The perfect 7 day backpacking route in Japan!

Want a whistlestop tour of Japan? Look no further! From a Samurai class and sake tasting to wandering through the stunning Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, we're cramming bucket-list activities into one incredible week. You'll visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone, three of Japan’s must-see destinations. We're here for a good time, not a long time! Whoever said good things come in small packages was clearly talking about this tour!

What's Included

  • Activities
  • Accommodation
  • Transport
  • Tru Leader

Activities
Exploring Tokyo
Senso-Ji Temple
Sake Tasting
Samurai Experience
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Shrine
Omoide Yokocho
Ropeway Cable Car
Pirate Ship Cruise
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Gion Exploring
Tea Ceremony
Fushimi-Inari Red Gates
Golden Temple Visit
Exploring Tokyo Senso-Ji Temple Sake Tasting Samurai Experience Yoyogi Park Meiji Shrine Omoide Yokocho Ropeway Cable Car Pirate Ship Cruise Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Gion Exploring Tea Ceremony Fushimi-Inari Red Gates Golden Temple Visit

Accommodation
6 nights Accommodation
Mix of hostel dorms and twin share rooms
6 nights Accommodation Mix of hostel dorms and twin share rooms

Transport
Public Transport (Metro, Bus and Train)
Public Transport (Metro, Bus and Train)

Tru Leader
Your Guide! Like travelling with your best mates and one of them happens to know where they're going!
Your Guide! Like travelling with your best mates and one of them happens to know where they're going!

Your Trip Planner

Book now

Spirit of Japan
7 Days

U$1,595

Location Route Icontokyo - kyoto

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Selected
Available
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Select Date
Start
green location pin icon tokyo
End
red flag destination iconkyoto
Number of travellers
outline of two people
Total Price:
U$
letter i in a circleThe deposit price is U$280

Map

Bucket List

Samurai Class
Incredible views
Bamboo Forest
Tokyo Exploring

Itinerary

Day 1

welcome to tokyo!

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Tru
Exclusives

You're here! You've made it to Tokyo for one epic week of sushi, sake, karaoke and temples! Make your way to the hostel, drop off your stuff and get ready for the adventure to begin. We'll all meet up for a welcome dinner tonight, get to know each other and head out for our first taste of Japanese nightlife.

Tokyo
Day 2

temples and sake!

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Tru
Exclusives
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - temple people
Day 2 - Tokyo Japan - city night
Day 9 Kyoto - sake brewery

Today, we're kicking off by exploring Tokyo and getting familiar with this epic city. Our amazing Tru Leader will show you around, you'll visit some of their favourite spots (you might even stop for a matcha on the way!) Of course, we will be visiting the Senso-Ji Temple and soaking in some culture before we tick off another Japanese must this afternoon. Fancy trying the local tipple? Sake tasting is calling our name! After sampling the different flavours of rice wine, we'll head out for a night in Shinjuku. Think bright lights and 10/10 vibes! The perfect first full day in Japan.

Tokyo
Exploring Tokyo, Senso-Ji Temple, Sake Tasting
Day 3

yoyogi park, meiji shrine and more!

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Tru
Exclusives

Morning! It's our final full day in Tokyo, and we're exploring some more of the city's highlights. We'll explore Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Takeshita-Dori, all iconic spots! In the evening, we'll head to Omoide Yokocho, a super cool area, full of food spots and bars, which translates to Memory Lane! After another day busy exploring, we'll head for some food and get ready for an early start tomorrow - but if karaoke is calling your name, that can be on the cards too, of course!

Tokyo
Meiji-Jingu, Harajuku, Takeshita-Dori and Omoide Yokocho
Day 4

fushimi-inari & tea ceremony

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Exclusives
Mount Fuji Spring
Day 10 Hakone Mount Fuji - Pirate ship

Ready for a more peaceful part of this amazing country? Odawara is where we are heading next, and it is known for being home to a beautiful castle! It's also the gateway to Hakone! Once we arrive, we'll have the chance to take in some of the views before heading for a sightseeing cruise for the rest of the day!

Hakone
Ropeway Cable Car & Pirate Ship Cruise
Day 5

fushimi-inari shrine & tea ceremony

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Tru
Exclusives

This morning we are up early to visit the Fushimi-Inari Shrine, the earlier we get there, the quieter it'll be! This afternoon, we'll also get to explore some of Gion. In the evening, we'll also experience a traditional Tea Ceremony, if you're looking for a proper immersive experience - this is it!

Kyoto
Fushimi-Inari Shrine & Tea Ceremony
Day 6

bamboo forest and samurai experience

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Exclusives

Kyoto is calling! We're headed to our final stop on this whistlestop tour of Japan. We'll arrive in the early afternoon and take our time exploring the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. This afternoon, we'll also get to explore some of Gion. In the evening, we'll also experience a traditional Tea Ceremony, if you're looking for a proper immersive experience - this is it! Then it's the moment you've all been waiting for...IT'S SAMURAI TIME! We'll *master* the art of Samurai and learn from the professionals. This is an epic way to round off our short but sweet Japanese adventure.

Kyoto
Fushimi-Inari Red Gates & Samurai Experience
Day 7

chilled checkout

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Exclusives

It's time to say goodbye! If this is your final day in Japan, safe travels! If you are staying on a little longer for some more exploring, your Tru Leader will be on hand to give you some pointers and suggestions. It's been the most amazing week, and we've made memories to last a lifetime. See you next time!

Kyoto
Help with onward travel

Where We Stay

tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Tokyo is our first stop and we have fabulous hostel lined up for you. It's easy to get to from the airport and it's nearby all sorts of great things! There's cool shops, sushi and plenty of other things to get you started on your Japanese Adventure.

hakone

It's time for Hakone, this town is in the mountains and its famous for its stunning views over Mount Fuji and Lake Ashinoko. Here will discover the beautiful nature of Japan and of course get some epic photos along the way.

japan - accommodation - kyoto 2
japan - accommodation - kyoto 2

kyoto

Welcome to Kyoto! It's so beautiful here! Get a good night's sleep, and then we'll explore the Kinkaku-Ji Golden Temple and the famous Bamboo Forest!

Reviews

Just finished my 7 day Japan tour with…
Just finished my 7 day Japan tour with our tour guide Hikari, who was friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. She was always making great additional add ons for food and extra activities in free time. I would highly recommend a tour with Hikari as she is passionate and knowledgeable and helped create excitement around this Japan tour!!
Aimee Florence - Feb 2026
Best trip ever!
It’s been so long since I travelled and Tru Travels seemed like a well organised way to get back into it. Our tour guide Hikari was an absolutely asset to have. She was kind and professional, and also always up for a laugh! It truly felt like having an extra bestie on the trip. If anyone is considering TruTravels - do it!!! You will meet incredible people, see so much in a short amount of time, and go home desperate to travel again. Highly, highly recommend
Rose - Feb 2026
Unforgettable 7 day Japan tour with Hikari
Had an amazing 7 day tour with Hikari in Japan. She went above and beyond for us and helped the whole trip unforgettable. She had recommendations for all the best local food and shopping. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the tour from the shrines to forests to the city nightlife. Would 10/10 recommend this tour
Tracy - Feb 2026
Very enjoyable experience!
Anthony was our tour guide for the Spirit of Japan tour. He was a very likeable and knowledgeable tour guide, and made our Japan trip extremely memorable. Whilst I would have preferred some more time for independent exploration, the included activities were very enjoyable. I also learnt a lot about Japanese culture. Would recommend this tour to others.
Raquel - Jan 2026

FAQs

Where does the trip start & finish?

The trip starts in Tokyo and finishes in Kyoto

Which airport do I need to fly into?

You can fly into either Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT).

What is the closest airport to the end destination?

The closest airport to the end destination that offers international flights is Kansai International Airport (KIX). You’ll need to take a train from Kyoto Station, which takes around 75 minutes to reach the airport.

How much is a pre-night?

If you would like to arrange a pre-night please email info@trutravels.com.

IS MY MONEY PROTECTED?

Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.

Do you have age limits for your tours?

Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We do have an upper age limit of 45 on our tours. If you are over 45 and have travelled with us before please contact our sales team at info@trutravels.com.

 

Our Backpacker trips are exclusively built for travellers aged 18-29! Don't worry if this isn't you - our incredible Classic, Flashpacker, Limited Edition, Multi-country and Ski tours are open to everyone under 45! There's a perfect style of tour for everyone - happy browsing!

Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?

Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!

Do many TruTravellers travel alone?

Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.

Will my departure definitely run?

Unlike other tour operators, we always guarantee that your tour will 100% go ahead!

What time shall I arrive on Day 1?

You can arrive any time on Day 1 of the tour. There are no scheduled activities during Day 1 on our tours but there will be a welcome meal with the group at around 7 pm. During this first evening, your guide will give you a run-down on the trip, you'll get to meet all the group and of course, you'll do some icebreakers to get to know each other a bit better! For more information on your arrival day contact the team at info@trutravels.com.

Will I be able to contact/meet people before the tour starts?

Yes, of course! You will receive a welcome email from your tour leader a week before your tour starts. This will include a QR code to join the group chat on WhatsApp and other important information before joining. In the meantime, you can join our Facebook group TruTravellers to connect with others.

Are TruTravels tours drinking and party-oriented?

No! Whether you love a sunset beer or prefer an early night in order to make the most out of every day, or even a bit of both, it's up to you how you spend your time on tour! Our guides are always on hand to suggest a range of evening activities on tour. From night markets to rooftop bars, fire shows and local cultural experiences, there's a huge variety of options! There's no pressure, ever - it's your adventure after all!

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