Japan Six Months On

1st September 2011

Japan six months on: Great savings in September and beyond

The catastrophic events that struck Japan 11th March 2011 occurred just as the cherry blossom trees began to awaken.

Usually a peak time for tourism, approximately 45% of InsideJapan Tours’ clients planning to travel between March and June cancelled their trips. The remainder departed for Japan as planned - InsideJapan Tours was always confident that clients’ safety and enjoyment would not be compromised travelling through the majority of Japan - or rebooked for a later date.

In June, bookings were at around 60% of those in the same month in 2010, in July this rose to 70% and August has even seen sales of small group tours rise above that of the same month last year. Summer deals helped to generate bookings and many of the larger hotels continue to keep prices low into the autumn.

The ‘East to West’ self-guided adventure is a new inspiring itinerary for the mild autumn and cool winter months. This eleven-night trip incorporates the megalopolis of Tokyo, ancient Kyoto, rural Takayama in the Alps, with its sake breweries and thatched-roofed farmhouses, and cosmopolitan Nagoya; all are neatly connected by Shinkansen bullet train and combined with stays in four and five-star accommodation. Save Ł500pp and pay Ł1,695 pp (based on two sharing) for eleven nights’ accommodation with breakfast and all domestic transport including airport transfers. The deal is valid for departures between now and 24 December 2011.

Adding to the attraction of travelling to Japan this autumn are the excellent direct flight prices offered by Virgin and British Airways. Book a small group tour starting in Japan from now to the end of November and InsideJapan Tours will secure flights for Ł650 return including taxes.

The 13 night ‘Japan Unmasked’ small group tour travels from Tokyo, through towering mountain peaks, staying at Buddhist temple lodgings in the Alps, to Hiroshima followed by the canal town of Kurashiki, the cultural treasure chest of Kyoto and finishing in the bay city of Yokohama. Book a 25 September or 13 November departure and catch the changing palette of autumn colours across Japan. Including all accommodation, daily breakfast, transport between destinations, some luggage forwarding and the full time services of InsideJapan tour leaders, this is a great value tour at Ł1600pp.

Enjoy dramatic autumnal aesthetics: In mid-September, ‘Koyo’ (autumn leaf viewing) begins and will last through to early December. Observe fiery hues in the landscaped gardens of Tokyo, maple-covered mountains ablaze with colour in Kyoto’s Arashiyama and glorious autumnal tints in Takayama’s forests. This year, Japan’s autumnal beauty will be enhanced by the lack of ‘koyo’ crowds. Encounter relatively low numbers of tourists for a more enriching experience and grab the opportunity for undisturbed cultural immersion.