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 56 rail journeys through Japan.
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Indulge your passions on a luxurious small group journey, offering the perfect blend of guided and independent exploration. Choose from our worldwide collection...more of immersive luxury journeys. How do we define “Luxury”? It’s exceptional dining experiences, including Michelin star restaurants and cooking classes. It’s staying in luxury hotels in central or scenic locations. Luxury is feeling like a VIP accessing iconic sites after hours and meeting remarkable people. It’s having the service of a Travelling Concierge accompanying you along the way with incredible commitment to service. When you travel with us, we ensure your experience is elevated, elegant and impeccable. We put our heart into everything we do and are proud to be leaders in luxury travel. I invite you to relax and enjoy the charm of different cultures as we take care of every detail. Speak with Global Journeys today to start your holiday planning. We look forward to taking you on a journey beyond the ordinary.
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.
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
Global Journeys were very efficient and kept the paperwork up to date all the way to embarkation. Itinerary: (Not sure if this is Bunnik's area). A visit to Tokyo tower could be included. The paragraph describing Hiroshima - Sat 30 March - was out of chronological order. This caused people to use their free day Friday 29 March to make their own way ...read more to the Bamboo forest because it was not noticed further down the itinerary Saturday 30 March.
Tips: Take lots of socks in case it is raining when you have to take shoes off and on. Take slip on shoes. Pack an umbrella. Use Google Interpreter to help with language.
One trip highlight was seeing Mt Fuji because we struck very cold, wet, cloudy weather. Our group thought we would miss out but the weather cleared and there it was . Beautiful. Loved the Alps and ryokan. Blossoms were not out in Tokyo but were in Hiroshima and Osaka. Thought we were going to be unlucky but we saw some beautiful blooms. Also the castles and temples were lovely. Japanese people so polite and friendly. Thanks to our guide a lost shoulder bag and all contents was located and sent on to hotel in a day or two. Cities clean, quiet and orderly. Food interesting! Amazing toilets! Our tour was fast paced and the guide was excellent. 18 people in group, all well travelled and fun. We certainly had a great trip.
Tips: Take lots of socks in case it is raining when you have to take shoes off and on. Take slip on shoes. Pack an umbrella. Use Google Interpreter to help with language.
One trip highlight was seeing Mt Fuji because we struck very cold, wet, cloudy weather. Our group thought we would miss out but the weather cleared and there it was . Beautiful. Loved the Alps and ryokan. Blossoms were not out in Tokyo but were in Hiroshima and Osaka. Thought we were going to be unlucky but we saw some beautiful blooms. Also the castles and temples were lovely. Japanese people so polite and friendly. Thanks to our guide a lost shoulder bag and all contents was located and sent on to hotel in a day or two. Cities clean, quiet and orderly. Food interesting! Amazing toilets! Our tour was fast paced and the guide was excellent. 18 people in group, all well travelled and fun. We certainly had a great trip.
Georgie Walpole was an efficient and courteous agent to work with. Overall, we enjoyed the trip to northern Japan. Nature and Japan did not disappoint. The tour itinerary was not always to our liking - too many shrine and brewery visits, when other more interesting sites were possible to see. Insufficient time in Tokyo and Sapporo. Insufficient time ...read more allowed between connecting international flights. A lot of unnecessary stress and a very near miss of our connection from Tokyo to Singapore.
A really well organised trip with very good guides in Japan Debbie and Peter , QLD, Australia, Sep 2023
From the outset the administration and communication from Globus was excellent. We loved the "app" that gave us al the info we needed. We were fortunate that my wife and I were the only people on the tour so we had a wonderful one on one experience with each of our guides in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.
Each of the guides of had their own highlights ...read more and destinations they wanted to show us; all were very acceptable - I guess the history of Japan demands an appreciation of that history however I think a little more view on contemporary Japan might have broken up the historical view. 3 of the 4 guides had excellent English and were really happy to provide ideas for the days they weren't with us. Thanks again.
Each of the guides of had their own highlights ...read more and destinations they wanted to show us; all were very acceptable - I guess the history of Japan demands an appreciation of that history however I think a little more view on contemporary Japan might have broken up the historical view. 3 of the 4 guides had excellent English and were really happy to provide ideas for the days they weren't with us. Thanks again.
We had a wonderful time from start to finish on this tour. Global Journeys made it all so easy for us with the tour booking and organising our flights - we could not fault Jemma she was excellent. The tour itself was great we saw everything we had hoped to and the tour guide Aki was so well informed and had a great sense of humour keeping everyone happy ...read more during the bus trips. The Samurai Museum was great fun and the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto and Himeji Castle near Osaka were the highlights for us but everyday was a pleasure on this tour. Weather wise it was quite hot at the start of the tour and on the last day so would probably advise anyone who doesn’t like the heat to go later in the year or in spring. Highly recommend this tour.
