Japanese Winter Wonderland by Titan
This is a unique trip departing in late January, and which includes a visit to the Sapporo Snow Festival with around 250 snow and ice sculptures illuminated by candles and coloured bulbs. You can enjoy a local tipple at the ice bar and perhaps even glide down the giant snow slide! Either way, it's an unforgettable part of your trip.
Day 1 - UK - In flight
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Osaka.
UK - In flight
Day 2 - Tokyo - Osaka - Kyoto
We touch down in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. We’ll be back to explore its skyscrapers and temples later on in our Japan tour package, but for now we take a connecting flight to Osaka and transfer to Kyoto and check into our hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax.
Kyoto Hotel Okura (4-star)
Day 3 - Kyoto
Surrounded on three sides by snow-covered mountains, Kyoto is Japan’s ancient capital. Hidden within its maze of winding old streets is a collection of some 1,500 religious temples and shrines, geisha scurrying to tea ceremonies and dinky bars serving steaming bowls of ramen. Our tour takes us to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple and Ryoanji Temple. We’ll also stroll over to the Nishiki Market; a long, narrow street lined by more than 100 shops and restaurants. Known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, the stalls all specialise in food that are typical to Kyoto, like dried seafood, sushi, pickles and sweets.
Kyoto Hotel Okura (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: City tour of Kyoto (morning)
Day 4 - Nagano - Yudanaka
Japan holds a world record that impresses train spotters and speed addicts alike. Some of the world’s fastest trains whizz through the countryside at speeds of 198mph and today, you’ll experience this engineering marvel for yourself. Step aboard for our journey from Kyoto to Nagoya, from where we’ll connect to Nagano. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour that takes in the Zenkoji Temple, one of the most important and popular temples in Japan. You’ll have some free time for lunch; Nakamise is one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets, where you can find traditional snacks and souvenirs. Our final stop of the day is Yudanaka where we check into our hotel; a traditional Japanese Ryokan surrounded by spectacular - and often snow-covered - mountain scenery. Known as the world’s oldest hotels, some inns have been around since the 7th century when they were built for nomadic samurai traders. Think rice-straw tatami matting flooring, low tables and fusuma screens as doors. This promises to be a very special experience.
Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku, Yudanaka (3.5-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Bullet train journey Kyoto-Nagano (morning)
City tour of Nagano (afternoon)
Day 5 - Yudanaka - Tokyo
When you think of snow holidays, you wouldn't necessarily think of Japan - but today, we’ll appreciate glorious snowy landscapes as we take a walk to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) live, completely unrestricted by fences. Keep your camera at the ready to snap away at families of monkeys warming up in hot springs. Late morning, we depart for the neon lights and skyscrapers of Tokyo.
Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park (morning)
Day 6 - Tokyo
Arriving in Tokyo is undoubtedly a surreal experience. This is a city that is always on the move; it dazzles with shiny new things, whilst keeping one foot firmly rooted in its traditions and culture. We’ll spend the whole day today learning all about this fascinating city. We’ll take in the Tokyo National Museum and colourful Ameyoko Shopping Street and enjoy a short walking tour of Yanaka; one of the few districts in Tokyo that still holds the city’s traditional rustic charm. We’ll also take in the view of the whole city from the top of the Skytree, a 634m-tall communications tower (and one of the world’s tallest structures).
Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: City tour of Tokyo (all day)
Day 7 - Tokyo
Today is free for you to explore Tokyo, with many sights to choose from and innumerable shrines to find, including the exquisite Senso-ji Temple. There are also a number of excellent theatres, including the historic Kabuzi-za, where you may see a traditional, highly skilled Kabuki performance. For a different experience that will leave you in no doubt that you’re in Tokyo, head to the intersection in front of Shibuya Station, famously known for the scramble of hundreds of pedestrians simultaneously crossing the road in all directions. Or for a moment away from the city bustle, Ueno Park is the city’s largest green space.
Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo (4-star)
Day 8 - Hakodate
We take to the bullet train once again today - this time all the way up to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, travelling to Hakodate. Once we arrive and settle in at our hotel, we will spend some time at leisure until this evening, when we ascend Mount Hakodate by coach. The views from here are simply incredible - especially at night, when the city lights stretch for miles in front of you.
La Vista Hakodate Bay (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Bullet train journey Tokyo-Hakodate (morning)
Mount Hakodate night visit (evening)
Day 9 - Hakodate
We have a busy morning ahead of us today and we’ll start it off with some early morning seafood at the renowned Hakodate morning market. Here, 300 stalls prepare and serve all manner of fresh fish dishes; giant squid flattened into pancakes, crab grilling over hot coals and dried scallops al to the sound of sing-song call of vendors. We ascend Goryokaku Tower for fabulous views across the city, and head to the Bay Area, where red brick warehouses stand as symbols of the shipping industry that thrived here as Japan opened up to international commerce. We’ll also visit Motomachi, an area that also flourished with the influx of trade and the influence of western culture is apparent in the old consulate buildings and pretty, foreign churches.
La Vista Hakodate Bay (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Tour of Hakodate (all day)
Day 10 - Hakodate - Sapporo
Our day starts with a visit to Onuma Quasi National Park, a beautiful area that includes serene lakes marked by small islands and the majestic snow-smothered dormant volcano, Mount Komagatake. We also visit Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a small town surrounded by countless onsen (hot springs), before arriving in Sapporo. After checking into our hotel, we’ll head out to explore the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. This festival of flickering lights and glowing snow statues lights up the port town every winter; the canal is particularly charming, dotted with lanterns along its whole length.
Sapporo Stream Hotel (4-star)
Day 11 - Sapporo
The Sapporo Snow Festival is the most famous of the Japanese winter festivals. It started in 1950 with just six statues carved from snow by school students. Today it is an incredible display of around 250 imaginative snow and ice sculptures of giant proportions illuminated by candles and coloured bulbs. Wander the collection and watch some of the works in progress, enjoy a local tipple at the ice bar and perhaps even glide down the giant snow slide. A true highlight of our winter wonderland Japan holidays, it's a day you won’t soon forget.
Sapporo Stream Hotel (4-star)
Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit Sapporo Snow Festival (all day)
Day 12 - Sapporo - In flight
Transfer to the airport and your return flight to the UK.
Sapporo - In flight
Day 13 - UK
Upon arrival your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
Guide Prices
There are two dates for early 2025 which are as follows:
- Sunday 26 January 2025 - £5,045 per person - or until 15 October, £4,288 per person
- Tuesday 28 January 2025 - £5,245 per person
What's Included?
- VIP home pickup service
- Flights
- Breakfast daily + 1 dinner
- All the sightseeing as described
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I extend the tour to be part of a bigger trip?
A. Yes on some tours we are easily able to add extra nights at the beginning or end of your trip, even in a completely different country. With others it's a bit more difficult and less economical. Please contact us for the options available.
Q. Do you provide expert advice on which tour of Japan to book?
A. Yes, it will be Tom who will manage your booking, and as he has first hand experience of Japan, you are welcome to ask for any help or advice about these trips. After booking, Tom will still be your contact and you'll be able to contact him by phone or email.
Q. Do I need a visa?
A. You can get a visa on arrival in Japan which lasts for 90 days. One thing we do after booking is to double check your passports are going to be valid.
Q. When is full payment required?
A. We take an initial deposit to secure your holiday, and the final balance must be paid around 3 months before departure. However if you would like to make instalments in the meantime, that's absolutely fine.
Q. What if I have a special request?
A. Please advise us ideally before booking of any dietary requests or mobility issues.
More information
| Call | 01462 677111 |
| holidays@onyourtravels.co.uk |
