September 27 - October 6, 2024
Japan Art + Culture Tour 2024

Experience the world’s largest art festival that occurs only once every three years! Includes Hakone, Niigata, and Sado Island! Our Japan Art + Culture Tour is designed for adventurous travelers eager to explore beyond the usual tourist paths. Journey through the enchanting mountains of Hakone and Minakami, traverse the lush landscapes of Yamanashi, roam the expansive fields of Niigata, and cross the deep blue Sea of Japan to reach the remote Sado Island. Along the way, engage in distinctive activities and experiences that celebrate Japan's rich regional culture, preserved through centuries-old handicrafts.

A highlight of our tour is the remarkable Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale Festival, held every three years. This festival is a testament to Japan’s dynamic culture, blending its deep historical roots with modern, innovative expressions. Described as a “collaboration of natural beauty and art that changes with the seasons,” it is one of the world’s largest art festivals. Discover sculptures set amidst rice fields, repurposed abandoned gyms and school buildings, and natural caves transformed into luminous tunnels. This festival eloquently illustrates the intertwined relationship between time, space, nature, and humanity—a truly unmissable event.

  • Experience the world’s largest art festival that occurs only once every three years!
  • This trip goes Tokyo, Hakone, Lake Ashi, Karuizawa, Yamanashi, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale Festival, Niigata, Sado Island, Minakami Onsen, TeamLab Planets Digital Art Museum, and more!
  • Includes 23 meals
  • Complimentary pocket WiFi router
FROM
US$3,990
DAYS
10 Days
Destinations
Tokyo, Hakone, Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata, Gunma
Japan Art + Culture Tour 2024 route map

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

September 26

Departure from U.S. airports

airplane

DAY 1 - September 27 - TOKYO

Arrive in Tokyo (HND)
Meet local guide and bus driver, head to hotel
Welcome dinner at local resutaurant

Tokyo

DAY 2 - September 28 - KANAGAWA

Head to Hakone for Hakone Open-Air Sculpture Museum, Hakone Ropeway + Owakudani, Lake Ashi Pirate Ship cruise, and enjoy private hot springs in your room!


Hakone Ropeway Lake Ashi

DAY 3 - September 29 - YAMANASHI & NAGANO

Yosegi Zaiku(woodworking craft)experience
Yamanashi winery tour and tasting.
Visit Karuizawa Prince Shopping Mall
Enjoy hot springs at Ryokan.

Yosegi Zaiku yamanashi Karuizawa

DAY 4 - September 30 - NIIGATA

Full day exploring the Echigo-Tsumari Art Festival, where you can view Larger-than-life art installations amidst the rural beauty of Niigata’s countryside.
Enjoy hot springs again at the hotel at night!

Echigo-Tsumari Art Festival Echigo-Tsumari Art Festival

DAY 5 - October 1 - NIIGATA

Ferry ride to Sado Island. Experience "Tarai bune (tub boat, or circular wooden vessels) " ride
Explore Shukunegi Fishing Village.
At night, relax in hot springs at a ryokan on Sado Island.

Sado Island Sado Island Sado Island

DAY 6 - October 2 - NIIGATA

Visit Sado Island Gold Mines for hands-on gold leaf experience.
Watch and experience Sado Island's unique Oni Taiko Drum performance.
Visit Obata Sake Brewery tour and enjoy tasting.
At night, stay at a hotel with hot spring.

Sado Island Sado Island

DAY 7 - October 3 - NIIGATA

Take ferry from Sado Island back to Niigata (mainland). Visit Ponshukan Sake Museum for premium and rare sake tasting.
Exclusive lunch with Niigata geigi (geisha) including music/dance performance
Metalworking crafts experience
At night, relax in hot springs at Minakami, a beautiful, mountainous onsen town.

Niigata Niigata

DAY 8 - October 4 - GUNMA & TOKYO

Apple picking experience at Minakami Fruits Land Mogitore (Gunma)
Craft hands-on experience at Takumi no Sato agrictulural village
Head to Tokyo,
Special farewell dinner at local restaurant

Apple picking Craft

DAY 9 -October 5 - TOKYO

Full free day to explore Tokyo!

Tokyo

DAY 10 -October 6 - TOKYO

Visit TeamLab Planets Digital Art museum in the early afternoon.
Head to Haneda airport for departure to the U.S.

TeamLab Planets Digital Art 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

Tour date: September 27 – October 6, 2024 (10 Days 9 Nights in Japan)


Tour Price (per Person)
$3990
Please inquire for children’s price (child under 6 years old, no separate bed)

Single supplement: Additional $900

Deposit
$200/person when applying for this group package tour.
Refundable if cancelled before May 26, 2024.

Final payment deadline
July 10 , 2024

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.


Included
  • Accommodation: 9 nights accommodations
  • Onsen (Hot Springs)
  • WiFi router
  • Admissions: For all trips and visits (except free day)
  • Transportation:Only the transportation specified in each itinerary are included.
  • Meals: 23 meals
NOT Included
    Incidental charges and expenses other than those specified in the preceding article including, but not limited to, laundry, domestic and international phone calls, telephone rental, additional meals and drinks and any other expense of personal nature, international air fares to Japan, excess baggage charges in respect to number and weight, medical expenses for injuries and illness, and traveling and accommodation costs between arrival and departure outside the duration of the package itinerary.
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANSP-AUT

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

Cancellation and Cancellation Fees:

After full payment is made, a cancelled reservation will incur a cancellation penalty charge per person according to the guidelines below. "Total Cost" is defined as the full cost of the package including tax and fuel surcharge (if applicable). "Departure" is defined as the date of departure for the package for which the reservation was made.

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

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 5/26/2024 Fully refundable
5/27 to 7/10/2024 $200 deposit cancellation penalty.
After 7/10/2024 Non-refundable if cancelled by customer.
After departure, no refunds for airfare or unused portions of the tour, including but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights, transportation, activities, and sightseeing.