Southern Japan Experience

Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.

On this trip, you’ll stay in a homestay and a traditional Japanese inn. It’s a great taste of tradition and local life and you’ll sleep on the traditional tatami floor (futons and blankets on the floor mat), just like the locals do! The facilities here will be shared.

This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Ultimate Japan.

Double rooms in Japanese hotels can be smaller than you may be used to (e.g. 20 sqm). Every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests. However, during busy periods, there may be occasions when we are unable to offer a double room, so a twin room will be provided.

1. We are currently unable to offer a single supplement, airport transfers or additional accommodation in Japan due to limited availability.
2. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

LUGGAGE IN JAPAN
On this trip you will need to carry your own luggage for up to 30 minutes at a time. Train stations are quite complex and usually require climbing a lot of stairs, especially when doing a quick transfer from train to train. Elevators aren't always available and cannot accommodate many people at a time, so if you bring a suitcase, please ensure you are able to lift and carry it up and down stairs yourself without difficulty. Our ryokans allow suitcases, but you'll need to carry it onto the tatami floor in the room, instead of wheeling it. A backpack is often preferred by travellers for these reasons.

We recommend that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg.

LUGGAGE SIZE RESTRICTIONS ON JAPANESE TRAINS
Luggage allowances for train travel are calculated by adding the length, width and height together. We recommend your main piece of luggage does not exceed 159cm.

Luggage between 160cm and 250cm requires pre-booking additional luggage space for an additional fee. This can be difficult to secure given how busy Japan's rail system is. Luggage over 251 cm will NOT be permitted on Shinkansen trains.

If you have oversize luggage you will need to use luggage forwarding services. Additional charges will apply. Please speak to your leader if you need to utilise this service.

Japanese trains don’t have large luggage racks for big suitcases so it's best to pack as light and small as possible so that you are not blocking aisles or taking up extra seats.

DAY PACK
A day pack for carrying essentials when exploring destinations, as well as for any shorter overnight stays, will be useful.

SEASONAL CLOTHING
Weather in Japan varies greatly between summer and winter so be sure to check whether you’ll need a beanie and thermals or light cotton layers during your visit.

PACKING LIST
Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.

You will be expected to carry your own luggage, including while moving about busy public transport hubs to make tight connections, up stairs and escalators and on and off buses and trains. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage, you are expected to be able to walk and handle your own luggage for up to 30 minutes, sometimes at a fast pace and in crowds. Good general fitness and mobility will play a big part in making your trip more enjoyable. Japanese cities are best explored by foot and public transport, so be prepared for a lot of walking each day you are in a destination! Many travellers are surprised how much distance they end up covering each day just seeing the sights. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to spend most of the day on your feet.

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi, 1-10-24, Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 大阪府大阪市中央区西心斎橋1-10-24, Osaka, Osaka, 542-0086, JAPAN, Phone: +81 649636501

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi is centrally located in Osaka, just a 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station subway line and a 10-minute walk from the famous Glico Man advertising sign. It's a convenient location for exploring the sights of Osaka.

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
13 Mar 2026 (CJSO260313)
20 Mar 2026 (CJSO260320)
27 Mar 2026 (CJSO260327)
31 Mar 2026 (CJSO260331)
03 Apr 2026 (CJSO260403)
05 Apr 2026 (CJSO260405)
10 Apr 2026 (CJSO260410)
19 May 2026 (CJSO260519)
22 May 2026 (CJSO260522)
29 May 2026 (CJSO260529)
12 Jun 2026 (CJSO260612)
26 Jun 2026 (CJSO260626)
12 Jul 2026 (CJSO260712)
28 Jul 2026 (CJSO260728)
07 Aug 2026 (CJSO260807)
21 Aug 2026 (CJSO260821)
04 Sep 2026 (CJSO260904)
18 Sep 2026 (CJSO260918)
25 Sep 2026 (CJSO260925)
13 Oct 2026 (CJSO261013)
20 Oct 2026 (CJSO261020)
30 Oct 2026 (CJSO261030)
06 Nov 2026 (CJSO261106)
13 Nov 2026 (CJSO261113)
27 Nov 2026 (CJSO261127)
Hearton Hotel Nishi Umeda
3-3-55 Umeda
Kita-ku
Osaka-shi
Osaka
JAPAN

Japan has a very efficient public transport service and there are many ways to get from the two airports in the Kansai region (Kansai Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport) to your hotel in Osaka. Kansai Airport (KIX) is about 50km southwest of Osaka and Itami is about 12km northwest. Taxis into central Osaka from Kansai Airport (KIX) take about an hour and cost approx. JPY14,000-18,000. Please note that we are currently not able to provide any shared shuttle bus service from the two airports to your hotel in Osaka.

Public Transport
From Kansai Airport (KIX), there are numerous connections either by express train or limousine bus to Osaka Station and then by taxi or subway to the Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi. From the airport, the fastest way into the city is by express airport train (Haruka Airport Express, approx. JPY1,700-2,400 and 30-50 mins). For further transport information about KIX, please see: https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access
From Itami Airport, the best option is the Osaka Airport Limousine bus which connects with hubs in Osaka in around 25-35 mins for approx. JPY500-600. For transport information from Itami, please see: https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/en/
Both airport information desks also provide helpful advice. Please also check the transport details on the hotel's website: http://bridge-h.co.jp/en/access/ If you're having any problems finding the hotel, ring the hotel directly (you can use one of Japan's green public phones with coins of JPY10 or JPY100).

For any other problems on arrival, please contact our ground team in our Kyoto office on their emergency phone at +81 70 1771 5588.

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi, 1-10-24, Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 大阪府大阪市中央区西心斎橋1-10-24, Osaka, Osaka, 542-0086, JAPAN, Phone: +81 649636501

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi is centrally located in Osaka, just a 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station subway line and a 10-minute walk from the famous Glico Man advertising sign. It's a convenient location for exploring the sights of Osaka.

Alternate Finish Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
13 Mar 2026 (CJSO260313)
20 Mar 2026 (CJSO260320)
27 Mar 2026 (CJSO260327)
31 Mar 2026 (CJSO260331)
03 Apr 2026 (CJSO260403)
05 Apr 2026 (CJSO260405)
10 Apr 2026 (CJSO260410)
19 May 2026 (CJSO260519)
22 May 2026 (CJSO260522)
29 May 2026 (CJSO260529)
12 Jun 2026 (CJSO260612)
26 Jun 2026 (CJSO260626)
12 Jul 2026 (CJSO260712)
28 Jul 2026 (CJSO260728)
07 Aug 2026 (CJSO260807)
21 Aug 2026 (CJSO260821)
04 Sep 2026 (CJSO260904)
18 Sep 2026 (CJSO260918)
25 Sep 2026 (CJSO260925)
13 Oct 2026 (CJSO261013)
20 Oct 2026 (CJSO261020)
30 Oct 2026 (CJSO261030)
06 Nov 2026 (CJSO261106)
13 Nov 2026 (CJSO261113)
27 Nov 2026 (CJSO261127)
Hearton Hotel Nishi Umeda
3-3-55 Umeda
Kita-ku
Osaka-shi
Osaka
JAPAN

Japan has a very efficient public transport service and there are many ways to get from your hotel to the two international airports in the Kansai region (Kansai Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport). Kansai Airport (KIX) is about 50km southwest of Osaka and Itami is about 12km northwest. Please talk with your leader or consult with the hotel's reception desk or check the hotel website for more transport details: http://bridge-h.co.jp/en/access/

Please note that we are currently not able to provide any shared shuttle bus service from the two airports to your hotel in Osaka.

Breakfasts included: 2

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 2

FOOD IN JAPAN
The Japanese daily diet contains gluten (ie. in flavourings such as soy sauce) and seafood (dashi, or fish stock, is the basis of most dishes, even vegetable ones), so we highly recommend that vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs do their own online research before travelling about some of the options that might be available to them. While our leaders will assist you whenever they can, there may be some included meals that are fixed in advance and not flexible, such as those included at ryokans, and cannot be modified for different diets. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, still your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.

Food and drink are such a high part of Japanese culture. Here are some links to get your tastebuds tingling:
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/japan-convenience-store-food/
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/traditional-tokyo-alleyways-locals-guide/
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/eat-and-drink-like-a-local-in-japan/
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/vegetarian-vegan-travel-japan/

PEAK TRAVEL TIMES
Please be aware that while travelling during major national holidays (late Apr to early May) and peak seasons in Japan (Apr-May/Sep–Oct) are fascinating and exciting times to travel, there are also some downsides. There will be huge crowds at most tourist attractions and on all public transport. It's common for there to be difficulties in securing train tickets at our usual preferred times, hotels become overbooked, traffic jams and changes to the itinerary without prior notice can be necessary. If you decide to travel during peak periods come with a sense of adventure and flexibility and we are sure that your experience will still be rewarding and memorable.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +81 70 1771 5588

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

RYOKANS & MINSHUKUS
Japanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some establishments may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in such properties. Extra fees will be charged if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning.

AVAILABILITY
The recent huge increase in tourism to Japan has put a lot of pressure on accommodation. On occasion, we may need to change accommodation from what is listed in the itinerary in order to operate your departure with minimal changes.

ONSENS
We like to encourage travellers to visit traditional Japanese 'onsens' while in the country as it is a quintessential local experience. In public onsens this means bathing naked with others of the same gender. While the experience can feel strange at first for some, most of our groups end up enjoying this activity. There is very specific etiquette for visiting onsens - your leader can give you some tips and instructions. Please be aware that travellers with tattoos may not be permitted to enter public onsens. Private onsens may also be available - talk to your leader for more information. See our guide to onsens here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/japan-onsen-guide/