Taking advantage of Japan’s extensive rail network, this Japan vacation is also one of our bestsellers, allowing you to visit all the key sites between Hiroshima and Tokyo whilst staying overnight in ryokan inns and locally run hotels.
OsakaKyotoNaraZen gardensHiroshimaMiyajima IslandPeace Memorial ParkTakayamaHida MountainsMiyagawa RiverMatsumotoTsumagoSnow Monkey ParkHakoneTokyoTsukiji Market
From bullet trains to bubbling hot springs, we show you why Japan is such an interesting and unique country to visit.
Vacation information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and help with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, traveling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on vacation.
Reviews
7 Reviews of Japan vacation, ancient and modern
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Reviewed on 03 May 2023 by Chandra Kant Sharma
A good break as well as an appreciation of what Japan has to offer.Read full review
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2023 by Maura Giedre Vebeliunas
I enjoyed everything - lots of walking, shrines, temples, history, culture, and also the day-to-day things like learning about the different regions of Japan and how to enjoy the onsen… I would very happily do it again!Read full review
Reviewed on 24 Oct 2023 by Danielle Ceulemans
Great tour of the most interesting places to visit. Too expensive for what was offered. Meals not included. Lots of "free time" so more visits not included. Read full review
Reviewed on 10 Apr 2019 by Wendy Kreppel
From the cherry blossoms in Tokyo to the the snow monkeys in the snow to the wonderful gardens and temples of Kyoto - it was all so interesting and variedRead full review
Reviewed on 02 Dec 2019 by Henrietta Curzon
The most memorable part of the vacation was the day trip to Arashiyama, in Kyoto suburbs. Lovely combo of temples, gardens and shopping.Read full review
Reviewed on 27 Oct 2017 by Rosie Morgan
Fabulous people - so welcoming and polite. Loved the Onsens - open air thermal baths where you bathe naked!Read full review
Reviewed on 30 Nov 2017 by Allan Wild
Difficult to pick one experience above all others but probably the visit to the Snow Monkeys was the most enjoyable.Read full review
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Accommodation & Meals: On this trip we spend some nights in comfortable hotels and others in traditional style ‘ryokans’ (local inns). These are usually family run and locally staffed, which means we are benefiting the smaller businesses instead of some of the huge, multi-national hotels you can find in Japan. Many also have environmental policies like optional sheet and towel washing in order to save water and energy. Locally sourced ingredients will be used where meals are provided; where not provided clients will be eating at local shops and restaurants under the guidance of their tour leader. There are some incredible eating opportunities like the Miyagawa River morning market. This is a great chance for cultural exchange as you will become acquainted with some really unusual agricultural produce.
UK Office: It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
People
Local Craft & Culture: Having a largely cultural focus, this tour has many opportunities to learn about the crafts of Japan. Visiting Tsumago post town in Nagano and Hida Folk Museum in Takayama may benefit the locals as well as the preservation of their cultural assets because the group have chance to buy products made in the areas as well as learning about traditional methods and structures of production. There is also a small museum in Nagano devoted to Japan’s best known artist, Hokusai Katsushika. Hokusai is famous for his risqué cartoons and traditional woodblock pictures of Mt. Fuji and you will find these reproduced on souvenirs all over the area.
A Fair Deal: We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise on the wildlife, environment and culture that they are paid and treated fairly. The leaders will give a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit.
Group Size: This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
