10-Day Japan Delight with Hiroshima — Self-Launched
10 days · Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo)
UME Travel Co. Ltd charges £3,180
No-markup version: ~£1,420 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of UME Travel's 10-day private-guide Japan tour, covering Osaka, Hiroshima & Miyajima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone/Fuji and Tokyo — done independently using the Japan Rail Pass, hostels and budget hotels, and self-bookable day tours. Same route, same highlights, a fraction of the cost.
Day-by-day
Arrive Osaka — Dotonbori & Kuromon Market
Osaka
Land at Kansai (KIX) and take the Nankai Rapi:t or Airport Express to Namba (~£9, 45 min). Check into a hostel or budget hotel around Namba/Shinsaibashi. Spend the evening wandering Dotonbori — try takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu. Optionally pop into Kuromon Ichiba Market (best before 3pm) for fresh seafood skewers.
🚌Nankai Rapi:t airport express ~£9
🛏Namba/Shinsaibashi hostel dorm or budget hotel (e.g. Osaka Hana Hostel)
- →Airport transfer to Namba
- →Dotonbori street-food crawl
- →Kuromon Market seafood snacks
- →Optional: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (~£16)
Osaka to Hiroshima — Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima
Activate your Japan Rail Pass and ride the Shinkansen (Sakura/Mizuho line) from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima, ~1h 25m. Drop bags and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, A-Bomb Dome, and Peace Memorial Museum — allow 3+ hours for reflection. Evening stroll by the Motoyasu River.
🚌Shinkansen Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima (JR Pass)
🛏Budget hotel near Peace Park (e.g. Hotel Mystays Hiroshima or hostel)
- →Shinkansen Osaka–Hiroshima
- →Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
- →A-Bomb Dome
- →Peace Memorial Museum (~£1 entry)
Miyajima Island & Itsukushima Shrine — back to Osaka
Hiroshima / Miyajima
Morning tram or JR train to Miyajimaguchi, then ferry to Miyajima Island (JR ferry is covered by the JR Pass). Walk through to the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, ride the ropeway up Mt Misen for views, and sample momiji manju dumplings. Late afternoon Shinkansen back to Osaka for the night.
🚌Local tram + JR ferry + Shinkansen (JR Pass)
🛏Namba/Shinsaibashi hostel or budget hotel
- →Miyajima ferry (JR Pass)
- →Itsukushima Shrine (~£2)
- →Mt Misen ropeway (~£13)
- →Momiji manju tasting
- →Return Shinkansen to Osaka
Osaka free day — Universal Studios or deep food exploration
Osaka
A full free day in Osaka. Options: Universal Studios Japan (book online in advance, ~£60-75), Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Shinsekai's Tsutenkaku Tower, or a self-guided izakaya crawl through Tenma and Ura-Namba. If you're here in July, look into the Tenjin Matsuri festival.
🚌Osaka Metro day pass ~£5
🛏Namba/Shinsaibashi hostel or budget hotel
- →Optional Universal Studios Japan (~£65)
- →Optional Kaiyukan Aquarium (~£16)
- →Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku
- →Tenma izakaya crawl
Osaka to Nara — deer park & Todaiji, continue to Kyoto
Nara / Kyoto
Train to Nara (~1h, JR Pass covered). Wander Nara Park with its free-roaming deer, see the giant Buddha at Todaiji Temple, and stroll the lantern-lined path to Kasuga Taisha shrine. Afternoon: continue to Kyoto and, en route, stop at Fushimi Inari Shrine to walk the famous red torii gates at golden hour. Check into a Kyoto hostel or budget hotel near Kyoto Station.
🚌JR Nara Line / Yamatoji Line (JR Pass)
🛏Kyoto Station area hostel or budget hotel (e.g. Hotel Elcient or similar)
- →Nara Park deer
- →Todaiji Temple (~£4)
- →Kasuga Taisha shrine
- →Fushimi Inari torii gates (free)
Kyoto — temples, bamboo grove & Gion
Kyoto
Big Kyoto day. Start early at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji, then Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Afternoon: Kiyomizu-dera and the Higashiyama lanes, then Nishiki Market for snacks. Evening: wander Gion's lantern-lit streets (respect local etiquette — no chasing geisha for photos). Consider a tea ceremony (~£20) or kimono rental (~£25) for a cultural flourish.
🚌Kyoto City Bus day pass ~£4
🛏Kyoto Station area hostel or budget hotel
- →Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (free)
- →Kinkaku-ji (~£3)
- →Kiyomizu-dera (~£2.50)
- →Nishiki Market
- →Gion District evening stroll
- →Optional tea ceremony (~£20)
Kyoto to Hakone — Lake Ashi & Owakudani
Hakone
Shinkansen to Odawara (~2h). Buy the Hakone Free Pass (~£45) for unlimited use of the ropeway, pirate ship, and local buses. Ride the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani volcanic valley for black eggs and sulphur vents, then the Lake Ashi pirate ship for Fuji views (weather permitting). Stay at a budget ryokan or hostel in Gora/Yumoto with an onsen.
🚌Shinkansen + Hakone Free Pass
🛏Budget ryokan/hostel in Hakone (e.g. K's House Hakone)
- →Shinkansen Kyoto to Odawara (JR Pass)
- →Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani (~£10 with pass)
- →Lake Ashi pirate ship (~£10 with pass)
- →Owakudani black eggs
- →Onsen soak
Hakone to Tokyo — Lake Kawaguchi & Oshino Hakkai en route
Lake Kawaguchi / Tokyo
Head north by bus/train toward Lake Kawaguchi for the classic Fuji reflection shot, visiting the pretty village of Oshino Hakkai's spring-fed ponds on the way. Optional Fuji Panoramic Ropeway at Tenjozan Park (~£6) and the Appare excursion boat (~£6). Late afternoon, travel on to Tokyo and check into a hostel in Akihabara or Asakusa.
🚌Fuji-side local buses + highway bus to Tokyo ~£15
🛏Akihabara/Asakusa hostel or budget hotel (e.g. Dormy Inn or similar)
- →Lake Kawaguchi viewpoint
- →Oshino Hakkai village
- →Optional Tenjozan ropeway (~£6)
- →Optional Appare boat (~£6)
- →Travel to Tokyo
Tokyo — Meiji Shrine, Asakusa & Tsukiji
Tokyo
A full Tokyo day. Morning: Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Harajuku/Yoyogi neighbourhood. Midday: Senso-ji Temple and the Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa — arrive early to beat crowds. Afternoon: Tsukiji Outer Market for sushi and street snacks. Evening: Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho or Golden Gai for a last-night drink.
🚌Tokyo Metro 24hr pass ~£5
🛏Akihabara/Asakusa hostel or budget hotel
- →Meiji Shrine (free)
- →Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
- →Tsukiji Outer Market
- →Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho
Departure from Tokyo
Tokyo
Depending on your flight, fit in a last coffee or a quick stop at a 100-yen shop. Take the Narita Express (~£25, 1h) or Keisei Skyliner (~£18) to Narita, or the Keikyu Line to Haneda (~£4). Return or deactivate your JR Pass if unused time remains.
🚌Narita Express ~£25 or Keisei Skyliner ~£18
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Airport transfer
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. UME Travel Co. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UME Travel Co. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,420 | £3,180 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,760 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UME Travel Co. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,420
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 10-Day Japan Delight with Hiroshima — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,420 per person for 10 days in Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with UME Travel Co. Ltd?+
Yes — UME Travel Co. Ltd charges around £3,180 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,420 — a saving of roughly £1,760 (55%) per person.
How long is the Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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