*Trip starts at noon on February 19 Japan time in Tokyo. If flying in from another country, be sure to be in Japan by that time.
Highlights
🗾 Explore Japan's West: A 10-day journey celebrating the best of Fukuoka and Hiroshima, perfect as a standalone trip or a unique extension.
⛩️ Iconic Destinations: Visit the majestic floating shrine on Miyajima, the historic Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni, and discover Fukuoka's ancient ties.
♨️ Coastal Onsen Retreat: Enjoy two relaxing nights at Hagi Onsen, set in an old castle town famous for microbreweries and local pottery.
🥢 Curious Cuisine & Culture: Sample subversive dishes from award-winning chefs, enjoy neon-lit river sailing, and spelunk inside Japan's most scenic cave.
It’s wonderful in the west.
If you are planning a Japan trip and wondering if there’s more to its urban look than what Tokyo has to offer, we have an invitation for you: come out west with us!
Built to be combined with your own travel or as a standalone trip, Best of the West celebrates two of Japan’s best large cities. We begin in Fukuoka, where we’ll sample two subversive takes on Japanese cuisine from award-winning chefs, sail along the neon-lit rivers of the Tenjin area, and visit castle ruins, shrines, and sites dedicated to this area’s ties with Japan’s ancient history. The trip ends with Hiroshima, where you’ll experience the city’s ties to history both tragic and joyful, visit the famed floating shrine on Miyajima, and take a side visit to Iwakuni to see the iconic Kintaikyo Bridge and the old castle town. Our two cities bookend a special extra on this trip: two nights at the beachside Hagi Onsen, set in an old castle town where the old town walls now welcome you into a microbrewery, sake retailers, and a fantastical array of artists selling their takes on the local pottery. You’ll also get to spelunk inside Japan’s most scenic cave and check out the merchant quarter in Kokura – all while traveling on a schedule loaded with free time to explore and make friends with locals and your fellow travelers alike.
So if you’re a first time traveler looking to add something unique to the end of their Japan journey, or you’re just looking for an excuse to check out some really awesome spots while the weather is decent, join us! We promise one visit will have you wanting to plan a return trip. :)
Trip itinerary
-
We’ll begin in Tokyo, where you’ll get on an (included!) flight to Fukuoka. First up: the Canal City complex, to get a little coffee to fight that jetlag and maybe pop into the Kirby Cafe (if that interests you). In the evening, join your guide to eat our way across the riverside at Fukuoka’s many food stalls!
Lodging: Nishitetsu Croom Hakata Station or similar
-
Visit Ohori Park to paddle around the pond, visit the ruins of the castle, or a little of both - it’s up to you. From there, we’ll cross the land bridge through the park to a unique take on Chinese cuisine for lunch before an afternoon in the Tenjin area! Shop or explore, but don’t miss the evening cruise past the city lights on the river in the evening!
Lodging: Nishitetsu Croom Hakata Station or similar
Meals: Lunch included -
Visit the massive Dazaifu Shrine and the Kyushu National Museum outside of town before we return to the city for a special dinner that marries the best of Indian and Japanese cooking styles.
Lodging: Lodging: Nishitetsu Croom Hakata Station or similar
Meals: Dinner included -
Join a side trip to Kokura in Kitakyushu City, where we’ll see the Toto Museum (yes, for toilets!) and grab lunch in the classic Tanga marketplace. We’ll check out Kokura’s old castle grounds and the city Riverwalk before heading back for the night.
Lodging: Nishitetsu Croom Hakata Station or similar
-
Time to head to Honshu! We’ll visit the waterfall-filled (literally) Akiyoshido Cave before we venture on to Hagi and check in at our resort!
Lodging: Resort Hotel Mihagi or similar
Meals: Dinner included -
Today is a day to relax at the hot spring! Get a spa treatment, or wander Hagi with your guide to see seaside views, sample some local treats, or buy some of the local crafts!
Lodging: Resort Hotel Mihagi or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included -
Transfer to Hiroshima, where we'll visit the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park before making our way to Hondori to explore and find dinner.
Lodging: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
Explore the island of Miyajima, home to the famous "floating" Itsukushima Shrine, maple cakes, and spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea from Mt. Misen.
Lodging: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar
-
Visit the Iwakuni Castle and the iconic Kintaikyo Bridge west of Hiroshima before we gather for a little party to send the trip off in style.
Lodging: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar
-
Transfer to Hiroshima Airport to fly back to Tokyo, where you can continue your journey or connect to a flight home.
You can also combine your trip with Seto Seasider and head to Matsuyama with us! :)
Need help planning where to go next? Ask us!
This trip includes…
| |
Trip Status |
Open for signups |
Deadline |
Jan. 2, 2027 |
Minimum guest #: |
8 guests |
Fly → JP On*: |
Feb. 17 or 18, 2027 |
Starts in JP On: |
Feb 19 (12PM), 2027 |
TRIP PACE |
Medium-light. Mostly urban walking, but optional exploring for people that want to go a little harder. |
Extras |
Single Room (Hotels): +$700 Single (All lodging): +$1450 |
*This is the date you should leave your home country.
Click for more info about:
FLIGHTS • REFUND POLICY
Click for more info about:
🛌 9 nights three and four-star accommodations, including two nights at a hot spring resort
🥢 Includes 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners
🚅 All scheduled rail, sea, and air transport within Japan.**
🧳 Baggage shipping (up to 3 complimentary luggage transfers for one suitcase per trip)
😀 Professional, bilingual guides there to help with anything you might need
🎟️ Admission to all scheduled activities
📗 Customized Trip Guidebook and Pre-Trip Orientation Materials, mailed to you before the trip so you can prepare for the journey before leaving home!
🍫 Nightly turndown service with local sweets
❤️ Complimentary concierge service: we can help plan extra stops, pre-and-post-trip extensions (including trips to Tokyo), and more!
🗾 Much, much more!
NOT INCLUDED:
❌ Flights to Japan from your home country
❌ Travel insurance
❌ Meals not listed above
NOTES:
ADVANCE DEPOSIT: The trip does not have a final price yet. Final price to be announced later; anyone who signs up early gets a $50 discount and may get a fee-free refund of the deposit if they do not approve of the final price when it is announced.
*All initial payments are a $300 deposit. The balance for the trip is due at the deadline for the trip.
**If a guest decides to go long distances on rail during free times, extra charges may apply.
