It is widely acknowledged that Japan has become a premium travel destination in recent years. It combines timeless traditions with the modern world, resulting in an almost incomparable beauty. It is a welcoming destination for visitors and a must-visit hub for this part of the world, which is why you have to go!
I chose to go with a tour company that has a solid reputation and has been part of my travel life for some time. With this one, you’re getting a quick budget tour of Japan’s highlights. This is currently the only budget trip under Costsaver. You can find similar tours with their sister company, Trafalgar, which is a little pricier but offers other sites to visit, such as Gokayama, Sapporo, Kanazawa, and Awaji Island. Part of each tour also involves visiting many UNESCO-listed sites throughout Japan.
With so many options, this one best fit my set budget for travel, had a good itinerary, and allowed for free time as a first-time visitor without requiring me to use up all my vacation time. This is my review of the Japan Discovery Budget Tour I took in May 2025.
Basic Information
Group Size
A Costsaver group can range in size from 20 to 45 people. It all depends on the time of year (if it is the off-season for tourism), the popularity of the tour destination(s), and current traveling trends. As the age requirements are 18+, you can get a varied mix. Costsaver groups can be a mix of solo travelers, couples, seniors, and families (recommended for those aged 13 and above), as they cater to a diverse group of travelers. However, the result is that more families and seniors are drawn to these tours.
Costsaver Trip Director
Your trip director will be a third-party contractor specializing in the country and language. They will also provide you with audio listening devices to help you hear above the crowds. Other guides will be provided at certain activities, usually, the optional choice experiences, who are experts in the local area. Just be patient, as sometimes a language barrier can occur, and you may need to repeat your questions or requests more than once.
Accommodations
With Costsaver, all your accommodations are 3- or 4-star hotels featuring modern amenities. Hotel rooms in Japan are smaller, though, and you may feel cramped in the provided space, especially the bathroom. You will need to make the best out of this situation unless you are traveling solo and can have a room to yourself. Customer service is responsive and quick to accommodate your requests.
There are no Ryokan options, which are traditional inns with matted floors or capsule hotels with shared sleeping pods. These hotels on the tour are also usually located on the outskirts of major tourist and attraction areas, resulting in the more affordable prices that this budget tour is all about. The trip guide will provide you with complimentary breakfast tickets at each hotel where you stay.
Transportation
Most of your transportation will be by coach throughout the country. The one exception is that you take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto. These are comfortable and easy to nap in. The smaller the group, the more open space you have to stretch out and put your carry-on items, such as your purse and backpack, to the side. Eating on the couch is allowed, but be careful not to make a mess and take out all your trash at each rest stop or exit.
Japan Discovery Tour Itinerary
- Day 1: Tokyo
- Day 2: Tokyo
- Day 3: Tokyo to Mt. Fuji/Hakone
- Day 4: Tokyo to Kyoto
- Day 5: Kyoto
- Day 6: Kyoto to Kurashiki to Hiroshima
- Day 7: Hiroshima to Itsukushima Shrine
- Day 8: Hiroshima to Himeji
- Day 9: Himeji to Osaka
- Day 10: Osaka/End of Tour
*Note that tours and activities are subject to change depending on the month, weather, government-recognized holidays, and other restrictive conditions.
Day 1: Welcome to Japan!
You’ve arrived in Tokyo! Depending on whether you plan to arrive a day early or when the tour exactly starts, you might be ready to start immediately or need a little recovery time from jet lag. Don’t worry, as you won’t be meeting your trip director until the evening. Once you meet up in the hotel lobby, you will spend a short period getting checked in with the guide, receiving an introduction to the tour, what to expect, and any friendly tips provided by the trip guide.
You’ll then proceed to the welcome dinner at a local restaurant (shoes off, butts seated), a few blocks away, for some traditional Japanese appetizers and a hotpot main course. It’s a good way to start making introductions to your fellow tour group members and finding some common interests. After dinner, it’s free time. Anything you want to do is up to you. Please ensure you arrive on time the next morning for the official start of the tour.
Day 2: Exploring Tokyo
Now that you have rested, it’s time to kick things off with a full day of activities. You will start the morning by getting some panoramic views of the city at the Tokyo Metropolitan Observatory for at least an hour. Next, you will have the opportunity to experience the more spiritual side of Tokyo. Your bus will take you to the Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine and Senso-ji Buddhist Temple, where you can walk around to view the buildings and toss in some yen at the shrines for good luck and prosperity. These areas are always crowded with locals and tourists, so be sure to listen to your guide on the exact time you need to return to the meeting spot.
Each place you are staying for a minimum of one hour, which is usually enough time. You then have the option to participate in the chosen experiences, spend free time exploring on your own, or return to the hotel. There’s no group dinner scheduled, so we suggest visiting nearby Omoide Yokocho (a 20-minute walk away) for some savory Izakaya food and drinks. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay in the hotel, consider one of the eateries located on the ground floor.
Choice Experiences
Sushi-Making Experience – This is a fun activity, but the cost (almost $75 per person) is more than the value of the experience, even with a sushi master. If you have taken a sushi-making class before, there is no difference in doing it in Japan itself, except it makes for a good story, and you get a technique or new tip you never learned about before. I recommend skipping this choice experience and putting that money towards something more worthwhile.
Tokyo National Museum, Ameyoko, and Ginza – You should always choose to visit a museum for a deep dive into the art and culture of the country you’re visiting. The only issue you might have is feeling rushed, as there are many exhibits, and you are only there for a short period to adhere to the schedule. Ameyoko and Ginza are interesting shopping areas, but you don’t want to get all your souvenirs and gifts on the first day. There will be plenty more opportunities to visit shopping areas during the tour.
Day 3: Heading up the Mountain
Today is your first time to enjoy Japan outside of the city and see the world-famous volcano Mt. Fuji. It’s a 90-minute drive from your hotel to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, where you will be stopping. You will have a short 15-minute bathroom and snack break in between as you take the winding roads up into the mountains.
This can be a hit-or-miss kind of day, though. It’s all dependent on weather conditions. It might be an unlucky time, and Mt. Fuji will be covered in clouds, so you won’t be able to see anything. Dress for colder weather conditions; otherwise, you’ll spend all your time on the bus or in the gift shops.
You will have better luck at your next stop, which is the Komagatake Ropeway in Hakone. Taking the gondola up, you can see below Lake Ashi and the surrounding area. Have a quick lunch once you return to the ground and walk over to the lake docks before boarding the bus to head back to Tokyo. You will take a separate path through Hakone, so you get to view some more traditional buildings and mountain scenery. Arriving back in Tokyo, you will be released to enjoy your last night however you want.
Day 4: On to Kyoto
If you choose to stay out late on your last night in Tokyo, the early morning will provide the perfect opportunity for recovery. You will say goodbye to Tokyo and head to the train station. Don’t worry about your bags, as they will be transported by truck from one hotel to the next. Jumping on the bullet train, you can take a short nap at high speeds as you make your way to Kyoto.
Once you arrive in the afternoon, you’re heading directly out to the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji and Heian-Jingu Shrine. Both are top attractions for Kyoto that are visually stunning and a chance to stretch your legs. The last stop before the hotel is a shopping excursion at a traditional handicraft store. It’s nice to peruse and does have some choice items you may want to purchase.
After checking in, you will have a short break before dinner. This time, it will be a group meal, similar to the one on your first night, with several dishes.
Day 5: Kyoto Free Day
The day is yours to do whatever your hearts desire. But I’m sure you won’t be sleeping in. This is an opportunity to experience the locals’ perspective of Kyoto. This day also has a lot of overlapping choice experiences (see below) to choose from. Except for the evening food experience, each of these takes at least an hour by bus to reach the destination, with an additional hour dedicated to the actual activity. You might find it more worthwhile to stay in Kyoto and do your own thing instead.
Choice Experiences
Traditional Tea in Wazuka Village – If you haven’t had a tea experience before, you should choose this guided tour in Wazuka Village. Not only do you get to enjoy the Japanese countryside, but it is also exciting to learn about the local community and the Japanese tea industry.
Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple – We’ve all seen the pictures of orange tori gates that make up this attraction, but is it 100% worth it to go and see it for yourself? Ensure you have the necessary endurance to climb all the steps to reach the shrine. If you want to avoid crowds, it’s best to go earlier (in the AM), but you won’t be able to if you signed up for this experience.
Nara Visit and Ink-Making Experience – A lot of visitors choose to go to Nara because they get to go to Nara Park, which is home to dozens of wild deer roaming the property, and they are friendly enough for you to get close. However, the issue of over-tourism is likely to make the experience less enjoyable. For a truly wild deer experience, wait until Day 7, when you’re in Hiroshima, and visit Miyajima Island. There are plenty of wild deer roaming through the town for you to see.
Japanese BBQ Experience with Unlimited Drinks – A bit pricey, with multiple courses shared with your table. Unlimited drinks sound good, but that usually refers to non-alcoholic beverages. I suggest skipping this, as you can find similar cuisine nearby for half the cost, or you might have a different preference for dinner.
Day 6: Hiroshima Bound and Kurashiki Half-Day
This will be a short day as you leave Kyoto by bus and head to Hiroshima. Stopping in the historic Bikan Quarter of Kurashiki, you will have a brief one-hour walking tour with a local guide before being given free time to get some lunch and explore on your own. Weather permitting, it can be a lovely day out strolling around the canals.
Getting back on the bus, you will complete the drive to Hiroshima and check into your rooms. The rest of the evening is free time to enjoy dinner, explore the nearby shopping district, or rest and recover in your room if you’re starting to feel the travel burnout.
Day 7: Sightseeing in Hiroshima
Today can be considered a part of Dark Tourism, as it involves serious topics and history, including death, tragedy, and suffering, rather than focusing on food and fun. Although the particular memorial sites you visit concentrate on hope and the future, it remains a solemn occasion. All of them are centrally located, and you will go from one to the next within several hours. Ensure that you understand and respect your surroundings. No funny business!
The lighter part of today is in the morning when you take the ferry to Miyajima Island. You will get to see the Itsukushima Shrine and the floating tori gate on the water. As we discussed earlier, you will see wild deer roaming the island, which will make up for skipping the choice experience in Nara without paying extra. There will be some free time on the island after the shrine to walk around town and get a snack. Just make sure to return to the ferry entrance on time to get back to the mainland; otherwise, you will have to wait and catch up with the group later.
Choice Experiences
Secrets of Hiroshima – With this exclusive experience, you are paying for both a hotpot group meal and entrance to Hiroshima Castle. You should discuss with your trip director whether it is possible to pay for only the castle and get your lunch, as it is not particularly special. The castle, though, is something you should do not only for the views but for the samurai history you get to learn. And you have to walk through the lovely Japanese garden and feed the cute fish.
Day 8: Exploring Himeji
This castle town is your next stop for the day, with plenty of time to see the famous White Heron Castle and/or Koko-en Gardens. Some will choose one or the other. Most who don’t feel the need to climb the steep steps and narrow passageways will skip over going inside the castle and stick to the outside for some photos and head to the garden.
You get more free time to explore the nearby area of shops and restaurants before going to your hotel. It’s then another free night to pick your activities. It’s a fun and simple day that doesn’t feel very rushed.
Tip: If you select your tour in mid-May, you’ll have the bonus of being able to attend the city’s annual Himeji Castle Festival without affecting your travel itinerary.
Day 9: Time for Osaka
Here is your last full day of the tour, and what a way to go out. On your way out of Himeji, you will stop at a local sake brewery and get to try several samples of this high-quality beverage. It’s also a good place to pick up a variety of sake products, including lotion (which can also be consumed), soap, and a few small bottles for Japanese-themed night dinners at home.
The remainder of the day is spent driving, and once you reach Osaka, it’s a final decision between optional experiences or going off on your own for one last hurrah. In the end, you get to say goodbye to your fellow travelers and exchange contact information if you aren’t planning on seeing them the next morning.
Choice Experiences
Umeda Sky Building and Osaka Castle – Both of these experiences are something you should not miss. Similar to the Tokyo Metropolitan Observatory, the Umeda Sky Building offers some great panoramic views from its garden observatory; however, Osaka Castle is the highlight. The entry line can be long as most choose to wait for the elevator service, but it only goes up to a certain floor. You will need to walk the rest of the way up to see the different perspectives of the skyline. There is also a small shopping arcade in the adjacent building to pick up some souvenirs for your last day in Osaka.
Dotonbori Dinner – It’s the farewell dinner (don’t start crying), where everyone can reminisce on the past week and the particular highlights of this tour. The selection features traditional Osaka cuisine in one of the most popular entertainment and food districts. Most choose to opt out of this farewell dinner and eat on their own just because of the price. Afterward, you can head out and explore the rest of the area for the night.
Day 10: Sayonara My Friends
And that is it, everyone. The tour is over; you’ve made some lasting memories and met some new travel friends, but it’s time to say farewell. Depending on your post-tour itinerary, you can sleep in and check out later, or you may already be on the road to your next destination in the country or to the airport for your next flight home.
Travel Score: 8/10
Although it can feel rushed at times, with a jam-packed itinerary, you may think that some parts were cut short and that you needed more time to enjoy it truly. Or that you didn’t get to see specific attractions or events because they weren’t part of the itinerary or you didn’t find out about them until after the fact. Consider extending your stay here by a few extra days on your own to explore what you missed.
Overall, the Japan Discovery Budget Tour is ideal for those visiting Japan for the first time. It hits many of the highlighted attractions that everyone always talks about. The Japanese cuisine will leave you with new feelings because it’s just so delicious (there wasn’t a single bad meal on this entire trip). And, of course, the most crucial part is that it is budget-friendly. The value is worth the cost, and you will not regret choosing this service at all.