Where Time Paused: Ginzan Onsen & Hidden Yamagata From Tokyo 2-Day Tour

Special offer
US$246.00 US$213.19

(YYYYMMDD)

Tour Highlights

  • ❄️ Zao Snow Monsters – A winter-only natural masterpiece, featuring millions of frost-covered “snow monsters,” one of Tohoku’s most breathtaking seasonal wonders.
  • 🏮 Ginzan Onsen – Visit the iconic hot spring town said to inspire Spirited Away, with its nostalgic Taisho-era streets and fairy-tale atmosphere.

  • 🚗 Experienced Local Driver-Guide – Travel with a professional local driver who knows the region well and shares insights into Japanese culture and landscapes.

  • 👥 Small Group Experience – Minimum 4 participants, with hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo for a smooth, stress-free journey—no complicated transport planning required.


✅ Price Includes

✓ Vehicle service as listed in the itinerary, 1-night onsen hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner, and Zao Ropeway (summit station) ticket
✓ Fuel costs, toll fees, and highway fees during the tour
✓ Vehicle service time up to 10 hours per day (in accordance with Japanese regulations)
✓ Driver-guide service fee
 – 1–13 participants: Small group tour
 – 14–45 participants: Bus tour
 (Vehicle and group arrangement will be adjusted based on the actual number of participants)
Reference vehicle types (subject to adjustment based on group size):
 – 5–8 seats: Toyota Alphard or equivalent
 – 9–14 seats: Toyota Hiace or equivalent
 – 18–22 seats: Mini bus
 – Over 22 seats: Large coach
Infant policy:
 – Infants aged 0–2 years (no bed, no meals) will be charged a JPY 2,000 hotel facility usage fee
 – Advance notice is required; boarding may be refused in case of overcapacity
 – Children aged 2 years and above are charged the adult price


🧳 Luggage Policy (Day Tour)

This is a one-day tour, and bringing luggage is not recommended.

Each guest may bring one piece of luggage free of charge (no size limit).
If you plan to bring luggage, please inform us at the time of booking.

  • Luggage not pre-declared, or more than one piece per person, will incur an additional fee of JPY 2,000 per extra piece, subject to vehicle space availability.

  • If luggage or passengers are not declared in advance and this results in insufficient vehicle capacity, the driver or guide reserves the right to refuse boarding, and no refund will be provided.


❌ Price Excludes

✗ Optional activities, personal expenses, and any local expenses not listed under “Price Includes”
✗ For the 2-day tour, each guest may bring 1 piece of large luggage free of charge (advance notice required)
 – Additional luggage (2 pieces or more): JPY 2,000 per piece
✗ Any other items not specifically mentioned under “Price Includes”

 

Itinerary 

The following itinerary is for reference only. The specific attractions, visiting order, and duration may be adjusted according to actual conditions on the day of travel.


DAY 1 | Tokyo – Ginzan Onsen – Naruko Onsen

07:00 | Tokyo – Tour Begins

Meeting & Pickup Options

  • 07:00 JR Tokyo Station, Marunouchi North Exit
    (Meet-up & drop-off option)

  • 07:30 In front of Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, Shinjuku West Exit
    (Meet-up & drop-off option)

  • 07:00–07:30 Hotel pickup within central Tokyo
    (Hotel pickup & drop-off option)

Hotel Pickup Coverage (Tokyo):
Shinjuku, Chiyoda, Chuo, Taito, Minato, Shibuya, and Bunkyo wards
Hotel addresses must be confirmed in advance to ensure pickup eligibility.

⚠️ Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes early. Late arrivals will not be waited for.
Pickup order and exact timing will be arranged by the driver-guide based on distance and traffic conditions. Kindly follow the guide’s instructions.


14:00 | Yamagata – Ginzan Onsen Street

(Approx. 90 minutes, may extend up to 120 minutes depending on conditions)

Explore Ginzan Onsen, a historic hot spring town with over 500 years of history, often said to have inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Once famous as a healing retreat during the Edo period, the town still preserves its nostalgic charm.

Wooden ryokan built from the Taisho to early Showa era line both sides of the Ginzan River. At dusk, gas lamps reflect softly on stone-paved streets, creating a dreamlike winter scene—especially beautiful when covered in snow.

Ginzan Onsen is also believed to be the inspiration for the Swordsmith Village in the popular anime Demon Slayer. The town flourished in the 17th century due to silver mining, and its name literally means “Silver Mountain.”

Enjoy free time to stroll the streets, take photos, and sample local specialties such as Yamagata tempura soba. Walking hand-in-hand through the snow-covered town offers a truly romantic and tranquil experience.

Foot Bath Experience:
At the entrance of the town, you’ll find the Warashi-yu Foot Bath, free of charge. Warm your feet while enjoying the snowy scenery—perfect after walking in the cold.


15:30 | Yamagata – Transfer to Naruko Onsen

(Approx. 1 hour; arrival time subject to traffic conditions)


16:30 | Miyagi – Check-in at Naruko Onsen (Kameya Onsen Hotel)

(Or another equivalent onsen hotel)
Includes dinner and breakfast
Dinner features a seasonal Tohoku-style kaiseki meal. If arrival is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, a bento meal will be provided. Breakfast is buffet-style.

About Naruko Onsen

Located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Naruko Onsen is one of Tohoku’s most famous hot spring areas, known as the “Home of Kokeshi Dolls.” The area offers numerous foot baths, day-use onsen, traditional craft workshops, and local eateries.

Naruko Onsen is exceptionally rare, featuring 8 out of Japan’s 10 officially recognized hot spring water types, making it one of the most diverse onsen regions in the country.

Kameya Onsen Hotel – Onsen Highlights

  1. Indoor and open-air baths on the 1st floor, plus a panoramic large bath on the 6th floor overlooking the Naruko mountains

  2. Natural hot spring source “Futami Gensen,” a rare black bicarbonate spring rich in sodium and iron, often called a “beauty bath”

  3. Open-air baths offer views of trains passing along the JR Rikuu East Line, adding a unique railway charm to the onsen experience


DAY 2 | Naruko Onsen – Zao Snow Monsters – Fox Village – Tokyo

08:00 | Breakfast at Hotel → Depart for Zao Ropeway

(Approx. 2 hours travel time; subject to traffic conditions)


10:00 | Yamagata – Zao Snow Monsters (Ice Monsters)

(Approx. 2 hours; includes ropeway ticket to the summit)

Witness the breathtaking Zao Snow Monsters, a winter-only natural phenomenon created when moist Siberian winds collide with Aomori fir trees and freeze instantly. These massive frost-covered formations resemble giant snow creatures and are found only in limited areas of northeastern Japan.

Take the ropeway from the mountain base through three stations—Zao Sanroku, Juhyo Kogen, and the summit near Jizo Peak. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the snow monsters from inside the cable car and the summit observation deck.

Important Notes for Viewing Snow Monsters

  1. Shape and appearance vary depending on weather conditions

  2. Stay within designated viewing areas; do not cross safety ropes

  3. Snow monsters are fragile natural formations—please do not touch

  4. Wear proper cold-weather clothing

  5. Ropeway operations may be suspended due to strong winds, fog, storms, or lightning.

    • If the summit ropeway is unavailable, the tour will switch to the Zao Chuo Ropeway and a price difference will be refunded accordingly


13:30 | Yamagata – Zao Fox Village

(Approx. 60 minutes; admission fee not included)

Visit a unique fox sanctuary located in the mountains of Shiroishi City, home to over 100 foxes of 7 different species, including red foxes, cross foxes, and Arctic foxes.

Guests can observe free-roaming foxes, feed them, and enjoy close-up photo opportunities. During autumn and winter, foxes grow thicker winter fur, making them especially adorable.

All foxes are bred in captivity, and strict measures are in place to prevent disease.
⚠️ Please follow all safety rules and staff instructions carefully.


18:00 | Saitama – Onihei Edo Village Rest Area

(Approx. 30 minutes; free time for snacks)

A highway rest area themed after the Edo-period world of Onihei Hankachō, a famous historical novel series by Shotaro Ikenami. Opened in 2013, the area recreates an authentic Edo atmosphere with guidance from historians and art directors.

Enjoy Edo-style snacks and meals inspired by famous shops and dishes featured in the novel—perfect for a final taste of old Japan before returning to Tokyo.


19:30 | Tokyo – Tour Ends

Drop-off at:
JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit / Shinjuku West Exit / Hotel or accommodation

  • Guests using the meet-up & drop-off option may end the tour at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku

  • Guests using the hotel pickup & drop-off option will be transferred back to their accommodation


Drop-off Notes

  • Guests with meeting-point packages may end the tour directly at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku.

  • Guests with hotel pick-up packages will be transferred back to their hotel or accommodation via arranged shuttle.


Travel Information

【This tour allows free luggage. Please inform us of the number of luggage items in advance when booking.】

  1. Once the booking is confirmed, the travel date cannot be changed. Any losses incurred due to changes must be borne by the guest.

  2. Please provide complete and accurate information at the time of booking (full name, number of participants, phone number, email address, and pick-up location) to avoid errors that may affect the itinerary.

  3. Please carry your passport and valuables with you at all times. Any loss, theft, or damage shall be borne by the guest.

  4. Elderly guests, guests with cardiovascular conditions (such as high blood pressure or heart disease), and pregnant women are advised to travel with a companion.

  5. Guests under 18 years old are not permitted to book this tour alone. A legal guardian must book and participate together.

  6. This is a shared fixed-route tour. Guests are required to follow the scheduled stop times at each attraction and comply with the driver-guide’s arrangements.

    • If you prefer a more flexible itinerary, please refer to our private charter services.

    • Please arrive at the designated pick-up point on time. Late arrivals will not be waited for.

    • This product cannot be refunded, rescheduled, transferred to another departure, or joined midway. If you fail to participate due to personal reasons, the loss shall be borne by yourself.

  7. If a guest fails to participate or leaves the tour early due to personal reasons or lateness, no refund will be provided.

  8. Guests who leave the group during the tour will be deemed to have voluntarily terminated the service, and no refund will be issued. Any resulting personal injury or property loss shall be the guest’s own responsibility.

  9. Arrival times may vary due to traffic conditions, weather, holidays, or crowd levels. Delays or cancellations caused by these or other force majeure factors are non-refundable.

  10. Please wear comfortable clothing and suitable walking shoes.

  11. Please comply with Japanese laws and regulations. Do not carry prohibited items to avoid legal issues.

  12. During free time, guests are responsible for their personal safety and belongings. Any accidents or losses caused by failure to follow advice shall be borne by the guest.


Important Tour Notes

Due to the unpredictability of traffic conditions, weather, holidays, or crowd levels, arrival times at attractions may change.
According to Japanese law, a driver’s maximum working time is 10 hours per day. To ensure safety and stable operations, the itinerary may be adjusted as necessary, including shortening visit times or canceling certain attractions.

We sincerely ask for your understanding and support regarding any such adjustments made in the interest of safety. In cases involving the above or other force majeure factors, we regret any inconvenience caused. Refunds will not be provided under these circumstances, as this policy is implemented to protect both drivers and passengers and ensure smooth tour operations.


Force Majeure Includes but Is Not Limited To

  • Natural disasters: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, typhoons, etc.

  • Traffic incidents: road accidents, severe congestion, etc.

  • Weather conditions: heavy snow, rainstorms, dense fog, etc.

  • Government regulations: emergency orders, traffic controls, etc.

  • Medical emergencies: sudden illness or injury of a guest or group member

  • Social events: strikes, protests, social unrest

  • Mechanical failures: vehicle breakdowns or malfunctions


Cancellation & Refund Policy

  • More than 3 days before departure (excluding the departure date): 100% refund

  • 2–3 days before departure (including those days): 50% refund

  • 1 day before departure or on the departure date: No refund

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