Japan Discovered

13 Nights/14 Days Small Group Tour

Early Bird Offer: €4,185 / £3,800 / US$4,750 / AU$6,850 (Per Person)
Single Room Throughout: €5,185 / £4,700 / US$5,900 / AU$8,450

“A contrast of traditional and modern Japan, unforgettable experiences and visits to some of Japan’s must-see UNESCO World Heritage Sites”.

If your dream is to see Japan’s highlights while experiencing some of its culture and popular destinations, then Japan Discovered two-week tour is the perfect choice for you. Glittering cities, rural towns & villages, history & heritage, gardens & wildlife, local festivals, cultural experiences, and a taste of real local foods; just some of the best bits on this trip!

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Itinerary

Japan Discovered - Video Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Tokyo

Arrive in one of Tokyo’s International Airports (Haneda or Narita) where you will be transferred to your Tokyo hotel. You will have free time in Tokyo until tour orientation in the evening where you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group. Meeting time is usually 6pm. Enjoy a welcome dinner at local izakaya (Japanese style casual restaurant).

Day 2: Tokyo Sightseeing

After breakfast, your group will meet in the hotel lobby for a full day of sightseeing in Tokyo with one of our local guides, including:

Tsukuji Fish Market & Outer Shopping Streets
Hamarikyu Garden
Lunch in local restaurant (pay locally)
Asakusa Sensouji Temple & Shopping Street
Ueno Area including Tokyo National Museum

Day 3: Nagano: Hot springs, castles & countryside

After breakfast, you will transfer to Matsumoto for a visit to one of Japan’s finest Samurai castles. Then we’ll stop for lunch before making our way to a small onsen village near Yudanaka Onsen. Tonight will be your first introduction to a traditional and typical Japanese style hotel known as a ryokan. Kaiseki Dinner & Onsen (hot springs) are a real treat tonight!

Day 4: Snow Monkey Park & Takayama

After a Japanese style breakfast at your ryokan, we take a short ride to the start of where the snow monkeys live at Jigokudani. Here you can enjoy the wild monkeys’ antics in the natural hot spring bath out in the open. A one kilometre mountain walk is essential here so if you have problems walking, inform us in advance.

After lunch, we will continue our journey on to Takayama. The route we take is sure to take your breath away. River valleys and majestic mountains are at either side, giving you the chance to see the real rural Japan, often difficult to find when traveling along any shinkansen tracks!

Day 5 : Takayama

Your local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast. Together, you will explore Takayama on foot, visiting:

Takayama Morning Market
Kusakabe Folk Park
Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Float Hall)
Takayama Jinya (preserved Government town hall)

You will have free time in the afternoon to walk through the streets by yourself, sampling the street food and visiting local artisans’ shops. During festival tours (April & October) this itinerary will be subject to our guide’s recommendations. The night-lights and entertainment during festival season brings great excitement to the tour. Highly recommended.

Day 6: Gokayama & Kanazawa

After breakfast, we will head north into Toyama prefecture stopping in Gokayama, recently awarded UNESCO world heritage status. Today will be filled with cultural experiences, unique to both Japan and this area:

Washi paper making (take home your work of art)
Soba noodle making followed by lunch (you better concentrate and do your best as you will be sampling your own creations)!!
Wander through the 400 year-old gassho-zukuri farmhouse villages of Suganuma

After lunch, we will drive further north, up to Kanazawa.

Day 7: Kyoto

In the morning, after breakfast, you will have time to visit Kenrokuen Garden before boarding the express train down to Kyoto in the afternoon. A special audience with a Kyoto Geisha is arranged in the evening.

Day 8: Kyoto

Our local Kyoto guide will meet you all after breakfast and show you Kyoto’s top places to see. Depending on the season will depend on where we visit. Typically, our discovery day in Kyoto includes:

Nijo Castle
Kinkakuji Golden Pavillion
Lunch at local restaurant (pay locally)
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Grove
Fushimi-Inari Shrine

Day 9: Kyoto Free Day

Today will be a well deserved day off in Kyoto. Your tour leader will be able to assist you if you would like to go anywhere specific. We will also provide itinerary and access maps for suggested day trips. If you are very tired you can take it easy today!

Day 10: Hiroshima & Miyajima Island

This morning we start a little earlier, at 7.30am, in order to catch the most suitable shinkansen train to our next stop, Hiroshima! Just a swift two-hour journey on the speedy shinkansen: once you find your seat, we promise you can sleep again. These trains offer first class comforts unlike any train you may have been on in the western world.

In Hiroshima, follow your guide and listen to the story of how this humble city has rebuilt itself after the devastating A-Bomb blast of WWII. Emotions and perspectives may well move here, but we guarantee you will listen with pure interest and curiosity. Or you’re free to take the morning to yourself in this friendly and lively city.

We will continue on to Miyajima Island after lunch, another UNESCO World Heritage spot! Here, we will visit the impressive Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float so peacefully on the water along with the giant Torii Gates. Free time for shopping is included here, with overnight stay in a traditional ryokan with kaiseki dinner & onsen (hot springs) another treat for the day!

Day 11: Hakone

Our final rural retreat will be in Hakone, found right in the heart of the Fuji National Park. After a relaxed and comfortable journey along the Tokaido Shinkansen line, we should arrive to Hakone before dinnertime. Enjoy your final traditional ryokan dinner and full use of the hot spring baths.

Day 12: Tokyo

After breakfast, you will explore Hakone with your tour leader. A refreshing cruise on Lake Ashi followed by a ride across the mountains on a scenic cable car will with any luck afford us that perfect view of that majestic giant, Mt Fuji. We then head back to the capital Tokyo where you will have a free evening with plenty of options on your doorstep.

Day 13: Tokyo Free Day

Your final full day in Tokyo can be spent in many ways; revisiting some of the sights, exploring new places taking, some last minute shopping or a day trip to Kamakura or Yokohama etc. Your travel consultant or tour leader will be more than happy to oblige in helping you make your plan.

No matter what you do for the day, a farewell dinner will be arranged by your tour leader with the option to continue the night out at a local karaoke bar & Japan-style pub!

May & September tours will include tickets to see a live Sumo Tournament!!

Day 14: Tour Ends

Japan Discovered comes to an end after breakfast today and you will be provided with an airport transfer service from your hotel. If you would like to stay longer in Tokyo, discuss some post-tour options with your travel consultant.

Tokyo (Two Nights)

Shibuya Tokyu Excel Hotel (or similar)

Yudanaka Onsen (1 night)

Kanbayashi Senjukaku (or similar / Japanese Style)

Takayama (2 nights)

Takayama Green Hotel (or similar)

Kanazawa (1 night)

Kanazawa Nikko Hotel (or similar)

Kyoto (3 nights)

Kyoto Okura Hotel (or similar)

Miyajima Island (1 Night)

Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto (or similar / Japanese Style)

Hakone (1 night)

Setsugetsukan (or similar / Japanese style)

Tokyo (2 nights)

Shibuya Tokyu Excel Hotel (or similar)

Tour Testimonial

Unique Japan Tours

Average rating:

3 reviews

Jun 25, 2019

by Cheryl & Dennis on Unique Japan Tours

Our May Japan Discovered holiday was absolutely fantastic

Our May Japan discovered holiday was absolutely fantastic. The accommodation, the variety of transport and activities and our amazing guide Sakura were outstandingly. Sakura was always there for us in a very friendly way and she helped us all to understand the customs and the people of Japan. Whats not to like about an onsen - getting naked and soaking in a beautiful hot spring with strangers. All good fun.

I would (and am) recommending Unique Japan tours to everyone who is thinking of a trip to Japan. The itinerary was excellent with the right amount of free time and interesting tours especially the soba noodle making and washi paper making. Lots of laughs.

We thank you for making our holiday so memorable.

Cheryl & Dennis

June 2019

Oct 11, 2017

by Sandra on Unique Japan Tours

Amazing

I cannot praise the Unique Japan Tours organisation skills enough! The itinerary is very detailed and your time in Japan is maximised to its full potential. They organise our transport, hotels, tickets etc. they even include Japanese messages for hotel staff when forwarding your luggage to different hotels (all hotel staff speak English, but it’s nice to have it confirmed in Japanese).
* The hotels are all 4 or 5 star with good breakfast arrangements and friendly staff. The ryokans are a unique experience and expect a 10 course dinner and breakfast (try the Japanese style breakfast), while wearing a yukata.
* The guides know their areas well and show you hidden gems such as restaurants and shops that are unique to the area you are in. I cannot praise the guides enough for their help and kindness. Especially Megumi who made a few phone calls or reservations for us.
It was an amazing holiday and experience and we are looking forward to our next trip with Unique Japan Tours! Thanks again!

Jul 12, 2017

by Roger and Swee Lewis on Unique Japan Tours

We had a great time and saw and did the things we wanted

I would just like to thank you for your efforts in organising our recent tour of Japan. We had a great time and saw and did the things we wanted. I would also like to pass on our satisfaction with all the local guides and especially Emiko. She did a little bit extra when she could and the entire trip was better because of her efforts. Our thanks to everyone involved.

Yours Sincerely

Roger and Swee Lewis

Whats Included

Date	Service
Accommodation	4* Western (10 nights) / Superior Ryokans (3 nights) with hot springs & kaiseki dinner (total 13 nights)
English Speaking tour leader	Fully Escorted (Groups of 6 – 16): You will be escorted by our friendly English- speaking tour leader who will travel with you from Day 1 to 12. From day 12, your tour leader will say good- bye. You will be met on the island by a local islander! Semi Escorted (Groups of 1 – 5): You will met in each area by our local assistants and guides on days you don’t have private guides. Whether you’re on a fully escorted or a semi escorted tour, you will be met on 6 days by our local guides in: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Gokayama, Takayama, Kyoto, & Hiroshima/Miyajima Island
Transfers	All transfers required for your tour as well as arrival & departure airport transfers to & from Tokyo hotel
Private Tour Guides	Local English speaking tour guides in Tokyo, Kyoto, Gokayama, Takayama, and Hiroshima & Miyajima Island
Entrance Fees	Included into all sights listed in itinerary
Cultural Experiences	Tokyo Sights by Day & Night including karaoke, izakaya nights out, Sumida River Cruise, urban Japanese garden, Sumo Tournament (May & September dates), etc. World famous Yudanaka Snow Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture & Samurai castle of Matsumoto Overnight in rural ryokans experiencing unique Japanese hospitality and onsen (hot spring baths) & incredible R&R time! Kanazawa Tea houses, geisha district, visit to one of the top 3 gardens of Japan, local food market Unesco World Heritage Kyoto: glorious sites, traditional back-streets, stunning shrines, manicured gardens, gorgeous geisha, and authentic tea ceremony just some of the highlights! High speed bullet train journeys throughout Scenic mountain drives taking in the magical landscape that makes up c.75% of Japan’s terrain Cultural Activities in Gokayama including: Washi Paper Making, Soba noodle making, 400-year-old farmhouse visit, tea with locals, farmers dance Takayama morning market and old worldly village feel April/October: Takayama Festival (very popular) Historical ruins in Hiroshima with tales told by local Hiroshima guides Magical images of Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine (Floating shrine) and giant Torii Gate Fuji National Park catching a glimpse of the monster mountain for that must-have photo!
Meals	Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 3 evening meals

Other Inclusions:	Comprehensive Travel Pack Luggage Forwarding on 2 occasions Local Emergency Contact All Taxes & Accommodation Surcharges Fixed Price Policy Minimum 6 / maximum 16 people No hidden Costs!!

This package does not include:

International Flights [Arrange own flights into and out of Tokyo’s Haneda or Narita Airports – Always check the arrival date on your flight e.g. if flying from Europe/US, you will arrive into Tokyo the following day (depending on airline you use)]
Meals other than those specified in the itinerary. Generally, you can expect to pay 1,000yen for lunches and anything from 2,500yen for your evening meals.
Beverages consumed at any meal (Water served freely)
Baggage Handling (You are requested to carry your own bags so be careful when packing!
Tour Leader, Guide or Driver Gratuity – can be arranged among your group (Optional)

Enquire about this tour

Have a few questions before booking your tour to Japan? Please fill out this form and one of our Japan travel consultants will get right back to you.

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Japan Discovered

Itinerary

Japan Discovered - Video Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Tokyo

Day 2: Tokyo Sightseeing

Day 3: Nagano: Hot springs, castles & countryside

Day 4: Snow Monkey Park & Takayama

Day 5 : Takayama

Day 6: Gokayama & Kanazawa

Day 7: Kyoto

Day 8: Kyoto

Day 9: Kyoto Free Day

Day 10: Hiroshima & Miyajima Island

Day 11: Hakone

Day 12: Tokyo

Day 13: Tokyo Free Day

Day 14: Tour Ends

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Accommodation

Tokyo (Two Nights)

Yudanaka Onsen (1 night)

Takayama (2 nights)

Kanazawa (1 night)

Kyoto (3 nights)

Miyajima Island (1 Night)

Hakone (1 night)