USTOA Members Offer New Tours in Japan for 2018

Travelers interested in visiting Japan will find a host of new itineraries that include Japanese culinary and adventure experiences, access to natural wonders, and hidden gems from the tour operator members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).

Abercrombie & Kent’s “Classic Japan” trip is available on select departure dates through October 2018, and lets guests be among the few to stay at Gôra Kadan, one of Japan’s most exclusive traditional inns; enjoy an exclusive kaiseki banquet with entertainment by a geisha; and learn about the country’s past and present at the Samurai Museum in Tokyo. Pricing starts from $10,495 per person.

The following is a sample of USTOA member packaged travel itineraries to Japan:

On Tauck’s “Essence of Japan” itinerary, travelers will taste and sip their way through Japan. The 13-day trip includes a visit to a sake distillery, a private tea ceremony, and hands-on sushi and miso demonstrations. The trip also will give guests the chance to visit the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, regarded as the oldest and largest fish market in the world. Departures are available from August to November 2018 from $10,290 per person.

Ritz Tours is offering travelers $75 off its “Jewels of Japan” itinerary in time to enjoy autumn in the East. The eight-night trip crosses the countryside on a bullet train past Mt. Fuji, which is surrounded by red, orange and yellow fall foliage. Travelers also will walk through Kyoto, home to eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples. Departures are available on September 6, October 18, November 8 and 29, 2018 from $2,825 per person. Customers must use the code “USTOARAJ” to save $75. 

With Contiki’s new “Japan Winter Wonder Plus Six-Day Ski,” travelers can experience the winter sports destination of Hakuba. On the itinerary, guests can visit Japan’s iconic sites and cities then hit the slopes in the Hakuba Valley. During this unescorted six-day add-on, guests can ski, snowboard, or even mountain glide before relaxing in an onsen, a Japanese hot spring. Available on select departure dates through April 2019 from $3,815 per person. 

From stenciling and gold leaf classes, to a traditional kaiseki dinner with a geisha show in Kyoto, Collette’s new “Cultural Treasures of Japan” trip showcases Japanese culture and everyday life. The 14-day journey also includes a trip along the Hakone Ropeway for views of Mt. Fuji, a visit to Miyajima, “Shrine Island” and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and more culturally significant stops. Available on select departure dates through April 2019 from $4,499 per person.

For more information, visit ustoa.com/blog/journey-to-japan.

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