Japan Journey

This self-guided Japan holiday is a great way to experience the best of Japan in two weeks, combining Tokyo, Mount Fuji, the Japanese Alps, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka.

Begin in Tokyo, with time to explore the city and the option to add a morning excursion to nearby Nikko.

From Tokyo, continue to Hakone by train, using a Hakone Free Pass to explore this scenic area in the shadow of Mount Fuji. Travel by cable-car, walk some of the trails, soak in a hot spring and discover a very different side of Japan away from the main cities.

Travel on to Takayama in the Japanese Alps, a charming town known for its old streets, morning markets and local Hida beef. From here, continue across the Alps to Kanazawa, home to one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens and a well-presed historic district.

Continue south to Hiroshima, where you have time to visit the Peace Memorial Museum and take the ferry to Miyajima Island.

The journey then continues to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan and home to many of the country’s most iconic sights. There is time to explore independently, with a full-day guided tour included to help you make the most of your stay.

The holiday finishes with time in Osaka, just 25 minutes from Kyoto by train, where an evening food-focused tour is included.

All of our Japan holidays are tailor-made and can be adjusted to suit your interests, pace and budget.

Is this a private or group tour?

All of our Japan tours are private, tailor-made itineraries - customised entirely for you. This trip includes guided excursions in Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto, plus flights, accommodation, rail travel and transfers.

What are the departure dates?

As this is a private trip, there are no fixed departure dates - we work around your preferred travel dates and find the best flights to match.

We're also happy to advise on the best times to travel and what to avoid.

Which airlines do you use?

We work with all major airlines flying to Japan. For most itineraries we typically use British Airways, Japan Airlines or Finnair - Finnair in particular offers excellent fares and fast connections via Helsinki.

If you have a preferred airline, just let us know. We can also arrange flights from regional UK airports, and there are direct services from the UK to both Tokyo and Osaka.

Which hotels do you use?

We specialise in boutique hotels and will suggest our favourites where suitable - but we're equally guided by your preferences. If you have hotels in mind, just let us know.

• Most city hotels in Japan are functional business-style - but impeccably clean and well located
• Rooms can be small, especially in Tokyo - if space matters, tell us and we'll prioritise accordingly
• Location is crucial in Tokyo - being near the right station saves significant time
• Check-in is often as late as 3pm; check-out as early as 10 or 11am

View itinerary in detail

To get a feel for the trip, choose one of the options below to view a sample day-by-day itinerary. This will open in a new window.

All of our Japan holidays are completely tailor-made, so this is simply a starting point.

We can of course adjust the route, hotels and pace to suit your plans.