Japan Rail Journeys
Sit back and enjoy being whisked from neon-lit cityscapes to the tranquil shrine-dotted countryside of Japan by bullet train. Watch breathtaking landscapes zip by your window, from the mist shrouded peak of Mt. Fuji to forests dusted in seasonal hues and framed by traditional torii gates on one of 54 rail journeys through Japan.
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Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together...more to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures. Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences. We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
APT is an Australian family-owned company whose essence began in Melbourne in the 1920s. More than 90 years on, APT offers life-enriching trips to every...more continent, and through the company’s vast industry experience, meticulous planning and unquestionable passion it's earned a place among the world’s most well-regarded travel companies. From boutique river cruising to small-group 4WD adventures; traditional coach touring with a decadent twist; epic rail journeys to small-ship expeditions; classic ocean cruising to safaris of discovery by both land and air – there’s little APT are unwilling to consider in pursuit of creating the finest holiday experience for its valued guests. Timeless luxury, exclusive experiences, life enriching moments and true personalisation. APT offers all-inclusive holidays so everything is taken care of. We invite you to join us; you won’t be disappointed.
At Globus, we’re not just hooked on travel as a destination, but on the way it makes you feel. Our promise is to craft adventures that you’ll want to re-live...more forever. We’ve been creating wonder-filled first class touring for more than 90 years; we have the experience and local knowledge globally to craft immersive adventures that make Globus travellers feel alive. Not only can you expect to see the big sites, we’ll also take you deeper in each location, right to the beating heart of each new discovery. At Globus, we understand that your holiday is your treat – a gift from you to you. Let us connect you with a new world of people, places and experiences that will ignite your imagination.
Rail Journeys through Japan Iconic Cities and Experiences
Tokyo
Tokyo has an intricate and precise rail network which carries over 8 million passengers daily! In minutes, you'll arrive in iconic locations like Shibuya crossing, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine and Asakusa's Sensō-ji temple to name a few.
Kyoto
Travel by high-speed bullet train to arrive in Japan's ancient capital. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Listed Sites, you will step back in time as you visit the vast array of temples, gardens and traditional tea houses.
Osaka
The railway network is key in exploring Osaka. A short ride and you'll arrive at Osaka Castle, Universal Studios or the neon shopping area of Dotonbori. Local street foods are always a hit too - Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki - delicious!
Hiroshima
The Shinkansen connects you to Hiroshima, where you can visit the floating Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, or explore the Peace Memorial Park and Museum - the Genbaku Dome still standing since the atomic bombing of WWII.
Takayama
Sit back in comfort as your train winds through serene landscapes to the traditional town of Takayama. Stroll through the charming streets, savour local cuisine, and admire the historic wooden architecture of this mountain-side oasis.
Latest Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys through Japan
When j booked this tour it was advertised as a small group (up to 24) so it was quite surprising on arrival to find out it was 36. Clearly our tour guide was out of her depth coordinating that many people & for the first few days we were left wandering. I feel there was a lot of wasted time as we were returned to our hotels by 4pm even after asking ...read more if we could be taken to other close locations. The sites were great otherwise.
We had a wonderful time on Bunnik’s Japan Discovery. We saw snow in the Alps and the Cherry Blossoms were amazing.
The accommodation was excellent as was the included meals and activities. We travelled by coach and trains including several times on a bullet train. As always Georgie from Global Journeys did an amazing job of organising another holiday ...read more for us. This was our second Bunnik tour and have another trip booked so I highly recommend them and Japan Discovery.
The accommodation was excellent as was the included meals and activities. We travelled by coach and trains including several times on a bullet train. As always Georgie from Global Journeys did an amazing job of organising another holiday ...read more for us. This was our second Bunnik tour and have another trip booked so I highly recommend them and Japan Discovery.
We were very lucky to experience cherry blossom at its best in all cities and we had the added bonus of experiencing snow in the area around Mount Fuji. We also had a group of 18 Australians who were experienced travellers who all related well. The 15-day itinerary worked well, but we did not enjoy some of the group activities and would have preferred ...read more to get to the hotels earlier on several of the days. Suggestions include remove Samurai experience in Osaka, removing the Japanese black ink calligraphy experience, removing the group Japanese tea ceremony and replace with a more traditional experience and replace the beer/sake brewery tour with sampling at a small brewery in Takayama as part of the included walking tour. We think Bunnik should include night walking tour to Geisha area in Gion.
Our tour director was a very friendly gentle Japanese lady who did her best. Unfortunately, her communication skills were not good. Typically, she would speak at length explaining directions, history, etc and then the tour group would look at each other and comment if anyone had understood what she had just said. The group worked around this limitation by asking a lot of questions to try and fill in the gaps. This was stressful and frustrating at times. We also received little guidance on recommended things to do in our free time and we were mostly left to plan on our own.
The hotels were good and some exceeded our expectations. On several occasions we arrived late and did not have time to utilise the excellent facilities that were available. Overall, we rated the Bunnik Japan Discovery Tour at 7/10 and feel that it was expensive for what was included.
Our tour director was a very friendly gentle Japanese lady who did her best. Unfortunately, her communication skills were not good. Typically, she would speak at length explaining directions, history, etc and then the tour group would look at each other and comment if anyone had understood what she had just said. The group worked around this limitation by asking a lot of questions to try and fill in the gaps. This was stressful and frustrating at times. We also received little guidance on recommended things to do in our free time and we were mostly left to plan on our own.
The hotels were good and some exceeded our expectations. On several occasions we arrived late and did not have time to utilise the excellent facilities that were available. Overall, we rated the Bunnik Japan Discovery Tour at 7/10 and feel that it was expensive for what was included.
What a seamless tour with Bunnik and their amazing guide Yoko. Our guide so knowledgeable, friendly and organised that we were always at ease. Our tour by coach, local train and 3 bullet train trips was planned without a hitch. This is a very full on tour with only a small amount of free time. Our group of 20 travellers from all over Australia got on ...read more fantastically and we ended up as a little family. The highlights were the included special events,; calligraphy , sushi making, paper making, sumo and samurai. A really fun time. The negatives were the early morning starts most days, the hot breakfast choices that were cold, but the most negative was the flights were not direct to Japan and required a layover in Singapore on both legs. Otherwise highly recommended.
