Daigo-ji Kyoto
Tanuki figures Kyoto
Bullet train Tokyo
Japan Small Group Tours | 2026/2027
Contents
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info-us@insidejapantours.com | 720 973 8271
About InsideJapan
4-11
Why Japan?
12-13
When to travel
14-17
Where to travel
18-21
Tour styles
22-25
Japan Small Group Tours
26-51
FAQs
52-53
Beyond Japan
54
Discover South Korea
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www.insidejapantours.com
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● ABOUT US
WHY BOOK WITH US ●
About InsideJapan Our Small Group Tours combine unbeatable cultural insight with the ease of having everything handled for you. With expert Insider guides, carefully crafted routes and a maximum group size of 16, we travel the local way – riding trains, eating in neighborhood restaurants, and experiencing Japan as it really is.
“ I’ve never been a huge fan of organized tours with twenty plus people following a flag around. The InsideJapan guides, however, were just fantastic. It felt more like catching up with a ‘friend of a friend’ in another country rather than a guide...”
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Our customer guarantee
People genuinely love our tours
We guarantee that you’ll have our support every step of the way: in planning and preparation, and while you’re traveling – including on the ground, 24/7, if something unexpected happens or you want to make a change. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a lost phone or a last-minute restaurant booking, we never pass the buck or dodge responsibility. We’ll be there to help, and we’ll make it right.
Booking a trip to Japan is a big decision. We have some of the best feedback in the business with a 4.8 Trustpilot score and 97% of customers giving us a positive rating. Looking for reassurance? You can read and search through all our feedback – the good and the not so good – on our website
We are the “Japan people”
We’re on the ground and in the know
InsideJapan: the original (and the best!) Japanspecialist with over 25 years of making Japan travel dreams a reality. Our founders Alastair and Simon spent three years living in Japan and loved it so much they started a company to share those experiences with as many people as possible. From sumo to sushi, Mt Fuji to manga, hot spring baths to ten-pin bowling (yep, that’s big in Japan), geisha to gardens. Today we a have a global team of proper Japan geeks and we’re proud of it.
If you want to really know a place, you have to be there. Not once in a while. All the time. With a team of 80 (and growing) out in Japan, we’ve got it covered. Every day we’re seeking out new places, meeting with suppliers old and new, building relationships, checking out hotels, training new guides. Many of our Customer Experience team are right there, on the ground in our Nagoya office. Our travel consultants have all lived in Japan. That’s why you can trust that when you book with InsideJapan, you’ll get an experience of Japan you’ll absolutely love.
Where it all began for InsideJapan Tours: September 2000. Simon and I had spent three years teaching English to Japanese school kids in Toyota City (home of the motor corporation). Our time in Japan was at an end. A new life back in the UK awaited. But not before one epic overland adventure. Hong Kong’s new territories, Shanghai’s street-side community kitchens, six days on the iconic Trans-Siberian Express, a back-packer tour in Russia. It was during that trip that the dream for InsideJapan Tours was born. Nine months later I was standing at Narita Airport waiting for the first ever InsideJapan customer to arrive. Over the winter months we had created three group tours that we felt would showcase the Japan we had loved so much. The food, hot springs, mountains, trains, convenience stores, karaoke, baseball, sumo, music, castles, temples, art, history, and most of all, the people – all those things that make Japan such an inspirational and fun place to visit. We built a website, took out six small press ads and thus the journey began. Today we may have more customers, more tour routes, and a whole team of incredible tour leaders, but our ethos remains the same: take people on cultural adventures that truly get beneath the surface of Japan, working with people who both love and understand the country, in a way that is great for customers, great for suppliers, and great for the communities we visit. And of course, that’s still a huge amount of fun! Join us on any of our tours, and we know you’ll have a true trip of a lifetime.
Check our reviews
Not sure which tour is right? We’ll help Choosing between our tours is one of the better problems to have. And it’s one we can help you solve. Our travel consultants have lived in Japan, traveled through it extensively, and know our Small Group Tours inside out. So, if you’re not sure what fits your budget, interests, pace or travel style, they’ll be honest, ask the right questions, and help you pick the right one for you. Contact us
Trudy & Gordon
Simon King
Albury, Australia
Founder & COO
info-us@insidejapantours.com | 720 973 8271
Why book with us?
Alastair Donnelly Founder & CEO
All trips booked with InsideJapan Tours are fully financially protected by ABTOT.
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A slice of every day life between the big sights Of course, we include the places most people come to Japan to see: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakone among them. But our tours also spend time beyond the usual Japan route. Toyama, Joge, Abashiri. Places that may not appear on a first-time Japan itinerary, but often end up being the bits people talk about most when they get home. We also think carefully about how we visit the betterknown places. In Kyoto, for example, we avoid the busiest spots and times wherever we can. We want you to see Japan as it is lived, not just as it appears in the tourist edit. That thinking runs through every tour, from the temples we visit and districts we stay in, to the walking routes we take through towns.
You’ll love our Small Group Tours because... Small is a big deal in Japan Our Small Group Tours have 14 people or fewer, apart from All-in Japan and Must-see Japan (where 16 is the max). That matters in Japan. Restaurants are small. Ryokan often have limited rooms. Back streets are, well, actually quite narrow. A smaller group can go where big coach groups can’t (plus, the bathroom breaks don’t take half an hour). It also changes the feel of the trip. You get to know the people you’re traveling with. There are shared jokes, travel stories, group WhatsApps and, quite often, friendships that last well beyond the flight home.
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One size doesn’t fit all, and neither do our tours.
Stay a bit longer, see a whole lot more Are you that person who at the end of a tour is just not ready to go home yet? Then don’t! Whether you want a few extra nights in Tokyo or a two-week Self-Guided Adventure through rural Japan, we can make it happen. Just tell us what you’re looking for or ask us for some ideas. Or perhaps you would like to discover more of Asia. A week in Taiwan? Time relaxing on Thailand’s beaches or exploring Cambodia’s ancient temples? Or even a group tour adventure in South Korea. Our sister brand InsideAsia can offer you these and much more besides. Visit InsideAsia
Your Insider is on hand 24/7 Our Insiders don’t clock off at 5pm. They’re available to make your trip the best it can be from the moment the tour begins to the very end. They will help arrange a restaurant for a free evening, take you to less crowded parts of each city, and even help you plan a day if you want to head off and do your own thing. They speak Japanese and English, and handle all logistics so you can focus on the best part of your trip: enjoying Japan. And they’ll point out things to you that you’d probably never notice if you were traveling independently, a sign, a casual joke from a shopkeeper, a seasonal tradition, things only a local could know.
We have 12 Small Group Tours to choose from, stretching to suit every budget and interest out there. Some focus on 4 and 5* accommodation, exclusive experiences and standout meals. Others keep things simpler, so you can spend more of your budget on seeing and doing as much as possible.
More flexible than you might think
And whether it’s your first time in Japan or your fifth, there will be somewhere new to go, something different to try, and a side of the country you wouldn’t have found on the standard route.
Your Insider will talk through the options, help you choose what suits you, and even sort train tickets if you decide to head from Kyoto to Nara for the day. You get the structure and reassurance of a group tour, with enough space to make parts of the trip your own.
A Small Group Tour doesn’t mean every minute is spoken for.
Our Insiders love a side mission A good trip is about more than following the itinerary. Tell your Insider you’re looking for a specific anime cuddly toy for your granddaughter, and they’ll do their best to track it down. Mention a niche interest and, where possible, they’ll help you build it into the trip.
“ I had a guy on my Hidden Japan tour that was big into bonsai. I arranged that he skipped the day on Naoshima, and got him on a train and into a bonsai nursery a few miles away. He picked out his favorites to ship home, and then came back to join the rest of the group for dinner.” Richard Insider
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● IMPACT & SUSTAINABILIT Y
A vacation with positive impact is a better vacation Our giving back commitment A vacation can make a huge difference to family life. But for some, time away together is simply out of reach. That’s why we give back a percentage of our profits to charity partners who help families in difficult circumstances enjoy a break from home. When you book with InsideJapan, your trip helps make that possible
We believe in making every trip the very best it can be. We sweat the small stuff – every detail triple checked and every hotel, guide and experience carefully selected to be just right. That focus on doing things properly leads us to make different choices. Working with small-scale, local suppliers often means warmer welcomes, more care and a genuine pride in delivering a great experience – something you feel straight away as a traveler. It’s also why our Small Group Tours spend time in lesser-known destinations, away from the busiest tourist trails. Experiences like joining the local kendo club for a lesson in Japanese fencing in the tiny town of Joge on our Hidden Japan tour, or pounding mochi rice cakes with the local women’s association in Izunuma town on A Northern Soul, give more opportunities to meet people, get a proper sense of cultural exchange and feel part of the places you’re visiting. All while helping to support local livelihoods and contributing to the communities you meet. But it’s not just the rural areas where we can travel more thoughtfully. Cities such as Kyoto have made headlines in recent years due to overtourism and crowding concerns at the most popular spots. It’s led to a strain on the local infrastructure and disrupts everyday life for locals. So, we approach things differently here. With over 1,600 temples in Kyoto, we use our local knowledge to select lesser visited (but no less impressive!) spots that avoid the crowds, and time our visits to the more famous sights to avoid peak hours. We leave breathing space for travel that gets beneath the surface – calmer journeys, deeper connections, and experiences that stay with you long after you return home. We believe in travel done right – for you and the places you visit.
Find out more
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● HOW IT WORKS
How it works Thousands of trips, 25 years and a lot of small improvements along the way. Our Small Group Tours have been shaped by real traveler feedback, real experience on the ground and our (fairly) obsessive belief that good trips can always be made better. It’s one reason 98% of our customers rate their experience as excellent or good (and we’re working on that 2%).
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Touch down in Japan
A pre-arranged airport transfer will take you to your accommodation. No working out taxis, trains or apps. If you’ve added one or two pre-tour nights (we recommend this), you’ll have time to settle in and start finding your feet. And you won’t be alone. Our city Destination Guides will give you a few ideas for where to begin. You’ll meet your Insider and travel companions at the hotel on your first tour evening. After a short welcome briefing, let the good times roll!
Already found the perfect tour? You can book your place and pay your deposit directly on our website. Once you’ve booked, one of our travel consultants will get in touch to confirm the details and answer any questions. Book your place
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But if you need a little guidance getting started...
Even we struggle to pick our favorites. Our travel consultants have all lived and traveled extensively in Japan, so they’ll play matchmaker, and line you up with the right tour for you. Just tell us your budget, interests and how active you want to be. Give us a call or fill in our website enquiry form to start the conversation.
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The build up begins
Once your place is booked, your travel consultant will be there to answer any questions before you go. Around three weeks before departure, check your post, your Info-Pack will arrive. This has the practical details you’ll need before the trip (so we recommend reading this one!), including airport transfer information, hotel details, and where and when to meet your Insider and fellow travelers.
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Welcome home When you’re back, we’ll get in touch to hear how it all went (we can’t resist a good travel story). We want to know what worked, what surprised you, what you ate, who you met and what you can’t stop telling your friends about. We’re always looking for ways to improve our tours, so we love to hear your feedback.
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● WHY JAPAN?
Daisho-in Miyajima
Why Japan? Just what is it about Japan? Equal parts beguiling and bewildering, Japan’s ancient traditions meet the rush of globalisation head-on to create a country like nowhere else on earth. Spend a little time in Japan and you’ll soon start thinking: “why don’t we do things this way at home?”. The trains run on time, there’s barely a scrap of litter to be seen, and simple activities such as bathing and drinking tea have been elevated to high culture. Tradition is always revered, from the spiritual and meditative beauty of Japanese gardens to the countless festivals that continue to play out just as they have for centuries. And the people are unfailingly polite – even in Tokyo’s rush hour. Then there’s the food! Kaiseki dining at traditional ryokan inns, so carefully presented you almost feel guilty poking your chopsticks in. Almost. There are deepfried kushikatsu skewers dipped in Japan’s answer to Worcestershire sauce, and ramen in pork broth, slurped at a yatai cart in Fukuoka. Hida beef in Takayama is just as delicious as its Kobe cousin, and some of the best crab in the world comes from coastal Toyama.
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The range of geography to be found here is truly staggering. Comprising some 6,800 islands, Japan stretches over 3,000 km (1,900 miles) from the quasiSiberian snowscapes of Hokkaido to the subtropical beaches and mangrove forests of Okinawa. Of this, over 70% of the terrain is mountainous and contains one tenth of the world’s active volcanoes. In a land of such diversity and volatility, it is perhaps unsurprising that the Japanese have an extraordinary sense of the power of nature and the fleeting impermanence of things. Consequently, even the smallest details are cherished – whether in the balance of an ikebana flower arrangement, the rhythmic beat of a taiko drum, or the beautiful irregularities found in handcrafted pottery. What’s more, the Japanese themselves are some of the most charming, gracious, hospitable hosts you’ll ever meet, and we can’t wait to introduce you to them. So go on, take a group tour with us to Japan. The only danger is that it’s sure to draw you back time and time again.
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Tsurui Hokkaido
When to travel
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● JAPAN | WHEN TO TRAVEL
Spring Spring in Japan is famous for cherry blossom – which begin to unfold from March. Warmer weather begins in April, and Japan loves to celebrate the arrival of spring. Flower viewing parties and hanami picnics take place across the country, and Kyoto’s spring geisha dances are performed daily. By May, the weather is generally settled and sunny, with warm temperatures and gardens full of late-spring flowers, including azaleas. Early May includes a chain of national vacations in Japan called Golden Week. As it’s a busy period for domestic travel, we don’t run group tours during this time. Outside of this celebratory period, spring is a strong season to travel if you want mild weather, a succession of seasonal flowers in bloom and the energy of Japan coming out of winter.
Our seasonal tour pick:
Majestic Japan
Summer
Best time to visit See all departure dates:
Tour departure dates
Summer begins in June, when the rainy season brings more wet days than any other month (but that doesn’t mean it rains every day!). It is, however, a quieter time to travel, and hydrangeas are in full bloom towards the end of the month. By late July, the rainy season comes to an end in most regions and Japan moves into proper summer: hot, humid and lively, with outdoor dining and rooftop beer gardens in the cities. August is festival season at full volume, with neighborhood matsuri festivals, traditional dances and evening fireworks across the country.
Our seasonal tour pick:
Autumn
Winter Winter is a great time to visit Japan. December brings bright, sunny days and fewer crowds, making it a good time for sightseeing and Christmas illuminations. January is the coldest month of the year, with heavy snow in the north and lighter dustings through the middle of the country, but it is also Tokyo’s sunniest month and one of the best times for views of Mount Fuji. February remains cold and dry, with winter festivals, dancing red-crowned cranes in eastern Hokkaido and the earliest plum blossoms beginning to appear in places like Tokyo and Kyoto.
“ Travel away from the bigger cities and get out into nature in Hokkaido. Wildlife, hot springs, and the chance to go off the beaten path in a snowy wonderland. This tour a must for winter in Japan.”
Fergal Our seasonal tour pick:
Must-see Japan
Winter Highlights
Insider
In September, humidity drops and temperatures become more comfortable for sightseeing and time spent outdoors. Traveling before the peak autumn leaf season can also mean fewer crowds, although occasional typhoons may bring rain. October is cooler and drier, with early autumn color possible in some colder regions. By November, typhoon season has ended and autumn has properly arrived, bringing crisp, dry air and fiery foliage in gardens, temples and parks. Viewing spots in the main tourist hubs can get busy but your Insider will always be ready with tips on seeing the lesser visited sites.
Our seasonal tour pick:
A Northern Soul
“ Get right to the heart of Japan at a relaxed and luxurious pace. Meet a maiko, join sword makers and kimono artists in their workshops, walk through world-class art in Hakone, dine on kaiseki dinners after soaking in the secluded hot springs of Kinosaki Onsen…all while surrounded by the delicate bloom of Japan’s cherry blossoms.”
Chuck Insider
“ The sound of cicadas. Loud, bright dance festivals. Truly lush, verdant green forests, parks and plains. For me, Must-see Japan is the best way to experience summer, visiting some of Japan’s most famous spots but treading off the beaten path as well.”
Patrick Insider
“ A Northern Soul is the perfect tour for autumn. Not only do we visit Nikko, one of the top three autumn foliage spots in Japan, but we also go to the Deep North, following in the footsteps of haiku poet Matsuo Basho and covering centuries of history.”
Michael Insider
Unsure when the best time for you is? Please give us a call and one of our travel consultants will be happy to advise.
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Itsukushima Shrine Hiroshima
Where to travel
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● JAPAN | WHERE TO TRAVEL
Some of our Small Group Tour favorites
Key locations in Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima... The names you’ve heard are famous for a reason. And justifiably so – we love them, too! You’ll find all of those and more on our group tour itineraries. But there’s also a plethora of lesser-known destinations that we’d love to introduce you to.
SAPPORO
Takamatsu Visit on:
A small city on the coast of Shikoku – the smallest of Japan’s four main islands – Takamatsu is home to Ritsurin-koen, one of the finest landscape strolling gardens in Japan (and there’s barely ever anyone there!). On our Hidden Japan trip we also use the city as the base for a day trip by ferry to Naoshima, a tiny island on the Seto Inland Sea that’s gained international fame as an ‘art island’ – quirky museums, contemporary art installations and the famous yellow pumpkin sitting on a pier are all part of the fun. And back in Takamatsu, feast on thick udon noodles, a specialty of the region.
Japan is huge, with landscapes, climates and ways of life that shift dramatically from one region to the next. The soaring Japan Alps feel a world away from the flat, densely populated shores of the eastern seaboard, where around 80% of Japan’s 126 million people live. Head south to Kyushu and you’ll find volcanic, almost moon-like landscapes; go north to Hokkaido and it’s lush hills, open pastures and big skies. Even the temperatures swing wildly. Hokkaido in winter is a snow covered wonderland with drift ice landing off shore in February. Further south in Kyushu, summer brings subtropical weather (and cold beer!)
KESENNUMA
Every region has its own character, and your Insider guide will help bring it to life through its landscapes, food and everyday atmosphere.
Nagasaki Visit on:
MATSUMOTO
KINOSAKI ONSEN
TOKYO OSAKA
HIROSHIMA
KYOTO TAKAMATSU
NAGASAKI
HAKONE
LUXURY JAPAN
Built into the hillsides surrounding a natural harbor, Nagasaki has long been one of Japan’s gateways to the outside world. Merchants, missionaries and traders from Europe, China and beyond have left their mark, creating a city with a distinct character. On our Luxury Japan tour, you’ll explore the former Dutch Trading post, wander the meandering paths of Glover Garden, and visit the tea fields in nearby Higashi-Sonogi. A visit to the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum also provides important insight into one of the most significant chapters in the city’s modern history.
Sapporo Visit on:
WINTER HIG HLIG HTS
For just one week each winter, Sapporo becomes home to ones of Japan’s most extraordinary festivals. Dozens of large-scale snow sculptures and hundreds of smaller ice sculptures take over the city drawing visitors from near and far. Our Winter Highlights tour is carefully timed to coincide with this extravaganza, giving you the chance to experience the dazzling illuminated displays, festive atmosphere, and a steaming bowl of miso ramen to warm up after!
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Kinosaki Onsen Visit on:
KANAZAWA
HIDDEN JAPAN
MAJESTIC JAPAN
A picture-perfect hot-spring town sitting between mountains and the Sea of Japan coast. Willow trees line the canal that runs through the beautifully preserved townscape, where visitors and locals mingle as they stroll the streets in yukata robes and wooden geta sandals, clip-clopping between the town’s seven bathhouses. On our Majestic Japan trip you’ll stay at one of the town’s upscale ryokan inns, feast on kaiseki banquet-style cuisine and take a day trip to the Kyotango Peninsula where swordsmiths, craftspeople and coastal landscapes offer a glimpse of rural Japan.
Kesennuma Visit on:
NORTHERN SOUL
The 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown ‘triple disaster’ which devastated the Tohoku region hit the fishing port city of Kesennuma especially hard. But today’s city tells a story not only of loss, but of recovery, creativity and renewal. On our A Northern Soul tour you’ll learn about the events of 2011 and meet the community helping to shape Kesennuma’s future, where entrepreneurs and young people from across Japan have been drawn by the chance to build something new. You’ll visit the fish market, tour a local sake brewery and explore nearby Izunama for a cooking class with the local women’s association.
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Local festival Takayama
Tour styles Our Small Group Tours come in four distinct styles, from flexible, budget-conscious adventures to higher-comfort journeys with more inclusions. Whichever style you choose, you’ll travel on a thoughtfully designed itinerary that gets you beneath the surface of Japan, with a small group and a fulltime tour leader. It’s our carefully constructed framework for Small Group Tours that win awards – and we’ve been using this formula for over 25 years.
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● JAPAN | TOUR STYLES
Tour styles ESSENTIAL
Our Essential tours cover the basics with fewer inclusions and plenty of opportunity to explore independently. Comfortable, 3-star accommodation, breakfast every day, a couple of lunches or dinners thrown in, and guidance from your Insider throughout.
ALL-INCLUSIVE
SOLO TRAVELERS
There’s no single supplement to pay, and your own single room is available for no extra charge at Western-style hotels. However, you’ll need to share with a member of the same sex in the Japanesestyle inns (1-3 nights, itinerary dependent).
Low on cost, flexible, and plenty of bang for your buck
CLASSIC
BATHROOMS
En suite rooms in Western-style hotels, shared bathroom facilities in some Japanese-style inns.
Stay in carefully chosen, upper 3-star accommodation, with larger rooms. This style has the widest range of our Small Group Tours to choose from, with seasonal itineraries, region-specific routes, and more included experiences along the way. The choice is yours.
SOLO TRAVELERS
You’ll have your own room every night of the tour, through payment of a mandatory supplement.
Sit back and relax: we’ve got everything sorted
SUPERIOR
SOLO TRAVELERS
You’ll have your own room every night of the tour, through payment of a mandatory supplement.
A step up in comfort with more local guides and added extras
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BATHROOMS
En suite rooms in all locations.
Superior tours offer our most elevated travel experience. High-quality 4-star and 5-star accommodation with cultural experiences that are near impossible to book for yourself. Expect a little more luxury and a touch more exclusivity while still embracing the camaraderie, fun and expertise that define our Small Group Tours. SOLO TRAVELERS
You’ll have your own room every night of the tour, through payment of a mandatory supplement.
BATHROOMS
En suite rooms in all locations, except for one night with shared bathing facilities at a small-scale rural accommodation on Hidden Japan and Winter Highlights.
A relaxed a way to explore Japan, with fewer decisions and no surprises along the way (apart from the good ones, like stopping in at your tour leader’s favorite izakaya bar). Stay in 4-star accommodation with all meals, entrance fees, luggage forwarding, transport and cultural experiences thrown in. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Our highest level of comfort with exclusive experiences
BATHROOMS
En suite rooms in all locations.
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
Japan itineraries SMALL GROUP TOURS Essential grade tours Japan Unmasked
28-29
Must-see Japan
30-31
Classic grade tours Hidden Japan
32-33
Spring Elegance
34-35
Classic Japan
36-37
Summer Elegance
38-39
Winter Highlights
40-41
A Northern Soul
42-43
Autumn Elegance
44-45
All-inclusive grade tours All-in Japan
46-47
Superior grade tours
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Majestic Japan
48-49
Luxury Japan
50-51
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
ESSENTIAL
Japan Unmasked is designed to show Japan in all its variety: big cities, countryside, modern culture and long-held traditions. It’s packed with experiences that work brilliantly as a group, but there’s plenty of time to break off and do your own thing too.
Japan Unmasked 13 nights / 14 days
You’ll visit the big cities you’d expect at the core of any first-time itinerary, but also the lesser-known spots, like the canal lined merchant town of Kurashiki, and Nagano, at the foot of the Japan Alps. Japan’s culture is inseparable from its history – and on this tour, you’ll learn why. Your Insider guide will show you around the 16th century “Black Crow” samurai castle in Matsumoto. In Kyoto you’ll and explore the backstreets of Gion, the geisha district, with a guide who’ll point out the tiniest details that you’d otherwise miss.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Japan Unmasked is a fast-paced journey through Japan’s most famous destinations, with some lesser-known surprises along the way. An ideal introduction to Japan for solo travelers, couples, friends and families.
You’ll visit Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, one of Japan’s top three landscape gardens, and in Kurashiki, you’ll cycle between rice fields, with a welcome breeze if you’re traveling in the warmer months.
Price from
$4,753 pp
See tour dates & prices
This is a swift moving tour, packing in as much as possible without feeling rushed. You’ll stay in Nagano, Matsumoto, Kanazawa and Kurashiki for just one night each. You’ll speed across the country on the famous Shinkansen bullet train from capital Tokyo to Nagano, all with the help of your Insider guide to navigate tickets and platforms.
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–2
Tokyo DAY 3
Nagano
Most groups stay in a traditional family-run inn (ryokan). With beautifully prepared kaiseki meals and a warm welcome, it’s almost like joining a family home for a couple of nights. You’ll also sleep at one of Japan’s most important Buddhist sites in Nagano. Here, you can join the hypnotic morning service at Zenko-ji Temple – an experience that would be tricky to arrange for yourself.
DAY 4
Matsumoto DAY 5–6
Takayama DAY 7
Kanazawa DAY 8–9
Kyoto
KANAZAWA TAKAYAMA
DAY 10–11
MATSUMOTO
Hiroshima
KYOTO
HIROSHIMA DAY 12
Kurashiki DAY 13–14
Tokyo 28
NAGANO
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TOKYO
And there’s an added bonus on this tour: no single supplement, great for solo travelers.
KURASHIKI Book your place
Highlights Explore the old canal district of Kurashiki Stay in overnight Buddhist temple lodgings in Nagano Ride the famous Shinkansen bullet train Explore the traditional craft town of Takayama in the Japan Alps
What’s included? Three-star accommodation En suite rooms in Western-style hotels, shared bathroom facilities in Japanese-style inns Shared shuttle bus transfer from airport to hotel on arrival and airport limousine bus transfer on departure Breakfast every day plus two evening meals Entrance to Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano and Obuse Hokusai Museum Geisha district walking tour (Gion) Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Takayama and from Hiroshima to Tokyo
Insider tip: “It’s the perfect ‘starter course’ trip. Those famous places as well as ‘pinch-yourself’ moments in places most tourists never find. One day you’re navigating the people packed crossing in Shibuya, the next you’re cycling through quiet rice fields in Kurashiki.” Chuck Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
ESSENTIAL
Must-see Japan is our highlights tour for travelers who want the big-ticket Japan experience without every minute of the day scheduled. The route links Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.
Must-see Japan 10 nights / 11 days
This is our cheapest tour, and a great way to see the country without cutting out the parts that really matter. You’ll still have your Insider with you throughout, stay in well-located hotels, and get a proper sense of Japan rather than a watereddown version of it. Hot springs and Mount Fuji views in Hakone. Temple hopping and a walk through the geisha district with your Insider in Kyoto. The swords and battles of the samurai era at Osaka Castle, and the poignant, more recent history at Hiroshima. Then there’s the food. Hiroshima and Osaka fight for first place with their okonomiyaki pancake recipes (try both and pick your favorite style) and you’ll bike your way through Tsuruhashi, Osaka’s Korea Town, for Korean-inspired snacks.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Five of Japan’s must-see destinations over 10 nights. This is a tour for anyone who is short on time but wants to see and experience as much of Japan as possible – with flexibility and plenty of bang for your buck, too.
This tour spends more time in Tokyo than any of our other Small Group Tours. Your Insider will show you some of the headline areas, but also steer you towards smaller neighborhoods that visitors often miss. On a day trip to Kamakura, you’ll see the giant Buddha and take a walk through the nearby cedar forests, if you fancy some greenery.
Price from
$4,466pp
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–3
Tokyo
We’ve kept the inclusions fairly light on this tour, so you’ll have lots of opportunities to branch out on your own.
DAY 4
Hakone
Must-see Japan works for solo travelers, couples and groups of friends, but it’s also a strong choice for families, with activities that suit younger travelers too – cycling in Osaka, the Hakone ropeway and pirate ship, karaoke, trains, snacks and plenty of built-in variety. Solo travelers won’t pay a single supplement.
DAY 5–6
Kyoto DAY 7
Hiroshima DAY 8
Osaka DAY 9–11
Tokyo
Book your place KYOTO
TOKYO HAKONE
HIROSHIMA
OSAKA
Highlights See Mt. Fuji from a cable car See both sides of Tokyo – the old and the new Hike to the Daibutsu ‘Great Buddha’ in Kamakura Take an evening walking tour of Kyoto’s Gion geisha district with a local expert
What’s included? Three-star accommodation En suite rooms in Western-style hotels, shared bathroom facilities in Japanese-style inns Shared shuttle bus transfer from airport to hotel on arrival and airport limousine bus transfer on departure Breakfast every day plus two evening meals Cable car and boat ride across Lake Ashi Guided bicycle tour in Osaka Visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Park Museum Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Kyoto and Hiroshima to Tokyo
Insider tip: “I love the Daibutsu hiking trail in Kamakura. Pay a visit to the Great Buddha, then take to the trail through peaceful woodland, finding shrines in hidden grottos along the way. If you’re lucky, you may see Mt. Fuji from the top!” David Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
CLASSIC
Hidden Japan 12 nights / 12 days
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
If you’re curious about the quieter, more traditional side of the country – from mountain temples to art islands and ryokan inns – Hidden Japan might just be your perfect tour.
Highlights
You’ll spend most of your time in smaller places, with a couple of bigger-name stops, where your Insider helps you get beneath the surface.
Stay at a temple lodging on Mt Koya
In Kyoto’s Gion district, meet a maiko (apprentice geisha) for tea and games, with your Insider translating. In Hiroshima, visit the Peace Memorial Museum and park, but also get a feel for the high energy of this modern city – it’s a great place to grab a beer and people-watch. Matsuyama is home to one of Japan’s twelve surviving original samurai castles, and yet far less visited than others.
Spend the day on Naoshima art island
Art and theater are highlights throughout. In Tokushima, watch a live performance of Awa Odori, an exuberant festival dance. Later, catch a bunraku show, Japan’s centuries-old puppet theater. On Naoshima, contemporary art pops up on the shoreline – Yayoi Kusama’s famous pumpkins. There’s a strong spiritual side to this tour, too. On Mount Koya, stay in a temple lodging and start the day with morning prayers. In Kotohira, climb the 785 stone steps to Konpirasan shrine, then soak in an outdoor rotenburo bath back at your ryokanstyle hotel.
Price from
$6,965pp
Hidden Japan is our behind-the-scenes dive into Japan’s quieter rural life, through the lens of history, art, religion and nature.
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
Nature is at its most considered in Takamatsu’s Ritsurin Garden – quieter than its more famous counterparts. Paths curve and bridges zigzag – your guide will explain why nothing here is ever laid out in straight lines.
DAY 1–2
Kyoto DAY 3
Mount Koya DAY 4
Tokushima
The Iya Valley is as remote as we go. Cruise beneath the jagged cliffs of Oboke Gorge and cross a vine bridge (you may spot a monkey or two). You’re in for a warm welcome from the community in Joge. Join a kendo traditional martial arts club and browse family-run antique shops that rarely see tourists.
DAY 5
Takamatsu DAY 6
Takamatsu / Naoshima DAY 7–8
Kotohira / Iya Valley DAY 9
Matsuyama
KYOTO HIROSHIMA
TAKAMATSU
DAY 10–11
Hiroshima
MATSUYAMA KOTOHIRA
MOUNT KOYA TOKUSHIMA
Hidden Japan is all about small communities, big welcomes, and moments you’ll remember long after you leave.
Have afternoon tea with a maiko in Kyoto
Explore Iya Valley’s rugged gorges and rushing rivers
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations (except for Mt. Koya - one night) Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus four lunches and six evening meals Full day private guide in Mt Koya and Naoshima Tickets to Awa Odori Kaikan Museum, Mount Bizan Ropeway, Awa Jurobe Yashiki Puppet Theater and Ritsurin Gardens. Luggage forwarding from Kyoto to Tokushima and from Kotohira to Hiroshima
Insider tip: “Kotohira is a delightfully retro town built around the Konpira-gu shrine. Intrepid pilgrims can climb 1,368 steps to reach the inner shrine at the top.” Carlo
Insider
Book your place
DAY 12
Kyoto 32
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CLASSIC
Spring is when Japan casts off its winter blanket and really lets its hair down. Picnics under blossom-heavy trees, spring festivals kick off, and it’s that first proper feeling of “we’ve made it through winter”. This tour celebrates Japan’s cherry blossom season.
Spring Elegance 13 nights / 14 days
You’ll start and finish in Tokyo, giving you time to get under the skin of the capital as well as enjoy the simple pleasure of being guided through it by your Insider. Between the big cities, this route cuts through the Japan Alps, where days are built around castles, traditional streets, and craft towns. In Matsumoto you’ll visit the “Black Crow” castle, one of Japan’s best-preserved samurai strongholds, then carry on to Takayama, where the pace is slower, and the air feels alpine fresh. Here you’ll explore Hida no Sato, an openair museum of steep thatched farmhouses built to withstand heavy winters. For dinner, we recommend trying Hida beef (just as tasty as its more famous Kobe cousin).
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Spring Elegance takes in Japan’s headline cities and its mountain and hot spring country, at one of the most joyful and naturally beautiful times of year. Price from
$8,190pp
Heading to the Japan Sea coast you’ll hit Kanazawa with its geisha districts, samurai quarter, and Kenrokuen, ranked by Japanese as one of the top three landscape gardens.
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
Kyoto is a well-known cultural centerpiece to any Japan trip, with its temples and UENSCO World Heritage Sites, but we’ve got a true spring-only highlight up our sleeve – tickets to the Miyako Odori, the elegant annual spring geisha dance. On your first day in Kyoto, you’ll meet with a maiko (apprentice geisha), who you can get to know over tea and games, with your Insider on hand to translate.
DAY 1–3
Tokyo DAY 4
Matsumoto DAY 5–6
Takayama DAY 7
Kanazawa DAY 8–10
Kyoto
KANAZAWA TAKAYAMA
DAY 11–12
Hakone DAY 13
Tokyo
MATSUMOTO
KYOTO
TOKYO HAKONE
Finally, you’ll head into Fuji-HakoneIzu National Park for hot springs, lake views and, if you’re lucky, sight of Fuji on a clear day. An onsen soak and a visit to Hakone’s Open-Air Museum round things off before the last night back in Tokyo. This is an active, classic itinerary with good-value mid-range accommodation and a generous mix of included meals. Book your place
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Highlights Sip matcha tea in a Tokyo garden teahouse Taste your way through Osaka’s famous street food See the natural beauty of the Japan Alps Explore the sake breweries and merchant houses of Takayama
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus one lunch and six evening meals Tickets to the Miyako Odori spring geisha dances Entrance to Hida no Sato folk village, Hakone Open-Air Museum and Rikugien Gardens Full day private guide in Kyoto and Takayama, half day in Tokyo Afternoon tea with an apprentice geisha in Kyoto Tokyo foodie tour Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Takayama, from Takayama to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo
Insider tip: “The arrival of cherry blossom is celebrated with hanami parties – people picnicking to mark the end of the work or school year.” Carlo
Insider www.insidejapantours.com
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CLASSIC
Classic Japan combines Japan’s famous cultural highlights with time in Toyama – a little-known city on the Japan Sea coast with a rich merchant and crafting heritage.
Classic Japan 13 nights / 14 days
Hitting the highlights from the start, you’ll stay in Tokyo’s historic downtown, Asakusa. Hop over to Hakone, where you’ll sail across Lake Ashi in a pirate ship before trying eggs boiled in the volcanic hot springs. In Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, you’ll go beyond temple-hopping and have tea with a maiko (apprentice geisha), asking questions translated by your Insider. Classic Japan is one of just a few Small Group Tours that goes to Osaka, where you’ll hop between street food stalls with your Insider, feasting on okonomiyaki pancakes and plenty of ice-cold beer. It’s from here, you take a detour from the main tourist trail.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Heading north to the traditional town of Takayama you’ll get a peek into Japan’s history and crafting heritage, surrounded by 3,000-meter-high mountains.
Soak in a Hakone hot spring. Drink tea with an apprentice geisha. Eat fresh sushi in coastal Toyama. Classic Japan blends the country’s famed “golden route” with a trip through the mountain towns and villages of central Japan. Price from
$6,286pp
The group explores onwards through the Japan Alps to Toyama Prefecture, an under visited and under loved corner of Japan. Making a stop at UNESCO designated Gokayama, you’ll see the traditional thatched roofed homes of rural Japan, before making your own traditional washi paper.
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–2
Tokyo
Based in Toyama City, board a boat to explore coastal Iwase, an old trading town known for its sake breweries, small shops and cafes. This is one of the best places to eat sushi – it’s as fresh as it gets.
DAY 3–4
Hakone DAY 5–6
Osaka
With two nights at every stop, staying in carefully selected 3 and 4* accommodation, you’ll have time to unpack and really soak each place in. At the end of this trip, you may find your idea of what makes Japan “classic” may have completely changed.
DAY 7–8
Kyoto DAY 9–10
Takayama DAY 11–12
Toyama DAY 13
Tokyo
TOYAMA TAKAYAMA KYOTO OSAKA
TOKYO HAKONE
Book your place
Highlights Sip matcha tea in a Tokyo garden teahouse Taste your way through Osaka’s famous street food Explore the thatched roof houses of Gokayama Village See lesser visited temples and shrines in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus some lunches and eight evening meals Entrance to Osaka Castle, Takayama Hida Folk Village and Hakone Open-Air Museum Full day private guide in Kyoto with private bus Audience with an apprentice geisha at a Kyoto teahouse Luggage forwarding Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Takayama and Takayama to Tokyo
Insider tip: “I love this tour, and Osaka is my highlight. It’s a city with a huge heart and an even bigger appetite. By the time we’ve sampled okonomiyaki, takoyaki and kushikatsu skewers, nobody is losing any weight… but we’re leaving happier!” Antonio Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
CLASSIC
Summer Elegance offers a well-paced journey through Japan’s most famous and lesser-known sights – all without the peak season crowds.
Summer Elegance 13 nights / 14 days
With fewer tourists in the off-peak summer season, the big sights are quieter. In cities, locals spill onto rooftops, riversides and parks to eat and drink. Street vendors serve kakigori (shaved ice) in seasonal flavors like salted lychee or watermelon, and chilled zaru-soba noodles are a summer delicacy in Matsumoto. This tour blends highlights from our best-selling Spring and Autumn Elegance itineraries, with more free time to explore in your own way. In Tokyo, visit the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji, then retreat to the peaceful Rikugien Gardens. In Matsumoto, explore the black-walled Black Crow Castle and in Kanazawa, stroll Kenrokuen – one of Japan’s top three gardens. In Kyoto, you’ll have the rare opportunity to meet a maiko (trainee geisha), explore Fushimi Inari’s 10,000 vermilion torii gates at sunrise when the crowds are thinner, or eat lunch at a kawadoko restaurant, suspended over a cool stream.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Hectic and celebratory, yet with pockets of quiet and deep natural beauty, summer is Japan at its most raw, intoxicating and unforgettable – and that’s exactly what this tour captures. Price from
$6,650pp
See tour dates
You’ll experience the more traditional sides of Japan in the alpine town of Takayama. Sip chilled sake before exploring Edo-era merchant streets, lined with wooden-fronted shops. In Hakone, ascend through mountain air by cable car, cross Lake Ashi by pirate ship, and take in the panoramic views of Mount Fuji (on a clear day), with black sesame ice cream in hand.
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–3
Tokyo DAY 4
Matsumoto DAY 5–6
Takayama DAY 7
Kanazawa DAY 8–10
Kyoto
KANAZAWA
TAKAYAMA
DAY 11–12
Hakone DAY 13
Tokyo
MATSUMOTO
KYOTO
HAKONE
TOKYO
Your Insider guide will help tailor your experience. From Tokyo, you may choose to escape the city heat with a day trip to Nikko to see the UNESCO-listed Toshogu Shrine – that much quieter in the summer season. From Kyoto you have the option to head west to Hiroshima for the day (your Insider will be happy to help you buy train tickets), visiting the Peace Memorial Museum and trying the city’s famed okonomiyaki pancakes. Traveling in a small group with an expert Insider, you’ll uncover the country’s landscapes, culture, and seasonal traditions at one of the most vibrant times of year.
Highlights Follow in the footsteps of samurai at Matsumoto – one of Japan’s best-preserved castles Explore traditional thatched farmhouses in the Japan Alps Meet a maiko in the Gion district of Kyoto Visit Kenrokuen Gardens without the crowds
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus one lunch and six evening meals Afternoon tea with an apprentice geisha at a Kyoto teahouse Entrance to Hida no Sato folk village, Kenrokuen Gardens, TeamLab Biovortex and Hakone Open-Air Museum. Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Takayama, from Takayama to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo
Insider tip: “Summer in Japan is hot, so it’s the ideal time to slow everything down. With fewer visitors, many of the big sights feel more relaxed. It’s a lovely time to wander historic towns like Takayama and simply soak up the atmosphere.” Savannah Insider
Book your place
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
CLASSIC
Winter Highlights is a journey through Japan’s wild, northernmost outpost. Timed with the legendary Sapporo Snow Festival and packed with wild bird spotting opportunities, this tour reveals a side of the country many visitors never encounter.
Winter Highlights 14 nights / 15 days
In Tsurui, a bird expert will introduce you to Hokkaido’s avian residents and in Abashiri you’ll take an icebreaker cruise among the creaking floes of the Okhotsk Sea. With a bit of luck on your side, the cruise will bring you within range of Steller’s sea eagles, a fantastic opportunity for keen wildlife photographers. Before returning to the mainland you’ll stop for two nights in Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital and home to the famous snow festival, during which approximately 400 giant snow sculptures occupy the city’s spaces.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Sapporo is famous for beer as well as snow. Take a tour of one of the city’s breweries – we recommend pairing blue beer, made with drift ice, flowers and seaweed, with buttery ramen noodles.
Swap skyscrapers for windswept plains and wild peninsulas on Hokkaido. Winter in Japan is deeply cold – but wrap up warm, and you’ll be rewarded. Price from
$8,386pp
From the wilds of the north, your trip loops back through the center of the country. Kyoto is quieter in February, and you’ll have a rare chance to experience the Golden Pavilion away from the highest volume of visitors – perhaps even under a dusting of snow.
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–2
Tokyo ABASHIRI
DAY 3
LAKE KUSSHARO
Tsurui
SAPPORO TSURUI
DAY 4
Lake Kussharo HAKODATE
DAY 5
Abashiri DAY 6–7
Sapporo DAY 8
Hakodate
DAY 12–13
Kanazawa DAY 14–15
Tokyo 40
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From ice-dancing cranes to blue beer, and snow festivals to snowcovered temples, Winter Highlights is the trip for you if you don’t mind wrapping up warm to discover something extraordinary.
KANAZAWA Book your place
DAY 9–11
Kyoto
Kanazawa, a city famous for its traditional gold-leaf crafts provides an ideal base for a visit to Shirakawago, a remote village famous for its impressive ‘praying-hands’ thatched-roof houses standing proudly in the snow.
KYOTO
TOKYO
Highlights Spot red-crowned cranes with a nature expert See gigantic snow sculptures Take an icebreaker cruise along the coast Meet an apprentice geisha in Kyoto
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations (except at some traditional accommodation) Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus two lunches and seven evening meals Icebreaker cruise on the Okhotsk Sea BBQ dinner at the Asahi Beer Garden in Sapporo Entrance to Hamarikyu Gardens Hands-on washi paper making experience Day excursion to Shirakawago Village Luggage forwarding from Tsurui to Sapporo
Insider tip: “Winter is truly magical. The Sapporo Snow Festival is a highlight, but some of my favorite moments are… quieter. Visiting Hamarikyu Gardens with noone else around is a wonderful experience, and you can find calm in Kyoto that many visitors miss.” Savannah Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
CLASSIC
A Northern Soul 14 nights / 15 days
Highlights
Forget the familiar sights of Kyoto and Osaka – the Tohoku region is visited by few. Your Insider guide will be invaluable, breaking down language barriers and opening doors to remote communities and experiences: practicing taiko drumming on Sado Island, cruising between steep, leafy cliffs of Geibikei Gorge, and making mochi with a local women’s group in Izu Numa.
Visit Nikko’s UNESCO shrine complex
The tour is packed with UNESCO-listed sites, like Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu’s final resting place in Nikko, Hiraizumi’s gold-leaf layered Chuson-ji temple and the tranquil Motsu-ji temple garden.
Learn about the effects of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami
Nature is its own great spectacle, and with our own private bus, you’ll be immersed throughout. Take in panoramic views at Akechidaira Plateau and the thunderous Kegon Falls in Nikko National Park, and cruise through Matsushima Bay – officially one of the Nihon San-Kei, or “Three Great Sights of Japan”.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
A Northern Soul tour connects you with some of Japan’s most remote natural highlights and communities, revealing a side of the country rarely seen by outsiders, and even most locals. Price from
$7,301pp
Swap Japan’s big cities for the northern most reaches of Japan’s main island: national parks, mountain temple communities and hot spring villages.
See tour dates
This is one of our most culturally rich tours – with plenty of hands-on experiences, like making tatami mats with a family who’ve been producing them for 180 years. On Sado Island, you’ll ride in tub-shaped boats, rowed by energetic older women, and visit the home of the world-renowned taiko drummers.
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–2
Tokyo DAY 3–4
Nikko
Local people and guides tell the region’s stories, and this is perhaps most profoundly felt in Kesennuma City, where the 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit hard. Here, you’ll learn of the city’s resilience, with a local guide. It’s a sobering, but also, hopeful look towards the city’s future.
DAY 5–6
Hiraizumi DAY 7
Naruko Onsen DAY 8
Sanriku Coast DAY 9
SADO ISLAND
Sendai
NIIGATA
DAY 10–11
TOKYO
Niigata DAY 12–13
Sado Island DAY 14
Tokyo 42
NARUKO ONSEN
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HIRAIZUMI SANRIKU COAST SENDAI
A Northern Soul is true to its name: inviting you to experience the spirit of northern Japan – through its landscapes, crafts, cuisine and communities.
NIKKO Book your place
Have a go at taiko drumming on Sado Island
Catch one of Japan’s three most beautiful views – Matushima Bay
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations (except at some traditional accommodation) Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus one lunch and eight evening meals Entrance to Hamarikyu Gardens, Nikko’s temples, sake brewery tour, Kesunnuma City Memorial Museum, Zao Onsen dairy farm Private guide in Nikko and on Sado Island Taiko drumming, mini-tatami mat making, mochi, hatto soup and ice cream making experience Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Hiraizumi and from Niigata to Tokyo
Insider tip: “This is our only tour that stays nearby Nikko’s UNESCO shrine complex. Set among towering cedar trees, the whole area has a peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere.” Michael Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
CLASSIC
Autumn may not get the same hype as cherry blossom season, but it’s a great time to be in Japan: warm days, cool nights, and parks and temple gardens turn red and gold.
Autumn Elegance 13 nights / 14 days
Autumn Elegance links Tokyo, the Japan Alps, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Hakone, picking out the best spots to take in the autumn colors and avoid the crowds. It’s active without being exhausting, with comfortable mid-range hotels and a more traditional stay or two. You’ll start in Tokyo, exploring old neighborhoods, visiting shrines and teahouses, and heading into modern districts when you fancy a change of pace. It’s a particularly beautiful time to visit Rikugien Gardens, with maple leaves turning an intense, deep red.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
From there, you head for the mountains. In Matsumoto you’ll visit the “Black Crow” castle, one of Japan’s best-preserved samurai strongholds. Things slow down in Takayama, with old streets, morning markets, and a visit to Hida no Sato, an open-air folk village of steep thatched farmhouses built to handle heavy winters.
This tour offers an opportunity to catch Japan’s blazing autumn colors in their full glory: from mega-cities to alpine craft towns, mountain hot spring resorts and beyond. Price from
$6,692pp
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
Kanazawa is a good halfway point between the Japan Alps and Kyoto, with geisha districts, a samurai quarter, and Kenrokuen – ranked by the Japanese as one of the top three landscape gardens. Kyoto is a cultural high point: you’ll meet a maiko (apprentice geisha), take a boat ride through Arashiyama as the hills turn autumnal, and still have plenty of time to visit temples at your own pace. Your Insider will help you pick the best sights for you.
DAY 1–3
Tokyo DAY 4
Matsumoto DAY 5–6
Takayama
The trip wraps up in Hakone, with hot springs, Lake Ashi, and a visit to Hakone’s Open-Air Museum before you return to Tokyo.
DAY 7
Kanazawa DAY 8–10
Kyoto
KANAZAWA TAKAYAMA
MATSUMOTO TOKYO
DAY 11–12
Hakone DAY 13
Tokyo
KYOTO
HAKONE
With crisp days and autumn color, Autumn Elegance balances Japan’s big hitters with calmer corners. Book your place
Highlights Visit Japan during its vibrant autumn leaf season See Matsumoto castle Explore the traditional thatched farmhouses in the Japan Alps Take a walk through some of Japan’s finest gardens
What’s included? Three / four-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus one lunch and six evening meals Entrance to Hida no Sato folk village, Hakone Open-Air Museum and Rikugien Gardens Full day private guide in Kyoto and Takayama, half day private guide in Tokyo Afternoon tea with an apprentice geisha Tokyo foodie tour Hozugawa River boat trip Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Takayama, from Takayama to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo from Kyoto to Tokyo
Insider tip: “I like to take groups strolling through gardens and Hakone Open-Air Museum, where art sculptures and bold leaves display beautifully together.” Michael Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
ALL-INCLUSIVE
Leave every aspect of your trip to us, from your lunch to your luggage. You’ll be free to concentrate on taking in Japan – safe in the knowledge that you don’t have a penny to pay on the ground (although you may not be able to resist the draw of the convenience store...).
All-in Japan 12 nights / 13 days
From the refined geisha houses of Kyoto to Tokyo’s exuberant taiko drumming workshops, this tour takes you through some of Japan’s better and lesser known traditions and cultural focal points. Tour the ancient temples of Kyoto, visit the biggest original castle in Japan at Himeji, relax into zazen meditation at a beautiful temple deep in rural Fukui prefecture. Make delicate, classic Japanese confectionery in Kanazawa, visit the sobering Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima, and ride the cable car to the top of Mount Misen for spectacular views over the Seto Inland Sea.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
The classic sights and some lesser-known stops, with everything included. This is your stress-free introduction to Japan, without the need to keep dipping into your pockets.
It’s not all temples and tradition, however. We take a tour of Tokyo’s fashionable Omotesando and Aoyama districts with its many architecturally intriguing buildings and pay a visit to Kanazawa’s 21st Century Art Museum.
Price from
$9,107pp
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
One of the great features of this tour is the wide range of evening entertainment, and you’ll try a huge range of food in all sorts of settings. Okonomiyaki pancakes cooked in front of you by expert chefs, multicourse kaiseki meals, plus an evening dinner with a dance performance from a geisha.
DAY 1–2
Tokyo DAY 3–4
Hiroshima
All-In Japan is all about comfort and peace of mind, but don’t let that fool you – this is all-inclusive as you’ve never seen it before: full-on, fastpaced, and packed full of action.
DAY 5–7
Kyoto DAY 8
Awara Onsen
DAY 11–13
Tokyo
Take a traditional taiko drumming lesson Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Learn more about Kanazawa’s samurai history Maiko dinner and dance performance Awara Onsen ryokan hot‑spring stay
What’s included? Four-star accommodation En-suite rooms in all locations Local professional guides & experts in key destinations (in addition to your tour leader) Airport meet-and-greet transfers All transport between destinations, including several bullet trains All meals and some drinks included A mix of sightseeing and hands-on activities. Evening entertainment at several destinations All entrance fees and guides included Luggage transfers between all destinations
Book your place
DAY 9–10
Kanazawa
Highlights
Insider tip:
KANAZAWA AWARA ONSEN KYOTO HIROSHIMA
TOKYO
“ The standout feature of this trip is that it includes all meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – every day. We’ve personally picked out everywhere we eat. I’s safe to say we won’t be going hungry!” Sophia Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
SUPERIOR
Meet a trainee geisha in Kyoto. Hop between bathhouses in kimono and geta sandals. Sip free-flowing champagne around your hotel fireplace. Majestic Japan is all about exclusive experiences, hotel stays and meals, with a few added luxuries along the way.
Majestic Japan 14 nights / 15 days
Kicking off in Tokyo, Majestic Japan balances Japan’s headline cultural centers with places that embrace a slower pace of life. In Kanazawa, you’ll spend time in well-preserved samurai districts and walk the paths of Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s most celebrated gardens. Depending on the time of year you’ll see displays of plum blossom, irises or azaleas (it’s not always about the cherry blossoms!). Kyoto is often quoted as the cultural heart of Japan here, you’ll have a private audience with a maiko (trainee geisha). It’s a respectful way to learn about a tightly protected world that most visitors only glimpse from a distance – and it’s nearly impossible to book for yourself.
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
Elevated accommodation, high-end kaiseki meals, and time with some of the country’s most skilled artisans. Majestic Japan is your upgraded introduction to Japan’s cultural highlights. Price from
$10,535pp
You’ll stay in a ryokan inn in Kinosaki Onsen, with beautifully prepared, multi-course kaiseki dinners, tatami mat rooms, and evening strolls between the seven public onsen bathhouses in your yukata robe and geta sandals. On a day trip to Kyotango, you’ll meet both a swordsmith and a mother-of-pearl kimono weaver in their workshops.
See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
DAY 1–2
Tokyo
The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima is a poignant reminder of the city’s tragic recent history, followed by a trip to Miyajima, where deer wander through the streets as if they own the place.
DAY 3–4
Kanazawa DAY 5–7
Kyoto
Cruise across Lake Ashi in Hakone by pirate ship and visit the Open-Air Museum, where sculpture gardens back onto mountain views including works by Henry Moore, Rodin and Picasso.
DAY 8–9
Kinosaki Onsen DAY 10–11
KANAZAWA
Hiroshima
KINOSAKI ONSEN DAY 12–13
Hakone
HIROSHIMA
DAY 14–15
Tokyo 48
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TOKYO
KYOTO HAKONE
Majestic Japan is a perfect fit for anyone who wants culture, crafts, samurai history, onsen hot springs, excellent hotels and memorable meals – without the trip feeling like a race through Japan’s greatest hits.
Highlights Exclusive audience with a maiko in Kyoto Soak up ancient samurai history in Kanazawa Spend two nights in a traditional onsen town Visit the artisans of the Kyotango Peninsula
What’s included? Four / five-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus six lunches and six evening meals Entrance to Hamarikyu Gardens, Hakone Open-Air Museum. Full day private guide in the Kyotango Peninsula, Kanazawa and Kyoto Included hotel laundry service in the middle of the trip Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Hiroshima and from Hiroshima to Tokyo
Insider tip: “Staying in Kinosaki Onsen is really special. We visit a traditional swordsmith, a kimono maker, and the Amanohashidate sandbar – one of the three most scenic views in Japan.” Fergal Insider
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● JAPAN SMALL GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES
SUPERIOR
Luxury Japan focuses on cultural depth, premium comfort and expert Insider guiding, from the major cities to the quieter corners.
Luxury Japan 14 nights / 15 days
Over 14 nights you travel at an unhurried pace and stay in carefully selected upper 4-star and 5-star hotels. With luggage forwarding between key stops, and an Insider who keeps everything running smoothly, you can focus on the culture and the moments in between.
Throughout, this luxury tour leans into the traditions that most first-time visitors miss, or are hard to reach when traveling independently. In Inuyama, a riverside castle town with one of Japan’s oldest surviving castles, you’ll see a goma Buddhist fire ceremony. You’ll explore Kyoto by private bus with your Insider, taking in Sanjūsangendō’s hall of 1,001 lifesize Buddhist sculptures and Heian Shrine’s gardens. Your first evening includes an exclusive dinner with a geisha.
Price from See tour dates
(Based on twin share, excluding flights)
Further south in Kyushu, Nagasaki city is built on centuries of global exchange. Visit Dejima Dutch Trading Post, Glover Garden, and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Beyond the city, Higashi Sonogi and the pottery village of Okawachiyama offers a more rural perspective: tea fields, kilns, and communities known for local produce and crafts.
DAY 1–2
Tokyo DAY 3–4
Inuyama DAY 5–7
Kyoto
In Fukuoka, your Insider introduces the nighttime yatai food stalls, before a day trip to Yanagawa for a boat ride through historic waterways – the “Venice of Kyushu”.
DAY 8–9
Nagasaki DAY 10–11
Fukuoka INUYAMA
Osaka
KYOTO FUKUOKA
DAY 14–15
Tokyo 50
Explore Tokyo’s hip, lesser visited neighborhoods Meet tea growers in Higashi Sonogi Discover Nagasaki’s history
ACTIVIT Y LEVEL
DAY 12–13
Watch a Buddhist fire ceremony
This starts in Tokyo with a guided tour through Tokyo’s justifiably famous and lesser-visited spots: Senso-ji temple, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Jimbocho.
Luxury Japan is our newest superior Small Group Tour. Designed for travelers who want to see Japan’s most celebrated sights alongside the lesser-known spots, without compromising on comfort.
$11,578pp
Highlights
OSAKA
TOKYO
Your final stop is Osaka, “Japan’s kitchen”, with street food, contemporary art, plus an optional day trip to Nara, before returning to Tokyo for a final evening. Fourteen nights, premium comfort – this is Luxury Japan.
What’s included? Upper-four/five-star accommodation En suite rooms in all locations Airport meet-and-greet and transfers Breakfast every day plus four lunches and seven evening meals Entrance to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Noritake Craft Center, Inuyama Castle, Urakuen Garden, Mii-dera temple, Glover Garden, Atomic Bomb Museum, Kinatabi Koji Tenku Art Museum, TeamLab Botanical Garden. Luggage forwarding from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Fukuoka and from Fukuoka to Tokyo
Insider tip: “ One of my personal highlights is Nagasaki. History is around every corner in this city, and you can feel the international influence. Home to churches, temples, western and Japanese architecture, beautiful gardens, and food from around the world in equal measure, it really is a unique and fascinating city” Sophia Insider
NAGASAKI
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51
● JAPAN | KEY TRAVEL ADVICE
FAQs Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
How fit do I need to be?
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Most dietary requirements can be accommodated but this may mean simpler meals. Please discuss your needs with your InsideJapan travel consultant who’ll be happy to advise.
Our tours involve quite a lot of walking between sights, some of which will have stairs. We hit 10,000 steps a day regularly, hop on and off public transport, and you’ll need to carry your own luggage.
Will I pay a single supplement as a solo traveler?
On our Essential tours, a single room is available for no extra charge at Western-style hotels, but you’ll need to share with a member of the same gender at Japanese-style inns. For Classic, Superior and All-Inclusive tours, a mandatory single supplement guarantees a single room throughout the tour.
What’s a futon bed?
Japanese-style accommodations provide futon beds which are mattresses laid directly on the tatami-mat floor. Although quite comfortable, getting up and down can be difficult for people with certain physical ailments. If this is something you’re worried about, please discuss it with your travel consultant.
What is the luggage forwarding service?
To make travel easier, all of our tours include some luggage forwarding. Where luggage is forwarded, your main suitcase is sent ahead between selected stops, allowing you to travel more lightly – often requiring an overnight bag. On our All‑Inclusive tours, luggage is typically forwarded the same day, so you’ll usually travel with just a small day bag and be reunited with your suitcase later that day. Your tour leader (Insider) will arrange this for you on the tour itself.
Can I do my own thing?
Yes! Our tours are very flexible. Not everyone wants to join the group for every activity. Our Insiders will always be very happy to advise on any special requests and help you to do your own thing.
info-us@insidejapantours.com | 720 973 8271
What will the rooms be like?
We have single and twin rooms on all departures. Double rooms are not standard in Japan and are rarely available. On Essential grade tours, room sizes can be quite compact; unsurprisingly, the higher the grade, the more space you get.
What about the weather?
Spring and autumn have a temperate climate and are the most popular times to travel. Summer can be very hot but it’s festival season! Winter in Japan is quieter, and it’s generally sunny with less rain, but colder, so you’ll need warm clothes.
Can children join a group tour?
Yes, we are delighted to welcome children of six years and up on most of our tours, and 10 years and up for our superior or all-inclusive tours. From age 12, children may occupy a room by themselves. There are age restrictions at certain hotels and for some activities, so check in with your travel consultant when booking.
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● BEYOND JAPAN
Beyond Japan Explore further - cultural adventures across Asia from our sister brand, InsideAsia.
Borneo
India
Cambodia
Laos
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Not ready for your adventure to end? Add South Korea to the journey. South Korea Small Group Tours. Different country. The same idea: small groups, brillaint Insiders, and experiences that go well beyond the standard tourist routes.
Stay in a traditional hanok, eat your body weight in Korean BBQ, and meet people whose stories bring South Korea to life – from traditional craftspeople to the family behind Korea’s oldest premium tea company. It’s the same philosophy as our Japan tours: time built in to see the unmissable sights but with plenty of space to explore the places in between too, with your expert Insider explaining the finer details you’d otherwise miss along the away. Leave the logistics to us, so you can focus on the fun part. Better still, many departures line up neatly with our Japan Small Group Tours, making it easy to experience both countries in one trip. Get in touch and we’ll help you plan a trip that doubles down on cultural adventure.
Discover South Korea
COMING SOON
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
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Japan Small Group Tours | 2026/2027 Samurai armour Kanazawa
Takkoku no Iwaya Hiraizumi
Tanuki figures Kyoto
www.insidejapantours.com
info-us@insidejapantours.com
720 973 8271
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