JAPAN
May 22 – Jun 4, 2024
PRICE
$3,750
DURATION
14 DAYS | 13 NIGHTS
GROUP MAX
14 People
PHYSICAL
Easy
WEATHER
Summertime, humid, 80F
TOUR OVERVIEW
Come visit this Far Eastern island, where tradition meets technology to create one of the world’s most unique nations in Japan. Zigzag around the metropolitan area of Tokyo to taste its savory cuisine and immerse yourself in the nightlife of Shibuya and Shinjuku. Head west to Kanazawa and Kyoto, where over a thousand years of history and culture reside. Continue on to Hiroshima to contemplate the horrors of war, and to eat the city’s soul food: okonomiyaki. Finish basking in a hot spring in the mountains of Hakone, while collecting your thoughts before Mt. Fuji.
TOUR LEADER
Martin Dale-Hench
TOUR PRICE
$3,750
SOLD OUT
Maximum 2 Travelers per Reservation
$500 deposit per person is required to reserve space. The availability of space is based on a first come, first serve basis.
100% of the balance is required 90 days before the first day of the tour.
DAY 1…
Arrive in Tokyo in the afternoon. Transfer to hotel via JR trains. Rest, dine, and recover from jet lag. Orientation meeting and welcome dinner. Stay in Tokyo for 4 nights.
DAY 2…
Start your morning by visiting Tokyo’s largest temple, Senso-ji. Visit the glitzy Ginza boulevard.
DAY 3…
Head over to the world’s largest fish market in Toyosu. Meet the famous loyal dog Hachiko in Shibuya and cross the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. Check out the bustle at Shinjuku, the busiest train station in the world. Have dinner at a Deaf-owned restaurant, Fusao, near Shinjuku.
DAY 4…
Visit Meisei Gakuen, the only bi-bi school for the Deaf in Japan, to meet and observe young Deaf pupils signing Japanese Sign Language. After lunch, go to Ryogoku to see the Edo-Tokyo museum to learn all about the history in Tokyo. Use the free time in the evening to do some shopping.
DAY 2…
Take the shinkansen to Kanazawa. Allow the wonders of one of Japan’s top gardens, Kenrokuen, to calm your soul. Amble through the streets of Higashi-Chaya district and ponder what it was like living in Japan under the shogunate 200 years ago. Stay in Kanazawa for 2 nights.
DAY 6…
Board on early morning train to mountainous Hida region to Shirakawago, a beautiful folk village, to see unique wooden houses built to withhold the harsh winters. Go back to Kanazawa to do some independent sightseeing and shopping.
DAY 7…
Take a limited express train straight to Kyoto. Go to Arashiyama to visit a Deaf research center, and tour the area to experience the mystique of a bamboo forest. Learn about the Japanese version of dragons by visiting the giant dragon mural in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji. Become in peace by watching the serene landscape around Tenryu-ji. Stay in Kyoto for 3 nights.
DAY 7…
Get up early in the morning to see the thousand red torii in Fushimi before the morning tourist rush. Then go to Higashiyama to see the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple. Rent a kimono and walk through cobblestoned streets. Do some shopping in the area and experience the traditional Tea Ceremony. Tour the Gion district at night to hunt for geisha sightings. Dress up in kimono is optional.
DAY 9…
Take the train straight to Nara, about 50 km south of Kyoto. Bow to the deer, which are free to roam around the Nara Park, and some of them will bow back. Be in awe of the giant and magnificent Buddha Statue in Todaiji. Use the afternoon time off to buy artisan gifts or visit more stunning temples.
DAY 10…
Shinkansen to Hiroshima. After lunch, visit the Peace Memorial Building and learn how much the locals suffered during and after the A-bomb. Chow down the famous Okonomiyaki, the soul food of Hiroshima. Stay in Hiroshima for 2 nights.
DAY 11…
Take the morning ferry to see the scenic Miyajima Island, known as the Island of Gods. See the iconic giant red torii “floating” on the lake during low and high tides. Take your time to amble around the island to discover many treasures hiding.
DAY 12…
Take the shinkansen to Odawara, and then switch to a train to Hakone-Yumoto. Stay at a traditional Japanese inn, called a ryokan, and experience a Japanese-style dinner. Bathe in a hot springs. Stay in Hakone for 2 nights.
DAY 13…
Go on a full-day tour around the mountains of Hakone, seeing the sulphur fumes of Owakudani, perhaps eat their black eggs! Wonder at the mind-bending art of Hakone Open-Air Museum. Marvel at the grandeur of Mt. Fuji by Lake Ashi, weather permitting. Have farewell dinner at Hakone-Yumoto.
DAY 14…
Board on early morning train to airport for your afternoon return flight home.
- 13 nights in 3-star and 4-star accommodations.
- 15 meals: Breakfast (13), Dinner (2)
- Services of a deaf Tour Leader on call 24 hours a day.
- Services of local deaf and/or hearing guides.
- All transportation expenses.
- All admission fees for attractions and museums mentioned in the itinerary.
- Most tips, except for your Tour Leader.
- Informative travel preparation packet.
- $100 discount per person on your next regular tour.
- Domestic and/or international airfares.
- All other meals not mentioned in the itinerary and personal expenses.
- Travel Insurance.
- Dress up in kimono in Kyoto is optional. Day rental is approximately $30 per person.
- Any COVID-19 related tests.
Why do you need travel insurance?
LEARN DIFFERENT SIGN LANGUAGES!
Hands On Travel is a proud sponsor to Intersign University which provides sign language courses in many different countries.
Learn MoreTOUR LEADER
Martin Dale-Hench
TOUR PRICE
$3,750
SOLD OUT
Maximum 2 Travelers per Reservation
$500 deposit per person is required to reserve space. The availability of space is based on a first come, first serve basis.
100% of the balance is required 90 days before the first day of the tour.
Why do you need travel insurance?
LEARN DIFFERENT SIGN LANGUAGES!
Hands On Travel is a proud sponsor to Intersign University which provides sign language courses in many different countries.
Learn MorePRICE
$3,750
DURATION
14 DAYS | 13 NIGHTS
GROUP MAX
14 People
PHYSICAL
Easy
WEATHER
Summertime, humid, 80F
GALLERY
Got a Question?
First, please scroll through our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have further questions or need help with a specific topic, feel free to contact us! Thank you.
RESERVATION
Spots are based on a first come, first serve basis. A $500 deposit per person is required to reserve your space and can be paid with a debit or credit card. Alternative payment options include personal check or wire transfer. After registration, you will receive an automatic email response with further instructions. Full payment is due 90 days before the start of your tour.
Absolutely yes! You can contact us by clicking this link and fill out the form and we will get back to you. Above all, we want to make your tour a memorable one for your group.
HOT is proud of the three distinct reasons that allow it to be different from other tour companies: they use sign language exclusively, travel in small groups which provide an intimate experience while also having more flexibility on their schedule, and spend time visiting places they love versus wasting time at places where there wasn’t much interest..
Generally, all tours will provide accommodations in double rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast, transportation expenses including lunch and dinner (depending on the itinerary), museum entrance fees along with a $100 credit towards your next full tour. In addition we provide you with information about each specific tour so that you can be fully aware of what is included.
We will be happy to assist you with a custom-designed tour, tailored towards your preferences. If not, stay up to date by joining our mailing list in order for us to provide you with any future tours that we may have availability for.
Did you know that we have travel consultants who can assist you? You can go to our Travel Consulting page for more information. The best way to accomplish this would be to seek out friends and/or family members (usually in order of 6 people) so they will lower the costs significantly, or advertise open spots on your tour publicly. We also have discounts, and some other advantages! What’s more- we are able to lower the level of accommodations as well as remove extras all together which make it feasible for a low cost.
It is often easier for us to permit single travelers when it comes time to sign up for our tours. If you are unable to find a partner and need assistance, please contact us as we may have singles available on the list- pending your approval first. There are some tours that allow exceptions for those seeking not only with partners but also without them too!
If somebody backs out, please register on our wait list or contact us directly so that we can put you on the wait list for a similar tour. We will also keep your name up to date with our latest tours and alerts about similar upcoming trips in order to give you a chance at joining them.
TRAVEL PROTECTION
Hands On Travel recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. To learn more about how to help protect you and your trip investment, visit the following link: TRAVEL PROTECTION
Don’t hesitate. We will stay in touch with you from the date of deposit until your arrival at the starting point of your tour, to make sure that all is well before departure. You can contact us via phone or e-mail any time for questions and we will remain in communication throughout your trip!
BILLING
No, we do not charge any extra fees or fuel surcharges. The listed price is the price you pay. Including tax.
You can find this under our Terms & Conditions. If you find it necessary to cancel your confirmed tour reservation, you must notify HOT about it by e-mail. You may transfer your space to another suitable person or request us to seek replacements. If your replacement is found, HOT will, at its discretion depending on the time frame, refund your deposits/payments or apply it towards a future Hands on Travel tour that is to be taken no more than 3 years after the dates of the original tour. If your replacement is not found, the cancellation of your reservation will become effective and the following charges will apply: (a) if cancelled more than 90 days before the first day of the tour, all installment or additional payments will be refunded to you minus the non-refundable deposit of US $500 per person and any non-refundable payments that HOT has made to suppliers. (b) if cancelled less than 90 days before the first day of the tour, no refunds will be made.
Since tour prices are quoted as a package, no partial refunds can be made for the unused portion of any tour including lodging, meals, or any other items that are included in the tour price. This does not apply to those who wish to participate in only a portion of a tour. In this case, we can pro-rate costs for the unused days.
After registration, you will receive an automatic email reply with further instructions. A $500 per person booking deposit is required to reserve your spot on the trip and can be paid by personal check, credit card and/or wire transfer. Full payment is due no less than 90 days before the start of the trip.
If you need to cancel or postpone your trip 3 or more months before the start, all monies paid will be refunded minus the $500 non-refundable deposit. You can also transfer the entire amount of your deposit to be used for a later trip if we are able to find replacements.
DURING THE TOUR
Big coach buses separate us from local people. We fail to experience or understand the “hands on” lives of locals.
We started out as a walking tour company. Walking offers close-up experiences with local people and hidden gems to discover.
It’s much easier to communicate full to everyone in semi-circle and make sign language 100% accessible. No more missing what is being said.
We’d be able to dine in smaller, cozier and unique restaurants that would offer a local culinary experience unlike large, tourist-oriented restaurants. And, we’d be able to stay at smaller accommodations in prime locations unlike large chain hotels outside the city limits.
We strive to include local guides for certain days to promote maximum cultural experience as well as exchange deaf-related insights.
Most of our customers will gain insightful observations and deeper understanding on how Deaf people live on a local level.
Most of our customers will gain insightful observations and deeper understanding on how Deaf people live on a local level.
