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TOUR DOSSIER TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East “Welcome to the start of your Unique Japan Journey! Our team are really looking forward to planning your trip to Japan. If you have any questions, at any time, feel free to get in touch”. Please quote the following reference when contacting us: JOURNEY TO THE EAST We can be reached on any of these numbers: IRL: +353 (0)1 6787008 (9am – 5.30pm) UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 (9am – 5.30pm) USA: +1 347-688-3952 (8am – 3pm) Email: [email protected] As a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, changes in accordance with WHO guidelines and advice will be implemented on all of our tours. Full updates will be sent to you in advance and can be viewed online: uniquejapantours.com Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 2 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East CONTENTS 1. Why Choose Unique Japan Tours? ....................................................................... 4 2. Tour Route & Departure Dates ............................................................................. 5 3. Tour Itinerary ...................................................................................................... 6 4. Destination Highlights .......................................................................................... 8 5. Tour Prices & Inclusions ..................................................................................... 12 6. What about our luggage? .................................................................................. 13 7. Complimentary Services .................................................................................... 14 8. Ready to BOOK! ................................................................................................. 14 9. Small Group Tours Checklist ............................................................................... 15 Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 3 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East 1. Why Choose Unique Japan Tours? 1. FULLY BONDED – FINANCIAL PROTECTION Unique Japan Tours is a member of Total Payment Protection who fully guarantee and protect financial transactions between you and Unique Japan Tours. Your tour is fully protected no matter what country you are paying from. Full details of this will be clearly explained in our terms and conditions. 2. Small Groups with NO MINIMUM NUMBER POLICY Our groups have always been intimate in size. We prefer quality over quantity. For that reason, our average group size averages at 8-12 people (maximum 16 guaranteed). Since our tours started in 2007, and unlike many other operators out there, we have never cancelled a tour because of insufficient numbers. If we get less than the minimum number to run a tour (currently set at 6 people), don’t worry. We have years of experience designing a semi-escorted version of the same tour. The only difference to you will be instead of having a full- time tour leader throughout, you will be met on arrival at each destination by local guides and assistants - almost like your own private tour!! [See Inclusions on Page 14] 3. Local Team with 24/7 Emergency Helpline Our local company UJT Services G.K. [also owned by Unique Japan Tours], will oversee all operations of your trip from start to finish. Our team in Tokyo are busy working behind the scenes ensuring each tour runs smoothly, in real time! So, rest assured, no matter what your problem may be, we will be with you all the way. While on our small group tours, your tour leader &/or local guides will be your key contacts for any emergencies. 4. 22 Years Experience in Japan Our founder, Darina Slattery, first visited Japan in 1998, where she studied at Tokyo’s Meiji Gakuiin University. Today, she leads a team of Japan travel experts, working with hundreds of local suppliers in Japan directly, and selling tours to Japan globally. This invaluable knowledge and vast network of connections has resulted us being able to create the most amazing itineraries for people. All our tours are tried and tested ensuring our clients gain time, memories, & savings while on your trip. 5. OUR CREW – JAPAN TRAVEL EXPERTS Our work ethic is family & customer focused. We are a team of 15 Japan travel experts located in Tokyo, London & Dublin. Our clients come from all over the world so you can expect diversity in the group which always adds a bit of colour! Let’s Zoom/Skype/Chat our way to finding you the best tour that suits you and your travel partners. We find speaking to you in person will save everyone time while ensuring you get the best tour suitable for you. Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 4 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East 2. Tour Route & Departure Dates Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days Winter Cranes, Snow Festival, Ainu People, Drift Ice & much more….. Journey to the East is an 8 day discovery to the truly remote, undiscovered, hidden parts of Eastern Hokkaido. These vast national parks and lakes are home to the symbolic and majestic red crowned cranes, wild bears, red foxes and giant eagles. Enjoy coastal explorations searching for dolphins, whales and sea lions. Visit lakes set in ancient volcano calderas. Feed white tailed eagles in their natural habitat. Learn about the indigenous Ainu people and relax in open air hot spring baths. These are just some of the encounters you can expect on this incredible journey through Eastern Hokkaido. TOUR DATES: Feburary 3 - 10, 2021 February 8 - 15, 2022 Alternative dates can be arranged but may not include the snow festival in Sapporo. Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 5 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East 3. Tour Itinerary Itinerary in Brief Accommodation & Meals Arrival at Sapporo DAY 1 Welcome dinner at local restaurant (please pay locally) HIGHLIGHT: Free time to enjoy Sapporo Snow Festival (Ice Sculptures) 2 Nights for the evening and the next day Your tour leader will be ready to take you out!! ANA Crowne Plaza Breakfast at your hotel Sapporo (or similar 3/4*) Sapporo city tour DAY 2 Sapporo Odori Park Breakfast Daily Sapporo TV Tower Sapporo Clock Tower Nijo Market HIGHLIGHT: Sapporo Snow Festival Breakfast at your hotel 1Night Express Train to Kushiro in eastern side of Hokkaido (4 hours) DAY 3 ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro (or similar 3/4*) HIGHLIGHT: Kushiro Marsh Observatory Breakfast (Possibility of box breakfast ***Early departure***) HIGHLIGHT: Sunrise with Tancho Cranes at Setsuri River Break for packed breakfast DAY 4 After break, transfer to Lake Akan area 2nights Lake Akan area sightseeing Akan-ko Tsuruga Wings Enjoy dinner & onsen (hot spring) at your hotel Japanese Style (or similar) HIGHLIGHT: Fireworks & Ainu Dance Show after dinner Breakfast & Dinner Daily Breakfast at your hotel HIGHLIGHT: Lake Kussharo & Lake Mashu area sightseeing DAY 5 Sunayu – Swans Mt. Iou Tea Break (pay locally) at view point of Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 6 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East Lake Mashu Free time for relax time in onsen Enjoy dinner & onsen (hot spring) at your hotel Breakfast at your hotel (Possibility of box breakfast ***Early departure***) Transfer to Shiretoko Peninsula 1 Night Transfer to Rausu DAY 6 Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel (or similar 3/4*) HIGHLIGHT: Shiretoko Mt Rausu Breakfast Shiretoko Winter Boat Cruise, Snow Shoeing or Drift-Ice Walking Enjoy dinner & onsen (hot spring) at your hotel Breakfast at your hotel 1 Night Transfer to Abashiri Hokuten No Oka Lake DAY 7 Abashiri Tsuruga Resort HIGHLIGHT: Abashiri area sightseeing Japanese Style Abashiri Prison Museum (or similar) Abashiri Drift Ice Cruise (Subject to Weather Conditions) Abashiri Drift ice festival Breakfast Breakfast at your hotel Transfer to Memambetsu Airport DAY 8 Flight from Memambetsu airport to Tokyo Haneda Tour Ends or any other domestic airport in Japan (Direct flights may be limited so consult with us before you plan your post tour journey) Optional add-ons available as a self-guided tour. Unique Japan Tours P a g e | 7 IRELAND: +353 (0)1 6787008 | UK: +44 (0)20-3239-2519 | USA: +1 (347) 688-3952 Skype: uniquejapantours / Website: www.uniquejapantours.com / Email: [email protected] TOUR DOSSIER Journey to the East 4. Destination Highlights DAY 1 & 2: Sapporo Sapporo Snow Festival In Hokkaido’s capital city Sapporo, Experience one of the largest snow festivals in the world where giant snow sculptures, visited by some two millions people every year, line the streets of Sapporo day and night, waiting to wow you with their enormous impact and street festival feeling! DAY 3: Sapporo → Kushiro Kushiro Bid farewell to Sapporo and travel eastward to Kushiro. Hokkaido’s unspoilt natural beauty makes it a haven for outdoor lovers and nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Kushiro, which is well known as "the town of mist," is situated in the south-eastern part