Japan Roads' Rural Hot Spring Independent Tour will introduce you to rural Japan and her people while staying with a Japanese family. You will also visit Kinosaki Hot Spring town on the Sea of Japan that is filled with old Japan charm. Our Rural Hot Spring tour is a great way to combine the rural experience of our Rural Discovery Tour with a stay at a hot spring resort. After your tour we highly recommend a few days in Kyoto before you return home.

Destinations:
Himeji - Himeji Castle is one of the best original castles in Japan
Kinosaki - Spend the night in one of Japan's best hot spring town and enjoy a crab dinner (when in season)
Kameoka - Home-Stay and really get in touch with Japanese people and culture

This 6 day tour begins and ends in Japan.

The price is US$ 1,950 per person, (based on double occupancy) and includes all transportation between destinations, accommodations, 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 evening meals. This tour can also be combined with a tour of Kyoto, Nara or other sights in the Kansai Area.

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

Rural Hot Spring Tour - Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Himeji - Western Style Hotel - Western Style Room
- Arrive at Kansai International Airport
- Travel to Himeji City using an airport limousine bus
- Stay in a city center hotel

You will be met by a member of Japan Roads staff at Kansai International Airport or Shin-Osaka Train station and taken to Himeji. Our staff member will check you into your hotel. If there is time you will also be shown around Himeji Castle.

Day 2 – Kinosaki - Ryokan Lodging - Japanese Style Room
- Crab Dinner (when in season)
- Bathe in a hot spring bath at a traditional hot spring town
- Wander along the old canal

Kinosaki is known for its crab. Japanese flock to this area not only for crab dinner but also for the hot spring baths. The hot spring baths are said to have been discovered in this area when local residents observed a stork bathing in the marshes. After further investigation they discovered the hot springs and converted the marsh lands into bath houses that you can enjoy today.

Days 3, 4 & 5 - Kameoka - Home Stay - Japanese Style Room
- Stay with your host-family
- Learn first hand how Japanese live
- Dine on home cooked meals

In Kameoka, a picturesque town near Kyoto, you can experience a Japanese home-stay in the home of our cultural liaison. With our liaison as your personal guide, the possibilities are endless: you can explore Kameoka by bicycle or on foot and also learn about Japanese cooking, flower arrangement, pottery, and much, much more. An excellent hostess, guide and cook, our liaison will immediately make you feel at home and will make this home-stay a truly unforgettable experience for you. This is really the best way to experience Japan.

Day 6 – Tour Ends
Today is the last day of the tour. You can either go to the airport to catch your homeward flight, or else continue on to other destinations you plan to visit. Please let us know if you need any help in making these arrangements. You are in a good location to visit Mt. Koya or Nara.

Note: If you want to visit Kyoto, Osaka or Nara, you will be at a good location to do so. If you are interested in this option, we recommend you take the tour first and do other sightseeing afterwards.

Tour Accommodations:
Throughout the tour, you will have the chance to stay at Japanese style inns, or ryokans, as well as modern, Western style hotels. By choosing the best accommodations possible and offering both traditional and modern lodging experiences, Japan Roads aims to give you a deeper insight into life in Japan and make you as comfortable as possible. In particular, the traditional accommodations will allow you to have close personal contact with the Japanese owners and staff of these places, thus deepening your cultural experiences.

Sample Accommodations
(may vary but will be of similar quality)
Himeji: Himeji Castle Hotel (Western Hotel)
Kinosaki: Yutouya Ryokan (Japanese Ryokan)
Kameoka: Home-Stay Family
Kyoto: Monterey Kyoto (Western Hotel)

Cuisine:
To make sure you get the most out of your visit to Japan, Japan Roads tours offer a wide variety of Japanese cuisine to enjoy. You will have the chance to dine on local specialties as well as traditional gourmet food offered in the ryokans.

About Independent Tours:
The tour gives you the materials necessary to get to your destinations and see the most interesting sights available, while allowing you the flexibility and freedom to enjoy things at your own pace. We provide you with the train tickets, lodging reservations made in advance, rail and walking maps, general cultural and etiquette tips, a suggested itinerary, explanations and history of the places you will visit, as well as other information you may need. Furthermore, a cell phone provided for the duration of the tour will enable you to contact our office in Japan if you need assistance. Please note that you are responsible for taxi expenses to and from your accommodations.

This 6 day tour begins and ends in Japan.