16-DAY JAPAN RAIL ADVENTURE
16 days/15 nights
Max group 12
Lifetime Deposit
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
SLEEP LIKE A LOCAL
Forget hotels – this is the real deal! Spend a night in a traditional Japanese inn where you’ll sleep on futons, dine on kaiseki meals and feel like a true local. Don’t forget to practice your “arigato!”
FIVE LEGENDARY RIDES
Why settle for one fancy train when you can ride five? Bullet trains that’ll blow your mind, undersea tunnels that’ll have you questioning reality and steam trains for those old-school vibes. If you’re a Rail fan, this is like Christmas… but in Japan.
ZEN VIBES, ALL DAY LONG
This trip is your one-way ticket to Zensory bliss. From Hokkaido’s wild landscapes to Kyoto’s calm temples, the whole experience is a chill fest. Everything’s handled, so you can focus on getting your Zen on and soaking up the good vibes.
DINNER WITH A SIDE OF GEISHA
There’s no time for boring meals on this trip, so how about dining in Kyoto’s famous Geisha district? Lantern-lit streets, ancient tradition and sushi so fresh it might wink at you… it’s all on the menu!
LEAFY LOVE AFFAIR
Cherry blossoms? Cute. But how about maple trees showing off their full colours (depending on Mother Nature) while you chug through the mountains? With blazing swatches of reds and yellows flying past your window, this ride is the most gorgeous “Welcome to Japan!” you’ll ever see.
Trip Breakdown
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Pricing details
- $2,150 deposit.
- 2-week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
16 days, 15 nights
Meeting point
Mets Hotel, Sapporo
Ending point
Onyado Nono Asakusa Hotel, Tokyo
Group size
Maximum 12 people
Inclusions
- Meals: 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 9 dinners.
- Private arrival and departure transfers.
- All trains and private road transfers as listed.
- 14 nights of comfortable 3-star accommodation and 1 night in a traditional Japanese Inn – see more details in FAQs.
- 5 x Luggage transfers (1 large case pp) on days 3, 5, 8, 10 & 14 – see more details in FAQs.
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Exclusions
- International flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Late check-out at hotels
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks with included lunches and dinners
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
- Personal expenditure
Have a group?
Contact us and we can arrange a private departure.
Overview
Train Journeys Included
Day 3: Train to Hakodate (4 hours)
Day 4: Train to Hirosaki Feature Train (3 hours)
Day 5: Gono Line – Joyful Train Feature Train (5 hours)
Day 6: Train to Kakunodate (1 hour)
Day 6: Train to Sendai (1.5 hours)
Day 8: Train to Aizu Wakamatsu (2.5 hours)
Day 10: Train to Kinugawa Onsen (2.5 hours)
Day 10: SL Taiju to Shimo-Imaichi Station Feature Train
Day 10: Train to Nikko
Day 11: Train to Kyoto, including Bullet Train between Tokyo and Kyoto Feature Train (4.5 + hours)
Day 14: Sagano Railway Romantic Train Feature Train
Day 15: Bullet Train to Tokyo (3+ hours)
Accommodation Preview
Nearly all accommodation on this trip is 4 and 5 stars. Here are some examples:
METS HOTEL, SAPPORO
ONYADO NONO, KYOTO
AIZU WAKAMATSU WASHINGTON HOTEL, AIZU WAKAMATSU
Trip Summary
| Trip Summary | B | Br | L | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Sapporo! | ||||
| Day 2 | Sapporo - Not just Famous for Beer! | ||||
| Day 3 | Train across Hokkaido Island and Hakodate Ropeway | ||||
| Day 4 | Seikan Tunnel and Hirosaki Castle | ||||
| Day 5 | The Gono Line Joyful Train | ||||
| Day 6 | Samurai Town and Sendai | ||||
| Day 7 | Matsushima Bay | ||||
| Day 8 | Aizu Wakamatsu & Saki Experience | ||||
| Day 9 | Old Post Town of Ouchi Juku | ||||
| Day 10 | Taiju Feature Train and Overnight in a Traditional Inn | ||||
| Day 11 | Bullet Train & Gion Evening Tour | ||||
| Day 12 | Kyoto - The Famous Sites | ||||
| Day 13 | Miyama Village & Home Lunch Experience | ||||
| Day 14 | The Sagano Romantic Train | ||||
| Day 15 | Tokyo Bound, Shinjuku & Farewell Dinner | ||||
| Day 16 | Time for Goodbyes |
Trip Map
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Sapporo, Hokkaido
Kon’nichiwa and welcome to Sapporo! One of our friendly team members will meet you at the airport and whisk you directly to your hotel. After check-in, rest-up – or maybe take a stroll down to the Sapporo Beer Museum for a look-see, and a cheeky tasting or two. But don’t lose track of time, because by day’s end, you’ll be bonding over dinner with your guide and fellow MagRailers!
Accommodation: Mets Sapporo Hotel or similar
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Sapporo – Not just Famous for Beer!
Pop on your comfy walking shoes this morning, because after breakfast you’ll be exploring Sapporo with your guide, on foot. Also on the cards is a ride on the Sapporo Shiden. You’ll already be feeling that Sapporo’s more like a regional hub, than Japan’s fifth largest city – and when you take a ride on a tram (they’ve been around since the early 1900s) it only adds to the city’s charm.
After lunch, your group will travel up one of those mountains hugging the city’s boundary for a close-up view of the world’s famed ski-jump. It’s an all-weather facility, so you may even get to see athletes practising. If not, the mountainside view and surroundings will take your breath away regardless.
Tonight is for doing as you please! You might feel like tracking down a bowl of miso ramen – being a Sapporo speciality, it’s easily found, and your guide can point you in the direction of a restaurant just near your hotel.
Accommodation: Mets Sapporo Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3: Train to Hakodate
Wave goodbye to your suitcase this morning – it’s on a journey of its own by courier. You’ll be reunited in Hirosaki on Day 4. When you step on the train to Hakodate with your lightweight overnight bag, you’ll be wondering why nowhere else in the world has caught onto this liberating travel style!
The four hours by train will slip by too quickly. After soaking in Hokkaido’s inland green, your comfortable ride will track to the West and sidle on up to the coastline – and Pacific Ocean views wherever you look. Your only distraction will be the neat compartments of deliciousness in your bento box that’s served for lunch along the way.
Before day’s end, you’ll be treated to a different type of view – of Hakodate city stretching out on the narrow peninsula arm below you – thanks to a ride on Mt. Hakodate’s Ropeway.
Accommodation: Resol Hakodate or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Seikan Tunnel and Hirosaki Castle
Rise and shine early this morning because you don’t want to miss out on eating like the locals. A donburi breakfast is basically steamed rice and anything you choose to have on top – even Hakodate’s famous catch, squid! It may sound all too lunch-like for you, but hey; when in Rome… or in this case, when in Japan… and the options are almost endless!
Afterwards, you’ll leave Hokkaido Island behind for Japan’s mainland via the Seikan Tunnel. The train ride is so smooth you’ll never know that for more than 23 km you’re travelling below the seabed. That’s just a part of the three-hour journey, but it’s a train trip to tick off your must-do list!
Hirosaki Castle is not only a quintessential Japanese castle that’s absolutely photo-worthy, it’s also a place to step back and take in the bigger picture because looming in the background is an unexpected showstopper. Welcome to Mt Fuji without the crowds! Here is its little-known look-alike, but equally as imposing, Mt Iwaki.
Accommodation: Route Inn Hirosaki Ekmae or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: The Gono Line Joyful Train
You won’t know which way to look when you ride the Gono line today. The train departs the station in the shadow of Mt Iwaki and before long, the track plucks a path through the countryside. You’ll feel like you’re Choo-chooing through a fairytale – past apple orchards and through Onsen towns with their rushing streams and classic Japanese buildings.
Suddenly, about a third of the way into the five-hour journey, serenity is replaced with drama. The Senjojiki coastline is right there, by your side – its bedrock fingers clawing at the coastline, forming natural swimming pools that locals flock to every summer. The line hugs the shoreline now for much of the rest of the ride. Goodbye Onsens, hello fishing villages! Not even today’s Bento Box will distract you from the scenic movie playing outside your train window.
You’ll be bedding down in Akita tonight and there’ll be time to stretch your legs with a stroll around town before heading out to dinner with your MagRail gang. It’s day 5 and your group is already bonding like old friends and finding excuses to extend dinnertime into post-meal nightcaps!
Accommodation: Richmond Hotel Akita or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Japan’s Joyful Trains
Do you fancy riding a train for the pure enjoyment of riding a train? Then you’re going to love Japan’s ‘Joyful Trains’.
Enjoy sedate rides with musical accompaniments on the inside while coastline drama and countryside orchards pass by on the outside, or dive into the world of kitsch by riding a train celebrating all things Pokémon. Dine out with a view from a fancy-shmancy restaurant train, or test your balance with a ride on a saki-tasting train. There’s even one for cyclists; destined for a bike-friendly tourist spot and fitted with bike racks and a floor to accommodate riding shoes!
Whether you’re enticed by the views on the outside, or the activities on the inside, in Japan there’s a train ride dreamed up for everyone!
Day 6: Samurai Town and Sendai
There’ve been so many wow moments on this trip already, but still, you’ll hardly be able to contain yourself this morning. You’ll be boarding the train for a short ride to the town of Kakunodate. As you roam the streets, you may feel like you’ve travelled back in time. This place was home for centuries to military nobility known as The Samurai. Explore it with your guide, inside and out!
Then it’s back on the train to rest your feet. Sendai is around one and a half hours away. At check-in, you’ll be reunited with your luggage once again!
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Sendai or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Day tripping to Matsushima
Matsushima Bay is on show today, so it’s no wonder that you’ll spend some time exploring it on a comfortable cruise boat. Any spot that’s listed as one of Japan’s three most scenic views, deserves your attention! You’ll also visit Zuiganji – a temple that’s had several reincarnations over the centuries and is now a Zen Temple. Wander towards the entrance and you’ll notice the tree-lined path no longer has the ordered rhythm of Zen planting. That’s because this area was tragically hit by the tsunami in 2011 and some trees, damaged by the salt water, have been felled.
You’ll be back at your hotel around 5pm. That’s plenty of time to make your dinner plans – the night is yours to explore as you please!
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Sendai or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 8: Aizu Wakamatsu
Today’s train ride is just two-and-a-half hours and when you arrive in Aizu Wakamatsu, you’ll be pleased there’s a bunch of time up your sleeve for your guide to help you discover exactly what this scenic beauty has to offer.
Set in a valley ringed by mountains, the town not only has onsen and a must-be-photographed castle surrounded by manicured traditional streetscapes… it’s also famous for a drink – anyone up for a tasting or few at our favourite saki brewery?
Accommodation: Aizu Wakamatsu Washington Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Old Post Town Ouchi Juku
Your MagRail family will trade the tracks for the road this morning. It’s just one hour to your destination – the old post town of Ouchi Juku. Once a stop on the trade route between your overnight stop and Nikko, it developed out of necessity during the Shogun era, to feed, water and bed down weary traders who travelled the route on foot.
Today, Ouchi Juku is restored to its Edo Period, traditional self. You’ll wander along the unpaved main street, peering at the shops and inns, feeling amazed by the immaculacy of their trimmed, thatched roofs. By now you’ll have come to realise that each day on this trip is like a leap from one magic-filled storybook to the next.
Back to Aizu Wakamatsu for a free afternoon. Hmm… how will you decide to spend it?
Accommodation: Aizu Wakamatsu Washington Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 10: Taiju Feature Train and Overnight in a Traditional Inn
You’ll travel by train to Kinugawa Onsen this morning – however not for the obvious reasons tourists usually flock to this onsen resort town, known for its amusement parks. Instead, in true adventurous MagRail style, you’ve come in search of a train known as Taiju. While we can’t tell you yet whether you’ll ride the short trip (12.4km) by steam engine or diesel (we often don’t know until the day), we think it’s still a special ride, no matter what!
Marrying the final leg of today’s excursion with one last short train ride, your group will reach Nikko in the afternoon. Tonight, it’s your turn to sleep in a traditional Inn. Don’t worry – your accommodation has come a long way since the Edo Period, and while the low-rise beds may take some getting down to, once you’re tucked in, you’ll sleep surprisingly well!
Accommodation: Hoshinoyado Nikko or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Bullet Train to Kyoto
Today is a travel day, so pack that book, just in case you want to drift off to another world for a time, while your group transfers to Kyoto via Tokyo (oh… did you notice that Kyoto is an anagram of Tokyo?!). The whole trip will take about five-and-a-half hours but the last bit, and your first ride on the Bullet Train, is absolutely thrilling!
Your luggage will be waiting for you in Kyoto, so pop on your party-best (if it goes with your sensible walking shoes)! You will get to know Gion, Kyoto’s most famous district, on a walking tour with your guide tonight. With the lanterns lit for the evening, there is an atmospheric glow in town. Keep an eye out for geisha girls flitting about the streets like fireflies, while the restaurants and bars brim with revelling patrons. This is a new side of Japan that’s just now unveiling itself to you, so take it all in and enjoy!
Accommodation: Onyado Nono Shichijo, Kyoto or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: Kyoto – The Famous
Good morning! You just finished your first sleep of four in your premium Kyoto Hotel. Now is that time in your trip where it’s oh-so-nice to change the pace, unpack and make yourself feel truly at home.
Today, your guide will show you Kyoto’s premier must-see list. Touristy or not, the Old Town is still going to knock your socks off, and when you walk through the orange colonnade of the Torii Gates, you’ll be pinching yourself that you’re doing it!
With a few other ‘A-lister’ experiences to sneak in, including a private tea ceremony, you’ll be back at your hotel by the late afternoon. Tonight is yours for the making – go out on the town or stay in – whatever you choose, now is an excellent time to mention your hotel has his and hers hot springs baths onsite!
Accommodation: Onyado Nono Shichijo, Kyoto or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 13 – Miyama Village
Today is a special one! Once you’ve been there and it’s weaved its magic on you, when you hear the word Miyama, all that will follow is a sigh of content – guaranteed. Welcoming. Unique. Heartfelt – just a few words to express this place when you break up into groups of four for your in-home lunch experience. An experience to fill both your belly and your soul!
Accommodation: Onyado Nono Shichijo, Kyoto or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 14 – The Sagano Romantic Train
We couldn’t let you leave Kyoto without visiting the Bamboo Forest, so we’ve snuck that into your morning before you head out to trump it with an oh-so-special train ride! It’s just a leisurely 25-minute trip in all, but how mesmerising those minutes are, no matter the season. Who needs cherry blossom when the Japanese maple surrenders its best in autumn, summer brings the greenest of greens and the winter landscape twinkles with a dusting of snow. The line runs along the Hozugawa River and winds through the mountains at a gentle pace, giving you plenty of time for photo opportunities.
There are no set plans for dinner tonight, but can you hear your MagRail family calling anyway?
Accommodation: Onyado Nono Shichijo, Kyoto or similar
Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 15 – Tokyo Bound
It’s time to say goodbye to Kyoto – Tokyo is calling! Let’s jump aboard the bullet train one more time. In a little over three hours, you’ll be staring up at those never-ending high-rise clusters of central Tokyo. Life is at a different pace in Japan’s capital and biggest city. It’s high time you experienced it!
After a spell at the hotel, you’ll regroup for an evening guided walk around Shinjuku. This neighbourhood is not only one of Tokyo’s largest entertainment and shopping areas, it’s also home to the world’s busiest train station! That sounds like a perfect spot for your farewell dinner – together you’ll celebrate the adventures you’ve had and friendships you’ve made.
Accommodation: Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei, Tokyo or similar
Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 16 – Farewell
Has it really been sixteen days? You’ve experienced so much and it’s hard to fathom how the time went by so fast. Grab your nearest MagRailer for a hearty hug. This may be your last breakfast together for now, but surely not forever – the only question left is: where to next?!
Included: Breakfast
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:YEN exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on these trips is based on an exchange rate of:
- 11 May 2025 – 1 AUD: 104.6 JPY
- 7 September 2025 – 1 AUD: 98.6 JPY
A deposit of $2,150 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 95 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a tourist visa for short stays in Japan. All travellers need a passport that is valid for 6 months after departure.
Level 1
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. However, to enjoy this trip, you’ll need to be able to spend time on your feet and regularly walk for 3-4 hours. Daily activities might include walking on uneven and hilly ground, getting on and off various forms of transportation and occasionally climbing some stairs. You may also encounter over-the-bath showers in some of the accommodations.
It will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
Tipping is not expected in Japan (and tipping in restaurants may even offend), however, if your guide has ensured that your trip is memorable, we encourage a gesture of thanks with a tip at the end of your adventure. As a suggestion, between 8,000 and 12,000 Yen per person would be appropriate, but also feel free to choose a different amount.
Standard weight 23 kg, hand-carry bag 7kg.
Japan’s train system is impressive, and rather than lugging luggage around, locals use couriers to transport it between destinations. We’ll be using the same. So, as well as your usual luggage (single case, please), you’ll need a small backpack or overnight case (with wheels) to pack essentials for a brief overnight stay while your luggage is couriered directly to meet you at the next major destination. This trip has five Luggage transfers that occur on days 3, 5, 8, 10 & 14.
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Being tour operators (not travel agents), we are not licensed to sell flights. We recommend contacting your trusted local travel agent to book flights if you’re in need of assistance.
Cathay Pacific and China Airlines have 1-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Sapporo.
Will we be picked up at the airport?
Yes! One of our friendly team will be waiting for you in the public arrivals area of the airport. You’ll transfer directly to the hotel. The transfer is free and in a private and air-conditioned vehicle, which you will only share if there is anyone else on your flight joining the tour.
When should we arrive?
Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommendable. If possible, come one day early to settle in. We can organise additional hotel nights for you at cost.
The official currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY).
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
Japanese hotel rooms are notorious for being small. Another anomaly is that rooms with double beds usually have one side of the bed pushed up against the wall and often have a smaller footprint than twin-bed rooms. To get around this, we secured twin rooms for everyone – couples, single supplements, and of course… twin shares! If you’d prefer to have a double bed and sacrifice the room space, please let us know when you’re booking your spot.
On Night 10, you’ll sleep in a traditional Japanese Inn. That means you’ll sleep on a futon mattress laid out on Tatami flooring. It might take a bit of manoeuvring to get down and into bed, but once you’re tucked in, you’ll sleep surprisingly well! Each twin share room has its own toilet, but bathing facilities are shared (single-sex) Japanese-style communal baths (no clothing or swimming attire allowed).
Whether you are a couple, or a couple of friends, or travelling solo, our Magnificent Rail journeys will appeal to anyone who is inspired by the charm of scenic rail travel and wants to see the best of a country.
Our adventures are designed to appeal to those in their 50s, and 60s and early 70s (but of course, everyone is welcome!) Our clients are curious and active, and want to find the magic of travel again, but with some modern comforts in unique and interesting places along the way. They’ve often avoided tours in the past because they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
They prefer insider perspectives and lingering longer in the right places for a deeper experience.
Send us an email at contact@magnificentrail.com.au or give us a call at +61 482 095 648; A deposit is required to reserve your spot.
