Japan cultural small group holiday
Highlights
Tokyo | Hakone National Park | Stay in traditional ryokan inn | Hot spring baths | Kamakura | Bullet train journey | KyotoDescription of Japan cultural small group holiday
From the thrills of high-tech Tokyo to the serenity of Zen gardens and hidden temples in Kyoto, this journey along the ancient Tokaido highway is a fantastic introduction to Japan’s uniquely vibrant culture.Take your time over exquisite traditional kaiseki cuisine in Kamakura, relax in the velvety-soft volcanic waters of Hakone’s hot spring baths, stroll among the geisha of Kyoto’s Gion district, and experience the sound of the Shinkansen (bullet train) thundering past at breathtaking speeds. Japan is a sensory experience like nowhere else. A feast for the eyes, ears and of course, the taste buds!
Combining modern, centrally-located business hotels with friendly traditional inns and transfers by public transport throughout; the Tokaido Trail provides a slice of every day Japanese life. You’ll have the chance to breakfast alongside suited salary men, experience the ordered chaos of *Tsukiji’s early morning tuna auctions and slurp steaming hot ramen noodles in a stand up bar under the railway tracks.
The included excursion day is an opportunity to visit any one of a number of fascinating destinations: The giant Buddha and tame deer of Nara; Himeji’s magnificent original samurai castle; the haunting Atomic War Museum and Peace Park in Hiroshima; Kanazawa, home to the beautiful classical garden Kenrokuen. The hardest part is deciding where to go.
This is a 9 night small group tour (maximum group size 14 people). You will be accompanied by a native English speaking tour leader who also speaks fantastic Japanese. All accommodation and transport between destinations are included as well as breakfast every day and one evening meal. How much else you spend on food, drink and sightseeing is up to you giving you lots of flexibility. Of course the tour leader will always be on hand with restaurant suggestions and day trip ideas.
*Please note - Tsukiji Fish Market is due to relocate in 2018 (date TBC). We'll be sure to offer an alternative but equally fascinating slice of Japanese life after the move.
SOLO TRAVELLERS can book on any available departure, or on dedicated departures for solos only.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
We keep our group tours to a maximum of 14 people for many good reasons. Firstly travelling in a small group makes it easy to take advantage of Japan’s excellent public transport system. Of course this is good for environmental reasons, but it also avoids that feeling of being in a “tour bus bubble”, cut off from local Japanese people that we’re sure you’re keen to meet!Small groups also mean the tour leader can take you to some interesting restaurants and izakaya (Japanese-style pubs). (Please note only one evening meal in Kyoto is included, other meals suggested by the tour leader are optional.) Large groups only fit into big chain restaurants, but we’d much rather show you the interesting, independently owned places.
Japanese culture makes much of the changing of the seasons and the food you’ll eat on this trip is sure to reflect this. The tour leader will be sure to pick restaurants were the menu offers locally grown, seasonal specialities keeping those food miles down and introducing you to the best Japanese cuisine!
The Impacts of this Trip
Although 10 days is not a long time to spend in Japan, we really pack the cultural learning in to take you beneath the surface Japanese culture. This way you’ll get a great appreciation of the Japanese way of life in both urban areas and rural communities.
In Kyoto we’ll spend the evening with a local guide for a walking tour of the Gion geisha district. The English speaking guide will invite us for a closer look at Geisha culture, explaining the history and traditional arts (tea ceremony, fan dancing, Shamisen) that maiko (apprentice geisha) spend years mastering. These days there are only a handful of geisha working in Kyoto. And yet it is important that they continue in order to pass these traditional arts on to future Japanese generations. As we wander the streets of Gion at dusk, we may even be lucky enough to spot a real geisha scuttling between tea houses.
We keep our group tours to a maximum of 14 people for many good reasons. Firstly travelling in a small group makes it easy to take advantage of Japan’s excellent public transport system. Of course this is good for environmental reasons, but it also avoids that feeling of being in a “tour bus bubble”, cut off from local Japanese people that we’re sure you’re keen to meet!Small groups also mean the tour leader can take you to some interesting restaurants and izakaya (Japanese-style pubs). (Please note only one evening meal in Kyoto is included, other meals suggested by the tour leader are optional.) Large groups only fit into big chain restaurants, but we’d much rather show you the interesting, independently owned places.
Japanese culture makes much of the changing of the seasons and the food you’ll eat on this trip is sure to reflect this. The tour leader will be sure to pick restaurants were the menu offers locally grown, seasonal specialities keeping those food miles down and introducing you to the best Japanese cuisine!
The Impacts of this Trip
Although 10 days is not a long time to spend in Japan, we really pack the cultural learning in to take you beneath the surface Japanese culture. This way you’ll get a great appreciation of the Japanese way of life in both urban areas and rural communities.
In Kyoto we’ll spend the evening with a local guide for a walking tour of the Gion geisha district. The English speaking guide will invite us for a closer look at Geisha culture, explaining the history and traditional arts (tea ceremony, fan dancing, Shamisen) that maiko (apprentice geisha) spend years mastering. These days there are only a handful of geisha working in Kyoto. And yet it is important that they continue in order to pass these traditional arts on to future Japanese generations. As we wander the streets of Gion at dusk, we may even be lucky enough to spot a real geisha scuttling between tea houses.
3 Reviews of Japan cultural small group holiday
Reviewed on 20 Mar 2018 by Catherine Cassidy
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We saw various places all of which were very interesting. There is not one particular place or experience that stands out over and above everything else. It was great to cover so much ground and there was a lot to do every day. Our tour leader was helpful and very knowledgeable.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
No need to pack night wear! This was provided in every inn and hotel.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Shopping and eating in local areas must have benefitted local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Most enjoyable, a very good experience
Reviewed on 15 Aug 2016 by Anuschka Veckranges
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Experiencing the traditional aswell as modern culture. The Geisha experience was pretty amazing. It was so good!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack light; so many souvenirs to be bought. Be adventurous and try new flavours and food, it's all delicious.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The entire trip was so awesome. Lots of exciting things to taste, see and experience. Great way to meet people who enjoy travelling as much as I do.
Fantastic trip.
Reviewed on 16 Mar 2016 by Eva Jolly
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really enjoyed the variety of visiting different regions of Japan e.g busy Tokyo,
tranquil Hakone, beautiful Kyoto and Nara and Kamakura. I particularly enjoyed
staying in the traditional Ryokan accommodation and having an open air onsen (hot springs ) at night.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Embrace all elements of the trip and try some new experiences.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The trip uses public transport throughout such as trains, buses and metro. Local
restaurants are used.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An amazing adventure.
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