Japan Tour Fall 2020 will be postponed due to the increasing global coronavirus cases. March 1st and 5th orientation is canceled.
We will update information about new Fall travel schedule and orientation dates when we are ready.
Visit Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara, Takayama and Shirakawa-go
Sept 28 – Oct 10, 2020 (13 Days / 11 Nights)
Since 2010, the North American Post and Hokubei Hochi Foundation have offered an
annual cultural tour to Japan. The tour includes travel to Tokyo, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima and gives members unique local experiences and low tour rates for travelers.
Contact: japantour@napost.com.
- Availability is limited. We accept 24 maximum tourists for this tour.
- This tour is led by two tour guides including at least one JPN/ENG bilingual tour guide
- This tour uses public transportation for entire ground transportation. Tour members need to be able to comfortably walk long distances and move up and down stairs at subway stations.
*Information for 2020 Spring Tour – (Shikoku Island Discovery Tour) is here:
https://napost.com/japan-tour-spring-2020/
Tour Fee
- $4680/person with double occupancy hotel rates
- $4530/person with triple occupancy hotel rates
- $5540/person with single occupancy hotel rates
Rate includes
- International round-trip flights Seattle – Tokyo and Osaka – Seattle
- 13 nights Hotel stay with complimentary breakfast every day. (Other meals on your own, except the ryokan dinner in Takayama at Takayama Oan on October 4th.)
- One fantastic “Ryokan Kaiseki” dinner at Takayama Oan
- Ground transportation and entrance fees for destinations included in the itinerary below
Payment Schedule
- $200 at the time of reservation
- $1500 down-payment is due on April 30th, 2020
- Remaining amount is due on June 30th, 2020
*3% additional fee if you pay by credit card.
Cancellation Policy
- $200/person is non-refundable at the time of reservation
- After April 30th, $1700/person is non-refundable
- After June 30th, $3000/person is non-refundable
- After August 10th, entire travel fee is non-refundable
Hotel Information:
- 4 nights in Tokyo
Shinagawa Prince Hotel, 4 Chome-10-30 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8611, Japan (https://www.princehotels.com/shinagawa/) *Tokyo hotel stays include complimentary 4 breakfast
- 2 nights in Takayama
Takayama Ouan, 4 Chome – 313 Hanasatomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0026, Japan (https://www.hotespa.net/hotels/takayama/)*Takayama hotel stays include complimentary 2 breakfast and 1 dinner
- 5 nights in Kyoto
New Miyako Hotel, 17 Nishikujo Inmachi, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8412, Japan (https://www.miyakohotels.ne.jp/kyoto-hachijo/english/) *Kyoto hotel stays include complimentary 4 breakfast
2020 Fall Tour Orientation – CANCELED
Please join our orientation on to meet our two bilingual tour guides and learn more about this year’s North American Post Japan Tour. We will go through tour destinations, ground transportation, tour fees and more. Q&A session will be followed. The orientation is free and open to public.
If you are interested in our tour or just in joining the orientation, please contact: japantour@napost.com
- Sunday, March 1st 2:30 pm – 4 pm >> CANCELED
Venue: The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW),
- Thursday, March 5th 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm >> CANCELED
Venue: The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW),
Itinerary:
Day 1
Sept 28 |
Seattle | Meet at Sea-Tac for flight to Japan | |
Day 2
Sept 29 |
Tokyo | Arrive in Narita | |
JR Rail Pass Sign Up & Seat Reservation | |||
Airport Limousine Bus to Hotel | |||
Day 3
Sept 30 |
9am | Tokyo
West-side and Central |
Depart for Harajuku Station |
9:30am | Explore Meiji Shrine | ||
12pm | Lunch at Shibuya | ||
2:00pm | Explore Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Dog Statue | ||
3:00pm | Take Subway to Nijyubashi-Mae station | ||
3:30pm | Walk Imperial Palace | ||
5:00pm | Walk to Tokyo Station | ||
Return to hotel at leisure on your own | |||
Day 4
Oct 1 |
9am | Tokyo East-side | Depart for Hamamatsu-cho Station |
10am | Take Waterbus to Asakusa | ||
11am | Explore Asakusa Nakamise and Sensoji Temple | ||
12:30pm | Depart for Shibamata | ||
1pm | Lunch
Free time to explore Shibamata and Taishakuten Temple |
||
3pm | Depart for Tokyo Skytree | ||
4pm | Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck and Soramachi Shopping Mall | ||
Return to hotel at leisure on your own | |||
Day 5
Oct 2 (JR rail pass Day 1) |
9am | Tokyo &
Yokohama |
Depart for Yokohama |
10:30am | Arrive at Yokohama Japanese Overseas Migration Museum | ||
12:00pm | Bus to Yokohama Chinatown | ||
12:30pm | Lunch and free time on your own in Chinatown | ||
2pm | Meet & Walk to Hikawamaru at Yokohama Harbor | ||
2:30pm | Explore Hikawamaru | ||
3:45pm | Depart for Tokyo Station | ||
5:15 pm | Explore Yurakucho and Ginza Area on your own | ||
Return to hotel at leisure on your own | |||
Day 6
Oct 3 (JR rail pass Day 2) |
8am | Takayama | Depart hotel |
8:30am | Shinkansen Bullet Train to Nagoya | ||
11am | Express Train from Nagoya to Takayama | ||
1:30pm | Arrive in Takayama | ||
Free time to explore Takayama | |||
Dinner at Hotel | |||
Day 7
Oct 4 (JR rail pass Day 3) |
8:00am | Takayama | Depart for Shirakawa-Go town by bus (arrive around 10am) |
4pm | Return to Takayama | ||
Free time to explore Takayama | |||
Day 8
Oct 5 (JR rail pass Day 4) |
9am | Kyoto | Express Train to Nagoya |
12pm | Free time in Nagoya for Lunch/Break | ||
2pm | Shinkansen Bullet Train to Kyoto | ||
3pm | Arrive in Kyoto | ||
Free time to explore Kyoto | |||
Day 9
Oct 6 (JR rail pass Day 5) |
8am | Kyoto | Half Day Tour of Kyoto |
10:30am | Lunch around Kyoto Station | ||
2pm | Depart for Fushimi Station | ||
2:30pm | Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine (known for the torii gates) | ||
4:00pm | Return to Kyoto Station | ||
Free time to explore Kyoto | |||
Day 10
Oct 7 (JR rail pass Day 6)
|
8am | Kyoto | Depart Hotel |
11am | Arrive in Hiroshima / Ferry to Miyajima | ||
Explore Itsukushima Shrine & Miyajima | |||
2pm | Ferry/Train to Hiroshima | ||
3pm | Explore Hiroshima Peace Park & Museum | ||
6pm | Quick Dinner at Hiroshima Station before getting on Shinkansen | ||
9pm | Return to Kyoto | ||
Day 11
Oct 8 (JR rail pass Day 7) |
9am | Kyoto | Train to Nara |
Visit Kasuga Shrine | |||
1pm | Lunch | ||
2:30pm | Visit Todaiji Temple | ||
4pm | Return to Kyoto | ||
5pm | Free time to explore Kyoto | ||
Day 12
Oct 9 |
9am | Kyoto | Depart Kyoto for Gekkeikan Ozeki Sake Museum |
10am | Gekkeikan Ozeki Sake Museum | ||
11:30am | Lunch at Fushimi Momoyama Shotengai | ||
1:00pm | Return to Kyoto | ||
Free time to explore Kyoto | |||
Day 13
Oct 10 |
11:30 am | Depart for Itami Airport | |
Kyoto Station 12:05 pm – Itami Airport 1:10 pm | |||
Depart Itami Airport 2:40 pm / Arrive Narita 4:00 pm | |||
Depart Narita Airport 6:05 pm | |||
Return to Seattle 11:05 am |
*Schedule may change due to weather, traffic, transportation availability, our walking speed, waiting time etc.
Q&A:
Q. Why is your rate so reasonable?
A. We have been offering relatively lower rates as we have been running this tour as part of Hokubei Hochi Foundation non-profit programs with its mission promoting Japanese culture in the Seattle area. Tour guides are volunteer. We also keep this rate possible by NOT using private bus. The tour use public transportations. We have been working with Nippon Express Travel (https://www.tabi22.com/), who provide us with discounted group rates for flights and hotels.
Q. Do you sell travel insurance?
A. Neither the North American Post Publishing (Hokubei Hochi Flundation) or the travel agency Nippon Express Travel sell travel insurance. Optional travel insurance needs to be prepared individually.
Here is recommended travel insurance:
https://buy.travelguard.com/TGI2/proc/stateselector.aspx?br=agentlink&arc=05782475&agentlinkasp=yes
You can see coverage details, premier, and apply online.
Q. Can I upgrade flights?
A. If you want to upgrade your flight, we will arrange by charging you actual upgrade fee from the air company. Availability may be limited. Contact us for more details