Kyoto—one of the trip’s final stops—offers lantern-lit lanes and wooden machiya houses in Gion, where centuries-old traditions still shape daily life.
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Japan trips rarely come cheap—or easy to plan. But a new giveaway from Intrepid, an adventure travel company, and World Nomads, a travel insurance provider, aims to change that, offering one winner (plus a guest) the chance to experience the country on a fully guided, small-group journey.
From now through March 30, the two companies are running a sweepstakes asking travelers to share in 50 words or fewer the experience in Japan they’d most like to try. The reward: two spots on Intrepid’s 12-day Japan: Land of the Rising Sun itinerary, along with $1,500 toward flights and $300 in travel insurance coverage through World Nomads. Altogether, the package is valued at nearly $15,000.
“At World Nomads, we believe travel is about pushing boundaries and embracing the extraordinary,” said Christina Tunnah, head of marketing and brands at World Nomads, in a press release. “Partnering with Intrepid allows us to inspire our travel community to imagine what’s possible and to feel confident taking those journeys knowing they’re supported every step of the way.”
The itinerary runs between Tokyo, Japan’s buzzy, neon-drenched megacity, and Kyoto, a temple-filled historic city. And while those cities are mainstays on most Japan itineraries (the duo are consistently among the most-visited cities in Japan, together drawing tens of millions of visitors each year), the days between the two will be spent in lesser-known cities in central and western Japan.
“With a local leader and traveling in a small group, Intrepid takes travelers beyond the usual hotspots, allowing travelers to enjoy immersive, locally-led experiences that truly connect them to the heart of the destination,” said Erica Kritikides, general manager of experiences at Intrepid Travel, in a press release.
After leaving the capital, participants will take the train to Hakone, an atmospheric hot spring town in the shadow of Mt Fuji, where travelers can opt to soak in onsens, visit a tea house, or visit the open air museum the first evening, before enjoying a scenic boat ride across Ashinoko Lake and hopping on the Hakone ropeway cable car to take in the views from atop the surrounding mountains the following morning. The next stop is Takayama, an Edo-period town in the Japanese Alps, famed for its sake breweries, craft traditions, and the Hida Folk Village. Then it’s onward to Hiroshima, to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and the nearby island of Miyajima, famous for its “floating” torii gate and friendly deer. The penultimate stop is Hagi, a coastal city, for walking tours of a historic samurai district and a cycling trip to meet one of the few female sake brewers in the country. Finally, the trip wraps up in Kyoto, where the last few days are spent visiting some of the more than 2,000 iconic temples, visiting the red torii gates, and wandering the historic streets of Gion.
How To Enter
The contest is open globally to travelers over 18 (excluding countries where prohibited), and entries can be submitted online through World Nomads through March 30, 2026. The winner will be announced on April 14, 2026.
During the trip, all accommodations (seven nights in hotels, two nights in traditional inns, and two nights at a homestay) and in-country transportation, a handful of pre-arranged tours, and some meals (four breakfasts and two dinners) are included.
Full details, terms and conditions, and entry information are available at worldnomads.com/campaigns/japan-trip.
AloJapan.com