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
Ninenzaka Exploring
Tea Ceremony
Fushimi-Inari Red Gates
Kinkaku-Ji (Rokuon-Ji)
Exploring Tokyo Senso-Ji Temple Sake Tasting Samurai Experience Yoyogi Park Meiji Shrine Omoide Yokocho Ropeway Cable Car Pirate Ship Cruise Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Ninenzaka Exploring Tea Ceremony Fushimi-Inari Red Gates Kinkaku-Ji (Rokuon-Ji)

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 U$1,116.50

Location Route Icontokyo - kyoto

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Selected
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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

Morning! Today, we’re kicking things off with a walking tour to get familiar with Tokyo. No visit to Tokyo is complete without exploring the famous Senso-ji Temple, where we’ll soak in a bit of culture before exploring Akihabara (also known as the “electric town”). Afterwards, we'll head to our next experience: sake tasting! Here we'll try a few different flavours of Japan’s iconic rice wine and learn a bit about its history. Then it’s time to head out and experience the bright lights and buzzing energy of Shinjuku. 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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Exclusives

Morning! It's our final full day in Tokyo, and we're exploring some more of the city's highlights. We'll explore the amazing Meiji Shrine and then head over to Harajuku and walk along Takeshita-Dori, which is the heart of all this fashion and culture! In the evening, after another busy day of exploring, we'll head for some food. First, we'll head to Omoide yokocho, a single alleyway that is almost all Yakitori restaurants for a bite. Then to Golden Gai, a super cool area, full of bars and if karaoke is calling your name, that can be on the cards too, of course!

Tokyo
Meiji-Jingu, Harajuku (Takeshita-Dori) and Golden Gai
Day 4

exploring hakone & sightseeing cruise

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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 is a long travel day today, but it is SO worth it! Once we arrive, we'll have the chance to take in some of the views (maybe if we get lucky, we'll see Mount Fuji) before heading for a sightseeing cruise!

Hakone
Ropeway Cable Car & Pirate Ship Cruise
Day 5

fushimi-inari shrine & tea ceremony

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Exclusives

This morning, we are up early to travel over to Kyoto. In the afternoon, we'll experience a traditional Tea Ceremony, if you're looking for a proper immersive experience - this is it! We'll also get to explore some of Ninenzaka, an iconic old town shopping street surrounded by famous temples, pagodas, and statues. We'll also visit the Golden Temple (Rokuon-Ji, also known as Kinkaku-Ji). Finally, we'll head to Fushimi-Inari Shrine, so get your cameras at the ready!

Kyoto
Fushimi-Inari Shrine & Tea Ceremony
Day 6

bamboo forest and samurai experience

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Tru
Exclusives

This morning, we'll head straight out to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. If you are looking for the ultimate pic for the gram, now's your chance! Later on, we'll head over to the beautiful Kinkaku-Ji before stepping into the world of Samurai! Epic right?

Kyoto
Bamboo forest & Samurai experience
Day 7

chilled checkout

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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.

odawara

It's time for Odawara, this town is in the mountains, and it's 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

An Unforgettable Japan trip
My 7-day tour in Japan with Morgan was absolutely amazing from start to finish. It was an unforgettable experience, and I already know I’ll be going back. Morgan was an outstanding tour leader—he truly went above and beyond to make sure everyone had the best possible experience. It’s clear how passionate he is about Japan, which made the whole trip even more special. He was knowledgeable, approachable, and always willing to help, no matter the situation. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to guide us. The itinerary was perfectly planned, with a great balance of sightseeing, cultural exp...
Louise Hall - Mar 2026
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.

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 5 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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