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Christmas in Japan
Operated by Wendy Wu
Tripcode: CIJ - HN_AU
Overview
Destination:
Japan,
Duration:17 days
Type:Group tour (max 28)
Travel Period
December 2026 - December 2027
Discover Japan's winter charm with this immersive mix of cultural exploration and festive cheer! From snow-capped Mount Fuji, to picturesque villages and hands-on experiences in Kyoto, enjoy a Christmas like no other.
Wake to a Christmas day like no other. Spend the morning at a traditional tea house, where you'll have the option to don a kimono before enjoy a tea ceremony and wagashi sweet-making experience. Afterwards, indulge in a special Christmas lunch.
Tour highlights:
- Christmas in Kyoto, Spend Christmas Eve exploring Kyoto's main sites and Christmas Day witnessing a traditional tea ceremony and more
- Cruise Lake Ashi, Embark on a cruise across Lake Ashi and enjoy stunning views of Mt. Fuji and spot the laketop torri gate of Hakone-jinja shrine
- Mt. Fuji, Witness unparalleled views of Japan's iconic and inspirational highest mountain
- Matsumoto, Stop in amazement at the dramtic flare of the Matsumoto Castle
Tour experiences:
- Traditional Japan Tea Ceremony, Experience the perfect display of Japanese culture as you witness the preparation and performance involved in the 'Way of Tea', a traditional tea ceremony.
- Wagashi-Making Class, Wagashi are a traditional sweet treat made of fruit, anko and rice flour. Come Christmas Day, you will learn how to make these beautiful confectioneries from scratch!
- Visit Shirakawago, The landscapes of the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawago are particularly enchanting in the winter. Soak up its peaceful rural scenery and visit one of its famous gassho houses.
Places visited:
- Tokyo (3N)
- Mt Fuji (2N)
- Matsumoto
- Takayama (2N)
- Shirakawago
- Kanazawa (1N)
- Kyoto (3N)
- Nara
- Koyasan
- Osaka (3N)
Price notes:
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 July 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Tipping is generally not part of the culture in Japan; however, you may wish to tip your National Escort at your discretion.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
- Price subject to change.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
- International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
- All Meals (refer to itinerary)
- Domestic transportation
- 3 – 4 star accommodation
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDays 1-2: Fly to Tokyo
Fly overnight to Tokyo. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Day 3: Wonders of Tokyo
Discover Tokyo’s most famous highlights, from the lively Shibuya Crossing to explorations of well-known neighbourhoods like Shinjuku. Visit Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine surrounded by a small forest within the city, and learn about the emperor who presided over the Meiji Restoration – Japan’s transition from feudal state to world power.
Day 4: Tokyo
Begin with a visit to the historic Asakusa district to see Sensoji, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, then visit the National Museum in Ueno Park for an insight into the art and archaeology of centuries gone by. Ascend to the viewing deck at the Skytree for a bird’s eye view of the city. Later, get in the festive spirit with some time to admire Tokyo’s
Christmas illuminations.
Day 5: Hakone
Today, head west to Hakone. Around here, winter is considered the best time of year for viewing Mount Fuji, when the skies are often cool and clear, and the mountain is usually wearing its famously beautiful snowcap. Take a cruise across Lake Ashi, then ride a cable
car along the Hakone Ropeway to reach Owakudani, known for its volcanic hot springs
and steaming vents. The wider Fuji area is your home for the next two nights.
Day 6: Fuji Five Lakes
Continue your Fuji adventure with a visit to Oshino Hakkai, a charming village filled with mineral-rich ponds and slowly spinning water wheels, before continuing to Kawaguchiko, a town famous for its Fuji views. Visit Fujisan World Heritage Centre, where you can learn about the mountain’s significance, and perhaps enjoy a photo opportunity on the
viewing deck.
Day 7: Matsumoto & Takayama
Head into the foothills of the Japanese Alps, stopping first at Matsumoto to admire its iconic black castle. Its main tower, built in the late 16th century, is the oldest surviving castle tower in Japan. Continue to Takayama, a small city nestled in the mountains of Gifu province.
Day 8: Takayama
Discover this charming alpine city, considered the crown jewel of Gifu province. Explore the traditional streets of the well-preserved old town and visit the excellent Festival Floats Museum before lunch. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore, or make use of the onsen facilities at your hotel.
Day 9: Shirakawago & Kanazawa
Drive north to the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawago, famous for its traditional wooden gassho houses. With their steep thatched roofs, often laden in snow, these houses are one of the most iconic winter views in Japan. Visit the largest – Wada House – and learn about life in this remote rural area. Continue to Kanazawa, a serene city known for its samurai history, and check in at your hotel.
Day 10: Kanazawa to Kyoto
Visit beautiful Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens. Here, admire the yukitsuri, a technique using ropes to support the pine trees and their heavy blankets of snow. Later, stroll the Edo-period Nagamachi District and visit one of its old samurai houses. This afternoon, board the Thunderbird train to Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart.
Day 11: Christmas Eve in Kyoto
Discover the highlights of Kyoto. Once the capital of Japan, this former seat of power wears its history proudly on its sleeve. Begin at Kiyomizu Temple, with its views over Kyoto. Later, admire the vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji.
Day 12: Christmas Day in Kyoto
Wake to a Christmas day like no other. Spend the morning at a traditional tea house, where you’ll don a kimono (optional) and enjoy a tea ceremony and wagashi sweet-making experience. Later, indulge in a special Christmas lunch before an afternoon at leisure to explore Kyoto, call loved ones or simply relax until dinner.
Day 13: Boxing Day in Nara
Bid farewell to Kyoto and drive to Nara, another former capital. Visit the UNESCO-listed Todaiji Temple, and meet its sacred deer, who roam here at leisure and enjoy bowing to visitors. Stop by a traditional Japanese garden, then continue to Osaka for a culinary adventure in the Dotonburi area.
Day 14: Koyasan
Experience the tranquil winter beauty of Mount Koya, the heart of Shingon Buddhism. As the year draws to a close, wander through the vast, otherworldly Okunoin Cemetery, with its centuries-old gravestones, softly-glowing lanterns and towering cedars glittering with frost. Return to Osaka.
Day 15: Himeji Castle
Drive to Himeji, one of Japan’s most magnificent castles. Explore the majestic 17th-century keep before lunch. Drive to Kobe, where you’ll visit a small sake brewery museum and a Christmas market before indulging in a farewell dinner. Try Kobe’s famous Wagyu beef or an alternative vegetarian dish. Return to Osaka.
Day 16-17: Fly Osaka to Australia
Transfer to the airport and fly to Australia, arriving home the same or the following day
Day 16-17: Fly Osaka to Australia
Transfer to the airport and fly to Australia, arriving home the same or the following day
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Wendy Wu
Wendy Wu Tours is Australia's leading touring specialist, offering extraordinary tours throughout Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East – and most recently, Australasia. Since Wendy sent her very first tour to China in 1994, we've grown from strength to strength and are proud of the multiple awards we've won throughout the years and the unique travel experiences we offer to an expanding range of destinations.
Important Information
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16 nights
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