11 Day Wonders Of Japan Small Group Tour
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
This tour is categorised as 4 out of 5
Packed itinerary with maximum exploration: Embark on a whirlwind sightseeing tour with minimal downtime. This tour maximises your exploration, keeping you on the move and ticking off must-see locations. A good fitness level and mobility are required to keep pace with this action-packed adventure!
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
✓ Limited Time Offer – Add return international airfares for only $499
✓ Incredible sightseeing and culinary experiences, including a special maiko performance in Kyoto, breathtaking Mt Fuji, the impressive Golden Pavilion and visit some of Japan’s most famous sake and beer distilleries and breweries
✓ Small group experience with no more than 12 travellers
✓ Ten nights deluxe 3 and 4-star accommodation
✓ Breakfast daily, two lunches and four dinners
✓ Including five special Japanese culinary experiences
✓ Visit 3 of Japan’s world class breweries and distilleries
✓ Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
✓ Travel on the famous Shinkansen bullet train four times
✓ Dedicated coach transportation
✓ In-depth sightseeing and all monument entrance fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Tokyo! Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, make your way down to the arrival area where you will meet your friendly tour guide. You will then be transferred to your hotel.
Travellers will be arriving at various times throughout the day. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion.
Please note: Some flights may depart Australia the night before
After breakfast, our first stop of the day will be at Tokyo Tower, the world's tallest self-supported tower at 333m high. We then continue on to the Tsukiji Outer Market, and finish with a tour of the Beer Factory, where you can see the beer production process and even sample freshly brewed beer.
We will then head to the Mount Fuji area. Tonight, we will enjoy a group kaiseki ryori (multi-course Japanese fine dining) welcome dinner at a Japanese ryokan (traditional inn).
Start your day with a stop at Oishi Park on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, well known for its serene, flower-lined walking path and its spectacular view of Mount Fuji.
Then, stop by the eight ponds at Oshino Hakkai, a small village in the Fuji Five Lake region fed by the snow melt from the nearby mountains. See traditional thatched roof farmhouses and try some of the local delicacies.
After your day in the Mount Fuji area we will activate your JR Rail Pass for you. You and your tour guide will board the shinkansen bullet train together for Kyoto. Tonight enjoy a very special dinner with a maiko dance performance.
Today, we will visit the impressive pure gold leaf covered two-storey Zen temple, Kinkakuji, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion. Then, we will make our way over to the former residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period, Nijo Castle.
Afterwards, we will take a rest in Arashiyama and visit the Togetsu Bridge, the landmark of Western Kyoto for over four hundred years. Then, take in the serene beauty of the Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto's top sights.
Next, we head to an exclusive whiskey tasting experience at the famed Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. Then, make your way to Osaka for a night tour of the iconic Dotonbori.
Today, you will start your journey towards Hiroshima on the shinkansen bullet train.
First stop is Himeji Castle, often called 'the White Heron Castle due to its elegant design. Himeji Castle is one of Japan's last remaining original medieval castles.
We then enjoy a special okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) lunch together before continuing on to Hiroshima. Once we reach Hiroshima, visit the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome, two of the main commemoration monuments dedicated to the victims of the atomic bomb used in WWII.
Afterwards, we make our way to Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, where you can see the floating torii gate on the water at high tide. We will then make our way back to Osaka for the night.
Today we head to Nara, famous for its many temples and its free-roaming deer. First, we visit Todaiji (Great Easten Temple), one of Japan's most famous temples. This massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu).
On your way back, wander through Nara Park, home to hundreds of deer. We will enjoy lunch together in Nara before making our way towards Nagoya. On the way, we will visit the Ninja Museum of Igaryu where you can see a ninja trick house, ninja museum and experience a ninja show (if time permits).
Afterwards, make your way to the birthplace of Toyota at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology.
Tonight, enjoy a Japanese style BBQ together with your group members for dinner.
Today we travel from Nagoya through to the gorgeous towns of Gifu prefecture. Begin your tour with a sake tasting experience in Takayama and learn about sake traditions and history.
You will then have free time to stroll through the nostalgia-invoking streets of Takayama and to take in the sights at your own pace. Some of the preserved Edo period houses are open to visitors, giving tourists the chance to experience a taste of Old Japan.
Afterwards, we visit Shirakawa-go and explore the small village with its interesting gassho-style farm houses. Stop by the observation point and you can see a 360 view of the whole village.
This afternoon, we will head to Kanazawa, a name which translates as 'the marsh of gold'.
Today we will explore the castle town of Kanazawa. First up is a visit to Omicho Market, where you can try some local favourites, such as fresh seafood and gold leaf ice cream.
Next, we visit Kenrokuen Garden. This is one of Japan's three best landscape gardens, and is considered the most beautiful of them all.
Finish up your day by taking a stroll down the streets of Higashi Chaya, a geisha district in Kanazawa known for its quaint old buildings and teahouses.
Tonight, enjoy a group farewell dinner.
Today, make your way to Tokyo at your own pace. On arrival, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore this fascinating city.
Today is free for you to explore Tokyo at your leisure.
Tokyo is a true blend of old meets new. Think neon lights, cutting-edge technology, fantastic gourmet food, and lively bars. But there are many aspects of traditional Japanese life that Tokyoites hold dear, and amongst the gargantuan skyscrapers you can find a plentitude of temples, shrines, museums and gardens.
Some of our top picks in Tokyo include Meiji Jingu, a famous shrine surrounded by forests and gardens and close by to Shibuya and Harajuku; the Imperial Palace and its beautiful gardens; the bustling Akihabara district; and Sensoji in Asakusa, Tokyo's most famous temple.
At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your homebound flight. Tokyo is served by two airports, Narita and Haneda which are both accessible from Tokyo city.
Booking Process
Booking On Request
Limited Time Offer - Return Economy International Flights from $499 per person
Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase.
Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?
This depends on the package you are booking.
Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.
We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):
When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance.
Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare.
The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked.
Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:
If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.
How to book my flights through the flight portal:
As the travel industry moves towards providing customers with more self-service options, we are excited that our customers will have the opportunity to book their flights through our flight portal. If this option is available to you, you will be notified once flights are available to book for your selected departure date. Flights may be booked by Inspiring Vacations at any time.
Please visit our FAQ for more information.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points
Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Suggested amount for your guide, 500Y per person per day. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $3,050.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Min 6, Max 12
Children
Children Minimum age 2 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and Depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveler has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post-tour accommodation
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
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