Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
Highlights
Tokyo | Hakone National Park | Hot spring baths | Night in traditional ryokan or inn | Kyoto | Bullet train journey
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
All journeys on this trip are by public transport and you’ll be amazed at how many different forms of transport you’ll use! Train, subway, local bus, mountain railway, cable cars, funicular railway, pirate boat, tram and you could even hire bikes to explore Kyoto – details of which will be in the Info-Pack.Hotel staff in Japan are aware of environmental issues, so do look out for recycling bins in the hotels and also outside convenience stores. We give all clients phrases in Japanese for how to refuse a plastic bag and other non-essential plastic items.
All of our customers receive a list of tips for going green in Japan. We encourage clients not to overuse the air conditioning in summer or heating in winter. Tap water is safe to drink in Japan so you can avoid buying bottles of water from the ubiquitous vending machines. Our Info-Pack provides lots of recommendations for local restaurants and shops.
The Impacts of this Trip
The Fuji Hakone Guest House has been welcoming international visitors to Hakone National Park for more than 30 years. Run by the very hospitable Takahashi family, you are sure to receive a warm welcome - as well as an introduction into traditional Japanese culture. Rooms here are Japanese-style; that means you'll need to take your shoes off before stepping on to the soft tatami mat floors. Simple instructions are provided in English to guide you through your stay in a traditional inn; where to take your shoes off, how to lay out your futon bedding and how to use the outdoor hot spring bath (hint: you have to take all your clothes off and wash thoroughly before getting in the bath!). The staff organise various cultural events including kimono wearing and Shamisen music performances. They'll also happily teach you how to make origami crane or write your name in katakana!
In July and August, the Fuji Hakone Guest House is a convenient springboard for climbing Mount Fuji. Please ask if you would like to fit this in your Price Cruncher package.
All journeys on this trip are by public transport and you’ll be amazed at how many different forms of transport you’ll use! Train, subway, local bus, mountain railway, cable cars, funicular railway, pirate boat, tram and you could even hire bikes to explore Kyoto – details of which will be in the Info-Pack.Hotel staff in Japan are aware of environmental issues, so do look out for recycling bins in the hotels and also outside convenience stores. We give all clients phrases in Japanese for how to refuse a plastic bag and other non-essential plastic items.
All of our customers receive a list of tips for going green in Japan. We encourage clients not to overuse the air conditioning in summer or heating in winter. Tap water is safe to drink in Japan so you can avoid buying bottles of water from the ubiquitous vending machines. Our Info-Pack provides lots of recommendations for local restaurants and shops.
The Impacts of this Trip
The Fuji Hakone Guest House has been welcoming international visitors to Hakone National Park for more than 30 years. Run by the very hospitable Takahashi family, you are sure to receive a warm welcome - as well as an introduction into traditional Japanese culture. Rooms here are Japanese-style; that means you'll need to take your shoes off before stepping on to the soft tatami mat floors. Simple instructions are provided in English to guide you through your stay in a traditional inn; where to take your shoes off, how to lay out your futon bedding and how to use the outdoor hot spring bath (hint: you have to take all your clothes off and wash thoroughly before getting in the bath!). The staff organise various cultural events including kimono wearing and Shamisen music performances. They'll also happily teach you how to make origami crane or write your name in katakana!
In July and August, the Fuji Hakone Guest House is a convenient springboard for climbing Mount Fuji. Please ask if you would like to fit this in your Price Cruncher package.
22 Reviews of Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
Reviewed on 14 Aug 2019 by Michael Jacoby
Memorable moments included practising calligraphy and wood block printing, sitting on the 14th floor open air rooftop overlooking the peace park in Hiroshima, sitting admiring Matsumoto black crow castle after dark. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 May 2019 by Alan Hope
The snow monkeys, the city lights of Tokyo, the local restaurants and bars, the food and the friendliness & helpfulness of the people were memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Nov 2018 by Helen Dooley
We had an amazing vacation. Japan is unique. Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Mar 2018 by Kirsty Syder
The most memorable was Hakone. Beautiful views and hot spring bathing in the wonderful ryokan. Read full reviewReviewed on 31 Jan 2018 by Cyndia Pilkington
We loved the varied nature of our trip, We took in history, beautiful, nature, exciting cities and great food. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Jun 2017 by Sarah Shadday
Our whole trip was memorable and exciting! We loved the Disney Sea park and Cafe Eorzea. We also enjoyed Zauo (fishing restaurant), our guide in Kyoto, our Ryokan, Arashiyama monkey park, and so much more! Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Feb 2017 by Owen Cawley
Meeting a Maiko (trainee Geisha) in Kyoto was a fantastic experience! Exploring the old city of Kyoto with an amazing guide was also wonderful! Fantastic, the absolute best vacation we have been on! Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Oct 2016 by Anne Davies
Absolutely brilliant. We were a little anxious beforehand as we had not participated in a group tour before but we certainly do so again provided it was with your organisation! Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Aug 2016 by Rachel Nash
Excellent!...Taking a day out between the big cities to relax in a traditional style Ryokan was fantastic. Something we wouldn't have considered if we'd tried to book everything ourselves. Read full reviewReviewed on 31 May 2016 by Cat Pickup
A vacation of a lifetime...Dinner in the evening was the best kaiseki of our trip - the fish salted and fresh with the most minimal food miles - straight from the fish ponds outside. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Apr 2016 by Fay Berry
Experiencing Japan- a fascinating, different and wonderful country to visit. We loved Tokyo and Kyoto and all the sights there. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 Apr 2015 by Jennifer Whiteside
I absolutely adored Hakone...That entire leg of the journey was my favourite. I wish we'd had more time there. It was so relaxing, but at the same time there was mountain to explore! ...Our tour operators were fantastic, they couldn't do enough for us. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Sep 2015 by Caitriona Tomlinson
This was an excellent and memorable vacation and both my daughter and I judged it a great success. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Sep 2015 by Caitriona Tomlinson
This was an excellent and memorable vacation and both my daughter and I judged it a great success. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Aug 2015 by Perwina Whitmore
The most memorable part is hard to identify as the whole experience was fantastic. Excellent! Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Apr 2015 by Georgina Flower
Japan is an interesting country with some great things to see and do. Maiko makeover was such fun! Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Jun 2014 by peter deen
10/10...Hiroshima, sumo , Magome and Koyasan were the highlights Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Aug 2013 by Sally Vogl
Excellent. We had a nice mix of major cities, the Hakone National Park Region, and Miyajima Island. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Nov 2012 by Rebekah Schultz
We absolutely had a blast on the whole trip. It was a busy, we tried to see a much as we could but enjoyed the vacation...I would do this again in a heartbeat! Read full review
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