Tour style Winter trip to the mountains and towns of central Japan, visiting hot springs and historical towns. Stay in family-run ryokan and minshuku, hotels . |
Places visited: Obuse • Yudanaka Onsen • Shirakawa-go • Takayama • Kanazawa • Kyoto |
 |
|
Slideshow (click on any picture)
HIGHLIGHTS
Yudanaka Onsen hot spring – Snow monkeys – Obuse sake brewery - traditional merchants houses of Takayama – Shirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage site - Kanazawa & Kenrokuen Garden - Kyoto
INTRODUCTION
The Snow Country tour is ideal for those who want to combine time spent in Tokyo or Kyoto with a journey into the winter landscape of central Japan. The tour offers bathing in natural hot springs, and visits to the historic towns and villages of this mountainous region.
We will begin by travelling to a wonderful hot spring town in the mountains of Nagano, where you can soak in the indoor and outdoor baths. Yudanaka Onsen has a history going back 1,300 years and you will stay at an elegant traditional ryokan with its own hot spring baths. Sitting in a hot bath surrounded by snow is an experience not to be missed! After a soak, sit down to a dinner of delicious home-cooked food with a chance to try ‘atsu-kan’ (hot sake).
On the second day we visit the small town of Obuse, stopping at the museum dedicated to the artist Hokusai, famous for his ukiyo-e wooblock prints. Obuse is also famous for its saké brewery, and during our visit we will be able to try the different varieties and it may be possible to see the brewing taking place.
Afterwards we will visit the famous ‘snow monkeys’, who come to bathe in one of the outdoor hot spring pools. Japanese long-tail monkeys have been coming this hot pool for more than 40 years, ever since a sympathetic lodge owner started leaving food out for them in the winter.
Our next stop will be Takayama, a former feudal artist’s enclave, with many well-preserved traditional houses. The town is famous for its crafts; particularly lacquer ware, pottery, and furniture. There will be time to wander through the back streets, visit the restored Edo-period government buildings, and shop for souvenirs at the morning market.
We head next to the remote village of Ogimachi, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, where will stay for the night in one of the traditionally thatched gassho-zukkuri houses. These large wooden houses have steep thatched roofs, designed to withstand heavy snow, and the term gassho-zukkuri refers to the shape of praying hands formed by the roofs.
From Shirakawa-go, we travel by road to Kanazawa, an elegant city where we will spend two days, and visit Kenrokuen, a classical Japanese garden, one of Japan’s three most famous. Winter is a lovely time to see the garden, when snow will grace the trees and rocks, and you will avoid the tourists. Finally, our journey brings us to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, and we will have two nights to sample this traditional and sophisticated city. The tour ends here but you may like to stay on in Kyoto, or travel onwards to other destinations in Japan.
Along with the beautiful snowy landscapes and wonderful hot springs, we will enjoy freshly-made local cuisine at each stop, such as hida beef, miso bean paste, sweet dumplings and sansai cuisine made from delicately prepared mountain vegetables.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Day 1 Meet in Tokyo and transfer to Yudanaka Onsen Hot Spring
Meet in Tokyo and transfer by train to Yudanaka Onsen hot spring in Nagano prefecture. Overnight at hot spring ryokan.
Day 2 Obuse and Yudanaka Hot Spring
Visit to the town of Obuse, with its sake brewery and the museum of the woodblock print artist Hokuasai. In the afternoon we will visit the 'Snow Monkeys' who soak in their very own hot spring bath.
Day 3 Takayama
Travel by road to Takayama in the mountainous Hida region, and stay at a traditional ryokan.
Day 4 Takayama
A full day in Takayama to explore the town, visit the morning market, and the san-machi (old town) area to see traditonal merchants houses.
Day 5 Shirakawa-go
Travel by road to the Shirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage site. Stay in traditionally thatched gassho-zukkuri house.
Day 6 Kanazawa and Kenrokuen
By road to the city of Kanazawa, and visit the famous Kenrokuen garden, formerly the outer garden of Kanazawa castle. Overnight hotel.
Day 7 Kanazawa
A full day in Kanazawa; visit the Omicho market with its selection of seafood and regional foods, free time in the afternoon.
Day 8 Kyoto
By train to Kyoto, Japan's former capital. Visit the Gion geisha quarter before dinner.
Day 9 Kyoto
Full day in Kyoto, visit the Golden Pavilion and the Arashiyama district. Day 10 Tour ends Our tour ends today but you may like to stay longer in Kyoto or travel onwards in Japan.
 Download detailed itinerary |
ACCOMMODATION ON THIS TOUR
 |
||||||
 |
|
|
||||
|
||||||
Kurotsuya |
 Koraku-kan (Yudanaka Onsen) - a family-run hot spring ryokan not far from the snow monkeys!
|
 |
Asunaro (Takayama) - conveniently located in central Takayama yet calm and unhurried. Try the local hida-beef served for dinner. |
Also
Nikko Hotel (Kanazawa) - a modern 4-star hotel within walking distance of Kanazawa station.
Hearton Hotel (Kyoto) - a modern and comfortable 4-star hotel in the heart of Kyoto
ACCOMMODATION NOTES
We have chosen each accommodation carefully for their comfort, service and personal service. On several nights we use Japanese-style accommodation with shared bathrooms and toilets. These generally have seperate male and female bathing areas. Couples or those travelling together will have their own room, while single travellers may be asked to share with another member of the group (same sex only).
TOUR COMMENTS
"it was like a dream
came true! It was quite a special experience for us and we could not have
done it without your help. ...the rustic Korakukan minshuku and visit to the monkey spa, and
also the charm of Ogimachi town and the farmer house we stayed in. We also
loved all the food!"
Gaby M , Indonesia
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 7 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 4 evening meals.
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
There is a single room supplement of £250 per person, which will guarantee you a single room in Tokyo and Kyoto hotel. We will request but cannot guarantee a single room in traditional Japanese accommodations.
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12 Clients Minimum: 5 Clients
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
2011 Tour Itinerary |
|
|
|
Day 1 Meet in Tokyo & transfer to Yudanaka Onsen
We will meet in Tokyo in the early afternoon, and travel by train to Yudanaka Onsen in the mountains north of Tokyo. We will check-in to our accommodation, a lovely traditional ryokan with both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. Bathing is an important ritual for the Japanese, and soaking in a hot spring bath is a quintessential Japanese experience. Winter is one of the most pleasant times to visit the springs and the experience of soaking in the hot water while contemplating the snowy landscape it sure to be a highlight of your trip. A beautifully-prepared dinner will be served.
Accommodation: Tradtional hot spring ryokan
Day 2 Obuse & Snow Monkeys
The lovely town of Obuse was once an important stop on the salt trade coming from the coast and grew rich on the proceeds. Today the town is known for its abundant sweet-chestnuts and the local sake brewery, which has been owned by the same family since feudal times. It was also the home of the woodblock-print artist Hokusai during the latter part of his life, and a small museum displays some of his works. There will be a chance to visit the museum and the saké brewery, with the possibility of seeing the brewing process. We will have lunch in theattached restaurant with its fabulous open kitchen, and in the afternoon we will travel to see the famous ‘Snow Monkeys’. These monkeys congregate in an open-air hot spring bath built especially for them, enjoying the warm water much as humans do! We will return to our ryokan for dinner.
Accommodation:Tradtional hot spring ryokan
Day 3 Travel to Takayama
Takayama is surrounded on all sides by mountains, and this remoteness and lack of arable land meant that locals could rely less on farming and more on crafts such as lacquer ware and woodworking for their livelihoods. The skills of Takayama’s craftsmen were so prized in the Edo period (1600-1867) that many of the great temples and palaces of Kyoto were built by them. After checking-in to our ryokan, there will be time to wander through the local streets before another wonderful dinner, with the chance to try the local Hida-gyu beef and perhaps some local saké.
Accommodation: Traditional ryokan
Day 4 Takayama
We will have a full day in Takayama, starting with a visit to the morning market along the banks of the river. We will then visit San-machi, the old merchant’s quarter, where the houses have been preserved and are stil used as shops and restaurants. There will be time to relax and perhaps visit a small antique shop with old kimonos or fans, or just soak up the atmosphere.
Accommodation: Traditional ryokan
Day 5 Shirakawa-go and gasshozukuri houses
Our journey continues today deeper into the mountains, and the remote village of Ogimachi, part of Shirakawa-go, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Until the 1970s many of these villages had no electricity and were cut off in winter. Because of a scarcity of flat land only the eldest son was allowed to marry and move out of their parents’ house. Extended families lived together in large wooden houses with thatched roofs designed to withstand the deep winter snows, hence the name ‘gassho-zukuri’. This refers to the shape of the roofs which is said to resemble the shape of praying hands. Falling into disrepair, and threatened by the construction of a dam, locals decided to move them to their current location in Ogimachi. We will stay in one of these thatched houses run as an inn by a local family.
Accommodation: Minshuku (guesthouse)
Day 6 Travel to Kanazawa
From the remote Shokawa Valley we head by road to the coast and the city of Kanazawa. In feudal times Kanazawa was the seat of the Maeda clan, one of Japan’s most powerful, and it rivaled Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). The old town has survived well and there is both a geisha and samurai district to visit, however the highlight is the traditional Kenrokuen garden, perhaps the most famous in Japan, formerly the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle. Winter is a special time to come here, without the crowds of summer and perhaps with a dusting of snow on the trees and stones.
We’ll check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 7 Kanazawa
In the morning we will visit the busy Omicho market, where seafood fresh from the Japan Sea such as crab is on sale, alongside fruit, vegetables, pickles and other food items. In the afternoon there will be free time to catch up on postcards or shopping for souvenirs.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 8 Transfer to Kyoto
From Kanazawa we board the train which will take us to Kyoto, taking us along the coast before heading through the mountains and along the edge of Lake Biwa. We will arrive in Japan’s former capital in the afternoon, check-in to our hotel, and talk a walk through the Gion area, famous for geisha and the many expensive ryotei restaurants. As dusk arrives, red lanterns glow and it feels like a different world..
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 9 Kyoto
We have a full day to enjoy Kyoto, and we start with a visit to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), originally built by the Ashikaga Shogun in the 15th century as a place of contemplation and rest. We will then continue to the Arashiyama area, where we can visit the Togetsukyo Bridge and nearby bamboo groves. There will be free time in the afternoon, however we will meet in the evening for our farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel (4*)
Day 10 Tour ends
Our tour comes to end this morning, and your tour leader will be in on hand to help you with onward arrangements. You can stay in Kyoto for a few more days, or perhaps travel on to another destination in Japan.
| Download detailed itinerary |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 7 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 4 evening meals.
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
2011 Dates & Prices |
|
|
|
DATES & PRICES 2011
| Tour dates | Availability | Price | |
| 14 - 23 February 2011 | Spaces | £1850 / $2,960 / €2,035 | BOOK |
To book, please select 'Book' from the link above. |
|||
 |
|||
Tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto. The group will meet at mid-day, and travel to Yudanaka Onsen. You will need to arrive in Tokyo by the morning, or the day before.
| Download detailed itinerary |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All domestic transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts & 7 evening meals are included.
Not Included are international Flights, drinks with meals, lunches and 4 evening meals.
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
There is a single room supplement of £300 per person, which will guarantee you a single room in the Kanazawa and Kyoto hotels
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12 Clients Minimum: 5 Clients
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (GMT)
Accommodation on this tour |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||
|
||||||
|
Koraku-kan (Yudanaka Onsen) - a family-run hot spring ryokan not far from the snow monkeys! |
|
Asunaro (Takayama) - conveniently located in central Takayama yet calm and unhurried. Try the local hida-beef served for dinner. |
Also
Nikko Hotel (Kanazawa) - a modern 4-star hotel within walking distance of Kanazawa station.
Hearton Hotel (Kyoto) - a modern and comfortable 4-star hotel in the heart of Kyoto
ACCOMMODATION NOTES
We have chosen each accommodation carefully for their comfort, service and personal service. On several nights we use Japanese-style accommodation with shared bathrooms and toilets. These generally have seperate male and female bathing areas. Couples or those travelling together will have their own room, while single travellers may be asked to share with another member of the group (same sex only).
| Download detailed itinerary |
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
Tour Reviews |
|
|
|
"it was like a dream
came true! It was quite a special experience for us and we could not have
done it without your help. ...the rustic Korakukan minshuku and visit to the monkey spa, and
also the charm of Ogimachi town and the farmer house we stayed in. We also
loved all the food!"
Gaby M , Indonesia
"..the ryokans, onsens and minshukus have been a wonderful experience. We will miss sleeping on futons under cloud-like puffs.... Thank you so much for this memorable trip."
Peter S and Roxana R, USA
| Download detailed itinerary |
CONTACT US
1. Send us your phone number and we will call you
2. Fil in our contact form
3. Call us on SKYPE
4. Call +44 20 7099 6147 (ET + 5 hours)
