Best of Japan Escorted Group Tour

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto

4 NIGHTS

Located in the heart of Kyoto, this stylish hotel blends modern comfort with traditional design. Rooms are elegant and spacious, some with balconies overlooking the city. Guests enjoy access to a serene public bath, a refined lounge with complimentary drinks and snacks, and easy access to top attractions like Nijo Castle and Nishiki Market. Ideal for travellers seeking relaxation and convenience in a beautiful setting.

Hotel Wood Takayama

2 NIGHTS

Nestled just a 12-minute stroll from Takayama Station—and footsteps from the picturesque old town and Shiroyama Park—Hotel Wood beautifully blends minimalist, Japanese wooden architecture with mindful, ZEN-inspired design throughout the property. Travelers who appreciate clean, modern aesthetics infused with Japanese tradition—perfect for rest, cultural exploration, and connecting with fellow guests in a  calming, thoughtful setting.

Yorozuya Ryokan

2 NIGHTS 

A 7-minute walk from Yudanaka Train Station, Yorozuya features hot spring baths, a hot tub and Japanese-style rooms with a private terrace and private bathroom. It offers Japanese cuisine, while free Wi-Fi is provided at the lobby Guests at Yorozuya can unwind in 2 outdoor hot spring baths including a hot tub, and 2 indoor ones. Other facilities include a souvenir shop, drinks vending machines and free parking. Bright rooms come with a traditional decor of tatami (woven-straw) floor, a low table with seating cushions and traditional futon bedding. They are fitted with a seating area, an LCD TV and a fridge. A safe and yukata robes are provided. Japanese-style spa hotel Yorozuya offers a free shuttle service from Yudanaka Station. Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Temple can both be visited a 1-hour drive away

Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa

4 NIGHTS

The Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa is an elegant, 4‑star property in central Tokyo, offering a tranquil retreat surrounded by a spacious Japanese garden and classic architecture. The hotel features well‑appointed rooms, many with city or garden views, and offers amenities such as multiple restaurants, a fitness center, massage services, and beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. Conveniently located just a 5‑minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station, it provides easy access to major Tokyo districts.

KYOTO

KYOTO Brimming with tradition, Kyoto is the ultimate destination for anybody who wants to soak up time-honoured Japanese culture. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples, and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto boasts an array of world-class gardens, majestic festivals and delicate cuisine, all of which make much of the rhythms of nature and the changing of the seasons. While on first glance visitors may find themselves struck more by the ubiquitous grid-like structure of modern metropolitan Japan, a great part of the magic of Kyoto is in picking out its treasures: sacred shrines tucked in among shopping arcades, time-honoured teahouses nestling among modern businesses and the geisha of legend sweeping down backstreets among the tourists and souvenirs. Kyoto’s charm lies in these details and whether you’re here for three days or three years, the closer you look, the more you’ll discover.

HIROSHIMA & MIYAJIMA ISLAND

Hiroshima is of course well-known for being the site of one of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War. In the decades since, a bright and vibrant city has risen phoenix-like from the ashes. The Peace Park and Museum with visitors daily from all walks of life around the world are a poignant reminder of this source of Hiroshima's fame, and its stories of the importance of striving for fellowship over destruction are especially powerful. Other areas to visit in the city include Hiroshima Castle and the baseball stadium. The Shukkei-en garden is well worth an afternoon stroll, with a number of tea houses dotted about the grounds. No visit to Hiroshima would be complete without sampling okomiyaki, a kind of Japanese savoury pancake before your eyes using the ingredients of your choice. If you have your first okonomiyaki here, it's certainly not likely to be your last. Although Miyajima Island is a short ferry from the mainland, you will feel like you’re going back in time to a japan that stood still. Few cars and only deer to get in your way. A floating shrine and large torii gate in the water has made this island one of the most photographed islands in all of Japan.

TAKAYAMA

Mountains in Japan were recognised as the sacred dwelling places of divine spirits, and the ranges that make up the Japan Alps have a power all their own. Takayama is a delightful town in the heart of the Hida mountains, established as a castle town in the 16th century. Famous now for its old town area of narrow streets of Edo-era inns, tea houses, shops, and merchants, the town was known through the ages for the very high quality of its craftsmanship. Many of the Kyoto’s temple builders were Takayama natives, and the beauty of the shrines and temples helped give rise to its nickname of 'Little Kyoto'. Takayama's morning market on the bank of the Miyagawa River is famous and well worth a visit with its local farm produce, flowers and crafts. There are also some great old sake houses are keeping that local tradition going strong, and just on the outskirts of town, old farm houses from across the Hida region have been brought together and rebuilt beam by beam on a hillside in the Hida Folk Village. A stay in Takayama is a chance to get a taste for how things might have been before.

MATSUMOTO

Nestled in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto is a charming historic city known for its blend of culture, nature, and traditional architecture. At its center stands Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining original castles and a designated National Treasure, admired for its striking black exterior and mountain backdrop. The city is also celebrated for its vibrant arts scene, including the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, featuring works by local-born artist Yayoi Kusama. Visitors can stroll through the atmospheric streets of Nakamachi and Nawate, explore craft shops, and enjoy local cuisine such as soba and regional specialties. Surrounded by the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto serves as an ideal base for excursions to Kamikochi, Norikura, and other natural attractions, offering breathtaking landscapes and outdoor activities year‑round.

YUDANAKA ONSEN

Located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Yudanaka is a historic hot spring town known for its relaxing onsen culture, charming streets, and its close proximity to Japan’s famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani. The area has been a beloved hot spring destination for centuries, offering a mix of modern and traditional inns, public baths, and footbaths—starting right at Yudanaka Station, where visitors can enjoy the Kaede‑no‑Yu bath or free footbath upon arrival. Yudanaka serves as the main entry point to the wider Yamanouchi region, making it an excellent base for exploring local highlights such as Shibu Onsen, Shiga Kogen ski area, and of course the Snow Monkey Park, just a short bus ride away. With its blend of authentic onsen heritage, mountain scenery, and easy access to nearby attractions, Yudanaka offers a calm and culturally rich retreat.

TOKYO

Everything you've heard about Tokyo is true – and it is not. For if ever there was a city that you could not confine to one definition, this would be it. The never-ending hustle and bustle of the city creates an energy that is quite contagious. One minute you may be elevated 450 metres above ground overlooking Tokyo’s sprawling metropolis, the next you might be cheering on two sumo wrestlers tackle each other in the sumo stadium. Despite the presence of people and stores everywhere, there is an order that allows things to work efficiently, seemingly against the odds. Tradition and technology stand side by side in this city that can be whatever you want to make of it.

HAKONE (DAY TRIP) 

Hakone is a beautiful national park area around 50 miles west of Tokyo and just to the south of Mt Fuji, Japan's most sacred peak. The area consists of a handful of small villages and hamlets all connected by a variety of local transport, including buses, cable cars and a mountain railway that winds itself through the region's hills and valleys. Hakone has plenty to see and do, from tasting eggs boiled in volcanic waters to taking a boat trip across beautiful Lake Ashi. The outdoor sculpture park and Picasso gallery is a great place to wander around for an afternoon. Or maybe you will just sit back and relax whilst soaking in one of the many therapeutic hot spring baths that Hakone is so famous for. The other main draw to this area is the proximity to Japan's most sacred and iconic mountain, Fuji-san with its near perfect symmetrical form soaring skywards and towering over the surrounding hills. From Hakone you have one of the best chances of getting a view of Mt. Fuji from the various view points to be found throughout the area. However, be sure to have your camera at the ready; Fuji is notoriously shy and you do not want to miss that precious photo opportunity!

Flight details:

KLM 22 Oct - Depart from Cork at 06:15h and arrive in Amsterdam at 08:55h

KLM 22 Oct - Depart from Amsterdam at 14:30h and arrive in Osaka at 14:30h

KLM 04 Nov - Depart from Narita at 13:35h and arrive in Amsterdam at 19:40h

KLM 04 Nov - Depart from Amsterdam at 22:40h and arrive in Cork at 23:25h

Flight Upgrades are subject to availability, but approximate supl

• Premium Economy Seats: €1800 per person
• Business Class Seats: €3400 per person

• The cost per person sharing is €8,299, including airline taxes, and based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room.
• Sole occupancy supplement is €3200 extra.

Note: KLM charges to pre-book specific seats; this can only be done online once tickets are issued