Prices and options

Our current pricing figures are below; until we actually purchase all the parts of the trip, prices are subject to change. So these prices are a best estimate.

Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, and Takayama

Price: Land portion only: about $3,000 per person; we expect airfare on the suggested route to run around $1,400 - $1,700 per person.

Here's what's included:

• 11 days and 10 nights in Japan
• Standard class (3 star) hotels, double occupancy in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone
• Stay in Open Heart Pension in Takayama
• Transportation to and from hotels
• Transportation between cities by train
• Four segments on shinkansen (bullet train)
• Possible day trips to Kamakura, Shirakawa-go, and Nara
• Exploration around Hakone with views of Mt. Fuji (weather permitting)
• Visits to four or more World Heritage Sites
• PASMO IC card for transportation and more in Tokyo
• Admissions to various venues (museums, temples, etc.)
• Eight breakfasts and five dinners
• Because all travelers must be members of Denver Takayama Sister City Committee, you have some insurance coverage
  Note that this includes emergency medical evacuation for US based travelers!
  (Still, you may want to consider an inexpensive short term travel medical insurance policy)

 

• Creation and maintenance of this website as an information source and communication tool
• Information about the trip (Prices, Itinerary)
• Information about the travelers
• Information about each destination
• Discussions of issues that concern trip members
• Tips and tools (currency conversion, weather, time zones, etc.) [see the Frequently Asked Questions link]
• Information about other resources, either on the web or locally available (public library, personal libraries of trip members, etc.)

 

• Services of a Japanese speaking tour escort, Charlene Thai
Pre-trip
• Interface with travel agent to coordinate itinerary requirements and negotiate best prices comensurate with desired quality
• Discussion, live or online, to provide cultural guidelines and answer questions
• Provide information about local events (metropolitan Denver) that may be of interest to members of the trip
• Spearhead promotion of trip
• Provide focal point for completing paperwork

During trip
• Lead group through all connections from original departure through final return
• Provide support (communication, direction, other assistance) throughout the trip

Post trip
• Provide focal point for coordinating exchange of digital pictures in a common trip digital photo album

 

• Note: there is no tipping in Japan

 

Other options:

• Land only price (if you want to fly on your own): $3,000.00
• Single supplement (if you don't want to share a hotel room) is additional: $675.00

Other options can be priced as interest dictates (get requests in soon), such as:

• Additional personal days before or after schedule
• Air cabin upgrade (fly on same flights but business class - if available)

Critical dates:

• Latest date to sign up for trip: Friday, March 20, - but sooner is better
• Note: There is a 4% surcharge on payments made using credit card
• Payments should be made by checks made out to "DSCI" with a memo field of "Introduction to Japan"
  mail to:
   
       DSCI
       2480 West 26th Avenue, Suite 20B
       Denver, CO 80211
   
  
• Deposit of $2,000.00 on or before March 23
• ** Second payment of $1,700.00 on or before March 25
• Final payment of $1,000: Monday, March 30

** - if you are coming from outside Colorado, or arranging your own air travel, we modify this, of course, to reflect your reality; if you are flying our suggested itinerary and purchase through MEM, this amount will be set to cover the airfare

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellation on or before March 20 $2,000 is non-refundable
• Cancelation after March 25: only $300 is refundable