Home Japan Cultural tours

Cultural & off-the-beaten track adventures

Our cultural tours combine visits to famous cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, with journeys through the countryside to catch a glimpse of hidden Japan. The itineraries are carefully selected to introduce visitors to the wealth of Japanese history and culture. We use small family-run inns, travel to villages and regions off the established tourist routes, and keep the group size small so your experience is more personal and memorable.
Each tour is lead by a qualified Japanese-speaking tour leader. We work with local Japanese guides to enhance the experience through their local knowledge of certain regions.

2008-9 Trips

Shoguns and Samurai
Tokyo to Kyoto and Nara 14 days
2 - 16 April
9 - 22 April
17 - 30 May
1 - 14 June
19 September - 2 October
12 - 25 October
29 October – 11 November
25 March - April 7 2009
8 - 21 April 2009
13 - 26 May 2009
3 - 16 June 2009
15 - 28 July 2009
19 August - 1 September 2009
13 - 27 October 2009
27 October -10 November 2009

Highlights: Imperial Kyoto and Nara – Snow monkeys of Yudanaka hot spring – traditional merchants houses of Takayama – Shirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage site – Natural hot spring baths – Accommodation in traditional ryokan – Sacred Mount Koya - Ultra-modern Tokyo
Tour details
Tour comments

For practical information covering our trips in Japan click here. For some background information on the history and culture of Japan, see our Japan resources page.

Fully Tailored Itineraries:

We can also arrange tours to suit your dates or even put together a trip customised to your needs, with or without an element of walking or hiking. Please fill out out quotation page to discuss your requirements.

Birdwatching and botanical trips:

Our resident naturalist Mike leads birdwatching trips to Kagoshima in Kyushu and also Hokkaido to see the Japanese (Red-crowned) Crane, Hooded Crane, Steller's Sea Eagle amongst others. These trips are normally on-demand only, so please get in contact to discuss your preferred dates.

Newsletter

Four times a year we send out an email newsletter with information about new trips, stories from past trips, and general news about our destinations. If you would like to receive this newsletter please enter your email address on our newsletter page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nakasendo Trail
Tokyo to Kyoto 12 days
2009:
12 - 23 April
1 - 12 June
19- 30 July
27 September - 8 October
18 - 29 October

Mountain Spirits
Tokyo and Northern Japan 13 days
2008:
13 - 25 July
7 - 19 September
21 September - 3 October
2009:
12 - 24 July
23 August - 4 September
13 - 25 September

Shoguns and Samurai
Tokyo to Kyoto and Nara 14 days
2008:
19 September - 2 October
12 - 25 October
29 October – 11 November
2009:
25 March - April 7
8 - 21 April
13 - 26 May
3 - 16 June
15 - 28 July
19 August - 1 September
13 - 27 October
27 October -10 November

Land of Fire
Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Kyushu 14 days
2008:
12 - 25 October
2 - 15 November
2009:
5 - 18 April
10 - 23 May
10 - 23 October
1 - 14 November

Snow Country
Tokyo to Kyoto via Takayama and Kanazawa 10 days
2009:
18 - 27 January
15 - 24 February

Imperial Pilgrimage
Kyoto, Nara and the Kii Peninsula 14 days
2008:
19 October - 2 November

Mountains of Central Japan
Japan Alps and Kyoto 14 days
2008:
14 - 28 September 2008

West Japan Explorer
Kyoto, Japan Sea coast, Kyushu and Yakushima 15 days
2008:
16 - 30 November

Custom trips
The above tours can be offered to suit your dates, or we can tailor a trip to your requirements, including birdwatching and botanical tours. Details

See our tours in Google Earth!

Practical Information

Time: GMT +9 hours
Visas: Not required for British, US, Canadian, Australian, NZ and most EU citizens

Click here for more practical information covering our trips in Japan

Enquire

Trip comments:
We saw more places and met more people on our trip than we ever dreamed. Rural Japan, hot springs resorts, cute little towns and bustling megapolises alternated with a kaleidoscopic exuberance.
Thank you again for the well organized trip, divers itinerary and your thoughtful support!
Svetlana P, USA

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Contact us:

Call:
In the UK: 020 7099 6147
(+44 20 7099 6147 from abroad)
Fax: +44 20 7681 3131
Email

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