Great Trail of Japan by MW Tours – 17-Day Tokyo to Osaka Tour: Itinerary & Reviews

Japan’s appeal on this 17-day trip is the change of pace: one day you’re navigating Tokyo, the next you’re riding local trains to a mountain town, then walking old streets in Takayama or visiting temples in Kyoto. The route links big-name sights with smaller places that can be harder to fit into a first trip on your own.

I like two things in particular: the itinerary gives you free time between guided outings, and the 14-day JR Pass helps connect the long rail journeys. Breakfast is included daily, and some lunches and a dinner are covered too. The trade-off is that this is a semi-independent tour, not a fully escorted group holiday. You’ll often get yourself to stations, hotels, and tour meeting points.

At a glance

• A long cross-country route: Tokyo to Osaka, with stops in Nagano, Yudanaka, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, and Miyajima.
• Selected guided days: English-speaking local guides lead tours in Tokyo, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima, and Osaka.
• Independent travel between stops: You’ll use trains, buses, and local transport, and make your own way to some meeting points.
• Luggage takes planning: Transfers for your main bags are not included. The tour suggests forwarding luggage ahead and carrying an overnight bag on certain legs.
• Good for culture-focused first-timers: Expect temples, historic districts, a mountain excursion, and time to find your own meals and favorite neighborhoods.
• Price starts at $4,818: That includes accommodation, daily breakfast, a 14-day Ordinary Class JR Pass, and specified excursions and transfers. Flights, insurance, and several other costs are extra.

A Japan route built around contrasts

The Great Trail of Japan covers a lot of ground in 17 days. You start in Tokyo, head north to Yudanaka and Nagano, then travel through the mountain towns of Takayama and Shirakawago before turning south to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Osaka.

That variety is the point. Tokyo gives you the scale and speed of a major city; Takayama and Shirakawago offer a different feel, with traditional streets and distinctive architecture. The southern leg adds major temples, a moving visit to Hiroshima, and time in Osaka, a city with its own distinct character.

This is a partially guided group tour for ages 12 and up, with group sizes listed from 2 to 32. Don’t expect to spend all 17 days with the same guide and companions. You’ll meet different guides for selected excursions, travel between cities independently, and explore several places on your own.

That format suits travelers who want the structure of hotels, key tours, and long-distance rail travel arranged, but still like making choices day to day. It is less suited to anyone who wants a guide to lead every transfer and meal.

Tokyo: temples, neighborhoods, and a Fuji day

Your first three nights are in Tokyo, with a shuttle transfer from the airport to your hotel on arrival. After a long flight, that simple handoff is welcome. The next morning, meet your guide at Shinjuku Station for a tour that includes Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace East Garden, and Asakusa Kannon Temple with its shopping arcade. The tour ends at Tokyo Station around 1 p.m.; you make your own way back to the hotel by local transport.

The route combines several very different sides of the city. Meiji Shrine offers a quieter start, while Asakusa’s temple and shopping arcade give you a more street-level look at a traditional visitor district. The tour is only a morning, so you still have time to return to a place you liked or head elsewhere.

The Mount Fuji and Hakone excursion is a full day, with a visit to Fuji’s 5th Station, a ride on the Hakone Ropeway, and a cruise on Lake Ashi. Lunch is included. Weather can affect how much of Fuji you see, so treat the day as a scenic outing rather than a guaranteed clear view of the mountain. You return to Tokyo in the afternoon.

A free day follows. Use it for another Tokyo neighborhood, or consider Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea if theme parks appeal. The day also gives you a chance to sort your bags for the next leg. The tour advises packing an overnight bag for Yudanaka and arranging, directly with your hotel and at your own cost, to forward your main luggage to Takayama. Train space is limited, so this is practical advice, not fussy packing advice.

Yudanaka and Nagano: the snow monkey stop

On Day 5, you travel by bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano, then take a local train to Yudanaka using the Snow Monkey Pass provided. From the station, the hotel offers a shuttle, or you can walk about ten minutes. A hotel shuttle also takes you to the Snow Monkey Park entrance.

Allow for a walk of about 30 minutes from the parking area to the park entrance. The visit is self-guided, so you set the pace once there. The monkeys are usually brown, and their visits to the hot springs are less frequent in October and November. During those months the Snow Monkey Pass is not available, though you can still travel there and pay the entrance fee at the gate. In winter, their fur can look much lighter against the snow.

The next day, return to Nagano by local train. There is time to explore before continuing to Takayama by rail. These are travel-heavy days, and you’ll be managing your own connections. Keep your pass and tickets easy to reach, and check the final travel instructions before departure.

Takayama, Shirakawago, and Kanazawa

Takayama gets a full day rather than a quick photo stop. The Sanmachi Suji District is within walking distance of the hotel, with narrow streets lined with traditional tea houses, cafes, restaurants, and shops. It’s a good place to slow down after the station-to-station travel and look around at your own pace.

The next day, a Nohi bus takes you to Shirakawago, where you have free time before continuing by bus to Kanazawa. Shirakawago is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its traditional architecture. Your visit is not a guided tour, so you can choose how to spend your limited stop. Check the bus schedule carefully and leave a margin to return to the stop on time.

Kanazawa gets a full day of independent exploring. A one-day loop bus ticket is available to buy and can make it easier to get around. The open day is useful after several consecutive transfers, but you’ll need to decide what to see and plan your own routes.

Before leaving Takayama, the tour recommends packing another overnight bag and arranging for your main luggage to be sent to Kyoto. Luggage delivery is not included, and you pay the hotel directly. This means carrying less on the bus and rail legs, but it also adds a task and a cost to your trip.

Nara and Kyoto: temples with room to roam

Day 10 starts with free time in Kanazawa, followed by a train journey to Kyoto. You meet a guide at Kyoto Station at 1:15 p.m. for a walking tour of Nara, including Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, and Kofukuji Temple. After returning to Kyoto Station, you walk to the hotel, where you stay for three nights.

That is a busy arrival day, so don’t plan on a leisurely afternoon in Kyoto as well. The Nara outing gives you a guided introduction to three major sites, while your Kyoto base makes it easier to use the next two days at a more measured pace.

The full-day Kyoto tour covers Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Kinkakuji, often called the Golden Temple. Traditional local food is included for lunch. You meet your guide at Kyoto Station, and after the tour you make your own way back to the hotel. The schedule covers several famous places in one day; your free day afterward is valuable if you want more time in Kyoto or prefer to visit sites at your own pace.

Day 12 is open. The tour suggests using the JR Pass to visit Himeiji Castle or Kobe, though the right choice depends on what you most want from the day. You could also stay in Kyoto and use the time for a slower look around. The following day is another rail transfer, this time to Hiroshima.

Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Osaka

You have two nights in Hiroshima, with an unstructured arrival day and a full-day guided tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima. The tour covers key sites in both places. A Miyajima night cruise is listed as a trip highlight, but the daily details do not give its timing, so confirm how it fits into your departure dates before you book.

The Hiroshima stay is brief for a city with such a serious history. The guided day helps you make sense of the main sites, while the free time after arrival gives you a little room to look around independently. The next day, you travel by bullet train to Osaka and have the rest of the day to explore.

On Day 16, a walking tour covers Osaka Castle, Shitennoji, Shinsekai, Kuromon Ichiba Market, and Dotonbori. Ramen lunch is included. The tour gives you a broad first look at the city, but note that castle and temple entry fees and local train tickets are not included. The final morning is free before your airport transfer.

One practical point: Osaka gets just one full sightseeing day plus part of your arrival day. A traveler who wants time for extra neighborhoods or a slower finish may wish the tour allowed more time here. The single published five-star review praised the itinerary and guides, and specifically wished for more time in Osaka. That is a useful clue if the city is high on your list.

What the $4,818 starting price covers

The starting price includes 16 nights of good-quality accommodation, daily breakfast, a 14-day Ordinary Class JR Pass, airport shuttle transfers, the Snow Monkey Pass, English-speaking local guides, and the transport, tours, and admission fees specified for the package. Some additional meals are included: lunch on the Fuji day, a traditional lunch in Kyoto, ramen in Osaka, and dinner in Yudanaka.

That is a substantial set of arrangements for a trip crossing much of Honshu. The rail pass is especially useful for the long-distance train legs, while the guided tours make several major sights easier to approach. Still, the price is not all-inclusive. International flights, travel insurance, personal spending, most lunches and dinners, luggage delivery, tips at your discretion, and services not specified are extra.

Also budget for the costs called out on the route, including Osaka’s castle and temple entry fees and local train tickets on that tour. Some journeys use local trains or buses, so don’t assume the JR Pass covers every ride. Read your final travel documents closely for which tickets and transfers are supplied.

A $265 deposit secures a booking, with the balance due 65 days before departure. The operator says departures are guaranteed with a minimum of two people, and the listed group size can reach 32. Dates and rates can change, so confirm availability and the current itinerary before paying.

Who will get the most from this trip

This tour is a good fit if you want to see several parts of Japan in one trip, value a planned route, and feel comfortable handling trains and meeting points on your own. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want guided context at major sights but don’t want a guide beside them all day.

The low physical rating is reassuring, but it does not mean you’ll sit still. Expect walking tours, station transfers, stairs or long station corridors, and a walk to Snow Monkey Park. You’ll also need to keep an eye on timing and manage your own local transport in several cities.

If you prefer a single group moving together from breakfast to bedtime, this is not that kind of holiday. If you’re happy to travel independently between organized excursions, and don’t mind packing light or arranging luggage forwarding, it offers a practical way to connect cities and countryside without planning every hotel and rail leg yourself.

Should you book the Great Trail of Japan?

Book it if you want a broad, guided-in-parts introduction to Japan, with major sights, smaller historic towns, and rail travel built into one 17-day plan. The strongest reasons are the route’s variety, its selected guided visits, and the free time that lets you shape some days yourself.

Think twice if you want a fully escorted trip, dislike sorting out station transfers, or want longer in Osaka. Before booking, confirm the departure date, the Miyajima cruise timing, seasonal details for Snow Monkey Park, and the luggage arrangements. Those checks will help you judge whether the convenience and range are worth the extra independent planning.

FAQ

Is this a fully guided group tour?

No. It is a semi-independent group tour. Local English-speaking guides lead selected excursions, but you travel independently between some destinations and make your own way to certain meeting points and hotels.

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes 16 nights of accommodation, daily breakfast, a 14-day Ordinary Class JR Pass, airport shuttle transfers, the Snow Monkey Pass, English-speaking guides, and the specified tours, transport, and admission fees. Some lunches and one dinner are also included.

Are airport transfers provided?

Shared shuttle transfers are available from Narita or Haneda airport on arrival. An airport transfer from Osaka is also listed for departure.

Is luggage delivery included?

No. Luggage delivery is not included. The tour recommends arranging and paying for luggage forwarding through your hotel for some travel legs, and carrying an overnight bag instead.

How large is the tour group, and what language are the guides?

The listed group size is 2 to 32 people, and tours are guided in English. You may meet different guides and groups for separate excursions.

Are Snow Monkey Park visits available in October and November?

You can still visit, but the Snow Monkey Pass is not available in October and November because monkeys visit the springs less often during those months. You can make your own way there and pay the entrance fee at the gate.