“Discover Japan” with Getaway Friends ” – 11 Days Tour [16th May – 26th May 2023]

Virtually everything! Hotels, most meals, all of the activities described in the itinerary pages, airport transfers and local guides. Experience and professional Tour Directors and local guides will be with you every step of the way, ensuring a worry free vacation.

A well paced and unhurried itinerary is our goal, after all, you are on vacation! Touring days begin and end at reasonable hours and include frequent stops. You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or stairs. You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.

While the occasional early morning departure is necessary, we do our best to ensure a leisurely vacation

We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. Travel insurance is widely available to purchase. It is the personal responsibility of each traveler to ensure that they have adequate travel insurance cover. Please read the policy details carefully. It is each traveler’s personal responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover purchased is suitable and adequate for their particular needs. Voyages Hub will not be responsible or liable for any consequence of any nature arising from the failure to comply with the responsibility of providing for adequate travel insurance cover.

Please contact Jean Freeman for your Travel Insurance Needs

[For insurance details please click (GET AWAY FREINDS’ Greece GROUP INSURANCE DETAILS) [Note – Please refer to page 2 for Cancel For Any Reason – ( Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is travel insurance coverage that reimburses up to 75% of Non-Refundable Trip cost. The lesser of 75% of the amount prepaid for the trip or up to the maximum of $20,000) if you have to cancel your trip for any reason not listed in the standard coverage.]

• Cancellations, 120 days or more prior to departure-full credit, (non-refundable deposit & the cost of trip cancellation & interruption insurance is retained),
• Between 119 and 90 days 50% is retained,
• Between 89 and 31 days 85% is retained
• 30 days or less, or no show 100% of the package price is retained.
• Note: A person becoming a single as a result of the roommate’s cancellation must pay the single supplement.

We use hotels that are closely monitoring COVID-19 updates and adhering to the guidelines that are set by the National Health Organization and WHO. Along with the Government directions  are preparing to safely reopen and accept guests with thorough precautionary standards set in place, to ensure a safe, healthy and welcoming environment!

Cleanliness and hygiene standards at hotels are of high importance and they have implemented additional measures that meet the latest guidance on hygiene and cleaning, to ensure the safety of our guests and team daily. The hotels are using cleaning & environmentally friendly products and protocols that are effective against viruses.  They are conducting enhanced training and corona virus awareness, updating our team in response to the new standards COVID -19 has set for our well-being, onward

A post signage on entrance door that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19 will be permitted in the hotel Public spaces. They will perform cleaning and disinfection in all public spaces with increased frequency; Hand sanitizers have been placed at all areas  and team facilities including lobby, dining outlets and reception desk, bathrooms and offices. The hotels will provide  surgical masks and gloves to guests and staff according to the new guidelines . Designated signage at all public areas, notifying guests of keeping social distance, wearing masks, use hand sanitizers.

Elevators, must be used by one passenger at a time, or guests sharing the same room. Still, we encourage you to use the stairs.

Rooms. Key prevention protocols are followed to clean the rooms with particular attention paid to high touch items. A rigorous cleaning after guest depart and before the next arrival.  More detailed information is provided in each room

Back of House.  Screening of all teams, in each shift before entering  the Hotel, for symptoms to  Immediately exclude anyone. In the spaces where  Hotels team is working we are increasing the frequency of cleaning and focusing on high-touch areas like  entrances, locker rooms, laundry rooms and  offices

The hotels will ensure to follow Food Safety Policies as well with daily cleaning and disinfection of the kitchen and other food preparation areas, surfaces, proper cooking and storage of food and hygiene practices.

(Please visit individual Hotel Website for Covid-19 related information)

Our suppliers use transport companies, those have implemented to enhance hygiene protocols, to comply with physical distancing requirements by relevant government authorities and to give you peace of mind when you are travelling during these new times.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the transport companies  have taken additional measures to elevate our hygiene and sanitary practices in accordance with guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and as required, applicable government regulations.

The Driver training provides them with the latest hygiene protocols. They will clean and disinfect all surfaces including handrails, door handles, tables, seats, air-conditioning filters and overhead lockers on a daily basis.

All our guests are asked to follow hygiene practices recommended by the World Health Organisation including the thorough and regular washing of hands and sanitizing when required.

Hand sanitizer will be available on board for your use throughout the day.

Please bring your own washable face mask and gloves with you, and additional hand sanitizer to make you feel comfortable, as these will be required to be worn in public in some countries.

Should an unexpected situation arise, additional face masks, rubber gloves, antiviral sprays and wipes will be available for guest distribution on all trips.

The health and safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority. As questions and concerns arise as a result of COVID-19, our group of companies has taken a number of precautionary measures to provide the highest level of protection for our customers and team.

Our COVID-19 measures include:

• The vehicles interiors are completely cleaned and sanitized daily.
• Drivers now perform a thorough cleaning of the vehicle’s interior surfaces with disinfectant wipes between each trip.
• Drivers have been issued protective disposable rubber gloves and masks.
• With the exception of dispatcher, office staff are now working remotely, from home.
• All employees have been instructed to self monitor, self isolate and seek immediate medical attention if they show any symptoms of COVID-19.
• Under no circumstance will we allow sick employees to report for work.

We are closely monitoring the situation with guidance from the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. and international authorities. In the event that the international and domestic travel bans and restrictions, governmental orders, and public health advisories will not be sufficiently lifted in time for your tour to depart as scheduled, or that these or other external events make it impractical for suppliers to provide their services at all or in a manner that does not meet our safety and quality standards, **we will notify you around 45 days prior to departure**. If this happens, we will work with you to re-evaluate your plans and options for travel.

Covid-19 Reschedule: Your tour qualifies from a reschedule to a future date based on government advisories. A mutually agreed date with the tour leader will be announced and all the deposits will be retained for future travel for the same trip.

• In order to enter Japan, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of return.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact Japan’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• You will need a small overnight bag (such as your carry-on bag) for your stay in Hakone. Your luggage will be transferred for you from Tokyo to Kyoto directly.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit temples or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

• Most Japanese meals are based around rice or noodles with fish, meat, and vegetables flavored with soy sauce and miso. You may recognize popular dishes like sushi, tempura, and hot pot.

• Japan operates on 100 volts and uses a Type A plug, the same as in the U.S.
• The strength of the air conditioning in Asian hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what one might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed

• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Japan is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 1am on the following day in Japan.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.

• You will use the Japanese yen in Japan.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Voyages Hub reserves the right to levy a surcharge commensurate to the fuel increase at the time of operation of this movement.

Terms and Conditions and Additional Important Information

Please note: Local requirements may be listed for destinations not visited on your tour itinerary. Cross-reference your itinerary to confirm which guidelines apply to you.

Please note: Local requirements may be listed for destinations not visited on your tour itinerary. Cross-reference your itinerary to confirm which guidelines apply to you.