Enriching Japanese guided tours & holidays
Hotels run by robots, talking toilets, the world’s fastest trains and spotlessly clean streets. In many ways, Japan is already living in the future. But what’s most fascinating about the Land of the Rising Sun, is that while it’s leading the way in the world of tech, it still has one foot firmly cemented in its age-old traditions. Embarking on a Japan guided tour will teach you it’s just as thrilling to softly wander hushed shrines and serene gardens as it is to explore neon-lit city streets.
Explore the organised chaos of Tokyo, where towering skyscrapers sit beside legendary landmarks, like the moated Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine. In the ancient capital of Kyoto, attend a tea ceremony and learn about geisha and samurai culture. Pause for a moment of reflection in Hiroshima at the Atomic Bomb Museum.
Our Japan tours aren’t just about the places you’ll visit – they’re also about the experiences you’ll have – incredible moments that’ll help you to truly immerse yourself into Japanese culture. Cheer at a sumo wrestling match or admire the colours of the gorgeous floats at the Takayama festival. Sleep and feast in a ryokan (authentic Japanese inn) and watch snow monkeys bathe in a steaming onsen (hot spring). And glide from place to place in complete comfort on the impressive Shinkansen (bullet train).
Cassie Stickland
Product Manager
What our experts love about Japan
Japan is the most wonderful destination. One of my favourite cultural experiences is a traditional tea ceremony. I remember being wowed by the beauty of the ceramics, the serene setting and the most attentive and generous host. An unmissable Japanese experience.
What are the best places to visit in Japan?
From skyscraper cities to peaceful forests and island art museums, there's plenty to discover on a Japan touring holiday. Below, we've picked out some of our favourite highlights and hidden gems.
Tokyo
On each of our Japan tours, our adventure starts in Tokyo. As well as towering skyscrapers and neon-lit streets, there's history in abundance. The Tokyo National Museum is packed full of Japanese art and cultural artefacts. Take to the neo-futuristic Skytree for stunning views of the city skyline from the country's second tallest structure.
On each of our Japan tours, our adventure starts in Tokyo. As well as towering skyscrapers and neon-lit streets, there's history in abundance. The Tokyo National Museum is packed full of Japanese art and cultural artefacts. Take to the neo-futuristic Skytree for stunning views of the city skyline from the country's second tallest structure.
Kyoto
The ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto has a cultural pedigree to rival Tokyo. Spend half a day touring Nijo Castle, the former home of the Tokugawa shoguns. Or you could get spiritual and explore some of the many Buddhist temples in the city. Make sure to see the vibrant shrines and tranquil gardens, too. Learn a thing or two about traditional Japanese dress at Nishijin Textile Centre, where kimonos and other textiles are produced.
The ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto has a cultural pedigree to rival Tokyo. Spend half a day touring Nijo Castle, the former home of the Tokugawa shoguns. Or you could get spiritual and explore some of the many Buddhist temples in the city. Make sure to see the vibrant shrines and tranquil gardens, too. Learn a thing or two about traditional Japanese dress at Nishijin Textile Centre, where kimonos and other textiles are produced.
Hiroshima
Visit the Peace Memorial Park and the symbolic Flame of Peace to see touching tributes to the ongoing hope for worldwide unity. The Atomic Bomb Museum offers details of the human cost, and cements a strong anti-nuclear message. A trip to Hiroshima Bay's Miyajima Island offers a look at one of Japan's most scenic spots, complete with the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. Look out for the iconic orange gate that appears to float at high tide.
Visit the Peace Memorial Park and the symbolic Flame of Peace to see touching tributes to the ongoing hope for worldwide unity. The Atomic Bomb Museum offers details of the human cost, and cements a strong anti-nuclear message. A trip to Hiroshima Bay's Miyajima Island offers a look at one of Japan's most scenic spots, complete with the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. Look out for the iconic orange gate that appears to float at high tide.
Sapporo
The city of Sapporo is one of Japan's biggest, and sits on its northernmost main island, Hokkaido. A highlight of Sapporo's events calendar is the annual snow festival, where huge ice and snow sculptures - up to 15m tall - are created in the city's Odori Park. In addition to the sculptures, you'll find games, live music and stalls selling delicious street food. Be sure to order a Sapporo beer while you're here - it's Japan's oldest beer brand.
The city of Sapporo is one of Japan's biggest, and sits on its northernmost main island, Hokkaido. A highlight of Sapporo's events calendar is the annual snow festival, where huge ice and snow sculptures - up to 15m tall - are created in the city's Odori Park. In addition to the sculptures, you'll find games, live music and stalls selling delicious street food. Be sure to order a Sapporo beer while you're here - it's Japan's oldest beer brand.
Yudanaka
If Japan holidays for you means experiencing a traditional ryokan, then Yudanaka is a great location to add to your itinerary. Famous for its hot springs, you’ll find some fantastic ryokan inns here, with authentic touches like tatami mats, chadubai (low tables for dining), and steaming onsen baths. It’s also the jumping-off point for visits to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can watch snow monkeys warming up in the hot springs.
If Japan holidays for you means experiencing a traditional ryokan, then Yudanaka is a great location to add to your itinerary. Famous for its hot springs, you’ll find some fantastic ryokan inns here, with authentic touches like tatami mats, chadubai (low tables for dining), and steaming onsen baths. It’s also the jumping-off point for visits to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can watch snow monkeys warming up in the hot springs.
Mount Koya
Known locally as Koya-san, this is the ‘spiritual heart’ of Japan, and the centre of Shingon Buddhism, practiced in Japan since the 9th century. There are more than 100 temples here, as well as the UNESCO-listed Okunoin Cemetery, hidden in an ancient forest.
Known locally as Koya-san, this is the ‘spiritual heart’ of Japan, and the centre of Shingon Buddhism, practiced in Japan since the 9th century. There are more than 100 temples here, as well as the UNESCO-listed Okunoin Cemetery, hidden in an ancient forest.
Naoshima
Known as Japan’s ‘Art Island’, Naoshima is home to a collection of contemporary art museums, architecture and sculptures. Don’t miss Benesse House, a wonderful museum with displays both indoors and dotted around the grounds. The small port town of Honmura has seen its abandoned and dilapidated houses transformed into art installations and galleries, collectively known as the ‘Art House Project’.
Known as Japan’s ‘Art Island’, Naoshima is home to a collection of contemporary art museums, architecture and sculptures. Don’t miss Benesse House, a wonderful museum with displays both indoors and dotted around the grounds. The small port town of Honmura has seen its abandoned and dilapidated houses transformed into art installations and galleries, collectively known as the ‘Art House Project’.
Find out more
More information about Japan
Japan is an incredible country, with so much to see, do and experience. We offer a range of itineraries to suit different interests, from two-week introductions to Japan’s highlights, to in-depth tours that’ll take you off the tourist track to experience the ‘real’ Japan. We also run dedicated solo Japan escorted tours, with departures specifically for solo travellers.
Travelling in Japan can be challenging, so having a knowledgeable, Japanese-speaking tour manager (and a great group of like-minded people) with you makes such a difference.
For a destination with such variety, only a wide selection of dates and tours will suffice. Our Japan holidays depart throughout the year. In the spring, wander the cherry blossom-lined boulevards. In the autumn, photograph the blaze of orange and red leaves.
When the snow falls in winter, we’ll take you north to Hakodate and Sapporo, where the Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) warm up in the hot springs and you can visit the famed Sapporo Snow Festival. We also run dedicated solo Japan escorted tours, with departures specifically for solo travellers.
Plus, with our award-winning VIP door-to-door travel service, you can switch on holiday mode from the get-go. You’ll be whisked off to the airport from your very front door (and they’ll drop you home again) no matter where you live in the UK.
Japan is a year-round destination. In the spring, you can wander the cherry blossom-lined boulevards, while in the autumn, you can photograph the blaze of orange and red leaves - for first timers, these are two of the best seasons in which to travel to Japan.
May and September can start to get a bit hotter and wetter, but it's a great time to experience some of Japan's famous festivals - ask our travel advisors about some of our special departure dates which coincide with these. When the snow falls in winter, we can take you north to Hakodate and Sapporo, where Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) warm up in the hot springs and you can visit the famed Sapporo Snow Festival.
There are plenty of delicious foods to try on Japan tours. Sushi, sashimi, crunchy tempura, miso soup, all sorts of noodle dishes. Our product manager, Cassie, highly recommends the traditional kaiseki dinner that's served in the ryokan we stay in on a couple of our itineraries - multiple courses, all meticulously prepared and exquisitely served.
If you're interested in learning to make a few Japanese specialities, our Grand Tour of Japan includes masterclasses in making filled oyaki flour buns, crisp okonomiyaki pancakes, and udon noodles.
The currency in Japan is the yen. Japan has a strong cash culture – for convenience on arrival, it’s worth taking a mixed amount of cash in yen - US$ can also be exchanged on arrival.
ATMs may be more difficult to find outside of major cities and may not accept foreign credit or cash cards. Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted at hotels and larger restaurants, although American Express isn’t widely accepted.
Visa requirements for Japan holidays vary depending on the passport you hold and the length of time you’re planning on staying. For the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.
Prices for our holidays are available to view online – just click on the ‘View departures’ button on the tour page. Flights, hotels and our VIP door-to-door transfers from home are all included in the price. You can also view details of included meals and excursions on the individual tour pages. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Our prices are based on flights from London Heathrow. For details of connecting flights from other airports around the UK, speak to one of our travel advisors. All of our Japan escorted tours fly into Tokyo. Essence of Japan and Japanese Winter Wonderland also fly back from Tokyo. Grand Tour of Japan flies back to the UK from Fukuoka, while Essence of Japan with South Korea flies back from Seoul.
Flight time from London to Tokyo is approximately 11 hours 50 minutes.
From city-centre stays to traditional ryokans, all the hotels featured on our holidays are hand-picked to ensure they’re just right for our customers. Simply scroll through the online itineraries to see where you’ll be staying each night.
On our tours we’ll travel either by coach or by Shinkansen bullet train – a classically Japanese experience. The shinkansen are clean and comfortable, and famously punctual!
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Why choose a Titan tour?
Titan Travel have always been about seeing more and doing more – which is why we meticulously plan our award-winning escorted tours so that our expertly crafted itineraries make sure that so much is included. Once you book your holiday, you can relax knowing that every element has been taken care of. Choose the tour that gives you more.
Nationwide return chauffeur service
Getting to the airport is easy, thanks to our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, which is included on every tour.
More value
From excursions to hotels, entry tickets and dining packages, we include more than any other tour.
More knowledgeable
Be guided by some of the most passionate and knowledgeable tour managers in the world, on hand to help every step of the way.
More flexible
Feel free to amend or extend your travel plans, up until final payment, and enjoy free time on your tour with us too.
