend that you check out our visa guide for more information.
  • Nara: The currency (that can buy you some unbeatable authentic sushi) in Japan is the Japanese Yen (¥).
  • Nara: You can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29” x 20” x 10”), with a max weight of 20kg (44lbs) – plus one piece of hand luggage suitable as a carry-on for flights on this trip.You’ll travel between a few destinations via the Shinkansen (bullet train), and won’t have your main luggage because of the space restrictions. But there’s no need to worry, because we’ll send everything forward to the next hotel via truck.In Hiroshima and Mt Koya, you’ll need to bring an overnight bag since you won’t have your main luggage with you. Your Trip Manager will advise you about what you should bring for each day.
  • Nara: A Japan Rail Pass can be quite handy while travelling in Japan. But since we’ve got you covered for the transport, you won’t need a Japan Rail Pass. You’re always welcome to ask your Trip Manager where you can buy one once the trip ends.
  • Nara: Starstruck by the Shinkansen? Same. All bullet train tickets are one-use-only tickets (and not passes). So, you won’t be able to use them after the trip has concluded.
  • Tokyo: This will depend on which city you arrive at.TokyoTokyo is serviced by two major international airports, Narita and Haneda. You’re welcome to take a taxi to the hotel, but these tend to be quite expensive. That’s why, the best way to reach our hotel is by train. You can purchase tickets from the counter at the airport. And the journey will take you 1-2 hours.Osaka The Kansai International Airport in Osaka is around 45 minutes away from our hotel by bus. And the best way to get there is by bus, that’ll drop you off close to our hotel. You can get your tickets at the counter. We don’t recommend getting a taxi since they tend to be quite expensive.
  • Nara: Currently, Street Kart or Mario Kart aren’t offered on any Contiki trip. Who knows what the future holds, though?
  • Nara: You’re covered for the accommodation and transport when you’re with us. But you’ll have to hire your own equipment and life passes on this trip.
  • Nara: If you’re looking to rent your ski gear, we recommend the Rhythm Japan Ski Shop. For your lift passes, you can visit the Ski Hakuba website. Oh, and if you’re a frequent skier, there’s some good news. You might be eligible for a free ski pass since Hakuba is a part of the EPIC Ski Pass, which includes iconic slopes like the Perisher, Whistler and so many more.
  • Nara: Yep, of course. You’ll have to carry your ski gear onto the train and store it in the overhead luggage space throughout the journey.And if you’d like, you can send your gear from Osaka to Tokyo for a small fee (we love not worrying about our luggage when in Japan!). Your Trip Manager will sort that out for you.
  • Nara: Chosen to do the Ski add-on? Amazing! Our trip will depart from Tokyo in the morning on day 10, and will arrive at Hakuba at approx. 2pm.This means you’ll have Day 11, 12 (and 13 & 14 if you’ve picked the 6-day package) to spend skiing. And guess what? Some slopes offer night skiing too!
  • Nara: Looking to spend a night on the snowy swooping slopes? Great news! There are some slopes that keep the lights on for all of us nightowls. But there isn’t a fixed timetable, so remember to check when you arrive in Hakuba.
  • Nara: The ski portion of this trip is an add-on, so you’ll have to say goodbye to your Trip Manager before heading to Hakuba. But don’t worry, they’ll hand over your train tickets right before you leave Tokyo.
  • Nara: Your pre-booked train will arrive in Tokyo at 12:30 PM. So, if you’re booking your departure flight, we recommend that you book them after 7 PM on the final day of the trip.