InsideJapan Tours wins at British Travel Awards and launches new signature tours

InsideJapan Tours wins the Independent Award for Best Tour Operator to East & Central Asia, as ‘Hands on Japan’ and ‘Heart of Japan’ tours are finalised to run in 2012
 
Nov. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- With 98% of InsideJapan’s small group tour clients rating their tour leader as ‘superb’ or ‘excellent’, it comes as no surprise that InsideJapan Tours has won the Independent Award for Best Tour Operator to East & Central Asia at the British Travel Awards 2011. This win and the fantastic ratings are testament to the skills and knowledge of real Japan experts, dedicated to ensuring that travellers experience an authentic slice of this enigmatic country.

By popular demand from overwhelmingly satisfied clients over the years, InsideJapan’s tour leaders have now applied some of their expertise to designing their own, brand-new signature tours for 2012. The first two to be launched will be Hands On Japan, designed by foodie Liam Chawdhary, and Heart of Japan, designed by keen walker Tom Orsman.  Says InsideJapan Tours’ Director, Simon King:  “When producing these tours we gave our tour leaders complete freedom to create the kind of tour they would love to go on. The expertise within InsideJapan Tours means we can design tours which depart from the classic routes. Rather than a tour which aims to target every potential visitor to Japan, these tours can really indulge those who share the tour leaders’ passions.  We’re very excited indeed at the itineraries that have resulted from this new initiative.”

As its name implies, ‘Hands on Japan’ offers travellers the opportunity to physically immerse themselves in a tapestry of experiences - in Tokyo, Kyoto and Matsumoto - that form the foundation of much of Japanese culture and society.  The two-week itinerary is crammed full of activities which involve meeting local people, such as taiko drumming, knife-forging, a stay in a capsule hotel, a wasabi farm visit, paper making, a day at a Sumo tournament and cloth dying.  It also offers tastes of Japan, including a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market, noodle making and traditional fine-dining in Kyoto.

Liam says: "'Hands on Japan' explores a Japan that is very much alive; it is for those who want to engage with the locals and get involved with their way of life. Personally for me, the most significant part of the tour is the food. Anyone who believes that food can really connect oneself with a culture, or anyone who has just simply enjoyed experiencing cultural differences melt away as your hosts delight in your appreciation of their food, will especially enjoy the ‘Hands On Japan’ tour."

The ‘Heart of Japan’ tour begins in Osaka and takes travellers on a spiritual journey over mountains and into outdoor hot spring baths. Stay in temple lodgings atop Mount Koya, home to Buddhist monasteries for over 1,000 years, and get a glimpse of resident monks going about their daily lives. Set off on a three-day trek along a pilgrimage trail through the mountains - visit Hongu Taisha, an ancient Shinto shrine; stay in traditional Japanese accommodation and an island-hotel, meet pearl-diving women from coastal communities, visit the town of Ise, home to the Shrine of the Sun Goddess, and finish in the culinary capital of Kyoto.

Tom says: “’Heart of Japan’ starts and finishes in cities - neon Osaka and ancient Kyoto - that contrast Japan's modern and traditional aspects. The beauty of this tour is its diversity and I am excited at the prospect of taking travellers to experience the sights and sounds of rural communities, pulsating cities and coastal villages, visiting sites of huge historical significance along the way. This tour departs in May, when temperatures will be perfect for walking the pilgrimage trail and appreciating its natural mountainous and woodland beauty; no special level of fitness is required."

Hands On Japan costs £2,700 pp (two sharing) including 14 nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast, all domestic transfers, 17 different experiences or activities, nine evening meals, two lunches, one breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market, luggage forwarding and the full-time services of Liam Chowdray. Departs 9 September, 2012.  Book before 16th December 2011 for £100 pp discount.

Heart of Japan costs £2,150 pp (two sharing) including 11 nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast, all domestic transfers, seven evening meals, a local expert’s tour of Kyoto’s geisha district, Mount Koya and the Kumano Trail, some luggage forwarding and the full-time services of Tom Orsman. Departs 22 May, 2012. Book before 16th December 2011 for £100 pp discount.

Return international flights (from approximately £650) from the UK to Japan can also be booked via InsideJapan Tours.

For further information, contact InsideJapan Tours on 0117 370 9733 or visit http://www.insidejapantours.com.

ENDS/ 3 NOVEMBER 2011

NOTE TO EDITORS: Launched in 2000, InsideJapan Tours is a small, dedicated team of specialists, all of whom have first-hand experience of living, working and travelling in Japan. The company offers a range of original, affordable packages for small groups and independent travellers. InsideJapan Tours has offices in the UK and Japan.  It is a member of AITO, and is fully bonded via AITO Trust and ATOL. http://www.insidejapantours.com/

PRESS: For more details, please contact James Mundy, PR Manager, tel. 0117 370 9733, email james@insidejapantours.com. Issued on behalf of InsideJapan Tours by Travel PR, tel. 020 8891 4440, email  m.bishop@travelpr.co.uk or s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk

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