19 Day Treasures Of Japan Small Group Tour

• Intimate small group tour of Japan with a maximum of 20 travellers
• Fully escorted with expert, English-speaking tour guide
• Quality accommodation in both Western-style hotels and traditional Ryokans
• 1 night in a traditional Japanese ryokan on the sacred Mt Koyasan  
• All transportation on the Japan rail network, including the iconic Japanese bullet train
•  In-depth discovery of northern and western Japan  
• All activities mentioned in the itinerary, including 1 of 4 Inspiring Sights optional tours
• Meals: All breakfasts (at accommodation), 3 dinners
• Incredible sightseeing including entry fees – See the forested islands of Matsushima Bay, visit beautiful temples, tombs and gardens and explore UNESCO sites like White Heron Castle and the Golden Pavilion  

• Sapporo - Visit the iconic Sapporo Beer Museum
• Saporro - Visit the famous Clock Tower and the lively Susukino district
• Matsushima - Cruise around the inlets on this famous bay
• Hakodate - Ride up the 334m Mt Hakodate gondola
• Hakodate - Enjoy a morning visit to the morning fish market
• Sendai - Enjoy a day trip to Matsushima
• Sendai - Visit the Zuiganji Temple, a National Treasure
• Kanazawa - Visit beautiful Kenrokuen Garden, Omicho Market and the Higashi Chaya district, where geishas perform
• Osaka - Visit Dotonbori area and Kuromon market
• Koyasan - Walk the cobbled path to sacred Okunoin Temple
• Himeji - Visit the famous castle known as the 'White Heron'
• Hiroshima - Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Genbaku Dome to understand the tragedies of Japan’s not so distant past
• Himeji - See the enormous, UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle
• Miyajima - See the 12th-century Itsukushima Shrine and famous floating torii gate
• Kyoto - Visit the Zen temple Kinkakuji: Golden Pavilion and breathtaking Nijō Castle
• Nara - See the country’s largest Buddha statue and the famous Nara deer park
• Tokyo - Enjoy the buzz and energy of one of the world’s great cities
• Otaru - See the quaint canal, the famous Music Box Museum and walk the well-preserved Sakaimachi Street

Inspiring Stays

• Stay 1 night in a traditional monk temple lodge on the sacred Mt Koysan in a traditional Japanese Tatami room with futon.

Inspiring Sights

You may choose to include 1 optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package.

• Osaka - Osaka Food Tour
• Kyoto - Kyoto Cultural Walking Tour
• Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market
• Tokyo - Made in Japan Shopping Ningyocho

The remaining 3 inspiring sights may be purchased prior to departure if you would like to participate in all optional Inspiring sights (see full details under 'Optional Tours').

Inspiring Tastes

• Let your guide take you on a local welcome and farewell dinner sampling a range of local dishes
• Enjoy a traditional vegetarian dinner prepared by Buddhist monks in Koyasan

The main form of transportation used on this tour is the Japan rail network.

Due to limited luggage space on the Japan rail network, it is necessary to transfer your large pieces of luggage via a luggage transfer operator.

We use one of Japan's largest door-to-door delivery service companies. Due to the large distances travelled, they will need one or two nights to deliver your luggage. Unfortunately no same day delivery is possible.

On this tour we have the following deliveries scheduled:

Sapporo to Sendai (two nights without main luggage)
Sendai to Osaka (two nights without main luggage)
Osaka to Hiroshima (one night without main luggage)
Hiroshima to Kyoto (one night without main luggage)
Kyoto to Tokyo (one night without main luggage)

Since you will not have access to your main luggage, you should bring a daypack, rucksack or small suitcase for the days that you do not have your larger bags. A backpack is preferable, however if you have any concerns or mobility issues you can use a small roller suitcase. This bag needs to be light enough for you to carry it yourself. It also needs to be small enough so it can be stored on the train, either overhead or in front of your knees, similar to airline cabin bag.

When travelling, you will need to carry this small bag from each hotel to the departure train station and on to the train. Upon arrival at your next destination, you will take your bag from the arriving train station to the destination hotel. 

Japanese hotels provide many amenities in the rooms, including a night gown, slippers, toothbrush, shampoo, etc. We stay at hotels near the train stations so that the walking distance is short (approx 500 meters), and also so the group can drop off their smaller bags upon arrival before starting any touring for the day. If hotel drop off is not an option, those that wish to store their bags at the train station, lockers are available for a small fee.

Please limit your luggage to one large piece of main luggage per person. Each passenger is entitled to one piece of luggage shipped throughout the journey. Shipping of an additional piece of luggage may be accommodated but not guaranteed and will be at the cost of the passenger paid direct.

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.

This particular tour is categorised as a “4”:

4 – Active Tour: A very good level of fitness and mobility is required for you to enjoy all aspects of the itinerary, as this is considered a fast-paced tour. While there is some free time scheduled either in the morning or afternoon, there are many full days of sightseeing with minimal rest and some early starts. You will be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach 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. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

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, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.

Room size
Japan is a densely populated country and space is at a premium. On average, Japan's room sizes are the smallest you will encounter. At times, single beds are separated by a 30 cm to 40 cm gap. 

Storage room is also limited - for your own comfort, ensure to pack as lightly as you can. 

Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with three options:

1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $1,450.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.

Please note when choosing Single Supplement for this tour, your room will generally consist of a double or semi-double bed. Occasionally there may be a hotel that will provide a single bedded room for single travellers. All rooms provided to single travellers will be smaller than the twin rooms we recommend for two people. Unfortunately, this is typical for Japan, as the cost to solely occupy a twin size room is incredibly high. We appreciate your understanding.

2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement. 

You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such as adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments, and have individual access to our Traveller Hub

During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.

3- Shared Room with a fellow traveler
In this trip you can opt to share a room with a fellow traveler of the same gender – as specified in your passport - and avoid paying a single supplement.

If you believe you may prevent your traveling companion from enjoying a peaceful night’s rest, please refrain from selecting this option.

You will meet your rooming companion at the beginning of your trip. 

Changes to room configuration during the trip must be organized by travelers directly with the hotel, subject to availability and additional charges.

This option is not available on additional accommodation booked before or after

Twin Share Bedding Configuration
At any time, bedding configuration is subject to confirmation by the hotel and based on availability. While you have the option to select either twin or double bedding at time of booking, our recommendation when travelling to Japan is to choose twin bedding, as the rooms are often bigger than those that have a double bed. If insisting on double bedding, please note that the rooms will be smaller and more narrow. As a general expectation, we cannot always guarantee bedding at all hotel stays.

Triple Share
Not available

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

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 to Australia.

Australian passport holders do not need a visa for travel to Japan.

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
Minimum: 8
Maximum: 20

Children
Children must be 2 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults.

Luggage
You will be required to manoeuvre your own luggage throughout this trip. We have included luggage transfers from city to city for the longer journeys so you can travel unencumbered. However you'll need an overnight bag for 1-2 night stays which you are comfortable carrying/wheeling and lifting. We recommend for your convenience you limit your luggage to 15kgs 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):

• At check-out, please ensure you add the numbers of extra nights you would like pre- and/or post-tour (where available as an add-on). This can only be done at time of booking and cannot be added after purchase.
• Some packages may only offer the opportunity to book one (1) extra night pre and/or post. If you want more nights’ than what is available to book you must choose Land Only (refer below).
• If there is no option to add additional nights’ accommodation to your booking, then extending your stay with Inspiring Vacations is not an option and you can instead choose to change your booking to Land Only so you can arrange both your airfares and additional accommodation independently. 

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:

• You would like to stopover
• You would like to upgrade your cabin class
• You would like a specific airline booked 
• You would like to extend longer than what is available within the package 
• You intend to book additional accommodation independently
• You would like to arrive and/or depart from another city or airport or; 
• Your preferred domestic departure city point (ie Perth, Australia) is not an option 

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:

• Flight Offer valid from select departure cities within the purchase path only
• Flights will be booked with the best available airline/s with luggage included. Low-cost carriers may be booked in conjunction with a full-service airline. Depending on the carrier, entertainment and meals may not be included but payable at an extra cost on-board. We cannot specify or guarantee the airline booked. If you would like a specific airline, please select land only. 
• Flights may not be direct and may include multiple connections
• Due to disrupted airline schedules globally with the pandemic, stopovers/transit times may be longer than usual (up to 12 hours in duration in some circumstances).
• Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees. 
• Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required at the time of submitting your traveller booking form. Any error in the names submitted will be subject to fees to amend with the airline or the ticket may be non-refundable with the purchase of a new ticket required. 
• Depending on departure date and time of booking, the required booking class for airfare offer may be too far in advance to book with the appropriate airline.
• If the required booking class is unavailable at time of booking, surcharges may apply. Total cost is final only at time of ticketing. Once issued, air tickets are subject to amendment and cancellation fees or may be non-refundable
• Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control and it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure they are familiar with the most up to date airline schedule prior to departure
• After booking, the price payable may be subject to change as a result of factors beyond the control of Inspiring Vacations. Inspiring Vacations reserves the right to increase the price payable and this will be reflected on the customer's invoice. Increases may be in relation to, but not limited to, currency fluctuations, airline taxes, airfare increases and fuel surcharges.
• Internal airfares (where applicable and included in the itinerary) will be using a local carrier and may include low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage will still be included for each passenger. Any additional baggage required is payable at time of check-in. 
• If you are travelling with another party on a separate booking, we cannot guarantee that the same flights will be booked for all parties, as this strictly depends on availability. 
• All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation.
• You will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included. If travelling over the recommended amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable directly.

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.

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 Tour Accommodation

• $390.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $260.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation

• $390.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $260.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):

• Optional Tour - Tsukiji Fish Market (Day 18) - $135 per person
• Optional Tour - Ningyocho Tour (Day 18) - $135 per person

Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.

• International airfares
• Airport transfers
• Visas
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Tipping
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

Click HERE for more information on weather in Japan.