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Tailor made holidays in Japan

COUNTRY:
Japan
DEPARTURES:
We offer a complete tailor made service allowing you to decide when you go, where you stay and what to do.
PRICE:
From £2655 (16 days) including flights from the UK. Price includes private transfers, accommodation and meals where indicated. This trip can also be booked without flights. Prices shown are per person based on 2 people sharing
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Tailor made holidays in Japan

Tailor made holidays in Japan

How this holiday makes a difference

Japan has so much to offer and this trip is a great mix of Japanese tradition and modern western culture. It is an opportunity to learn about ancient customs and spiritual tranquillity and be astounded by the vast landscape and natural wildlife in Japan.

The accommodation on this tour is a variety of small locally run western hotels and Japanese style properties, such as Minshuku and Ryokan. Experience how the locals sleep on futons and enjoy delicious home cooked meals. The transport methods we use are all local buses and trains, which are Japanese owned, reducing our carbon footprints in the sky. Our guides are local wherever possible and brimming with knowledge, supporting local employment.

The tour starts in Tokyo, giving you an opportunity to try local foods and indulge in the mix of future technology and ancient traditions. Then travel into the countryside by express train to Matsumoto for some alpine trekking and views of Mt Fuji. Learn about bear conflicts during your hike.

Other highlights of the tour include visiting Takayama’s river market for an opportunity to buy local farm produce, flowers and crafts, which will contribute to the local economy. In Kanazawa refresh in a teahouse, or explore the gardens and geisha districts by local transport. Spend a night in Hoshi Ryokan, the oldest Ryokan in the world, operated by the same family for 46 generations, over 1,300 years. Visit the heritage sights of Kyoto and join Peter Macintosh, a long-term resident, on a walking tour.

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How we choose providers
Tailor made holidays in Japan

Tailor made holidays in Japan

Reviewed 19 Jul 2009 by Liza Pullman4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


I would say Haoyuan Guesthouse in Beijing was a perfect place to start the China adventure. The Han and Terra Cotta Soldier Museums show how China has taken the archaeology exhibit/museum concept to a new level. The water park in Xi'an was a perfect place to be based. Sims Cozy Guest House in Chengdu - really awesome hostel for families and individuals. Ladies Market, walk down from Victoria peak and Ocean Park in Hong Kong. In Japan - loved Kyoto - perfect combination of city and culture. The Ryokens in Japan were the place to stay - always felt at home and became addicted to traditional breakfasts and public baths. Tokyo had an edge that I wasn't expecting - but it kept us all enthralled - plus the teen/tweens loved Harajuku shopping!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


We used every form of transport - from planes to overnight trains and city buses and subways. The overnight trains in China were very nice and extremely reliable. Pick your hotels carefully. My least favorite were the big hotels - no character, totally impersonal - and hefty charges for internet and laundry. We had much better experiences at small hotels (<20 rooms), Ryokens and hostels. We had guides in China which was very helpful - especially if you are packing a lot into a short period of time as very little if any English is spoken. Both China and Japan are extremely clean....but you will need to keep toilet paper with you for most of your adventures. Recommend Singapore Air over Cathay Pacific for the long haul - the economy class on Singapore is superior.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


I felt that the small traditional hotels definitely benefited local people - the Beijing hotel (above) directly benefited women's human rights (it was owned by a women's organization and profits supported their cause.) The smaller hotels tended to be much more conscious of the environment as well. We stayed in one large hotel in China, one in Japan (Fujiya in Hakone) and two in Hong Kong - none seemed to be environmentally beneficial - but provided employment opportunities to locals.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


We packed a lot into three weeks - so it will take some time to process - but my kids said they liked this trip the best trip so far - which may have been the emphasis on urban over rural areas. In general, it was a great opportunity to learn more about three very different cultures (Hong Kong, Japan & China). It was a glimpse - and I would definitely return to explore more of both Japan and China in the future - using Hong Kong as a base.

Reviewed 28 Jul 2008 by Monica Dalla Valle4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Ryokan stay in Hakone.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Take more time to see more, but don't try to follow strictly the timing schedule propose, otherwise you wake up to early, just rush around and you miss the pleasure of a tailor made holiday.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


They benefited from our expenses for food and drinks and entrance to the many temples, we can say that using always public transport we felt more green!
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Day tour/Attraction Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Tailor made holidays in Japan
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