Useful Information for Backpacking Japan: Expedition

Mostly hostels, in Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, plus nights that are part of the experience: two in a traditional ryokan in the Nagano mountains, sleeping on tatami mats under a futon, and one in a 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple in Koyasan, where the monks serve dinner and breakfast.

The Hakone hostel is an onsen guesthouse, so you can soak in the hot springs there. If you would like to know how rooms are shared, just ask us when you book.

Due to the nature of cuisine in Japan, strict dietary requirements may be difficult to accommodate in some areas. Many of the broths/stocks which flavour much of Japanese food are not vegetarian/vegan friendly, and many meals contain either meat, fish, or egg elements. We recommend downloading the app “Happy Cow” and asking your tour guide for advice throughout the tour. You may also bring some snacks/supplements with you if necessary, but please note that Japanese customs can be very strict with medication so ensure you double check everything you bring.

We are unfortunately not able to offer a single supplement for our Japan tour, simply because it’s extremely difficult to find a single room, almost every room is a twin so it would essentially mean the guest would need to cover the cost of two people to be able to have a room to themselves. However, we will absolutely try and put you with another solo traveler.

Yes. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Japan, so bring a reusable bottle and fill it up at your accommodation. Vending machines and convenience stores are on almost every corner if you need a cold drink on the go.

Fly into Tokyo, at either Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). Airport transfers are not included, so you make your own way to the hostel near Ueno: from Narita the Keisei Skyliner runs straight to Ueno, and from Haneda it is a train ride with one change.

The trip finishes in Osaka, so book your flight home from Kansai International Airport (KIX), with two one-way tickets or an open-jaw ticket, rather than a return to Tokyo.

The trip finishes after breakfast on day 17 in Osaka. Kansai International Airport (KIX) is roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter from central Osaka by train, and you will want to be there two to three hours before an international flight, so a departure from early afternoon onwards is comfortable.

Flying home from Tokyo instead? Allow about two and a half hours on the bullet train from Shin-Osaka, plus the journey out to Narita or Haneda. Your leader can help you plan it.

Please wait for your booking confirmation email, which tells you when we recommend arriving and departing. You can search and book flights on our flights page.

We will send you your airport transfer information one week before the tour or programme begins.

It depends on your passport. Many nationalities, including British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and many European passport holders, can visit Japan without applying for a visa for short tourist stays, usually up to 90 days. For British citizens, the UK government's travel advice (checked September 2026) says you get up to 90 days on arrival and your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your stay.

Immigration can ask to see an onward ticket and proof of funds. You can fill in your arrival forms in advance on Visit Japan Web. An online pre-travel authorisation (JESTA) is planned for around 2028 but is not needed yet.

Rules change, so check the UK government’s entry requirements or your nearest Japanese embassy, and see our Japan visa guide.

International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.

Once you've booked your flights, log in to My Account on our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.

Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.

Your deposit ensures your reservation for the tour or program. It guarantees your spot until 60 days prior to the scheduled commencement date, at which time the outstanding balance must be settled in full. Failure to complete payment by the specified deadline will result in the cancellation of your reservation, and the vacancy may be offered to another prospective participant. The remaining balance can be found in your account, and multiple reminders will be sent in advance of the due date to ensure timely payment.

For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.

For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.

If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.

Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.

We would highly recommend bringing no more than 15kg on this trip, and bringing a backpack instead of a suitcase if you can. You won’t need to carry your luggage around during daily excursions, but you will need to transport your luggage between each accommodation so we recommend packing as lightly as possible.

The luggage limit on the Shinkansen (bullet train) is very strict. Bags over 160cm (height x width x length) need an advance reservation and bags over 251cm cannot be accommodated even with a reservation.

Japan uses Type A sockets (two flat pins, like the US), and the supply is 100 volts. UK, European and Australian travellers need a plug adapter.

Phone and laptop chargers are almost always fine, since they work from 100 to 240 volts, but check the label on hairdryers and straighteners made for 230 volts: they may run weakly or not at all.

Most travel days are a few hours by train, much of it on the bullet train, and the longest journey is around four hours including changes. Travel days still leave time to explore once you arrive.

You carry your own bag on and off the trains, so packing light makes those days a lot easier.

No. The trains on the itinerary, bullet trains included, are covered in the price of your tour, so you do not need a rail pass for the trip itself.

A pass only makes sense if you plan a lot of long-distance travel on your own before or after the tour. Since the big price rise in 2023 it rarely pays for itself on one or two journeys, such as getting back to Tokyo at the end, so compare it with single tickets first.

The trip starts in Tokyo and finishes in Osaka.