Land Journey

Essence of Japan

?

Year, Departure Type

Select small group departures (averaging 24 Tauck guests), or classic departures, and the year you would like to travel.

Days
13
From (per Person)
$18,890 CAD
Journey Type
Land
Passengers
24
Time of Year
Mar - Jun, Aug - Nov
Cities & Landmarks
Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama, Hiroshima, Gero Onsen
Mount Fuji

TEXT SIZE

Overview

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

 

In Kyoto, enjoy a private home visit with tea ceremony & Origami demonstration, explorations with a local Geisha expert, visits to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple & Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu Temple) 

  

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 

Multiple-night stays in premier hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone & at a hot springs resort & spa in Gero Onsen

 

A Kagura ceremonial blessing and taiko drums in Tokyo

 

A ferry ride on Lake Ashi highlighted with views of Mt. Fuji, Japan's largest mountain, in the distance

 

In Hakone, visit an open-air museum and attend a flower arranging class

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

3
?

Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Pace

3
?

Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

View Full Itinerary

Experiences of a lifetime

Inspirational, innovative and intriguing, Japan is a favorite destination with Tauck travelers... where gilded temples and glittering skyscrapers reign over streets steeped in history and tradition.

Discover the revered customs and unique sense of beauty that infuse life here... On the main island of Honshu, from Tokyo to the hot springs resort town of Hakone to Kanazawa and the cultural treasure trove of Kyoto, visit a private home for a tea ceremony and Origami... explore castles, temples, shrines, a samurai home, and world-class gardens... spend a night at a ryokan with traditional Japanese cultural experiences... make sushi, taste sake, cruise Lake Ashi to see Mt. Fuji... enjoy a taiko performance, Shinto music, Kagura dancing, a sumo wrestling demonstration... and meet a geisha expert. Join us for a Japan trip to remember. Read Less

The Geisha

Extraordinary Access

Cruise Lake Ashi

Day 4

Lake Ashi, in Mt. Fuji's shadow

Sometimes known as Hakone Lake or Ashinoko Lake, Japan's Lake Ashi is a picturesque crater lake set on the caldera of volcanic Mt. Hakone on the island of Honshu. The lake is famous not only for the sight of Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest peak, looming over it, but for the many volcanically heated hot springs and historic sites along its shores. Foremost among these is Hakone Shrine in the lakeside town of Hakone, a Shinto shrine that has been frequently visited by samurai, shogun and pilgrims since the 17th century. Your cruise along Lake Ashi's sparkling waters offers great views of such sites and, weather permitting, iconic Mt. Fuji in the distance.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Nights 8, 9, 10 and 11

The gateway to Kyoto's treasures

Secluded in garden tranquility just ten minutes from Kyoto's busy downtown, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto offers personalized, insider access to this historic city's four-season delights. In its spacious guest rooms, suites and hotel residences, the hotel blends refined, modern aesthetics and the creations of Japanese artisans – including washi-paper lamps, fusuma screens and urushi lacquerware. Patterns of light and shadow play from large windows, and bathrooms reflect the soothing effects of water. And on its grounds, the poetic heart of Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is an 800-year-old ikeniwa (pond garden), crossed by a glass bridge.

The opportunities to experience the 'Onsen', wear a Yukata and stay one night in a traditional Japanese hotel were not to be missed.

Malcolm & Jenette Galloway

01
12

Your journey

Pricing & Availability

{{{{raw}}}}

{{month}}

{{year}}
{{date}}
{{departure}}
{{direction.direction}}
{{price}}
{{{{/raw}}}} {{> molecules-tooltip title=false copy="{{tooltip}}"}} {{{{raw}}}}
{{availability.label}}
{{price}}
Category
Date
{{header}}
{{{{/raw}}}}
Departure By
{{label}}
?

{{title}}

{{copy}}

{{label}}
Click on a departure date / price for additional information
Date
Ship
Departure
Direction
From (Per Person)
Availability
Pricing & Dates are not available yet. Please check back soon.

No departures found.

Try using less filters or select a different year.

Pricing & Dates are not available yet. Please check back soon.

Pricing & Dates are not available yet. Please check back soon.

Or

Want More Detailed Information?

Or

About Booking This Tour

01
12

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Japan; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a consulate or embassy of Japan to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

 

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

Deposit & Booking Information

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is CAD $750.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

  • Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
  • Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)
  • Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Tauck Travel Protection Product

Effective for plans purchased as of July 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances: In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

  • Trip Cancellation – If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.

  • Trip Interruption – If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.

  • Travel Delay – Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.

  • Medical Expense – Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 

  • Baggage / Personal Effects Protection – Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
  • Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services – Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection (CAD) is:

$390 per person – Costa Rica: Jungles & Rainforests; Mystical Peru

$549 per person – Most Tauck Bridges Europe land tours

$585 per person – A Week In... Europe tours

$595 per person – The Best of Hawaii

$699 per person – Most Europe land journeys

$849 per person – New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure; Australia Adventure: Adelaide, Tasmania & Sydney

$865 per person – Tanzania: A Grand Family Safari

$895 per person – Most South America Land Tours

$975 per person – Asia land tours

$995 per person – Africa land tours; Israel and Jordan; Egypt and Jordan land tours; Grand Australia and New Zealand; A Portrait of India; Northern India & Nepal

$1250 per person – Most India Tours

 

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of August 2020, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost. 

Note: All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Fee Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit http://www.affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

01
12

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences. 

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

IMPORTANT: An overnight bag for your stay at the Tobira Onsen on Day 5 should be packed including all essential clothing and personal care items as the balance of the luggage will be transported by luggage truck and there will be no access to the remainder of your luggage. A small bag with wheels that you can comfortably manage on your own without assistance is strongly suggested.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

VACCINATIONS

If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally,  no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Japan. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries on the itinerary to determine what vaccinations may be required for you to visit.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

MOBILITY

To enjoy this active tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion.  We recommend that you pack sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in to appreciate fully what Japan has to offer.

Some sites have limited motor coach access and often involve walking some distance from the motor coach parking to the site itself. Due to the ancient nature of several of the sites you will visit, stairs, walkways and garden paths are sometimes uneven, irregular, steep and/or slippery. If you join us for the visit to the fish market, you should be aware that there are crowds of people and fast-moving carts and forklifts. Quite often, you will be asked to remove your shoes to gain entry into the temples, shrines and historical residences along your journey.

PLEASE NOTE:  We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

Weather

The weather throughout the Japan's four main islands is generally temperate, with four distinct seasons. The weather can get very hot during the summer months, particularly in the South. May, June and July are the wettest months, and June, July and August are hotter and more humid.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.


The Tauck Experience

Why Tauck?

Leave Your Worries At Home

One Upfront Price – No Hidden Costs

Tauck Directors – Simply The Best

Never Settle For Ordinary

01
12

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Related Journeys

Other Journeys You May Enjoy

LOADING...