The Golden Triangle of Japan Tour Winter: Snow Monkeys

The must see sights of Tokyo, Takayama & Kyoto... plus the Snow Monkeys.

Winter in Japan is not severe, especially on the Pacific coast where the climate is generally dry and the skies are often blue.

This is "The Golden Triangle of Japan Tour Winter: Snow Monkeys", an itinerary especially revised for your winter visit. This tour gives you a sampling of all that Japan has to offer, from unique locales to "must see" tourist attractions in Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara, as well as some changes that you can only experience in the winter.

Itinerary

Day 1

Tokyo Narita Airport

Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met at the arrival gale by a representative holding a name sign.

🅗 Hotel Mystays Premier Narita or similar class

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 2

Tokyo (Asakusa Senso ji Tempie / Sushi Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / ImperiaI PaIace / Tokyo Tower)

First. the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is a traditional-style shopping street with centuries of history.

Next. you have the chance to enjoy a sushi making experience with a professional sushi chef. We will proceed to the Tsukiji Outer Market. where various restaurants and shops line the streets. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace. the former site of Edo Castle and current residence of Japan's Imperial Family.

In the afternoon, we will visit the the world's tallest self supporting steel tower. At 333 meters (1093ft.) high. You will be able to sightsee 150 meters up at the main observatory deck and get a bird's eye view of the city.

🍴Breakfast / Lunch

🅗 Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 3

Lake Kawaguchi(Kubota ltchiku Art Museum /Kachi Kachi Ropeway), Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle)

We will depart to Mt. Fuji on our private coach. At one of shores of Lake Kawaguchi is the ltchiku Kubota Art Museum. The museum displays the beautiful kimonos done by ltchiku Kubota with the tsujigahana dyeing technique. His unfinished masterpiece called the "Symphony of Light." is a kimono 80-piece set depicting the four seasons and his own universe.

Next, we get ready to ride the Kachi Kachi Ropeway. The ropeway extends from the top of Mt. Tenjo to the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, along the way you can enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Fuji. We will then travel to Matsumoto where we'll visit the photogenic Matsumoto Castle, or Black Crow Castle, dating back over 400 years.

Stay at the Onsen Ryokan at Yudanaka. where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath and feast on a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

🍴Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

🅗 Ryokan Biyu no Yado or similar class

Day 4

Yudanaka (Snow Monkey Park), Takayama (Old TownTaka􀁳a Jinya)

Yudanaka gives us the chance to see the famous snow monkeys as they enjoy their hot spring baths.Then we will continue on to Takayama. This city is located amongst the Japanese Alps.Due to its remote position in the mountains, it was cut off from the rest of Japan for most of its history and, thus, has maintained a very unique and traditional atmosphere.

We'll explore the old town of Takayama. a place that creates a sense of tradition and nostalgia.Due to its remote position in the mountains. it was cut off from the rest of Japan for most of its history and. thus, has maintained a very unique and traditional atmosphere.

The only traditional local government office in existence and a fine example of a miniature palace containing offices. an interrogation room with torture devices. and a 440 year-old rice granary.

🍴Breakfast / Dinner

🅗 Hotel Associa Takayama Resort or similar class

Day 5

Takayama(Morning Market), Shirakawa- go (Shiroyama Viewpoint/ Gassho-zukuri Minkaen), Kanazawa (Kenrokuen), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride from Maibara to Kyoto

We'll enjoy the lively city market before heading to the World Heritage site in the rural area of Shirakawa-go. In this very photogenic village. we will walk past thatched roof farm houses and cultivated fields and see unspoiled Edo period wooden buildings.

Once there, we will also go the Shiroyama Viewpoint, which allows us to have a scenic view of Shirakawa-go from higher grounds. Next, w e will depart to Kanazawa to visit Kenrokuen Garden, one of three most beautiful gardens of Japan.

The name "Kenrokuen" literally means a garden combining the 6 attributes of a perfect landscape: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice. antiquity 會water features. and panoramas. Here, you'll find the oldest fountain in Japan and Kotoji-toro. the two-legged stone lantern that is iconic of Kenrokuen and Kanazawa.

Next. Experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride from Maibara to Kyoto. which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/hr (Approx.186m/hr). We will stay two nights in Kyoto.

🍴Breakfast / Lunch

🅗 Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 6

Kyoto: Arashiyama - Tenryuji Temple - Sagano Bamboo Forest -Togetsu Bridge / Golden Pavilion / Nishijin Kimono Show / Kiyomizu Temple / Gion District

First. we will visit Arashiyama to see Tenryuji Temple, where you can have a glimpse of a traditional Zen landscape garden design. Then, proceed through the dense Sagano Bamboo Forest, pass several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Next to the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) covered with 18-karat gold leaf.

At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can view displays of kimonos, watch an elegant kimono fashion show. and learn how they are made. Our group will tour the Kiyomizu Temple. best known for its large wooden stage that sits 13 meters (42.6 ft) above a hillside. we will tour Gion, a famous geisha district in Kyoto lined with many restaurants and teahouses called ochaya.

The next day begins with a green tea ceremony and a meet- and-greet with a maiko - an apprentice geisha. You will have photo-taking opportunities and a chance to interact with the maiko. After that. to the Fushimi lnari Shrine. The shrine is famous for its thousands of stunning vermilion torii gates that are lined along a 4 km (2.5 mile) long tunnel. We will then travel to Nara, where we will go to Todaiji Temple. the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple also houses one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha at 15 meters (49 feet) high.

Nearby. Explore the surrounding Deer Park. filled with over 1.000 Deer. Our final stop of the day will be in Osaka. We will spend some time in Dotonbori. a popular shopping, entertainment, and food district.

🍴Breakfast / Dinner

🅗 Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 7

Kyoto (Green Tea Ceremony with a Maiko / Fushimi Inari Shrine), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Dotonbori - Shinsaibashi)

🍴Breakfast / Lunch

🅗 Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

NOTE: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the last night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.

Day 8

Osaka | Tour Ends

Checkout time is 11 am and Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in a three minute walk.

Please Note:

1. All prices are per person, based on twin (double on request) or triple occupancy. Estimated price. Subject to change.

2. International flights are not included on our tours - this allows you the flexibility to choose your own departure and get the best value for your money!We can arrange international flights for US customers if needed, please ask for details.

3. Day1: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the first night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$65.00 per person per way.

4. Day1: If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Tokyo (Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, meet-and- greet and airport transfer are not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.

5. Day1: The meet-and-greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 & 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 3, airport pickup is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

6. Day1: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.

Deposit

We require a NON-Refundable US$500 deposit per person to hold the space at the time of booking and the final payment is due 2 months prior to departure.

Additional Information

Transport

Travel by private coach between destinations, hassle free baggage handling.

Arrival Departure Airports

• For arrivals at Narita Airport (NRT), this tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka, with departures at Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX)

• If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita Airport (NRT) on the first day, airport transfer is not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.

Meal Requests

Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.

Meet and Greet

Please note that the meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 11 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, we will provide full instructions in advance for you to transfer to your hotel on your own.

Accommodations

• Narita (Day 1)

  Hotel Mystays Premier Narita

  Western Style Accommodation OR

• Tokyo (Day 1 & Day 2)

  Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

  Western Style Accommodation

• Yudanaka Onsen (Day 3)

  Ryokan Biyu no Yado

  Japanese Style Accommodation

• Takayama (Day 4)

  Hotel Associa Takayama Resort

  Western-Style Accommodation

• Kyoto (Day 5 & Day 6)

  Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto

  Western Style Accommodation

• Kansai (Day 7)

  Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport

  Western Style Accommodation

• Osaka (Day 7)

  Hotel Elsereine Osaka

  Western Style Accommodation