Japan Tours

Most tours of Japan begin in the dazzling capital, Tokyo. Here, you’ll take in big-name attractions like the Imperial Palace and ancient Senso-ji temple, as well as soaking up the atmosphere in the old town and discovering cutting-edge innovations and gravity-defying architecture in the more modern neighbourhoods. If your Japan tour takes you to Kyoto, you’ll also have the chance to visit the glistening Golden Pavilion and Silver Pavilion, and the much-photographed Shinto shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha. Plus, there are heaps of other temples, teahouses and tranquil gardens to discover.

Hiroshima, meanwhile, became one of most notable cities in Japan on 6th August 1945, when it was devastated by the world’s first atomic-bomb attack. During your tour of Japan, you can pay your respects to the victims by taking a trip to the Peace Memorial Park. A beautiful green space in the heart of the city, it’s home to the iconic A-Bomb Dome, as well as a memorial and a haunting but fascinating museum.

Many of this country’s top attractions are entirely natural. Of course the headline act is Mount Fuji, which you’ll tick off on pretty much every Japan tour going. If you’re slightly pressed for time, this might just be a day trip from Tokyo. But, if you’re on a longer tour, you’re likely to spend a night or two in nearby Hakone – a veritable wonderland, famed for its hot springs and outdoor pursuits.

While it does tend to hog the limelight, Mount Fuji’s by no means the only jaw-dropping bit of scenery Japan has in its arsenal. There’s also the Sagano Bamboo Forest on the edge of Kyoto; the soft sand beaches and coral reefs in Okinawa; the dramatic cliffs and spectacular ocean views in Sanriku; and the thundering waterfalls at Miyazaki’s Takachiho Gorge. And all these different landscapes allow for a whole host of exciting activities – everything from hiking and swimming to snorkelling, paddle-boarding and canyoning.

Japan is well-known for its flavourful cuisine. Think sushi, yakitori, okonomiyaki, and delicate miso soup. You’re bound to try a whole heap of famous dishes and local specialties wherever you go on your Japan tour – whether at fancy restaurants or tiny street-side stalls. You’ll probably have the chance to visit a range of food markets, too. Plus, you might wish to book onto a cooking class, where you can learn how to turn fresh ingredients into a delicious meal.

If you wanted to, you could even plan your whole Japan tour around culinary experiences. Sip steaming cups of matcha during an authentic tea ceremony in Kyoto before journeying to Nagano, where you’ll discover the history and preparation of soba noodles at the Togakushi Soba Museum and also have the chance to make them yourself. From Tokyo, why not take a trip to nearby Sawai and enjoy a sake tasting at a traditional brewery? Or head to Azumino, in the foothills of the Japanese Alps, where you can tour a wasabi farm – and possibly even try wasabi ice-cream!

Most of Japan has a humid, subtropical climate, characterised by four distinct seasons. Winter, which lasts from December to March, is typically mild, with highs of around 10°C and lows hovering a degree or two above freezing. Things are different in the mountains and the far north of the country, though, where snow arrives and ushers in the ski season. And in the beachy Southwest Islands, things stay warm all year – so even at the height of winter average temperatures remain in the high teens.

By contrast, summer in much of Japan is hot and muggy, with temperatures in many places surpassing 30°C. So, if you’re at all adverse to humidity, it’s not the best time to book a tour of Japan. Spring and autumn, however, both bring pleasant weather, with warm – usually dry – days and cool evenings. As such, they tend to be the most popular times for a Japan tour. The only downside to travelling during these months is that certain places may be crowded and good deals on accommodation are generally harder to come by.