Japan Adventure 13 Day — Self-Launched
13 days · Japan
INTRO Travel charges £2,450
No-markup version: ~£1,149 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 13-day Tokyo-to-Kyoto Japan route: neon Tokyo, the snow monkeys and onsen of Nagano, Mount Fuji views over Lake Ashi in Hakone, Osaka's Dotonbori, a night in a Koyasan Buddhist temple, and Kyoto's bamboo groves, golden pavilion and torii tunnels. Instead of a guided group you'll ride the same Shinkansen and local trains yourself, book the sushi class, samurai lesson, temple stay and onsen direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook, and stay in the same style of hostels, ryokan and temple lodgings the group tour uses. Costs are realistic backpacker-to-midrange estimates in GBP and will shift with season, exchange rate and how far ahead you book (sakura and autumn-leaf season cost noticeably more).
Day-by-day
Arrive in Tokyo — Ueno base
Tokyo
Fly into Narita or Haneda and get yourself to Ueno, the hostel hub of the group tour (Grids Tokyo Ueno or similar). From Narita take the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (~£12, 45 min); from Haneda the Keikyu line + Yamanote (~£6, 40 min). Pick up a Suica/Pasmo IC card or load Suica in Apple/Google Wallet. Evening: wander Ameyoko market for cheap eats, or join a free-ish izakaya crawl. No need to pre-book anything today.
🚌Keisei Skyliner Narita–Ueno ~£12 or Keikyu from Haneda ~£6; IC card ~£1 deposit
🛏Hostel dorm, Ueno (e.g. Grids Tokyo Ueno) — ~£22
- →Airport train into central Tokyo
- →Ameyoko market evening stroll
- →Izakaya dinner in Ueno
Tokyo highlights on foot and by metro
Tokyo
Self-guided loop of the classics: Senso-ji in Asakusa early (free, quieter before 9am), then the Ginza line to Meiji Shrine (free) and the Harajuku backstreets, finishing at Shibuya Crossing at dusk. Skip paid guides — the city is easy to navigate and every stop is signposted in English. Evening: Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai for karaoke and tiny bars (~£12 for a few hours of karaoke plus drinks).
🚌Metro day pass or ~6 IC card rides ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm, Ueno — ~£22
- →Senso-ji Temple (free)
- →Meiji Shrine & Harajuku (free)
- →Shibuya Crossing at dusk
- →Shinjuku karaoke + Golden Gai bars
Sushi class and Akihabara
Tokyo
Book a small-group sushi-making class in English via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£45–60, 2–3 hours, often in Tsukiji or Asakusa). Afternoon in Akihabara: retro arcades (GiGO, Super Potato), gacha and photos booths, all pay-as-you-go. Alternative: a guided Tsukiji Outer Market food walk (~£50) if you'd rather eat than roll.
🚌Metro rides ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm, Ueno — ~£22
- →Sushi-making class (Klook/GetYourGuide, ~£50)
- →Akihabara arcades and game centres
- →Optional: Tsukiji Outer Market food tour
Shinkansen to Nagano, onsen and origami
Nagano
Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo/Ueno to Nagano (~£50, 1h20–1h45, unreserved seat is fine). Stay in a budget ryokan or guesthouse near Nagano Station or in Yudanaka. Afternoon: an onsen — Jigokudani-area or a local bath house (~£5 public sento, ~£10 private ryokan day-bath). Evening: a cheap origami/tea workshop in a community centre or just a DIY session with a ¥500 paper kit.
🚌Shinkansen ~£50 + local train/bus ~£4
🛏Budget ryokan or guesthouse, Nagano/Yudanaka — ~£28 (shared room)
- →Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo–Nagano
- →Public onsen / sento soak
- →DIY origami evening
Snow monkeys and Shiga Kogen
Nagano
Take the Nagano Dentetsu line to Yudanaka (~£9, 45 min) then the bus to Kanbayashi Onsen and a 30-min walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park (entry ~£4). Monkeys are there year-round; winter is the famous steamy-scene version. Afternoon: Shiga Kogen National Park hiking in summer/autumn, or a soba-making workshop in Yudanaka/Shinshu (~£20–25, bookable locally or via Klook). Back to Nagano for a cheap ramen dinner (~£7).
🚌Nagano Dentetsu + bus return ~£18
🛏Budget ryokan or guesthouse, Nagano — ~£28
- →Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (~£4)
- →Shiga Kogen National Park walk (free)
- →Soba-making workshop (~£22)
Shinkansen west to Hakone
Hakone
Train from Nagano to Tokyo, then JR to Odawara and the Hakone Tozan line to Gora/Hakone-Yumoto (~£55 total, ~3h). Buy the Hakone Free Pass (2-day, ~£40) covering the ropeway, cable car, pirate ship and buses. Afternoon: open-air museum or a lakeside walk, then a hostel/guesthouse night in Gora. Keep an eye out for Fuji on the train — clear mornings are best.
🚌Trains ~£55 + Hakone Free Pass ~£40 (2-day)
🛏Hakone hostel or guesthouse (e.g. WPU Hotel Hakone style) — ~£28 dorm
- →Shinkansen + Hakone Tozan line
- →Hakone Free Pass purchase
- →Hakone Open-Air Museum or lakeside walk
Lake Ashi, Fuji views, BBQ in Osaka
Hakone → Osaka
Morning: ropeway up Owakudani and the Hakone Ropeway over the sulphur vents (covered by Free Pass), then the pirate-ship cruise across Lake Ashi with Fuji views if the sky is clear. Mid-afternoon: Odawara to Osaka on the Kodama/Hikari Shinkansen (~£65, 2h45), staying in the Namba/Shin-Imamiya area. Dinner: a DIY yakiniku/BBQ at a cheap grill restaurant (~£15) or the hostel rooftop if it has one.
🚌Shinkansen ~£65 (Free Pass covers local transport)
🛏Hostel dorm, Namba/Shin-Imamiya — ~£20
- →Hakone Ropeway & Owakudani
- →Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise (Free Pass)
- →Shinkansen Odawara–Shin-Osaka
- →Yakiniku BBQ dinner in Namba
Osaka Castle and Dotonbori
Osaka
Osaka Castle main keep entry ~£4 (grounds free) — go early to beat the queues, or just enjoy the park for free. Afternoon: Kuromon Ichiba market snacks (~£12) and shopping in Shinsaibashi. Evening: Dotonbori for takoyaki, kushikatsu and neon photos — budget ~£15 for a proper grazing dinner. Optional izakaya crawl in Ura-Namba (~£20).
🚌Metro ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm, Namba — ~£20
- →Osaka Castle (~£4)
- →Kuromon Market food stalls
- →Dotonbori street food & nightlife
Koyasan temple stay
Koyasan
Nankai Koya line from Namba to Gokurakubashi then the cable car up (~£10, 1h45). Stay at a temple lodging — Ekoin is the one the group tour uses; book direct on their site or via Japanese Guest Houses / Booking.com (~£75–95 half board, dorm or simple Japanese room). Afternoon: Okunoin cemetery, then join the temple's evening meditation session (usually free/lodged guests) and a night walk through Okunoin's lantern-lined path to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. Dinner is shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian) served at the temple.
🚌Nankai Koya line + cable car return ~£20
🛏Temple lodging, Koyasan (e.g. Ekoin) — ~£85 incl. dinner & breakfast
- →Nankai Koya line to Koyasan
- →Okunoin cemetery walk
- →Temple meditation session
- →Shojin ryori dinner at the temple
Morning fire ceremony, then Kyoto
Koyasan → Kyoto
Wake for the 6:30am dawn service — many temples run a Goma fire ceremony which lodging guests can watch, followed by a traditional monk's breakfast. Then descend to Namba and take the Keihan or JR line to Kyoto (~£7, 1h15). Check into Piece Hostel Sanjo-style accommodation. Evening: self-guided Gion stroll (Shirakawa, Hanamikoji — be respectful, no chasing geiko), or book a small walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£25) if you want context.
🚌Koyasan–Kyoto trains ~£18
🛏Hostel dorm, Kyoto (e.g. Piece Hostel Sanjo) — ~£24
- →Dawn prayer & goma fire ceremony
- →Monk's breakfast
- →Train to Kyoto
- →Self-guided Gion evening walk
Arashiyama bamboo and the Golden Pavilion
Kyoto
Early JR San-in line to Arashiyama (~£3, 15 min) for the bamboo grove before 8am (free), plus Tenryu-ji garden (~£4) and the Togetsukyo bridge. Bus to Kinkakuji (entry ~£3) via Ryoan-ji if time allows. Afternoon: Nishiki Market or a conveyor-belt sushi lunch (~£10). Optional bowling or arcades in Shijo-Kawaramachi in the evening. If you want a cheap bike, rentals are ~£7/day and Kyoto is flat.
🚌JR + bus day ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm, Kyoto — ~£24
- →Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (free)
- →Tenryu-ji garden (~£4)
- →Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion (~£3)
- →Nishiki Market snacks
Fushimi Inari and samurai class
Kyoto
Sunrise at Fushimi Inari (free, JR Nara line, ~£2) — walk at least to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint to escape crowds. Then book a samurai experience in Kyoto city centre via Klook/Viator (~£45–65, 1–1.5h, includes a replica sword, attire and photo session; some run kenjutsu or iaido lessons). Evening: farewell dinner at an izakaya or okonomiyaki spot (~£18) and drinks along Pontocho or Kiyamachi (~£10).
🚌JR + bus ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm, Kyoto — ~£24
- →Fushimi Inari torii hike (free)
- →Samurai experience class (~£55)
- →Farewell izakaya dinner + Pontocho drinks
Depart Kyoto
Kyoto
Check out and make your own way out — Osaka Kansai airport is ~£18 and 1h20 via the Haruka limited express, or ~£9 on the slower JR/Kansai Airport line. Tokyo flights: Shinkansen to Tokyo ~£75 (2h15). If you have a late flight, store bags at Kyoto Station (¥700–1000) and do one last temple or the Kyoto Imperial Palace (free, no booking needed).
🚌Haruka to Kansai ~£18 or Shinkansen to Tokyo ~£75
🛏—
- →Kyoto Station luggage storage
- →Optional last temple visit
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. INTRO Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | INTRO Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,149 | £2,450 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,301 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more INTRO Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,149
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Japan Adventure 13 Day — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,149 per person for 13 days in Japan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with INTRO Travel?+
Yes — INTRO Travel charges around £2,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,149 — a saving of roughly £1,301 (53%) per person.
How long is the Japan trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Japan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, slow-travel trip through Japan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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