Details
Important
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the program information on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that travelers who review the full trip details are happier with their experiences.
Trip Notes & Expectations
ACCOMMODATION
Japan is one of the most populous countries in the world and space is at a premium. Therefore, hotel rooms are small! Additionally, many Japanese hotels do not have designated non-smoking rooms. Therefore, we ask hotels to deodorize rooms before check-in. The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. We use simple hotels to keep these trips as inexpensive as possible. Please see the section below on accommodation for more details specifically related to this program.
LUGGAGE
You will carry your own luggage throughout this trip, including 10-30 minute walks through train stations, up stairs, and in all weather. Keep weight between 10-15kg (22-30lb). We highly recommend using a backpack or small rolling bag plus day pack (large suitcases are not recommended).
Size Restrictions: All luggage must be under 160cm total dimensions (height + width + depth). Exceeding this incurs 1,000 JPY fees per train journey; over 251cm is prohibited. If bringing two bags, both must meet the 160cm limit.
Overnight Separation: Japan's luggage forwarding service will transport your main bag between some destinations, leaving you without it for ~24 hours. Pack an overnight bag accordingly. Forwarding services may occasionally experience delays.
*You must handle all luggage unassisted and store it safely on trains/buses.*
WEATHER & PACKING
Japan's rainy season typically occurs during summer months. Come prepared for frequent rain with quality rain gear, waterproof footwear, and quick-dry clothing. This trip occurs in locations where it is warm to hot during the day, but weather can be unpredictable.
ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE
This is a fast-paced itinerary covering significant ground with extensive daily travel (up to 6 hours) on public transportation. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometimes include walking and light hiking with your daypacks. Expect substantial amounts of walking daily, sometimes with luggage. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals in-transit are often purchased from convenience stores (Family Mart, Lawson, 7-Eleven) and meal times may be irregular.
TRANSPORTATION
We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
JAPAN RAIL PASS
Your program fee includes a Japan Rail Pass, which provides unlimited travel on most of Japan's extensive JR train network, including the bullet trains (shinkansen). The pass is only available to foreign travelers, so if you are a Japanese citizen/resident or traveling on a student/business visa, please let us know as you will not be eligible for the Rail Pass.
ITINERARY FLEXIBILITY
Weather conditions may require last-minute itinerary changes. While we strive to include all planned activities, alternatives may be substituted due to conditions beyond our control. Some visits to major sites may be brief due to the comprehensive nature of this itinerary.
TATTOOS
Tattoos are not common or widely accepted in Japan. There is no cause for concern, but do your best to cover your tattoos when possible and note that you may not be permitted to enter public spas or onsens (hot springs).
LANGUAGE
Travel in Japan is easy, clean, fast and efficient, however, please be aware that English is still not widely spoken. However, a lot of patience, a sense of humor, and respect for the local culture goes a long way in any Japan and will greatly enrich your experience.
GROUP LEADER
All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Single Travelers
Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.
Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.
Want a private room? Most trips offer a
“My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the
Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
Emergency Contacts
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
G Adventures Local Office (Japan)
During office hours, Mon-Fri (Excluding national holidays) 9:00-18:00 Local Time
From outside Japan: 1st contact +81 3-6823-2336 (2nd contact +81 80 6779 1851 or +81 70 9034-2336)
From within Japan: 1st contact 03-6823-2336 (2nd contact 080 6779 1851 or 070 9034 2336)
After office hours emergency number
Primary phone: +81 80 6779 1851 or +81 70 9034 2336 (from within Japan: 080 6779 1851 or 070 9034 2336)
If you are unable for any reason to contact the local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
See our blog post of
staff recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring
one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and
one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.
As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like
Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling.
SuggestedOptionalDocuments
- Rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella (it will likely rain)
- Personal clothing for hot weather – we recommend packing 8-9 days of outfits so you only have to do laundry once
- Light fleece (for flight over)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Daypack
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Toiletries
- Camera (or use your phone)
- First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
- Travel pillow
- Light weight silk sleep sheet
- Money belt
- Water bottle
- Electrolyte drink mix packets
- Phone/tablet for internet – hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Flip-flops/sandals
- Portable/rechargeable misting fan
- Small cooling towel
- Swimwear (the hotels do not have pools, but you may have an opportunity to swim in the Japan Sea at Hagi)
- Earplugs
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
- Ziplock bags
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Travel insurance ID card
- Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
- USD/EUR cash
- Credit/debit card
- G Adventures vouchers
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure
: Laundry services are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. We recommend packing enough clothes so you don't have to do laundry.
Passports and Visas
Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.
PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for
at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps.
Need to apply or renew? Start here.
ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the
U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.
Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.
Money Exchange
Currency: The local currency is Japan is the
yen (¥ JPY). For current exchange rates, visit
www.xe.com.
Credit/Debit Cards: Major credit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants. Check with your bank about international transaction fees before traveling. The easiest way to get yen is from ATMs in Japan—7-Eleven stores are common and usually have international ATMs.
Cash: For small purchases, tipping, or places that don’t take cards, we recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected.
Emergency Funds: Bring
at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.
For more advice, see our post,
Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad
Tipping
Tipping is not practiced in Japan. Leaving money at restaurants, in taxis, etc. will simply cause confusion!
However, at the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, a tip would be appreciated. The amount is entirely your personal preference, but as a guideline,
$5 USD or around ¥725 JPY per person per day would be appropriate.
(We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting
Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!
Flights
Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program
begins in Osaka and
ends in Tokyo. Check the itinerary for the required arrival date. Aim to arrive no later than mid-afternoon for the 6 p.m. Day-1 welcome meeting, and consider arriving a day or two early to buffer flight delays and see more of Osaka. Depart Tokyo any time on the final day of the program.
Plugs and Converters
Japan uses
Type A plugs (the same as the U.S., but only the 2-prong style) and the voltage is
100V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:
1.
Adapter (plug shape)
Japan uses the same flat, two-prong Type A plugs as the U.S. However, outlets often do not support 3-prong plugs, so bring a 3-to-2 prong adapter if your device has a grounding pin. See our recommended
all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.
2.
Converter / transformer (voltage)
Voltage in Japan is 100V, slightly lower than the U.S. (120V), but generally safe for modern devices. Most phones, tablets, laptops, and camera chargers are dual-voltage and work with just an adapter.
How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An
“Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows
“Input 120 V only” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), use a voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.
Weather
Japan is hot, humid and rainy during June and July. Be prepared for the heat with a handheld fan (even better if it has a mist function), a sunhat (better to stay cool than look cool), and a cooling towel. Be sure to drink plenty of water; vending machines are ubiquitous in Japan, and Pocari Sweat is a great option for staying hydrated.
Advice from Past Participants
Most hotels in Japan have virtually all of the basic toiletries you may need (shampoo, body soap, toothbrush, etc.), and if they do not, these things can easily be found at local convenience stores like a 7-Eleven or Lawson.
There are a couple of nights when you need to pack an overnight bag or backpack and you will be away from your big suitcase.
