Japanese Alps explorer
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Itinerary
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Tokyo.
Once in Tokyo, there will be an airport representative to help with validating your rail pass and seat reservations before escorting over to the airport shuttle bus directly to the hotel.Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimatise and recuperate from any jet-lag.
Have a day in Tokyo to explore at leisure. One of our recommendations is to visit the Hamarikyu gardens close to the Sumida river where it's possible to board a passenger ferry to the older part of Tokyo, Asakusa, and the beautiful Sensoji temple.
After a relaxed morning, using your included rail pass, it will be the first journey by super-fast bullet train to the city of Nagano before heading deep into the Alps to the small town of Yudanaka Onsen, home to the snow monkeys.
Explore Yudanaka's hot springs and watch the snow monkey's bathing in the warm waters. A short train ride away is the artisan town of Obuse famous for its Hokkusai paintings.
Travel by private line train and local Alpine bus to Kamikochi; a scenic journey through the mountains to the heart of the Alps region.
Take a full day to enjoy the glorious scenery and walk some of the trails here. For the more adventurous, it's possible to hike up one of the surrounding imposing mountains too.
Return to Matsumoto by bus and train. Our recommendation for your time in Matsumoto is to spend the afternoon looking around the city and the Crow Castle, one of the oldest remaining in Japan dating back to the 1500s.
Take the train north to Shinano-Omachi, where you can begin your traverse across the mountains towards Kanazawa. This area is about the stunning mountain scenery, fresh air and walks/hikes.
Take the morning to enjoy a little more of the surrounding area. From the afternoon, head by train to the city of Kanazawa, often dubbed "The Little Kyoto" by the locals for its old geisha district and samurai quarters.
Visit the beautiful Kenrokuen garden this morning, one of Japan's top three gardens. Later there's time to explore some more of this interesting and artisan city.
Take the limited express train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural heartland. After checking into the hotel, a private guide will take you to a local home to try your hand at a cultural pastime of your choice, such as tea ceremony or calligraphy.
Take in the temples, shrines and gardens of Kyoto at one's own pace today. In the evening there is a visit to the geisha district of Gion with a private guide, in order to spot some of these elusive ladies scurrying to and from their appointments.
Just west of Kyoto is the secluded area of Arashiyama, home to a wonderful bamboo forest, some gentle hiking, river scenery and little teahouses with rickshaw outside.
Take the bullet train up to Tokyo and have the final afternoon at leisure in the capital.
Take the airport shuttle bus from the hotel lobby to the airport in time for your flight onwards. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Our trips don’t come off the shelf. There’s no set recipe. Each itinerary is tailor-made down to the finest detail, built around your tastes and interests. Quite simply, we listen to what you want and then carefully design an individual trip to match, working to your budget and with an absolute commitment to quality.
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Valid for new bookings made on or before October 31, 2020, for travel by Dec. 31, 2021. Travel dates may be moved to departures up to December 31, 2022. Excludes select cruises and airfare. Additional charges may be incurred based on changes to your trip such as accommodation and/or seasonality.
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We want to help you navigate the uncertainty that remains around travel by giving you the flexibility to book a trip to any of our destinations in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean this year in complete confidence. With our 14-day cancellation policy, you can cancel your trip up to two weeks before you’re due to depart for any reason and receive a full refund, when you book your trip on or before October 31, 2020 for travel before December 14, 2021**.
Valid on new bookings within the US, Canada or Caribbean made on or before October 31, 2020 for travel by December 14, 2021. Certain policy variations may apply dependent on property selection and dates. Specific details will be provided by your specialist. Any portion of a new booking paid with an existing travel credit will be refunded in the form of a travel credit. Excludes flights and select properties.
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