Secure this trip with a 20% deposit
only 12 spots leftARRIVAL Takeover Japan: A partially guided tour through Ancient Rituals, Future Cities
16 nights. From Tokyo’s neon to Kyoto’s temples, alpine heritage towns to ramen feasts in Osaka. This trip is a little bit different, designed for people who want free time, but all the logistics sorted. Explore Mt. Fuji at first light. Samurai districts. A night inside a Buddhist temple. Do your own thing or link up with the rest of the arrival guests.
Overview
The lowdown
Japan isn’t one thing. It’s quiet and loud. Ancient and hyper-modern. Ordered and chaotic. This 10-night ARRIVAL Takeover runs from Tokyo to Osaka, threading through Mt. Fuji’s lakes, Kanazawa’s samurai districts, Takayama’s preserved old town and a night inside a working Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It’s a cultural deep-dive with room to breathe. Designed for introverted extroverts, who are keen to freely explore Japan, but have all the transport taken care of. You’ll land in Tokyo and step straight into Shinjuku after dark. Golden Gai bars, early-morning markets, incense drifting through Asakusa. Then bullet trains north, where skyscrapers give way to cedar-lined streets and Kenroku-en Garden slows everything down. You’ll stay at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Walk Shirakawa-go’s UNESCO-listed village. In Kyoto, sleep on tatami inside a temple and eat shojin-ryori. Everything’s plant-based, seasonal, intentional. Then Osaka. Dotonbori grills smoking. Late-night ramen. Streets that stay awake longer than you do. This isn’t a coach tour ticking off monuments. You’ll travel with a small ARRIVAL crew. The accommodation throughout is handpicked for location and ease, making it easy for you to navigate on your own. The trip is full of optional activities that ARRIVAL highly recommends, but ultimately you get to decide what you do, and the pace you do it at. This is Japan for travellers who want more than the highlight reel.
Highlights
The best bits
Shinjuku After Dark
Neon stacked on neon. Basement jazz bars beneath office towers. A night that begins with ramen and ends somewhere inside Golden Gai, shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers who won’t feel like strangers for long.
Itinerary
The day to day
Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo & explore Shinjuku night life
Day 2
Markets, Old Tokyo & Food Tasters
Day 3
Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi
Day 4
Fuji Morning & Back to Tokyo
Day 5
Shinkansen to Kanazawa
Day 6
Takayama: Wood, Sake & Steam
Day 7
Shirakawa-go — UNESCO-listed for a reason
Day 8
Into Kyoto.
Day 9
Kyoto: World Heritage sites at every turn
Day 10
Osaka: Neon & Noodles
Day 11
Last wanders around Osaka
Location
The setting
Host
The experts
ARRIVAL
Curated by ARRIVAL, designed for you – adventure, comfort and local insight all in one.
Accommodation
The quarters
A comfortable and modern annex twin room located a 5-minute walk from the fashionable shopping and dining district of Shinjuku.
Shinjuku Washington Hotel (or similar)
Shinjuku City, JP
Situated amidst the beauty of Fujikawaguchiko, this Japanese-style log house offers panoramic vistas of the iconic Mount Fuji and its surrounding landscapes. You’re far from the noise of the city here.
Fujisan Resort Hotel (or similar)
Fujikawaguchiko, Minamits...
This calm retreat is hand-picked for its location. This hotel is just a 5-minute walk to Kanazawa Castle Park, Oyama Shrine and Omicho Market, as well as Kenrokuen Garden.
Hotel Integrate Kanazawa (or similar)
Kanazawa, JP
Right near Takayama Station and a 10-minute walk from all the tourist attractions, Hotel Alpina has a spa and open-air hot-spring baths. Perfect for resting after all the walking.
Spa Hotel Alpina Hida Takayama (or similar)
高山市, JP
A night inside a functioning Buddhist temple, sleeping on tatami floors beneath wooden beams that have seen generations pass through.
Temple Shukubo Stay (or similar)
Kyoto, JP
Set in the Shimogyo Ward district of Kyoto, this hotel is well located, a few minutes walk from Shijō Station, and close to the Nishiki market.
Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo (or similar)
Kyoto, JP
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe in the heart of Umeda, Osaka.
Osaka Hotel Hankyu Respia (or similar)
Osaka, JP
Activities
The fun stuff
Arrive into Shinjuku, settle in, then wander into Golden Gai’s narrow bar-lined alleyways for your first taste of Tokyo after dark.
Tokyo Arrival & Golden Gai Nights (Self guided)
Tokyo, JP
Start at Tsukiji Outer Market for street food and seafood stalls, then stroll historic Asakusa for temple views and traditional sweets.
Tsukiji Bites & Asakusa Streets (Self guided)
Chuo City, JP
Travel to the Mt Fuji region and explore Lake Kawaguchi, with open views of Japan’s most iconic peak reflected in the water.
Mt Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi (Self guided)
Fujikawaguchiko, Minamits...
Take in Mt Fuji at dawn, then return to Tokyo with time to explore Ginza’s galleries, design stores or immersive art spaces.
Fuji Morning & Ginza Return (Self guided)
Fujinomiya, JP
Ride the shinkansen to Kanazawa and wander Kenroku-en Garden, the Nagamachi Samurai District and the seafood-heavy Omicho Market.
Kanazawa Gardens & Samurai District (Self guided)
Kanazawa, JP
Head into the Japanese Alps to explore Takayama’s preserved Edo-era streets, then unwind in a traditional hot spring.
Takayama Old Town & Onsen Soak (guided tour)
Takayama, JP
Visit Shirakawa-go’s UNESCO-listed thatched farmhouses and learn how alpine communities adapted to heavy snow and isolation.
Shirakawa-go Heritage Village (guided tour)
Shirakawa, Ono District,...
Travel to Kyoto and walk through Fushimi Inari’s torii gates, Kiyomizu-dera’s hillside views and Gion’s historic streets.
Kyoto’s Iconic Shrines (Self guided)
Kyoto, JP
Experience the charm of Kyoto exploring Kyoto’s landmark temples such as Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, and Ryoan-ji Temple. If you have time, we also recommend visiting Nijo Castle and the Philosopher's Walk.
Kyoto Temples (Self guided)
Kyoto, JP
Jump to Osaka for castle views, Kuromon Market and a guided night food tour through neon-lit Dotonbori.
Osaka Street Food & Dotonbori (guided tour)
Osaka, JP
Enjoy a final morning in Osaka before transferring to Kansai Airport for your onward flight.
Osaka Free Time & Departure
Izumisano, JP
Fine Print
The small stuff
Cancel 65+ days from departure for a 80% refund. Within 64 days of departure, we’ve locked in logistics, so no refund can be offered. Thanks for understanding – it keeps things running smooth for everyone. Please make sure your dates are correct before booking, and we strongly recommend travel insurance for extra peace of mind.