TRIP OVERVIEW
Japan
May 10-20, 2025
SOLD OUT - Second trip coming soon.

Recieve a cultural explosion from the chaotic neon light, modern-day Japan to experiencing its incredible natural beauty and traditional practices

Japan is a magical place, where old and new collide. A country full of incredible natural beauty, futuristic cities of neon, world-renowned food, and a culture steeped in tradition, it has a way of enveloping you from the moment you step off the plane. Voted the #1 tour worldwide, we are incredibly proud of this trip! We’ve rounded up the best of the best and cultivated an 11 day itinerary that shows you the ultimate highlights of Tokyo to Osaka. Learn how to hand roll sushi, take a Kendo class with a descendant of a real samurai warrior, search for Geisha’s in Kyoto’s Gion District & have tea with a real Geisha, explore incredible temples, try world renowned food and stay overnight in a real, traditional Japanese temple. This will be the trip of a lifetime.

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About Your Host


Lindsay Mukaddam, known as One Girl Wandering, is a passionate travel content creator based in Austin, TX. She is the creative force behind One Girl Wandering, a brand dedicated to empowering women to explore the world and discover themselves in the process.

Lindsay's journey into solo travel was born out of her own desire to explore the world, coupled with a realization that many women feel held back from traveling due to societal taboos and expectations. Through One Girl Wandering, Lindsay shares her wealth of travel knowledge, inspiring and educating women on how to turn their travel dreams into reality.

As a travel blogger and content creator, Lindsay focuses on solo travel for women, encouraging them to embrace their independence and strength through travel. She hosts group trips for members of the OGW community, fostering a sense of camaraderie and empowerment among women travelers.
Follow Lindsay on her adventures and join the OGW community to embark on your own journey of self-discovery and exploration with One Girl Wandering.

With a deep commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences, Lindsay has hosted 13 trips, taking over 200 travelers to 8 countries and four continents. Her approach as a group trip host is highly personalized, offering direct access to her expertise from the moment travelers sign up. Lindsay specializes in guiding first-time solo adventurers, providing the support and confidence boost needed to break through comfort zones and create unforgettable experiences.

Overview

GROUP

Maximum group size 20 people

ROUTE

Tokyo to Osaka

STAYS

10 nights of accommodation

Single rooms available for extra charge - limited availability



TRANSPORT

All transport Day 2 to 10. Bullet train, subways, cable car & more. *Airport transfers are not included on Day 1 & 11.

MEALS

8x Breakfasts, 1x Lunches, 4x Dinners

CREW

Your group leader & your local guides



ACTIVITIES

  • Welcome Dinner + Asakusa Temples Night viewing
  • Famous Tokyo Districts (Shinjuku,Harajuku Takeshita Street, Akihabara)
  • Meiji Shrine
  • Sushi Making Class
  • Mt Fuji Viewing
  • Sake Tasting
  • Gion Walking Tour
  • Kendo Class
  • Fushimi-Inari Red Torii Gates
  • Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
  • Geisha Tea Ceremony
  • Overnight Temple Stay
  • Osaka Food Tour
  • Nara Deer Park
  • Todai-ji Temple
  • Osaka Castle
  • Karaoke

FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS & OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Tokyo Skytree
  • TeamLab Planets Tokyo
  • Pokemon Centre
  • Onsens
  • Heian Shrine
  • Nishiki Market
  • Kyoto International Manga Museum
  • Osaka Canal Boat Tour
  • Universal Studios + Nintendo World
  • (Please inquire for suggestions on optional activities outside of the tour)

Exclusions List

  • Flights
  • Food & Alcohol (except as noted)
  • Visas and travel insurance
  • Airport transfers
  • Tips & Gratuity


Itinerary




Day 1 – Welcome to Japan! Tokyo Time

Touch down in Tokyo! Arrive into your Tokyo hotel and relax until the evening. Tonight we’ll take you out to feast on Japanese cuisine and meet the rest of your group. After dinner when the crowds have all dispersed, we explore the iconic Tokyo Senso-ji Temple by night!

Accommodation: Twin share/Double– Hotel Monday Asakusa (or similar)
Activities: Welcome Dinner, Senso-Ji Temple
Free Time Suggestions: Tokyo Skytree
Meals: Dinner
Physical Rating: Low

Day 2 - Explore Tokyo, Harajuku, Mei-ji Shrine & Akihabara

We’ll start the morning off with a Japan Orientation Briefing. You’ll learn simple Japanese customs and phrases to help you dictate your way across the country. We’ll then head out to the birth place of Japanese teen pop culture, Harajuku. We’ll then head into Yoyogi Park, host of the beautiful Meiji Shrine. You can enjoy some free time to explore Tokyo for your own bucket list adventures, and then in the evening we’ll head to Akihabara – Tokyo’s Electric town – and be blinded by all the neon lights and crazy shops in store. You can challenge each other in the arcades, check out the famous Maid Cafes or just wander around the area.

Accommodation: Twin Share – Hotel Monday Asakusa (or similar)
Activities: Japan Orientation, Tokyo Districts
Free Time Suggestions: SkyTree, Tokyo Tower, Shinjuku Park, Yoyogi Park
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium/High

Day 3 - Tokyo, Sushi Making Class & Shibuya Crossing

In the morning after breakfast we will head over to our own private sushi making class! You will learn how to make Miso soup, three types of sushi and the secrets behind Teriyaki! Vegetarian options are available but you must notify your guide a week before the tour starts. The evening we head to Shinjuku, we’ll see an unparalleled skyline of Tokyo, check out the famous Omoide Yokocho alley & grab some dinner. before viewing the famous Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing.

Accommodation: Twin Share – Hotel Monday Asakusa (or similar)
Activities: Sushi Making Class, Shibuya Crossing
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Medium


Day 4 - Hakone, Mt Fuji Viewing & Romance Car

Today we take the aptly named “Romance Car” to the stunning mountain town of Hakone. After checking into our guest house situated in the mountains, we will spend the day exploring the surrounding areas on a variety of different transports. Why is Hakone so special? Well, not only is the food incredible but you can get a spectacular view of Mt Fuji (weather dependent.) After a day of exploring and taking photos of Japan’s most famous mountain we’ll arrange a traditional Japanese Family Nabe dinner in our guesthouse and finish the day playing some games.

*If you have asthma/respiratory conditions, the brief visit to Owakudani is not advisable, please speak to your guide for an alternate arrangement.

Accommodation: Twin Tatami Mats -Gora Gaku Guesthouse (or similar)
Activities: Mt Fuji Viewing, Romance Car
Free Time Suggestions: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium

Day 5 - Takayama, Sake Tasting, Temple Stay & Old Town Tour

Today is the day we ride the world-famous shinkansen for the first time. Watch them fly by on the platform before boarding one of the world’s fastest train.

Keep an eye out for Mt Fuji on the way. First stop is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Takayama. Here we will be staying at a stunning temple for the night. In the afternoon, We’ll sample sake in a local brewery and you can even treat yourself to some famous Hida beef!

Accommodation: Multi-share Rooms -Zenkoji Temple (or similar)
Activities: Sake Tasting, Temple Stay, Takayama Old Town Tour
Free Time Suggestions: Onsen/Public Bath House
Meals: N/A
Physical Rating: Low

Day 6 - Morning Market Walk, To Kyoto! Gion District Walking Tour

Start the morning with a walk around the beautiful old town and village of Takayama as well as a visit to the morning market on the banks of the Miyagawa River. We will then head to Kyoto by bullet train. In the evening a local tour guide will guide us around Kyoto’s Gion district, known for Geisha’s (Japan’s traditional art form of entertainment), if you are lucky enough, you might even spot one.

Accommodation: Prince Smart Inn Sanjo (Twin share/Double) (or similar)
Activities: Morning Market Walk, Gion District Walking Tour
Free Time Suggestions: Geisha Performance
Meals: N/A
Physical Rating: Medium


Day 7 - Kyoto, Kiyomizu-Dera, Fushimi-Inari & Tea Ceremony

We’ll rise before dawn and take the subway to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. We arrive early to escape the throng of tourists and work our way through the mountain exploring corridors of never ending red gates. After, we will head to Kiyomizu-dera temple, one of Japan’s most famous temples. A stunning bamboo and wooden complex that sits high in the mountain side. We finish up with a traditional Tea Ceremony with a real Geisha! This is a very exclusive event just for our group.

You will have the rest of the day free to explore

Accommodation: Prince Smart Inn Sanjo (Twin share/Double) (or similar)
Activities: Kiyomizu-Dera, Fushimi-Inari (10,000 Torii Gates), Geisha Tea Ceremony
Optional Extras:
Free Time Suggestions: Nishiki Market, International Manga Museum
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium/High

Day 8 - Kyoto, Golden Pavilion! Zen Garden & Kendo Class

We head to the stunning Golden Pavilion, a beautiful gold laden building surrounded by a lake. After we’ll head to Daitoku-ji, a quiet, leafy complex of old temples. In the afternoon we head to a traditional Kendo class housed in the dojo where it all began. Your authentic Bushido instructor, a descendant of a Japanese Samurai, will teach you the way of this respectful martial art.

Accommodation: Prince Smart Inn Sanjo (Twin share/Double) (or similar)
Activities: Golden Pavilion, Zen Garden, Kendo Class
Free Time Suggestions: Heian Shrine
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium

Day 9 - Bamboo Forest, Monkey Mountain, Osaka

The day starts with a train ride to Arashiyama, a town surrounded by mountains and a river running through it. The itinerary includes a visit to the bamboo forest, climbing Monkey Mountain, a traditional Japanese boat ride through the valleys. We then head on to Osaka where in the evening, we will have free time to explore before meeting up for our group dinner included for you at a popular and fun Osaka restaurant!

Accommodation: Twin Share/Double - Grids Osaka Namba (or similar)
Activities: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Monkey Mountain, Boat Tour, Group Dinner Osaka
Optional Extras: Osaka Shopping District, Canal Boat Ride, Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium/High



Day 10 - Nara Park, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori & Karaoke Finale!

An action packed last day as we start our morning in Nara with the deer & finish off in the famous Dotonbori for street food & karaoke! We will head to Nara in the morning, & after arriving we leave the train station and begin our walk towards the main park, keep your eyes out for the friendly locals along the way. Nara is famous for being a city that lives symbiotically with deer and is historically important as the former capital of ancient Japan.

We’ll make our way around the serene park & stunning temples before heading back to Osaka to visit the Osaka Castle Gardens. A beautiful structure in the centre of the city surrounded by lush gardens.

We’ll have some free time in the afternoon to get your last minute shopping in, before meeting up for our big finale. We explore the neon lights & craziness of Dotonbori & trying out all the amazing street food made famous in Osaka, before heading to our big karaoke room booked privately just for us!

Accommodation: Twin Share/Double - Grids Osaka Namba (or similar)
Activities: Nara Deer Park, Todai-ji Temple, Osaka Castle, Food Tour, Karaoke
Optional Extras: Osaka Shopping District, Canal Boat Ride, Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium

Day 11 - Depart

After nursing your head from last night's antics, it’s time to say goodbye to your group and the new friends you have made from your tour. We hope we have shown you the best that Japan has to offer!





OGW Japan 2025