Semi Escorted Tours
Go North
Tohoku Discovery
Why not heading to Northern Japan – Tohoku region. Less explored, unspoiled, more discovery!
This tour introduces the tradition and culture of the Tohoku region by visiting three out of six prefectures, Iwate, Akita, and Aomori.
First, make yourself settle down in Tokyo for 3 nights. Morning sightseeing tour will give you a good guidance about Japan’s capital city and a trip to Mt. Fuji cannot be missed while you are there.
Leaving cosmopolitan city behind and travelling by Bullet Train (Shinkansen), you arrive your first Tohoku city, Sendai where the 5 days guided tour begins.
Transfer to Ichinoseki and visit a historical Sake brewery and the National Treasure Chuson-ji Temple.
Travel on to Kakunodate in Akita, often called “a Little Kyoto in Michinoku (meaning the end of the road)” and visiting picturesque Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan. Next stop is Aomori, the north end of Honshu Island. Visit Nebuta Wa Rasse to learn the history of Nebuta Matsuri (festival), one of Tohoku’s great festivals and experience making a lantern reusing Neputa paintings that were actually used at the festival. Continue travelling Aomori prefecture, visiting photogenic Tsurunomaihashi Bridge, Shirakami-Sanchi – Unesco World Heritage site (Natural Heritage) and Hirosaki Castle.
On this tour, you can experience traditional crafts, culture, nature, and other aspects of life in the region of Tohoku that are truly out of the ordinary.
Itinerary Highlights
- Visiting Tokyo’s landmarks and day trip to Mt. Fuji & Hakone
- Travelling Tohoku three prefectures with National Government Licensed English Speaking Interpreter Day 6 – Day 10
- Bullet Train (Shinkansen) ride
Included in Tour Arrangements
- International flights between UK and Japan
- Airport transfer from Tokyo Haneda Airport to hotel in Tokyo
- Airport transfer from hotel in Tokyo to Tokyo Haneda Airport
- All accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Train tickets as indicated in the itinerary
- All transportation from Day 6 to Day 10.
- Guided sightseeing tour at Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Hakone and Day 6 – Day 9 as per itinerary
Depart U.K. to Tokyo.
Upon arrival at Tokyo, you will be met by an English speaking assistant who will help you board a reserved taxi to your hotel.
Stay for 3 nights.
Park Hotel Tokyo ★★★★ / Shiba Park Hotel ★★★ or equivalent
Morning sightseeing tour of Tokyo by coach, including Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace East Garden (when opens) or Imperial Palace Plaza and Sensoji Temple.
Afternoon free.
Breakfast included
Park Hotel Tokyo ★★★★ / Shiba Park Hotel ★★★ or equivalent
Full-day guided sightseeing tour of Mt. Fuji & Hakone by coach, including Mount Fuji 5th station, Lake Ashi Cruise, Mt. Komagatake Ropeway and Hakone-en.
Breakfast Lunch included
Park Hotel Tokyo ★★★★ / Shiba Park Hotel ★★★ or equivalent
Travel independently to Sendai by Bullet Train (Shinkansen).
Free to explore Sendai.
Visit Zuihoden, a mausoleum of Date Masamune, who was one of the most powerful Samurai in the region in Edo period. Try local signature dish, grilled beef tongue called Gyutan.
Or you may start your Tohoku discovery on your own by taking a train to the neighbouring prefecture, Yamagata. Visit Risshakuji Temple – more commonly known as Yamadera (mountain temple) where you can enjoy the spectacular view from the top of mountain after climbing up over 1,000 stone steps.
Stay overnight.
Train tickets from Tokyo to Sendai included
Westin Hotel Sendai ★★★★ / Hotel JAL City Sendai ★★★ or equivalent
Travel to Ichinoseki with an English Speaking Guide by Bullet train (Shinkansen) and visit Sekino-ichi, a historical Sake brewery since 1918. Enjoy tasting 4 kind of local Craft Beer that is the recent addition to the brewery before travelling to the National treasure & UNESCO World Heritage site Chuson-ji Temple.
Stop at Nambu Ironware Museum, traditional craft in the region, which has a history for over 900 years.
Stay overnight in Morioka.
Breakfast Lunch included
Hotel Metropolitan Morioka or equivalent
Visit Kakunodate, a castle town that flourished in the Edo period where many structures including samurai
residences remain to this day. Enjoy making your own coaster by using the bark of mountain cherry trees, which is Kakunodate’s traditional woodcraft, originally developed by low-level Samurai.
Travel to Lake Tazawa, Chosen as one of Japan's 100 scenic landscapes before heading back to Morioka.
Breakfast included
Travel to Aomori by Bullet Train (Shinkansen). Visit Wa Rasse, Nebuta Museum where you can feel the energy of Aomori’s Epic Summer Festival Nebuta and learn the history of it. After lunch, experience making a lantern using Neputa printings that are removed when the floats are dismantled.
Stay overnight.
Breakfast Lunch included
Hotel JAL City Aomori or equivalent
Travel to Tsurunomaihashi Bridge, Japan's longest triple-arch wooden bridge with 300 meters long, built using cypress sourced from Aomori Prefecture.
Visit former To-o Gijuku Missionary Residence, first private school in the prefecture then on to Shiragami-Sanchi, a vast mountain area and registered World Heritage (Natural Heritage) Site.
Breakfast Lunch included
Last day of the tour starts visiting Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611 and is considered one of Japan’s most iconic castles. 2,600 Cherry trees attract people in Spring but the castle shows different and beautiful faces in every season. Transfer to Takayama Inari Shrine where countless vermilion torii gates are lined up and creating a mysterious, otherworldly atmosphere.
The tour ends upon returning to Aomori station.
Breakfast included
Travel independently by Bullet train (Shinkansen) back to Tokyo’s skyscraper.
Free to explore Tokyo or enjoy last minute shopping.
Stay overnight.
Breakfast included
Train tickets from Aomori to Tokyo included
Park Hotel Tokyo ★★★★ / Shiba Park Hotel ★★★ or equivalent
Meet with a Driver at hotel for Transfer to Airport.
Take flights back to U.K
Breakfast included
Accommodation Rating: ★★★★＝Superior, ★★★＝Standard
REMARKS and BOOKING CONDITIONS
Unless otherwise specified, Sightseeing Tours are seat-in coach, operated by our partner suppliers in Japan and may be combined with another group.
Local government taxes, such as Resort tax, Accommodation tax or Bathing tax are not included in the tour price. Please pay directly to the accommodation if applicable.
For General information and Jaltour Terms & Conditions, please access from here.