1.866.316.7268 [email protected]
WPCS 2.1.3
1.866.316.7268 [email protected]
WPCS 2.1.3

Escorted Tours

These are small, escorted group tours that enable our guests to travel as “temporary Japanese” and to experience a true cultural immersion into Japanese traditions and hospitality. Our groups are small (maximum of 8 to 16 tour members depending on the itinerary) allowing us to stay in centrally-located, family-run lodging, use public transportation and eat in smaller, intimate restaurants that are off-limits to large groups.

On our escorted tours we prefer to use traditional, Japanese style ryokans and smaller hotels that blend into the neighborhood rather than staying at large tourist hotels. We carefully select ryokans and hotels in the middle of the sights and culture rather than convenient to transportation hubs. (All of the ryokans and hotels we use, with the exception of the Buddhist temple on Koya-san have en-suite bathrooms with western-style toilets.)

We use only public transportation for these tours. We use the same trains, subways, buses, taxis and ferries that millions of Japanese use every day. By traveling this way, you will get much closer to the people and culture you traveled thousands of miles to discover. You won’t view Japan through a tour bus window on a whirlwind bus tour. And no trip to Japan is complete without at least one ride on the fast and convenient Shinkansens (bullet trains).

Since all of your group transportation costs, admission fees, all breakfasts, half of your lunches and dinners, tips and more are included, there are no hidden costs. And with our included tour cancellation/interruption protection coverage, your travel investment is protected giving you peace of mind.

These packages feature:

  • Small groups (maximum of 8 to 12 tour members depending on the itinerary) with a friendly atmosphere
  • Well-rounded and creative itineraries
  • Experienced guides and tour leaders
  • Centrally-located, family-run lodging
  • Public transportation
  • Well-balanced cultural activities
  • Guaranteed prices with no hidden costs

If the fun, friendliness and flexibility of small, escorted group travel appeals to you, join us!

Click here to see a tour listing by date. Or, scroll down for a tour listing by itinerary.

Grand Tours

Our Grand Tours are perfect for someone who is looking for a well-rounded introduction to Japan. We offer something for everyone on these tours. These tours typically cover broad areas of Japan using public transportation, and have a maximum limit of 16 tour members. They will include many “must see” spots of Japan, plus one or two out-of-the way, remote destinations and are designed for the first-time visitor to Japan or for those who would like a review of the “must-see” spots..

Golden Route

9 Days / 8 Nights
The Golden Route tour includes the "must see" sights for first-time visitors to Japan, or for someone who has only a short time to visit Japan. This tour roughly follows the Tokaido Highway, one of the main highways connecting Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo Period (1603 to 1868).
From$3,146.00
(4 Reviews)
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Best of Japan

15 Days / 14 Nights
With the perfect mix of new and old, this well-rounded tour has something for everyone, as well as being our most popular tour.
From$5,300.00
(264 Reviews)
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Shinkansen

Best of Central Japan

13 Days / 12 Nights
While including many of the things first-time visitors to Japan should see and experience, this tour is easier on the wallet and not quite as immersive.
From$4,150.00
(61 Reviews)
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Best of Japan in 22 Days

22 Days / 21 Nights
If you don’t want to miss anything in Japan, then this is the tour for you. From Sapporo to Nagasaki, you will enjoy the best Japan has to offer.
From$8,200.00
(67 Reviews)
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Winter Wonderland

15 Days / 14 Nights
The weather outside may be frightful, but touring Japan in winter is delightful. After you see how beautiful Japan is blanketed in snow, you’ll be saying “Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow.”
From$5,888.00
(8 Reviews)
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Regional Tours

These tours are perfect for the visitor looking for the quieter, less-traveled side of Japan, or for the person who wants to concentrate on a specific area of Japan. Our Regional Tours typically focus on a specific region or regions of Japan using public transportation, and have a maximum of 16 tour members. These tours will include a combination of “must see” spots and out-of-the-way, remote destinations.

Best of Hokkaido and Tohoku

15 Days / 14 Nights
Hokkaido is a natural wonderland of mountain ranges, deep caldera lakes and virgin forests. Tohoku is known for its numerous remote and traditional onsens, its high quality rice and fruit and its welcoming and friendly people.
From$5,511.00
(20 Reviews)
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Best of Hokkaido

15 Days / 14 Nights
Hokkaido, with its excellent food, beautiful scenery and calming onsens has become a popular vacation destination among the Japanese. On this tour, we slow down the pace so you can enjoy everything Hokkaido has to offer.
From$5,511.00
(24 Reviews)
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Best of Japan Alps

15 Days/14 Nights
Soaring mountain peaks, open-air hot springs, lush forests, quaint mountain villages and a slow pace make this central alpine area a great escape.
From$5,994.00
(14 Reviews)
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Shikoku and Kyushu Rail and Drive

Best of Shikoku and Kyushu

15 Days / 14 Nights
With its mild climate, tranquil gardens, famous hot springs, active volcanoes, historic castles, beautiful countryside and warm-hearted people, this part of Japan offers a dramatic experience that will create travel memories for a lifetime.
From$5,800.00
(14 Reviews)
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Best of Tohoku

15 Days / 14 Nights
Tohoku may share the main island of Honshu, but Tohoku is a world apart from the crowded and busy south. The mountain villages are more remote, the forests more untamed, the traditional onsens more secluded and the people friendlier. And yet, Samurai history lives on in the well-preserved homes and […]
From$5,800.00
(6 Reviews)
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Onsen Tours

Enjoy the Good Life – Japanese style. Our Onsen tour groups only stay at Onsens. Enjoy the best local food specialties and the famous Japanese hospitality while relaxing in some of the best onsen in Japan. The Onsen tours concentrate on remote and isolated destinations, and typically concentrate on a specific area of Japan using public transportation. The group size is limited to 8 tour members.

Western Japan Onsen

15 Days / 14 Nights
Enjoy the sand baths of Ibusuki Onsen, the rural Yufuin Onsen, the 1,000 year old Dogo Onsen, the remote Iya Valley Onsen and the charming onsen town of Kinosaki where guests commonly stroll around in their "yukata" (cotton kimono).
From$6,750.00
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Central Japan Onsen

15 Days / 14 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims from the Kyoto Imperial Court 1,000 years ago as you visit the Kumano Sanzan, the ultimate destinations of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage. Soak in the waters of Kii-Katsuura Onsen with its sea-side cave bath. Relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Kamikochi, with its numerous gentle trails. Experience the world-famous “snow monkeys” of Japan. And last, but not least, enjoy the waters of Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan's most famous onsen.
From$6,994.00
(2 Reviews)
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Northern Japan Onsen

15 Days / 14 Nights
Leave the megalopolis of Tokyo behind as you travel farther and farther north through the beautiful regions of Tohoku and Hokkaido. Learn the Samurai history and traditions at Aizu-Wakamatsu and Kakunodate. Enjoy the secluded beauty of Lake Akan and Shiretoko National Park. And Hokkaido has become synonymous with great food among the Japanese.
From$6,750.00
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City Tours

These tours are designed for those who wish to concentrate on a specific city or cities (Tokyo and Kyoto) using public transportation with a maximum of 12 tour members. These tours will also include day trips outside of the cities as well.

Tokaido Highway

7 Days / 6 Nights
The Tokaido Highway, built by the Tokugawa Shoguns in the early 17th century, connected the new military capital of Tokyo with the imperial, cultural capital of Kyoto. Follow in the steps of Daimyo (feudal lords) and Samurai as you visit the two greatest cities of Japan.
From$2,621.00
(1 Review)
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Best of Tokyo and Beyond

8 Days/7 Nights
To the uninitiated, Tokyo may seem like a whirlwind of people and traffic. Yet, behind the ordered chaos lie remnants of a very different past.
From$2,884.00
(31 Reviews)
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Best of Kyoto and Beyond

8 Days/7 Nights
Steeped in history and tradition, Kyoto has in many ways been the cradle of Japanese culture. A stroll through Kyoto today is a walk through 11 centuries of Japanese history.
From$2,884.00
(20 Reviews)
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Best of Tokyo and Kyoto

12 Days/11 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of feudal lords and samurai along the route of the ancient Tokaido Highway that once connected these two great cities.
From$4,197.00
(34 Reviews)
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Pilgrimage Tours

Pilgrimages have been an important part of  the spriritual and cultural world of Japan for more than 1000 years. There are numerious pilgrimages all over Japan, each with its own purpose, history and culture. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of pilgrims from ancient times to discover the true meaning of these pilgrimages.

Kumano Kodo Highlights

7 Days/6 Nights
Kumano has long been considered the heart and soul of Japanese spirituality, and has been blessed with a rich and cultural and natural heritage, friendly locals, soothing hot springs and delicious cuisine. It is the perfect destination for those people searching for an active, off-the-beaten-path, culturally immersive Japanese experience.
From$2,494.00
(4 Reviews)
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Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage

22 Days/21 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi, 9th century Japan’s influential Buddhist monk on the spritiual journey of a lifetime.
From$10,163.00
(6 Reviews)
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Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage – Part 1

11 Days/10 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi, 9th century Japan’s influential Buddhist monk on the spritiual journey of a lifetime.
From$4,850.00
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Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage – Part 2

14 Days/13 Nights
Follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi, 9th century Japan’s influential Buddhist monk on the spritiual journey of a lifetime.
From$6,791.00
0
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