Self-Launched Japan's Honshu: Tokyo to Osaka (13 Days)
13 days · Japan
UME Travel Co. Ltd charges £4,180
No-markup version: ~£1,690 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of a 13-day private-guided Honshu tour from Tokyo to Osaka, covering Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, Hakone's volcanic valley and pirate ship, the samurai charm of Kanazawa, Kyoto's Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari, Nara's deer park, Hiroshima's Peace Memorial, and Miyajima's floating torii before ending in Osaka. You ride the same shinkansen and local lines the private driver would have used, sleep in well-located hostels and budget hotels, and self-book the same highlights with a JR Pass, local day-trip tours, and direct temple/attraction tickets. Roughly a quarter of the guided tour's price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Tokyo — Akihabara Base
Tokyo
Land at Narita or Haneda and take the Keisei Skyliner (Narita, ~£18) or the Keikyu/Monorail (~£4-10 from Haneda) into the city. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Akihabara or Ueno — the same handy base the tour used (Dormy Inn Akihabara). Spend the late afternoon getting your IC card (Suica/Pasmo) topped up and wandering the neon electronics-and-anime streets of Akihabara. Tonight: a cheap konbini dinner or a ¥900 bowl of ramen.
🚌Keisei Skyliner from Narita ~£18, or Keikyu Line from Haneda ~£4-5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Akihabara/Ueno (dorm bed £20-28)
- →Airport-to-city train into Tokyo
- →Suica/Pasmo IC card setup
- →Evening walk in Akihabara electronics district
Free Day — Tokyo Highlights DIY
Tokyo
Build your own Tokyo day: Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street in Asakusa (free), Meiji Shrine and Harajuku's Takeshita Street, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and a trip up Shibuya Sky (book online ~£15) or the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory in Shinjuku. Lunch at a conveyor-belt sushi spot or a standing soba bar (~£6-8). Top the day with an evening in Omoide Yokocho's lantern-lit alleys.
🚌IC card on Tokyo Metro and JR lines (~£5-8 total)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Akihabara/Ueno (dorm bed £20-28)
- →Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa (free)
- →Meiji Shrine and Harajuku
- →Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky (~£15 optional)
- →Shinjuku evening food alleys
Mt. Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Excursion
Lake Kawaguchi
Take a highway bus or the JR Chuo Line + Fujikyu Line out to Kawaguchiko (~£15-20, 2-2.5 hrs). Rent a bike and cycle the lake's north shore for classic Fuji reflections, ride the Fuji Panoramic Ropeway up Mt. Tenjo for the observation decks, visit Oshino Hakkai's spring-fed village, and stop at Kawaguchi Sengen Shrine. Stay overnight by the lake so you're not racing back — onsen hotels here are affordable midweek.
🚌Highway bus Tokyo-Kawaguchiko ~£15-20; local bike rental ~£8/day
🛏Budget onsen hotel or ryokan by Lake Kawaguchi (£35-50)
- →Cycling the Lake Kawaguchi shoreline (~£8)
- →Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (~£5)
- →Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park observation decks (free)
- →Oshino Hakkai spring village (free)
Hakone — Pirate Ship, Ropeway & Owakudani
Hakone
Travel across to Hakone (bus/train, ~1.5-2 hrs, ~£12). Buy a Hakone Free Pass (~£35) covering the mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and the Lake Ashi pirate ship. Cruise Lake Ashi for Fuji views, ride the ropeway over the sulphur vents of Owakudani, and try a black egg. Optionally add the Mishima Skywalk suspension bridge if time allows. Return to Tokyo in the evening by Romancecar or shinkansen (~£12-20).
🚌Odakyu/Hakone Tozan lines ~£12 each way; Hakone Free Pass ~£35
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Akihabara/Ueno (dorm bed £20-28)
- →Hakone Free Pass (ropeway, cable car, pirate ship) ~£35
- →Lake Ashi pirate ship cruise
- →Owakudani volcanic valley
- →Mishima Skywalk (optional ~£6)
Tokyo to Kanazawa by Shinkansen
Kanazawa
Activate your JR Pass and ride the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa (~2.5 hrs, covered by pass). Drop bags at your hostel near Kanazawa Station, then ease into the city: poke around the station's modern Tsuzumi-mon Gate, sample seafood at Omicho Market, and stroll the Higashi Chaya geisha district in the evening light (free).
🚌Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo-Kanazawa (covered by JR Pass)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Kanazawa Station (£20-30)
- →Kanazawa Station Tsuzumi-mon Gate
- →Omicho Market browse
- →Higashi Chaya District evening walk
Kanazawa — Castle, Kenrokuen & Teahouses
Kanazawa
Self-navigate central Kanazawa with a one-day local bus pass (~£5). Visit Kenrokuen Garden (one of Japan's top three, ~£2), Kanazawa Castle Park (free), and the Higashi Chaya teahouses. Add the Nagamachi samurai district and Oyama Shrine if you have energy, and a gold-leaf ice cream on the way. The original tour used an English-speaking host here — a Klook or GetYourGuide half-day walking tour (~£25-35) replicates it cheaply.
🚌Local bus day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Kanazawa Station (£20-30)
- →Kenrokuen Garden (~£2)
- →Kanazawa Castle Park (free)
- →Higashi Chaya and Nagamachi districts
- →Optional guided half-day walking tour (~£30)
Kanazawa to Kyoto
Kyoto
Ride the Thunderbird limited express from Kanazawa to Kyoto (~2 hrs, JR Pass covered). Check into a hostel in the Kyoto Station or Kawaramachi area. Spend the afternoon walking the Higashiyama slopes: Kiyomizu-dera Temple (~£2.50), the preserved lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Yasaka Shrine at dusk (free), and the geisha-spotting lanes of Hanamikoji Dori in Gion.
🚌Thunderbird limited express Kanazawa-Kyoto (JR Pass) plus local buses ~£3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Kyoto Station/Kawaramachi (£20-32)
- →Kiyomizu-dera Temple (~£2.50)
- →Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka lanes
- →Yasaka Shrine (free)
- →Hanamikoji Dori, Gion
Arashiyama — Bamboo, Temple & Scenic Railway
Arashiyama
Take the JR San-in line to Arashiyama (~£2, 15 min). Wander the Sagano Bamboo Grove early (free), visit Tenryu-ji Temple and its garden (~£4), cross the Togetsukyo Bridge, and ride the Sagano Scenic Railway along the Hozugawa River (~£6, book a seat). Fit in Okochi-Sanso Villa for hilltop views (~£7) and an optional riverside cycle if the weather's kind. A self-guided or app-based Arashiyama walking tour (~£12) covers the history.
🚌JR San-in line to Saga-Arashiyama ~£2; optionally return by Hozugawa boat
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Kyoto Station/Kawaramachi (£20-32)
- →Sagano Bamboo Grove (free)
- →Tenryu-ji Temple and garden (~£4)
- →Sagano Scenic Railway (~£6)
- →Okochi-Sanso Villa (~£7)
Fushimi Inari, Sake Tasting & Nara
Kyoto / Nara
Start at Fushimi Inari Shrine before 8am to beat the crowds and hike the vermilion torii tunnels up Mt. Inari (free). Walk down to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Fushimi for a tour and tasting (~£4). Then take the JR Nara Line (~£5, 45 min) to Nara: Nara Park's roaming deer (free, crackers ~£1.50), Todaiji Temple and its giant Buddha (~£5), and Kasuga Taisha. Return to Kyoto in the evening.
🚌JR Nara Line ~£5 each way; local buses in Nara ~£3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Kyoto Station/Kawaramachi (£20-32)
- →Fushimi Inari Shrine hike (free)
- →Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum tasting (~£4)
- →Nara Park deer (free)
- →Todaiji Temple (~£5)
Kyoto to Hiroshima — Peace Memorial
Hiroshima
Ride the Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima (~1.5 hrs, JR Pass covered). Settle into a hostel near the station, then spend the afternoon at the Peace Memorial Park: the Atomic Bomb Dome (free), Cenotaph, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (~£1.50). A self-guided audio tour or the museum's own guides tell the story well; a Klook small-group Peace Park walk is ~£15-20 if you want narration. Evening: try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
🚌Sanyo Shinkansen Kyoto-Hiroshima (JR Pass); tram to Peace Park ~£1.50
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Hiroshima Station (£20-30)
- →Atomic Bomb Dome (free)
- →Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (~£1.50)
- →Peace Memorial Park and Cenotaph
- →Optional guided Peace Park walk (~£18)
Miyajima Island & On to Osaka
Miyajima / Osaka
Hop a local train and the JR ferry to Miyajima (~£3-5, ferry covered by JR Pass). Walk out to the floating Itsukushima Shrine torii (~£2), meet the island's free-roaming deer, and ride the ropeway up Mt. Misen if the sky's clear (~£8). Sample momiji manju before heading back. Then take the shinkansen from Hiroshima to Osaka (~1.5 hrs, JR Pass); check into a hostel in Kitahama or Namba.
🚌JR train + ferry to Miyajima (JR Pass covers ferry); Sanyo Shinkansen Hiroshima-Osaka (JR Pass)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Osaka Kitahama/Namba (£20-30)
- →Itsukushima Shrine (~£2)
- →Miyajima deer and free island walk
- →Mt. Misen ropeway (optional ~£8)
Osaka Free Day
Osaka
Explore Osaka on foot and by metro (day pass ~£5). Graze your way through Kuromon Market, visit Osaka Castle Park (~£3 to enter the keep), and wander the Dotonbori entertainment district for takoyaki and gyoza. Shop Shinsaibashi or ride the Hep Five Ferris Wheel (~£4) at sunset. An optional Osaka Street Food walking tour on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£35-45) is the guided version if you'd like the context.
🚌Osaka Metro day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Osaka Kitahama/Namba (£20-30)
- →Kuromon Market food crawl
- →Osaka Castle Park (~£3)
- →Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi
- →Optional street food walking tour (~£40)
Departure from Osaka
Osaka
Breakfast and a final wander — a last konbini feast or a sit-down bowl of udon. Take the Nankai Rapit to Kansai Airport (~£8, 40 min) or the JR Haruka if you're flying out of KIX, or a limousine bus (~£10). If you're heading on, your JR Pass still covers regional hops. Travel day, no fixed plan.
🚌Nankai Rapit to Kansai ~£8, or JR Haruka/limousine bus ~£8-10
🛏—
- →Final Osaka breakfast
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. UME Travel Co. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UME Travel Co. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,690 | £4,180 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,490 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UME Travel Co. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,690
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Japan's Honshu: Tokyo to Osaka (13 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,690 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 UME Travel Co. Ltd?+
Yes — UME Travel Co. Ltd charges around £4,180 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,690 — a saving of roughly £2,490 (60%) 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, foodie, city-breaks 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.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.