The 15 Best Rail Experiences in Japan

Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train - Mt. Fuji 5th Station: close to the mountain, not the summit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26,383 reviews · from $163Our pick

Review the Mt Fuji and Hakone day tour from Tokyo, with Fuji views, ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, buffet lunch, and bullet train return.

“The tour and tour guide was great But disappointing as the photo used to advertise booking is not what we expected as it was completely different The photo showed a pirate looking ship with Mt Fuji in the background, what we got was a short ride on the ferry with no view of Mt Fuji We took our grandchildren on this trip and the most they were looking forward to was seeing Mt Fuji as a backdrop from the ship Needless to say my grandchildren, especially my granddaughter, were extremely upset I’ll finish up saying that our tour guide, Youi, was amazing Beautiful English and easy to understand Knowledge was…”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Kyoto, Kimono and Cultural Dress, Kimono Experiences in Kyoto, Kyoto Tours, Temples and Shrines, Temples and Shrines in Kyoto, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

[Kyoto & Nara Day Tour] Sagano Scenic Railway & Nara Park & Fushimi Inari Taisha Thousand Torii Gates & Togetsukyo Bridge & Bamboo Grove & Kimono Forest (Departing from Osaka)

2.[Kyoto & Nara Day Tour] Sagano Scenic Railway & Nara Park & Fushimi Inari Taisha Thousand Torii Gates & Togetsukyo Bridge & Bamboo Grove & Kimono Forest (Departing from Osaka)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 10,942 reviews · 9 hours · from $45

Travel from Osaka or Kyoto for a guided day among Nara’s deer, Fushimi Inari’s red gates, and Arashiyama’s bamboo paths and bridge. The day runs about nine hours, with an optional Sagano Scenic Railway ticket package. Guides vary; names include Cicy, Carter, Rex, and Sarah.

“We had an absolutely fantastic day tour, and it was entirely thanks to our incredible guide, Rex, and our wonderful driver! Rex was the perfect tour guide-exceptionally kind, patient, and attentive to everyone in the group. He kept us well-organized, provided clear and helpful updates throughout the day, and ensured we never felt rushed at any of the beautiful stops. He even went above and beyond with thoughtful gestures like taking great photos for us and giving us lovely postcards as a souvenir. His energy and warmth made the whole trip so memorable! Our driver also deserves a huge thank you. We felt completely safe and comfortable the entire day.…”

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Boat Trips and Cruises, Boat Trips in Tokyo, Show, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Mt Fuji & Hakone Cruise, Drum Show Bullet Train 1 Day from Tokyo

3.Mt Fuji & Hakone Cruise, Drum Show Bullet Train 1 Day from Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,413 reviews · from $149

Review of a full-day Mt Fuji and Hakone tour from Tokyo with Lake Ashi cruise, ropeway, drum show, lunch, and bullet train return.

“The bus ride to 5th station was smooth & safe. Our tour guide, Shige, was a wealth of information for our particular destinations as well as glimpses of life in Japan. Figured at the start that we won’t be seeing Mt. Fuji due to inclement weather, and it’s ok. All in all, the tour was a great start for us in Japan.”

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Boat Trips and Cruises, Boat Trips in Tokyo, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Tokyo Mt Fuji 5th St & Hakone Cruise Bus Tour w/Bullet Train

4.Tokyo Mt Fuji 5th St & Hakone Cruise Bus Tour w/Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,024 reviews · 10 hours · from $154

Review of a 10-hour Mt. Fuji and Hakone tour from Tokyo, with the 5th Station, ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, lunch, and bullet train return.

“Our guide Ayu was excellent she was well informed and presented in a very friendly and personable way. In addition to information about the tour she introduced us to a lot of info about Japanese language and dress. We were very fortunate to have a perfect sunny day so could see Mount Fuji very clearly. Highly recommend.”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Tours, Onsen and Wellness, Temples and Shrines, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Kyushu One-Day Tour: Yufuin no Mori Train & Yufuin Town & Nyoirin-ji Temple & Dazaifu & Hell Hot Springs (Departing from Fukuoka)

5.Kyushu One-Day Tour: Yufuin no Mori Train & Yufuin Town & Nyoirin-ji Temple & Dazaifu & Hell Hot Springs (Departing from Fukuoka)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4,474 reviews · 10 hours · from $44

Spend a long day from Fukuoka exploring Yufuin and Beppu with a bilingual guide. Choose Route A for the Yufuin no Mori train and Dazaifu, or Route B for Nyoirinji Temple, Mount Yufu, and two Beppu hot spring sites. Guides such as Eiichi, Li Jing, Daisy, and Carson are praised for clear explanations and practical food tips.

“The tour guide was enthusiastic and professional, and the weather was great too. I will definitely join a Klook tour again next time.”

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Boat Trips and Cruises, Day Trips, Temples and Shrines, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Kyushu Takachiho One-Day Tour | Takachiho Gorge Boat Ride-Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine/Takachiho Mini-Train-Mount Aso-Kusasenri (Departing from Kumamoto)

6.Kyushu Takachiho One-Day Tour | Takachiho Gorge Boat Ride-Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine/Takachiho Mini-Train-Mount Aso-Kusasenri (Departing from Kumamoto)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,609 reviews · 10 hours · from $44

Travel from Kumamoto to Takachiho Gorge, Kusasenri and Mount Aso on a 10-hour shared tour with a Chinese-speaking guide. Choose a package with or without the gorge boat ride. The sightseeing train, boat availability and volcano access can vary, so check what your selected option includes before booking.

“The tour guide was great, but the overall value for money was low for the rest of the experience.”

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Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

From Tokyo: Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour w/ Return by Bullet Train

7.Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour w/ Return by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,278 reviews · 11 hours · from $117

Visit Mt. Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo, ride the ropeway and Lake Ashi cruise, then return by Japan’s famous bullet train.

“Meeting point was easy to find, guide was excellent! Knowledgeable and helpful, and a nice person. Good value with lunch included for a full day trip!”

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Boat Trips and Cruises, Day Trips, Day Trips in Kyoto, Kyoto Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Kyoto Arashiyama Scenic Train & Hozugawa River Boat Ride Day Trip (From Osaka / Kyoto)

8.Kyoto Arashiyama Scenic Train & Hozugawa River Boat Ride Day Trip (From Osaka / Kyoto)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 604 reviews · 10 hours · from $65

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Osaka or Kyoto to Arashiyama. Ride the 23-minute Sagano Scenic Railway through the Hozugawa gorge, then choose a traditional boat trip rowed by local boatmen or extra time on land. Guides may speak Chinese, English, or Japanese, but the language is not guaranteed.

“TOMO is a very dedicated tour leader and guide.”

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Guided, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

From Tokyo 1-Day Kyoto English-guided Tour by Bullet Train

9.From Tokyo 1-Day Kyoto English-guided Tour by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 376 reviews · from $452

Review of Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train, with lunch, three famous temples, English guides, practical tips, costs, crowds, and value.

“I did not get tyo go on this trip as the location of the tourist company was hard to locate. I would not reccomend this one unless you can speak Japanese. The company and Viator is reluctant to give me a refund.”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Tokyo, Tokyo Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo with Bullet Train Option

10.Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo with Bullet Train Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 368 reviews · from $97

Review of the Mt. Fuji and Hakone day trip from Tokyo, with ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise, lunch, coach travel, and optional bullet train return.

“This was an exceptionally well-organized tour that covered all the must-see highlights of the Mt. Fuji and Hakone area. The views of Mt. Fuji from the Subaru Line 4th Station and from Lake Ashi were absolutely breathtaking. The Hakone Ropeway and the pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi were unforgettable experiences and true highlights of the trip.”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Kyoto, Guided, Kyoto Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

From Osaka: Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour

11.Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 180 reviews · from $66

Ride the Sagano train, walk Kyoto’s bamboo grove, and visit Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari on a full-day tour from Osaka.

“Everyone was treated VIP. .the tour guide was very informative and helpful. the bus was cozy and comfortable. 101 limon bus”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Fukuoka: Takachiho Gorge & Scenic Railway One Day Tour

12.Takachiho Gorge & Scenic Railway One Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 178 reviews · from $44

Explore Takachiho Gorge, ride a nostalgic train, and visit Amano Yasugawara on a practical Kyushu day trip from Fukuoka.

“Really fun day trip! Takachiho Gorge was beautiful and definitely worth the visit – the cliffs and river were amazing. The scenic railway ride was a nice touch and super relaxing. It’s a long day, but everything was well-organized and stress-free. Great way to see Takachiho from Fukuoka without worrying about the travel.”

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Day Trips, Day Trips in Osaka, Osaka Tours, Temples and Shrines, Temples and Shrines in Osaka, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour

13.Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 171 reviews · from $82

Review of a 9-hour Kyoto day trip from Osaka with Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, bamboo forest, and a scenic train ride.

“Overall service is very good. On time, good and helpful tour leader, and well arrangement. The lunch also very nice.”

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Full-Day, Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour by Bullet Train from Osaka

14.Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour by Bullet Train from Osaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 117 reviews · from $397

Review of Osaka’s full-day Hiroshima and Miyajima tour by bullet train, with shrine views, peace sites, practical tips, costs, and honest drawbacks.

“Although a long day, it was extremely rewarding and a sobering experience. Yuko was amazing. A local , who lives and breathes Hiroshima. The trip is worth it.”

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Osaka Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Hiroshima & Miyajima 1 Day Bus Tour with Bullet Train Tickets

15.Hiroshima & Miyajima 1 Day Bus Tour with Bullet Train Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 105 reviews · from $270

Review of the Hiroshima and Miyajima day tour from Osaka, with Shinkansen tickets, okonomiyaki lunch, ferry, shrine, and Peace Museum.

“Our guide Hiro was very warm and courteous and very jovial. She made the tour so fun and exciting with her wealth of knowledge. We we enjoyed the tour and happy to use their service.”

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