Onsen hot spring baths are quintessentially Japanese. Part of a culture and tradition stretching back more than a thousand years, they remain hugely popular today. We have selected here some of the very best of these hot springs combined with stays in Japan’s must-see cities of Tokyo and Kyoto.
From the whirlwind activity of Tokyo, the train will ease you into the heart of the Japan Alps. First stop, the mountain town of Kusatsu; consistently voted Japan's favourite hot spring spa and a fantastic place to relax in therapeutic waters and explore the trails of Mt. Shirane. Steam from the volcanic water fills the air of the town centre like a fine mist and visitors flock here to feel rejuvenated by bathing in the healing waters.
Like Kusatsu, Arima Onsen, near the attractive port city of Kobe, features in the travelling poet Matsuo Basho's three favourite hot springs. Set beautifully in the valley of Mt. Rokko and with a history of over one thousand years, who are we to disagree?
Utsukushigahara Onsen is the base for your one night stay in Matsumoto, the famous castle town, before you head to Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital. A treasure trove of World Heritage temples, shrines and gardens, Kyoto is also a great base for day trips to Nara and Himeji Castle as well as the gorgeous Kurama Onsen located on the rural outskirts of the city.
Kinosaki Onsen, north of Kyoto, features old wooden buildings along a willow tree lined river and is the perfect place to hop from bath house to bath house in your geta (wooden shoes) and yukata (bath robe) - provided by your inn of course!
Before returning to Tokyo, you will also stop off in Hakone, the national park area near Mt. Fuji which is rich in onsen, and, in fine weather, enjoys views of Japan's iconic mountain.
By the time the shinkansen 'Bullet Train' sweeps you back toward the capital, your Japan will be one of mountains and valleys, of hidden temples and gardens and of course, the silk like geothermal waters of Japan's
onsen spas - an adventure of a lifetime to be savoured at every turn.
Prices:
2010
Standard:
Twin: £2628 Single: £3352
Upgrade:
Twin: £3952 Single: £5520
Click for full details of pricing including extra nights
What's Included:
- 15 nights accommodation (8 nights Japanese-style)
- Breakfast each morning
- 8 evening meals
- Meet and Greet upon arrival at Tokyo Narita Airport
- All transport between destinations including airport transfers
- Excursion day from Kyoto (using included Japan Rail Pass)
- Hakone Freepass for use in Hakone National Park
- Tokyo transport card with 2500 yen of credit
- 8 hours private guide service in Tokyo & Kyoto
- InsideJapan Tours Info-Pack
- International Flights
- Additional local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination
- 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
Supplements
No seasonal supplement applies
No seasonal supplement applies
Black Out Dates
Please note that during certain Japanese holiday periods, the prices
detailed in this brochure are NOT valid for packages if any of the
nights' accommodation fall within the following dates:
29th December to 4th January New Year
29th April to 5th May Golden Week
9th August to 17th August Obon Festival
Included evening meals are in Kusatsu (2), Matsumoto (1), Kinosaki (1), Kobe (2) and Hakone (2).
BACK TO TOP
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
Meals: None
Welcome to Japan! You will be met at the arrival to customs by one of our local representatives who will help you buy your tickets and answer any questions you may have. The express train will then whisk you straight to the historical district of Asakusa where you will be beginning your stay in Japan. Your hotel is just a short taxi ride away, situated in the heart of this cultural area, with the multitude of lively market stalls, food vendors and the magnificent Senso-Ji Temple just a walk away. In the evening, why not head to Asakusa Jyakotsuyu bath house with heated dark-tea coloured baths; a real local hang-out where you can get straight into the feel of your holiday!
Day 2 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
Today you will have a full day of touring with an expert local guide. The itinerary is free for you to decide, so you can discover those areas which have always fascinated you, or just relax and follow along as your guide takes you around the many fantastic sights and spectacles of this amazing city. You will be travelling on the remarkably clean and reliable public transport; travelling as the Tokyoites themselves do, allowing you to really get a feel for the workings of this exhilarating metropolis. You also have the chance to ask all those questions you wanted to know the answers to about Japan, so get questioning!
Day 3 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
A further full day today in Tokyo, where there are endless activities to fill your time. If you’re an early bird; rise before dawn to head over to the Tsukiji Fish Market, where you can watch the hoards of frozen tuna being frantically auctioned for thousands of pounds. You may like to head to the business and shopping district of Shibuya, where you can cross over the famous intersection with the mass of Tokyoites. Or if you fancy something a little more serene, take an amble through the Yoyogi Park neighbourhood, ending up at the wonderfully tranquil Meiji Shrine. For those who like some nightlife before relaxing in the tub, there are numerous areas that you can party in till dawn.
Day 4 Kusatsu
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Leaving the skyscrapers of Tokyo behind, you will head up in to the Japanese Alps today, deep into the rural Japanese countryside. Kusatsu is consistently voted Japan’s favourite hot spring spa, where the high quality spring water is said to cure every illness except lovesickness. You’ll be staying in traditional Ryokan accommodation in the centre of town – surrounded by the volcanic steam which fills the air, and shadowed by the slopes of Mt. Shirane, 1200 metres above sea level. Known as an Onsen resort for many centuries, this is a fantastic place to relax in therapeutic waters and explore the trails of the mountainous environment.
Day 5 Kusatsu
Meals: Breakfast
You can remain relaxing in the numerous hot spring resorts around town today, or, depending on the season, there are plenty of hiking trails or skiing runs to be explored in this area. The view of the sulphurous baby blue Yugama Crater Lake is nestled within the volcanic peaks of Mount Shirane, as are a number of hiking trails offering varying terrain and spectacular views. In the evening, head down to the centre of town in your Yukata, to the Yubatake or ‘hot water field’ where you can see the 70° C water bubbling up to the surface at an output of 5000 litres per minute – Japan’s single most productive hot spring source.
Day 6 Matsumoto
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Heading to the famous castle town of Matsumoto today, you’ll travel further through the mountains, ending up in the well known area of Utsukushigahara Onsen; where on a clear day, even Mt. Fuji can be viewed from this ‘Beautiful Plateau’. Matsumoto’s famous black and white castle is one of the best known in Japan, and still retains much of its heritage from a bygone era. Originally built in 1504, the moat and stone walls still remain of the castle also known as Karasu-jo or ‘Crow Castle’, due to its rugged black exterior walls. You’ll be having a superb Japanese feast back at your ryokan this evening, so be sure to make it back in time!
Day 7 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
From the heights of the Alps to the lowlands of Kansai; you’ll be transported back to the city by express train and shinkansen for the next three nights. The ancient capital of Japan is a treasure trove of World Heritage temples, shrines and gardens, making it an incredible place to explore, as well as the perfect base for trips further afield. From the glistening temple of the golden Kinkakuji temple to the atmospheric back streets of Gion, Kyoto is an essential stop for any trip to Japan. You’ll be staying at a comfortable business hotel in a great location, perfect for sightseeing. It also boasts a top-floor bathhouse where you can unwind in the tub, overlooking fantastic views of the city skyline!
Day 8 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Today you once again have the services of one of our excellent local guides, who will show you the highlights and hidden sights of what this captivating city has to offer. The itinerary is once again at your disposal, so feel free to use your guide to discover those areas which have always fascinated you, or just sit back and allow them to exhibit their wealth of experience. There are almost limitless attractions in Japan’s capital of history and culture, with ancient temples hidden around every corner and glimpses of Geisha tottering gracefully between appointments.
Day 9 Kyoto
Meals: Breakfast
Your third day in Kyoto is a chance to catch up on what you’ve not yet seen, or venture out of the city to the surrounding mountains and cities. Nara, the eastern most point of the Silk Road, boasts diverse cultural influences from the Buddhist ideals of India to the religions of Iran. Much of its heritage remains untouched by the ravages of the past, making it the perfect place to view ancient Japanese history. Alternatively you can speed down the western seaboard to the contrastingly modern and rejuvenated city of Hiroshima, a poignant symbol of the devastation of war.
Day 10 Kinosaki Onsen
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
This small attractive onsen town will allow you to experience true Japan without the crowds and tourists you may find elsewhere. Located north of Kyoto on the coast of the Sea of Japan, Kinosaki Onsen features old wooden buildings along a willow tree lined river and is the perfect place to hop from bath house to bath house, making the most of the rejuvenating powers of the water. In the evening, join the locals by strolling around in your geta (wooden shoes) and yukata (bath robe) visiting the main seven baths. You can enjoy the finest and freshest Japanese seafood dinner at your ryokan this evening.
Day 11 Arima Onsen
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Set in the valley of Mt. Rokko, and featuring in the travelling poet Matsuo Basho’s three favourite hot springs, Arima Onsen is a hot spring town with a history of over one thousand years. One can still find several old buildings and temples within the narrow streets of this town, first founded by mountain mystics who were searching for medicinal herbs. Historical accounts relate that Japan's earliest emperors came to steam their earthly cares away in Arima's medicinal waters, and even the great warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a man known for his iron will, was turned to jelly in the steaming stone cauldrons.
Day 12 Arima Onsen
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Today you can simply relax and easily wander around this long established onsen town. The spa contains a variety of hot springs including salt-rich spring with a salt content as high as twice that of seawater, carbonated spring with the flavour of soda-pop and radium spring. Arima is built on the gentle north slope of Mount Rokko-san and the town is a friendly maze of tiny streets and laneways, partly traditional and partly modern. The hills surrounding it are lush, and the mountain breezes cool the area in summer.
Day 13 Hakone
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
From one Onsen resort to a very different one today; you’ll be heading to Hakone National Park, famed throughout Japan for its bubbling volcanic waters and striking views of the sacred Mt. Fuji. You’ll be staying in one of the oldest spa ryokans in Hakone for the next couple of nights, a pioneer of the region, opened in 1630. This will be a quintessential Japanese ryokan experience, with excellent food and wonderful natural hot spring baths to be used privately if you wish.
Day 14 Hakone
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
With all local transport included, you have the chance to discover the volcanically active Fuji-Hakone park centred around Lake Ashi today, with its mountain buses, cable cars, funiculars and ‘pirate ship’ cruise. The spectacular scenery, Great Boiling Valley and picturesque Jinja Shrine make this an ideal location to enjoy the natural great outdoors of Japan. When skies are clear, the dominating and unfailingly astounding Fuji-san towers over the surrounding foothills, reminding you exactly where you are!
Day 15 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
From the luscious mountains of Hakone to the distinctive jungle of Shinjuku; today you will take the ‘Romance Car’ limited express train right into the nucleus of the action. This is where it all happens in Tokyo, from the business district of Shibuya with its famous crossing to the young fashions of Harajuku. Your hotel will be ideally located close to the towering skyscraper district and only 5 mins away from the vibrant vicinity of East Shinjuku. This will be a distinctly divergent contrast, without doubt finishing off your trip in style!
Day 16 Depart
Meals: None
Unfortunately it is time to head back to the real world and board your plane home. You will take the Narita Express directly from Shinjuku station to Narita Airport ready for your flight.
Photos
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Pricing Information
| 2010 | |||
| Standard Price: | £2628 (Single Price: £3352) | ||
| Upgrade Price: | £3952 (Single Price: £5520) | ||
Extra Nights: |
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Standard Grade |
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| Start: Twin Share pp £65
Single pp £65
End: Twin Share pp £65 Single pp £80 |
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Superior Grade |
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| Start: Twin Share pp £90
Single pp £110
End: Twin Share pp £115 Single pp £175 |
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Accommodation
Asakusa Sunroute Hotel
Tokyo
Business Hotel
The Asakusa Sunroute hotel is a good quality business hotel in a fantastic location in Tokyo's oldest and most historic district. The hotel is located directly above Tawaramachi subway station on the Ginza Line and is just 5 minutes walk from Kaminarimon (Thunder gate) with its iconic huge red lantern. Rooms are Western-style and have en-suite facilities. A diner style restaurant is located on the 2nd floor.
Ryokan Matsumuraya
Kusatsu
Ryokan (JP)
The Matsumuraya is a traditional ryokan with just 12 rooms and some lovely hot spring baths to relax in. This ryokan is located just a few minute's walk from the "Yubatake" hot-spring fields in the centre of town.
New Kotobuki
Matsumoto
Ryokan (JP)
The New Kotobuki is situated in the famous Onsen resort of Utsukushigahara just outside this castle town. All rooms are ensuite Japanese style and have views of the mountains. There are some lovely hot spring baths here for public use; one outdoor'rotenburo' onsen bath and one large indoor Onsen bath. Please ask the staff at the front desk for the opening times.
Aranvert Hotel
Kyoto
Moderate Hotel
The Aranvert Hotel is a comfortable city hotel in a great location in the centre of Kyoto. From the hotel you are within easy walking distance of Shijo, the main artery that runs east to west through the city. The rooms are nicely decorated and very comfortable and the hotel boasts a top-floor bathhouse so you can have a long soak in the large baths whilst surveying the night view of the city. The staff speak good English.
Mikuniya Ryokan
Kinosaki Onsen
Ryokan (JP)
A charming and traditional Ryokan built in the late 19th Century in the "Japanese, Modern Folk" style of the day and faithfully renovated in 1994. The ryokan's motto is simple, "Receive with a warm heart." There are seven guest rooms in the main building and five guest rooms in an adjoining, smaller annex. Bathing facilities include three onsen-hot spas, one (called Yume) can be booked for personal, private use. All are fed directly from Kinosaki's natural geothermally heated water. Of course, no stay would be complete without food, and at Mikuniya you will be served with nothing but the finest and freshest Japanese food; most of which you can find at Mikuniya's London, Mayfair KIKU restaurant. Mikuniya has English speaking owners and staff. The rooms have attached toilet. For bathing you can use the hot spring baths (one available for private use).
Negiya Ryofukaku
Arima Onsen
Ryokan (JP)
The Negiya Ryofukaku is a Japanese style hotel located a short walk from Arima Onsen station. The Ryofukaku has a great range of hot spring baths including lovely outdoor baths.
Ichinoyu Honkan
Hakone
Ryokan (JP)
This is an inn with a rich history dating back to 1630 when the inn opened as a pioneer in the hot spring industry of Hakone. The Honkan (literally 'main building') featured in the famous series of Ukiyoe prints of the region produced by Ando Hiroshige and has been welcoming guests for the best part of the past 400 years. The Ichinoyu holds true to the traditional values of service for which Japan is famed. Being a famous onsen area the Ichinoyu has large communal baths for you to enjoy, some of which can be used privately.
Kadoya Hotel
Tokyo
Business Hotel
The Kadoya is a quality business hotel located just 3 minutes walk from the west exit of Shinjuku station in the skyscraper district, but just 7 minutes walk from the entertainment area of Shinjuku. Rooms are tastefully decorated in a modern style and all rooms have flat screen TVs with free cable channels available including BBC World.
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