General Tours > The Heart of Japan

The Heart of Japan
11 Days starting from $3,349

Countries Visited:
Japan

 

Length: 11 Days
Type: Fixed Departure Dates
Category: Escorted Tour
Operator: General Tours
Tour Code: GT-248
   
 
About This Tour


Escorted Touring with General Tours World Traveler... The Heart of Japan. Our comprehensive itinerary features Japan’s most scenic regions: Mt. Fuji, Hakone, the Sea of Japan and the magnificent Japan Alps. Visit Kenrokuen, Japan’s finest garden, in spring or fall – when the plantings and waterways are at their peak of beauty. Learn about traditional Japanese arts like silk-dyeing and gold-leafing and see centuries-old farmhouses in an Alpine hamlet. This active, in-depth program features first class and deluxe hotels and our great English-speaking guides.

Kyoto's Bion Festival!
A Special Departure on July 12! Enjoy one of Japan’s liveliest festivals, with traditions dating back more than 1,000 years. At Festival-time, Kyoto is filled with color, music and light. Join the festivities, see the decorations and enjoy Yamahoko-junko, a colorful nighttime parade of floats pulled by teams of men in traditional garb.
 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights

General Tours World Traveler Escorted Touring
  • All the best places on Japan’s main island, like the Japan Alps, Kanazawa and Hakone National Park at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Our leisurely-paced trip features in-depth sightseeing throughout Japan. We even include the temples of Nara. Enjoy traditional Japanese hospitality with our ryokan feature in Kyoto. Plan your travel dates with confidence – we guarantee all our departures! 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites #WHS#

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa
Hotel Class: Deluxe
In the foothills of Japan's majestic Hakone Mountains overlooking the rich blue waters of Sagami Bay sits the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa – a tranquil resort that aims to nourish your body, mind and senses. Guest rooms with balconies overlooking the bay, feature calming tones and large windows to enhance the sense of sanctuary. The property includes six tennis courts, swimming pool, fitness center, putting green & driving range.

Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
Hotel Class: Deluxe
The Hotel Nikko Kanazawa offers guests a combination of European and Japanese comfort. The hotel is within walking distance of some of the most famous tourist spots in Kanazawa. The hotel offers a choice of five restaurants, bar, lounge, and the fitness club. The fitness club includes the indoor pool, fitness room, Jacuzzi, and sauna.

Hida Hotel Plaza
Hotel Class: First Class
Located just outside of the city center, the Hida Hotel Plaza offers 92 modern guest rooms. In-room features include a/c, clock radio, cable tv, in-house movies, telephone (idd) and tv. Standard services available for guests at this Gifu accommodation include city shuttle service, beauty salon, restaurants, store and room service. In addition, guests will appreciate the leisure and entertainment facilities provided on the premises: indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and whirlpool.

Keio Plaza Hotel
Hotel Class: Deluxe
The Keio Plaza Hotel is located in the Shinjuku district of bustling Tokyo, walking distance from shopping, cultural experiences, and other events. The hotel plays host to 29 separate restaurants, each with a different atmosphere and dining opportunity. All 1450 rooms are equipped with television, internet access, mini-bar, and a spectacular view of the city. Other hotel amenities include the swimming pool, gymnasium, drugstore, sauna, photo studio and beauty salon.
 
Day 1 - Arrive Tokyo
Upon arrival, you are met and assisted with your transfer by airport bus to your deluxe hotel in the heart of Shinjuku, close to dining and shopping. Keio Plaza Hotel

Day 2 - Tokyo
Visit the Imperial Palace Plaza and see the beautifully landscaped Meiji Shrine. In Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s oldest areas, you’ll pass through the imposing “Thunder Gates” to stroll the Nakamise Arcade to the Asakusa Kannon Temple. Meals B,D

Day 3 - Tokyo
Your hotel’s convenient location, close to shopping, dining and entertainment, makes it easy to make the most of your free day. From April to November, you can join an available tour to Nikko#WHS# to see the Toshogu Shrine. Meals B

Day 4 - Tokyo / Mt. Fuji / Hakone
Ascend Mt. Fuji to enjoy the views from the halfway point. After cruising on Lake Ashi, ride the cable car up Mt. Komaga-take. This evening, dine at your deluxe resort hotel, offering dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean, and then soothe your muscles in an onsen, a traditional hot-springs bath. Meals B,D Hilton Odawara

Day 5 - Hakone / Mishima / Kyoto
Travel to Mishima and board the Bullet Train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, transfer to your superior first-class hotel in the heart of the city. Or, spend the night in a traditional Japanese inn. At the family-run Yoshi-ima Ryokan in the renowned Gion District, you’ll enjoy a Japanese dinner, breakfast and tea ceremony ($195 per person double, $319 single) Meals B Rihga Royal Hotel

Day 6 - Kyoto / Nara / Kyoto
Visit Kyoto’s most famous temples: Kinkaku-jic, or the Golden Pavilion, the Heian Shrine and Sanjusangendo Temple, with 1,001 images of Buddha. Travel to Nara#WHS#, an ancient capital, home to many of Japan’s oldest temples like Todai-ji, the largest wooden building in the world. You also visit Deer Park and Kasuga Shrine, famed for its picturesque lantern-lined pathways. Meals B,L,D

Day 7 - Kyoto / Kanazawa
Travel by train to Kanazawa and explore beautiful Kenrokuen Garden – considered by many to be the finest classical garden in Japan. Learn about the traditional arts of the region, including Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing, Kanazawa Haku gold leafing, and Kaga Zogan inlay work. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your centrally located first class hotel. Meals B,D Hotel Nikko Kanazawa

Day 8 - Kanazawa / Shirakawago / Takayama
Travel to the mountain hamlet of Shirakawago#WHS# to see century-old Gassho-Zukuri, or “Joined-Hands” farmhouses, named for their steeply pitched thatched roofs which give the appearance of hands joined in prayer. Continue to Takayama for dinner and overnight at your first class hotel. Meals B,D Hida Hotel Plaza

Day 9 - Takayama
Takayama, a picturesque alpine town with richly preserved homes of the Edo era, is also famous for its autumn festival, which features a grand procession with centuries-old floats. Your walking tour includes the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall and Takayama Jinya, a complex of 17th century buildings that once housed officials of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Meals B

Day 10 - Takayama /Tokyo
Enjoy an early morning visit to the Miyagawa Market and browse along with local residents as they shop for farm-fresh produce. Then walk to the station and board your bus for a journey through the Japan Alps. Arrive at your deluxe hotel in Tokyo for a free evening. Meals B Keio Plaza Hotel

Day 11 - Tokyo
Your tour finishes this morning. Or, explore more of Japan and Asia with our FreeStyle Travel. Meals B


To speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.
         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
4/12/2009 - 4/23/2009
$3,649
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
         

General Tours World Traveler Escorted Touring
  • All the best places on Japan’s main island, like the Japan Alps, Kanazawa and Hakone National Park at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Our leisurely-paced trip features in-depth sightseeing throughout Japan. We even include the temples of Nara. Enjoy traditional Japanese hospitality with our ryokan feature in Kyoto. Plan your travel dates with confidence – we guarantee all our departures! 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites #WHS#
   
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