2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Visions of Japan (OP)

11 Day Tour from Tokyo to Kyoto

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Forget everything your mother taught you about table manners. In Japan, it’s perfectly acceptable to slurp! Get ready to joyously drink in traditional hot sake, green tea, big brothy noodle bowls and the delicious views from neon-lit Tokyo to historic Kyoto. Peaks, palaces, pavilions, and pagodas provide picture-perfect backdrops for your photos, but don’t expect to stand still for very long on this enthralling tour of Japan. A hands-on calligraphy class, a special kimono fitting, an interactive cooking demonstration, and a gold-leaf design class—where you’ll make your own keepsake bento box—are all part of the fun. Browse the produce at a Takayama farmer’s market, stroll through Kanazawa’s famous Kenroku-en gardens and experience the thrill of a ride on the famous bullet train. Prepare to be floored in more ways than one!

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Asia tour dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!


Big experiences come in small packages with select Small Group Discovery departures, each limited to an average of just 24 guests.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Visions of Japan map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 3 dinners


Notes:

Mount Fuji cable-car ride is dependent upon weather conditions.



Optional overnight stay at a traditional ryokan requires pre-booking with additional fee.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN TOKYO, JAPAN

Konnichiwa, Japan! Welcome to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city. Hotel check-in is available mid-afternoon.

TOKYO.jpg

Day 2 TOKYO

Monumental Metropolis Start with a visit to Meiji Shrine, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest. At an artist’s studio, learn to write like a local during a calligraphy lesson with a master calligrapher, have the opportunity to try on a traditional kimono, and partake in a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite tea ceremony. After lunch, visit the Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest tower. Last stop is the Asakusa Kannon Temple and Nakamise shopping arcade. Tonight, join your travel companions at a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director.

LOCAL FAVORITE
PLANNED TO A TEA Participate in a tea ceremony, the ancient tradition and carefully choreographed ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SKY HIGH At Tokyo Skytree, ascend to Sorakara Point. On floor 450 at some 450 meters or 1500 feet, it is the highest point visitors can explore. Here you’ll have stunning panoramic views over the city and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 3 TOKYO. MOUNT FUJI EXCURSION

Soaring Heights & Sweeping Sights From a drive to Kamakura to dizzying views of Mount Fuji to a cruise on Lake Ashi, your day is a feast for the eyes. Conclude the day with a thrilling shinkansen (bullet train) ride back to Tokyo!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SCENIC SIGHTS Drive south along the coast to Kamakura to see the 750-year-old Great Buddha. Continue to Hakone where you’ll take a cable-car ride for panoramic views of spectacular Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. After lunch, cruise on Lake Ashi for more views of this beautiful area.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 4 TOKYO

Tokyo to Go Enjoy a full day at your leisure to explore the city.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Tokyo has something for everyone so visit one of the city’s unique neighborhoods like Ginza or Shibuya districts, dine at the street food markets, or catch a game at the Tokyo Dome.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 TOKYO–MATSUMOTO–TAKAYAMA

City to Farm to Table Journey to Matsumoto, gateway to the ruggedly beautiful Japanese Alps. Visit a local wasabi farm and Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure of Japan dating back to the 16th Century. Tonight, enjoy a wonderful Japanese-style dinner at your hotel.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
WHY WASABI? Take a private tour of a wasabi farm to learn more about how it’s grown and the importance of wasabi in Japanese culture and cuisine. Eat lunch at the farm and sample wasabi ice cream.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 6 TAKAYAMA

Takayama Treasures Today begins at the morning market, where farmers display locally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Visit Takayama Jinya, a former government office during the Edo Period from 1692-1868. This well-preserved building is a national historic site and the only remaining building of its kind in Japan. End with a fun Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite sake tasting. This evening, you have the option to stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan (additional fee and pre-booking required).

LOCAL FAVORITE
FOR SAKE’S SAKE Go sake tasting in the San-Machi Suji historic district—famous for lacquerware shops and sake breweries, and identified by the “sugidama,” balls made of cedar branches that adorn the entrances.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE After included sightseeing, the balance of the day is at leisure, providing you with time to explore the narrow streets where merchants buy and sell as they have for 300 years. Transfers between town and your resort will run every two hours.

ACCOMMODATION HIGHLIGHT
Choose an overnight stay at a ryokan to fully immerse yourself in the Japanese culture and hospitality. Your ryokan features traditional touches like tatami mat floors, a thin sleeping mattress, and the chance to experience a Japanese-style bath – as well as the modern convenience of a private bathroom. Traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast are included in your stay. Please note that space is limited. Pre-booking and additional fee required.

TAKAYAMA-SAKI.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 TAKAYAMA–SHIRAKAWA–KANAZAWA

Enchanting Valleys & Tranquil Gardens This morning, enjoy a drive through the mountainous Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa; a remote region of Japan home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here explore the unique Gassho-Zukuri style (joined hands) thatched houses that can be found only here. Continue to the scenic town of Kanazawa, situated between the mountains and the Sea of Japan. Explore Kenroku-en Garden and take part in a gold leaf class, where you’ll learn about this ancient craft and make your own bento box.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE POWER OF TRANQUILITY Kenroku-en is one of Japan’s three great gardens and dates from the 1670s. Translated to English the name means “Garden of Six Qualities,” referring to the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden: spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water, and magnificent views. One of the garden’s most stunning attractions is Kasumigaike pond with its island called Horai, which is meant to symbolize long life and eternal prosperity.

SHIRAKAWA.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 8 KANAZAWA–KYOTO

Sushi, Shrines & Temples This morning, drive south to Kyoto. On arrival, participate in a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Japanese cooking class for lunch. Then, you’ll visit two of the city’s most important sites: Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL TREASURES Japan is known for its cuisine, which is deeply engrained into the culture. What better way to gain insights into the local way of life than through your generations of traditional dishes? Participate in a special cooking class under the instruction of a local chef to learn how to make miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and makizushi, more commonly known as a sushi roll.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SENSATIONAL SHRINES While in Kyoto one must take a step back in time to explore this historic former capital and its important wooden shrines and temples. Explore Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for the thousands of brightly hued Torii Gates. Afterward, continue to the Higashiyama District to visit Kiyomizu Temple, the “Pure Water Temple,” with stunning views over Kyoto. Along the way, walk through the busy streets, where shops and restaurants have been catering to pilgrims for centuries.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 9 KYOTO

Golden Gift This morning starts with a visit to stunning Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Gold Pavilion. Next, visit Yuzen Handmade Corner to learn about the Yuzen dyeing technique used to decorate kimonos by painting dye directly on the cloth. Make your own souvenir using this traditional method. End the day at Sanjusajendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Flanking the main statue are 1,000 more life-sized statues, covered in gold leaf, with 40 arms believed to have the power to save 25 worlds!

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Join your Tour Director for a walking tour through Gion or visit more of Kyoto’s historic temples. This and many more options throughout your tour may be available for purchase with MyGlobus.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 KYOTO–NARA EXCURSION

Larger than Life Travel to nearby Nara to visit Kasuga Shrine and Todaiji Temple, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate your discovery of Japan.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NARA GIANTS Travel to Nara Park, one of the largest in Japan, and famous for its free-roaming deer amid its shrines and temples. Kasuga Shrine, the most celebrated in Nara, is a Shinto shrine with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. On the opposite end of the park is Todaiji Temple, one of Japan’s most significant temples. Originally built in 752 AD and again after a fire in 1692, the temple is only two-thirds its original size yet remains one of the world’s largest wooden buildings. The Daibutsu (Giant Buddha) inside the main hall is made of copper and bronze, weighs 250 tons and is 49 feet tall.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 11 KYOTO

Say it Ain’t Sayonara Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

TAKAKO SAN

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Hi I'm Takako. I have traveled extensively as a certified tour guide. In addition to being a Globus Tour Director, I've guided for government delegates from around the world. From high-tech industry to ancient tastes and rich nature, I'm excited to show my diverse country to you and share fascinating and educational insights throughout your journey.”

Tour Director - TAKAKO SAN

 Accommodations

Tokyo
Takayama
Kanazawa
Kyoto

Tokyo

Hilton Tokyo
Hilton TokyoHilton TokyoHilton TokyoHilton TokyoHilton TokyoHilton Tokyo
Hilton Tokyo

Hilton Tokyo

Deluxe

Hilton Tokyo 6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku 6 Chome, Tokyo, Japan

6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku 6 Chome
Tokyo, Japan

The Hilton Tokyo is the the perfect base for exploring the vibrant, energetic city of Tokyo. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the Lobby and Marble Lounge. Rejuvenate in the 24-hour health club within the hotel and relax in the sauna or soothing whirlpool spa. Choose from seven tempting restaurants offering a range of delicious cuisine. Favorites include Dynasty authentic Chinese restaurant, and Musashino, featuring sushi, tempura and teppanyaki. For a relaxing evening drink, visit St. George's Bar.

Hotel Amenities

  • Pool
  • Elevator
  • Concierge desk
  • Laundry Available
  • Fitness Room
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Beauty Salon
  • Parking/Valet
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Currency Exchange
  • Business Center
  • Gift Shop
  • Spa Services

Room Amenities

  • Internet Access
  • Mini-bar
  • Voicemail
  • Complimentary Newspaper
  • Room Service
  • Alarm Clock
  • Air Conditioning
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Phone
  • In-Room Safe
  • Climate Control
  • Coffee Maker
  • Hair Dryer
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Pay Movies
  • Wake-Up Calls
  • Desk
  • Television
  • Cable/Satellite

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Tokyo
Kyoto

Tokyo

World Heritage Nikko Walking Tour

World Heritage Nikko Walking Tour

Enjoy a full day excursion to Nikko, a World Heritage Site home to famous shrines and temples. Experience a Japanese style lunch surrounded by Nikko's beautiful setting and sacred moutains.

Price Range: $$$$

Kyoto

Kyoto Night Tour

Kyoto Night Tour

Japan has been renowned for its refined culture throughout the centuries, and we'll help you experience it firsthand on this very special evening excursion.

Price Range: $$$$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.