Japan holiday, ancient and modern
| country: | Japan |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 19 Mar, 9 Apr, 24 Sep, 8 Oct 2011: 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 1 Apr, 8 Apr |
| price: | From £2999 - £3299 (15 days) including flights from the UK, from £2399 - £2549 excluding flights. Single supplement £385. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Japan is a fascinating blend of old and new; its unique culture and enduring religious ideals combine charmingly with an all-embracing reverence for the modern world. Away from its bustling and intriguingly futuristic cities, Japan is a land of great scenic beauty. Our itinerary begins in Kyoto, one of the most splendid cities in Asia: here we enjoy the serenity of its countless temples and relax in its superb Zen gardens. From Kyoto we make daytrips to Nara and the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. Using the highly efficient train system, we explore Japan's rarely visited scenic heartland of mountains, spas and temples, before ending our trip in the extraordinary city of Tokyo.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Kansai; transfer to Kyoto, an atmospheric city set amid beautiful hills. |
| Day 3: | City tour including Zen gardens. |
| Day 4: | Free in Kyoto to explore shrines and temples. |
| Day 5: | Day trip to Nara, ancient capital of Japan. |
| Day 6: | Day trip to Hiroshima; visit Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima. |
| Day 7: | Kyoto to Takayama; afternoon sightseeing. |
| Day 8: | Free in Takayama, amid the 'Japanese Alps', famed for its morning market and traditional architecture. |
| Day 9: | Train to Matsumoto via mediaeval village of Tsumago; afternoon sightseeing in a town noted for its 15th century Black Castle. |
| Day 10: | Travel by train to spa town of Yudanaka; explore the mountainous countryside and soak in a hot spring. |
| Day 11: | See the famous Snow Monkeys before travelling by train to Tokyo. |
| Day 12: | Optional trip to Nikko or Mount Fuji. |
| Day 13: | A full day's city tour of Tokyo including the Senso-ji Temple. |
| Day 14: | Free in Tokyo. |
| Day 15: | Fly to London. |
travellers' tales
My holiday was absolutely fantastic - I have never had such a great time, never loved somewhere so much, never actually had my breath taken away so often, absorbed so much atmosphere, relaxed so completely or felt so carefree and happy as I did on this trip to Japan (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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As a part of our continued commitment to responsible tourism, we operate this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local communities.
We use predominantly locally owned and run accommodation. Where possible this is Ryokans. These are traditional Japanese guesthouses and are locally owned and run. By using them we hope to not only contribute to the local economy but also provide an insight into local culture. We use a Japan’s excellent rail system to get around on the trip. This means that the huge journeys across Japan are by rail not by the more polluting air travel. We have had a long-term relationship with our operator who has experience with working with National Geographic and supports responsible tourism initiatives. We use a UK leaders to assist our local oprator and they already committed to Responsible Tourism, have received training and get additional refresher training on a regular basis. The leaders will give a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce you impact and maximise the benefits of your visit. The group size is limited to 16 to reduce cultural and environmental impacts. We have at our offices worked to reduce our carbon footprint through a reduction of energy use and energy conservation measures. We also actively try reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism. Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference by reducing the carbon dioxide that is produced when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |