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Japan, 8 Days · Classic tour
Tokyo, Kyoto and Japanese Alps
Fall in love with the Land of the Rising Sun
In just a few days, this trip will give you a taste of the cities, history, mystery, spirituality and stunning landscapes of the land of samurais and geishas. Our journey will begin in always-fascinating Tokyo, where we'll head to the locations that have made this city a beacon at the vanguard of global development. Then, in Kyoto, we'll immerse ourselves in the deepest spirituality that Japan has to offer. We'll explore the country's rural soul and beautiful landscapes in the area known as the Japanese Alps, where the towns of Tsumago and Matsumoto will astonish us with their atmosphere reminiscent of medieval times. We'll attend a Buddhist ceremony in Nagano, we'll explore the Jigokudani Monkey Park and, after visits to Kusatsu, we'll head to the spectacular city of Nikko. Who could resist?
Departure date
Departures from June 2024 till March 2025
From
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow...
Travel details
City of origin - Tokyo
Departure with destination Tokyo. Night on board.
Tokyo
Arrival in Tokyo and transfer to the hotel on public transport. Meet-up with the guide. Late in the afternoon, we'll head out to explore this fascinating city by taking the underground (tickets included) to the Shinjuku area. We'll be able to see the sheer number of people who use this ultramodern and efficient public transport system, and we'll also soon discover that Shinjuku is one of the liveliest places to visit at night. Welcome dinner (included). Return to the hotel.
Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel.In the morning we'll set out on an five-hour tour of this impressive city with our guide.The frenetic buzz and ultramodern neighbourhoods of the city coexist in harmony with fantastically peaceful areas. We'll make a brief stop at the Zojoji Temple to take a great photo of the Tokyo Tower. This temple is home to hundreds of Jizo statues, stone-built guardians of unborn children that are dressed in woolly hats and bibs, along with pinwheel windmill toys.We'll then go to the famous Shibuya Crossing, rumoured to be the busiest intersection in the world.Next stop will be the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. From there we'll drive along the elegant Omotesando Avenue, a haven for shopping. We'll skirt the Imperial Palace and its gardens, making a stop to visit the famous Nijubashi Bridge. After this, we'll make our way across the Akihabara district, nicknamed the 'Electric Town' for being a centre for Japanese manga and anime, before passing by Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall, home to Japan's sport par excellence. We'll also pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo with its 55-metre-high pagoda, and the Nakamise Shopping Street, full of small-scale stalls ideal for picking up some souvenirs. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). Afternoon at leisure.
Tokyo - Kyoto
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll travel to Kyoto on the bullet train (without guide), leaving first thing in the morning and with our train completing the almost-500km journey between the two cities in just over two hours. have all day to spend in the city that was formerly the capital of Japan from 794-1868, when the seat of the Imperial Court was there. Kyoto was the only large Japanese city not to be bombed during the Second World War, and has therefore retained its rich artistic heritage. The Kyoto Protocol, intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was signed here in 1997. We'll see the main points of interest in the city. We'll visit the fabulous Fushimi Inari Shinto shrine, the Imperial Palace and the Kinkaku-ji temple, otherwise known as 'The Golden Pavilion', and its magnificent gardens. Then, after a while, we'll wander around Gion, the most traditional neighbourhood in the city, where, if we are lucky, we might see some elusive geisha. Free Time.
Kyoto - Tsumago - Matsumoto - Nagano
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll travel through rural landscapes to Tsumago, a small town made up of wooden constructions and one of the most beautiful in Japan, and have free time for a walk around. Lunch at a local restaurant included. We'll then continue on to Matsumoto, a town where we'll visit a striking 16th century castle also known as the 'Crow Castle'. We'll then have free time in this lively tourist-friendly city. Overnight stay in Nagano.
Nagano - Monkey Park - Kusatsu - Ikaho Onsen
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we'll venture into the stunning Japanese Alps. In Nagano we'll see Zenko-ji, a place of pilgrimage which is home Japan's first Buddhist image, and attend the Gomakuyo ceremony which will bring us good fortune. Then we'll travel through tall mountains to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. We'll have lunch and stroll through its forests, admiring as we go the rivers and thermal springs where colonies of macaque monkeys live and bathe. After that, we'll drink in the mountain scenery (we'll be 2172 metres up) as we pass by semi-active volcanoes. In Kusatsu, we'll go to the Yumomi show where the actresses and songs will tell us about the traditional method used for cooling the hot springs. We'll then take a walk through the park, which has an open-air onsen. Arrival at Ikaho, a picturesque thermal city. We will take a stroll through its historical centre and we will stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style accommodation, where we can enjoy its thermal baths. Traditional Japanese dinner included.
Ikaho Onsen - Nikko - Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. After that, we'll head over to Nikko to visit the striking Nikko-Toshogu temple, where the highlight is the hall with the Crying Dragon. We'll also visit the Taiyuinbyo Mausoleum, an impressive and fantastically peaceful place.Next will be a stroll along the river in the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, with hundreds of Jizos watching us as we go!We'll have some free time in the city centre before setting off on the return journey to Tokyo. Arrival in Tokyo at around 7.00 pm.
Tokyo - City of origin
Breakfast at the hotel. You'll have free time until the agreed time for your transfer to the airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Accommodation in selected hotels or similar category.
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Train segments as per itinerary.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Transfers as per itinerary.
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Visits in a guided tour that are detailed in the program and not considered as optional.
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Bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners.
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Insolvency protection.
Your trip doesn't include
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Japan are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Japan.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- In Japan double beds are not common. If you want to have rooms with double beds during your trip, you must let us know in advance. We will do everything possible so that you can enjoy them, but we can not guarantee their use in advance in any case; They will always be subject to availability upon arrival at each of the hotels. Individual rooms may be, in some cases, smaller than the double rooms.
- In general, people with tattoos are not accepted in the onsen for cultural reasons. If they're small tattoos, they could be covered with a plaster, but access isn't guaranteed if the tattoos are large.
- Please check which documents are required to enter the country.
- The visit and the dinner on the day of arrival in Tokyo will depend on the flight arrival time. Failure to attend due to a delayed flight will not result in compensation.
- On some trips you will not sleep in Nagano, but rather in Matsumoto.
- In autumn in Jigokudani, depending on the abundance of fruit of the mountains, the movement of the monkeys is unpredictable: they may not travel down to the park, so the park could be kept closed. In winter, meteorological factors may affect the monkey park, leading to the planned park visit being suspended. Furthermore, from November to April the Kusatsu visit and the Yumomi show do not operate.
- Due to high hotel occupancy and limited availability in some seasons, hotels selected may be different from those mentioned.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.