Ancient & Modern Japan

10 nights comfortable premium hotels with en suite rooms, 3 nights ryokans (traditional Japanese guesthouses, some with shared facilities) Travel by train, bus, metro, ferry and private minibus Includes weekly railpass and journeys on the Shinkansen (bullet train) All sightseeing is on foot Special cherry blossom and autumn colours departures

The accommodation on this cultural adventure through Japan showcases traditional hospitality, with onsen (hot spring baths) in most of the places we stay. The below accommodations are the normal hotels used for 2024 departures. However, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality. Kyoto: Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo (nights 1-5) With tatami flooring and rooms inspired by tea flowers, this well-located hotel in Kyoto is a fitting introduction to Japan. It also houses onsen (natural hot spring baths) and a restaurant serving Japanese and international cuisines. As with all Dormy Inn accommodations, the chefs present a favourite local dish. Here it’s yuba kaisendon, a seafood bowl with yuba (a dried tofu). Takayama: Variety of ryokans (night 6-7) Experience Japanese omotenashi (hospitality) with a two-night stay in a ryokan, a traditional inn. You’ll sleep in the local fashion: on thick futons on the floor. Rooms are always doubles or twin-share but bathrooms and showers are generally communal. As is custom, we wear yukata robes and enjoy a kaiseki, a multi-course meal that has become a staple part of the ryokan experience. Matsumoto: Dormy Inn Matsumoto (night 8) This Matsumoto outlet of the Dormy Inn brand has hot spring baths, saunas and cold baths on the top floor. Elsewhere, the restaurant serves traditional Japanese and international foods. Make sure to seek out the shinshu soba, a local speciality made with wild vegetables and nameko mushrooms. Yudanaka: Biyu no Yado (night 9) Surrounded by the five Hokushin mountains, Biyu no Yado is a peaceful retreat. It has the first onsen in Yudanaka certified by the Nagano Prefecture and the facilities are attended by the ‘hot springs guardian’ who measures the temperature and conditions throughout the day. Food here embraces the bounty of the region, with seasonal mountain delicacies and fish caught from the nearby Chikuma River. Tokyo: Shinjuku Washington Hotel (nights 10-13) Finish the adventure in the popular Shinjuku area of Tokyo with a stay at The Washington. There are plenty of spots to gather as a group, including a selection of places to eat. For a treat, try the Steak & Shabu-shabu Fujita, a teppanyaki restaurant where you can watch the chef work their magic. Worth knowing Single supplements can be pre-booked for Kyoto (five nights), Matsumoto (one night) and Tokyo (four nights) only. In Takayama (two nights) and Yudanaka (one night), single supplements are not available and rooming is based on twin share (sharing with another group member of the same sex). Single supplements are limited, payable at the time of booking, and subject to availability. In Japan, single supplements are often accommodated in either an actual single and/or double for sole use. Room sizes in Western-style hotels in Japan are generally smaller. If requesting a double bed, these can be smaller than Western double bed sizes, so couples may prefer twin beds. In ryokans, females and males have access to separate bathrooms; however, showering and bathing facilities can lack the privacy of a Western-style shared bathroom Onsen (Japanese hot springs) For many visitors to Japan, the onsen is unfamiliar territory. An onsen is a Japanese hot spring and the bathing facilities and inns frequently situated around them. The combination of a strict bathing etiquette, that nudity is compulsory, and that the water temperature is often hotter than most whirlpool baths can cause some reluctance for first timers. However, once the courage is mustered, you may discover that an onsen is one of the highlights of your visit to Japan. We can try an onsen in Takayama, and some hot springs in Yudanaka. Please be aware, you may be refused entry if you have large and visible tattoos. Some accommodations may have private baths available for reservation.