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      Essence of Japan

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      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
      $11,390
      Journey Type
      Land
      Time of Year
      Mar - Jun, Aug - Nov
      Cities & Landmarks
      Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Tokyo, Kyoto, Matsumoto, Takayama
      Essence of Japan Guided Tour
      Kyoto, Japan
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      Or Call 800-788-7885

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      Tour Overview

      Essence of Japan Guided Tour Map MORE DETAILS

      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, Kanazawa & at a hot springs resort & spa in Hakone

       

      Small group departures stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto nights 8 – 11

       

      Overnight stay in a traditional ryokan in Matsumoto

       

      Tokyo’s Edo-Tokyo Museum, Kagura dancing, taiko drums & sumo wrestling

       

      A cruise on Lake Ashi beneath Mt. Fuji

       

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      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.

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      Truly a Japan trip unlike any other – one that immerses and inspires sunrise to sunset.

      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 and on through the “Japanese Alps” to Kanazawa and the cultural treasure trove of Kyoto, visit a private home, shoes off, 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 via private boat

      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 aboard a private boat on 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

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      Itinerary

      Day-By-Day

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      Download Day-by-Day Details

      All the information you need for this journey at your fingertips – day-by-day details, map, hotel descriptions, key highlights and more.

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      Accommodations

      Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

       

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      Overnight Accommodations

      Hotel Highlights

      Park Hyatt Tokyo

      Tokyo, Japan

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      Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort & Spa

      Hakone, Japan

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      The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

      Kyoto, Japan

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      Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

      Kyoto, Japan

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      Extend your stay

      Arrive Early

      Extend your stay

      Stay Later

      Your journey

      Pricing & Availability

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      • 1 Room, 2 Guests
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      • Departure: ALL
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      • Classic
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      Want More Detailed Information?

      Call 800-788-7885

      Small Group Departures

      Our small group departures, averaging just 24 guests, are designed for travelers who want more time to experience each destination up close and personally. One of the benefits of small group travel is the personalized service and attention you’ll enjoy. Small groups enable our Tauck Directors to spend more time in the places you explore with more opportunities to connect with them. Smaller groups foster camaraderie and lasting friendships among like-minded travelers; you'll engage more closely with local experts and enjoy enhanced insider access, ease of travel and freedom to linger longer.

      Solo Traveler Savings

      Traveling solo doesn't mean traveling alone – with Tauck, it means camaraderie on a journey with like-minded travelers who share similar interests, enjoying the spirit of travel that makes exploring the world a necessary part of life – and sharing the special travel experiences found on Tauck’s guided land trips and cruises that create lifetime memories. For 90+ years, solo travelers have found a special "travel" home with Tauck in destinations the world over – and we’re offering solo travelers an additional reason to travel with Tauck – special Solo Traveler Savings on select departures.

      Book Your Air

      Traveling with Tauck ensures more than a memorable travel experience; it also enables you to take advantage of additional do-it-for-you travel services that take the hassle out of arranging them yourself. As an added service, we can make flight arrangements for your journey, if your travels originate in Canada or the United States, offering you a number of welcome advantages. With Tauck, you can reserve your flights now and pay later when tickets are issued; benefit from Tauck’s lenient change and refund policies; earn Frequent Flyer mileage on most airlines; and more.

      What you need to know

      Before You Go

      Required

      Travel Documents, Booking and Deposits, and more

      No matter where your destination may be, you should bring identification with you; a valid passport is always an appropriate form of identification. Contact your booking agent for information about all necessary documents required for your journey, such as passport and visa information or documentation required for transportation security measures.

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      Important Information

      Health and Activity

      You'll find Activity and Pace Levels on all of our trips to give you a better idea of physical activity level – higher numbers mean a more active journey. To fully enjoy most journeys, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances; some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot and may include unpaved and uneven surfaces. Please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice.

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      Protect your travel investment

      Guest Protection Product

      Your vacation is an important investment – and to help you protect it, Tauck's Guest Protection Product provides you with important benefits before your trip and while you are traveling, including 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance services; truly peace of mind travel at its best!
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      The Tauck Experience

      Why Tauck?

      Leave Your Worries At Home

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      One Upfront Price – No Hidden Costs

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      Tauck Directors – Simply The Best

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      Never Settle For Ordinary

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        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.

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        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.

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        About the Weather

        To help you plan your trip, here's an overview of average temperatures, weather conditions, and what you might expect from Mother Nature. 

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        Conditions of Tour

        Take a look at some general travel information that will be helpful to you as you plan your Tauck journey.

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