Food that’s like art, art that feeds the soul and legendary landscapes to drink in… Japan never fails to fascinate with its otherworldly charm. Fiercely modern yet painstakingly committed to ritual, the people of this island nation wear their long history like finely embroidered silk.
Few destinations are so head-swerving. A single day can serve up Mount Fuji and midnight karaoke by way of a bamboo forest. And the journey is equally captivating – whether it’s riding a shinkansen (bullet train), hiking to a mountaintop shrine or the ritual belting of your yukata (cotton robe) after an onsen (hot spring) soak. Using a specialist tour operator will help decode the language and logistics so you can savour every moment.
Fascinating traditions, ultra-modern city life and dramatic
scenery make Japan a thrilling destination. To dive deeper, explore
the country on one of these expert guided tours
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This comprehensive tour, the Golden Route, begins with dining in the foodie centre of Osaka, followed by a stroll through leafy Nara, Japan’s earliest capital. Once everyone’s settled in, it’s on to the memorials of Hiroshima, stopping along the way at wedding-cake Himeji Castle.
The bullet train dashes to Kyoto, home to immaculate Zen gardens and major temples. The next few days are about participation – from a tea ceremony in Kyoto and washi (paper) making in Gokayama to miso preparation in Matsumoto, followed by a tour of a wasabi farm.
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The train passes towns that have barely changed since Edo times
Tokyo’s shrine to Emperor Meiji provides an easy entry into the city before hitting the streets of Harajuku, where teens cosplay in kawaii fashion.
An early morning visit to the Tsukiji fish and seafood outer market is a joy for jetlagged travellers, and a chance to learn the art of sushi from yanagiba (knife) wielding masters.
From here, the group heads west by train past rice paddies and through towns that have barely changed since Edo times (1603-1867). In Kanazawa, a walking tour follows in the footsteps of ninjas, and a traditional warrior’s residence brings samurai culture into brilliant perspective.
2. Monkey around with macaques and get the measure of miso
Here’s a chance to go it alone around the magical Kii Peninsula, a pilgrimage site for emperors going back a thousand years. The trails follow the Kumano Kodo, or Old Road, taking you past forested mountainscapes and peaceful villages to the Grand Shrine of Hongu.
great ways to get up close and personal with Japan
For more than 30 years, small-group adventure tour specialist G Adventures
has championed slow travel that taps into and benefits local communities.
1. Meet modern-day swordsmen, monks
and geishas
At Hongu, the unforgettable
Grand Shrines of Kumano await
From Kyoto or Osaka, there’s an organised transfer to the first walk, spanning Takijiri and the ridge-top village of Takahara. A family-run guesthouse provides a home-cooked dinner. The next few days are then spent on the trail, climbing forested hills, descending into hot-spring villages and sleeping in a minshuku (traditional guesthouse).
At Hongu, the unforgettable Grand Shrines of Kumano await, as well as the opportunity to soak in a restorative onsen. Hiking trails through the Ogumotori-goe Pass offer glimpses of the Pacific Ocean then descend to the dizzying Nachi Falls – competing for attention with the Nachi Grand Shrine, a Shinto wonder and the climax of this pilgrimage.
DON’T MISS The cemetery in Mount Koya, final resting place of one of
the founders of Buddhism in Japan, with its soaring cypress trees and solemn silence.
In the Japanese Alps, take a dip with Japanese macaques in the hot springs of Jigokudani Yaen Koen aka Snow Monkey Park – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then there’s a quick transfer to the foothills of Mount Fuji and the onsen of Mount Hakone before three mind-bending days in Tokyo.
The final, bittersweet glimpse of the capital’s neon skyline comes from a traditional yakatabune (pleasure boat) sailing on the bay.
DON’T MISS Hiroshima’s Shukkei-en, which can be translated as “shrunken-scenery garden”, with various landscapes represented in miniature. It provides an uplifting contrast to the city’s war monuments.
After a stroll through Hiroshima’s beguiling Peace Memorial Park, the bullet train barrels into Kyoto, home to skilled craftspeople plying time-honoured trades. In the Gion district, quiet streets thread past traditional wooden houses and geisha culture thrives.
Lingering in Kyoto, there’s ample time to drift between castles, shrines and a temple where a Zen Buddhist monk leads a meditation session before teaching a calligraphy class. Later, would-be samurais can have an audience with a master of kembu, a traditional form of swordplay.
DON’T MISS Kyoto’s cocktail scene. The small, dimly lit bars along the Kamo River are some of the best in the country. Bar Rocking Chair has a great whisky collection too.
Golden shots
This route takes in Mount Fuji, the tea ceremony, Osaka streetlife and takoyaki snack time
From kimono to catch of the day
Traditional street style in Kyoto; Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine; Tsukiji fish and seafood outer market in Tokyo; Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Pilgrim’s progress
Religious shrines, dizzying waterfalls and peaceful villages on a walking tour of the Kii Peninsula
Go for a hot spring dip with macaques in Snow Monkey Park
LOGO TO COME
Small group tour
G Adventures (in partnership with Times Travel Offers): best for freedom to explore
With a roster of seasoned guides on the ground, over the past 25 years
Wendy Wu has built up in-depth knowledge of the Asian landscape.
Wendy Wu Tours (in partnership with Times Travel Offers):
best for culture up close
Fully inclusive group tour
3. Walk in the
footsteps
of emperors
Japan is the be-all and end-all for this Kyoto-based tour operator with a UK branch.
Oku has close relationships with local communities throughout the country.
Oku Japan: best for going off the beaten track
Self-guided itinerary
With a private driver taking on the challenging bits, only the most scenic stretches are left for cycling. Kanazawa, with its heritage streetscapes and samurai culture, is an ideal starting point, and has the rugged Noto Peninsula stretching out before it. From town, it’s an easy pedal on the hard-packed sand of Chirihama, where fishermen haul their catch to be grilled right on the beach.
Wheeling along the Sea of Japan coast, the trail is never far from an Edo-era pagoda, a rice terrace or a chance to hop off and wander around a village where artisans practise time-honoured crafts. At night, you can soak tired muscles in hot-spring baths at classic guesthouses.
The penultimate stop is Gifu, a culturally rich city whose tourist attractions include cormorant fishing. Then it’s a swift train transfer to Kyoto and a final cycle between its world-renowned temples.
DON’T MISS The panorama of rock formations that poke out of the sea off the coast of Wajima – bulbous volcanic beasts shaped by the elements over millennia.
The trail is never far from a pagoda, rice terrace or traditional village
Get on your bike…
…then hop off to take in special sights, samurai culture and surprising sea shores
4. Go for
a spin on
two wheels
Adventure travel has been at the core of Exodus tours since the early days of long-haul tourism. The company regularly wins awards for its active, eco-conscious holidays.
Exodus Travels : best for fresh air and exercise
Small group cycling tour
Tap into your spiritual side on a tour that alternates slow, mindful pilgrimages with turbo-charged city living. Experts on the ground have bookended this two-week odyssey with late nights in Tokyo and the foodie back streets of Osaka, via Hiroshima and Kyoto. In between, the bullet train whizzes to old towns preserved in aspic, where geishas stroll through traditional Japanese gardens.
An icon of Shinto culture, the Itsukushima Shrine perches on the edge of its namesake island and is famous for its floating vermilion torii (gate). Then comes the mountain trips face-off. First, it’s the cable car to the top of Mount Misen for a storybook view over the Seto Inland Sea. While at Mount Koya, a shukubo (Buddhist temple stay) entails waking at dawn to join the monks in prayer – a truly transporting experience.
DON’T MISS Osaka’s Dotonbori neighbourhood at night, as bright and busy as it is in the daytime. Multistorey superstores have massive neon signs with pop-out parts that wiggle and are reflected in the canals.
Switch between mindful pilgrimages and turbo-charged city living
Oh what a fortnight
Combine the bright lights and big cities of Tokyo and Osaka – fuelled by sushi and street food to die for
5. Meditate with
monks and paint
the town red
A leader in budget-conscious tours, Travel Talk delves deep into local
communities to provide enlightening experiences without forgetting the fun.
Travel Talk: best for personalised experiences
Small group adventure tour
Independent spirits will enjoy having insider help – and English-speaking camaraderie – to lend perspective to the madness of Tokyo. A three-hour night-time walking tour weaves around the great neon matrix that is Shibuya, seeking out back street izakaya (taverns) and street-food vendors. It’s wise to show up hungry: accompanied by a professional eater, customers hit five local haunts for Wagyu skewers and okonomiyaki (savoury deep pancakes), washed down with shochu (Japanese spirit) and small-batch brews.
Those who prefer to cook for themselves can learn at the Tokyo apartment of a locally trained chef. In a typical Japanese kitchen at the heart of the urban sprawl, there’s a fiesta of slicing, grilling, filling and whisking to rustle up restaurant-grade gyoza, onigiri, temaki and chicken kara-age, while sipping mugicha (barley tea). It all helps to demystify those challenging Japanese menus for the rest of your trip.
DON’T MISS Night shopping at the megastore Don Quijote, with its discount cosmetics and earworm theme song. Everyone in town passes through at some point.
It’s wise to show up hungry – you will be hitting five local haunts
Dish list
This three-hour walking tour weaves around the tastiest parts of neon-lit Shibuya
6. Get to know
the city through
street eats
Local tour operators in every port offer easy, affordable insider
experiences that you can book up until the last minute.
Viator: best for on-the-ground ideas
Locally guided experience
The enduring appeal of Japan lies in a coexistence of modern life and ancient tradition – captured perfectly on this tour across the Golden Route. It begins with exploring the diverse dining choices in Tokyo, home to expert noodle-pullers and sushi masters; in fact, visitors learn to prepare their own sushi lunch with a family of fourth-generation chefs.
After a pause to dip in the hot springs of Hakone, the journey continues to Gifu prefecture to browse the food markets and see the Unesco-listed gassho-zukuri (steep thatched roof) cottages of Shirakawa-go. Then it’s on to explore the history of Hiroshima, an unsung seafood haven and spiritual mecca.
The final leg of the tour revels in the sights and serenity of Kyoto, taking in some of the most spectacular temples on earth. A meditation session with a Buddhist monk at Daitokuji leads into an enlightening discussion of Zen philosophy and the quest for inner peace.
DON’T MISS A private onsen bath at the ryokan (Japanese-style inn) in Hakone. Here you'll enjoy the ambience of a traditional ryokan but with all the modern comforts. It's the ideal opportunity to slow down, relax and reflect on the highlights of the past few days.
Explore Hiroshima as an unsung seafood haven and spiritual mecca
Land of the rising fun
Tokyo bites, Unesco sights and Hiroshima highlights
7. Pick up sushi
skills and take
a Zen moment
Intrepid stays true to its name, specialising in travel adventure
that interacts with local people.
Intrepid Travel: best for immersion in the culture
Small group adventure tour
Duration
12 days
Duration
18 days
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5 days
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14 days
Duration
14 days
Duration
14 days
Duration
half day
Duration
12 days