General
Self-guided Japan ski adventure for the independent spirit short on time and budget
7 Nights: from AU$2349 per person (twin share)
Spend four nights at a very friendly lodge in Hakuba, one of Japan’s best ski resorts, sandwiched by nights in Tokyo with time for cultural sightseeing in the country’s capital.
Trip Highlights
- Ski or snowboard in Hakuba
- Stay amongst the bright lights of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district
- Enjoy Japanese après ski and hot spring baths
- Spend a free day sightseeing in Tokyo
The itinerary starts and finishes in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, the capital’s high-rise, neon-spangled business and entertainment hub. You’ll stay in an excellent tourist hotel close to Shinjuku Station, just a stone’s throw from a dazzling array of department stores, restaurants, karaoke bars, pachinko parlours and even the odd cat café.
You’ll then take a direct train from Tokyo up to Hakuba, high in the Japanese Alps. Hakuba is actually seven ski resorts in one: Happo One, Hakuba 47, Goryu, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Sanosaka and Highland Minegatta. We’ve included an all-valley lift pass that covers all the areas, so whatever your ability you definitely won’t run out of slopes to explore!
You will be staying at a fantastic lodge just a short walk from the main Happo gondola, as well as plenty of restaurants, bars and all-important onsen hot springs in the centre of Hakuba. If you don’t fancy eating out or are on a tight budget, the lodge has a kitchen that guests are free to use. The best thing about the lodge are the staff, who speak excellent English, love their winter sports and will provide a wealth of useful advice and information to help you get the most from your stay.
Like all our Self-Guided Adventures, this package is completely flexible – so if you’d like us to add equipment hire, skiing or snowboarding lessons, or perhaps a day trip to see the famous snow monkeys of Yudanaka Onsen, please let your travel consultant know.
What’s included
- Seven nights accommodation
- Airport transfers
- Breakfast every day
- Five-day JR East Flexi Pass, which covers all transport between destinations and airports
- Hakuba all-valley ski lift pass
- Your personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack
What’s NOT included:
- International flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination unless otherwise specified
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
- Baggage handling or luggage forwarding
- Ski equipment hire
To enquire or book call 02 9997 1277 or email info@newporttravel.com.au
Itinerary
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Day 1-2
Explore Tokyo, Japan's exciting capital city.
Welcome to Japan! On arrival you will catch the Narita Express from the airport to Shinjuku, where you'll we staying in one of the city's most vibrant business and entertainment districts. There are literally thousands of great bars and restaurants on your doorstep here, so you will have no trouble finding a great place to spend your first evening in Japan.
Today you will have a free day to explore the capital and we will provide plenty of sightseeing advice and information in your InsideJapan Info-Pack. Shinjuku is a great base for your explorations, with excellent transport links to all the major sightseeing areas. Take a visit to the traditional Asakusa quarter with its busy markets and red-pillared temple, explore towering arcade palaces and Maid Cafés in Akihabara "electric town" or go people-spotting in the outlandish fashion district of Harajuku.
Overnight: Ibis Tokyo Shinjuku
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Day 3-6
Hit the slopes in Hakuba - one of the country's finest ski resorts.
To get to Hakuba you'll take the 7.30am limited express train direct from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station. The train takes just under four hours, which means you'll have this afternoon to get out on the slopes followed by three full days for skiing or snowboarding. Your accommodation is just five minutes from the main Happo gondola, but your lift passes cover all seven resorts within Hakuba so you'll hardly have to ski the same piste twice!
Skiers still outnumber snowboarders in Japan, but only just! Snowboarding enjoys huge popularity, and the number of resorts welcoming snowboarders and providing special snowboarding facilities such as half pipes continues to increase. Many resorts also welcome other types of snow sports, such as snow bikes and snow scooters.
We haven't added ski equipment hire as it's cheap and very easy to arrange on arrival. You can do this through your accommodation or at a rental store in downtown Hakuba, where most of the staff speak good English. However if you would like us to book this for you in advance, please let us know!
Overnight: Morino Lodge
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Day 7-8
Return to Tokyo for a final night of fun before you head home.
Today you'll retrace your steps to Tokyo's Shinjuku district. A chance for a big final night out in typical Japanese style! We recommend dining at an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) before testing your vocal cords at one of the district's towering karaoke establishments.
Sadly your time in Japan must come to an end. On your final morning you can use the included JR East Flexi Pass to take a train from Shinjuku direct to Narita Airport in time for your flight home.
Overnight: Ibis Tokyo Shinjuku
Want to extend your Japan in Winter Adventure?
Ask us about our Japan winter safaris by rail.
To enquire or book call 02 9997 1277 or email info@newporttravel.com.au
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