Japan in Contrast 8 Days Group Tour Overview

Take this special 8-day group trip and discover all the contrasts that you can find in Japan. You can experience the ancient Japan, stay in traditional Japanese-style accommodation, taste authentic multi-course haute cuisine and enjoy a natural hot spring bath. You will take a stroll in Magome and Tsumago - two restored and preserved Edo-period post stations (“Shukuba”) on the ancient Nakasendo Highway in the Kiso Valley. At the same time you will be able to visit Tokyo, the capital of technology and innovation.

  • Includes daily breakfast and 2 dinners
  • This trip goes to Kyoto, Kisoji, Hirugami Onsen, Takayama, Matsumoto, Fuji Five Lake Area and Tokyo
  • Guide: English-speaking guide at each sightseeing spot (except free day)
  • This group tour requires a minimum of 10 people.
Ask us about our prices. Customization also available
DAYS
8 Days
CITIES
7 Cities: Kyoto, Kisoji, Hirugami Onsen, Takayama, Matsumoto, Fuji Five Lake Area and Tokyo
SJapan in Contrast  8 day tour route map
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANJC-GP

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

DAY 1 - Arrive in Osaka (KIX or ITM)

Arrive at Osaka (KIX or ITM) and transfer to the hotel by private coach with an English speaking guide.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto

Kyoto

DAY 2 - KYOTO

Kyoto half-day tour with an English speaking guide. You will be visiting Kinkaku-ji Temple with its famous Golden Pavillion, Ryoan-ji Temple and Gion area.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kyoto
MEALS : Breakfast

Kyoto Kinkakuji Kyoto Ryoanji Kyoto Gion

DAY 3 - KYOTO - KISOJI - HIRUGAMI ONSEN

Leave Kyoto for Kisoji for a half-day Kisoji tour, walking in Magome and Tsumago experiencing the traditional Japanese atmosphere of these former post stations. Transfer to Hirugami Onsen. At Onsen experience a traditional public bath at Ryokan, a Japanese inn.
Visit: Honjin in Tsumago, the former principal inn of a post station and Toson Memorial Museum in Magome, where the famous author Toson Shimazaki was born.

ACCOMMODATION: Standard class Ryokan or similar hotel
MEALS : Breakfast, Dinner

Tumago Kisoji Hirugami Onsen

DAY 4 - HIRUGAMI ONSEN - TAKAYAMA

Leave Hirugami Onsen for Takayama. Visit historical landmarks such as Takayama Jinya – the surviving Edo period Government House, Sanmachi-suji, and Hida Folk Village with an English-speaking guide.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Takayama
MEALS : Breakfast

Takayama Jinya Takayama Takayama

DAY 5 - TAKAYAMA - MATSUMOTO - FUJI FIVE LAKES AREA

Leave Takayama for Matsumoto along Abo Pass in the Japanese Alps and transfer to Fuji Five Lakes Area. With an English-speaking guide, visit historical landmarks Morning Market in Takayama and Matsumoto Castle.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Kawaguchiko
MEALS : Breakfast, dinner

Takayama Matsumoto Fuji Lake

DAY 6 - FUJI FIVE LAKES AREA - LAKE KAWAGUCHI - TOKYO

Lake Kawaguchi full-day tour with an English-speaking guide including a visit to the beautiful Itchiku Kubota Art Museum in the wooded hills along the northern coast of Lake Kawaguchi. Stroll around the lake with spectacular views of Mt. Fuji on clear days, then transfer to Tokyo.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Kawaguchiko Kawaguchiko Tokyo

DAY 7 - TOKYO

Tokyo full-day tour with an English-speaking guide with visits to Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya District, Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple), Nakamise Arcade and Ginza District.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Tokyo
MEALS : Breakfast

Meiji Jingu Shibuya Asakusa

DAY 8 - Departure from Tokyo (NRT or HND)

You will transferre to Haneda or Narita Airport by private Coach.

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 ~

Included
  • Accommodation: 7 nights
  • Guide: English-speaking guide at each sightseeing spot (except free day)
  • Admissions: For all trips and visits (except free day)
  • Transportation: Transfer from Osaka (KIX or ITM) arriving at the Kyoto hotel by private coach.
    Transfer to Tokyo (NRT or HND) by private coach.
  • Meals: 7 breakfasts at the hotels, 2 dinners
  • Travel Earphones
NOT Included
  • Flights: Please ask your agent for arrangement
  • Meals: Other than specified
  • Transfer: Other than specified
  • Optional Tours: None - Unless otherwise arranged.
    【Many other optional tours also available!】
    » Click here to search optional tours «
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Insurance
  • Japan Rail Pass
  • Baggage Transfer
Package Tour Code:
LTJ-HANJC-GP

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

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.

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 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