ARRIVAL Takeover Japan: From Tokyo's Neon to Osaka's Midnight Streets
Ten nights moving through a full sweep of Japan: starting in Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and back again. Explore Golden Gai after dark, Mt Fuji at sunrise, Kyoto's temple streets, Osaka's neon gleam, baseball at Koshien Stadium and a sumo bout to close it all out. This is the bucket list of Japan with a small ARRIVAL crew, with a dedicated ARRIVAL Host and enough free time built in to make it yours.
Overview
The lowdown
There's a version of Japan that does everything at once. This trip chases all of it. Ten nights with a small ARRIVAL crew moving through the full sweep of the country. It’s ancient and electric, quiet and completely alive, and all of it coexists in a way that completely makes sense. You'll land in Tokyo and be eating izakaya food with your crew within hours. From there the trip builds. Mt Fuji at sunrise, bullet trains through countryside that changes texture every twenty minutes, Kyoto's temple streets at golden hour, Osaka by bicycle through the markets and backstreets, a baseball stadium full of 47,000 people performing in perfect unison and sumo in Tokyo to close it all out. This is a small ARRIVAL crew of four to eight, with all key transport handled and enough structure to see it all properly, with enough freedom to pick and choose the activities you like. Every hotel is within walking distance of what matters. Daily breakfast sorted. This is Japan with the logistics handled and the freedom intact. Japan holds every contrast simultaneously and this ten-night ARRIVAL Takeover moves through as many of them as possible.
Highlights
The best bits
Golden Gai After Dark
Over a hundred bars compressed into a few narrow laneways in Shinjuku, each one completely its own thing. Jazz, rock or metal bars, whisky bars, bars with no name and no English menu and the real magic of Tokyo nightlife that begins humbly and leads you somewhere you didn't plan on being. The group will naturally find their own favourite.
Itinerary
The day to day
Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo
Day 2
Harajuku, Shibuya & Karaoke
Day 3
Mt Fuji. Choose your own experience
Day 4
Mt Fuji to Kyoto. Bullet Train Day
Day 5
Unwind in Kyoto
Day 6
Kyoto to Osaka
Day 7
Osaka Bike Tour
Day 8
Explore Osaka in the day. Baseball at night
Day 9
Osaka back to Tokyo. A visit to Asakusa
Day 10
Yanaka and Sumo
Day 11
Departure
Location
The setting
Host
The experts
ARRIVAL
Curated by ARRIVAL, designed for you – adventure, comfort and local insight all in one.
Accommodation
The quarters
Walking distance to Golden Gai and Shinjuku Station. One of the best-located hotels in Shinjuku with an onsen on site and clean, modern twin rooms. The kind of base that makes coming back at the end of the night easy and starting the next morning a breeze
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower (or similar)
Shinjuku City, JP
Mt Fuji with views from the rooms and an onsen. Walking distance to the bus station and Fuji-Q Highlands. Simple, well-positioned and the onsen experience here is one of the best on the trip.
HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort (or similar)
Minato City, JP
A peaceful street on the edge of Gion with an onsen at the property and easy access to Fushimi Inari, the riverside walks and Kyoto Station. Well-located for everything Kyoto has to offer and a genuine step up in atmosphere from the city hotels.
Kyoto Granbell Hotel (or similar)
Kyoto, JP
Right in the heart of the action. Minutes from Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi and the best food streets in Osaka. Clean, modern and with breakfast included to start the day properly after however the night ended.
Kamon Hotel Namba (or similar)
Osaka, JP
Views of the Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River from a hotel in the most traditionally preserved neighbourhood in central Tokyo. Walking distance to Senso-ji, Hoppy Street and the Ryogoku Kokugikan. The right place to end the trip.
Tamayura Hotel Asakusa (or similar)
Taito City, JP
Activities
The fun stuff
Shinjuku Izakaya-style shared plates for the welcome dinner followed by a self-directed crawl through the famous narrow bar laneways of Golden Gai. The guide explains the cover charge system before the group heads out.
Welcome Dinner and Golden Gai Pub Crawl
Shinjuku City, JP
Harajuku, Shibuya Morning walking tour through Harajuku's key sights including Meiji Jingu Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Optional teamLab Planets in Toyosu as an add-on at ¥4,400 per person. Book two months in advance for best pricing. Evening at Shibuya Crossing with rooftop viewing and one drink included, yakitori dinner nearby and two hours of private karaoke with all-you-can-drink to close the night.
Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing and Karaoke
Shibuya, JP
Mt Fuji Self-directed afternoon based on group preference. Lakes route includes Kawaguchi lake walks and Oshino Hakkai cultural village accessible by local bus. Fuji-Q Highlands available as an add-on at ¥6,000 entry.
Mt Fuji, Lakes and Culture or Fuji-Q Highlands
Fujinomiya, JP
Mishima to Kyoto Bento box lunch on the Shinkansen included. Evening walk along the Kamo River and into Gion's lantern-lit laneways.
Bullet Train Experience, Kyoto Arrival and Gion Evening
Kyoto, JP
Kyoto Morning at Fushimi Inari. Walk the full route for the quieter experience above the crowds. Afternoon free time in Kyoto. Late afternoon taxi to Kiyomizu-dera with entry fee included, followed by the sunset walk back through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka to Gion.
Fushimi Inari, Free Time and Kiyomizu-dera at Golden Hour
Kyoto, JP
Kyoto to Osaka Morning visit to the bamboo grove. Afternoon free time before the local train to Osaka. Evening along Dotonbori and into Shinsaibashi.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Osaka Arrival
Kyoto, JP
Osaka Half-day bicycle tour through Kuromon Market, Nipponbashi and Ameri-mura. Bicycle rental included. Evening at Tennoji Park followed by dinner in Shinsekai included.
Osaka Bike Tour and Shinsekai Food Tour
Osaka, JP
Osaka Self-directed day across four options. There’s a Universal Studios add-on, a rest day in the city, Nara deer park or Kishiwada Danjiri Festival. By evening, Hanshin Tigers vs Chunichi Dragons at Koshien Stadium. Ticket and fan memorabilia included.
Choose Your Own Day and Hanshin Tigers Baseball
Nishinomiya, JP
Osaka to Tokyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo with a reserved seat included. Afternoon in Asakusa. Dinner on Hoppy Street included. Late-night Don Quijote.
Bullet Train to Tokyo, Asakusa and Hoppy Street
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Morning walk through Yanaka to Nezu Shrine. Afternoon at the September sumo tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Sumo ticket included. Farewell dinner included.
Yanaka, Nezu Shrine and Sumo Tournament
Taito City, 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.
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