Northern Japan Tours

14 Day Northern Japan Adventure

Enjoy a two week long adventure in Japan's most northern regions Tohoku and Hokkaido. Indulge in local, fresh seafood, take in breathtaking natural scenery and uncover the unique culture of Japan's north. Take a traditional boat ride through the natural phenomenon Geibikei Gorge and visit the spiritual highlands of Hiraizumi.

*inclusions shown in the bullet points - package does not include airfares

Day 01 - Arrive Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Narita International Airport clear customs with your luggage and make your way to the Arrivals Lobby.

Take the escalator downstairs to the train station and at the JR East Travel Service Centre (06:30 – 21:45) issue your Japan Rail Pass.

Board the Narita Express train from Narita Airport to Shinagawa Station. (65 min) Your accommodation at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel is a two minute walk across the road from the Takanawa Exit of JR Shinagawa Station.

Shinagawa is the ideal place to stay for its convenient access to wide range of restaurants and shops. Shinagawa Station is a major stop on the JR Yamanote Line loop system which circumnavigates Tokyo.

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 1/3

Day 02 - Tokyo

Start today by boarding a JR Yamanote Line train from Shinagawa Station to Ueno (18 mins) to visit the Ameyoko Ueno Markets. The long market lanes run from JR Ueno Station to JR Okachimachi Station. There are over 500 shops that sell everything from basic foods to high-class imported goods at reasonable prices, and thus it is always crowded with shoppers.

In the nearby Ueno Park, there is a concentration of cultural institutions such as the first zoo in Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Cultural Hall, National Western Art Museum, National Science Museum and Tokyo National Museum, all offering recreation and relaxation for the citizens.

Next, board a Tokyo Metro Ginza Line train to Asakusa Station (5 mins) to visit the nearby Sensoji Temple (popularly known as Asakusa Kannon Temple), Tokyo’s oldest and most impressive temple which is said to have been founded in the 7th century. Nakamise Dori, the colourful shopping promenade, extends from Kaminarimon Gate to Hozomon Gate and is an excellent place to buy everything from kimono to traditional sweets. Positioned across the road from Kaminarimon Gate the Asakusa Rickshaw tour guides await to guide you around the area by rickshaw.

Return to Ueno on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (5 mins) and change trains to board a JR Yamanote Line train from Ueno to Akihabara Station. (3 mins) Akihabara boasts the largest area of electronic appliances and devices in the world. Here, the very latest in technology and system compatibility is available to both the Japanese and foreign market. In recent years Akihabara has become home to a number of shops specialising in Japanese animation Anime and Manga which is growing increasingly popular around the world.

In the evening, return to Shinagawa Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 2/3

Day 03 - Tokyo

This morning you will join the Nikko World Heritage Tour which is operated by Sunrise Tours.

This full day guided tour takes you to some of Nikko's most popular sightseeing spots including the World Heritage registered Toshogu Shrine and the beautiful Kegon Falls.

From Shinagawa Station board a JR Yamanote Line train to Hamamatsucho Station. You will be collected from the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal at 09:00am. Please aim to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the tour pick-up time. Visit the:

Nikko Toshogu Shrine - Marvel at the ornate architecture of this famous World Heritage site. Tour includes viewing of Yomei Gate and the Main Hall.

Lunch - Enjoy a Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant.

Lake Chuzenji - Created by an eruption of Mt. Nantai, this lake is a symbol of Nikko.

Kegon Falls - Almost a 100 meters tall, beautiful Kegon Falls is one of Nikko's most famous waterfalls.

The tour will return to Tokyo by motorcoach and disband in Shinjuku. Your guide will advise how to return to your hotel.

Stay: Shinagawa Prince Hotel - 3/3

Day 04 - Tokyo - Sendai

Check-out of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel and from Shinagawa Station board a Hikari bullet train to Tokyo Station. (5 mins) Change trains and board a Yamabiko bullet train to Sendai Station. (121 mins)

Your accommodation at the Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East is a directly connected to the station.

A city sightseeing loop bus, the Loople Sendai, departs from JR Sendai Station (West Exit) bus stop #15-3 and does a one-hour loop around a number of major attractions. An all-day pass can be purchased for JPY620.

Board the bus to visit:

Zuihoden Mausoleum (09:00 – 16:30/JPY550) – the ornate Zuihoden Mausoleum features intricate, and brightly coloured woodwork, and is site where Date Masamune, one of the most powerful feudal lords during the Edo period, is entombed.

Sendai City Museum (09:00 – 16:15/JPY400) – features a number of exhibits relating to various aspects of Sendai’s history. Here you will find the suit of armor belonging to Date Masamune, a Important Cultural Asset, on display.

Osaki Hachimangu Shrine – a beautiful shrine covered mostly in black lacquer and decorated with gold leaf. Designated as a National Treasure, it enshrines the guardian deity of the Date family.

For dinner tonight, visit one of the restaurants on Gyutan Dori (Beef Tongue Street) for Sendai’s most popular delicacy. Most commonly grilled on a barbeque, many restaurants will also serve it on top of rice, in a curry or in a stew.

Stay: Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East - 1/2

Day 05 - Sendai - Matsushima Bay - Sendai

From Sendai Station board a JR Senseki Line train to Matsushima Kaigan Station. (40 mins) From here it is a ten minute walk to Zuiganji Temple. (08:00 – 15:30/JPY700)

Originally established in 828AD, Zuiganji is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in northern Japan. Built at the end of a period of long, civil wars, the temple features a watchtower and nightingale alarm floors which are more commonly defence features found in castles. The temple is surrounded by small caves where monks once lived and prayed.

Next, visit Etsuin Temple (08:30 – 16:00/JPY300), a short walk from Zuiganji. Etsuin Temple is home to the mausoleum of samurai ruler, Date Masamune’s grandson, who died mysteriously at age 19. The Mausoleum is decorated with western designs and symbols brought back from Europe on a trade mission sent by Date Masamune.

Enjoy a hot matcha green tea and Japanese sweet at the Kanrantei Tea House. (08:30 – 16:30/JPY150 entry; JPY300-700 for tea) *Place your tea and sweet orders at the ticket booth. The Kanrantei Tea House is the tea house of the ruling Date family and once served tea to samurai and royal guests. Now the tea house is open to the public and overlooks Matsushima Bay.

Take a sightseeing boat trip around Matsushima Bay and its 260 islands. A number of companies offer 50 minute cruises that depart from the pier next to the rest house. (departs hourly 09:00 - 15:00/JPY1,500)

Return to Sendai in the late afternoon.

Stay: Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East - 2/2

Day 06 - Sendai - Ichinoseki

Check-out of the Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East and from Sendai Station board a Hayate or Yamabiko bulet train to Ichinoseki Station. (32 mins)

Your accommodation at the Kura Hotel is a two minute walk from the station.

Leave your luggage at the hotel and return to Ichinoseki Station. From Ichinoseki Station, board a JR Ofunato Line train to Geibikei Station. (30 mins) Geibikei Gorge is a five minute walk from the station. Alternatively, board an Iwate Kotsu bus from bus stop #7 in front of Ichinoseki Station to Geibikei-guchi stop. (42 mins/JPY620)

Admire the natural scenery on a 90 minute (JPY1,600/round trip) boat ride down the Satetsu river, through the Geibikei Gorge. The boat rides depart at 08:30, 09:30, then hourly from 10:00 to 16:00, with a final departure at 16:30.

Cliff walls on either side soar over 50 meters high, and provide a canvas for the lush green foliage. Enjoy the folksongs of the boatsmen and feed the Japanese koi that swim alongside the boat. The turning point for the boat ride is the limestone shaped like a lion’s nose, from which Geibikei gets its name. Here, passengers can alight from the boat and purchase lucky charms which they try to throw into a small cave in the cliff face on the other side.

Return to Ichinoseki in the late afternoon.

*Your stay at the Kura Hotel includes breakfast daily

Stay: Kura Hotel - 1/2

Day 07 - Ichinoseki - Hiraizumi - Ichinoseki

From Ichinoseki, board a JR Tohoku Line train to Hiraizumi. (8 mins)

Hiraizumi was the administrative centre of the northern realm during the 11th and 12th centuries and produced gold and the fine paper and lacquer that was used in Kyoto’s courts.

Hiraizumi is considered a Buddhist Capital and is home to five World Heritage-listed sites, a group of well-preserved temples and gardens based on the concept of Pure Land Buddhism.

The Hiraizumi “Run Run” loop bus departs Hiraizumi Station every 15 minutes and visits a number of attractions around the city. Purchase an all-day pass for JPY400 and visit:

Motsu-ji Temple (08:30 – 17:00/JPY500) – designated as both a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Motsu-ji was once a complex of 40 temple buildings and 500 priests’ quarters. The ‘Pure Land Garden’, which simulates the Buddhist afterlife, has been fully restored to its original state and is one of the most important sites in Japan’s garden history.

Chuson-ji Temple (08:30 – 17:00/JPY800) – Chuson-ji was built to placate the spirits of all those who died in the bloody conflicts of the late eleventh century. Though much was destroyed by fires, over 3,000 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties remain. Among them the Konjikido, the first structure to be designated as a Japanese National treasure, is covered in gold leaf inside and out. The inside is intricately decorated with shell inlays, lacquer and metal fittings and entombs four consecutive generations of the first Oshu Fujiwara lord.

Next, travel to Genbikei by returning to Ichinoseki Station and boarding an Iwate Kotsu bus from bus stop #9 in front of Ichinoseki Station to Genbikei. (20 mins/JPY490)

Genbikei Gorge’s 2km stretch of dynamin rock formations, emerald-green river and trees that lend a vast array of colours throughout the seasons has been designated as a national site of scenic beauty and national monument. Horse-drawn carriages lead tourists around the area, and the local specialty dango, or sweet rice dumplings, are a popular treat. Of the many dango shops, the most popular is the Kakko-Ya, which is positioned across the gorge and sells its “flying dango” via a rope a pulley system. Place your money in the basket and signal to the shop staff by striking a wooden mallet against a board, and watch as the basket flies across the gorge to collect your dumplings and some hot tea.

Stay: Kura Hotel - 2/2

Day 08 - Ichinoseki - Hirosaki

Check-out of the Kura Hotel and from Ichinoseki Station board a Hayabusa bullet train to Shin-Aomori Station. (80 mins) Change trains and board a JR Ou Line train to Hirosaki Station. (35 mins)

Your accommodation at the Art Hotel Hirosaki City is a one minute walk from the station.

Hirosaki is a small castle town in Aomori with a varied architectural heritage featuring temples, samurai residences and a castle from the Edo period, and churches, libraries and civic buildings from the Meiji Period when many foreign scholars were invited to Hirosaki.

With Aomori producing more than half of the nation’s apples, and being the birthplace of the Fuji apple, you will find apple-incorporated sweets throughout Hirosaki. A Hirosaki Pie Guide Map will direct you to 47 of the best apple pies around.

After check-in, commence your exploration of Hirosaki by boarding a Dote-Machi city sightseeing loop bus from in front of Hirosaki Station to Shiyakusho-mae bus stop. (15 mins) From here it is a two minute walk to the Otemon Gate of Hirosaki Castle (09:00 – 17:00/JPY310). Built in 1611, this castle of the Tsugaru Clan is one of the 12 remaining original castles in Japan.

Visit the Tsugaru-han Neputa Village (09:00- 17:00/JPY550) where you can watch as artists create traditional crafts, and enjoy a performance of the Tsugaru-jamisen, a three-stringed folk instrument.

A short walk from here is the Nakacho Traditional Buildings Preservation District where the traditional townscape has been maintained. Visit the Kawasaki Dyeing Plant where the traditional art of natural indigo dyeing is still carried out.

*Your stay at the Art Hotel Hirosaki City includes breakfast daily

Stay: Art Hotel Hirosaki City - 1/2

Day 09 - Hirosaki

Start today by boarding a Konan Railway Konan Line train from Hirosaki Station to Tambo Art Station. (23 mins/JPY430)

From here it is a short walk to one of the two famous Rice Paddy Art sites, for which the prefecture of Aomori is famous for. Since 1993, the small town of Inakadate has been creating images in their rice paddy fields by carefully planting rice of varying colour. In their first year, they used two colours, yellow and purple, to create a simple image of Mt. Iwaki. Each following year, the designs become more elaborate and now consist of 7 colours and 11 variety of rice. The images can be seen from June to mid-October, but are best from mid-July to mid-August. Entry to the viewing platform is JPY300.

A courtesy shuttle bus departs every 30 mins from this art site and will take you to the second site. (10 mins)

OR

From Hirosaki Station board a Limited Express Tsugaru train to Aomori Station. (33 mins)

Visit Nebuta Warasse (09:00 – 19:00/JPY600) which is a one minute walk from the station, to view the large, glowing floats used in Aomori’s Nebuta Festival. Get a taste of the lively festival atmosphere and learn about the history and traditions of one of Tohoku’s ‘Big Three Summer Festivals’.

For lunch, visit the Furukawa Fish Market (07:00 – 16:00) where you can create your own nokkedon, or bowl of rice topped with fresh seafood. Purchase tickets in sets of five (JPY540) or ten (JPY1,080) which are exchanged for rice and various seafood toppings sold in the market.

Return to Hirosaki in the afternoon. For dinner tonight you may like to visit one of the izakaya where local specialties are served and Tsugaru folksongs are performed.

Stay: Art Hotel Hirosaki City - 2/2

Day 10 - Hirosaki - Hakodate

Check-out of the Art Hotel Hirosaki and from Hirosaki Station board a Limited Express Tsugaru train to Shin-Aomori Station. (30 mins) Make your way to the bullet train lines and board a Hayabusa bullet train to Shin-Hakodatehokuto Station. (60 mins) Change trains and board a Hakodate Liner train to Hakodate Station. (15 mins)

Your accommodation at the Hotel Resol Hakodate is a three minute walk from the station.

After checking in at your hotel, commence sightseeing in Hakodate City. Walk to Hakodate Ekimae tram stop and board a tram #5 to Suehiro Machi (10 min). Suehiro Machi is bayside area and interesting buildings and museums such as glass museum (old post office), Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse (inside of the warehouse is refurbished as shopping mall).

In the late afternoon, visit Mt Hakodate which is walking distance from Suehiro Machi area. Take a ropeway (JPY1,160/adult for return trip) up to the mountain for an extraordinary panoramic view of Hakodate City.

Return to your accommodation in the evening.

Stay: Hotel Resol Hakodate - 1/2

Day 11 - Hakodate

Visit the Morning Markets (05:30 – 12:00) which span an area of four blocks near the JR Hakodate Station area and enjoy a fresh, seafood breakfast!

Next, take a day trip to Onuma. Onuma is famous for its beautiful nature scenery. Have a relaxing day in Onuma. From Hakodate Station, board a Limited Express Super Hokuto train to Onuma Koen Station. (20 min)

Onuma is famous for its beautiful, natural scenery. This quasi national park covers over 9,000 hectares and has two very attractive lakes, Onuma and Konuma. The area has several walking trails which lead you around the lakes’ peninsulas and islands and are interconnected by small bridges. Sightseeing boats are available to take you on 30 minute tours for JPY1,100/person.

Stay: Hotel Resol Hakodate - 2/2

Day 12 - Hakodate - Sapporo

Check-out of your accommodation and from Hakodate Station board a Limited Express Super Hokuto train to Sapporo Station. (225 mins)

Your accommodation at the Keio Plaza Hotel is a five minute walk from the station.

Spend the day using your maps and guides to explore the sights around Sapporo.

For dinner, you may like to visit the Sapporo Beer Garden’s Genghis Khan Hall where you can feast on the popular local dish of barbequed mutton, washed down with the famous Sapporo Beer.

Stay: Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo - 1/2

Day 13 - Sapporo - Otaru - Sapporo

Make a day trip to Otaru by boarding a JR Semi Rapid Ishikari Liner, JR Hakodate Line or JR Airport Rapid train to Otaru Station. (30-50 mins)

Otaru is a small harbor city full of character thanks to the beautiful warehouse-lined canals and buildings from former trade and shipping companies.

Stroll along the canal, and visit Sakaimachi Street with its attractive, old buildings that have since been converted into cafes, boutiques and museums. Visit the Otaru City Museum (09:30 – 17:00/JPY300) to discover Otaru’s history and the early development of Hokkaido.

Next visit the Herring Mansion (09:00 – 17:00/JPY300) by boarding a city bus #10 or #11 from Otaru Station (25 mins/JPY220). View the tools and living conditions of herring fisherman during the heyday of herring fishing, once one of Otaru’s major industries. Since the early days of the town’s development right through to the 19050s when the industry collapsed due to a drop in herring stocks, large fortunes were made by leading fishing enterprises. Visit the Aoyama Villa (09:00 – 17:00/JPY1,080), the luxurious villa of one of the most successfully families in the herring industry.

Stay: Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo - 2/2

Day 14 - Depart Sapporo

Today is the final day of your 14 Day Japan Rail Pass.

Check-out of the Keio Plaza Hotel and from Sapporo Station, board the Airport train to New Chitose Airport. (40 mins)

Be sure to check-in for your flight at least 2 hours prior to its scheduled departure.