• 9w ago
Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
Intrepid Travel•Japan

Tokyo at the start or Kyoto/Osaka at the end — where do extra days count more?

Advice

Planning this trip for May and pretty close to booking. Have read through the experiences here which helped a lot, thank you everyone.

One thing I can't figure out: the itinerary doesn't spend much time in Tokyo and also ends before you get deep into Kyoto. We can add about 3 extra days but can't do both ends because of flights.

For people who added days — did you get more value from arriving early in Tokyo or staying on after for Kyoto and Osaka? Trying to pick the more useful end.

Answers Section

4 answers

Comment by erica_baker

Did this in 2024, we added 2 days in Tokyo at the start and it was the right call. The tour barely scratches Tokyo, you really do need time there independently.

One thing not obvious from the listing: our group was only 8, well under the max 16. That makes the train transfers and moving around significantly easier than you might expect. Worth knowing when you're planning how much energy to budget.

Kyoto you get a reasonable amount of time on the tour itself so adding more at the end felt less urgent for us. But if Osaka is a priority that's a completely separate day and not on the itinerary at all.

Comment by merril_drew

The group size point is really useful, I had assumed it would be closer to max. We will plan Tokyo at the start then, 3 days minimum. Thank you!

Comment by joan_travels

We stayed 4 nights in Shinjuku after the tour ended and that felt right. Kyoto on the tour is good but Tokyo needs more time than the itinerary gives it, so either end works honestly.

If you go to Tokyo independently: skip the Tokyo Tower, there is a government administrative building near Shinjuku with a free observation deck and better views. Anyone on the street will know which one. Also has a shop with decent quality souvenirs rather than the usual tourist stuff.

Comment by ron_ing

Just back from this a few weeks ago so timing is good. We added days in Tokyo at the start (3 days) and it was not enough, I'd say 4 is more honest.

Kyoto you get decent time on the tour. Osaka is worth adding at the end if you haven't been, very different vibe to Kyoto, more food and nightlife focused.

One thing worth flagging that isn't on the trip page yet: they've modified the itinerary this year with a new homestay in Hagi. The town really went all out, each homestay was competing to outdo the others with the dinner they put on. Genuinely one of the best nights of the whole trip.

Also the free time shown in the itinerary is optimistic. Most days the guided sections ran longer than planned so don't bank on a lot of independent time mid-trip. That's another reason to add days at the ends rather than expecting gaps during.

Comment by merril_drew

The Hagi homestay sounds like exactly the kind of thing we booked this for. Good to know about the free time too, we won't over-plan the days. Really helpful, thank you.

Comment by ron_ing

One more thing worth knowing: the tour includes very few breakfasts. There are always good coffee shops nearby that your guide will point out. Not a problem at all once you know to expect it, just don't show up assuming breakfast is covered most mornings.

Comment by alison_w

Did the 12 day version in October, added days in Tokyo at start and end both. For a first time in Japan I'd say Tokyo at the start is more useful because you are disoriented early on and having a guide context from the tour helps you make sense of what you saw independently.

The thing that justified the cost of the tour for me was the guides specifically. We had two and they were exceptional. The guided evening walk in Kyoto we spotted about 7 geishas which I'd never have found on my own. That kind of access doesn't happen when you're navigating independently.

Japan is not a cheap destination either way, the tour price looks different when you factor that in.