We'll start and finish in Tokyo giving you three nights to try and get to grips with this modern metropolis, a city of pulsating energy. In between you'll have the chance to experience the many different sides that combine to make Japan such a unique and fascinating country.
From the hi-tech speed and efficiency of the bullet train which will whisk you down to Osaka, to the serenity of Kyoto's Zen gardens; from the tops of sky-scrapers to the summit of Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest and most sacred mountain; from the glowing neon nights of futuristic cities to the wondrous star filled skies above the Kamikochi national park.
Several nights in traditional inns (ryokan) in Kyoto, Takayama and Hakone complete this never to be forgotten adventure in the land of the rising sun. As one of our most popular tours the Essential Honshu always sells out quickly so please book as early as possible to avoid missing out. Essential Honshu 2010 is sure to be every bit as good as 2009!
FESTIVAL ALERT!
On our 8th May 2010 departure you can experience the Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) in Kyoto which takes place on May 15th. Some 500 people wearing splendid ancient costumes and traditional make-up parade through the main streets of Kyoto. It's quite a sight and there is a great atmosphere in town! This same tour also sees the Mifune Festival on May 16th - the scenes of an ancient boat party are recreated on the river in Kyoto's scenic Arashiyama area.
On our 7th August 2010 departure you can see the Chugen Mantoro (Mid-year Lantern Festival) at the famous Kusaga Taisha Shrine in Nara as a day trip from Kyoto. Over 3,000 lanterns in the shrine are lit up three days a year, namely on February 3rd and August 14th-15th, between 18:30 and 21:00. This is an event which has continued for 800 years and most of the lanterns have been donated by ordinary citizens with the exception of a handful which had been dedicated by samurai warriors in the Warring States Period.
E-mail to a Friend2010
Sat 8 May - FEW PLACES
Tue 20 Jul - NOW BOOKING
Sat 7 Aug - SOLD OUT
Sun 17 Oct - NOW BOOKING
Prices:
2010: £1950
Prices are excluding international flights. Please click for full pricing information for this tour.
- 14 nights accommodation
- All transport between destinations in Japan including airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Meet and Greet on arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport
- Breakfast everyday
- 7 evening meals including Kamikochi BBQ
- Tokyo Transport Pass
- Hakone Transport Pass
- Sumida River boat cruise in Tokyo
- Geisha district walking tour in Kyoto
- Luggage forwarding between Kamakura & Osaka and Takayama & Kyoto
- Full time services of your Tour Leader
- InsideJapan Tours' complimentary Info-Pack
- International Flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination except that covered by transport passes in Tokyo and Hakone
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
- Baggage handling - you will be expected to carry your own bags for the duration of the trip
IMPORTANT ACCOMMODATION INFO:
Single Supplement: We do NOT charge a single supplement. In some accommodation single travellers will have a single room. However, singles will be asked to share a room with a group member of the same sex at 7 night stops: Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto and Takayama.
We are not able to provide single rooms in Kamikochi as we will be staying in log cabins where this is not an option. Accommodation is shared.
Bathing:
The hotels in Tokyo, Kamakura and Osaka and the ryokan in Kyoto are equipped with full en-suite facilities (attached bath, shower and toilet). The traditional Japanese Inn in Hakone has private-use shared facilities. The traditional inn in Takayama has communal baths available 24 hours a day (single sex) and NO private facilities.
Customers should note that in Kamikochi the only private washing facilities are pay showers. Bathing is at the communal bath house (Men and women are separate) or at the Kamikochi Onsen (hot-spring) Hotel. You will need your own towel in Kamikochi. The log cabins at Kamikochi have attached toilets and cold water sinks.
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, Hakone and Osaka for a small fee.
International Flights: This tour starts and finishes in Tokyo for arrivals and departures at Tokyo Narita Airport.
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).
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
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 still have someone there to meet you. The 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, we will be indulging in a first night's dinner of your Tour Leader's choice. Options include Okinomiyaki - a kind of savoury pancake, or at an Izakaya - a Japanese style pub. Food is on us so this a great chance to start getting to know the other members of the group.
Day 2 Tokyo
Today we embark on a full day 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. From there we head to the trendy Harajuku district to check out all the latest crazy fashions, before exploring the precincts of Meiji Shrine. If you prefer to explore independently please ask your Tour Leader for suggestions.
Day 3 Kamakura
Today we’ll be making an early start... about 4.30am in actual fact if you’d like to join us at the city’s morning fish market! This is a great experience and a chance to eat some of Japan’s best sushi on us! After returning to the hotel we will be departing for Kamakura. The journey takes about 1h45 from door to door. You’ll be able to drop off your bags before heading off to look around some of Kamakura’s many beautiful temples and shrines. The town is small enough to see all the major sights on foot and there are some really nice walking routes you might like to take. Be sure not to miss the big Buddha at Kotokuin temple. In the evening you will be treated to an exquisite ‘kaiseki’ meal at a local restaurant. The chef will specially prepare a full course meal containing no meat or fish for the vegetarians in the group.
Day 4 Hakone
After enjoying a Japanese style breakfast at our hotel we will move on to Hakone. Total journey time is around 2h30. The tour includes a Hakone free-pass which allows you unlimited travel on all of the many forms of transport in the Hakone region; buses, rail, funicular railway, cable car, rope-way, and even the sightseeing ’pirate’ boat which crosses Lake Ashino. We’ll be staying at the traditional style Fuji-Hakone Guest House which boasts a very nice outside hot spring ‘rotemburo’ bath where you can relax after a hard day sightseeing and look up at the stars! For those of you joining us in July or August there is the option of a Mt. Fuji climb, a real once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be warned though, you’ll need to be fit!
Day 5 Hakone
More time to explore Hakone (or rest up if you viewed this morning's sunrise from the top of Fuji-san!). You may like to take a short hike along what remains of the old Tokaido highway which used to be the major road linking Edo (modern day Tokyo) with Kyoto and Osaka. The open air sculpture museum features pieces by many world renowned artists all set against a stunning mountain backdrop. There are also all kinds of museums to visit and this is a great chance to pick up one of Hakone’s famous “trick boxes” as a unique souvenir.
Day 6 Osaka
After breakfast we’ll be moving on to Osaka, taking a three hour ride on the world famous ‘Bullet’ Train. Osaka is the concrete beating heart of the Kansai region and home to some of the best food, drink and entertainment in all of Japan. Your hotel is right in the heart of the city, in the Umeda district, about a 10 minute walk from Osaka station. Tonight, dinner is included at a local restaurant.
Day 7 Osaka
Today you have the option of taking an excursion to Nara where you will find the huge Big Buddha at Todaiji Temple, or to Himeji, famous for the stunning original castle. Alternatively, you may like to remain in Osaka to explore this exciting city. There is fantastic shopping, one of the world’s best aquariums, an Olympic sized swimming pool, and an enormous proliferation of video game arcades and karaoke parlours. The evening will be spent back in Osaka for some great food and great nightlife.
Day 8 Kyoto
We’ll head off to Kyoto reasonably early this morning so as to allow a full day of sightseeing in this historic city. Kyoto is a great city in which to sightsee on foot and has hundreds of things to see. There are several walking tour routes all of which have many different places of interest along the way and your Tour Leader will be on hand to make sure you get to see the things you want to. This afternoon we will be taking a tour of Gion and the Geisha districts with a local Geisha expert, giving you a truly unique insight into this hidden world. We will then go for dinner at a restaurant in Gion so we can enjoy some delicious food and a carafe or two of sake.
Day 9 Kyoto
A free day to further explore this amazing city. Your Tour Leader may lead an excursion out of town to Kameoka from where you can take a white water ride back down the river to Arashiyama, one of the most charming districts of the city. Don’t be concerned though, it’s not really a hair-raising ride! From here the famous temples of Ryoanji with its timeless zen rock garden and Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, are within easy reach. Dinner is not included tonight so this is a good chance to head out for some culinary adventures.
Day 10 Takayama
Today it’s on by ‘Bullet’ and express trains to Takayama. We’ll be arriving early afternoon and after leaving our bags at our minshuku lodgings, we'll have a chance to start exploring this intriguing mountain town. Dinner will tonight be served at the minshuku so we’ll be sure to have some delicious home cooked fare to enjoy.
Day 11 Takayama
Takayama is packed with things to see and do. In the morning your Leader will be visiting the Hida-Takayama folk village. This fantastic outdoor museum is made up of a collection of old traditional style houses from all around the ‘Hida’ region. This is a rare chance to catch a glimpse of what rural life was like for ordinary Japanese before industrial advancement was undertaken by the new Meiji regime in 1868. In the afternoon you might like to check out some of the museums in the area or perhaps take a stroll round the beautiful shrines and temples. Sake tasting at a brewery is also a popular option! Dinner will again be served at the minshuku this evening. More top tucker!
Day 12 Kamikochi
After breakfast we will take the bus up into the mountains and onto the Kamikochi National Park. The plateau is nearly 1500m above sea level and even in summer it can be quite cool. If you are coming in September remember to bring warm clothing for night time as temperatures can fall below freezing. The park is one of the most beautiful places in Japan with each season providing a different experience. Tonight we shall barbecue over a real fire! Any fire starting assistance will no doubt be gratefully received by your Tour Leader. Customers should note that the main washing facilities at Kamikochi are at the communal bath house (or ‘onsen’). Men and women are separate. Private showers are available at the visitor centre.
Day 13 Kamikochi
This is a great chance for you to relax or perhaps do some walking or hiking. There are a variety of trails to walk and if you are lucky you might get to laugh at the antics of the park’s many resident wild monkeys! There is also an onsen where you can take a natural hot spring bath.
Day 14 Tokyo
We’ll be taking an early bus down to Matsumoto, from where we will transfer by express train back to Tokyo. The journey is absolutely stunning as the road twists and turns down the valley through a series of seemingly never-ending tunnels. Once we reach Matsumoto we will have time to stop off for a couple of hours to visit the famous castle before grabbing some lunch and heading back to the station to catch the train to Tokyo. We will arrive late afternoon into Shinjuku Station - seemingly a world away from the peace and tranquillity of Kamikochi. This is the final day of the tour so 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 and drink before heading home.
Day 15 Depart
Sadly the tour is over and we all have to say our farewells and go our separate ways. Your transfer ticket back to Narita Airport is included and your Leader will supply you with a reserved seat ticket to make sure you’re in good time for your flight home.
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Photos
Kappabashi bridge in Kamikochi
Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi, Hakone
Kamikochi
Street food - Osaka style!
Takayama farm houses
At the top of Mt Fuji
Pricing Information
| 2010 | |
| Tour Price: | £1950 |
| Extra Nights | |
| Pre-Tour: | Twin Share pp £50 Single pp £60 |
| Post-Tour: | Twin Share pp £87 Single pp £105 |
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What our customers say
We always ask our customers to let us know how they enjoyed their Japan tour and to share their thoughts with us on the service we provide. Below you will find a few comments kindly emailed to us from our Essential Honshu tour.
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