The Northern Soul tour brings you some of Japan's most unique experiences; stunning temples in Nikko; Naruko Onsen, a remote hot spring resort set in a beautiful valley; quiet reflection and contemplation at temple lodgings on Mt. Haguro; the laid back city of Sendai.

Ł150 per person discount for all new bookings departing in 2012 (book by May 31st 2012).

The context for all of this is set with two nights in Tokyo to start your Northern Soul adventure. This is modern urban living on an enormous scale. The view from the top of Shinjuku's Government Metropolitan building says it all with concrete as far as the eye can see in every direction: This is the world's largest conurbation and home to 35 million Japanese. The streets are constantly buzzing with activity; the neon lights ablaze as soon as dusk descends and the suited salary-men who helped drive Japan's economic revolution pour out of the offices and into the bars, restaurants and hostess clubs.

You'll return to Tokyo on the 14th day of the tour. But until then you'll leave life at a hundred miles an hour behind and step into a different world. At Mt. Haguro's temple lodgings you will have all the time in the world to relax. You will awaken to a Buddhist vegetarian breakfast and the chanting of the temple monks at morning prayer and fall asleep breathing cool clean air under star filled mountain skies. We'll also be venturing across the Japan Sea to Sado Island, a place with a unique history being first an island of harsh exile and then the site of Japan's own gold rush. Today the island has a flourishing local arts scene which includes beautiful Okessa Odori dancing, pulsating taiko drumming and traditional Noh drama.

With two nights in Nikko, a town situated within beautiful mountainous country and home of Toshogu shrine and a stay in a hotspring ryokan in the remote Onsen resort of Naruko, a Northern Soul is a chance to get away from it all.

We won't, however, be leaving modern Japan behind completely; in between the rural retreats we will visit Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku region and Niigata, a lively port town on the Japan sea coast.

Sumptuous evening meals are included at most destinations as well as three rides on the world renowned high-speed "Bullet" train. With your Tour Leader always on hand to assist, you are sure to get the most out of this fascinating trip.

Ideal for anyone returning to Japan or for first time visitors who are looking for something different, A Northern Soul is your chance to go beyond the regular tourist haunts and experience some of what lies at the heart of Japan. A 15 day adventure to treasure.

A Northern Soul: Sendai volunteering option

We are happy to announce a two night volunteering option for A Northern Soul participants in collaboration with the non-profit organisation "It's Not Just Mud". Why not get stuck in helping communities affected by the Tohoku tsunami? You'll be working alongside local people in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture either helping with some light physical labour or helping at community events taking place at temporary housing centres and sports centres.

Those that take this option will travel from Nikko to Sendai on Day 5 and spend the afternoon sightseeing with the tour group as planned. Volunteers will then stay in basic accommodation in Ishinomaki for two nights. Volunteers share rooms (single sex), sleeping on futons. Simple but hearty meals are included and cooked together on site. Day 6 will be spent doing volunteer work. On Day 7 volunteers rejoin the tour group for the journey to Hiraizumi.

Inside Japan Tours will make a donation to "It's Not Just Mud" for each volunteer. The donation will be equal to the cost of two nights in the Sendai ryokan.

Pricing Information

2011
Tour Price:	Ł2650
Extra Nights
Pre-Tour:	Twin Share pp Ł50 Single pp Ł60
Post-Tour:	Twin Share pp Ł70 Single pp Ł110

2012
Tour Price:	Ł2650
Extra Nights
Pre-Tour:	Twin Share pp Ł50 Single pp Ł60
Post-Tour:	Twin Share pp Ł70 Single pp Ł110

Important Practical Information

Maximum Group Size: 14

Single Supplement: This tour does NOT have a single supplement. Single travellers are guaranteed a single room in western style accommodation. However, singles may still be asked to share a room in Japanese style accommodation with a group member if the same sex. This is a total of 6 nights (Sendai, Naruko Onsen, Mt. Haguro and Sado).

Transport: Please note that all transfers are by public transport making use of Japan's first-rate transport network. All the hotels and ryokan have been chosen for their location close to the nearest station. However, you will have to carry your bags for short distances and some stations do not have escalators. We highly recommend that to make your stay more enjoyable you pack reasonably light. Large suitcases will be an inconvenience to you. A small case or bag with wheels or a rucksack are most appropriate for this tour. Clothes washing machines are available in Tokyo and Niigata for a small fee.

Accommodation: The hotels in Tokyo, Nikko and Niigata are equipped with full en-suite facilities (attached bath, shower and toilet) as is the Ryokan is Hiraizumi. In Naruko Onsen and Sendai some rooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms and there are large communal baths to use as well. We will try to ensure that all guests have access to private bathing facilities but this is not guaranteed. At the temple lodging on Mt Haguro bathing and toilet facilities are communal only.

International Flights: This tour starts and finishes in Tokyo for arrivals and departures at Tokyo Narita Airport).

Meet and Greet: Please note that the included meet-and-greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available up to 2 days in advance of the tour and if you are staying extra nights pre-tour it is only available if those nights are booked through InsideJapan Tours.

Check-in: Please note that rooms at the Tokyo hotel are only available from 4pm. (You can however securely leave your luggage at the front desk at any time).

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Tokyo

Meals: Dinner The tour begins today in Tokyo, Japan’s electric capital city. You’ll be arriving at Narita Airport and your Tour Leader will be there to meet you and escort you into Tokyo. Many of our customers choose to come in a day or two early to get over jet-lag and get the most out of the tour. Whatever the case, up to two days before the tour starts we will have someone there to meet you. The tour hotel is situated in the Asakusa area, the former downtown and entertainments district of Edo, as Tokyo was formally known. This friendly district still maintains a traditional atmosphere and is home to Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple. Tonight, if everyone arrives in time, we will be indulging in a first night’s dinner of your Tour Leader's choice. Options include of okonomiyaki - a kind of savoury pancake, or at an izakaya, a Japanese style pub. Food is on us so this is a great chance to start getting to know the other members of the group.

Day 2 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast Today will begin with a buffet breakfast at a nearby hotel before we embark on a tour of the city. We’ll cruise down the Sumida River, take a relaxing stroll through Hamarikyu tei-en, a tranquil garden that is just a few minutes walk from the lively Ginza shopping district, and exploring the precincts of Meiji Shrine. Of course, if exploring independently is more your thing then that is no problem at all! Just ask your Tour Leader if you need any recommendations or advice. Tonight dinner isn’t included so we recommend heading out to indulge in some of the myriad of culinary delights available.

Day 3 Nikko

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner After breakfast we will be making the two hour journey by direct train to Nikko. Our pension is located right next to the splendid Toshogu shrine complex and after arrival we’ll drop our bags off before exploring the shrines and temples. Don’t miss the famous “see no evil” monkeys hidden in amongst the bright vermillion shrines. In the evening we’ll be enjoying a sumptuous dinner at our hotel.

Day 4 Nikko

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner After breakfast we’ll have the chance to explore some of the national park around Nikko. We’ll head by bus to the Chuzenji lake area and visit the 97 metre high Kegon-no-taki waterfalls. There are plenty of activities available at the lake - you can take a relaxing boat cruise, go for some great walks and hikes or have a soak at the hot spring area of Yumoto. We will be back at the hotel in good time for dinner - another course of superb French cuisine. Other options in this area include a visit to the pottery centre of Mashiko where you can try your hand at the famous kilns and a visit to the hot springs of Yumoto Onsen just beyond Lake Chuzenji. There is another hot spring resort at Kinugawa where as well as bathing you can take man-oared boat trips and visit the nearby Edomura historical theme park.

Day 5 Sendai

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner From Nikko we’ll take the local train to Utsunomiya from where we’ll pick up the Tohoku Shinkansen (‘Bullet’ Train) bound for the area’s largest city Sendai. Accommodation is at the hillside Tenryukaku ryokan, a traditional Japanese style inn famous for its beautiful location, fine food and radon baths. The ryokan is situated next to the mausoleum for Sendai’s founding father Date Masamune and makes for a good base for visiting the castle ruins and exploring the town itself. A top quality dinner will be served tonight at the ryokan. We also have a volunteering option in Sendai - please see the text to the left and ask us for details.

Day 6 Sendai

Meals: Breakfast Our second day in Sendai will give us the chance to visit the famous island studded bay of Matsushima. Although the characterisations of the various little islands as tortoises, whales and human profiles may be stretching things a little, this is a beautiful area and the boat trip around the bay is well worthwhile. The small town of Matsushima also has a pleasant temple complex to wander around with a fine collection of Japanese art. In the evening you’ll be free to sample some of the local cuisine in Matsushima or Sendai.

Day 7 Hiraizumi

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner Today we’ll travel one hour north by Shinkansen to Hiraizumi. Now a sleepy rural town, the town boasts a long samurai history stretching back through the ages. We’ll be arriving in good time to be able to drop of our bags before a full day of sightseeing, exploring some of the many temples of Chuzonji. Highlights include the wonderful gardens of Motsuji and the 900 year old golden temple of Konjikido. A superb dinner is included at our Japanese-style hotel.

Day 8 Hiraizumi

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner A second day in Hiraizumi will give us a chance to head out to the Geibikei gorge for a boat ride with a difference (we won’t be telling you in advance so as to not spoil the surprise!!) and to do some walking in the beautiful surroundings. Dinner is again served at the hotel.

Day 9 Naruko Onsen

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner Our journey continues on 1 hour and 40 minutes to the hot spring village of Naruko Onsen. Naruko is stunning in Spring with amazing cherry blossoms, and Autumn with the mountainsides a blaze with the oranges, golds, yellows and reds of the turning leaves. You’ll have a chance to walk down Naruko Gorge as well as see Naruko’s geyser. You may also be interested to check out the area’s famous Kokeshi dolls at the local museum or revive your tired feet in the Station’s foot onsen! A sumptuous dinner and breakfast are included at our ryokan. Today we may use Japan’s excellent Takkyubin luggage forwarding service to send our large bags ahead to Niigata. This will save us carrying them to Naruko and then onto Mt. Haguro. Your Tour Leader will be able to help you make the arrangements with the front desk.

Day 10 Naruko Onsen

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner From Naruko Onsen station we’ll take a series of scenic local train lines westwards before taking taxis to Mt. Haguro, one of the three spiritual mountains known as Dewa-sanzen and home to the Yamabushi or mountain priests. Here we will be stayng at a Buddhist temple lodging (shukubo). For those of you with plenty of energy we’ll be climbing the 2446 steps to the summit of the mountain where a well earned cup of hot ‘sake’ will be waiting for you! In the evening a dinner of shoujin ryori, the traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, will be served at our shukubo.

Day 11 Niigata

Meals: Breakfast Today will begin by taking the bus from just outside our shukubo to Tsuruoka Station. It will then be on by express train to Niigata where we will arrive in good time to take a leisurely lunch. Niigata is a modern port city famed for its good food and drink and in the afternoon you’ll have time to take in some of the down town area with its interesting mix of old streets, modern department stores and the attractive Hakusan park.

Day 12 Sado Island

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner This morning will see us board the ferry bound for Sado Island. The crossing takes 2h30 so even for those land-lovers amongst you there shouldn’t be too many problems with sea-sickness! Sado ga Shima (Sado Island) is an incredible place. The sixth biggest of Japan’s islands, Sado was used as the place of harshest exile for opponenets of the ruling dynasties. Dangerous political opponents were banished here to live side by side with subversive artists, playwrights and actors; and thus developed Sado’s uniquely rich culture and heritage. We will be staying in a Japanese style hotel in the port town of Ryotsu with sumptuous evening meals included on both nights. An included bus tour this afternoon will show us some of the island, including the stunning Skyline Road.

Day 13 Sado Island

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner Today we will have a full day to explore this fascinating island by private minivan. Sado is home to the famous Koto drummers and we will begin today with a Taiko lesson at the Taiko Centre. We can then have a ride on a Taraifune boat rowed by a real Sado maiden! Next is a Bunya puppetry performance - a highlight of any visit to Sado! The day will end with a visit to a Sake Brewery, and perhaps a few tastings! Dinner will again be served at the hotel - the final included evening meal on what is a true gourmet tour!

Day 14 Tokyo

Meals: Breakfast We’ll be taking an early ferry across to the mainland before picking up the Shinkansen train to Tokyo. Total journey time will be around 6 hours giving you time in the late afternoon to perhaps go gift shopping or to check out some sights you missed first time round, such as the amazing view of the city to be had from the 45th floor of the nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. We’ll be staying in the heart of the bright lights of Shinjuku, a complete contrast from the Asakusa district where we began our adventures two weeks ago! We hope that you might join with your Tour Leader for a farewell meal in the evening. A chance for one last night of good food before heading home.

Day 15 Depart

Meals: Breakfast Sadly the tour is over and we all have to say our farewells and go our separate ways. Your Tour Leader will be providing you with a reserved seat ticket for the Narita Express and will make sure you’re in good time for your flight home.

A Northern Soul