zFrom Japan’s Inland Sea to the Alps (2019 Itinerary)

Trip Reviews for zFrom Japan’s Inland Sea to the Alps (2019 Itinerary)

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(153 Traveler Reviews)

Anne from CA gives this tour

The local traditional lunch while watching a performance by both a Geisha and Maiko was a special experience. The visit to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial was the highlight of the trip!

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Date Traveled: 5/17/2019
Geoffrey from OH gives this tour

The well organized itinerary made the trip stress-free.

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Date Traveled: 4/10/2019
Ana from CA gives this tour

We were pleased we booked the spring/Takayama tour, made our first trip to Japan very special. The cherry blossoms were gorgeous, and we saw them throughout the tour. We enjoyed visiting so many temples/castles such as Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple & Sanjusandendo, even the rainy weather didn’t dampen our delight or enthusiasm. We love the history. We were lucky to see the Torii Gate in Miyajima before it was covered in scaffolding for renovation. Nara was wonderful, even with the roaming deer. Other cities such as Kanazawa and Shirakawago really enhanced the itinerary. Takayama was fun, although we were disappointed that due to rain the float parade was canceled. We did enjoy the beautiful floats the next day, and had fun visiting the shops and running into dancers or small parades throughout the city. The accommodations were excellent for the most part, particularly the Granvia Hotel in Kyoto as it is so convenient for transportation, dining, shopping. (The stay at the ryokan was really a “once” in a lifetime experience, very courteous hosts, perfect if you’re not seniors like us.) We were glad that we did our homework prior to the trip as many of the must-see sites in Kyoto (particularly for that time of year) were not included in the tour (Fushimi Inari, Philosopher’s Path, Kiyomizudera, Arashiyama and Sagano Bamboo Forest for example). We had four days on our own instead of the 2-1/2 we had planned because the tour actually started on Day 3 not Day 2 as indicated on the itinerary; Day 2 was a free day and it was a little disappointing. Plan on staying at least an extra day in Tokyo as not enough is covered in the tour. And, be prepared to spend $$$ as Japan is very expensive.

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Date Traveled: 4/9/2019
Sarah from TX gives this tour

The itinerary for this destination was great.

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Date Traveled: 4/1/2019
Thomas from TX gives this tour

Great destination

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Date Traveled: 4/1/2019

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Stay in a Japanese inn...

Enjoy dinner and a night at the Yoshi-ima Ryokan here in Kyoto’s Gion district on Day 4. Just $195 per person double, $200 single.

Kyoto’s Gion Festival

Experience one of Japan’s liveliest festivals with 1,200 year-old traditions! At festival-time, the streets of Gion, Kyoto’s historic Geisha district, are filled with color, music and light. Join local residents for this mid-summer revelry, see the festive decorations and thrill to Yamaboko-Junko, a spectacular parade of gigantic floats pulled by teams of men in traditional garb. Experience all this and more on our July departure.

Takayama's Seasonal Festivals

With colorful centuries-old traditions, Takayama’s Spring + Fall Festivals are highlighted by a spectacular parade of giant floats, many of them dating to the 17th century with remarkable, ingeniously-animated moving parts. Go in Spring and delight in the island’s famed Cherry Blossoms or join us in the fall for the brilliant autumn foliage – what the Japanese call Momiji.