Jan
min : 1°C
max : 10°C
We Love —
- From the metropolis of Tokyo to the ancient temples of Kyoto, the contrast of culture is simply breathtaking to behold.
- Discover a magical country that brings centuries of ancient culture together with futuristic technology the likes of which are not seen anywhere else in the world.
- Immerse yourself in the unique culture as you unearth modern cities and ancient marvels alike whilst staying at 3* or 4* hotels, with the possibility of a winter sports or Alps extension.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Destinations —
Tokyo
Despite its love affair with manga pop culture, fashion, high-tech trends and conspicuous consumption, below the surface is a city that has its roots in ancient heritage. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples stand close to skyscrapers as a reminder of a more contemplative time and at the heart of the hyperactive centre lies the serene Imperial Palace, the home of the ruling emperor that provides a tangible link to the city’s historical past.
Behind the shopping, entertainment and commercial emporia can be found quaint wooden houses, private gardens with meticulously clipped bonsai trees and the Zen-like calm of the Hamarikyu Gardens. Discover the fascinating and exquisite culture of Japan where the ancient and modern worlds collide. The city’s reputation as a mega-expensive metropolis is ill conceived and visitors can take advantage of inexpensive izakaya bars and neighbourhood cafes that serve delicious noodles and rice dishes.
Hakone
And at the heart of this majestic site is the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji as it juts into the sky.
Kyoto
If you go by an old shōtengai (shopping street) you can admire the ancient speciality shops: tofu sellers, fishmongers, pickle vendors and tea merchants.
Our Offer —
Offer 1: Japanese Heights
10 days / 8 nights in Tokyo & Kyoto
Offer 2: Japanese Alps
12 days / 10 nights in Tokyo, Takayama (Japanese Alps) & Kyoto
Offer 3: Winter Sports
14 days / 12 nights in Tokyo, Ski Resort in Nagano & Kyoto
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Discover two of Japan's most intriguing cities, Tokyo, the forward-thinking metropolis and Kyoto, the ancient capital.
Inbetween your journey, visit iconic mountain landscapes at Hakone, Kanazawa and Mount Fuji. If you fancy adding to your immersion, extend your stay to the pearl of the Japanese Alps, Takayama, or have 4 nights in a ski resort in the Nagano region, the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic games.
Your Itinerary (8 Nights) —
Day 1: UK - Tokyo
Flight to Tokyo (Narita or Haneda airport).
Day 2: Tokyo
Arrive at Tokyo at Narita or Haneda airport. Transfer to your hotel in central Tokyo by Limousine bus.
You can also be welcomed by one of the guides, who can help you with your arrival and transfer to the hotel (see options)
Days 3 & 4: Tokyo
Free days to explore Tokyo.
You can also enjoy a guided day tour in Tokyo (optional).
Our suggestions:
- Asakusa district and Senso-ji temple
- The Tokyo Skytree, 634 metres high, and Tokyo Tower, the symbol of the city.
- Ueno Park with its many museums
- Shibuya and Shinjuku districts
- The Imperial Palace Garden
- Meiji-jingu Shrine
- Tsukiji Fish Market
Or day trips from Tokyo:
- Nikko, with its temples and shrines in the heart of the forest. Trains to Nikko are covered by the JR Pass. (2 hours)
- Kamakura and the Great Buddha (Daibutsu). The train to Kamakura is covered by the JR Pass. (1 hour)
Day 5: Tokyo - Hakone - Mount Fuji
Transfer to Tokyo Station by subway (not included). Train journey from Tokyo to Odawara by Shinkansen (fast train) (45min), from where you can reach Hakone - Mount Fuji (extra 15 minutes, not covered by JR Pass: 2,5€).
Our suggestions:
- Gora-koen Park
- Chokoku-no-mori open-air musueum
- Hakone & Narukawa museum of fine arts
- Hakone-jinja sanctuary
- Mount Fuji from Ashi-no-ko lake, with nice sidewalks
Traditional dinner in your Ryokan.
Day 6: Hakone - Mount Fuji - Kanazawa
Japanese breakfast in your Ryokan. Transfer to Hakone station (not included, 5 minutes by taxi). Train to Odawara (15 minutes, not covered by JR Pass: 2,5€), then journey to Kanazawa by Shinkansen, approximately 3h30, included in JR pass.
Free day for you to explore Kanazawa.
Our suggestions:
- Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens"
- Kanazawa Castle
- The Seisonkaku Villa, built in 1863
- The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
- Higashi-Chaya district and Nagamachi district
Day 7: Kanazawa - Kyoto
Transfer to Kanazawa station (not included). Direct train to Kyoto included with the JR Pass (2 hours and a half).
Days 8, 9: Kyoto
Free days for you to explore Kyoto.
You can also enjoy a guided day tour in Kyoto (optional).
Our suggestions:
- Ryoanji Temple, a famous rock garden.
- Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)
- The Gion district and the Philosopher’s Path
- The Kiyomizu-dera
- Nishiki Market, where you can find typical food from Kyoto
- Nijo Castle and its nightingale floors
- Arashiyama’s bamboo groves
Day trip suggestions from Kyoto:
- Nara. Trip covered by the Japan Rail Pass (30 to 45 minutes), with Fushimi-Inari Taisha shrine and its thousands of vermilion torii gates on your way back from Nara. The trip is covered by the Japan Rail Pass (5 minutes)
Day 10: Kyoto - Kansai Airport
Transfer to Kansai International Airport in Osaka from your hotel by shuttle included in your offer.
Your Itinerary (10 Nights) —
Same itinerary as Offer 1.
Day 6: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Breakfast in your hotel then transfer to Odawara station (not included). Express trains from Odawara to Takayama included with the JR Pass.
Our Suggestions:
- The Sanmachi-suji district
- The Kokubun-ji temple
- The houses of Yoshijima and Kusakabe
- The Hall dedicated to the Takayama Matsuri, a festival held twice a year in spring in autumn
Day 7: Takayama - Japanese Alps
Breakfast in your hotel before having a free visit.
You can also enjoy a half-guided day tour in Takayama (optional).
Day 8: Kanazawa
Breakfast in your hotel. Then take the train between Takayama and Kanazawa by train and Shinkansen, approximately 2h30.
Days 9-12: Kyoto
Same itinerary as Offer 1.
Your Itinerary (12 Nights) —
Same itinerary as Offer 1.
Days 6-9: Nagano
Enjoy a breakfast in your Ryokan before transferring to Odawara station (not included). Train journey from Odawara/Hakone by Shinkansen to Nagano area (Nagano or IIyama), around 3 hours, where you can reach your ski resort by bus (not covered by JR Pass, around 30min, 8€/pers. details about this public transportation in your travel document sent 20 days before departure).
Enjoy winter sports in Japan:
- a huge amount of snow (usually several meters until mid-April)
- good-quality snow, one of the best of the world to ski or surf on
- used by World Winter Olympics in 1998
- english speaking ski resorts, thanks to numerous Western customers: you can easily find English speaking staff in restaurants, ski rental, accommodations, ski schools, etc.
- after enjoying the slopes during the day, you can relax in many thermal baths, inside the city or your hotel
- in Japanese ski resorts, you can find many restaurants, with a great variety of food
- enjoy Japanese easy way of life: no need to book ski/ surf equipment or lessons in advance!
Priority will be given to Nozawa Onsen ski resort. If hotels are sold out, accommodations will be found in other ski resorts of Nagano areas (Hakuba/Shiga Koen).
Possibility to visit Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani) during one afternoon, to see monkeys playing in thermal baths surrounded by snows in a natural park. Booking details in your travel document sent 20 days before departure. (Payable locally)
Day 10: Kanazawa
Breakfast in your hotel before embarking on a train journey from Nagano area to Kanazawa (around 1h30).
Days 11-14: Kyoto
Same itinerary as Offer 1.
Your Hotels —
Our members will stay at the following accommodation with this offer. OPTION 1: Pocket Wifi rental for the duration of your stay Renting a Pocket WiFi in Japan is ideal if you’re looking for fast and unlimited internet access for the entire duration of your trip. Lightweight and with a long battery life, its nationwide coverage guarantees internet access wherever you are, on any kind of device (iPhone, Android smartphone, laptop). Pick it up at the airport and return it at the end of your trip by using the prepaid envelope included. The envelope can be mailed from any Japanese post box.
Optional Pocket Wi-FI rental: Lightweight and with a long battery life, its nationwide coverage guarantees internet access wherever you are, on any kind of device.
3* Category Hotels
If opting for the 3* category, you will stay at the below hotels in a Standard Room with the following board basis:
Half board (dinner, breakfast) included in Hakone-Mount Fuji ryokan
Extension 1 (10 nights): breakfast included in Takayama - Japanese Alps
Extension 2 (12 nights): breakfast included in Nagano - Ski resort
Breakfasts not included in your package can be booked at the hotel reception when checking in.
Hakone (1 night): Ryokan Ichinoyu Shinkan or equivalent
Kanazawa (1 night): MyStays Kanazawa Castle Hotel or equivalent
Kyoto (3 nights): Hotel MyStays Kyoto Shijo or equivalent
Takayama (2 nights, only in Offer 2): Traditional Japanese Hotel Hodakaso Yamano Iori or equivalent
Nagano - Ski resort (4 nights, only in Offer 3): Hotel Ikemoto Nozawa Onsen, or equivalent
3 Adults
4* Category Hotels
If opting for the 4* category, you will stay at the below hotels in a Standard Room on the following board basis:
- Breakfast included at all hotels
- Half board (dinner, breakfast) included in Hakone-Mount Fuji ryokan
Hakone (1 night): Ryokan Kajikaso (or same category hotel)
Kanazawa (1 night): Nikko Kanazawa Hotel (or same category hotel)
Kyoto (3 nights): New Miyako hotel (or same category hotel)
Takayama (2 nights, only with Offer 2): Hôtel Takayama Ouan hotel or same category
Ski resort in Nagano area (4 nights, only with Offer 3): Ikemoto Nozawa Onsen hotel, (or same category hotel in Nagano area)
3 Adults
Please note: the bed for the 3rd/4th guest sharing is likely to be a sofa bed or camp style bed. If any of these hotels are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be found.
Optional Excursions
You may choose to add the following excursions at the next stage of the booking process.
Enjoy a guided day tour from one of the locals to gain a unique, authentic perspective of Tokyo.
Visit the Meiji-jingu shrine in the centre of Tokyo and Harajuku. Then explore Shinjuku, its garden and the Government Building for a breathtaking view.
Trave through Kyoto with a guided tour by one of the locals!
Explore Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). Then onto Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and the Gion district.
Enjoy walking with a guide in this amazing historical area at night (from 7pm to 8.30pm).
Takayama is famous for being an area most skilled in woodwork. Though this small town is surrounded by mountains, it did not stop it from spreading its reputation.
During the Edo Period Takayama was controlled by the shogun, whom of which managed to generate fortune for the city. Currently in the heart of Takayama is a preserved merchant street that continues to sell its beautiful crafts.
Inside this small village is a blossoming culture and gorgeous views to see.
Your Journey —
Flights: You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process.
The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers:
Included:
- Transfer from Tokyo airport to the hotel (Narita or Haneda) by Limousine Bus
- Transfer from hotel in Kyoto to Kansai International Airport by shuttle
- 1 x 7-day Japan Rail Pass to travel by train and shinkansen between your tour steps
Optional:
- A prepaid card with 1500 yen ready for use which can be used on public transport in Tokyo and all other major Japanese cities, can easily be topped up on the machines at train stations and can be used as an electronic wallet
- Tokyo Airport Welcome - Guide will wait for you at the airport, at the customs exit gate, and will take you to your hotel from there
