Japan

Private guides, ryokan nights, and bullet train rides — Japan rewards travelers who get the timing right. Our Japan vacation packages cover Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima with private guides and rail travel between them, planned around your dates for cherry blossom in spring, autumn colour in November, or a quieter month with the same access.

A Journey to Japan

Touring Japan is like touring two countries at the same time. A Shinkansen leaves Tokyo at 200mph and arrives in Kyoto, where a garden has been raked the same way for four hundred years. You can eat at a counter with six seats and a Michelin star, then walk out into the neon city lights. You can spend a morning in a bamboo grove and an evening in a bar the size of a hallway.

It rewards travelers who know where to look and when to go, which is the part we handle. Every itinerary we build is private, paced to you, and shaped by guides who live there.

Where to Go in Japan

• Tokyo — Start here. Senso-Ji before the crowds, TeamLab Planets, the Ghibli Museum and Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea, ending with a round-up dinner.
• Kyoto — A thousand years of temples, tea houses and gardens. Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama's bamboo, geisha districts at dusk.
• Nara — An hour from Kyoto. Todai-ji's Great Buddha, deer wandering the parkland, and far fewer visitors than it deserves.
• Osaka — The kitchen of Japan. Street food in Dotonbori, and the best place in the country to eat late.
• Hiroshima & Miyajima — The Peace Memorial, then a ferry to the floating torii gate at Itsukushima. Sobering and beautiful in the same afternoon.
• Hakone & Mount Fuji — The classic view of Japan's most iconic sight, alongside hot springs and the ryokan night most travelers remember longest.
• Hokkaido — Powder snow in winter, wildflowers and lavender in summer, and Japan's best seafood year-round.

Japan Cherry Blossom Tours

Sakura moves north like a slow wave. Kyushu blooms in mid-to-late March, Tokyo and Kyoto follow from late March into the first week of April, and the front reaches northern Honshu and Hokkaido through late April and into May.

The bloom lasts about a week, and the entire country books out around it. Our Japan cherry blossom tours are planned months ahead — hotels held early, viewing spots chosen away from the crowds, and enough flexibility in the route to chase the blossom if it comes early.

Taste Japan, Hands On

Japan is as much about the food as the sights, and the best way in is to make it yourself. We arrange private sushi-making classes with Tokyo chefs, early-morning visits to the Toyosu and Tsukiji Outer markets, and food experiences that go well beyond a restaurant booking — ramen, wagashi sweets, or a home-cooking session with a local. It's the kind of afternoon travelers talk about long after the trip.

When to Visit Japan

• Spring (March–May) — Cherry blossom, mild weather, peak demand. Book six to twelve months out. Avoid Golden Week in late April and early May, when the country travels domestically.
• Summer (June–August) — Hot and humid in the cities, but the season for festivals, Hokkaido, and hiking the Japan Alps.
• Autumn (September–November) — Another great season. Kyoto's maple colour peaks in mid-to-late November, and the weather is close to perfect.
• Winter (December–February) — Powder snow in Hokkaido and Nagano, steaming outdoor onsen, and the clearest views of Fuji all year.

Japan Guided Tours With Private Local Experts

A guide is the difference between sightseeing Fushimi Inari and actually understanding it. Our Japan guided tours are run by licensed local guides who know which temple to visit at what hour, how to book a counter seat that isn't listed anywhere, and when to change the plan because the weather turned. You travel privately, at your own pace. No coaches, no fixed departure dates, no waiting in a group of thirty.

Japan Private Tours & Customized Itineraries

Every itinerary starts blank. Tell us how long you have, what you want out of it, and how fast you like to move, and leave the rest to us.

Our private Japan tours cover the logistics that make the country difficult to plan alone — rail passes and seat reservations, luggage forwarding between hotels, ryokan bookings that don't accept foreign reservations directly, and restaurant seats that open exactly one month ahead. Customized Japan tours can run for a week or a month, city-only or coast-to-coast.

Japan Honeymoon Packages

Japan is an unusually good honeymoon spot. It is safe, effortless to tour, and quietly romantic.

Our Japan honeymoon packages are built around three or four nights in Kyoto, a private ryokan with an in-room onsen in Hakone or Kinosaki, and a few days in Tokyo at either end. For a romantic Japan trip, you can add a kaiseki dinner served in your room, a private tea ceremony, or a night in a temple lodging on Koyasan. Our luxury honeymoon travel is all about customization and peace, not fuss.

Japan Tours From the USA

US passport holders travel to Japan visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Flights run around 11 hours from the West Coast and 13 to 14 hours from the East, arriving in Tokyo Haneda or Narita, or Osaka Kansai.

We plan Japan tours from USA departures end to end — flight timing that lands you at a reasonable hour, a first night positioned to break the jet lag, and 24/7 support in your time zone while you're there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Japan vacation package cost?

It depends entirely on season, length, and accommodation. Cherry blossom season carries the highest rates, and ryokan stays vary widely. We price each itinerary individually. Tell us your dates and budget, and we'll build to it.

When is the best time for a Japan cherry blossom tour?

Late March to early April for Tokyo and Kyoto, mid-to-late March in Kyushu, and late April into May for northern Japan and Hokkaido. Book six to twelve months ahead, as hotels sell out early.

Do I need a visa for Japan as a US citizen?

US passport holders can currently enter Japan visa-free for tourism stays of up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

How many days do you need in Japan?

Ten to fourteen days covers Tokyo, Kyoto and one or two additions comfortably. Seven days works for Tokyo and Kyoto alone. Three weeks lets you reach Hiroshima, Hokkaido or the Japan Alps without rushing.

Can I customize a Japan tour?

Yes. Every itinerary we build is private and customized. Tours listed here are starting points rather than fixed departures.

Start Planning Your Japan Trip With Us

Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you want from it. Your advisor will build a first itinerary and adjust it until it's right. Plan your trip → or call +1 646 207 55 00.