- Japan Rail Journeys
- Grand Tour of Japan
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Grand Tour of Japan
15 Day Escorted Rail Journey
Japan, East Asia
15 Meals Included
12 Excursions
Active Pace
Journey from incense-scented temples and elegant feudal castles to ultramodern electronic districts and dramatic volcanic landscapes as you travel the length of Japan on five spectacular train rides. Experience the natural grandeur of Mount Fuji and the man-made splendour of Matsumoto Castle, tour the shrines of futuristic Tokyo, visit the reminders of Hiroshima’s tragic nuclear past, and walk with geishas amongst the wooden houses of Kyoto.
Highlights
- Enjoy a full-day tour of Tokyo's opulent temples, palaces, and Buddhist shrines
- Take in spectacular views from the base of the iconic Mount Fuji
- Explore the magnificent Matsumoto Castle, Japan's oldest castle
- See deer roaming in picturesque Nara Park
- Witness snow monkeys lounging in the steaming hot springs of Yudanaka
- Visit Hiroshima's peace memorial and A-Bomb Dome
- Marvel at the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
- Join the locals at Hakodate's morning market
Map Key
Train
Coach
Boat
Airplane
Walking
1
Itinerary
Day 1
UK to Sapporo
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Sapporo.
Day 2
Sapporo
Dinner
On arrival in Sapporo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in before tonight's welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 3
Sapporo
Breakfast
Travel to the port city of Otaru and visit a small Sake museum, find out how sake is made, see exhibits and sample this truly unique drink. Take some time to walk along the Otaru Canal, the city's central waterway. Once the lifeblood of the city, it fell into disuse when modern dock facilities were opened but now boasts a gleaming restoration, with old gas lamps lining its path. Once back in Sapporo take a stroll through the city with your guide to see the Clock Tower, Odori Park and Susukino area which is Japan's largest entertainment district north of Tokyo.
Day 4
Sapporo to Hakodate
Breakfast
Pack an overnight bag for your trip to Hakodate then, after breakfast, board an express train, travelling through the countryside to Hakodate. On arrival, cross the moats that surround the star-shaped former fort of Goryokaku and explore the tranquil green grounds. Next, travel to Mount Hakodate for a cable car ride to its summit, with each season offering a different bird's eye view of the city, from delicate cherry blossoms to ice-capped rooftops. Continue on to your hotel in Hakodate.
Day 5
Hakodate to Tokyo
Breakfast
Catch a local train and join Hakodate's locals this morning as you browse the lively Morning Market, exploring over 280 stores hawking everything from salted squid and hairy crab - culinary specialities of the area, to souvenirs and locally crafted sake. Browse through the wares on offer then board your high-speed train to Tokyo. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Japan's dazzling capital on a local train.
Day 6
Tokyo
Breakfast
Tokyo's enchanting fusion of futuristic districts, centuries-old palaces, family-run ramen booths and spotlessly clean streets, dotted with cutesy anime depictions, provides endless chances for exploration. Today's full-day city tour begins with a visit to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Enter the sprawling complex through a towering wooden gate or 'torii' and explore the inner garden and architecture. then visit the magnificent Imperial Palace Plaza, taking in its moats, gardens and the picturesque Niju Bridge. Continue to Asakusa Kannon Buddhist Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple, and wander down the age-old Nakamise Shopping Street to reach the main hall and pagoda, where fragrant incense and Buddhist prayer chants fill the air.
Day 7
Tokyo to Hakone
Breakfast & Dinner
Following breakfast, travel by road to Hakone. On arrival, make your way to the Hakone Open Air Museum. Take a Hakone Ropeway ride to a mountaintop station with spectacular vistas of the sparkling waters of Lake Ashi and towering Mount Fuji. A short walking trail leads to Owakudani Valley, an active volcanic crater, where hot springs, bubbling pools and steam vents serve as reminders of the area’s volcanic might. Continue on to the shores of Lake Ashi and enjoy a short cruise on this idyllic lake, surrounded by mountains and greenery.
Day 8
Hakone to Matsumoto
Breakfast
Witness the grandeur of Mount Fuji as you drive to the Fifth Station at the mountain's base. Enjoy unobstructed views from the observation deck before learning more about the mountain's cultural significance at the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre. Your coach ride continues on to the ancient hillside city of Matsumoto. Discover Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's most beautiful and oldest castles. Ringed by a moat and soaring up over five stories, a climb up the steps to the top will reward you with mesmerizing views. Check into your hotel in Matsumoto for your overnight stay.
Day 9
Matsumoto to Kyoto
Breakfast
Journey into the Japanese highlands of Yudanaka for an unforgettable encounter with the fluffy snow monkeys of the region, which can survive temperatures of below -15 degrees Centigrade. Witness these fascinating creatures lounging and paddling in the steaming onsen, or hot springs, as they beat the icy conditions. Accustomed to their daily encounters with humans, these fearless primates allow an up-close, memorable experience. Drive onward to Nagano's impressive Zenkoji Temple, which houses what is believed to be the first Buddhist statue brought to Japan. Later, board your train and travel through picturesque rural landscapes, arriving in Kyoto for tonight's stay. Catch a local train to your hotel for tonight's stay.
Day 10
Kyoto
Breakfast
Experience traditional Japan at its finest as you explore Kyoto, a city of shrines, temples and geisha teahouses. Explore the UNESCO-recognised fortifications and chambers of Nijo Castle. Enjoy double visions of gold as you witness the gold-leafed pavilion of Kinkaku-ji and its shimmering reflection mirrored in the surrounding moat. Discover the ancient hallways and sacred waterfall of Kiyomizudera Temple then walk along the streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, past charming traditional wooden houses and shops. Wander the Zen gardens of Nanzenji Temple before sampling the region's fragrant teas at a traditional tea ceremony in the cultural centre. Stroll through the atmospheric streets of the Gion District, known for its preserved wooden architecture and traditional teahouses.
Day 11
Kyoto to Hiroshima
Breakfast
In the morning visit Fushimi Inari and stroll through an amazing arcade of vivid red 'torii', or shrine gates, inscribed with dedications to Inari, the god of rice. Depart Kyoto for Hiroshima, travelling to Japan's former capital city, Nara, where you'll visit the Todaiji Temple and the world's largest bronze Buddha statue nestled in its interior. Watch over 1,200 deer roaming nearby Nara Park, where deer crackers can be purchased and fed to these friendly park inhabitants. Drive onward to Osaka and catch your bullet train to Hiroshima for your overnight stay.
Day 12
Hiroshima
Breakfast
Start your day with a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park & Museum where photos and belonging of victims of the Hiroshima bombing are on display, serving as a reminder of the horror of the devastating event. Visit the A-Bomb Dome, one of the buildings which survived the blasts and remains as a symbol of peace in the city, before continuing onward to Miyajima. Take a boat ride to Miyajima Island, known as the 'Island of the Gods' and visit the awe-inspiring Itsukushima Shrine and its towering, free-standing wooden gate which stands in the middle of the sea. Return to your hotel in Hiroshima.
Day 13
Hiroshima to Fukuoka
Breakfast & Dinner
Take a morning tram journey before departing Hiroshima on a bullet train ride to Fukuoka. Well known for its ancient temples, beaches and beautiful Maizuru Park which contains the ruins of 17th-century Fukuoka Castle, Visit the tranquil Dazaifu Temmangu Shrine and learn more about Japan’s long and rich history at the Kyushu National Museum before continuing onward to your hotel for check-in. This evening, visit the Nakasu Area and follow your nose around the fragrant street food stalls. Leave space for tonight’s farewell dinner, which marks the end of your Japanese adventure.
Day 14
Fukuoka to UK
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension.
Day 15
Arrive in the UK
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
What's Included
Hand-picked Accommodation
15 Meals
12 Excursions
Expert Local Guides
All entrance fees
International Return Flights
Overseas Transfers and Transport (as per itinerary)
Hold Luggage for all flights
ABTA & ATOL Protection
Special Offers
Use discount code TOUR232 at the checkout to save £232 per person on selected tours departing in November 2026
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Opening Times
Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 8.00pm, Saturday: 9.00am - 7.30pm, Sunday: 9.00am - 7.30pm, Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 5.00pm
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Accommodation
The hotels listed below are provided for guidance only and final confirmation of your accommodation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before you travel
Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu
2 nights
Sapporo, Japan
Hakodate Kokusai Hotel
1 nights
Hakodate , Japan
Tour Testimonials
Our tour guide, Muraya Masami, was wonderful and made the trip outstanding. She provided daily handouts with key facts, hotel information, weather forecasts, and travel times, which were useful. She also shared interesting insights into the Japanese way of life, along with maps and site information. She had a wicked sense of humour too. Best guide ever!
It’s hard to pick a highlight as there were so many “wow” moments, but travelling on the bullet train four times was a real treat.
Susan Craddock
27 MarchOur guide Chiyomi was outstanding. Looked after us and although some days were demanding she made it enjoyable. Everywhere was so interesting and made so by our excellent guide.
David Mace
07 OctoberThe tour guide Takashi was really friendly and helpful. He went the extra mile to make sure we were looked after and happy even though he was challenged at times. He was well-liked by the group and received a well-deserved applause at the end of the tour.
Josephine Curtis
02 DecemberThis was an amazing adventure made all the better by our wonderful guide, who made every effort to ensure our holiday was excellent. The tour was well-paced and varied.
Kim Brabant
31 MayGreat guide with excellent knowledge. All sites visited were fantastic, and the guide's knowledge enhanced the trip. Too many highlights to single out just one.
Denise Johnston
05 AprilExtend Your Tour
Important Information
Please note whilst travelling through Japan, including between hotels and trains, there is no porterage included within your tour. This does not include any overnight trains that require an overnight bag.
Smaller groups may use public transport.
The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Please note that room sizes in Japan are generally smaller than those you may be used to.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of €342.20pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
UK passport holders do not require a visa to enter Japan however you must have a valid passport which is valid for at least six months from the date you are due to leave Japan. Departure requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Grand Tour of Japan is rated as Active. This is largely due to the amount of travelling on this tour. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
Smaller groups may use public transport.
The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). You can purchase the currency before you travel but you will probably get a better exchange rate if money is exchanged when in Japan. You can buy Yen at foreign exchange banks and at the airport. Credit, debit and prepaid cards from international brands are accepted at a wide variety of places in the major cities within Japan. Outside of these, cards may not be widely accepted, although you will be able to withdraw cash in the local currency across the country at ATMs.
It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. We recommend you bring along a minimum of GBP £700 per person to change to local currency. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
Tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion. However, Should you wish to tip in Japan . We would recommend to tip approximately £2 per person per day. This is a total of £30 per person to budget for tips on your trip. Tips will be collected at the end of your tour. Tips are accepted in the local currency.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
Smaller groups may use public transport.
We would like to inform you that local guides will not be used during your tour. This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your Tour Guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. Your guide will be on hand for the duration of your tour and will be able to provide you with some general information on each of the destinations/ attractions that you visit
Smaller groups may use public transport.
During this tour you will be on various trains ranging from Local trains to Bullet trains. There are some luggage restrictions on Japanese trains and so your main luggage may need to be transported overnight. It is advisable to take a smaller overnight bag with you for these days. Your guide will assist you in advance with this matter. All train carriages are booked with comfortable seats and air conditioning.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Japan. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Please keep in mind that room sizes in Japan are generally smaller than those you may be used to.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
Please note Gluten free food is very limited in Japan and while every effort is made to assist you, this requirement cannot be guaranteed.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
If you are travelling within the below Japanese Public Holidays please note that celebrations can last a couple of days and during these times some businesses will be closed and coach, air and train travel may be affected. Tourist attractions will be open but may be crowded. Golden Week is usually between late April and early May. Obon Holiday is between usually in the middle of August
On your arrival in Sapporo you will be met by a representative from our local agent in Japan, JTB, holding a sign displaying ‘Mercury Holidays’. The Mercury Holidays/JTB representative will transfer you to your hotel on arrival where you will spend your first night.
If you need to contact JTB during your stay the details are:
JTB Global Marketing and Travel Address: Tokyo Front Terrace 6F, Hisgashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8604
Contact number: +81 (0) 3-5796-5431 (office day on Mon-Fri 09:30-18:00 apart from Sat&Sun and public holidays)
Emergency contact number: +81 (0) 70-2264-2119
Email address: kg01@gmt.jtb.jp
- Sunscreen, insect repellent and wide-brimmed hat
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Camera and charger
- Small day pack for excursions
- Personal toiletries and first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
- A plug adaptor – the electricity supply is 110/120 volts and two or three flat pin plugs are used
- Waterproof, lightweight jacket and lightweight clothing
- Warm clothing during the winter months
- Overnight bag
- Snow grips for winter hiking