12 Day Essence Of Japan

• Ultra-small group touring - up to 10 people
• Return international business class airfares with full-service airline
• Fully escorted guide services throughout
• Return VIP in-destination private airport transfers
• Luxury accommodation, including two nights in a traditional onsen
• All Transportation with 2-to-1 coach seating
• Shinkansen bullet train tickets in Green 1st Class
• Immersive sightseeing with Inspiring Sight selection
• Luggage transfers, porterage and tipping
• 19 meals - 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners
• Guide assistance for departure transfer
• Visa service & personalised documentation wallet
• Tipping and gratuities
• 24/7 customer service and your own Dedicated Support Agent

• Tokyo - Enjoy the buzz and energy of one of the world’s great cities
• Tokyo - Visit Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan, and Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple
• Nikko - Visit Nikko Toshogu Shrine, hailed as Japan’s most lavish shrine
• Hakone - Enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Fuji on a scenic boat ride on Lake Ashi
• Hakone - Enjoy the mountain sanctuary of your traditional Japanese-style room with private onsen for two nights
• Hakone - Relish in the views of the active, sulfuric hot spring sources of the Owakudani Valley as you ride the cable car
• Hiroshima - Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Genbaku Dome to understand the tragedies of Japan’s not so distant past
• Miyajima - See the 12th-century Itsukushima Shrine and famous floating torii gate
• Kyoto - Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and breathtaking Nijō Castle
• Himeji - See the amazing Himeji Castle, the largest surviving example of a traditional Japanese castle

Inspiring Stay

• Enjoy your Inspiring Stay in Hakone and get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu. Relax in your traditional Japanese-style room with a private onsen (hot springs), along with dinner at the hotel.

Inspiring Sights

You’ll have the choice between 2 of 4 bonus sightseeing experiences to enhance your journey. You may choose to include 2 optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package (further details listed under 'Optional Tours').

• Visit the fascinating Hakone Tokaido Checkpoint, which operated for about 260 years during the Edo period as an inspection facility to control ‘incoming guns and outgoing women’.
• Enjoy an Okonomiyaki dinner, a famous Japanese pancake, famed in Hiroshima for its layering of ingredients
• Journey through the history of Gion, from the wooden walls and lanterns to the bustle of quirky standing bars
• Visit the ancient capital of Japan and get up close to the fabled, holy deer of Nara

Inspiring Tastes

• Feast on a traditional Sukiyaki dinner in Kyoto. Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish that is prepared and served in the nabemono style. It consists of meat which is slowly cooked or simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin.

The Private Collection lets you enjoy your holiday from the moment you turn left on to the plane. Slide into your business class seat and enjoy a refreshment as you take off for your destination in style and comfort.

All packages come standard with international business class flights on a selection of premium airlines allowing you to arrive in your destination refreshed and ready to explore.

For more information on seating configurations, aircraft and amenities, please visit the airline's website.

Deposit & Payments

• Secure your package with a deposit of $100 per person.
• Pay a 2nd instalment of $7,499 per person within 28 days.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 90 days prior to departure.

Booking Process

• Select the purple 'Reserve Your Seat' tab to begin your booking (you must 'Sign Up' first by entering your email and creating a password)
• Then select the purple 'Book now' tab of the tour you have selected
• Select your Departure Date, Departure City, Number of Passengers, Room Configuration, any Upgrade Options, and enter any Special Requests
• Click the purple ‘Proceed to Secure Checkout' tab
• Enter your credit card or PayPal details to secure your deposit/payment
• Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a Booking Form so that we can fulfil your booking
• Your booking is confirmed once your Booking Form is submitted and you can begin the countdown to your Inspiring Vacation!
• You will then be allocated and contacted by one of our Dedicated Support Agent's (within 48 hours) who will support you right up until you return from your journey

Airfare Information

• Full service airline used will be with either Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, ANA Airlines, JAL Airlines or similar
• Flights will require a minimum of 1 transit (maximum 2)
• Internal Flights Included
• Adelaide guests may require 2 stops in each direction, and incur a sucharge of $250
• All tickets will include 40 kilos of checked baggage per person, along with 2 x 7 kilos of hand luggage.
• Despite the airlines baggage allowance, we recommend travelling with 20 kilos per person due to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation.
• You will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable direct.
• Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees
• Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required
• Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control
• Any airline 'extras' such as pre-allocated seating are at your own arrangement (additional charges apply)

Downgrading your airfares
When selecting a tour that is part of our Private Collection, Business Class is included for your international flights. If you wish to book Economy Class, you will need to purchase Land Only and purchase your own airfares. Surcharges may apply for some capital cities.

Land Only discount
A reduction of $4,000 per person applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. To purchase a land-only fare, please select this option in the booking process under 'Departure City'.

Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary, airport transfers are also no longer included. If you would like us to arrange this service for you, please refer to the ‘Extra services’ section for pricing.

Extending Your Stay
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour or including a stopover in another destination. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:

1. Once you have logged in to your account, click on ‘Book Now’ and complete the required fields until you reach the 'Special Requests' free text field.
2. Here, please specify your preferred flight arrangements and/or preferred airline. Be sure to mention if you would like us to also quote additional nights' accommodation, with the number of nights needed.
3. After finalising your purchase by processing your deposit payment, please proceed to submit your booking form with all traveller details. Your booking will then be assigned to your Dedicated Support Agent who will be in contact with you via email to verify your request.

By choosing to extend your stay, please note that a supplement of $150 per person, plus applicable fare and tax differences will apply. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour, adding a stopover package en-route or booking a tour extension. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre and post tour accommodation

• Pre-tour accommodation (Tokyo): $575 per room per night for double/twin/single including breakfast and transfer
• Post-tour accommodation (Osaka): $690 per room per night for double/twin/single including breakfast and transfer

Arrival and departure airport transfers

• Arrival/Departure Transfers: Included

Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.

Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation and/or airport transfers. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

Airport chauffeur
Take the hassle out of getting to the airport with private chauffeur transfers to and from your home airport. Your personal chauffeur will meet and greet you, attend to your luggage and drive you to your destination in a luxury vehicle.

• Within 30km of airport: $139 per vehicle (max 2 guests)
• Outside 30km of airport: You may add this option to your booking and the final price will be adjusted based on the transfer distance.

Additional surcharges may apply depending on pick-up time, tolls and government levies.

Airport Chauffeur can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add this service, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance.

To enhance your journey, we're offering 2 free sightseeing experiences out of a choice of 4 options, listed below. Guests can also purchase any of the remaining 2 sightseeing experiences:

• Hakone (Day 5): Open Air Museum and Tokaido Checkpoint - AUD $115 per person
• Hiroshima (Day 6): Historical Daimyo garden & Okonomiyaki Dinner - AUD $115 per person
• Kyoto (Day 8): Cultural experience and Gion night walk - AUD $115 per person
• Kyoto (Day 10): Nara Day Trip - AUD $115 per person

Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.

Optional Tour Bundle:
Make the most of your experience in Japan and purchase an optional tour bundle. These optional tours have been hand-picked by our staff and based on our customers personal favourites.

1. Open Air Museum and Tokaido Checkpoint
2. Historical Daimyo garden & Okonomiyaki Dinner

$210 per person.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency, therefore we suggest you book before you go to avoid disappointment. We appreciate your understanding.

Please note that transportation to and from each optional tour is not included in the price. You will be required to make your own way to the starting point of the optional tour, as well as back to your hotel. Your tour guide can provide you with the direction and guidance needed to make your own way.

• Visas (not required for Japan for Australian passport holders)
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

Trip Style - Private Collection
A truly deluxe, upscale experience at undeniable value. These tours offer ultra-small group touring (no more than 10 people), handpicked luxury accommodation, business class air and inspiring, immersive sightseeing. With select extras like 2:1 coach seating and private VIP in-destination airport transfers, every comfort has been considered. These tours are fully escorted.

Green Class
Green Cars are clearly marked with the words “Green Car” in English and the four-leaf clover symbol. Shinkansen (bullet trains) and JR tokkyu (limited express trains) usually have at least one Green Car per train. Green Car seats are usually more spacious and comfortable than ordinary seats. On the shinkansen, there are only four seats per row in the Green Car, versus five in ordinary cars. Green Car seats also have more legroom. Green Car seats also tend to be more luxurious, with features like electric reclining and in-seat reading lights.

Group Size
4-10 people.

Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

This particular tour is categorised as a “3”:

3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.

Twin Share Bedding Configuration
At any time, bedding configuration is subject to confirmation by the hotel and based on availability. While you have the option to select either twin or double bedding at time of booking, our recommendation when travelling to Japan is to choose twin bedding, as the rooms are often bigger than those that have a double bed. If insisting on double bedding, please note that the rooms will be smaller and more narrow. As a general expectation, we cannot always guarantee bedding at all hotel stays.

Single Supplement
Single supplement is $5,500 per person in addition to the twin share price.

Please note when choosing Single Supplement for this deal that you will receive a single room, which is smaller in size than a twin/double room. Unfortunately this is typical for Japan, as the cost to solely occupy a double/twin size room is incredibly high. We appreciate your understanding.

Triple Share
Not available.

Porterage & Luggage Requirements
Porterage is included in your package, this means that you will have someone assist with your luggage between coach and the hotel throughout the tour. While understanding that various airlines will have their own luggage requirements, please note that for the comfort of yourselves, as well as our local partners who assist you on the ground, we restrict the luggage allowance to no more than one suitcase at 20kg per person, plus a small backpack / carry on size bag. This is to ensure that there is enough storage on the coach, as well as when travelling via rail (where applicable in the itinerary).

Where internal flights are applicable in your itinerary, please note that the airline allowance will vary and if you exceed the airline allowance, excess baggage fees may apply.

Coach Transportation
Our standard bus size is a 20 seater, this will accommodate our group of no more than 10 guests. Please keep in mind that while the flight, accommodation and guide arrangements are luxury, the coach transportation provided, while not luxurious in a sense, still provides comfortable, air-conditioned and spacious seating.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book comprehensive or budget cover simply by clicking HERE to arrange your policy.

Health
We are not able to provide medical advice since we are not trained to do so, therefore we recommend you visit your GP to discuss whether or not vaccinations are required for your trip.

Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.

Australian passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Japan, for stays less than 90 days.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Group Size
4-10 people.

Children
Due to the style of touring, we limit our Luxury Collection for adults only, therefore the minimum age for this tour is 18 years old. For those wishing to travel with children, please contact our Travel Specialists directly and we can assist in a private quotation for you.

Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.

Please note the itinerary is intended as a guideline. We are always working to approve our tours based on customer feedback. Therefore, the itinerary may differ from when you booked. It’s important to read over your itinerary prior to departure. However, sometimes for reasons beyond our control it may be necessary to alter your itinerary whilst on tour.

Tour Documentation
Final documentation, including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.

The cherry blossoms (sakura) usually bloom in the last week of March and the first two weeks of April. Cherry blossom are extremely seasonal and we can't guarantee they will bloom during your visit.

For more information on the weather in Japan, click HERE.

Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:

For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable. 

All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.com prior to the cut-off period, to allow us sufficient time to respond and action your request. Should we not hear from you following this time period, your booking becomes non-refundable and you will be issued with a reminder for the second installment due for your booking. 

Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment. 

Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions. 

Transferrable second installment up until 90 days before scheduled departure: 

Following the second installment payment and up until 90 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued. 

Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.com prior to the cut-off period specified, to allow us sufficient time to respond and action your request. Should we not hear from you once inside 90 days of scheduled departure, your booking remains non-refundable and becomes non-transferrable, and you will be issued with a reminder for the final balance due for your booking.

Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions. 

Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details