Escorted Japan tours by Laurus Travel have won many accolades as evidenced by the number of customer testimonials and online reviews by real customers. If you are looking for fully escorted Japan tours that focus on culture, history, nature and fine food, you can’t go wrong by choosing Laurus Travel of Vancouver, Canada.
Our highly-rated Japan tour packages for active seniors feature small group size (20 maximum), immersive activities such as sushi making and private geisha performance. premium accommodations, and more importantly, exceptional guide service by outstanding Japanese local guides carefully selected and trained by the owners of Laurus Travel.
Our all-inclusive Japan tour packages do not include airfares because our guests are from all over North America with many of them choosing to fly business class or premium economy. If you need assistance with airfare purchase, please know that we have access to exclusive business class fares not visible to the general public. Unlike other Japan tour companies, we do not mark up on airfare quotes. That guarantees the competitiveness of the business class air deals from Laurus Travel.
Our fully guided tours hold special appeal to discerning travellers seeking in-depth experiences that are culturally enriching, intellectually stimulating and physically active. Whether you are from Canada, the US, Australia or the UK, you’ll love our masterfully curated luxury small group Japan trips, whether you are an active senior, busy executive or white-collar professionals.
Escorted Japan Tours – Recommended Itinerary
19-day Classic Japan
Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Nagasaki – Naha – Tokyo
From the tranquil temples of Kyoto and the bustling streets of Tokyo to the historical beauty of Nagasaki and the tropical allure of Okinawa, this masterfully crafted Japan tour offers a unique blend of cultural exploration and natural wonder, including the iconic Mt. Fuji and the poignant history of Hiroshima. Conducted by expert guides, this premium small-group Japan tour is your quintessential introduction to the ancient Land of the Rising Sun.
Please note that this is a physically demanding tour requiring participants to walk 5 kilometres (3 miles) per day on average and at a brisk pace. On some days, the distance covered on foot can be up to 8 kilometres (5 miles). A high level of fitness is required of all participants.
Important Features
- Small group size (average 15, maximum 20).
- Expert professional guides.
- No shopping stops.
- Immersive cultural activities.
- Quality Japanese and Western cuisines.
- Special dinners featuring maiko performance.
- Post-tour Taipei extension available.
Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner
Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.
Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo!
Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed up-to-date information on how to get to the hotel will be provided in the final update two weeks before departure. Private transfer can be arranged on request.
Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L/D)
Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.
Our full-day sightseeing begins at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. A stroll across the plaza accompanied by commentaries on the imperial family and the history of Tokyo gets the tour off to a good start.
We then proceed to Senso-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.
After lunch, we drive through the ritzy Ginza shopping district on the way to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife.
We end the day with a visit to the observation deck atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor could see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west. The building complex completed in 1990 at a cost of US$1 billion consists of three main structures each taking up a city block. The architect of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is Kenzo Tange (1913 – 2005), who in 1987 became the first Japanese to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture.
Welcome dinner features premium Japanese beef.
