Tohoku Region of Japan

Day 1 Tokyo

General tour of Tokyo or according to the wish of the guests

Day 2 Tokyo-Mashiko-Nikko

Leave Tokyo to Mashiko where the guests visit the museum of Shoji Hamada and kilns of Mashiko Artists such as Ken Matsuzaki (a special arrangement, but if the guests are not interested in ceramics, visiting Omiya Bonsai village where one can enjoy visiting various Bonsai gardens, in this case visiting includes a nursery area to visit different nurseries specialized in maples or largest nursery), then continuing to drive to Nikko for staying (Kanaya Hotel, one of the oldest western hotels in Japan) walking around the town of Nikko.

Day 3 Nikko-Sendai-Matushima

Visiting Toshogu (built in the baroque time of Japan!) and waterfalls of Nikko Mountain in the morning, then take a train from Nikko-Utsunomiya-Sendai (by bullet train) then, drive to Matsushima coast, known one of the three notes views of Japan, more than 260 islets dotted on the sea, staying at Hotel New Komatsu Ryokufuso overlooking the islands with a private hot spring bath.

Day 4 Matushima-Hayachine-Hanamaki Onsen(dinner included).

Visiting islets by a chartered boat and after the cruising, visiting Buddhist temples Zuiganji or Entsuin Then take a bullet train to Hanamaki Onsen, drive to Mt. Hayachine to see sacred dance Hayachine Kagura designated as World Culture Heritage (a special arrangement) after seeing the dance, staying at Hanamaki Onsen(dinner included)

Day 5 Tokyo

Take a bullet train from Hanamaki Onsen to Tokyo

Profile of Keiko HIROSE Keiko has many years experience as an interpreter, tour guide and translator, giving her unrivaled knowledge about Japan. She is also a customer favorite thanks to her warm hospitality. Keiko has a way of making guests feel like a port of the family, and provides service above and beyond that of a simple guide.

Comment by Junko

There are over 3,000 "onsen", or hot springs, in Japan with relaxing baths to be found both indoors and out. Japanese people often place importance on the bath and Onsen facilities when selecting vacation destinations since a trip to a hot springs spa is more than just a dip in hot water - it is an opportunity to be surrounded by beautiful nature, eat deliciously prepared gourmet food, and enjoy detailed hospitality. Because of the strong mineral content of the water, hot springs are also believed to have healing powers.

We would like to introduce you to the two onsen areas along with accommodations that feature open-air baths.

Lake Kawaguchi (1.5-2 hour drive from Tokyo)

Long ago, a lava flow from the then active Mt. Fuji damned up local rivers and created five picturesque lakes to the north of the volcano -- Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai, Lake Shoji and Lake Motosu -- lakes which today are leisure centers for water sports and sightseeing. Each lake has its own distinct character, with the centrally located Lake Kawaguchi being a jumping spot to the other four and also providing the best views of Mt. Fuji.

Sample Itinerary

Transfer to the city of Lake Kawaguchi, followed by a boat cruise on the lake itself and a visit to Mt. Tenjo Park via Kachi-Kachi Ropeway for one of the most spectacular views of Mt. Fuji available.The day concludes with a visit to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, dedicated to the kimono art of Itchiku Kubota, whose works have also been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. One of Kubota's techniques was to match a series of kimonos in a row to form a single elegant picture. Each kimono was dyed in a process that took up to one year. Equal to the beauty of Kubota's art collection is the forest scenery around the museum, with Mt. Fuji visible in the background.Stay at Kozan-tei Ubuya: Room with open-air hot spring bath.

Arima Onsen (1.5 hour drive from Kyoto)

Arima Onsen is one of the oldest hot spring resorts in Japan. The spa has two types of onsen, Kin-sen (Gold spring) and Gin-sen (Silver spring), allowing visitors to enjoy different types of baths in a single stop. Arima is just north of the port city of Kobe, famous for its beef.

Sample Itinerary

Transfer to Arima Onsen, followed by a visit to a sake brewery. One of many breweries in Kobe, Hakutsuru was established in 1743 and offers a 45-minute tour of sake history and brewing methods at its own museum, with the modern day brewery located across the street. Mechanical dolls and videos help direct guests through a self-guided tour. English pamphlets and videos are available for foreign visitors. The tour ends with hints on how to best enjoy Japanese sake. As with other breweries, sake tasting is part of the tour. Mt. Rokko, with an elevation of 931 meters, is the highest peak in the mountain range that sits to the north of Kobe, Ashiya, and Nishinomiya. From the summit one can look over Osaka Bay and see distant Awaji Island in the the Inland Sea. The summit is spacious, with ponds and thickets of trees scattered over the flats. The mountain is also site of summer homes for Osaka and Kobe residents of many nationalities. Stay at Kinzan, one of the best ryokan inns in Arima

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