Beyond Tokyo Summer: Nikko, Karuizawa & Snow Monkey Tour

Day 1

Tokyo Narita Airport or Haneda Airport

Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

NOTE 1: The meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 11 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, we will provide full instructions in advance for you to transfer to your hotel on your own.

NOTE 2: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.

Day 2

Nikko (Rinnoji Temple - Treasure House & Shoyoen Garden / Toshogu Shrine / Kegon Waterfall / Lake Chuzenji)

After breakfast, we depart for Nikko, first to explore Rinnoji Temple. It's Treasure House contains Buddhist statues and sutras which Japan considers National Treasures, and the picturesque Shoyoen Garden blooming with beautiful summer flowers. Nearby is Toshogu Shrine, Nikko's most famous historic site and a symbol of the city. It is one of Japan's most opulent shrines, and contains famous carvings of the Three Wise Monkeys and the Sleeping Cat. We go from there to breathtaking Kegon Falls - one of Japan's most spectacular waterfalls, which cascades out from Lake Chuzenji down into a picturesque mountain gorge. We then walk around Lake Chuzenji, which features a beautiful natural landscape dominated by the Fuji-esque Mount Nantai - one of the sacred mountains of Nikko.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Kinugawa Onsen Hotel or similar class

Day 3

Takasaki (Shorinzan Daruma Temple / Daruma Painting Experience), Karuizawa (Stone Church / Karuizawa Museum of Contemporary Art)

In the morning, we depart Nikko for the resort town of Karuizawa via the town of Takasaki, where we visit Shorinzan Daruma Temple, which is known for the making and painting of Daruma dolls. Try your hand at painting a Daruma Doll for yourself during a Daruma Painting Experience. We then continue on to Karuizawa. Discover the unique Stone Church, a beautiful church building of dynamic construction, featuring overlapping arches of grey stone and glass. Then we visit the Karuizawa Museum of Contemporary Art, which celebrates Japanese artists who gained popularity outside Japan, including Yukimasa Ida, Yayoi Kusama, and many others. We continue from there to Yudanaka, and your Japanese-style accommodation at Ryokan Biyu-no-Yado.

Breakfast / Dinner

Ryokan Biyu no Yado or similar class

Day 4

Yudanaka (Snow Monkey Park), Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle), Express Train to Tokyo

After breakfast, the tour continues to Yudanaka, the home of Japan's famous bathing Snow Monkeys. At the hot springs of Jigokudani, groups of snow monkeys, also called Japanese macaques, can be found bathing all year round. You can watch groups of them relaxing in the hot springs, grooming each other, and creating perfect picture opportunities. Then we proceed to Matsumoto to visit the city's most famous landmark – Matsumoto Castle, an imposing flatland fortress built during Japan’s Warring States period, with walls covered in pitch-black wood that give it the nickname “Crow Castle”. From there, we transfer to Tokyo via Express Train.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 5

Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends.
Checkout time is 11 am.
Transfer to Narita Airport or Haneda Airport by Airport Limousine Bus.  

Breakfast

NOTE 3: The departure airport transfer is ONLY available on the last day of the tour. If you plan to stay extra nights after the tour, we will provide full instructions in advance for you to transfer to the airport on your own.

NOTE 4: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.