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Onsen Japan
14 Days/13 Nights - Gateway: Tokyo
Standard Tour: from £14653pp
Superior Tour: from £2183pp
Rail & car upgrades also available.
Prices valid for 2009. Peak supplements may apply.
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| 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. There are a multitude of different onsen all over the country; indoors; outdoors; in the mountains; by the sea; cloudy; clear; and each with different minerals and health benefits. With a selection of fantastic onsen combined with stops in Japan’s must-see cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, this is a trip to savour. |
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo
You will be flying into Narita International Airport and once through customs you will be personally greeted by one of our representatives who will show you to a seat-sharing taxi for the
transfer to your hotel in Asakusa, Tokyo’s most historic district. In the evening why not soak away the weariness of your long flight with a trip to Asakusa Jyakotsuyu bath house, a real locals’ hang-out where you can relax side-by-side with local residents, businessmen, and even members of the local Yakuza mafia! The water here is a dark tea colour and as this is a cold water spring, is heated underneath the building. With a variety of Jacuzzi baths, hot water and cold water tubs available along with an ‘electric’ bath and sauna, this is a great introduction to bathing Japanese-style!
Accommodation: Asakusa Sunroute - Standard business hotel in a great location with full amenities |
Day 2: Full day Tokyo
Today will be a full day to explore your surroundings in Asakusa and the rest of this vast city. We will provide plenty of advice and options within our complimentary Info-Pack to make your Tokyo touring run smoothly and ensure you get the most out of your time in the capital. |
Day 3: Travel to Kusatsu
Using the provided 14 day Japan Rail Pass, you will be heading deep into the mountains of rural Japan to Kusatsu, on the slopes of Mt. Shirane, one of the most famous onsen towns in the coun try. With steam rising all around from the open flows of spring water, your accommodation will be in a traditional ryokan in the centre of town. Accommodation: Matsumuraya - Classic onsen ryokan with great food, service and onsen baths |
Day 4: Full day Kusatsu
You have all day to explore this traditional town and surrounding area, or alternatively just relax in one of the numerous hot springs scattered throughout the locality. Outside of winter, the mountains of Shirane and Asama provide fantastic opportunities for hiking and taking in the beautiful scenery. The winter brings heavy snow fall and a full range of winter sports. Whatever season you choose to travel, a long soak provides the perfect end to a day in this onsen heartland. |
Day 5: Travel to Matsumoto
Heading through the mountains over into Nagano Prefecture, you will be staying in the historic castle city of Matsumoto. Rich in history and culture, the city played an important role in the governance of the region during the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868). The original samurai castle and old town district are the essential sights and a drop of local sake never goes amiss. Staying a short taxi ride outside the city in Utsukushigahara Onsen offers a chance to sample more mineral-rich spa waters.
Accommodation: Enjyou Bekkan - Delightful onsen area ryokan. |
Day 6: Travel to Kyoto
From the highlands to the lowlands; an express train followed by the speeding Shinkansen will transport you from the inaka regions of central Honshu and back to the east coast. Your destination is Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan and home to two thousand shrines and temples. An essential destination on any trip to Japan, your stay in Kyoto is a journey through the fabric of the nation’s past.
Accommodation: Sunroute Hotel - Quality business hotel in the heart of the city. |
Day 7: Full day Kyoto
Sightseeing in Kyoto is like stepping through a secret door in time. Away from the major sights, crowded with tourists, lie exquisite gardens, beautiful temples, classic restaurants and tea shops. The city boasts numerous excellent museums along with some more unusual sights; Tondaya silk warehouse, Nijyo Jinya with its hidden corridors and trap-doors for the ninja body guards; sword shops selling authentic blades from the samurai era. All make for a fascinating day touring the city. |
Day 8: Full day Kyoto / Rail Pass excursion
Your third day in Kyoto is a chance to explore further afield, either on the outskirts of the city and the surrounding mountains or by utilising your Japan Rail Pass to make an excursion to one of the many places of interest accessible as a day trip. Nara, Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima all offer unique sights. If you wish to seek out a nearby onsen, Kurama is a high class spa located just to the north of Kyoto. |
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Day 9: Travel to Shirahama
Shirahama is known not only for its white, sandy beaches, but also for its onsen. Reached in two and a half hours by express train, Shirahama offers onsen in the hills, onsen on the beach, onsen at your hotel and onsen on the cliff tops withdramatic seascape views. This is truly an onsen lover’s paradise.
Accommodation: Hotel Green Hill: Stylish, modern onsen hotel with ocean views. |
Day 10: Full day Shirahama
If all day in the bath is too much relaxation for you, the surrounding countryside is a pleasure to explore. Natural sights such as the Sandan-Heki (Three Step Cliff ) and the Senjo-Jiki (Thousand Tatami Mat Point) provide spectacular scenery and views of the Pacifi c Ocean. Your cliff -side hotel will serve you dinner on both nights including some superb sea food from the morning catch. |
Day 11: Travel to Hakone
Today, it’s the long trip from the Kii Peninsula to the edge of the Izu Peninsula and the Hakone mountain region. Hakone is famed throughout Japan for its bubbling volcanic waters and striking views of Mt. Fuji. You will be staying in a traditional inn with splendid onsen baths, continuing a 400 year old tradition of bathing in these restorative hot springs. Accommodation: Ichinoyu Honkan - One of Hakone’s oldest onsen ryokan dating back 300 years. |
Day 12: Full day Hakone
With a local transport pass included, today is a chance to head out and explore the region. The mountain buses, cable cars, funiculars and ‘pirate ship’ cruising on Lake Ashi, allow you to travel easily between the art museums, onsen and, when the skies are clear, will take you to viewing points for those spectacular scenes of Fuji-san towering over the surrounding foothills: A timeless image of Japan. |
Day 13: Travel to Tokyo
Leaving the luscious mountains of Hakone behind, you will take the ‘Romance Car’ express into the neon jungle of Shinjuku. You will be staying in the heart of the business district, just a few minutes from the main entertainment area - an ideal place from which to travel all over Tokyo.
Accommodation: Kadoya Hotel - Classy, small business hotel in the heart of Shinjuku. |
Day 14: Departure
You will be taking the Airport Limousine Bus from Shinjuku direct to Tokyo Narita Airport ready for your flight home. |
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13 night tour includes breakfast, 7 evening meals, transport, meet and greet, airport transfers and complimentary info pack. All prices are based on twin share (excluding international flights, entrancee fees, local transport & baggage handling). |
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