This Week @ PacSet: Cool Ideas For WINTER
A bit of a different update this week as we take a gander at what the Winter has in store!
HOW’S YOUR WINTER LOOKING?
We’re pretty sure you have no shortage of plans as far as family is concerned, but if you need a break from the usual, we have just the thing… and that thing is a trip to Japan. We have two fantastic trips queued up for wintertime this year…
November 30/December 1 - 12, 2026
TOKYO • SAITAMA • CHICHIBU • KOGA • KOBE • KYOTO • OSAKA • NAGAHAMA
🌙 Experience Japan by night at festivals around Tokyo
🗼 Enjoy street food, temples, and amazing views
♨️ Hot spring resort stay near Lake Biwa in Nagahama
🎁 12 days, premium lodging, transport, and guide included
$4,095
JAPAN HOLIDAY 2026
When: December 1~12, 2026
What: Winter festivals and urban fun!
This is our most unique take on the traditional “Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka golden route” trip EVER. For starters, it is built around giving a shine to some of the areas in the big city that are under-explored, like Saitama and Kobe. You’ll still experience Shibuya, Kyoto, Osaka, Akihabara, and everything in between, but you’ll also chase the festival carts in Chichibu, watch lanterns joust in the sky in Koga, and sample the best cuisine in Kobe (hint: it’s not just beef).
If you want to explore the urban centres of Japan but also experience the kinds of events the locals look forward to all year, this is the journey for you!
With stops in: Tokyo, Saitama, Chichibu, Koga, Ashikaga, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nagahama, and points between.
Is this trip for you? If a trip with a lot of free time to explore and experience a city on your own terms is what you are looking for, or you really want to experience partying with some very friendly locals, this is your journey!
Next up: our most iconic winter trip ever. Say hello to…
February 4/5* - 17, 2027
SAPPORO • LAKE SHIKOTSU • HAKODATE • AOMORI • KAKUNODATE • YOKOTE • TOKYO
⛄️ Go to Sapporo Snow Festival and FOUR more friendly local winter festivals!
♨️ Spend two nights in a fancy, five-star hot spring resort
🍎 Sample local flavors from fresh scallops and crab to pies, unique cocktails, and life-changing desserts
🏯 Visit fortresses, Meiji-era landmarks, and some of Japan’s most breathtaking natural scenery
~$4,695
FIRE AND ICE 2027
When: February 4~17, 2027
What: The Sapporo Snow Festival is considered one of the world’s premier winter festivals, but it’s not the only game in town. Japan’s small towns up north come alive in this season, and we’re here to experience all of it. You’ll fling fire in the samurai town of Kakunodate, eat amazing local produce and seafood in Aomori and Hakodate (hint: life-changing crab), explore neon-lit ice sculptures by Lake Shikotsu, and so much more. This one is regularly voted the best trip we offer at PacSet; come find out why!
With stops in: Sapporo, Lake Shikotsu, Otaru, Hakodate, Aomori, Hirosaki, Kakunodate, Tokyo and points between.
Is this trip for you? If our alumni are to be believed, this is an amazing journey for everybody. It’s a truly uniquely unforgettable experience, and we hope you can join us for it!
OTHER NEWS
We’ve been working overtime on some back end updates, new promotions (more about those very, very soon!), and the fall trips that are happening literally next week!
New trip announcements have been delayed a bunch, but keep watching this space; there will be more of them soon.
ICYMI, we’re doing a fun little field guide following the popular Nebula/YouTube series Jet Lag: The Game since their current season is not only in Japan, but goes to a lot of the cool cool places that we love and adore. The pieces do include spoilers, but if you want to check them out, they’re here: (Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3)
And that’s it! More news soon…
