Small Group Tours - Late Availability Offers!

Would you like to visit Japan this spring? There’s still time to book a last-minute spot on one of our Small Group Tours – some have just one or two spaces left, and they’re selling quickly. Find them listed below.

A special mention for the two departures of A Northern Soul – a tour that Alastair, one of our founders, first led back in 2004:

“Where 98% of tourists head west from Tokyo, this tour heads north-east to Tohoku, the region the famous poet, Matsuo Basho, wrote his iconic work The Narrow Road to the Deep North about. ‘Escaping the crowds’ is an over-used phrase in travel but, here, it’s true.

“A Northern Soul is about walking the narrow road that others don’t: tourists aren’t a common sight, which makes it wonderful for local interactions. It’s one of the most memorable tours I’ve ever led – and will leave a long-lasting impression on people."

Fewer than 2% of tourists make it up to Japan’s deep north – and we’re offering a last-minute 15% discount for those who decide to join us on this tour.

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A Northern Soul (Max 14 people � Classic grade)

7th – 21st May | ~~Was £6130~~ | Now £5210 | SAVE £920
14th – 28th May | ~~Was £6130~~ | Now £5210 | SAVE £920

Discover the beautiful yet little-visited region of Tohoku, home to rugged national parks, historic cities, and enchanting hot spring towns.

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All-in Japan (Max 16 people � Classic grade)

15th-27th March | Was ~~£6,990~~ | Now £5,950 | SAVE £1,040

The classic sights and some lesser-known stops, with EVERYTHING included... well, nearly everything. Learn the art of taiko drumming, take a hot spring bath at your ryokan traditional inn, and have tea with a maiko (trainee geisha).

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Hidden Japan (Max 14 people � Classic grade)

17th-29th April | Was ~~£5,540~~ | Now £4,700 | SAVE £840

This tour offers deep, cultural insight, with experiences that take you away from the tourist trail – liberating you from the pressure of ticking off destinations or visiting “must-see” locations, steering you instead towards the road less travelled. Stay in a temple on Mount Koya, walk a vine bridge on Shikoku and explore Naoshima art island.

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Majestic Japan (Max 14 people � Superior grade)

12th-26th March | Was ~~£8,850~~ | Now £7,525 | SAVE £1,325

17th-31st March | Was ~~£8,850~~ | Now £7,525 | SAVE £1,325

Visit craftspeople in Kyotango, relax in a traditional onsen hot-springs town and meet the friendly deer on Miyajima Island. With our favourite 4-star hotels, a fabulous traditional inn, great meals, expert guides and even laundry service included, this is our flagship, high-end tour – as the name suggests, we think it’s majestic.

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Tokaido Trail (Max 14 people � Essential grade)

14th-23rd March | Was ~~£2,650~~ | Now £2,250 | SAVE £400

18th-27th April | Was ~~£2,650~~ | Now £2,250 | SAVE £400

Our original tour of the classic sights: Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Kyoto. It’s a shorter trip that comes at great value. Explore hyper-modern Tokyo and historical Kyoto, visit Hikone Castle on the shore of Lake Biwa and ride the famous shinkansen bullet train.

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Must-See Japan (Max 16 people � Essential grade)

16th-26th April | Was ~~£2,980~~ | Now £2,480 | SAVE £500

This tour mixes vibrant city life with a quieter stop in the Hakone National Park and there’s flexibility to do your own thing, too. Stroll through Kyoto’s Gion geisha district, join a local neighbourhood cycling tour in Osaka, take a boat ride across Lake Ashi and enjoy okonomiyaki pancakes in Hiroshima.

Why Small Group Tours are great

Led by an expert
Each tour is led by an Insider – a Japan expert who loves the country so much, they chose to call it their home. Each Insider will bring their unique personal experience to the tour – taking you to their own favourite haunts and explaining everyday culture in a way that helps you make sense of it all. You’re getting a slice of local life, from someone who is fluent in all things Japan!

Fun and sociable tours
You'll meet interesting people who love travel, are excited to discover Japan and love a natter over dinner.

People meeting for the first time on one of our tours have been known to keep the WhatsApp chat going for years. Some end up making firm friends for life.

Smooth travels
From buying train tickets to tracking down gluten free soy sauce and getting you from A to B (without getting lost on the way!), your Insider takes care of everything. Spend more time enjoying your trip and less time worrying about where your next hotel is, or how to change trains.