Deal

One quarter of all Japanese live in Tokyo or the near vicinity and with a population of over 12 million inhabitants, Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. With its huge skyscrapers, underpasses, overpasses and crowds of pedestrians, Tokyo may not seem the most attractive city on the surface, but the city has a vibrant charm all of its own. The street-level detail is what makes Tokyo such an incredibly interesting place to explore and at every turn, you will be met with an array of sights, sounds and smells to enliven the senses. The city has many major sights to visit such as Senso-ji Temple in the old downtown area of Asakusa or the fashion hub of Shibuya from where all new trends are said to emanate. All in all a stay in Tokyo is to experience one of the world’s most vibrant and interesting cities; a capital hurtling headlong into the future whilst maintaining its links with the traditions of ancient Japan.

Insider day – Family Tokyo sightseeing: Today we will arrange for you to meet one of our “Insiders” who will take you on a family-themed day tour of Tokyo. Our Insiders hail from all over the English-speaking world and have chosen to make Japan their home and study its vast, beautiful and at times bewildering culture.

Dinner at Ninja Akasaka restaurant.

A day in Disneyland: This was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it’s classic Disney, the same style as Disneyland in California and Florida’s Magic Kingdom. Expect to find the famous Disney Castle and all your favourite Disney characters.

Train from Tokyo to Nagano Travel by bus to Hakuba.
Hakuba is one of Japan’s premier ski resort located in the stunning northern Japanese Alps. Hakuba grew in reputation when its exhilarating slopes played host to several events during the 1998 Winter Olympics. The resort’s seven distinct ski areas offer spectacular views, excellent dining and après-ski activities, as well as plenty of beginner and intermediate runs. Seven ski areas can be found throughout the village, each with its own atmosphere and target clientele. Hakuba Highland and Hakuba Minekata are popular family resorts offering great beginner and intermediate runs, extensive childcare facilities and sweeping views, while Happo-one is the oldest ski area in Hakuba. Along with the newest resort of Hakuba 47, Happo-one offers world-class runs for advanced skiers, while Sunalpina Hakuba Sanosaka offers challenging mogul and snowboarding runs. Hakuba offers the very best in winter sports set amongst spectacular alpine scenery with all the charm of a small Japanese mountain town.

On the slopes!

We have included All Valley Lift Passes for access to all 7 resorts in the Hakuba Area (Happo One, Hakuba 47 / Goryu, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Sanosaka and Highland Minegatta), giving you a chance to try the fantastic variety of courses on offer.

On the slopes!

On the slopes!

We will arrange for a private car and driver to take you from your accommodation in Hakuba to Nagano Station today. En-route you will make at a stop to see Japan’s most famous primates: the ‘snow monkeys’ of the Jigokudani hot springs near Yudanaka Onsen. To escape the chill of winter, the monkeys love to play in the natural hot spring baths. It’s a fantastic spectacle; unperturbed by humans and their cameras, whole families of monkeys eat, wash, splash around and even have snowball fights.

Kyoto is one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto boasts an array of world-class gardens, majestic festivals and delicate cuisine, all of which make much of the rhythms of nature and the changing of the seasons. On first glance however, visitors will see that like any large Japanese city, grid-like Kyoto has its fair share of neon and concrete. But the discerning eye will soon pick out Kyoto’s treasures: sacred shrines tucked in among shopping arcades, time-honoured teahouses nestling among modern businesses and mysterious geisha scuttling down backstreets among the tourists and souvenirs. Kyoto’s charm lies in these details and whether you’re here for three days or three years, the closer you look, the more you’ll discover.
We will arrange for you to be accompanied by a local professional guide today. This is the best way to explore Kyoto, a city so rich in UNESCO World Heritage sites that it can be hard to know where to start! Allow one of our guides to reveal Kyoto’s intricate culture, introducing you to famous must-see spots as well as secret corners that only the locals know.

Osaka is Japan’s second city and an extremely vibrant and lively place to stay. There may not be any real ‘tourist’ sights but it is just the life on the streets that makes Osaka such a fascinating city to visit. Osaka people work hard and play hard and it really shows with the vast number of restaurants, bars and all-round entertainment available.

The city aquarium is world class and you cannot stay in Osaka without taking a ride on one of the city’s several giant big wheels, perhaps the most dramatic of which is perched on top of the Hep 5 department store in the Umeda district of the city – just don’t look down if you are afraid of heights! Osaka Castle is well worth a visit despite being a reconstruction as the original was burnt down during the firebombing at the end of World War Two and you will find a variety of very interesting museums scattered throughout the city. After dark Osaka really comes alive, and a walk through the bright lights of the Nanba district is a great way to take in the atmosphere, with some great people-watching opportunities. With literally thousands of restaurants, bars and entertainment spots to choose from, Osaka is perfect for a big night out, some hearty local food and the chance to let your hair down. Osaka really is one of Japan’s truly all action cities and a stay here is a chance to experience what life in modern day urban Japan is really like.

Universal Studios Japan: This fantastic theme park is great fun for all the family! Come face to face with the Terminator, experience the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and relive many famous movies in all the exciting shows and rides this theme park has to offer. The park consists of 9 areas (Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Minon Park, Waterworld, Amity Village and Universal Wonderland), with 18 blockbuster attractions including Spiderman, Jaws, and Minions – and in 2014 a Harry Potter attraction opened.