The Snow Country tour is ideal for those who want to combine time spent in Tokyo or Kyoto with a journey into the winter landscape of central Japan. The tour offers bathing in natural hot springs, and visits to the historic towns and villages of this mountainous region.

Destinations
Tokyo - Japan's ultra modern capital, shopping, bright lights and hidden temples,
Obuse and Yudanaka Hot Spring - A small attractive town in Nagano Prefecture is home of the artist Hokusai famous for his woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, and the hot spring bathing snow monkeys,
Takayama - A former enclave for skilled carpenters and artisans known for it's lacquer ware, pottery and furniture,
Shirakawa-go - UNESICO World Heritage Site with thatched roof gassho-zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses
Kanazawa - Home of one of Japanese most renowned gardens, Kenrokuen Garden
Kyoto - An ancient capital established in 794 AD and home of Japan's high arts including tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry, and many others.

The Snow Country Tour is a 10 day tour beginning in Tokyo and ending in Kyoto.

The price is US$3,140 per person, including all transportation between destinations, accommodations, full time tour guide, all breakfasts, and 5 evening meals. Other meals are not included for variety sake.

I hope the above has peaked your interest in this tour. If you have any questions or wish to sign up for a tour please Contact Us.

We will be happy to book pre or post-tour accommodation in Tokyo or other cities for you.

Day 1 - Yudanaka Onsen Hot Spring - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Meet in Tokyo at 14:00 (2:00 pm) and transfer to Yudanaka Onsen Hot Spring. Yudanaka Onsen is a wonderful hot spring town in the mountains of Nagano, where you can soak in the indoor and outdoor baths. It's history dates back over 1,300 years and you will stay at an elegant traditional ryokan with its own hot spring baths. Sitting in a hot bath surrounded by snow is an experience not to be missed! After a soak, sit down to a dinner of delicious home-cooked food with a chance to try ‘atsu-kan’ (hot saké).

Day 2 - Obuse and Yudanaka Onsen Hot Spring - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
On the second day we visit the small town of Obuse, stopping at the museum dedicated to the artist Hokusai, famous for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Obuse is also famous for its saké brewery, and during our visit we will be able to try the different varieties and it may be possible to see the brewing taking place.

Afterwards we will visit the famous snow monkeys, who come to bathe in one of the outdoor hot spring pools. Japanese long-tail monkeys have been coming this hot pool for more than 40 years, ever since a sympathetic lodge owner started leaving food out for them in the winter.

Days 3 & 4- Takayama - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
We will travel by road to Takayama, a former feudal artist’s enclave, with many well-preserved traditional houses. The town is famous for its crafts; particularly lacquer ware, pottery, and furniture. There will be time to wander through the back streets, visit the restored Edo-period government buildings, and shop for souvenirs at the morning market.

Day 5 - Shirakawa-go - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Travel by road to the UNESCO World Heritage of Shirakawa-go. The village is home to a large number of gassho-zukuri houses, large wooden houses with steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snow and stay in one of these thatched roof gassho-zukuri house.

Days 6 & 7- Kanazawa - Western Style Hotel (Western Style Room)
Kanazawa, an elegant city where we will spend two days, and visit Kenrokuen, a classical Japanese garden, one of Japan’s three most famous. Winter is a lovely time to see the garden, when snow will grace the trees and rocks, and you will avoid the tourists.

Days 8 & 9 - Kyoto - Ryokan Lodging (Japanese Style Room)
Finally, our journey brings us to Kyoto, formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is in this city that the traditional Japanese 'high arts' flourished. Tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry, philosophy and religion, Kyoto is the number one place to visit. Numerous temples and shrines are located throughout the city and walking along canals, next to traditional wooden houses and through the small streets really gives you an idea of the ancient Japanese imperial culture. Kyoto is famous for its crafts: textile, kimono and pottery. We will visit the geisha district of Gion, the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and the Arashiyama area.

Day 10 - Kyoto and Tour Ends
Our tour ends today but you may like to stay longer in Kyoto or travel onwards in Japan.

Tour schedules are subject to change.
If any changes should be made it will be done in the best interest of the travelers.
Japan Roads will at all times aim to offer you the most interesting tour possible.

Tour Accommodation:
Throughout the tour you will have a chance to stay at a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan), a gassho-zukuri thatched roof minshuku and Western style hotels. By carefully choosing such a variety of accommodations, Japan Roads aims to give you a deeper insight into life in Japan.

Please note that single rooms are normally only available in hotels – where a single room supplement may apply. Single travelers may be asked to share a room (same sex) when staying in a ryokan or minshuku.

Cuisine:
To make sure you get the most of your Japan experience, Japan Road tours offer a wide variety of Japanese cuisine to enjoy. You will have the chance to eat local specialties in small Japanese diners and sample some of the more 'refined' Japanese cuisine. All breakfasts and 6 evening meals are included in the tour price.

Tour Guidance: Full time services of a Japanese and English speaking tour leader.

If you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to Contact Us.

Tour schedules are subject to change. If any changes should be made it will be done in the best interest of the travelers.
Japan Roads will at all times aim to offer you the most interesting tour possible.