- JPY 1,500 Suica Card
- 14 Day Japan Rail Pass
- 3 nights at the Keio Plaza Hotel - Sapporo
- 2 nights at the Hakodate Kokusai Hotel
- 2 nights at the Art Hotel Hirosaki City inc. breakfast daily - Hirosaki
- 2 nights at the Hotel Jogakura inc. dinner and breakfast daily - Hakkoda
- 2 nights at the Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing inc. breakfast daily - Morioka
- 2 nights at the Kura Hotel Ichinoseki inc. breakfast daily - Ichinoseki
- 3 nights at the Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East - Sendai
Commencing in Sapporo, see the glorious autumn colours of Northern Japan. Travel by train from Hokkaido down to Tokyo with short stays in between.
This 17 day tour combines many highlights with a superb backdrop of autumn colours. *Extra nights can be added in Tokyo to make a longer Tour.
Dynamic rock formations of Genbikei Gorge
From Ichinoseki, board a JR Tohoku Line train to Hiraizumi. (8 mins/JPY200)
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
Japan Package Tours will be happy to prepare you a personalised itinerary to suit your budget and preferences.
Contact us now for a no-obligation quotation.