Japan Essentials - 9 Days

Frequently asked questions

• What fitness level is required to join this tour?

  This tour requires a reasonable level of fitness due to the amount of walking involved. There will be some days where you will be walking more than approximately 8-10km. Please bring appropriate footwear for this!

• Can I bring and suitcase on this trip and is there a luggage limit?

  We would highly recommend bringing no more than 15kg on this trip, and bringing a backpack instead of a suitcase if you can. You won’t need to carry your luggage around during daily excursions, but you will need to transport your luggage between each accommodation so we recommend packing as lightly as possible. The luggage limit on the Shinkansen (bullet train) is very strict. Bags over 160cm (height x width x length) need an advance reservation and bags over 251cm cannot be accommodated even with a reservation.

• Do we have to carry our luggage around with us each day? Is there a luggage delivery service on this trip?

  You will need to transport your luggage between accommodations, but during the day when out and about you can leave your luggage safely stored away at the hostel. We do not offer a luggage delivery service but our guide can direct where you need to go to do it yourself.

• Where should I fly into? Where do we spend the first night of the tour?

  You can fly into Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda International Airport (HND). It doesn’t matter which one you fly into. We don’t offer airport pick ups on this tour but we include incredible detailed information on how to get to the hostel from both airports in your welcome pack. The first night is at Sakura Hotel Nippori in Tokyo. You will be notified in the unlikely case that there are changes.

• How long do you have to explore Akihabara on the tour?

  You’ll have a couple of hours to explore the area before your tour guide takes the metro back to the accommodation, however you can always stay on longer in an area if you want to and your guide will give you clear instructions on using the public transport on your own.

• Is there much free time in each location?

  The itinerary in Tokyo is fairly packed, but you can always stay in an area for longer and return to the accommodation on your own if you would like to explore more. There’s some free time in Takayama to take advantage of the optional activities like archery or visiting an onsen. While there’s not much free time in Hakone or Osaka, in Kyoto you will have a half day free to explore on your own.

• Do we need to purchase a Japan Rail Pass?

  The Japan Rail Pass is not included and you don’t need to purchase one as we take care of all the transport for you. We try to use local transport for a more authentic experience.

• Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?

  Due to the nature of cuisine in Japan, strict dietary requirements may be difficult to accommodate in some areas. Many of the broths/stocks which flavour much of Japanese food are not vegetarian/vegan friendly, and many meals contain either meat, fish, or egg elements. We recommend downloading the app “Happy Cow” and asking your tour guide for advice throughout the tour. You may also bring some snacks/supplements with you if necessary, but please note that Japanese customs can be very strict with medication so ensure you double check everything you bring.

• The tour doesn’t end in Tokyo, is the return to Tokyo included?

  For those wishing to return to Tokyo after the tour finishes in Osaka/Hiroshima there is the option to include the train cost in the ticket price. This is bookable by your agent at the time of booking or you can add it to your basket when booking on our website. Those guests who wish to book their return train journey whilst on the tour will need to arrange this as soon as possible as it does sell out, so we would recommend arranging this before you arrive.

• How is WiFi and data access on the trip?

  As Japan is a developed country, Wi-Fi and data access is excellent. All the hostels that we stay in have strong and consistent Wi-Fi. If you’d like to stay connected whilst on the road you can pick up a tourist sim card at the airport, these will cost you anywhere between $20-$40 for 2 weeks worth of data.

• How long are the travel times?

  Whilst on the tour the longest travel time is around 4 hours. There will be a day where we will be on the train for 2-3 hours twice in one day with a 30 minute change.

• What is the age range of this tour?

  We have an age range of 18 – 45 years of age. Most of our guests are aged between 21-35 years old are looking to experience our adventurous “flashpacking” style of travel. Our tours are perfect for people of different backgrounds to share travel experiences with like-minded fellow travellers.