The Itinerary
9 days, Dec 25 to Jan 2. Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka.
TOUCHDOWN IN TOKYO!
• You land at Narita (NRT), the team's there to meet you, and we take the train into the city together.
• Immigration's quick, so there's nothing to stress about.
• That evening we head out on a Tokyo pub crawl through the izakaya alleys, the bit where you stop being strangers. We start around 7:30pm, so later arrivals still make it.
• It's food first, yakitori and small plates off the counter, and nobody clocks who's drinking and who isn't.
• We land the week Japan slows down for shogatsu, its New Year, and the biggest holiday on the calendar.
TEAMLAB PLANETS, STREET FOOD HEAVEN, AND KARAOKE NIGHT!
• We start at TeamLab Planets, the interactive digital art museum where the art moves as you move.
• Then it's street food down Omoide Yokocho, ramen, takoyaki (octopus) and yakitori (chicken skewers).
• We close the night in a private karaoke room at a bar in Shinjuku.
HIKE AROUND MOUNT FUJI!
• The day's all about Mount Fuji (3,776 m, and an active volcano). We don't climb it, the views are better from the lakes and the summit only opens July to September anyway.
• We start early and drive out to Arakurayama Sengen Park for the postcard shot, the five-storey Chureito Pagoda with Fuji sitting right behind it. Photographers fly in from all over the world for this one view, and it's a few hundred steps up to get it.
• Just below the pagoda is Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, standing since 705 AD, where people come to pray for family and a quiet life.
• Then we walk Fujiyoshida's stairway town, the old shopping street where retro shopfronts line both sides and Fuji fills the gap at the end of the road.
• We stop at the Lawson everyone photographs, the convenience store with Fuji parked on its roof. Buy something while you're there, the neighbours have put up with a lot.
• Oshino Hakkai next, eight ponds fed by Fuji's snowmelt and clear straight to the bottom. It's on Japan's list of 100 famous waters, and yes, you can drink it.
• Oishi Park on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, flowers in front, lake in the middle, Fuji behind. Kawaguchiko is the pick of the Fuji Five Lakes, all five carved out by the eruptions.
• We finish at Lake Yamanakako, the biggest of the five, Fuji up close and swans on the water.
• How much of Fuji you actually see comes down to the weather that day (it's been napping since 1707).
TOKYO UNLEASHED!
• We take a guided walking tour into Tokyo's hidden corners, and the exact spots stay a surprise till you're there.
• In Shibuya you'll take in the Hachiko story and cross the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.
• At a shrine, you can draw an omikuji, a little paper fortune.
• The afternoon's for Akihabara and its anime, manga and gaming.
BULLET TRAIN TO OSAKA!
• We hop on the Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train, and cover the ground with the countryside rushing past the window.
• We reach Osaka by evening and check into your hotel in Umeda, right on the line that runs up to Kyoto.
• As the sun goes down, we pub-hop through the nightlife of Dotonbori.
KYOTO: TORII GATES AND KIMONO
• After breakfast we head into Kyoto, and back to the same bed that night.
• At Fushimi Inari you'll walk beneath thousands of vermilion torii gates. We do the gates, not the two-hour climb to the summit.
• Then you rent a kimono and stroll through the Gion district.
• We also visit Kiyomizu-dera temple.
BAMBOO, SAMURAI AND NEW YEAR'S EVE!
• Second run into Kyoto after breakfast.
• The day starts in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, towering stalks all around you, so keep your camera ready.
• Then there's a Nishiki food tour, fresh seafood, sushi and Japanese sweets.
• You can also ride scooters today. Bring a working international card and we'll help you check it works here.
• We finish with a traditional samurai lesson and show, and yes, you get to dress up as a samurai.
• It's December 31. We're back in Osaka for the night, and the countdown happens in Dotonbori, under the neon, on the bridge, with the year turning over around you.
OSAKA, UNSCRIPTED
• It's January 1, and in Japan that means hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. Osaka's is Sumiyoshi Taisha, which takes more than two million people across the first three days, and it's a short run south on the Nankai line.
• After that the day is yours.
• The city is open to wander. Amerikamura and the Shinsaibashi arcades for the thrift and the fashion, the used-jacket scene is serious here, even military jackets that have actually seen war.
• Osaka Castle or the Umeda Sky Building if you want one big view before dark. Kuromon Ichiba market is shut for New Year, so lunch gets picked on the day.
• The evening's for Dotonbori again, or kushikatsu under the neon of Shinsekai.
FAREWELL, JAPAN!
• One last Osaka morning, and time for whatever you didn't get to the first time round.
• After checking out, we make our way to Osaka Kansai (KIX) for your flight home, a wrap on the 9-day trip.
Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka
A journey through the heart of Japan, places, people, and stories.
Lock In Your Price
One trip, one price, with real twin beds, two separate beds each, not the shared doubles or three-to-a-room most operators quietly book. It costs $300 more than our autumn Japan trip because New Year week is one of the most expensive weeks of the year for hotels and trains in Japan.
Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka, with New Year's Eve in Dotonbori and hatsumode on January 1. A slot-blocking fee secures your spot.
Block at $1,899Rupee amounts are indicative, converted live. We lock the USD rate for 7 days when we send your balance payment request, so the INR you pay is fixed, not moving with the market.
Coming with other people? save ₹3,000 each
On any international group trip, get 2 friends to join you on the same batch and all three of you save ₹3,000 each.
Block your slots →Booking as a three? Tell us right after you block, and we will take ₹3,000 off each on your balance payment.
Real Twin Beds, Real Space
We've been running Japan trips since 2021, and the cheap packages almost always cut the same corner: the room. Shared doubles instead of twins, two people to one bed, three squeezed into a space built for two.
Not on this trip. Every room is a real twin, two separate beds, with genuine space. Most people say it's the first thing they're grateful for by day 3.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Japan in Frames
What Trippers Say
"Traveled with OJ to Japan in March this year. It was an incredible experience. The trip was well thought out and well planned. Ikroop was the trip lead and she did a fabulous job keeping the group together…"
"Before I booked the Japan group trip with Team OJ, I was a bit skeptical. But from the moment I landed in Tokyo, I knew I was in good hands. What truly set this trip apart was our trip leader, Ikroop, she had this incredible talent for understanding our interests…"
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the inclusions?
What are the exclusions?
- 1
- Lunch and dinner 2
- All flights 3
- Visa 4
- Any expenses due to deviation from the itinerary 5.Any taxi expenses
It’s New Year in Japan. What’s actually open?
The flights shared by you seems decent but can we explore options?
Taxis cost 15k and more. Our trip lead will be there for pickup on the mentioned timings (evening only).
If it's early, you will have to wait though.
Do I need a Japan visa? How do I apply?
Airport transfer will be provided?
Do you have a cancellation policy?
• 45+ days before the trip: 10% cancellation charge
• 30–44 days before the trip: 25% cancellation charge
• 15–29 days before the trip: 50% cancellation charge
• Within 14 days of the trip: 100% cancellation charge
These are calculated on the total trip amount, not just the token amount.
Now, if you can find someone to take your spot, we'll happily refund your full amount. No questions asked. Because at the end of the day, we'd rather have someone travel than hold back your money.
To keep your spot confirmed, please clear the remaining balance by the due date, it helps us lock in stays, permits, and experiences for the group. If payments are delayed beyond that, we'll have to treat it as a cancellation (same policy applies).
Why is this priced higher than other Japan group trips I've seen?
Not on this trip. Every room is a real twin, two separate beds, with genuine space. Most people say it's the first thing they're grateful for by day 3.
What should you bring?
- Passport (6 month validity)
- Down or padded jacket (1) – late December in Japan is properly cold
- Fleece or sweater (2)
- Long-sleeve shirts (3-4)
- T-shirts (3)
- Jeans or comfortable trousers (3)
- Comfortable walking shoes (1-2 pairs) – long walking days
- Socks (5 pairs)
- Compact umbrella (1)
- Gloves, beanie and a scarf
- Thermals (1 set)
- Sun cap + UV sunglasses + lip balm
- Day backpack (1) + reusable water bottle
- Power bank (1)
- Plug type A and B
How much cash should we carry?
Is veg. food available?
Will we have time to explore something of our choice?
I am coming solo. Is that a problem?
Your itinerary looks difficult for me. Can I do it?
What are trips like?
For example: If we find a very pretty waterfall/ a beautiful sunset / Rainbow on the way. We would stop the vehicle right away to catch the beauty of it.
We usually sleep very late on these trips as we play a lot of group games and most people feel they will miss the precious time with the group members and decides to stay awake.