Overview
A group trip to Japan with Altervan: ten days in Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, with flights from Athens, private transfers and rides on the Shinkansen.
We're not going to tick off sights. The first day isn't packed with plans. We look around, and in the evening we all eat together. In Tokyo we see two cities in one: first the quiet lanes of Yanaka, then Shibuya Crossing, with thousands of people walking at once. A day around Mount Fuji and an onsen evening in Hakone. The Shinkansen to Kyoto, bamboo in Arashiyama, Nara and its deer, and wandering around Dotonbori in Osaka.
And yes, you'll have free time for the ramen place you walked past and couldn't stop thinking about, or that little bar where you wanted a glass of sake. Not every hour of a trip needs a plan.
Are you in?
| Destination | Japan |
|---|---|
| Dates | 29 Apr 2027 – 10 May 2027 |
| Duration | 12 days |
| Group size | up to 16 people |
| Price | €3,290 / person |
| Deposit | €800 |
Included
Not included
The honest version
It is for you if…
- you love the road and hours in the van with music and good chat
- you do not mind the plan changing when the weather has other ideas
- you want to meet people and come home with friends
- you would rather have real moments than a minute by minute schedule
It is probably not for you if…
- you want hours of lounging every day
- you cannot stand a lot of moving around
- you need fixed times for everything
- you are expecting a classic guided coach tour
Moments
80 moments from 4 previous departuresItinerary · day by day
01Arrival in Tokyo: Narita landing and welcome dinner
We land at Narita, and somewhere around passport control it starts to feel real.
A private coach is waiting to take us to the hotel. We drop the bags, catch our breath and head straight out to get the measure of our neighbourhood.
Day one stays deliberately light. You want an hour or two just to look around and let it sink in that yes, you are actually in Tokyo.
In the evening the whole group sits down together for our first Tokyo Welcome Dinner.
First night in Japan. Good start.
02Senso-ji, Tsukiji Outer Market and Hamarikyu Gardens
Today we get properly stuck into the city.
We start at Senso-ji.
Then down Nakamise Shopping Street.
From there it's on to Tsukiji Outer Market, where Tokyo can be smelled, heard and above all eaten.
Later the picture changes completely at Hamarikyu Gardens, and after that a chunk of the day is yours.
If you fancy it, teamLab Planets is there for the taking.
Our first full day in Tokyo has a bit of everything in it. Which is exactly right.
03Old Tokyo: Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi to Shibuya Crossing
We begin in Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi. Narrow streets, old neighbourhoods, temples and an everyday rhythm a long way from the Tokyo of giant screens.
Then Shibuya.
Hachiko, Shibuya Crossing, and time to lose yourself in one of the most chaotic corners of the city.
From the quiet of Yanaka to thousands of people crossing a road at the same moment.
That's Tokyo for you.
04Mt. Fuji and a Hakone onsen
Our private coach takes us out towards Mt. Fuji, and we spend the day exploring around Japan's most recognisable mountain.
When the time comes, we carry on to Hakone.
Check in, drop the bags, drop the pace. Tonight is something we were never going to leave off this trip.
Onsen. Hot water, quiet, and a side of Japan that has nothing to do with the last few days in Tokyo.
05Hakone to Kyoto on the Shinkansen
We get a little more out of Hakone, then make our way to the station.
Because today we board the Shinkansen.
The bullet train delivers us to Kyoto. Bags at the hotel, then time for a first wander around the old imperial capital.
In the evening the group comes back together for the Kyoto Welcome Dinner.
New city. New base. A different Japan.
06Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Togetsukyo Bridge
We walk into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, in among the huge stems, and then carry on towards Togetsukyo Bridge.
On towards Togetsukyo Bridge.
After that comes Yusai-tei, on a day that moves at a completely different tempo to Tokyo.
And if time is on our side, we add a Matcha Experience.
We're in Kyoto. It would be rude not to.
07Nara Park deer and Todai-ji Temple
At Nara Park the deer roam freely among the visitors and, within about five minutes, you'll work out exactly who runs the place.
We continue to Todai-ji Temple, then head back to Kyoto.
The rest of the afternoon is free.
Go back to the spot you liked. Track down that little shop you spotted yesterday. Eat something you can't pronounce.
Not every hour of a trip needs a plan attached to it.
08Osaka: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Shinsekai
Another change of city today.
Off to Osaka.
We start at Osaka Castle, then head for Dotonbori to walk and eat.
Dotonbori, for a walk and something to eat.
After that, Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku: neon, signage, cooking smells from every direction and that slightly unhinged energy that makes Osaka what it is.
Tsutenkaku, neon, signs, smells from everywhere.
We'll have roughly two hours free so everyone can take the city on their own terms.
In the evening we head back to Kyoto.
09A last morning in Kyoto, then back to Tokyo
Coffee, shopping, a walk, or simply one more visit to whichever place won you over.
Then back to the station.
Shinkansen to Tokyo.
Check in, and the rest of the day belongs to us.
It's our last night in Japan. Nobody here is going to tell you to get an early one.
10Last hours in Tokyo and departure from Narita Airport
The flight is later on, so the final hours stay free for Tokyo.
One last ramen. The shopping you saved for the end. A final walk through the streets. And, almost certainly, the standard line: how on earth did ten days go that fast?
When the time comes, our private coach collects us for Narita Airport.
Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, the onsen, the Shinkansen, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Nara and Osaka.
Did we see them? Yes.
Did we live them? That was always the point.
And on that note, we start the journey home.
The route
Gallery · Japan
Answers to your questions
Do I need a visa? What passport do I need?
You don’t need a visa: with a Greek passport you can enter Japan as a tourist for up to 90 days. You do need a passport, though, as your ID card isn’t enough, and it must be valid for at least 6 months after you return.
How do I book my spot?
With a deposit of €800 per person. You can pay the rest in instalments, up to 30 days before departure.
What if I need to cancel?
Everything about cancellations is in our General Terms of Participation, section 5. If anything isn’t clear, ask us before you book.
I'm coming on my own. Who will I share a room with?
Most Altervan travellers come on their own and get to know the group on the trip. Rooms are mostly twin, with two separate beds. If you’re travelling solo, you’ll share with another member of the group of the same gender, and we take care of the room allocation. If you’re coming with a friend or your partner, tell us when you book and you’ll stay together.
How much walking is there?
Quite a lot. You don’t need to be an athlete, but Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka are best discovered on foot. The alleys, markets and neighbourhoods can’t be seen from a coach window. For longer distances we use a private coach, trains, the metro and the Shinkansen. Bring comfortable shoes you’ve already worn in.
I have a tattoo. Will I be able to go into the onsen?
It depends on the onsen and on the tattoo. Many onsen in Japan don’t accept tattoos, some are tattoo-friendly, and at others small tattoos can be covered with special patches. Let us know before the trip so we can check what applies where we’re going.
For everyone: at the onsen you wash before getting into the water, you usually go in without a swimsuit, and the areas are separate for men and women. We’ll explain everything beforehand.
What weather should I expect and what clothes should I bring?
We travel in late April and early May, during Japan’s spring. The weather in Tokyo and Kyoto is different from the mountains around Mount Fuji and Hakone. Bring clothes you can layer, a light jacket for the cooler hours and comfortable shoes. Shortly before departure we send you the forecast and what’s worth packing.
Will we see cherry blossoms?
We don’t promise it. Sakura bloom on a different date every year and differently in each region, and by late April the blossom season is usually over. If we catch the last ones somewhere, even better. But the trip doesn’t depend on it.
The trip falls during Golden Week. What does that mean?
Golden Week is one of the biggest holiday periods in Japan, so the well-known spots will be busier. That’s why we book the main transfers and everything else the itinerary needs in advance. On the other hand, it’s one of the liveliest weeks of the year to be there.
Card or cash? Do I need an adapter and internet?
You need both. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most shops, but small places often want yen, and you’ll find ATMs everywhere. Sockets are Type A at 100V, so bring a travel adapter. For internet, the easiest option is an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi. Before the trip we send you what we recommend.
