Tour Code: 26JPNW
Tour Manager: Martin Dale-Hench
Group Size: 8
Activity level: Moderate

Japan is for all seasons and winter is especially beautiful in Japan. The food is at their best in this time of year, too. Grab the chance to see the wild snow monkeys basking in the natural hot springs in Jigokudani  (Hell Valley), Nagano. Eat a variety of foods, including ramen, sushi, and Japanese hot pot. Visit the historical Kyoto and Nara districts, where shoguns and emperors reigned over Japan. Be dazzled by the bustling, clean, and efficient metropolis of Tokyo. Enjoy hot springs with a view of Mt. Fuji's grandeur.

Saturday, January 3
Arrival in Tokyo and meet at hotel. Airports in Tokyo: Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT). Stay in Tokyo for 3 nights.

Sunday, January 4
Visit Tokyo's largest temple, Sensoji, to learn about the Edo era of Tokyo, when samurai populated the city. See the glitzy side of Tokyo, Ginza, one of the most expensive parts of the world. Welcome dinner at a deaf-owned place, Fusao.

Monday, January 5
Grab some eats at the historical fish market, Tsukiji, and try some beef sushi! Go to the Shibuya district to meet the loyal dog, Hachi. Free time in the afternoon.

Tuesday, January 6
Take the shinkansen to the mountainous Nagano. Visit the womb of Buddha in a temple, Zenkoji. Eat some of a famous local dish, soba. Stay in Nagano for 2 nights.

Wednesday, January 7
Go out to the forested mountains and walk through some snow to reach the Jigokudani hot springs where snow monkeys warm themselves up in the cold. Visit the arena where the 1998 Winter Olympics were held.

Thursday, January 8
Move further north by shinkansen to Kanazawa. Visit the Kenrokuen garden, where artisanal trees are protected from the snow by ropes with a fascinating technique. Eat some local sushi, which is some of the best and freshest in all of Japan. Stay in Kanazawa for 2 nights.

Friday, January 9
Take a ride up high in the mountains to the picturesque Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enter the thatched houses where people used to live securely in during winters of heavy snow. 

Saturday, January 10
Leave Kanazawa for Kyoto. Visit the resplendent Golden Pavilion. Stay in Kyoto for 3 nights.

Sunday, January 11
Amble the Higashiyama district and try on kimono and walk the cobblestoned streets (optional, paid separately).

Monday, January 12
See the thousand red torii gates in Fushimi, and then go south to Nara to see the Great Buddha in Todaiji. Bow to the wild deer in the area - they will bow back!

Tuesday, January 13
Bullet train to Mishima and switch to bus to go to Fuji-Kawaguchiko and stay at a ryokan with a view of Mt. Fuji. Enjoy natural, rejuvenating hot springs. Stay in Kawaguchiko for 2 nights.

Wednesday, January 14
Take the day touring the Fuji 5 Lakes area by car, seeing villages and pagodas with awesome views of Mt. Fuji.

Thursday, January 15
Go back to Tokyo and do your last-chance shopping. Stay in Tokyo for 1 night.

Friday, January 16
Departure day. Airports can be either Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT).

Updated as of 01/05/2024

Martin Dale-Hench has been a resident of Japan since 2013, and he currently splits his time between Washington DC and Tokyo as he pursues a PhD degree in Linguistics at Gallaudet University. He is originally from Michigan, but he has been struck with wanderlust since he was a child and travels all around the world constantly. He enjoys learning languages, reading history, meeting new people, and learning trivia. He currently works as a Certified Deaf Interpreter and a translator of ASL, JSL, Japanese, and English. 

• 13 nights in 3-4star accommodations.

• 15 meals: Breakfast (13), Dinner (2)

• Services of a deaf Tour Leader on call 24 hours a day.

• Services of local deaf guides.

• All transportation expenses.

• All city and/or tourist taxes. 

• All admission fees for attractions and museums mentioned in the itinerary.

• Informative travel preparation packet.

• $100 Repeat Customer Discount per person on your next regular tour.

• Domestic and/or international airfares.

• Airport transfers at beginning and end of tour.

• All other meals not mentioned in the itinerary and personal expenses.

• Travel Insurance.

• All types of transit and tourist visas (if applicable) - e.g. ETIAS.

• Tips for your Tour Leader, Tour Assistant(s) and/or Local Guides

• Tour begins in TOKYO, JAPAN and ends in TOKYO, JAPAN. Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) airports serve Tokyo area.

• Tour will be confirmed when we meet the minimum number of participants

• When the tour is confirmed, additional deposits or payments may be required

• Significant walking is expected during the tour, and moderate physical fitness is required

• Hands On Travel recommends purchasing a travel insurance plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected

• Last but not least, please read Hands On Travel's Terms & Conditions.

We're here to help you plan the perfect adventure! For any inquiries or assistance, feel free to reach out:

Email: martin@handson.travel

With this tour confirmation, your $500 deposit is now non-refundable in any event you need to back out. However, it may be transferable to a future tour.