Japan Tours from Montreal

Japan tours from Montreal have been made easier with Air Canada’s introduction of direct flight between Montreal and Tokyo.

The outbound flight AC6 departs from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) daily at 12:55, arriving at Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) at 15:25 local time the next day. The non-stop flight using Boeing 777 takes 13 hours 30 minutes.

The return flight, AC6, using the same aircraft, is one hour shorter (12 hours 25 minutes). It takes off from Tokyo Narita International Airport at 17:35, arriving in YUL at 15:00 the same day. 

So far, Air Canada is the only airline providing non-stop flights between Quebec and Japan. Guests from Quebec booked on our Japan tours are welcome to take advantage our special business class and premium economy offers on Air Canada. Such air deals are available exclusively to customers booked on our Japan tours.

If you are looking for high-quality, fully guided Japan tours from Montreal, you can’t go wrong by choosing Laurus Travel. We are a Canadian tour company specializing in premium small-group travel to Asia with a focus on Japan, China, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Our expert-designed tours of Japan feature outstanding guides, small group size, fine dining, and premium accommodations. Immersive activities include sushi making lesson and a night with a maiko (geisha in training). 

Among the Japan tours we currently offer, the 14-day Best of Japan has been extremely popular.

Japan Tours from Montreal – Recommended Itinerary

Best of Japan (14 days)

Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Tokyo

With a focus on history and culture, this premium small-group Japan tour showcases the best of the Land of the Rising Sun. From the present capital of Tokyo to the former imperial seat of Kyoto, Japan’s illustrious blend of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art modernity is on full display.

Important Features

• Small group size – average 16, maximum 20
• Experienced professional guides
• Premium hotel accommodations
• Quality Japanese & Western cuisines
• Sushi making lesson
• Kaiseki dinner with geisha dancer (maiko) performance
• Sukiyaki or BBB dinner featuring premium Japanese beef
• No shopping stops

Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner

Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo!

Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed up-to-date information on how to get to the hotel will be provided in the final update two weeks before departure. Private transfer can be arranged on request.

Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L)
Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.

Our full-day sightseeing begins at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. The palace is closed to tourists but a stroll across the plaza accompanied by commentaries on the imperial family and the city of Tokyo gets the tour off to a good start.

We then proceed to Senso-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.

After lunch, we drive through the ritzy Ginza shopping district on the way to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife.

We end the day with a visit to the observation deck atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor could see the peak of Mount Fuji about 84 km to the west. The building complex completed in 1990 at a cost of US$1 billion consists of three main structures each taking up a city block. The architect of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is Kenzo Tange (1913 – 2005), who in 1987 became the first Japanese to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture.

Day 4/Thu: Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo (B/L)
We depart at 7:30 AM for a full-day excursion to Mt Fuji and Hakone.

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain (3,776 metres) in Japan, is a two-hour drive from Tokyo. We stop by the Fujisan World Heritage Center to view the summit and learn about the history, formation and ecology of Mt. Fuji through exhibits and a short film. However, it is purely a matter of luck whether the summit is visible as Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds. Our schedule does not include hiking the mountain – the trails are open between July and early September and it would take the average person at least six hours to hike to the summit even if one starts from the highest station at 2,305 metres above sea level.

We then proceed to Lake Ashi in Hakone for a short cruise across the lake. This is followed by a 10-minute cable car ride that transports us to the station overlooking the sulphur-spewing Owakudani Geothermal Valley. On a clear day, the cable car ride provides stunning views of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding mountain slopes.

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Japan Tours from Montreal – Q&A

Do I need a visa to visit Japan?
Canadian passport holders do not need visa to enter Japan as long as the stay is within 90 days.

Can Laurus Travel book my airfare?
Absolutely! We are particularly proud of our expertise in tracking down the best business class and premium economy deals.

Should I get Japanese yen before arrival in Japan
Your Canadian bank is among the worst places for currency exchange. Independent dealers can easily beat your bank, but you must shop around and avoid currency dealers catering to tourists. In our opinion, it is better to wait until after arrival in Japan to obtain yen, which can be easily done through local ATMs using your debit card issued in Canada. You’ll receive more advice on this once you sign up with us.

Can I use credit cards in Japan?
Today, credit cards are widely accepted across Japan including at small restaurants and convenience stores. However, you do need to have some Japanese cash handy for taxis and meals at some small family-operated restaurants.

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