Best of Japan Tour Overview

The tour is for those who love traditional Japan, with an assistant on arrival in English and guided tours in English in both Tokyo and Kyoto. Enjoy free time in the remaining cities thanks to the Japan Rail Pass, with which you can reach Kanazawa, the city of crafts, and Takayama, the pearl of the Japanese Alps, where you will stay overnight in a typical ryokan.

  • Includes daily breakfast and one dinner at the ryokan
  • This trip goes to Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Kyoto
  • Guide: English-speaking guide at each sightseeing spot (except free day)
  • Assistant in English available from the airport to hotel on day 1.
  • Special flight & hotel inclusive package deal available with United Airlines! Read more >
Ask us about our prices. Customization also available
DAYS
10 Days
CITIES
5 Cities: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Takayama, Nagoya and Kyoto
Best of Japan 10 day tour route map
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANBJ-STD, LTJ-HANBJ-SUP

Ask HIS America's experienced Japan specialists about this tour and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrival in Tokyo (NRT or HND)

After arrival at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) International Airport, transfer to Tokyo.
* The rooms will be available from 3.00 pm

Assistant in English available from the airport to the hotel to help validate the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), and for information and check-in once you arrive at the hotel. Airport - hotel transfer by public transport. Telephone support for the duration of the stay. Assistance upon arrival and transfer could be shared with other tour participants.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo

Tokyo Tower

DAY 2 - TOKYO

Private guided sightseeing tour of Tokyo with an English speaking guide.
The first stop is the museum of Hokusai, a symbolic artist of Japan. who has lived in Tokyo for all his long life. Then we will take you to visit the characteristic Asakusa district. Senso-jl Temple, the oldest In the city, and the long Nakamise-dori boulevard with its traditional shops are located.

The visit proceeds with a walk outside the imperial Palace, with the famous Nijubashi bridge, and in the elegant Ginza district, and then ends at the Bunkyo Civic Center, a skyscraper with a viewing platform from which to enjoy a splendid view of the megalopolis.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Asakusa Imperial Palace Plaza Bunkyo Civic Center

DAY 3 - TOKYO

Full day of personal free time

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ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Tokyo Tower Meiji Jingu Shrine Sushi

DAY 4 - TOKYO - KYOTO

*Heavy luggage is delivered by courier service to Kyoto, arriving on the same day.
Departure on your own for Kyoto in the morning by shinkansen train using the Japan Rail Pass (2nd class) to arrive at Kyoto Station in the early afternoon.

An English-speaking guide will welcome you at the station and will take you around the city of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. You will visit the Golden Pavillion of Kinkaku-ji, the symbolic temple of the city made famous by the novel by the writer Yukio Mishima, and will continue with the Ryoan-Ji Temple, famous for its rock garden whose elements are arranged in a such that they can never be seen all together in a single glance. On the way back, stroll through the ancient district of Glon, known for Its the houses and for the maiko, aspiring geisha, who occasionally can be seen wandering through its alleys.
Upon returning from visits. your luggage will be in the hotel.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Kinkakuji Ryoanji Gion

DAY 5 - KYOTO

Full day of personal free time

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ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Fushimi Inari Shrine Arashiyama Kiyomizu Temple

DAY 6 - KYOTO

Full day of personal free time

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ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Byodoin Heian Shrine Ninenzaka

DAY 7 - KYOTO - KANAZAWA

**** Luggage will be transported separately to Tokyo by courier. We remind you to pre- pare a hand luggage for overnight stays in Kanazawa and Takayama ****

Full day without assistance.
Departure to Kanazawa by express train (2nd class) using the Japan Rail Pass (approx. 2.5 hours).

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kanazawa
MEALS : Breakfast

Kenrokuen Nomurain Kanazawa

DAY 8 KANAZAWA - (SHIRAKAWA-GO) - TAKAYAMA

Full day without assistance.

--- Optional service ---
Scheduled coach between Kanazawa / Shirakawa-go/ Takayama. Departure without assistance for Shirakawa- go, the village with characteristic sloping thatched roof houses, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then continue to Takayama independently.
Please ask our agent about this tour if you are interested.
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Departure for Takayama by shinkansen (2nd class) to Toyama (approx. 0.5 hours) and then by express train (2nd class) to Takayama (approx. 1.5 hours), using the Japan Rail Pass.

ACCOMMODATION: Ryokan in Takayama
MEALS : Breakfast and the traditional dinner at the Ryokan

Takayama Jinja Shirakawago Takayama

DAY 9 - TAKAYAMA - NAGOYA - TOKYO

Full day without assistance.
Departure by express train (2nd class) lo Nagoya (approx 2.5 hours). You can stop for lunch in Nagoya, famous for its grilled eel (unagi). You will continue to Tokyo with the shinkansen train (2nd class) in approx. 2 hours. For trains you will always use the Japan Rail Pass.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Takayama Street Nagoya Bullet Train

DAY 10 - Departure from Tokyo (NRT or HND)

Rooms are available until 11:00 am. Transfer to the airport without assistance using the Japan Rail Pass.


MEALS : Breakfast

Haneda Airport

*Pictures shown are for illustration purposes only


HIS America's experienced Japan specialists will get back to you as soon as possible
Details
Prices



~Ask us about our prices. Customization also available ~


***You must purchase a JR Pass separately in order to book this tour***
» Purchase a JR Pass here «



Included
  • Accommodation: 9 nights
  • Guide: English-speaking guide at each sightseeing spot (except free day)
  • Assistant in English available from airport to the hotel on day 1.
  • Assistant: Telephone support (emergency number) for the duration of the stay.
  • Admissions: For all trips and visits (except free day)
  • Transportation: Transfer from Tokyo Airport arriving at the Tokyo hotel by public transport.
  • Meals: 9 breakfasts at the hotels and 1 dinner at the ryokan
  • Luggage Delivery:
    Tokyo - Kyoto and Kyoto - Tokyo (1 piece per person)
NOT Included
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANBJ-STD, LTJ-HANBJ-SUP

Ask HIS America's experienced Japan specialists about this tour and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

United Airlines logo

AIR & HOTEL INCLUSIVE Package Deals

HIS SPECIAL PROMOTION brought to you by United Airlines
This package includes the airfare between the U.S. and Tokyo by United Airlines.

From Los Angeles
from $3,199

From Chicago
from $3,799

From New York
from $3,999


Exclusive Offer Highlights
Contact us to find out more about this deal!

Booking Policy:

Rates: The mentioned prices may fluctuate due to the changes of surcharge, fees, taxes or currency status without prior notice. The actual prices will be officially confirmed at the time of booking. Please kindly verify with your H.I.S. representative.
Reservation: The reservation must be made 65 days before the start of the tour.
Guide/Assistant: Assistant from airport to hotel in English (day 1). Support service available for up to 4 hours. After 2 hours from the original scheduled landing time, the assistant may no longer be available. During peak seasons, assistance may be available separately at the airport and at the hotel. In case of arrival during the closure of the JR offices at the airport and in Tokyo, customers cannot be accompanied to validate the Japan Rail Pass and will therefore have to make changes and bookings independently in the following days.).Telephone support (emergency number) for the duration of the stay.

Pertinent Information Before Travel

HOTEL
-The hotel rooms are considerably smaller than western ones.
-The ceilings are much lower, giving a perception of the scope of the rooms.
-The normal double beds are French-sized (140cm x 200cm), with a few hotels featuring double rooms with a double bed.
-Rooms with double beds or smoking rooms must be specially reserved and, because of the scarcity, cannot be guaranteed.
-The pajamas and yukata provided by the hotel are only for use in the hotel.


TRAINS
-The spaces for suitcases on Japanese trains are very limited (this is the reason for the separate transport of the luggage in our packages).
-For the packages that mention the JR Pass, our assistant or guide will help with reserving the train (for the tours with a guide, we cannot guarantee that the whole group can sit together). It is only possible to reserve the trains after arriving in Japan and there may be no availability for the trains mentioned in the program.
-2nd Class tickets (regular) are used in the packages. Usage of 1st class tickets must be booked and requires extra fees.
-Please refrain from talking loudly on the train.
-Talking on the phone on the train is forbidden.
-Please note that it is very difficult to reserve train tickets during specific periods such as "Golden Week" consecutive national holidays, Bon Holidays and the end of the year/New Year period.
-Commuter trains and arterial roads in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are crowded during the rush hour, and in the mornings and evenings.

DURING THE MEALS
-Japanese meals rarely include desserts. Sometimes there will be a small plate with fruits that accompany the main dish.
-In some typical restaurants it is obligatory to take off your shoes. We recommend wearing stockings or socks (this is not obligatory).
-For special food needs and requests (allergies, vegetarians, etc.), please state them during your reservation, so that we can inform the restaurants.

VISITS
-Often during temple/shrine visits, guests will have to take off their shoes. We advise wearing socks (not obligatory, but do not go barefoot).
-Cultural properties may be under renovation and covered.
-Itinerary may change due to inevitable causes such as closing, natural disasters, traffic jams, etc.

OTHER
-You are not allowed to stand and smoke on the street. Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas.
-Surcharge for arrival between 20:00 and 07:00.
-Guide / Assistant: Assistant from the airport to the hotel in English (day 1). Assistance service available for a maximum of 4 hours. After 2 hours from the originally scheduled landing time, the assistant may no longer be available. During peak seasons, assistance may be available separately at the airport and at the hotel. In case of arrival during the closure of the JR offices at the airport and in Tokyo, customers will not be able to be accompanied to validate the Japan Rail Pass and will therefore have to make changes and bookings independently in the following days. Guide in English (day 2 and day 4) Telephone support (emergency number) for the duration of the stay.
-Surcharge for arrival between 20:00 and 07:00

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT OPTIONS
If you plan to extend your trip, we can also arrange

  • Hotel Accomodations other than specified in the itinerary
  • Japan Rail Pass and Rail Tickets
  • Japan Air Pass and Domestic Flights
  • Airport Transfers
  • Day Tours
  • etc.

We can also arrange your international flights between any cities in the U.S. and Japan at our special airfare. Please ask your agent for more details.


Terms and Conditions


Cancellation Policy

Until 51 days before departure date No Charge
50-36 days before departure date 10% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
35-26 days before departure date 30% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
25-13 days before departure date 50% Cancellation Penalty of Total Price
12-7 days before departure date 70% Cancellation Penalty
6 days before departure date 100% Cancellation Penalty