15 Train Journeys in Japan Worth Booking

1.Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26,383 reviews · from $163Our pick

Leave Tokyo by air-conditioned coach for Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, enjoy a buffet lunch, ride the Hakone Ropeway, cruise Lake Ashi, then return by Shinkansen. Guides such as Sora, Hiro, Momo, Levin, and Yui are known for warm, engaging explanations. Weather can change the plan.

“Very beautiful day with lots of fun activities. The guide was a bit difficult to understand but ok otherwise”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Mt Fuji & Hakone Cruise, Drum Show Bullet Train 1 Day from Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,413 reviews · from $149

Spend nearly 12 hours with an English-speaking guide visiting Mt Fuji’s 5th Station, Lake Ashi, and Mt Komagatake. You’ll enjoy a short cruise, ropeway ride, Japanese lunch if selected, and a wadaiko drum show before returning to Tokyo by non-reserved Kodama Shinkansen.

“Great trip. Lots to do and see. Very weather dependent as mist can spoil view .a worthwhile experience combined scenery and culture”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Tokyo Mt Fuji 5th St & Hakone Cruise Bus Tour w/Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,024 reviews · 10 hours · from $154

This 10-hour tour pairs Mt Fuji’s 5th Station with Hakone’s ropeway and Lake Ashi cruise, then sends you back to Tokyo by Shinkansen. An English-speaking guide such as Aya, Kazu, Yuta, or Lovely leads the day, with multilingual audio guides also available.

“The host Kazuwas outstanding and really made the tour fantastic. Lunch a little rushed. Overall a great experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour w/ Return by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,278 reviews · 11 hours · from $117

Travel from Shinjuku to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, enjoy Hakone’s ropeway and Lake Ashi cruise, and finish with a non-reserved Shinkansen ride to Tokyo. English and Spanish guides, local lunch option, and weather-based alternatives make this an efficient day outside the city.

“Meeting point was easy to find, guide was excellent! Knowledgeable and helpful, and a nice person. Good value with lunch included for a full day trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.From Tokyo 1-Day Kyoto English-guided Tour by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 376 reviews · from $452

Ride the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, enjoy a hotel lunch, and tour Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangen-do, and Kiyomizu-dera with an English-speaking guide. Escorts help you make the train connections, though you get only a few hours in Kyoto and should expect crowds.

“Amazing tour ! The guides escorted us to the train and received us on the way back . The afternoon in Kyoto was very well organized. We saw three amazing shrines . Despite the crowds the guide kept us together. Lunch was nice at the hotel restaurant.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo with Bullet Train Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 368 reviews · from $97

See Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station, steaming Owakudani, Hakone’s ropeway, and Lake Ashi in one 11-hour trip from Shinjuku. Choose a Wi-Fi-equipped coach or bullet train return, and add Japanese-style lunch. Guides such as Happy, Ai, Rino, and Kenji are praised for friendly, useful commentary.

“We had a great time at the Mount Fuji and Hakone. The experience was amplified by Ai our tour guide. Ai-san was excellent, she was well informed, patient and empathetic. He effusive personality made our day great.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Sagano Train Ride and Kyoto Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 180 reviews · from $66

Join an English-speaking guide such as Masa, Haru, or Hiro for a full Kyoto day from Osaka. Walk through Arashiyama’s bamboo, ride the 25-minute Sagano Romantic Train, visit Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari, and choose an optional lunch. Expect plenty of walking and a tight schedule.

“Everyone was treated VIP. .the tour guide was very informative and helpful. the bus was cozy and comfortable. 101 limon bus”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Takachiho Gorge & Scenic Railway One Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 178 reviews · from $44

Travel from Fukuoka to Takachiho Gorge, see 80m Manai Waterfall, take an optional boat ride, ride the 30-minute Amaterasu Railway, and stack stones at Amano Yasugawara. English and Chinese support is available, with guides such as Daisy, Moon, Kevin, and Riku hosting mixed-language groups.

“well organized tour, beautiful, must see places in Kyushu.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Sagano Romantic Train & Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 171 reviews · from $82

This 9-hour Kyoto day trip links Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kiyomizudera, and the Sagano Romantic Train by air-conditioned bus. An English-speaking guide such as Masa, Hama, Akira, or Maria keeps the day moving, with an optional Japanese lunch and free Wi-Fi onboard.

“Crowded and hard to see from our side. Not as cool as I’d hoped. The wooden seats were uncomfortable”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Trip by Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 83 reviews · 8 hours - 690 minutes · from $104

Travel from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima by Shinkansen, then visit Miyajima’s Itsukushima Shrine, roaming deer, and local food stalls before exploring the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome. English and Spanish guides, including Angeles, Caesar, and Alex on recent departures, lead the day.

“Our guide was knowledgeable but also friendly, and there was enough free time to walk around and explore. Great balance of history and scenery.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Kamakura & Enoshima Day Tour with Pickup & Train Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 61 reviews · 10 hours · from $13

Join a bilingual driver-led day trip from Tokyo to Enoshima and Kamakura, limited to nine people. You’ll see the *Slam Dunk* crossing, ride the Enoden train, visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and the Great Buddha, and have free time for Komachi Street. Expect basic commentary, not a full guided tour.

“Brewster was an amazing tour guide who was very knowledgeable and has a great sense of humour . Bus driver was first class. Food was 2 out of 5. Everything else 5 star !!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Samurai Experience – Train with Sword Master

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 3 hours - 270 minutes · from $158

Meet your English, Japanese, or French-speaking guide at Minoh Station and walk to a secluded temple area near Osaka. Sword master Tatsuya Watanabe leads a private lesson in traditional techniques, with translation, temple history, a special performance, and possible access to historic weapons.

“A wonderful and remarkable experience. Our guide and translator Ben, was able to meet us at the station, provide insight and fascinating history tidbits of the area where we were. After arriving at the temple, we met Watanabe-San, the sword master who was overseeing our special tour and training. Immediately gave stunning insight to the way Watanabe-San lived, how he trained, fights, how he practices his swordsmanship and the spiritual factor in his lifestyle. With Ben translating especially during the training, it made a fun and wild experience, especially since we all had been given different tips and advice on how to make our strikes or posture better. This experience…”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Wakayama Cat Train, Seafood market, Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 24 reviews · 10 hours · from $83

From Osaka, guide Tiger or another multilingual guide leads a 10-hour Wakayama day trip by air-conditioned coach. You’ll ride a Tama-themed train, visit Kishi Station, eat at ToreTore Market, and see Senjojiki and Sandanbeki. Hot spring entry and cave admission cost extra.

“The day trip with TIGER our guide was FANTASTIC! Easy to meet location, Tiger was constantly updating us via What’sApp in English & Chinese, a comfortable and spacious coach for us to travel in, a cat station master delight, delicious & fresh seafood lunch at the open air seafood market, perfect views from the cliffs the perfect way to walk off your lunch! TIGER made us feel welcome and shared with us fascinating information & stories of each place we visited. A fantastic tour with scenes of the port and small city living - only 2 hours from Osaka City. Highly recommended to anyone of all ages and mobility. Thank…”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Kyoto Railway Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 23 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Spend a full day exploring Japan’s railway story at the Kyoto Railway Museum. See 53 real trains, from steam engines to Shinkansen, enter historic carriages, try hands-on simulators, watch the roundhouse turntable, and enjoy views from the Sky Terrace. Standard museum admission is included.

“Really good. Quiet. Cool inside. A lot to see and interact with.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Arashiyama Tour with optional Sagano Romantic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 18 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $105

Join an English-speaking guide such as Shingo, Eloise, Leo, or Arsushi for a 3 to 4-hour Arashiyama walk. Choose the optional Sagano Romantic Train, then visit Mikami Shrine, the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Arashiyama Park. Food costs are extra.

“Just wanted to say I had a blast on that walking tour! Eloise was an amazing guide – she really knew her history. I learned so much, and she was super helpful giving us recommendations for eating and shopping in the area. Definitely recommend it!”

Check availability →Read our full review