Day 1 Tokyo
On arrival in Tokyo make your way to our conveniently located hotel using the detailed instructions in our notes
(which you will get after booking). Explore Tokyo before our meeting to run over the plan for the next week before an
included welcome dinner at an izakaya (Japanese style pub) to get to know your fellow travellers. We then check out
one of Tokyo’s infamous entertainment areas and get a night view over Tokyo from the 45th floor of the Tokyo
government offices. Optional activity: party all night!
Day 2 Tokyo/Nikko
Visit to the outer market of Tsukiji, the world’s largest fish market for some of the freshest sushi and sashimi you’re
ever likely to get (or plenty of other options if you can’t stomach fish in the morning). A free morning with options
including zazen meditation, ikebana, tea ceremony, karate/aikido martial arts, city bike ride, sumo stable visit,
Akihabara otaku visit and kabuki theatre performance before heading to the youth hangout of Harajuku for the
afternoon. Out to see and be seen the youth strut their stuff in their finest punk/goth/Lolita outfits and nearby Yoyogi
park is a hang out for Tokyo’s fringe groups on a Sunday afternoon. We take a late afternoon Shinkansen (bullet
train) to Nikko where our Japanese Inn has tatami mat rooms and a private hot spring bath overlooking the river.
Dinner is at a local family run restaurant which specialises in yakitori (chicken skewers) and hearty servings of fried
soba noodles before learning how to write your name in Japanese characters.
Day 3 Nikko
Free day for you to choose a day on the nearby mountains skiing or other activities depending on your interests.
Options include visiting the UNESCO world heritage temple and shrine complex of Tosho-gu, some snow shoeing
in lovely part of the national park, snow mobile tour of the nearby mountains, ice skating or a tour of a sake brewery
including – of course – tasting the various versions.
Day 4 Nikko
Free day again where we recommend a full day snow shoeing to trek along the frozen Unryu Keikoku Canyon to
see beautiful naturally formed ice-sculptures, a 100m wide ice-wall and a frozen waterfall. Another day on snow is
possible also. Dinner tonight is make your own as we use our private hotplate to concoct our own okonomiyaki
(Japanese pancake or Japanese omelette) and wash it down with some local sake.
Day 5 Yumoto Onsen
We get an early start to head up to Yumoto Onsen (an hour bus ride from Nikko) and its nearby ski fields for a day
on the snow. After an energetic day we relax and enjoy a 10 course banquet in our ryokan before a night walk in the
snow to spot some of the nocturnal wildlife and learn more about this thermal area and its unique flora and fauna.
Day 6 Yumoto Onsen
Another day on the amazing snow and the option in the afternoon to try some ice biking on specially designed
bikes. Our resident experts will take you through some of the local forests along flat trails and paths on before
another larger than life banquet and soak in a nearby onsen with thermal water piped straight from the hot springs
which abound in this area.
Days 7-8 Tokyo
We head back to Tokyo by bus, local train and bullet train for our final night dinner and a night on the town. There is
the option to spend your final night in a capsule hotel or love hotel for a somewhat different accommodation
experience. On day 8 we say sayonnara to our new found friends.
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Departure dates
Departure dates to
suit you, please
contact us for more
details.
Trip code
MNT
Group size
Max 10
Inclusions
Tokyo day tour
Tsukiji market visit
2 days lift passes at
Yumoto Onsen
All transport to/from
included activities and
between places
Meals included
7 breakfasts, 6 dinners
Accommodation
Family run ryokan (5
nts), lodge style
ryokan (2 nts)
Optional activities
Snow shoe
half day AU$80
full day AU$120
Snow mobile tour
half day AU$120
Toshogu World
Heritage site AU$13
Extra day skiing with
transport and pass
AU$70
Booking enquiry
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