*Trip begins at 2pm on July 30. Be sure to be in Tokyo by that time so you can make the connecting flight/train up to Hakodate.
Highlights
🎉 Experience three of Japan’s most iconic summer matsuri: the massive, glowing floats of the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the stunning balance of the rice-plant-inspired Akita Kanto Festival, and the lively Hakodate Port Festival.
🗾 Cool off in the north while exploring majestic scenery and history, from sampling fresh crab at the Hakodate Morning Market and exploring the star-shaped Goryokaku Fortress to visiting the historic samurai homes of Kakunodate.
🛡️ Relax with 10 nights of quality accommodations, all scheduled internal transportation, four complimentary luggage transfers, and the support of a professional, bilingual guide.
🎁 Enjoy little luxuries like nightly turndown service with local sweets and a complimentary concierge service, all capped off with a free day in Tokyo to shop or sightsee before heading home.
Dancing Lanterns and Festival Floats are just the beginning.
You could simply buy a plane ticket to Japan – or you could experience the kind of summer vacation that people your age across Japan look forward to every year. Our Summer Matsuri series is back, and we’re pointing our compasses north to cool off and experience not one, not two, but THREE of Japan’s most iconic summer festivals: the Kanto Festival in Akita, the Nebuta Festival in Aomori and the Hakodate Port Festival in Hakodate!
Beginning in Hakodate, you’ll sample the fresh crab at the Hakodate Morning Market, explore the star-shaped Goryokaku Fortress, and have a lunch cruise in Onuma Park. The best part? You’ll also see a firework display and join the locals at the waterfront festival. From there, we’ll move south to Hirosaki and check out the local castle and their take on the float festival, the Neputa, before venturing to Aomori City for the iconic Nebuta Festival that fills the streets with glowing, flickering floats of all kinds. After a few days in Aomori, we’ll end up in Akita where you can dance among the rice plant-inspired Kanto at the Kanto Festival and explore the samurai homes and views of Kakunodate. After the entire experience, we’ll head back to Tokyo so you can have a little city time before the trip concludes.
This is a small group trip, so space is EXTREMELY LIMITED. If you’re ready to experience some unbelievable summer parties, sign up now and we’ll get you there!
Trip itinerary
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After meetup in Tokyo, we’ll head north to settle in at out Hakodate hotel.
Lodging: Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar
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Welcome to the Hakodate Port Festival! Before the party, we'll visit the city's iconic Morning Market to sample crab, fresh honeydew melon, and more before we stroll into the city to visit the star-shaped Goryokaku Fortress and Tower. Then it's off to the waterfront for festival floats, fun, and fireworks!
Lodging: Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
Our second full day in Hakodate includes more festival time, but it also features a trip to the city’s Onsen area, Yunokawa, to chill out a little. Back in the city, we'll stop through a few local spots before finishing with the famous million-dollar night view from Mt. Hakodate.
Lodging: Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
For today, take a little you time - or join us for a jaunt up to Onuma Park, where we’ll do a little sailing, explore the islands in the lake, and more. In the evening, we have a special group dinner waiting for us.
Lodging: Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner included -
We depart Hakodate today and move to Hirosaki, where you’ll get the chance to see the preserved tower of Hirosaki Castle and go on a tour to the ton of Apple Pie ships in town (yeah, that’s a thing here) before the Neputa Festival kicks off.
Lodging: Art Hotel Hirosaki or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
Today we head up to Aomori City for the Nebuta Matsuri! Watch illuminated floats parade through the city after a day of sightseeing in town.
Lodging: Art Hotel Hirosaki or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
We have an optional hot spring stop today, but you’re also invited to hit a few local museums or just chill before another evening of fun at the festival!
Lodging: Art Hotel Hirosaki or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
We make our way to Akita, home to the evocative Kanto Festival! Explore the city with us until night falls and we all get to take in the sight of the lanterns parading through the center of town!
Lodging: Akita Castle Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
Today we’ll head into the mountains a bit to check out the iconic samurai homes and views of Kakunodate. After taking in the views, we’ll head back to the city to cool off a little bit by the beach!
Lodging: Akita Castle Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
We’ll head into Tokyo on the Shinkansen today, returning to the big city for a little free time. Need advice on where to go? Your guide will be on hand to assist!
Lodging: Shiba Park Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast included -
Head home or continue your time in Japan! Your guides will be on hand to help out, of course.
This trip includes…
| |
Trip Status |
CANCELED |
Deadline |
Apr. 27, 2026 |
Minimum guest #: |
5 guests |
Fly → JP On*: |
July 28 or 29, 2026 |
Starts in JP On: |
July 30 at 2PM, 2026 |
TRIP PACE |
Medium-heavy. The "heavy" comes from what we expect to be a fair amount of standing (not walking) in somewhat hot temperatures (moreso in Akita). Taking breaks and hydration are your friends on this one. |
Extras |
Single Room (Hotels): DUE TO ANTICIPATED CROWDING, we cannot issue a price on this at this time. Feel free to request this and we'll be in touch with specifics. |
*This is the date you should leave your home country.
Click for more info about:
FLIGHTS • REFUND POLICY
Click for more info about:
🛌 10 nights three-or-four-star accommodations
🥢 Includes 9 breakfasts and 1 dinner
🚅 All scheduled rail, sea, and air transport within Japan.**
🧳 Baggage shipping (up to 4 complimentary luggage transfers for one suitcase per trip)
😀 Professional, bilingual guides there to help with anything you might need
🎟️ Admission to all scheduled activities
📗 Customized Trip Guidebook and Pre-Trip Orientation Materials, mailed to you before the trip so you can prepare for the journey before leaving home!
🍫 Nightly turndown service with local sweets
❤️ Complimentary concierge service: we can help plan extra stops, pre-and-post-trip extensions, and more.
🗾 Much, much more!
NOT INCLUDED:
❌ Flights to Japan from your home country
❌ Travel insurance
❌ Meals not listed above
NOTES:
ADVANCE DEPOSIT: The trip does not have a final price yet. Final price to be announced later; anyone who signs up early gets a $50 discount and may get a fee-free refund of the deposit if they do not approve of the final price when it is announced.
EDUCATOR DISCOUNT: Teachers and education professionals will receive an additional $300 off their final payment.
SMALL GROUP GUARANTEED: Participation is capped at 10 people.
HEAT STROKE: This trip travels at a time when there is an elevated risk for heat stroke.
*All initial payments are a $300 deposit. The balance for the trip is due at the deadline for the trip.
**If a guest decides to go long distances on rail during free times, extra charges may apply.