Japan has enough headline places, unique experiences, and rural idylls to fill a lifetime of adventures. We're ready when you are.
(87)
Let your imagination run wild, and then let us worry about how to make it happen. Take the trip of a lifetime with InsideJapan Tours, the market-leading Japan holidays and travel specialist, offering cultural adventures, unique group tours, tailored travel and cultural experiences that few get the chance to discover. Our team have had years of experience living, working and travelling in Japan, an
d we offer unrivalled advice and support, whatever your budget or personal interests. Our trips grant you the chance to experience both the popular and little-known aspects of Japanese culture, giving you an insight into the diverse character of the country. That's why many of you travel with us again and again, demonstrating Japan's lasting appeal and the wealth of sights and experiences on offer.
We want the destinations we love to be enjoyed by future generations and we're committed to reducing the negative impacts and increasing the positive impacts of how we travel.
So, our first year as a B Corp has been a busy one! Our Impact Report outlines how we did in 2023, and what we plan to do next. A huge thanks to our team for making it happen 💪
You can read it here:https://insidetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ITG_Impact_Report-2023_LR.pdf
We're aware that Japan experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Miyazaki just before 5pm local time on 8th August, with a tsunami warning issued.
We've confirmed no clients are in the affected area, which is about 1128km from Tokyo. Our customer experience and operations team are on the ground monitoring the situation.
Although it's a country used to earthquakes, our thoughts are with Japan and anyone affected🙏🏼
Thinking about joining us on a Small Group Tour? We'd love to have you! People tell us they love them because they get to:
🗺️ See beyond the tourist trail with an Insider who really knows their stuff
🍵 Eat and drink in tiny izakaya and stay in family-run Japanese ryokans
🙋♂️Ask for tips on exploring personal interests or venturing off solo
🎤Chat to locals and ask about life in Japan via a Japanese-speaking Insider
🤗Travel with a small bunch of like-minded people (who might just end up being friends for life!)
If that sounds good, you'll find our available tours here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0btpVs0.
And for all our past Small Group Tour customers, we'd love to know what your favourite thing about it was! Let us know in the comments below 🙌
Hands up who loves using other people's trips to inspire your next adventure? We do! We asked our specialists to share the best trips they've created recently (with ideas available for you to steal, of course 😉). Here's Aaron, one of our expert Travel Consultants:
"Bill and Jessica had previously been to Japan with their grown-up children and, on this trip, wanted something more unique than the tourist trail. To get them far from the crowds, we've planned:
⛩️ A route that really gets off the beaten track (using our Hidden Zen itinerary as a start)
🏯 A visit to rural Toyama with its incredible castle
🛏️ Plenty of nights spent at traditional Japanese-style accommodation, including the gorgeous 楽土庵 Rakudo An and tranquil ryokan 笛吹川温泉 坐忘
🍣 Several (incredibly delicious) multi-course kaiseki dinners
🚴 A guided bike ride through the small villages and countryside
🍇 A winery tour in Koshu Valley, meeting the region's local wine producers.
I'm already looking forward to calling them when they get home to hear all about their trip!"
If that sounds like your kind of cultural adventure, take a look at our Hidden Zen itinerary https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0bgwYt0 or get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!
📍 The Setouchi Triennial Art Festival, Seto Inland Sea
If you're into art and you're into Japan, you've probably seen pictures of Yayoi Kusama’s iconic bright yellow, water-front pumpkin. But did you know there's a whole art festival that takes place each year at Seto Inland Sea?
Our product expert, Kate, is a big fan: “What makes Setouchi Triennial Art Festival special is how much the work complements the local community. People come together to promote their best artists and create pieces that continue the legacy of the area.
“It's also very easy to fit into your trip — it's well connected to the Seto Inland Sea and, with new hotels like the Uno on Naoshima, you can easily stay the night, too. It’s back starting in April 2025 — so if you're thinking of travelling, let us know”
“I can’t help but think of our parents’ reaction to seeing us now, reconnecting in Tokyo. They might shake their heads at some of our antics, but I’m sure they’d be pleased to know we’re strengthening our bond, if wistful at not being here to share in the moment.”
sett.hein’s fantastic article on reuniting with his brother in Japan is now live on The Times and The Sunday Times — What a privilege it is to help make trips like this happen 🥰
Today is a very special day, because we’re launching a brand-new Small Group Tour for 2025. We’ve called it 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧.
11 days, 10 nights, five must-see destinations, flexibility to do your own thing, and lots of bang for your buck.
You’ll take an evening tour of Kyoto's Gion geisha district, a boat across Lake Ashi in the shadow of Mount Fuji, visit the wild deer on Miyajima island, compare the okonomiyaki pancakes of Hiroshima and fun-loving Osaka.
We asked Insider, Richard, what his highlight of the tour was: “My favourite experience is walking the Daibutsu hiking trail in Kamakura.
“After checking out the big Buddha statue and the other main sights in the town, it's a great way to get out into nature, walking through towering cedar trees away from the crowds, and stopping off at the Zeniarai Benten shrine in a hidden grotto where locals come to wash their money in the spring water with the belief that its value will increase two-fold!”
To book this tour, visit our bio ⬅️
Japanese Giant Salamanders are an endangered species, considered Vulnerable by IUCN, and protecting them is one of our Nature Positive projects.💚
To find out more about how we give back to the Giant Salamanders Conservation in Tottori prefecture, and how you can see them in the flesh, go here https://www.insidejapantours.com/experience-japan/i-gjs-3/japanese-giant-salamanders-conservation/ ⬅️⬅️
We’re spending 30% of our carbon offsets to support the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD+ project, and 70% to support wind turbine construction in south-west India.
To find out more about how your trip is offset or book a trip to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre on the North of Borneo, visit our bio.
Why do our travel consultants always recommend time on a bike in Japan? 🚲
You cover more ground and absorb your surroundings. You have total freedom. And some places are just made for taking in, at a leisurely pace, from two wheels.
In honour of World Bike Day, let’s talk about the Shimanami Kaido — one of Japan’s most spectacular cycle paths.
This 70km cycle route winds its way through Japan’s inland sea, giving you clear route through the many of islands.
The best way to do it, in our opinion, is to take it slow.
“If you stay overnight and detour from the main route, you'll get more time to stay in some wonderful places (like the Fujimien on Omishima island), and really enjoy many islands, cafes and galleries this part of Japan has to offer.” — Expert travel consultant, Mark
To book this on your next trip to Japan, https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09rkXx0 ⬅️
🔔Free extra night's stay! 🔔
If you book an August Small Group Tour before 15th July, you’ll get a free night’s stay either pre or post your trip. That means one extra day of Japanese summer. ☀️
Summer in Japan is all about walking in the national parks, stumbling across festivals cropping up on every corner, spotting locals taking sun protection seriously with white gloves, parasols, and fans, and cooling off with a matcha ice cream or plate of cold soba noodles.
Ready for that summer sun? https://www.insidejapantours.com/japan-small-group-tours/japan-tour-departures/⬅️
What’s a self-guided cultural adventure? 🌄
Depending on what you like, it could be:
🚶 Walking the pilgrim trails
🍲 Buying lunch from a vending machine
🍦 Trying Kakigori ice cream
🍢 Drinking sake and eat yakitori skewers in traditional pubs
🏡 Stay at family-run ryokan inns
And so much more. In a nutshell: your trip will blend unmissable sights with true experiences of local life and culture.
If you're ready to book a cultural adventure, we’re ready to chat. Visit our site: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09hwWc0
We love booking accommodation for customers that's really something special – the recently opened Six Senses in Kyoto is one of those places.
With cast iron door carvings of designs from the ancient Japanese animal scroll Chōjū-giga, and hikihaku (a technique of weaving metal threads) foil reflecting shades of the sun from all angles, it’s the small details that add together to make somewhere that feels distinctly Kyoto.
This is a luxury stay, so be prepared to part with some cash. But once you’re inside, you’ll have endless zen at your fingertips; the scents of Japanese wood, and calming refinement of the design offers a true retreat from the streets of Kyoto. 🙏
To find out how you can visit the Six Senses in Kyoto in your next trip to Japan, visit our website:
Want to discover the real Japan? We're an award-winning Japan holidays and tour Specialist, offering small group tours & tailormade trips. Plan your Japan trip today!
🔉 “Japan is a country of contrasts”.
Our often on-the-road travel expert, Holly, was recently featured on Not Just Travel's podcast, where she shared some of the things she loves about Japan.
👂To listen to the full podcast and find out why Japanese food is her favourite in the whole world: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09hwW20
Spring in Japan means visiting a garden is a must. 👨🌾✂️🌳
Nestled only 30 minutes away from central Osaka, Minoo Park — captured here beautifully by Tyler, one of our Japan based colleagues — is a wonderful place for a springtime stroll. Not only will you get a chance to see the tranquil Ryuanji Temple, there’s also a chance to try momiji-no-tempura — a tempura of maple leaves deep fried in batter. Yum! 🍢⛩️
What’s your favourite Japanese garden? Let us know in the comments.
“The tour was amazing in all ways. Pacing and places visited allowed us to see more of Japan than we ever would have by travelling by ourselves. Small group and detailed itinerary really enhanced the experience.” — amazing words from one happy customer about their Japan Unmasked trip 🤩
We've designed Japan Unmasked as a deep dive into Japanese culture, keeping costs as low as possible while never skimping on experiences.
One of the trip highlights is exploring the old canal district of picture perfect Kurashiki. You'll get to cycle alongside the river, slowly taking in perhaps one of the best preserved old towns in Japan. Dreamy. 🚴
To book this tour, go here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09fCKD0
Today is International Day of Family 👪
Seeing families enjoying Japan makes all the hard work pay off. Priceless memories captured; experiences shared; lives changed forever.
Let’s celebrate family today — what does it mean to you?
Have you heard of omiyage? 🎁
It’s a Japanese term for a gift you might receive from a friend that has been away. But unlike a traditional souvenir (think fridge magnet or keyring) it’s often some food or drink you can't get back home.
We love this concept, so much we always bring back omiyage for our office to enjoy. Take a look at these vibrant KitKats — a Japanese take on a classic, done in beautiful wrapping and with different flavours to match.
Have you ever got a gift that would class as omiyage? Let us know in the comments. ⬇️
Did you watch Sh**un? ⚔️
From the heights of surviving his shipwreck, to the inner turmoil of Toranaga’s court, and the doomed relationship between Hawthorne and Mariko, FX’s adaptation of Shōgun is another gripping example of the West’s fascination with Japan.
So now what? Got a taste for Edo-period Japan? Are you ready to craft your own Anjin-
inspired adventure and walk the Nakasendo Way? You’ve come to the right basho 🙏 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08-JWG0
Sometimes it’s the weirdest differences that catch our attention.
Japanese vending machines offer the modern traveller more options than anywhere else. Convenience = better, right? The jury is out on the quality of the purchase, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying.
Here are five oddities we’ve found you can get at the push of a button:
1. Ice cream (lots of ice cream) 🍦
2. Gyoza 🥟
3. Fresh OJ 🍊
4. Pizza?! No it's Okonomiyaki 🥞
5. Noodles... of course! 🍜
What else have we missed? Katanas on tap? We’d like to hear about your Japanese findings. Drop us a comment ⬅️
The writer of Succession loves Godzilla...
And other sentences that show the impact Japan’s culture has had on ours. Georgia Pritchett, acclaimed writer of Succession and Veep (US), revels in the delight of Tokyo.
📖 Read all about it: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08Mb820
What cultural differences have you noticed when visiting Japan? 👁️
--
For us it’s not just about sushi or neon lights; it’s the subtle dance of culture that draws you in. To fully embrace it means adhering to the traditions and etiquette that underpin the Japanese way of life.
Here are three vital tips:
👟⛔ Always take your shoes off — Whenever you step into a Japanese home, you must take off your shoes. It’s a ritual that strips away the dirt of the outside world, leaving only the purity of tradition.
🙇 The bow — Learn to bow as a greeting. The bow speaks volumes about respect, intent, and the delicate balance of social harmony.
🥢🍜Learn to use chopsticks — Less of a utensil more an extension of the hand, a bridge between you and a meal prepared with precision and care. Use them well, and you’re not just eating; you’re connecting with centuries of culinary artistry.
For the rest of our top tips, read here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08M0770
📌IN THE NEWS 📌
Revolutionising travel across Japan, the Shinkansen line boasts incredible speeds and faster connections to destinations that would have once been considered far to travel. Now you can zip around Japan to your heart's content.
We were featured in Travel Weekly , where we worked alongside their team to promote our Hidden Zen tour and get excited about this new line and what it means for these lesser-known districts. 🚆
➡️ Read here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08Dqt90
🎨It's World Art Day 🎨
Are you an art aficionado or more of a 'can appreciate it but it's not for me' type?
Either way, from teeny tiny galleries to dedicated art-themed islands, carefully curated ancient artifacts to relaxing on a giant egg (?), there's so much incredible art to be found all over Japan.
These pics are just some of our favourites... 😍
Race Across The World started this week on the BBC (in the UK), with episode one kicking off in Japan.
Watching Race Across the World made us think about the best formula for travel (which doesn't involve racing from point A to point B)
"Go to country + learn some of the language + spend time with locals + dive into the culture = incredible, memorable adventures. ⭐"
--
What are some of your favourite memories of travelling across Japan? Share them in the comments, we'd love to hear them! 🎤
📌 IN THE NEWS📌
As FX’s Shōgun series continues, more and more people are asking us how they could recreate aspects of the show in their own trip to Japan — which is why we're delighted to see our suggestions covered by Forbes
Read the article here ➡️https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08z9QN0
With several garden visits in Tokyo and Kanazawa, and a trip to an open-air art museum in Hakone, and a trip the black castle of Matsumoto this tour gives you ample opportunity to relish the beauty Japan has to offer as the flora and fauna of the land of the rising sun begins to bloom.
Expert tour leader, Fergal revels in the beauty of this trip; on our blog now: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08y0nc0
Everyone likes feeling like they're there first, don’t they? 1️⃣
When you uncover a real ‘travel gem’, it’s something that for a short while feels like it belongs to you and you alone. Of course, others have found this place before you. But for now, it’s yours: that’s what makes it one of the great pleasures of travel.
Our small group tour, A Northern Soul, is such a gem. Read all about why it’s one of our tour leaders favourite tours to run, here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08rnKy0
It’s National Walking Day today🚶♂️ and the only thing better than taking a nice stroll is going for a hike in a beautiful destination 🏔️🏕️
Japan’s one of our favourite places for hiking - with snowy peaks and lush jungle trails all waiting to be explored on foot 🦶
For some inspiration, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 places to walk and hike in Japan with our sister brand, InsideAsia check it out: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08pn6g0
Our 2nd Shōgun review is live 🎥
Find out what our expert reviewer thinks about the latest in the epic adaptation of James Clavell's novel.
And to plan your own Samurai adventure 🔗 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H08crpb0
(Image credit: Courtesy of FX Networks)
Electricity House, Quay Street
Bristol
BS14TD
| Monday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5:30pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when InsideJapan Tours posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to InsideJapan Tours:
🔉 “Japan is a country of contrasts”. Our often on-the-road travel expert, Holly, was recently featured on Not Just Travel's podcast, where she shared some of the things she loves about Japan. 👂To listen to the full podcast and find out why Japanese food is her favourite in the whole world: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H09hwW20
Sound on for sutras! "A fair number of people know about the otherworldly tranquility of Mount Koya’s monasteries and graveyards, set in thick forest on a mountaintop, but nearly everybody takes the funicular railway straight to it. So, when I disembarked the train early at Kii-Hosokawa it caused mild panic and confusion to my fellow Japanese passengers, who clearly all thought I was lost... The whole hike was a magical experience, from being waved off by the one attendant at the tiny station, to seeing the signs to ring a bell to ward off bears, to the very end of the trail — when I thought I was going to die on the steep bit — only to emerge from the forest in front of a stunning temple, surprising another set of tourists. I only saw about four other people on the whole route, and felt very smug all day." Staff member Claire Brothers. Whoever said you could no longer have an authentic Lost in Translation experience in Japan? There are adventures aplenty waiting for you a stone's throw from big cities - you just need to know where or (wink wink) ask an expert. #lostintranslation
Sound on for a gentle experiental soundscape! Paper making has a long history in Japan, and can be both witnessed and experienced in different locations along the country. Part of the process consists of spreading the fibers on the surface of the flexible screen (sunoko) by shaking it. Would you try your hand at paper making? Video taken by Insider Richard. #papermaking #japan
Busy week? Have a peaceful soundscape of a windchime in Kurayoshi to prepare for the weekend. Sound on! Thanks to insider Richard for the capture. #japan
Amazing maiko and geiko duo captured by Insider Van in Gion during one of our small group tours. Sound on! Video credit to Insider Van.
Want a bit of peace and tranquility under the blossoms while in Japan? Consider exploring smaller destinations. Kinosaki Onsen is slightly off-the-beaten trail, and one of our favourite places for hot springs. Spring can be quite busy, but at the same time there can also be moments of peace, as can be seen in this video taken by our Insider Robert. Green tip: did you know we are Travelife Partner certified?
Sound on! Celebrating 150 years of trains in Japan. This slice-of-life train ride is on the Enoden in Kamakura, about an hour south of Tokyo. On local trains, you can often sit or stand right behind the conductor, though most of the time there is a glass screen between you and them. Email subscribers can expect a couple of cute little train animations in their monthly newsletter as well. If you haven't subscribed yet, don't miss out! Sign up to our newsletter here to receive news, inspiration and all things Japan. https://www.insidejapantours.com/newsletter/
What's it like to have Fushimi Inari Shrine to yourself in the middle of the day? Our first Small Group Tour is back from Japan, and they were lucky enough to explore the famous torii gates with little to no crowds! While visiting Japan at this stage is limited to escorted and small group tours, the big benefit is being able to experience the country with few -if any- international tourists. Of course, as soon as we have any news of further easing of restrictions (which we hope will come in the following weeks), we'll shout about it loud and wide! Video taken by Insider Richard while leading the tour.
There’s something hypnotic and deeply relaxing about sitting in front of an irori hearth. Especially when there’s a pot of fresh tea dancing in front of your eyes! Irori fireplaces can still be found in many traditional houses and Japanese ryokan inns, especially those out in the countryside such as this one in the ‘Zero Waste’ town of Kamikatsu in Tokushima prefecture. If you come across an irori on your travels in Japan, be sure to take a few minutes to sit down, relax, and soak up the atmosphere!
Cherry Blossom Live: You're invited! In Japan, the cherry blossom is gradually starting to bloom - meaning that hanami (cherry blossom viewing) time is finally here! Insider Brett captured this video in Osaka the other day to give you a taste of what to expect at our Cherry Blossom Live event on 13 April. 7 Insiders, 7 locations across Japan, and 7 different views of cherry blossom season 🌸 Sign up and join us: https://www.insidejapantours.com/virtually-japan/
InsideJapan x TOKYO... join us from Tokyo tomorrow morning (23 March 09:30am UK) for a tour some of Tokyo's most interesting districts with samurai temples, serene gardens and plenty of neon. Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/2p8bvbce
It’s still very much winter in northernmost Hokkaido! Insider Tyler is there this week - and he was lucky enough to see the famous (and rather vocal!) red-crowned cranes. A visit to the breeding grounds of these incredible birds, accompanied by a local expert wildlife guide, is one of the many fantastic experiences on our Winter Highlights small group tour!
Those moments that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Studio Ghibli animation… Insider Robert recently took this train from Kami-Hinokinai station in northern Akita prefecture. After waiting in the snow, you’re sure to feel relief seeing this train emerging from the blizzard with its promise of heated carriages!
Of all the Japanese foods, perhaps okonomiyaki is the hardest one to explain in English! A kind of savoury pancake/omelette/pizza/…thing, it’s particularly famous in Osaka (featured here) and Hiroshima, where a slightly different ‘layered’ version is the norm. The standard base is a batter made with yam flour, shredded cabbage, and egg, to which various toppings can be added such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and even (highly recommended!) cheese. To finish it off, a special sweet-savoury brown sauce is smothered on top, followed by mayonnaise, nori seaweed flakes, and dried bonito fish flakes which are shaved so thinly that they ‘dance’ in the heat of the hot plate on which the dish is cooked. It sounds strange, but it’s one of the tastiest Japanese comfort foods and especially hits the spot on a cold Osaka evening like today! Have you tried okonomiyaki before? Would you like to give it a try? Or do you find the dancing bonito flakes disconcerting? 😂
Happy New Year from us all at InsideJapan! Tokyo Insider, Tyler, recently took part in the Japanese tradition of 'Hatsumode': visiting his local shrine to appreciate last year's happiness and pray for a good 2022.
A drive through twinkling night-time Tokyo. Starting to feel festive yet?
Temples, shrines and a giant resting Buddha... Just a short distance from Tokyo lies Kamakura – the ancient capital city of Japan. Want to come explore it with Insiders Brett and Chantel on a virtual tour later this week? Hit this link to find out more details and to reserve your place: https://www.insidejapantours.com/virtually-japan/
Our Insider tour leaders have been filming the latest #VirtuallyInsideJapan tour in the old seaside temple town of Kamakura. We love a little ride on the Enoden railway as it winds narrowly passing houses and shops. Even the railways are cute in Japan!
What does autumn look like in Japan? Here's a glimpse! Insider Tyler did a little leaf-peeping in Aomori recently...
Take the holiday of a lifetime with InsideJapan Tours. We are a market-leading Japan travel specialist, offering unique group tours, tailored travel and cultural experiences that few get the chance to discover. Our team have had years of experience living, working and travelling in Japan, and we offer unrivalled advice and support, whatever your budget or personal interests.
It was the incredible "otherness" of Japan that inspired directors Simon King and Alastair Donnelly to start a travel company. Having both spent the previous three years teaching English in Japan, they wanted to give others the chance to experience and discover a country they had both fallen in love with. That was back in 2000 and our "get beneath the surface" ethos was born.
Our travel consultants have many years collective experience of living and working in Japan and have all travelled extensively throughout each of Japan's four main islands. We all speak Japanese and every year travel to Japan to make sure we are up to date with local changes - after all, you have to keep up with the latest pop sensations and crazy fashions. Things in Japan change very fast so it is vital we keep informed!
