New Ways to Explore Japan

February 10, 2012

Japan with a Masterchef
Explore Japan and learn to cook Japanese food with Masterchef 2011 winner Tim Anderson and InsideJapan Tours’ food-loving tour leader and Japan expert Liam Chawdhary. This very special 13-night tour is a one-off departure in 2012 and will offer a unique experience of the world of Japanese cuisine.

Perfect for lovers of Japanese cuisine and those wishing to learn to cook from a proven expert in the field, this tour frames unique food experiences against the backdrop of the must-see sights in Tokyo, Kyoto and rural Kyushu. Priced from £4,900 per person (flights not included). For full details, visit www.insidejapantours.com.

Gap Years, Tokyo Game Shows & Ceramics with from Japan Journeys
Gap Year in Japan – with this recently re-launched programme Japan Journeys provides you with the assistance and background cultural knowledge to help you find a job in this fascinating country. The most popular jobs for those on a Working Holiday Visa to Japan include teaching English, hospitality, interpreting, translating, research and even acting. Priced at £555 per person. For full details, visit www.japanjourneys.co.uk.

Tokyo Game Show Tour – includes entry to the fantastic Tokyo Game Show 2012; Guided tours of Tokyo – the world’s busiest, wildest and wackiest city; Visits to the gamers; paradises of Akihabara, Shinjuku & Odaiba; 7 nights hotel accommodation at a business class hotel and Japanese breakfast daily; Scheduled return Economy class flights from London Heathrow; Airport transfers from and to Narita Airport (Tokyo); Services of a knowledgeable, bilingual Japan Journeys guide throughout; and best of all lots of FUN, ADVENTURE & LAUGHS!  Total price is £1,735 per person on a sharing basis or £1,035 for land only. For more information, see www.japanjourneys.co.uk.
Japan Ceramics Tour - running from 31 August to 1 September 2012, this tour includes entry to the Seto Pottery Fair – one of the biggest annual pottery fairs in Japan; Visits to Arita, Imari and Kyoto ceramic sights, kilns, museums and stores; Guided tours of Kyoto, the lovely canal town of Kurashiki and an afternoon in Tokyo; Travel on Japan’s famous Bullet Train; 10 nights hotel accommodation and Japanese breakfast daily; Welcome dinner and farewell Dinners; as well as services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys guide throughout. Priced from £2,495 per person. For more information see www.japanjourneys.co.uk.

Japan Holidays with Kuoni
Journey through Japan 4*
During this 11-night tour, soak in Tokyo’s energy; explore Nikko’s mountain landscape dotted with waterfalls, and photograph Mount Fuji from the Five Lakes region. Catch Bullet and Express trains through preserved mountain towns and choose to spend a night in a traditional ryokan. Spend time in Kyoto, sample sake at a local brewery and spend time wandering round the evocative Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima. Priced from £3,989 per person for departures on 17/24/31 October 2012, including Emirates flights from Gatwick.

Highlights of Japan 4 *
Discover the key highlights on a 7-night tour that encapsulates the powerful contradictions of Japan. Contrast the sophistication and energy of Tokyo with the imperial traditions of Kyoto and the natural beauty of Nikko with the history of Hiroshima and Osaka, the ‘nation’s kitchen’. Ideal for first time visitors. Priced from £3,095  per person for departures on 13 October 2012, including Emirates flights from Gatwick.

Both tours can be adapted to include a night in a Ryokan. For more information about Kuoni’s Japan holidays, visit www.kuoni.co.uk.

Diving in Okinawa
On a Dive Worldwide holiday to Japan you can explore Tokyo as well as enjoy spectacular diving in the south of the country. Visit Naha on Okinawa island, the centre of the Ryukyu Kingdom with its royal palace and contrasting tropical beaches. Begin your diving adventure here with healthy reefs and marine life including turtles and if you're lucky, humpback whales. Head further south to Ishigaki island with its white sandy beaches and mountainous scenery, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo! Diving highlights here are the giant manta rays, seen all year round. Saving the best for last you will head to Yonaguni Island to discover an underwater mystery in its underwater stones, hotly debated as to whether they are natural or man-made. Head back to Tokyo for a couple of nights before making your way back to the UK to tell your friends all about this amazing adventure! Priced from £3,995 including flights. For further details visit www.diveworldwide.com.