12 Day - Tohoku Grand Tour

You will fly into either Narita International Airport or Haneda International Airport. Grab your stuff and take the Limousine Bus to Shibuya Station. The hotel for the evening, the Shibuya Excel Hotel* , is a short walk away.

Rising above Shibuya Station and the famous scramble crossing, the Shibuya Excel Hotel stands at the heart of Tokyo's constantly renewing technology and youthful culture.

After you check in, a guide will meet you in the lobby to take you to the welcome dinner for guests.

Jet lag may have you wide awake at 3:00/4:00 a.m. If you are feeling active enough, one way to make great use of this otherwise inconvenience is to visit Tokyo's famous fish market. A guide will be on call to take you there.

At 9am, absorb the feel and pace of Japan's capital city with a walking (and Metro) tour with your guide after loading your bags onto your vans. Starting with a walk through Shibuya's famed "Scramble" intersection, the tour will start with a stroll to Tokyo's largest shrine, Meiji Jingu. From there, you will take the Metro to the Imperial Palace to view the active grounds of the sitting Emperor's massive residence. The walk will continue past the National Diet and capitol government buildings to Tameike-Sanno, where you will pick up the Metro again to travel to Asakusa. In Asakusa, you will tour an older part of Tokyo, centered on the Senso-ji Temple complex and classic shopping arcades. From Asakusa, you will take a water taxi down the Sumida River to the Hamarikyu Gardens, where your vans will be waiting for you. You should be ready for a power nap by this point, so perfect timing to board your vans for the drive to the Edo period's Shogun's mountain retreat in Nikko.

Your lodging for the night is the modern ryokan Kai Nikko*. An elegant design hotel on the shores of Lake Chuzenji, which has been compared to Lake Como in Italy (to the extent that the Italian Embassy for years maintained a retreat there). Dinner and Breakfast is included.

After breakfast and checkout, your guide will meet you and take you first to Toshogu, then to Tsuruga Castle.

Toshogu, the Edo period Shogun's summer retreat is a forested complex of towering trees, elegant buildings and gardens. Wander through the grounds of this massive complex to absorb history dating back to the 17th century and one of Japan's most celebrated leaders. Next, heading deeper into the Northern heartland, we visit the grounds of one of the last feudal holdouts with well preserved castle grounds at Tsuruga-jo and the Ouchi-juku Village.

Finally, your guide will help you to Alts Bandai*, the first ski stop of your trip. Managed by Japan's leading hotelier, Hoshino Resorts, this hotel combines local elegance with the essence of a ski resort lodge (dinner and breakfast included).

The first day of the ski portion of your trip will be on Mt. Bandai at the Alts Bandai resort. The southernmost mountain on the itinerary may not have the deep powder (although we may get lucky) for which more northern mountains are known, but this is one of the favorite resorts for Tokyo's residential skiers and snowboarders. Rental skis will be picked up here for those renting.

Apres ski in the van as we cross over from Fukushima to Yamagata Prefecture. This evening, you will stay at the Meigetsu-so Ryokan* (dinner and breakfast included).

A large mountain famous for its "Snow Monsters", this is another of Tokyo residents' popular destinations as well as more extensive lift systems. Mt. Zao is also considered a power spot where the earth's energy is focused.

After your day skiing Zao, the guide will drive you to Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse* on the eastern coast of Yamagata prefecture. This hotel is a modern structure designed by superstar architect Shigeru Ban. It is set among rice fields with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The comfortable rooms are paired with elegant public spaces, a hot spring, gymnasium and coin laundry facilities. Breakfast is included.

On day 6, we take to one of Japan's most mesmerizing mountain complexes among the holy 3 mountains which are home to the Shugendo aesthetic practitioners (Yamabushi). Set deep in the primordial forests are shrines and raw artifacts dating back over 1,400 years.

In the evening you will transfer to Hanadai no Yu*, a classic ryokan anchored in a classic hot spring village in Iwate Prefecture. Handai no Yu is an elegant oasis where centuries old traditions can be experienced in a polished setting (dinner and breakfast included).

Enjoy a ski day on central Tohoku's powder legend, Geto Kogen.

After your day of skiing Geto, your guide will drive to the Shikikan Saitoh* located in Hachimantai in Iwate prefecture (dinner and breakfast included).

Back into the fluff on Iwate Prefecture's best known resort.

This evening, you will check in at Sukayu Onsen* in Aomori prefecture, your lodging for the next 2 nights. This ryokan with over 300 years of history and one of Japan's remaining mixed gender hot spring baths (there are single gender baths available as well). The rooms are traditional Japanese style with futons on tatami, and the meals are assemblages of classic Japanese cuisine (dinner and breakfast included).

Ski the famous Hakkoda, stay at Sukayu Onsen* on Day 9 but transfer to Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru* on Day 10.

KAI Tsugaru is a hot spring ryokan in northern Japan about an hour from Hakkoda Ropeway. The ryokan is a quiet place designed for guests to get the most out of the local culture, from apple-scented baths fed by the famous Owani Hot Spring to Tsugaru shamisen lute concerts in front of walls depicting Tsugaru's dynamic coastal scenery. The ryokan is also conveniently located near Aomori sightseeing spots including Hirosaki Castle and the Oirase Stream (dinner and breakfast included).

On this day, your guide will take you to explore Hirosaki Castle and the Nebuta Museum. Hirosaki Castle is widely considered to be one of Japan's most beautiful castles. Constructed in the Hirayama style, the main tower was built on top of a hill for easier defense and surrounded by defensive walls, moats, and yagura towers. It is one of the few remaining original (not a replica or rebuilt) castles in Japan. Afterwards, you will make your way to Nebuta Museum. The modern, red facade will immediately catch your eye, while inside, the museum is dedicated to the history and making of the Aomori Nebuta Festival. Marked by massive lantern floats paraded through the streets, Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is one of Japan's most famous festivals and Aomori Prefecture's best-known event.

After your day exploring, your guide will escort you to the Aomori train station. You will get your first experience on the famed bullet train as it whisks you back to Tokyo for your last night in the country. This evening you will stay at the Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi* which is located a short walk from Tokyo Station.

On the last day of your trip, an airport bus will be waiting to take you to either Narita or Haneda airport. Enjoy the last few hours as you embark on your journey home.