Yokohama Quilt Show

Travel with fellow quilters to one of the most famous quilt shows in the world, International Quilt Week Yokohama. This show has become one of the largest patchwork and quilting events on the Japanese calendar.
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Japan Gourmet Connoisseur Tour

This journey is for people who love to eat, drink and travel. Venture beyond the familiar sushi and saki perception of Japanese food culture.
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Cherry Blossom Tour

Celebrate with the Japanese in Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) as you witness Japan's unofficial national flower change the scenery to a shade of pink.
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The Path to Traditional Japan

This all-embracing journey explores the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, which all have distinct proud histories and are unique in their own right.
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Japan's Timeless Sea Coast

The Japan Sea Coast is relatively unexplored by the foreign tourist, yet this stunning region of Japan opens the door to an exceptional appreciation and awareness of Japanese life.
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Spiritual Japan

This region of Japan easily warrants a week to truly discover the ancient cities of Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, not to mention the remoteness of Mt Koya-san.
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Contemporary Japan

Japan has some of the most acclaimed museums and art galleries in the world. Take the time to appreciate art culture along side Japanese tradition.
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Extensive Japan

Explore the land of the rising sun with the Japan Tour Specialist. Gain an extensive appreciation of this unique corner of the world.
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Japan Stopover Packages

Including Tickets and Sightseeing Activities

At Destination Japan & Beyond we are able to recommend and book overnight accommodation as a perfect break to your journey through to Europe or an independent go as you please week’s holiday program unearthing the charm and mystique of Japan without the hassle of worrying about your accommodation towards the end of the day.

Destination Japan & Beyond has a vast range of accommodation - from affordable hotels through to luxurious five stars.

Please contact us directly to discuss your touring requirements.

Additional sightseeing activities and tickets are also able to be booked to make the most of your Japan holiday encounter.

We can arrange numerous sightseeing activities including entrance fees for the following:

Tokyo Disneyland & Universal Studio Passes
Ghibli Museum Tickets
Sumo Tickets
Osaka Aquarium Passes
One way train sector fares
Cooking classes
Attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony or Cultural Evenings
Full day and half day sightseeing tours of Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima
Mt. Fuji Tours
Airport Limousine Bus Coupons

— Please note all tickets must be booked in-conjunction with at least one night’s accommodation.

— Some special conditions apply as all tickets are subject to availability at the time of booking.

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ENCOUNTER TRADITIONAL ACCOMMODATION – Japanese Ryokan

JPN 186.jpg An overnight stay in a traditional ryokan is perfect for the client that wishes to go native as much as possible and be in an atmosphere conducive to meeting Japanese. Most ryokan accommodation is often owned by a family, so it’s more like being a guest in a private home where you can sample age old Japanese hospitality and customs.

There are numerous standards of ryokan accommodation located throughout Japan. They range from a budget standard through to some of the most exclusive and intimate accommodation available.

The majority of foreign guests leave raving about the experience even though they were only able to communicate through body language and hand gestures. Also through this unconventional form of accommodation you’ll gain an understanding and appreciation of Japanese life as it was – and is.

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BATH ETIQUETTE - Japanese Style

JPN 184.jpg A holiday to Japan would not be complete without the experience of a trip to the traditional Japanese bath house (onsen).

Needless to say this whole experience can be quite confusing for the first timer however once you have conquered Japanese bath etiquette it is quite addictive.

Please find the below information as a quick guide on the appropriate behaviour required as a first timer to an onsen without embarrassing yourself.

Step by Step guide:

Take off all your clothes in the changing room and place them into a basket together with your bath towel. Coin lockers for valuables are often available.
All Japanese hot springs (onsen) are enjoyed NAKED. Swimming suites are not allowed however it is the custom to bring a small towel (face washer) into the bathing area with which you can enhance your privacy while outside of the water. Once you enter the bath, keep the towel out of the water.
Before entering the bath, rinse your body with water from either a tap or the bath using the washbowl provided in the bathing area. Just rinsing your body is usually sufficient unless you are excessively dirty, in which case you would use soap.
Enter the bath and soak for a while. Note that the bath water can be very hot (typical temperatures are 40 to 44 degrees). If it feels too hot try to enter very slowly and move as little as possible.
After soaking for a while get out of the bath and wash your body with soap at a water tap while sitting on a stool. Soap and shampoo are provided in the majority of bath houses. It is important to make sure that no soap gets into the bath water. Tidy up your space after you are finished cleaning your body.
Re-enter the bath and soak some more.
After you have finished soaking do not rinse your body with tap water for the minerals to have the full effect on your body.

It is important to note that in many cases due to the constant temperature of the water and the mineral activity you should normally only stay in the water for a few minutes…Normally no longer then 5-10 minutes…

After slowly boiling yourself clean you then reverse the process: rinse your washing area, put the stool and bowl back and get dressed. Remember to dry off using your modesty towel before stepping into the change room so that you are not dripping water all over the floor.

Finally on leaving the onsen thank the lady at the front desk and congratulate yourself on surviving your first Japanese 'onsen' experience and probably not your last.