Small Group Tour IJT Classic
Winter Highlights
14 Nights: from US$7130 Trip Code: WH
Activity Rating: Active
From incredible snowy landscapes and rare birds in Hokkaido to traditional gardens and cultural treasures on Honshu; this tour demonstrates the myriad attractions of the winter season on Japan's two largest islands. Read more >
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost outpost, is remote but
breathtaking. Here you'll wander vast, windswept plains and wild peninsulas
where still-smoking volcanoes provide the backdrop, with a litany of rare birds
to be spotted.
In Tsurui you'll receive an introduction to Hokkaido's avian
residents accompanied by an expert birding guide, and whilst in Abashiri you'll
take an icebreaker cruise amongst the creaking floes of the Okhotsk Sea. With a
bit of luck on your side, the cruise will bring you within range of magnificent
Steller's sea eagles, a fantastic opportunity for keen wildlife photographers.
A two-night stay in Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital, includes a
visit 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, so in addition to enjoying the festival you'll take a tour of one of the
city's breweries.
Before returning to the mainland, you'll also stop off for a
night in Hakodate, a port city famous for its fresh seafood, nineteenth century
history and stunning nighttime views.
Honshu is Japan's main island and offers a very different
experience from Hokkaido. In Tokyo you can warm your hands around a bowl of
green tea at Hamarikyu Gardens, whilst in Kyoto you might be lucky enough to
enjoy the enchanting sight of the Golden Pavilion wreathed in snow. You will
also have a private audience with a maiko (trainee
geisha), which is sure to be a special moment.
Finally, one of the highlights of your trip will be a visit to
Kanazawa, a city famous for its traditional gold-leaf crafts and the perfect
base for a visit to Shirakawago, a remote village famous for its impressive? praying-hands' thatched-roof houses standing proudly in the snow.
If this sounds good and makes you want to see even more, why not extend your tour in Japan!
Important Tour Information
The accommodation listed is for 2026 departures. Please note that accommodation is subject to change. Final details of the accommodation will be included in your Info-Pack, which will be sent out approximately four weeks before departure. If you would like to know more, please speak to your travel consultant.
Group Size: 4 - 14
Single Supplement: Single rooms are guaranteed at all night stops on this tour through the payment of a mandatory single supplement.
Fitness: Even when not using public transport, sightseeing in Japan often involves walking between sights, climbing up steps in temples and being 'on the go' for much of the day. To enjoy any of our Small Group Tours you should be of moderate fitness, able to walk and climb stairs without difficulty and able to maintain a pace that is comfortable for the majority of the group.
Check-in: Upon arrival you will probably be tired after a long international flight.Please note that rooms at the first hotel are only available from 2pm. (You can, however, securely leave your luggage at the front desk at any time).
Transport: Please note that most transfers are by public transport making use of Japan's first-rate transport network. This tour uses a mixture of domestic flights, trains, taxis, and boats, as well as private coaches for some transfers and sightseeing.
Luggage: We highly recommend that to make your stay more enjoyable you pack reasonably light. Large suitcases will be an inconvenience to you. A small case or bag with wheels or a rucksack are most appropriate for this tour as you will have to carry your bags for short distances and some stations do not have escalators or elevators/lifts. You will need a small overnight bag (e.g. backpack) for use when we forward our main bags to the next location.
Weather and clothing: We will be spending 6 days in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido and you should be aware that it will be extremely cold here. Night-time temperatures can get below minus 20 degrees centigrade. There are many days on which the temperature drops below 0 degrees centigrade all day long. You will need heavy overcoats, caps, gloves, scarves, etc. in addition to sweaters and jackets. Our accommodation will of course be heated but for the outdoors you will also need shoes that are suitable for walking on snow or ice, and rubber crampons.
Accommodation: Culturally, communal bathing is common practice in Japan. Please note that in some traditional accommodations fully private en suite facilities may not be available. We will do our best to secure rooms on tour with private toilet and sink however some accommodations are not able to offer private facilities. Shared facilities (when included) will always be separated by gender.
Please note that in Japan, twin rooms are very much the norm, and there are far fewer double rooms available. Please understand that on this tour we are not able to offer double rooms at any of the locations.
International Flights: This tour starts and finishes in Tokyo for arrivals and departures at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airport. Please note that the included meet-and-greet and arrival transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available from these two airports.
What's included
- Full-time services of your InsideJapan tour leader
- 14 nights' accommodation
- Breakfast every day, two lunches, and seven evening meals
- Your InsideJapan Info-Pack
- All transport between destinations in Japan, including airport transfers and domestic flights and an IC transport card with 3,000 yen credit
- Entrance to Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo
- Bird-watching guide in Tsurui
- Icebreaker cruise on the Okhotsk Sea
- BBQ dinner at the Asahi Beer Garden in Sapporo
- Afternoon tea with a maiko in Kyoto
- Day excursion by private coach to Shirakawago village
- Luggage forwarding from Tsurui to Sapporo, Sapporo to Kyoto & Kyoto to Tokyo
- Shared portable Wi-Fi access throughout trip
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Any entrance fees (including those for temples, shrines and museums) unless otherwise specified
- Any local transport in each destination unless otherwise specified
- Baggage handling & luggage forwarding unless otherwise specified
Tour Price Information
2026
- Tour Price: From US$7130
- Single Supplement: From US$663
Extra Nights
- Pre-Tour: Twin Share From US$110 pp Single From US$143 pp
- Post-Tour: Twin Share From US$162 pp Single From US$208 pp
Tour Highlights
- Take an icebreaker cruise on the Okhotsk Sea
- See Steller's sea eagles on the drift ice
- Go red-crowned crane spotting with a nature expert
- Observe the colossal snow sculptures at Sapporo's world-renowned Snow Festival
- Marvel at Eastern Hokkaido's crater lakes
- Meet an apprentice geisha in Kyoto
- Take a cable car and admire one of Japan's best nighttime panoramic views from the top of Mt Hakodate'
- If all this sounds great and makes you want to see even more, why not extend your stay in Japan!
For more information email us: info-usa@insidejapantours.com or call: 303 952 0379
What, where, when and how...
Winter Highlights - 15 Days

Destinations
Tour Reviews
Small Group Tour Winter Highlights
Read more >Good advice and communication prior to the trip and very slick organisation in Japan once we arrived.
Small Group Tour Winter Highlights
Read more >Great work - seamless admin
4.9 out of 5 from 34 reviews Show all Winter Highlights Reviews
Latest from Twitter
Head north to experience Japan in autumn that is rarely seen by travellers... #AutumnLeaves #AutumnColours… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Other IJT Classic Tours you may like...
-
Small Group Tour
Classic Japan (IJT Classic)
- Tokyo
- Hakone
- Osaka
- Kyoto
- Takayama
- Japan Alps
- Tokyo
Classic Japan combines the famous cultural sights of Japan with the staggering natural beauty of its mountainous region. You'll visit the “golden route”: Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone, but also spend four days in the beautiful Japan Alps – including Kamikochi National Park, a place we think is a contender for one of the most stunning on Earth.
13 nights: US$6558 Read more >
-
Small Group Tour
Hidden Japan (IJT Classic)
- Kyoto
- Mount Koya
- Tokushima
- Takamatsu
- Kotohira
- Matsuyama
- Hiroshima
- Kyoto
Discover the road less travelled
12 nights: US$6467 Read more >
-
Small Group Tour
A Northern Soul (IJT Classic)
- Tokyo
- Nikko
- Hiraizumi
- Naruko Onsen
- Kesennuma
- Sendai
- Niigata
- Sado Island
- Tokyo
Discover the beautiful yet little-visited region of Tohoku, home to rugged national parks, historic cities, and enchanting hot spring towns.
14 nights: US$6779 Read more >