Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 1 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog A MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER Irasshaimase!!* Welcome to Samurai Tours!! We invite you to spend some time in this section of our web site to learn more about us and who we are. Japan has something for everyone, whatever your interests. Tranquil mountain top temples and shrines, large neon-lit cities buzzing with an energy that will sweep you away, soothing hot spring baths, idyllic gardens, speeding bullet trains, soaring mountain peaks, welcoming, friendly, helpful people, and of course, the fantastic food. As a Japan travel specialist we offer a wide range of Japan travel services. You can travel with the peace of mind knowing that you’ll have the full back-up from our English-speaking office staff at our fully-licensed and bonded travel agency in Japan (Kyoto Prefecture Travel Agency License ID #3-576) to make sure every aspect of your trip goes according to plan. Drawing on the meaning of Samurai, which is “to serve”, we emphasize the honor of serving you. Let us show you our side of Japan!! Mike Roberts, Owner, Samurai Tours *Irasshaimase means Welcome. Customers entering stores, restaurants or other places of business all over Japan are met with enthusiastic cries of Irasshaimase!! OUR PHILOSOPHY “We recognize travel enlightens and promotes tolerance. Our mission is to offer well-balanced, educational, culturally-broadening, and most importantly, fun tours that inspire and inform.” The Samurai Tours Mission Statement Our Philosophy Our goal is to allow our tour members to travel as “temporary Japanese” to break down as many barriers to the lifestyle, customs and traditions as possible to allow the maximum cultural exposure and experience. On our escorted tours, we prefer to use traditional, Japanese-style ryokans for lodging. These unique Japanese accommodations provide a unique Japanese experience. Whenever possible, we prefer to stay in smaller, more intimate family-run ryokans that are off-limits to larger groups. Many of the ryokans we stay in have as few as 10 to 15 rooms and are located on quiet, narrow side streets. Their owners take tremendous pride in their facilities, service and cuisine. Whenever we do use hotels, we prefer to use smaller, local hotels primarily used by the Japanese that blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, rather than the larger chain hotels catering to western tourists. We carefully select ryokans and hotels in the middle of the sights and culture that are within walking distance of what you came to see. This saves you time and money, and gives you lots of independence. All of the ryokans and hotels, with the exception of the Buddhist temple on Koya-san, have en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms will include a bath/shower combination, sink and toilet, while the Buddhist temple has shared bath and toilet facilities “down the hall.” We use only public transportation (with the exception of our new Rail and Drive tours where we use a convenient combination of public transportation and 8-seat vans chartered for the tour gruop). We use the same trains, subways, buses, taxis and ferries that millions of Japanese use every day. By traveling this way, you will get much closer to the people and culture you traveled thousands of miles to discover rather than seeing Japan through the window of a tour bus. And no trip to Japan is complete without at least one ride on the Shinkansens (bullet trains). We prefer to eat in smaller, more intimate restaurants. There are probably more restaurants per capita in Japan than anywhere else in the world. Because of space limitations in Japan, many of these restaurants only have a small counter and/or a couple of tables that are (again) off-limits to larger groups. We feel food is an important part of traveling. One of the biggest misconceptions of Japan is that the Japanese only eat sushi. Nothing could be further from the truth. Japanese food is very diverse, and varies region-by-region. We introduce our tour members to the many different types of foods, and we always try to include at least one Kaiseki-style dinner on each tour. Known as the gourmet-style cooking in Japan, Kaiseki dinners are another essential Japanese experience that cannot be missed. No one likes to pack and unpack every day. Our tour itineraries minimize the number of “one-night stands.” By staying multiple nights at one location, you become more familiar and comfortable with a destination, and are better-rested, and more energized. An appropriate amount of free time is built into the itineraries for you to follow your own curiosity and interests. We do also offer optional tours during your free time on many of our tours should you prefer to join. We also design our tours with the assumption that you will return to Japan someday. This means we don’t try to see everything, necessitating hurrying from sight-to-sight, wearing everyone out. Our intent is to make our tours “quality” over “quantity.” We include many well-balanced cultural extras in our escorted tours such as tea ceremonies, calligraphy lessons, geisha walking tours and meeting a Maiko, an apprentice geisha. Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable Samurai Tours and local Japanese tour guides are well versed in Japanese culture, history, art and architecture and will bring Japan alive with their insights. Our Values Culture: Our tours are tailored to break down as many barriers to the lifestyle, customs and traditions as possible to allow the maximum cultural exposure and experience. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 2 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Enjoyment: We strive to create a fun, informative and enthusiastic tour-environment our tour members look forward to participating in each day. Quality: We are committed to continuously and proactively improving the quality of our services by constantly enhancing existing tours and developing new tours. Value: We offer tours with the best combination of quality and price. Honesty and Integrity: All business is conducted in a forthright and trustworthy manner, and all business practices will be consistent with our Mission and Values. WHY CHOOSE SAMURAI TOURS? 1 2 3 4 We specialize in Japan Samurai Tours only provides tours to Japan, allowing us to focus on our itineraries in order to provide a quality tour experience. Small, Friendly Groups On our escorted tour Packages, our groups are never bigger (and often smaller) than 16 travelers. Small groups allow us to stay in memorable, centrally located, family-run lodging and to sightsee and dine where larger groups can only dream of going.“Traveling small” also gives our groups a congenial atmosphere. Because of the way we organize our tours, and the way we travel, we tend to attract friendlier, more flexible and fun-loving people for our tours. If you are interested in learning about Japan, its culture, people and want to have a great time, you will fit right in. Great Guides The quality of your tour guides can make or break your travel experience. You want a guide who is 100% focused on bringing you the best of Japan. The common way for a tour company to have a low “sticker price” is to pay guides little or nothing, and encourage them to pull in shopping kickbacks as personal income. We pay our guides full salaries, and prohibit them from accepting kickbacks. This means your guide is motivated to give you the best travel experience possible – not earn extra income through shopping.We also work with English-speaking Japanese guides where indicated in the itinerary detail. We have found this is important because it will give you an outlook on Japan from a Japanese point-of-view and allows you to meet one-on-one with a local and ask questions you may not be able to ask someone you just met on the street. (We have also found that many of our tour participants have struck-up friendships with our local guides, and many of them keep in touch on a regular basis.) Value. There is more to “price” than meets the eye. Our tours include:More Sightseeing: Prices include all group sightseeing and activities listed in detail with every tour description. More Meals: Experiencing Japan’s great cooking is every bit as important as sightseeing, so all breakfasts and approximately half of your lunches and dinners are included. It’s a sensible balance that satisfies your dining expectations, protects your budget, yet gives you the freedom to discover plenty of other edible delights on your own. Peace of Mind: With our included tour cancellation/interruption protection coverage, your travel investment is protected. 5 6 7 Customer Service Travelers who have been to Japan can tell you that customer service is very important in Japan. Everybody comes home with their own personal stories about someone in Japan who went way out of their way be helpful. In order to make our tours more “Japanese,” all of the employees and guides at Samurai Tours are committed to going the extra distance to make your Japan experience more enjoyable. Guaranteed Prices The tour price listed on our website and in our tour catalog is exactly what you’ll pay, even if inflation or a drop in the dollar-to-yen exchange rate increases operating costs. This may sound like common sense, but many tour companies reserve the right to increase your final payment (in fine print, of course). Samurai Tours has never done this, and we never will. Period. We Have Our Own Travel Agency in Japan Most foreign tour operators operating tours in Japan subcontract with Japanese travel agencies. Because we have our own travel agency (Kyoto-fu Chijitoroku Ryokogyo 3-576/Japanese Travel Agency License: Kyoto Prefecture #3-576) it allows us to be more adaptable to the ever-changing travel environment in Japan and gives us better quality control. Because of our local presence, we are able to adapt and adjust to the ever-changing travel environment in Japan. And other Japanese travel agencies tend to design tours in the manner that the Japanese prefer tours, which means whirlwind, non-stop tours that never allow enough time anywhere to see anything. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 3 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF JAPAN 1 5 Days 14 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Nikko (Optional Tour), Optional Mt Fuji Climb, Kamakura, Hakone Yumoto Onsen, Hakone, Takayama, Takayama (Optional Tour), Koya-san, Osaka (Optional Tour), Himeji, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Fushimi, Nara (Optional Tour) Tour Overview More than any other country, the Japanese have managed to integrate ancient traditions and bleeding-edge technology harmoniously into their daily lives. With the perfect mix of new and old, and our most popular itinerary, this well-rounded tour has something for everyone. In this excellent introduction to Japan, you won’t miss anything the first-time visitor to Japan should see. In the best that Japan has to offer, and our most popular itinerary, you’ll enjoy a colorful mix of large cities like Tokyo and Osaka, quaint and traditional Takayama, the ambiance and solitude of Miyajima Island, the historically significant temples of Kamakura the capital of Japan in the 13th century, the religious center of Koya-san, the ancient shrines and temples of Kyoto and Nara, the testament to peace of Hiroshima, the natural beauty of Hakone, the thermally-heated mineral water baths at an onsen and much, much more. You’ll stay overnight at a mountaintop Buddhist temple where Buddhist monks will serve you meals of shojin ryori (the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and you will attend prayer services at the temple early the next morning. Climb to the top of a samurai castle, participate in a tea ceremony, visit the world’s largest fish market, stroll through farmer’s markets, meet a “maiko” (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, see where the geisha live and work, stay overnight on beautiful and quiet Miyajima Island, soak in the thermally-heated mineral waters at an onsen, admire sacred Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), the icon of Japan and enjoy three gourmet Kaiseki-style dinners and one shojin-ryori Buddhist vegetarian meal, and much, much more. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 4 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion High Low Pace High Low Physical Activity High Low Tour Highlights Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Ginza District Tokyo Sky Tree Nakamise-dori Senso-ji Temple Asakusa Shrine Nikko (Optional Tour) Rinnoji Toshogu Shrine Taiyuin Optional Mt Fuji Climb Kamakura Hase-dera Temple Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha) Hokokuji Temple (Bamboo Temple) including tea and sweets in the bamboo garden Hakone Yumoto Onsen Hakone Lake Ashi Sightseeing Boats Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Takayama Sanmachisuji Morning Farmer’s markets Takayama Jinya Takayama (Optional Tour) San-machi-suji Hida-no-sato Open Air Museum Koya-san Overnight stay at a Buddhist Temple Oinori (Morning Prayer Service) Okuno-in Cemetery and Temple Garan Temple Osaka (Optional Tour) Namba District Doguyasuji Street Hozenji Temple and Yokocho Dotombori Street Ebisu-bashi Bridge Kaitenzushi (Conveyor belt sushi) dinner Himeji Himeji Castle Miyajima Island Free Day Hiroshima Peace Museum and Park Kyoto Ryoan-ji Temple and Garden Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Tea Ceremony Nijo Castle Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) Philosopher’s Path Higashiyama District Gion Geisha District Walking Tour Private Maiko Dinner Party Optional Home Visit Fushimi Fushimi Inari Shrine Nara (Optional Tour) Nara Deer Park Todaiji (Great Buddha) Nara-machi Kofukuji Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Tokyo – Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, Tokyo Sky Tree, Sensoji Temple D DA AYY 33 Free Day in Tokyo D DA AYY 44 Kamakura – Hasedera, Kotokuin (Great Buddha), Hokokuji (Bamboo Temple); Travel to Hakone Yumoto Onsen D DA AYY 55 Hakone, Travel to Takayama 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 5 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog D DA AYY 66 Takayama – Miyagawa Morning Market, Jinyamae Morning Market, Takayama Jinya, San-machi-suji District D DA AYY 77 Travel to Koya-san, Overnight at a Buddhist Temple D DA AYY 88 Koya-san – Morning Prayer Service, Okunoin Cemetery and Temple, Garan Temple Complex; Travel to Osaka D DA AYY 99 Himeji Castle; Travel to Miyajima Island D DA AYY 110 0 Miyajima Island – Free Day D DA AYY 1111 Hiroshima – Peace Park and Museum; Travel to Kyoto D DA AYY 1122 Kyoto – Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony, Nijo Castle D DA AYY 1133 Fushimi – Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto – Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), Philosopher’s Path, Higashiyama District, Gion Geisha District D DA AYY 1144 Kyoto – Free Day, Sayonora Dinner and Meet a Maiko Session D DA AYY 1155 Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement 2015 Dates Status 03/22/2015 – 04/05 Early Cherry Blossom $4,744 / $594 Filling Fast 2 seats left 03/29/2015 – 04/12 Cherry Blossom $4,994 / $594 Filling Fast 1 seats left 04/05/2015 – 04/19 Late Cherry Blossom $4,744 / $594 Available 05/17/2015 – 05/31 Spring $4,494 / $594 Filling Fast 3 seats left 05/24/2015 – 06/07 May/June $4,494 / $594 Available 06/14/2015 – 06/28 Late Spring $4,244 / $594 Available 06/21/2015 – 07/05 Early Summer $4,244 / $594 Available 07/12/2015 – 07/26 Summer $4,244 / $594 Available 07/19/2015 – 08/02 Late July $4,244 / $594 Available 08/16/2015 – 08/30 Late Summer $4,144 / $494 Available 09/20/2015 – 10/04 Early Fall $4,144 / $494 Available 10/11/2015 – 10/25 Fall Foliage $4,494 / $594 Available 10/18/2015 – 11/01 Late Fall $4,494 / $594 Available 11/01/2015 – 11/15 Fall Foliage $4,744 / $594 Available 2016 Dates & Prices 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 6 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 2016 Dates Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 03/20/2016 – 04/03 Early Cherry Blossom $4,744 / $594 Available 03/27/2016 – 04/10 Cherry Blossom $4,994 / $594 Available 04/03/2016 – 04/17 Late Cherry Blossom $4,744 / $594 Available 05/15/2016 – 05/29 Spring $4,494 / $594 Available 05/22/2016 – 06/05 May/June $4,494 / $594 Available 06/12/2016 – 06/26 Late Spring $4,244 / $594 Available 06/19/2016 – 07/03 Early Summer $4,244 / $594 Available 07/03/2016 – 07/17 Summer $4,244 / $594 Available 07/17/2016 – 07/31 Late July $4,244 / $594 Available 08/21/2016 – 09/04 Late Summer $4,144 / $594 Available 09/18/2016 – 10/02 Early Fall $4,144 / $594 Available 10/09/2016 – 10/23 Fall $4,494 / $594 Available 11/06/2016 – 11/20 Fall Foliage $4,744 / $594 Available 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 7 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF JAPAN IN 22 DAYS 2 2 Days 2 1 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Hakone Yumoto Onsen, Takayama, Kyoto, Koya-san, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Miyajima Island, Nagasaki, Sapporo, Noboribestu Onsen, Hakodate, Sendai, Kamakura, Hakone, Kotohira, Hiroshima, Shiraoi, Matsushima, Nikko, Himeji Tour Overview If you don’t want to miss anything in Japan, then this is the tour for you. From Sapporo to Nagasaki, you will enjoy the best Japan has to offer including some of Japan’s best onsens, gardens, castles, natural scenic areas, historical districts, temples and shrines, cultural activities and much, much more in a tour that will create travel memories to last a lifetime. You’ll stay overnight at a mountaintop Buddhist temple where Buddhist monks will serve you meals of shojin ryori (the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) and attend prayer services at the temple early the next morning, climb to the top of a samurai castle, participate in a tea ceremony, visit the world’s largest fish market, stroll through farmer’s markets, meet a “maiko” (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, see where the geisha live and work, stay overnight on beautiful and quiet Miyajima Island, soak in the thermally-heated mineral waters at some of Japan’s best onsens and admire sacred Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), the icon of Japan. You’ll enjoy Tokyo where the sheer energy level will sweep you away, and Sapporo, host to the 1972 Winter Olympics with its many, fine restaurants, explore the morning market of Hakodate, where you can have the local specialties of crab, sea urchin or squid prepared for you for breakfast, and learn about Japan’s original inhabitants, the Ainu, whose culture almost disappeared until recent efforts of restoration. You will walk around the rim of an active volcano, enjoy Matsushima, considered to be one of three most scenic places in Japan, visit the sobering testament to peace of Hiroshima and the ostentatious over-the-top shrines and temples of Nikko. The rural, mountainous island of Shikoku will charm you with its natural beauty, and the island of Kyushu with the history-filled city of Nagasaki will surprise you with its diversity. Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion High Low Pace High Low Physical Activity High Low Tour Highlights Tokyo 1/7/15, 5:41 PM Tsukiji Fish Market Ginza 8 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tokyo Sky Tree Nakamise-dori Senso-ji Temple Asakusa Shrine Hakone Yumoto Onsen Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market Jinyamae Morning Market Takayama Jinya Kyoto Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Nijo Castle Tea Ceremony Fushimi Inari Shrine Kiyomizu-dera Temple Higashiyama District Gion Geisha District Private Maiko Dinner Party Koya-san Oinori (Morning Prayer Service) Okunoin Cemetery and Temple Garan Temple Overnight stay at a Buddhist Temple Takamatsu Ritsurin Garden Matsuyama Matsuyama Castle Dogo Onsen Ishiteji Temple Miyajima Island Nagasaki Dejima Island Glover Garden Noboribestu Onsen Hakodate Mt. Hakodate at night Hakodate Morning Market Goryo-kaku Fort Sendai Kamakura Hase-dera Kotokuin (Great Buddha) Hokokuin (Bamboo Temple) Hakone Hakone Sightseeing Boats Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Kotohira Kompira Shrine Hiroshima Hiroshima Peace Museum Hiroshima Peace Park Shiraoi Poroto Kotan Ainu Village and Museum Matsushima Matsushima Bay Cruise Zuiganji Temple Kanrantei Nikko Rinno-ji Temple Tosho-go Shrine Futarasan Shrine Taiyuin Himeji Himeji Castle Sapporo Sapporo JR Tower Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Tokyo – Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, Tokyo Sky Tree, Sensoji Temple D DA AYY 33 Kamakura â?? Hase-dera Temple, Kotokuin (Great Buddha), Hokokuin (Bamboo Temple); Travel to Hakone, Hakone Yumoto Onsen D DA AYY 44 Tour Hakone, Travel to Takayama D DA AYY 55 Takayama – Miyagawa Morning Market, Jinyamae Morning Market, Takayama Jinya, San-machi-suji D DA AYY 66 Travel to Kyoto, Kyoto D DA AYY 77 Kyoto D DA AYY 88 Travel to Koya-san, Koya-san – Okunoin Cemetery and Temple, Garan Temple Complex, Overnight at a Buddhist Temple D DA AYY 99 Koya-san – Morning Prayer Service; Travel to Himeji, Himeji Castle; Travel to Takamatsu D DA AYY 110 0 Takamatsu – Ritsurin Garden; Kotohira – Konpira Shrine D DA AYY 1111 Travel to Matsuyama, Matsuyama – Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen D DA AYY 1122 Matsuyama – Ishiteji Temple, Travel by ferries to Miyajima Island 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 9 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog D DA AYY 1133 Miyajima Island â?? Free Day D DA AYY 1144 Hiroshima – Peace Park and Museum; Travel to Nagasaki D DA AYY 1155 Nagasaki â?? Dejima, Glover Garden, Free afternoon D DA AYY 1166 Travel to Sapporo D DA AYY 1177 Sapporo – Old Government Building, Clock Tower; Travel to Shiraoi, Poroto Kotan Ainu Village and Museum, Travel to Norboribetsu Onsen D DA AYY 1188 Nooboribetsu Onsen, Travel to Hakodate D DA AYY 1199 Hakodate – Hakodate Morning Market, Goryokaku Fort; Travel to Sendai D DA AYY 220 0 Matsushima â?? Matsushima Bay Cruise, Kanran-tei, Zuigan-ji D DA AYY 2211 Nikko â?? Rinno-ji, Tosho-gu, Taiyuin; Travel to Tokyo D DA AYY 2222 Return Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 03/29/2015 – 04/19 $6,744 / $644 Full 05/10/2015 – 05/31 $6,344 / $644 Available 05/24/2015 – 06/14 $6,344 / $644 Available 06/21/2015 – 07/12 $6,344 / $644 Available 10/11/2015 – 11/01 $6,344 / $644 Available 10/25/2015 – 11/15 $6,594 / $644 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status $6,744 / $644 Available 05/15/2016 – 06/05 $6,344 / $644 Available 06/19/2016 – 07/10 $6,344 / $694 Available 10/09/2016 – 10/30 $6,344 / $644 Available 10/30/2016 – 11/20 Fall Foliage $6,594 / $644 Available 2016 Dates 03/27/2016 – 04/17 1/7/15, 5:41 PM Cherry Blossom 10 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 11 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF JAPAN ECONOMY 1 3 Days 1 2 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone Yumoto Onsen, Hakone, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Kyoto Tour Overview More than any other country, the Japanese have managed to integrate ancient traditions and bleeding-edge technology harmoniously into their daily lives. With the perfect mix of new and old, this well-rounded tour has something for everyone. In the best that Japan has to offer, you’ll enjoy a colorful mix of large cities like Tokyo and Osaka, quaint and traditional Takayama and Shirakawa-go, the ambiance and solitude of Miyajima Island and the ancient shrines and temples of Kyoto, the testament to peace of Hiroshima, the natural beauty of Hakone, the thermally-heated mineral water baths at an onsen and more. You’ll participate in a tea ceremony, visit the world’s largest fish market, stroll through farmer’s markets, see where the geisha live and work, visit beautiful Miyajima Island, soak in the thermally-heated mineral waters at an onsen, admire sacred Mt. Fuji (weather permitting), the icon of Japan and much, much more. Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low 1/7/15, 5:41 PM High 12 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Highlights Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Ginza Sumida River Cruise Tokyo Sky Tree Nakamise-dori Senso-ji Asakusa Shrine Shirakawago Shirakawago Open Air Museum Kamakura Hase-dera Kaibutsu (Great Buddha) Hokoku-ji Temple Hiroshima Hiroshima Peace Park Hiroshima Peace Museum Hakone Yumoto Onsen Hakone Hakone Ropeway Owakudani Hakone Sightseeing Boat Cruise Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market Jinyamae Morning Market Takayama Jinya Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden Kanazawa Handicrafts Museum Nagamachi Samurai District Nomura House Miyajima Island Itsukushima Shrine Omotesando Shopping Street Kyoto Ryoanji Temple Kinkakuji Nijo Castle Tea ceremony Fushimi Inari Shrine Kiyomizu Higashiyama Gion Geisha District Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Tokyo – Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza District, Tokyo Sky Tree, Senso-ji Temple D DA AYY 33 Tokyo Free Day D DA AYY 44 Kamakura – Kotokuin (Great Buddha), Hase-dera, Hokokuin (Bamboo Temple), Hakone Yumoto Onsen D DA AYY 55 Hakone – Owakukani Hakone Ropeway, Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise; Travel to Takayama D DA AYY 66 Takayama – Morning Markets, Takayama Jinya, San-machi-suji D DA AYY 77 Shirakawa-go – Shirakawa-go Open Air Museum, Kanazawa D DA AYY 88 Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Handicrafts Museum, Naga-machi Samurai District D DA AYY 99 Travel to Hiroshima, Hiroshima – Peace Park and Museum D DA AYY 110 0 Miyajima Island – Mt. Misen Ropeway, Itsukushima Shrine; Kyoto D DA AYY 1111 Kyoto – Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony, Nijo Castle D DA AYY 1122 Kyoto – Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama District, Gion Geisha District D DA AYY 1133 Return Home 2015 Dates & Prices 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 13 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status $3,494 / $400 Full 05/21/2015 – 06/02 $3,244 / $250 Available 06/25/2015 – 07/07 $3,244 / $250 Available 07/23/2015 – 08/04 $3,244 / $250 Available 08/27/2015 – 09/08 $3,244 / $250 Available 10/22/2015 – 11/03 $3,244 / $400 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status $3,494 / $400 Available 05/19/2016 – 05/31 $3,244 / $250 Available 06/23/2016 – 07/05 $3,244 / $250 Available 07/21/2016 – 08/02 $3,244 / $250 Available 08/25/2016 – 09/06 $3,244 / $250 Available 09/15/2016 – 09/27 $3,244 / $250 Available 10/20/2016 – 11/01 $3,444 / $250 Available 2015 Dates 03/26/2015 – 04/07 Cherry Blossom 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 03/24/2016 – 04/05 1/7/15, 5:41 PM Cherry Blossom 14 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF JAPAN ALPS 14 Days 1 3 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Magome, Tsumago, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Hirayu Onsen, Shin Hotaka, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Toyama, Tateyama, Nagano, Snow Monkey Park Tour Overview Soaring mountain peaks, open-air hot springs, lush forests, quaint mountain villages and a slow pace make this central alpine area a great escape. Hidden away in its rural and remote valleys are many of Japan’s best-preserved post towns, farm hamlets, and traces of the old urban culture. Combined with its beautiful natural scenery, these features make this area one of the most rewarding in Japan to visit. The Japan Alps epitomizes the extremes and contradictions of Japan today. The densely populated coastal belt region, including the megalopolis cities of Tokyo and Osaka, is a stark contrast with the beautiful natural scenery of the mountainous central region. Though readily accessible, the Japan Alps are still remote enough to have retained traditional lifestyles and architecture. The Japan Alps is a slow-paced region that has it all, without the crowds. The castle town of Matsumoto, with its striking “Crow Castle” is sure to please with its numerous 17th-century warehouses. You will feel like you have stepped back into 16th-century Japan in the small, mountain village of Tsumago. The stunningly beautiful mountain valley of Kamikochi has some of the best hiking in Japan. The quaint town of Takayama with its farmer’s markets invites exploration. The old farmhouses at Shirakawa-go will give you a glimpse of the way of life in 17th-century rural Japan. Visit with the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys as they bath in the outdoor baths. And Hirayu Onsen has some of the best outdoor baths in Japan. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 15 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion High Low Pace High Low Physical Activity High Low Tour Highlights Tokyo Magome Tsumago Honjin Wakihonjin Tsumago History Museum Matsumoto Matsumoto Castle Daio Wasabi Farm Kamikochi Hirayu Onsen Shin Hotaka Shin Hotaka Ropeway Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market Jinyamae Morning Market Takayama Jinya Sanmachisuji District Shirakawago Shirakawago Open Air Market Shirakawago Observation Deck Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden Nagamachi Samurai District Nomura House Higashi Chaya District Shima House Toyama Tateyama Nagano Zenkoji Temple Snow Monkey Park Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Travel to Magome D DA AYY 33 Walk along the Nakasendo to Tsumago D DA AYY 44 Travel to Matsumoto – Matsumoto Castle D DA AYY 55 Matsumoto – Daio Wasabi Farm; Travel to Kamikochi D DA AYY 66 Kamikochi – Free day; Travel to Hirayu Onsen D DA AYY 77 Shin Hotaka – Shin Hotaka Ropeway; Travel to Takayama D DA AYY 88 Takayama – Miyagawa Morning Market, Jinyamae Morning Market, Takayama Jinya, San-machi-suji District D DA AYY 99 Shirakawa-go â?? Shirakawago Open Air Museum, Shirakawa-go Observation Deck; Travel to Kanazawa D DA AYY 110 0 Kanazawa – Kenrokuen, Nagamachi Samurai District, Nomura House, Higashi Chaya District, Shima House; Travel to Toyama D DA AYY 1111 Tateyama Alpine Route, Overnight at Tateyama in the Chubu Sangaku National Park D DA AYY 1122 Tateyama Alpine Route, Travel to Nagano D DA AYY 1133 Snow Monkey Park; Zenkoji Temple, Sayonara Dinner D DA AYY 1144 Travel to Tokyo; Fly Home 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 16 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 07/12/2015 – 07/25 $3,994 / $444 Available 09/13/2015 – 09/26 $3,994 / $444 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 07/10/2016 – 07/23 $3,994 / $444 Available 09/11/2016 – 09/24 $3,994 / $444 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 17 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF SHIKOKU, KYUSHU AND WESTERN JAPAN 1 3 Days 1 2 Nights Destinations Osaka, Kurashiki, Takamatsu, Kotohira, Okayama, Beppu, Usuki, Aso-san, Nagasaki, Yoshinogarikoen, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto Tour Overview With its mild climate and tranquil gardens, famous hot springs and active volcanoes, historic castles, beautiful countryside, and warm-hearted people, this part of Japan offers a dramatic experience. The rural, mountainous island of Shikoku will charm you with its natural beauty. The island of Kyushu with the largest onsen (hot springs resort) in Japan, active volcanoes and the history-filled city of Nagasaki will surprise you with its diversity. Add the must-see destinations of Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Miyajima Island and Okayama, and you have a tour that creates travel memories for a lifetime. You will climb to the top of a samurai castle, stroll through some of Japan’s most beautiful and serene gardens, visit a phenomenal onsen where you can take a relaxing hot sand bath on a beach covered up to your neck in warm sand, walk along the rim of an active volcano, meet a “Maiko” (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, see where the Kyoto geishas live and work, discover Japan’s religious traditions, explore history-filled Nagasaki and enjoy three gourmet Kaiseki-style dinners and much, much more! 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 18 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low High Tour Highlights Osaka Kuromon Open-Air Market Osaka Castle Tennoji Temple Sumiyoshi Shrine Usuki Usuki Stone Buddhas Aso-san Aso-san Kurashiki Canal Area Museum of Folkcraft Japan Rural Toy Museum Nagasaki Dejima Glover Garden Takamatsu Ritsurin-koen including tea and sweets in a teahouse Miyajima Island Kotohira Kompira Shrine Okayama Korakuen Garden Beppu Beppu Hells Yoshinogarikoen Hiroshima Peace Museum and Park Kyoto Nijo Castle Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Tea Ceremony Gion Geisha District Private Maiko Dinner Party Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Osaka D DA AYY 22 Osaka – Kuromon Market, Osaka Castle, Tennoji Temple, Sumiyoshi Shrine D DA AYY 33 Kurashiki – Canal Area, Museum of Folkcraft; Travel to Takamatsu D DA AYY 44 Takamatsu – Ritsurin Garden; Kotohira – Kompira Shrine D DA AYY 55 Okayama – Korakuen Garden; Travel to Beppu D DA AYY 66 Beppu – Beppu Hells; Usuki – Usuki Stone Buddhas D DA AYY 77 Aso-san; Travel to Nagasaki D DA AYY 88 Nagasaki – Dejima, Glover Garden D DA AYY 99 Yoshinogarikoen Historical Park; Travel to Miyajima Island D DA AYY 110 0 Miyajima Island – Free Day D DA AYY 1111 Hiroshima – Peace Park and Museum; Travel to Kyoto D DA AYY 1122 Kyoto – Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony, Gion Geisha District, Meet a Maiko Session D DA AYY 1133 Home 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 19 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/17/2015 – 05/29 $4,244 / $444 Available 09/27/2015 – 10/09 $4,244 / $444 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/15/2016 – 05/27 $4,244 / $444 Available 09/25/2016 – 10/07 $4,244 / $444 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 20 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF KYOTO AND BEYOND 8 Days 7 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Osaka, Fushimi, Arashiyama, Nara Tour Overview Steeped in history and tradition, Kyoto has in many ways been the cradle of Japanese culture. A stroll through Kyoto today is a walk through 11 centuries of Japanese history. Kyoto is endowed with an almost overwhelming legacy of ancient Buddhist temples, majestic palaces, and gardens of every size and description. For many, just the name of Kyoto conjures up the classic images of Japan: streets of traditional wooden houses, the click-clack of geta (wooden sandals) on the paving stones, geisha in a flourish of brightly colored silks, and a tea master deliberately warming water and making tea. You will meet a “maiko” (geisha-in-training) face-to-face, climb to the top of a Samurai castle, participate in an authentic tea ceremony, copy a Buddhist Sutra in the middle of one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, marvel at the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue built in the 8th century, and much, much more. Combine this tour with the Best of Tokyo and Beyond tour for a more complete Japanese experience. Or, if you only want to spend a few days in Tokyo either before or after the tour, we can arrange this for you. Contact us for details. Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low High Tour Highlights 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 21 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Osaka Castle Kyoto Ryoan-ji Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Nijo Castle and Garden Imperial Palace Nishikikoji Open Air Market Higashiyama District Sannen-zaka Ninen-zaka Yasaka Shrine Authentic Tea Ceremony Gion Geisha District “Meet a Maiko” Session Fushimi Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Fushimi-inari Shrine Arashiyama Arashiyama Bamboo Garden Tenryu-ji Shojin-ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian) Lunch Saiho-ji (Moss Temple) Garden Nara Kasuga Shrine Nara Park Todai-ji (Great Buddha) Osaka Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Osaka D DA AYY 22 Kyoto â?? Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony, Nijo Castle D DA AYY 33 Osaka – Osaka Castle; Fushimi – Sake Brewery and Museum, Fushimi Inari Shrine D DA AYY 44 Kyoto – Imperial Palace, Nishiki-koji Open Air Market, Higashiyama District, Yasaka Shrine, Gion Geisha District D DA AYY 55 Arashiyama – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji, Saiho-ji (Moss Temple) D DA AYY 66 Nara – Kasuga Shrine, Nara Deer Park, Todai-ji (Great Buddha), Meet a Maiko Session D DA AYY 77 Kyoto – Free Day D DA AYY 88 Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/12/2015 – 04/19 $2,244 / $594 Available 06/07/2015 – 06/14 $1,994 / $244 Available 07/05/2015 – 07/12 $1,994 / $294 Available 08/02/2015 – 08/09 $1,994 / $244 Available 08/30/2015 – 09/06 $1,994 / $244 Available 10/04/2015 – 10/11 $1,994 / $244 Available 11/01/2015 – 11/08 $2,244 / $594 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 22 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/10/2016 – 04/17 $2,244 / $594 Available 06/05/2016 – 06/12 $1,994 / $594 Available 07/03/2016 – 07/10 $1,994 / $594 Available 07/31/2016 – 08/07 $1,994 / $594 Available 08/28/2016 – 09/04 $1,994 / $594 Available 10/02/2016 – 10/09 $1,994 / $594 Available 10/30/2016 – 11/06 $2,294 / $594 Available 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 23 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF TOKYO AND BEYOND 8 Days 7 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone Tour Overview To the uninitiated, Tokyo may seem like a whirlwind of people and traffic. Yet, behind the ordered chaos lie remnants of a very different past. You could easily spend a lifetime exploring Tokyo and never run out of places and things to discover. From “funky” old Ueno and nearby Yanaka with its fine park, museums, and old houses, to the ultra-modern Ginza with its endless department stores … the sheer energy level of Tokyo will sweep you away. And by night, Tokyo really comes into its own. Mazes of blazing neon fill every available nook and cranny of the city’s streets and alleys. Above all, Tokyo is not just a destination, but an experience. You will learn the ancient religious traditions of the Japanese, wander the stalls of the world’s largest fish market, visit the famous “Daibutsu” in Kamakura, explore Tokyo’s largest Shinto Shrine dedicated to the emperor who began the modernization of Japan and see the icon of Japan, Mt. Fuji (weather-permitting). Combine this tour with the Best of Kyoto and Beyond tour for a more complete Japanese experience. Or, if you only want to spend a few days in Kyoto either before or after the tour, we can arrange this for you. Contact us for details. Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low High Tour Highlights 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 24 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tokyo Nakamise-dori Senso-ji Sumida River Cruise Ginza Roppongi Hills Observation Deck Tsukiji Fish Market Yanaka District Harajuku District Omotesando Meiji Shrine Akihabara District and Maid Cafe Rikiguen Garden Kamakura Kotokuin (Great Buddha) Hase-dera Temple Hokuku-ji (Bamboo Temple) and Tea and Sweets in the Bamboo Garden Hakone Owakudani Lake Ashi Sightseeing Boat Cruise Hakone Ropeway Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Tokyo – Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Takeshita-dori, Omotesando, Akihabara D DA AYY 33 Tokyo – Ueno Park, Yanaka District, Rikiguen Garden D DA AYY 44 Tokyo – Senso-ji, Roppongi Hills Observation Deck, Ginza District, Sumida River Cruise D DA AYY 55 Hakone D DA AYY 66 Tokyo – Tsukiji Fish Market, Free Day D DA AYY 77 Kamakura – Hase-dera, Kotokuin (Great Buddha), Hokoku-ji (Bamboo Temple) D DA AYY 88 Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/05/2015 – 04/12 $1,994 / $244 Available 05/31/2015 – 06/07 $1,994 / $244 Available 06/28/2015 – 07/05 $1,994 / $244 Available 07/26/2015 – 08/02 $1,994 / $244 Available 08/23/2015 – 08/30 $1,994 / $244 Available 09/27/2015 – 10/04 $1,994 / $244 Available 10/25/2015 – 11/01 $1,994 / $244 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/03/2016 – 04/10 $1,994 / $244 Available 05/29/2016 – 06/05 $1,994 / $244 Available 06/26/2016 – 07/03 $1,994 / $244 Available 07/24/2016 – 07/31 $1,994 / $244 Available 08/21/2016 – 08/28 $1,994 / $244 Available 09/25/2016 – 10/02 $1,994 / $244 Available 10/23/2016 – 10/30 $1,994 / $244 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 25 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 26 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog BEST OF TOKYO AND KYOTO 1 2 Days 1 1 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Fushimi, Arashiyama Tour Overview Follow in the footsteps of feudal lords and samurai along the route of the ancient Tokaido Highway that once connected these two great cities. Tokyo, an ultra-modern megalopolis, is not just a destination, but an experience. And a stroll through Kyoto, steeped in history and tradition, is a walk through 11 centuries of Japanese history. You will learn the ancient religious traditions of the Japanese, wander the stalls of the world’s largest fish market, visit the famous “Daibutsu” in Kamakura, and see the icon of Japan, Mt. Fuji (weather-permitting). Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion High Low Pace High Low Physical Activity High Low Tour Highlights Tokyo 1/7/15, 5:41 PM Nakamise-dori Senso-ji 27 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Sumida River Cruise Ginza Roppongi Hills Observation Deck Tsukiji Fish Market Nishikikoji Open Air Market Higashiyama District Sannen-zaka Ninen-zaka Yasaka Shrine Authentic Tea Ceremony Gion Geisha District “Meet a Maiko” Session Kamakura Hasedera Temple Kotokuin (Great Buddha) Hokokuji Temple (Bamboo Temple) including Tea and Sweets in the Bam boo Garden Osaka Osaka Castle Hakone Owakudani Hakone Ropeway Lake Ashi Sightseeing Boat Cruise Fushimi Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Fushimi-inari Shrine Kyoto Ryoan-ji Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Nijo Castle and Garden Imperial Palace Arashiyama Arashiyama Bamboo Garden Tenryu-ji Shojin-ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian) Lunch Saiho-ji (Moss Temple) Garden Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Tokyo – Senso-ji, Roppongi Hills Observation Deck, Ginza District, Sumida River Cruise D DA AYY 33 Hakone D DA AYY 44 Tokyo – Tsukiji Fish Market, Free Day D DA AYY 55 Kamakura – Hase-dera, Kotokuin (Great Buddha), Hokoku-ji (Bamboo Temple) D DA AYY 66 Tokyo/Kyoto D DA AYY 77 Kyoto â?? Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Tea Ceremony, Nijo Castle D DA AYY 88 Osaka – Osaka Castle; Fushimi – Sake Brewery and Museum, Fushimi Inari Shrine D DA AYY 99 Kyoto – Imperial Palace, Nishiki-koji Open Air Market, Higashiyama District, Yasaka Shrine, Gion Geisha District D DA AYY 110 0 Arashiyama – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji, Saiho-ji (Moss Temple) D DA AYY 1111 Kyoto D DA AYY 1122 Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/07/2015 – 04/18 $3,494 / $644 Available 06/02/2015 – 06/13 $3,494 / $394 Available 06/30/2015 – 07/11 $3,494 / $394 Available 07/28/2015 – 08/08 $3,494 / $394 Available 08/25/2015 – 09/05 $3,494 / $394 Available 09/29/2015 – 10/10 $3,494 / $394 Available 10/27/2015 – 11/07 $3,494 / $644 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 28 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 04/05/2016 – 04/16 $3,494 / $644 Available 05/31/2016 – 06/11 $3,494 / $644 Available 06/28/2016 – 07/09 $3,494 / $644 Available 07/26/2016 – 08/06 $3,494 / $644 Available 08/23/2016 – 09/03 $3,494 / $644 Available 09/27/2016 – 10/08 $3,494 / $644 Available 10/25/2016 – 11/05 $3,494 / $644 Available 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 29 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog HOKKAIDO RAIL AND DRIVE 1 5 Days 14 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Sapporo, Furano, Sounkyo Onsen, Genseikaen, Shiretoko, Lake Akan, Kushiro, Noboribetsu Onsen, Shiraoi, Lake Toya, Hakodate Tour Overview The northernmost of the main islands, Hokkaido is Japan’s last frontier. It is a natural wonderland of mountain ranges, deep caldera lakes, active volcanoes, numerous thermally-heated mineral springs and virgin forests. The attitudes of the inhabitants are akin to those of the pioneers of the American West, but still unmistakably Japanese. Among the Japanese, Hokkaido has become synonymous with sensational food, stunning scenery and some of the best onsens in Japan. Because of this, Hokkaido has become popular vacation destination for the Japanese. We slow the pace down on this tour to allow you to relax and to really enjoy and appreciate Hokkaido to its fullest. You’ll enjoy Sapporo, Hokkaido’s largest city and host to the 1972 Winter Olympics, with its many fine restaurants and the secluded beauty of the Shiretoko National Park. You will tour Sounkyo Gorge in the middle of the beautiful Daisetsuzan National Park with its soaring mountain ranges, visit Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Japan’s largest and most popular hot springs resorts and walk along the rim of an active volcano at Lake Toya. You will explore the morning market of Hakodate, where you can have the local specialties of crab, sea urchin or squid prepared for you for breakfast, and learn about Hokkaido’s original inhabitants, the Ainu, whose culture almost disappeared until recent efforts of restoration. You will visit the Akan International Crane Center where research is being done to bring the cranes back from the brink of extinction. Rail and Drive Tours The Japan public transportation system in Japan is one of the best, if not the best in the world. However, if you want to travel to the remote areas of Japan, public transportation is sometimes either non-existent, too infrequent or too slow to be practical. Automobiles are the best way to access these remote areas. Our Rail and Drive tours are a convenient combination of public transportation and 8-seater vans, allowing us to really get “off the beaten path”. (Because of seat limitations, these tours are limited to a maximum of 6 people.) 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 30 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low High Tour Highlights Tokyo Sapporo Botanical Gardens JR Tower Sapporo Beer Garden Odori Park Tanuki Shopping Arcade Nijo Market Suskino Ramen Yokocho Furano Lavender Farm Tomita Lake Akan Gottoro Overlook Lake Kussharo Iozan Lake Masshu Akan International Crane Center Kushiro Noboribetsu Onsen Shiraoi Poroto Kotan Ainu Village and Museum Genseikaen Lake Toya Usu-zan Showa-shin-zan Toya-ko Volcanic Museum Shiretoko Shiretoko Peninsula Sightseeing Boat Cruise Shiretoko-Go-Ko Furepe Waterfall Oshinkoshin Waterfall Hakodate Goryo-kaku Fort and Tower Moto-machi Historical Area Mount Hakodate Cable Car Hakodate Morning Market Sounkyo Onsen Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Fly to Sapporo D DA AYY 33 Sapporo D DA AYY 44 Lavender Farm Tomita, Travel to Sounkyo Onsen D DA AYY 55 Sounkyo Onsen D DA AYY 66 Genseikaen, Shiretoko D DA AYY 77 Shiretoko National Park D DA AYY 88 Travel to Lake Akan D DA AYY 99 Lake Akan, Akan International Crane Center, Kushiro D DA AYY 110 0 Travel to Noboribetsu, Poroto Kotan Ainu Village and Museum D DA AYY 1111 Noboribetsu Onsen D DA AYY 1122 Lake Toya D DA AYY 1133 Travel to Hakodate 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 31 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog D DA AYY 1144 Travel to Tokyo D DA AYY 1155 Home 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 06/07/2015 – 06/21 $3,994 / $494 Available 08/30/2015 – 09/13 $3,994 / $494 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 06/05/2016 – 06/19 $3,994 / $494 Available 08/28/2016 – 09/11 $3,994 / $494 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 32 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog KUMANO KODO HIGHLIGHTS 7 Days 6 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Kawayu Onsen, Nakahechi Pilgrimage Route, Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen, Shingu, Kii-Katsuura Onsen, Daimonzaka, Nachi Taisha, Nachi Waterfall Tour Overview Kumano has long been considered the heart and soul of Japanese spirituality, and has been blessed with a rich and cultural and natural heritage, friendly locals, soothing hot springs and delicious cuisine. It is the perfect destination for those people searching for an active, off-the-beaten-path, culturally immersive Japanese experience. For more than 1000 years people from all levels of society have made the difficult pilgrimage along the Kumano Kodo. The walk itself was an integral part of the pilgrimage process as they undertook rigorous religious rites of worship and purification along the way. The goal of the pilgrimage was simple: to visit and pay respects at the Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and the Nachi Taisha, also known as the Kumano Sanzan. As the origins of the Kumano Pilgrimage were a combination of Buddhism, Shinto, Shinto mythology and nature worshiop, the reasons for performing the pilgrimage were very complex. The foundations of the pilgrimage were established 1,000 years ago when retired emperors and aristocrats from Kyoto’s Imperial Court started making the 600 mile (800 kilometer) journey in large numbers. Today, walking the ancient Kumano Kodo is an excellent way to experience the unique cultural landscape of Kumano’s spiritual countryside. We will follow in the footsteps of those ancient pilgrims from Kyoto as we trace the history and heritage of the Kumano pilgrimage. What This Tour Is and Is Not This tour is not a trekking tour. Instead, it provides a high-level overview of the pilgrimage, including the most important destinations related to the pilgrimage. The tour includes three walks along the most important and famous sections of the pilgrimage. The longest of these is about 7km, or about 5 miles (mostly downhill). (½ of this walk is over pavement, and the other half is dirt trails.) The second walk is about 5 km (3 miles), all paved and flat, but there is a steep stone staircase to Kamakura Shrine. The third walk is only about 3 km (about 2 miles), and on pavement, but there are numerous steps going up for the first half of the walk. The second half is downhill. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 33 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Highlights Kyoto Kawayu Onsen Shingu Hayatama Taisha Kamikura Shrine Nakahechi Pilgrimage Route Hongu Taisha Oyunohara Yunomine Onsen Tsuboyu Kii-Katsuura Onsen Daimonzaka Nachi Taisha Nachi Waterfall Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Meet and overnight in Kyoto D DA AYY 22 Travel to Kawayu Onsen, Overnight in Kawayu Onsen D DA AYY 33 Walk along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage Trail, Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen D DA AYY 44 Hayatama Taisha, Kamikura Jinja, Kii-Katsuura Onsen D DA AYY 55 Daimonzaka, Nachi Taisha and Nachi Waterfall D DA AYY 66 Kyoto, Sayonara Dinner D DA AYY 77 Sayonara 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/17/2015 – 05/23 $1,994 / $294 Available 06/07/2015 – 06/13 $1,994 / $294 Available 10/11/2015 – 10/17 $1,994 / $294 Available 11/01/2015 – 11/07 $1,994 / $294 Available Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/15/2016 – 05/21 $1,994 / $294 Available 06/05/2016 – 06/11 $1,994 / $294 Available 10/09/2016 – 10/15 $1,994 / $294 Available 10/30/2016 – 11/05 $1,994 / $294 Available 2015 Dates 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 34 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 35 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog KUMANO KODO TREKKING 1 0 Days 9 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Takijiri Oji, Takahara, Chikatsuyu , Tsugizakura, Hosshinmon Oji, Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen, Hyakkengura, Koguchi, Kii-Katsuura Onsen, Nachi Taisha, Nachi Waterfall, Shingu Tour Overview Kumano has long been considered the heart and soul of Japanese spirituality, and has been blessed with a rich and cultural and natural heritage, friendly locals, soothing hot springs and delicious cuisine. It is the perfect destination for those people searching for an active, off-the-beaten-path, culturally immersive Japanese experience. For more than 1000 years people from all levels of society have made the difficult pilgrimage along the Kumano Kodo. The walk itself was an integral part of the pilgrimage process as they undertook rigorous religious rites of worship and purification along the way. The goal of the pilgrimage was simple: to visit and pay respects at the Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and the Nachi Taisha, also known as the Kumano Sanzan. As the origins of the Kumano Pilgrimage were a combination of Buddhism, Shinto, Shinto mythology and nature worshiop, the reasons for performing the pilgrimage were very complex. The foundations of the pilgrimage were established 1,000 years ago when retired emperors and aristocrats from Kyoto’s Imperial Court started making the 600 mile (800 kilometer) journey in large numbers. Today, walking the ancient Kumano Kodo is an excellent way to experience the unique cultural landscape of Kumano’s spiritual countryside. We will follow in the footsteps of those ancient pilgrims from Kyoto as we trace the history and heritage of the Kumano pilgrimage. Join us as we trek for 5 days (38.2 miles/61.8 km) along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage Trail through beautiful forests, rural villages, past ancient sites of religious worship and rituals and enjoy some of the best hospitality and food from the small minshuku and ryokan along the Nakahechi, as well as some of Japan’s best onsens. What This Tour Is and Is Not 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 36 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog This tour is a trekking tour. The tour will start at the Takijiri Oji and finish at the Nachi Taisha along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage route through the center of the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture. This will be done in 5 days of walking ranging from about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) to 11 miles (16 km), with most of the days in the 8 to 10 mile range (12 to 15 km). There are numerous mountain passes, but none of them are very high (they are all less than 3,000 feet or 1000 meters). Please Note: Because this tour uses smaller minshuku and ryokan, some of the accommodations do not have attached, en-suite bathroom facilities. Here is a breakdown of the number of nights with private and shared bathroom facilities: 4 nights – Private attached bath and toilet 3 nights – Private attached toilet and shared bath 2 nights – Shared bath and toilet Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Highlights Hongu Taisha Kyoto Takijiri Oji Oyunohara Takahara Takahara Jinja Yunomine Onsen Chikatsuyu Chikatsuyu Oji Hyakkengura Koguchi Kii-Katsuura Onsen Nachi Taisha Tsugizakura Tsugizakura Oji Nonaka-no-Shimizu Hosshinmon Oji Nachi Waterfall Shingu Kamikura Shrine Hayatama Taisha Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Meet and overnight in Kyoto D DA AYY 22 Travel to Takijiri Oji, Walk to Takahara D DA AYY 33 Walk to Tsugizakura D DA AYY 44 Bus to Kohiro, Walk to Hongu Taisha, Bus to Yunomine Onsen D DA AYY 55 Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen D DA AYY 66 Bus to Ukegawa, Walk to Koguchi, Overnight in Koguchi D DA AYY 77 Walk to Nachi Taisha, Bus to Kii-Katsuura, Overnight at Kii-Katsuura Onsen D DA AYY 88 Bus to Nachi, Daimonzaka, Nachi Taisha and Waterfall D DA AYY 99 Bus to Shingu, Kamikura Shrine and Hayatama Taisha, Return to Kyoto D DA AYY 110 0 Sayonara 2015 Dates & Prices 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 37 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 2015 Dates Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/24/2015 – 06/02 $2,994 / $394 Filling Fast 4 seats left 06/14/2015 – 06/23 $2,994 / $394 Available 10/18/2015 – 10/27 $2,994 / $394 Available 11/08/2015 – 11/17 $2,994 / $394 Available 2016 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/22/2016 – 05/31 $2,994 / $394 Available 06/12/2016 – 06/21 $2,994 / $394 Available 10/16/2016 – 10/25 $2,994 / $394 Available 11/06/2016 – 11/15 $2,994 / $394 Available 2016 Dates 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 38 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog WINTER WONDERLAND 1 5 Days 14 Nights Destinations Tokyo, Sapporo, Abashiri, Kushiro, Nagano, Yudanaka Onsen, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Koya-san, Kyoto Tour Overview The weather outside may be frightful, but touring Japan in winter is delightful. After you see how beautiful Japan is blanketed in snow, you’ll be saying “Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow.” When you add the unique opportunities that only Japan winters offer with the small crowds, the result is an unforgettable travel experience. In the best that Japanese winters have to offer, you’ll wander through the ice sculptures at the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival, feast on all-you-can-eat grilled lamb and beer at the Sapporo Beer Garden, slash through the ice flows in a ice-breaker boat in the infamous prison town of Abashiri, contemplate the nearly-extinct, Japanese Red-Crested cranes, revered in Japanese culture, visit with the “snow monkeys” while they rest in thermally-heated mineral water to stay warm, explore quaint Takayama, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go with its many snow-covered, thatched-roof gassho-zukuri (praying hand) homes, stroll one of the best gardens in Japan made even better covered with snow, stay overnight at snow-covered mountain-top Buddhist temple and attend the morning prayer service, participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, enjoy a private “Maiko” dinner party, enjoy four gourmet Kaiseki-style dinners as well as a Shojin-ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine) dinner and grilled lamb dinner, and much, much more. 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 39 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog Tour Rating: ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Tour Factors Cultural Immersion High Low Pace High Low Physical Activity High Low Tour Highlights Tokyo Sapporo Sapporo Snow Festival Abashiri Abashiri Ice Flow Museum Abashiri Harbor Ice Flow Cruise Kushiro Crane Preserve Nagano Zenkoji Yudanaka Onsen Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park Takayama Miya-gawa Morning Market Jinya-mae Morning Market Takayama Jinya Shirakawa-go Shirakawa-go Open Air Museum Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden Koya-san Buddhist Morning Prayer Service Okuno-in Cemetery and Temple Garan Temple Complex Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine KiyomizuHigashiyama Gion Geisha District Walking Tour Private Maiko Dinner Party Tour Itinerary D DA AYY 11 Arrive Tokyo D DA AYY 22 Fly to Sapporo, Sapporo D DA AYY 33 Sapporo D DA AYY 44 Sapporo, Abashiri D DA AYY 55 Abashiri, Kushiro D DA AYY 66 Kushiro, Kushiro Marshland D DA AYY 77 Travel to Nagano D DA AYY 88 Yudanaka Onsen D DA AYY 99 Travel to Takayama D DA AYY 110 0 Takayama D DA AYY 1111 Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa D DA AYY 1122 Kanzawa, Travel to Koya-san D DA AYY 1133 Koya-san, Travel to Kyoto D DA AYY 1144 Kyoto D DA AYY 1155 Home 1/7/15, 5:41 PM 40 of 41 Samurai Tours - Escorted Tours Catalog 2015 Dates & Prices Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status $3,994 / $494 Full Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 01/31/2016 – 02/14 $3,994 / $494 Available 02/07/2016 – 02/21 $3,994 / $494 Available 2015 Dates 02/01/2015 – 02/15 2016 Dates & Prices 2016 Dates Thank you for downloading this PDF version of our tour. Please visit our website at www.samuraitours.com/tours for the most current dates, prices and information. Contact Samurai Tours W WEEB BSSIITTEE//EEM MA AIILL www.samuraitours.com [email protected] USA CONTACT INFO Toll-free: 1-866-316-SAMURAI or 1-866-316-7268 Fax number: 720-210-5423 Samurai Tours 7900 East Union Ave, Suite 1100 Denver CO 80237 1/7/15, 5:41 PM JAPAN CONTACT INFO Call us: 075-361-7303 Samurai Tours 307 Yodokizu Fushimi Kyoto 613-0911 Japan MEMBERSHIPS/ASSOCIATIONS Better Business Bureau American Society of Travel Agents National Tour Association Japan National Tourist Organization JNTO-approved Japan Travel Specialist Kyoto-fu Chijitoroku Ryokogyo 3-576/ Japanese Travel Agency License: Kyoto Prefecture #3-576 41 of 41
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