School Rugby Tour to Japan

Looking for a real rugby adventure to the other side of the world? Do you want your students to embrace a truly different, ancient culture through a shared passion for rugby?

Japan is rapidly becoming a sporting powerhouse, thanks to the national team’s incredible performance in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and at the 2016 Olympics. Plus, Japan hosted both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics!

A land of contrasts, from the heaving megalopolis of Tokyo to the serenity of Mount Fuji, on your school rugby tour to Japan, your players will have the opportunity to enjoy incredible sporting and cultural experiences that very few touring teams ever get the chance to.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Meet at the airport and board flight to Tokyo

Afternoon

Flight

Evening

Flight

Day 2

Morning

Flight

Afternoon

Arrive in Tokyo Meet and greet from local rep Transfer to accommodation

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 3

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Private Taiko drumming session

Afternoon

Half-day guided tour of Tokyo

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 4

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation First friendly fixture

Afternoon

Post-match hospitality

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 5

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Charitable activity at a local food bank

Afternoon

Half-day Tokyo tour

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 6

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Second friendly fixture

Afternoon

Afternoon spent with fixture hosts

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 7

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Check out of accommodation Bullet train to Osaka with views of Mount Fuji

Afternoon

Private coach transfer to Universal Studios Visit Universal Studios with Express Pass

Evening

Evening meal at Universal Studios

Day 8

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Tour of the famous Nijo-jo Castle

Afternoon

Afternoon private guided coach tour of Kyoto

Evening

Evening meal at accommodation

Day 9

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Third friendly fixture

Afternoon

Post-match hospitality

Evening

Final meal at a traditional Japanese restaurant

Day 10

Morning

Breakfast at accommodation Transfer to airport

Afternoon

Fly home

Evening

Arrive home in the late evening

8 nights' half-board accommodation, including final dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant
All ground transfers
A ride on the bullet train
ATOL protected return flights from UK to Japan
Private bilingual guides
Organisation of 3 fixtures per team against local opposition
x2 half-day guided tours of Tokyo
Guided tour of Kyoto
Visit to Universal Studios with Express Pass and dinner in the park
Taiko drumming lesson
Charitable activity
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Detailed information pack
Travel and medical insurance

Accommodation

Tokyo Central Youth Hostel

Tokyo Central Youth Hostel occupies the 18th and 19th floors of a high-rise building in a very central location, so offers fantastic views over the city, something not usually offered by this style of accommodation. The hostel welcomes guests from all over the world and provides Japanese-style shared baths (separate for ladies/gents), a dining room, a meeting room, a lounge and tourist information centre, making this a great base for exploring Tokyo. Please note that the youth hostel has a curfew of 11pm. Individual room and locker keys provided at check-in.

Cross Hotel Osaka

This elegant, modern hotel is fantastically located in Osaka. It's just 5 minute's walk from the JR Namba train station with excellent links to Kansai International Airport and the bullet train station.All guest rooms are air-conditioned and also boast an air purifier. There's also a flat screen TV and WiFi throughout.

Meitetsu Grand Hotel

The Meitetsu Grand Hotel is an incredibly convenient option for your stay in Nagoya - it's connected to the underground terminal of Nagoya train station!All guest rooms benefit from en-suite bathroom facilities, flat screen TV. There's also WiFi throughout and 3 restaurants to choose from, as well as a cafe with spectacular views across the city.

Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima

Located just across from the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park, this hotel is a great base for your visit to Hiroshima. The hotel boasts two top-floor restaurants, offering Japanese and Italian cuisine. Plus, there is WiFi throughout. All guest rooms feature en-suite bathroom facilities and satellite TV.

Nagai Youth Hostel

Located in the Nagai Stadium in Nagai Park. Dormitories sleep up to 6 people, with shared bathroom facilities. Guests can use the communal kitchen to prepare food. WiFi is available in the lobby and there are also computers available to use. There are also lockers and an on-site launderette.

Excursions

Sumo Stable Visit

A sumo wrestler will stay with one heya, or stable, throughout his career.

Taiko Drumming

Taiko, a big Japanese drum, is used in a number of traditional and modern ceremonies, festivals, sports events and parades.

Tatedo Sword Fighting

The modern Japanese art of stage fighting, a tatedo lesson will leave you feeling like a samurai.

Guided Tokyo Tour

Explore Tokyo with a local guide, who'll ensure you see all that this incredible city has to offer.

Guided Osaka Tour

Osaka is a modern city with plenty of youth culture to explore.

Guided Kyoto Tour

Japan's most culturally rich city, Kyoto is home to a whopping 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Guided Hiroshima Tour

Hiroshima is, perhaps, most famous as the target of the first nuclear weapon, when the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.

Traditional Kyudo Archery

Kyudo is a traditional martial art in Japan.

Toei Movie Village

Step into a samurai film.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike.

Hike Mount Fuji

Hike up Japan's tallest mountain to see the sun rise from Mount Fuji - an experience you'll never forget.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect sports tour

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in school sports tours and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a tour to suit your group’s needs and meet your tour objectives.

Launching your tour to parents and students

The next step is to get your tour approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. Here you’ll find loads of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start working on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your tour (making the whole process a lot less stressful for you).

Support while you’re away

While you’re out on tour, we’ll be at the end of the phone 24 hours a day to provide support should you need it. We’ll also send you a final info pack before you go and you’ll be able to access all your tour documents via the free Vamoos app.

After your trip

When you return from your sports tour, we’ll ask you to complete a detailed feedback survey, which helps us continue to improve the service we offer. And we can start planning your next tour too, so you can give parents plenty of time to pay for it (and so it’s less stressful for you).