14 nights – Tokyo | Tsurui | Lake Kussharo | Abashiri | Sapporo | Hakodate | Kyoto | Kanazawa | Tokyo
From: £5,485pp | $7,679pp | AU$10,970pp (Exclusive of flights)
What to expect?
Winter Highlights is a journey through Japan’s wild, northernmost outpost. Timed with the legendary Sapporo Snow Festival and packed with wild bird spotting opportunities, this tour reveals a side of the country many visitors never encounter. In Tsurui, a bird expert will introduce you to Hokkaido's avian residents and in Abashiri you'll take an icebreaker cruise among the creaking floes of the Okhotsk Sea. With a bit of luck on your side, the cruise will bring you within range of Steller's sea eagles, a fantastic opportunity for keen wildlife photographers. Before returning to the mainland you'll stop for two nights in Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital and home to the famous snow festival, during which approximately 400 giant snow sculptures occupy the city's spaces.
Sapporo is famous for beer as well as snow. Take a tour of one of the city's breweries - we recommend pairing blue beer, made with drift ice, flowers and seaweed with buttery ramen noodles.
From the wilds of the north, your trip loops back through the centre of the country. Kyoto is quieter in February, and you’ll have a rare chance to experience the Golden Pavilion away from the highest volume of visitors – perhaps even under a dusting of snow.
Kanazawa, a city famous for its traditional gold-leaf crafts provides an ideal base for a visit to Shirakawago, a remote village famous for its impressive ‘praying-hands' thatched-roof houses standing proudly in the snow.
From ice-dancing cranes to blue beer, and snow festivals to snow-covered temples, Winter Highlights is the trip for you if you don’t mind wrapping up warm to discover something extraordinary.
Spot the famous red-crowned cranes
Go bird-watching with a local expert - and you may catch them 'dancing'
See gigantic snow sculptures
At Sapporo Snow Festival you'll find dozens of sculptures
Take an ice-breaker cruise along the coast
Catch a glimpse of huge Steller's Sea Eagles hanging out on the drift ice
INSIDER TOP TIP
Nobody knows our trips as well as our Insiders, the expert guides that run them, do. If you're thinking about joining us on Winter Highlights, here are Robert's highlights.
"Winter is a truly magical time in Japan and I absolutely love getting the chance to show visitors how special the snowy season can be. There are some obvious highlights, like the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is genuinely spectacular, plus a visit to the Beer Museum where guests always enjoy the included 'Genghis Khan' BBQ dinner there.
My favourite parts, though, are some of the less famous highlights. Visiting Hamarikyu gardens in Tokyo when you've got them almost to yourself is a brilliant experience, as is wandering Kyoto's wintery streets away from the crowds."
"The tour was well organised. There was lots of variety and additional optional visits. Our guide, Robert, was extremely helpful. It was truly fabulous to see the dancing cranes. We also fell in love with the “snow fairies” the long tailed tits that are so adorable. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the two outdoor museums as much as I did but they both added education, understanding and joy to the trip."
Janet, UK - Winter Highlights, January 2023
Ready to find out more or book a Small Group Tour?
Call:
0117 244 3380 (Bristol, UK)
07 3186 8800 (Brisbane, Australia)
303 952 0379 (Broomfield, Colorado)
Email:
info@insidejapantours.com