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Japan Tours

Discover cosmopolitan Tokyo, explore the cultural heart of Kyoto, and enjoy local insider experiences in Japan's rural villages. Appreciate the natural beauty of Mt Fuji and Oirase Gorge, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, and see skyscrapers and zen gardens coexisting in chaotic serenity. Experience the bullet trains on a rail journey or explore this country of contrasts on a small group or escorted coach tour of Japan.

Popular Tours View all

13 Days Tokyo to Osaka

Operator: Trafalgar

From 5,196pp
Save 1,163pp

12 Days Tokyo to Kyoto

Operator: Cosmos

From 3,359pp
Save 244pp

9 Days Tokyo to Kyoto

Operator: Trafalgar

From 3,844pp
Save 846pp

13 Days Tokyo to Kyoto

Operator: Collette

From 4,799pp
Save 596pp

Popular Ways To Explore Japan View all

Small Group Tours Tours

Smaller groups (10–18 travellers) offer more local immersion. You might stay in a traditional ryokan, learn how to make sushi ...read more in a Kyoto kitchen, or join a tea ceremony in a hillside village. With more flexibility and insider access, these tours suit culturally curious travellers seeking connection and authenticity.

Rail Journeys Rail Journeys

Japan’s legendary train network makes it perfect for overland travel. Shinkansen bullet trains link major cities, while scenic ...read more regional lines pass through farmland, mountains, and seaside towns. Rail-based tours often feel seamless, fast-paced, and visually rewarding - a great fit for independent-leaning travellers who still want the structure of a tour.

Coach Tours Tours

These itineraries typically start in Tokyo or Osaka and follow structured routes through iconic locations like Kyoto, Mt ...read more Fuji, Nara, and Hiroshima. Expect a balanced pace with expert commentary, comfortable coach transport, and curated experiences — ideal for first-time travellers or those wanting everything taken care of.

Festival-Focused Tours Tours

Japan’s festival calendar is vibrant and varied — from lantern-lit parades in summer to snow and ice festivals in winter. ...read more These tours time your trip around major cultural events like Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, the Sapporo Snow Festival, or cherry blossom hanami season. Festival tours often include prime-view seating, insider experiences, and cultural insights from expert guides.

Luxury Tours Tours

For those seeking exceptional service, premium accommodation, and insider access, luxury tours through Japan elevate the ...read more experience. Stay in five-star city hotels or elegant ryokan inns with private onsens. Enjoy fine kaiseki dining, private viewings of historic sites, and seamless transfers via first-class rail or chauffeured transport. These itineraries move at a relaxed pace and often include expert cultural hosts or local specialists.

18–30s Tours Tours

Designed for younger travellers, these itineraries balance big-ticket sights with quirky, modern culture — think karaoke ...read more in Tokyo, street food in Osaka, or themed cafés in Akihabara. Shared dorms, capsule hotels, and built-in social time make these tours perfect for solo travellers or friend groups.

Walking & Active Tours Tours

Get off the grid with guided hikes through the Kiso Valley or along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail. Explore castle towns, ...read more cedar forests, and countryside villages on foot. These tours suit moderately fit travellers who want to combine movement with cultural depth.

Featured OperatorsFeatured Operators View all

Cosmos
At Cosmos, we like to think of ourselves as experts in ‘thrillology’ – the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of...more ‘wow’ under our belts and no sign of slowing down, we know how to curate value touring holidays that you’ll never forget; creating the experiences you’ve always dreamed of and showing you the ones, you never thought of. Our job is to take care of the planning and logistics, so that all you have to focus on is living your dreams!
Japan Tours1
Budget:Affordable
Accommodation:3 - 3.5 Star
Explore
Explore has been taking small groups on adventure holidays all over the world for almost 40 years. The expert team, at home and overseas, works together...more to create itineraries that leave you feeling that you’ve really explored a destination rather than just visited. You’ll see the highlights, the must-sees, of course. But you’ll also get away from the beaten track, and get a different perspective on your destination. You’ll get closer to a place, its people and cultures. Our small groups are typically 12 people – small enough to get right into the heart of your destination, but big enough to find like-minded people to share your experiences with. And the glue that holds these groups together is our local tour leaders, who are uniquely placed to add individual and spontaneous moments to each trips – moments that stay with you long after you return home. All sorts of people travel with Explore – our groups are usually a mix of solos, couples and friends. What unites them is their adventurous spirit and thirst for real travel experiences. We provide authentic small-group travel, designed by experts and led by experts, with sustainability at its heart and a common desire for unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re on a cultural tour of Lebanon, cycling in Vietnam, walking in Italy or exploring Costa Rica with your family, when you’re travelling with Explore you know that you’re in good hands.
Japan Tours7
Budget:Affordable & Premium
Accommodation:Mixed
G Adventures
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the...more communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own. On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Japan Tours15
Budget:Affordable
Accommodation:Mixed

Discover Must do experiences and highlights when you tour Japan

Be Moved in Hiroshima
Be Moved in Hiroshima

Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to gain insight into the city’s dark times. Meet a survivor whose narrative will bring that era to life.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Fushimi Inari-Taisha

One of the many monuments that make Kyoto so special, this shrine is embellished by over 5000 vermilion torii gates decorating the forest trails.

Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya Crossing

Explore the bustling cityscape of Tokyo, including busy Shibuya crossing which sees roughly 2,500 people cross in unison at the change of lights.

A Traditional Ryokan Stay
A Traditional Ryokan Stay

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, don a robe, sip green tea on tatami mats, soak in an onsen, and rest your head on traditional bedding laid out for you as your ryokan transforms in the evening.

Cherry Blossom Season
Cherry Blossom Season

If you want to see Japan dusted with delicate blooms, then plan to visit in springtime. The cherry blossom season usually peaks between late March and mid-April depending on the weather.

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their journeys to Japan

Our Explore Japan journey!     , VIC, Australia, Sep 2025
So many highlights - Tokyo; Hiroshima so emotionally moving; temple visits and early morning blessings; some free time to explore (with wonderful suggestions by a great tour leader Sam); Matsumoto; Kyoto; Osaka- all wonderfully interesting in their own right; the gardens just beautiful!! The accommodation was great. Twin share for a couple is definitely... read more the way to go! (A double room was just that bit too small for two pieces of luggage). The Explore daypack scenario was a bit challenging for we older travellers but we adapted! A very different tour compared to some if our European experiences but we loved it!! Japan is amazing; the people are so obliging and respectful; no graffiti or rubbish on the streets. We were surprised by the amount of walking and the use of public transport. However, once we got accustomed to that, we were very impressed with how accessible and easy it is to navigate!
Active Japan   , VIC, Australia, Jul 2025
Was a good taste of some of Japan for our first visit. Was not as active as I was expecting but was a nice trip. The tour could do with some adjustments as there was some disappointments in the activities planned. Our tour guide was great, so friendly, social & helped us really experience some of Japan's cuisine & went above & beyond to provide advice... read more when asked.
Japan 25   , NSW, Australia, May 2025
When j booked this tour it was advertised as a small group (up to 24) so it was quite surprising on arrival to find out it was 36. Clearly our tour guide was out of her depth coordinating that many people & for the first few days we were left wandering. I feel there was a lot of wasted time as we were returned to our hotels by 4pm even after asking... read more if we could be taken to other close locations. The sites were great otherwise.
Japan Botanica Cruise     , QLD, Australia, Apr 2025
This was a great experience and provided a comprehensive tour of major Japanese gardens with genial and knowledgeable guides and tour leaders. The ship was excellently appointed and meals were consistently good, and more than adequate in quantity. Hotel accommodation was good in Kyoto but the property in Tokyo was due for a refresh. The itinerary was... read more quite full and some activities may have challenged people of less than moderate fitness. There were several traditional Japanese meals, which provided an interesting introduction to the cuisine, despite not being to everyone’s taste.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to traveling to Japan

Discover Japan’s Historic Districts

08 August, 2019

Discover Japan’s Historic Districts

If it is the country’s rich history that draws you to Japan, then no doubt you’ll want to spend some time exploring the historic districts that boast fascinating narratives...

5 Uniquely Japanese Experiences to have at the Summit of Mt Fuji

01 August, 2019

5 Uniquely Japanese Experiences to have at the Summit of Mt Fuji

If you are challenging yourself with a hike of Mt Fuji, then you will be pleasantly surprised to know that your efforts will be duly rewarded at the peak. More than just a...

5 of the Best Walking Trails in Japan

22 July, 2019

5 of the Best Walking Trails in Japan

Japan boasts plenty of drawcards and travellers flock here for the culture, cuisine, cityscapes, rich history and incredible natural beauty. These varied landscapes are a...

Save on Small Group Tours to Japan with Bunnik!

08 April, 2019

Save on Small Group Tours to Japan with Bunnik!

Japan – a country brimming with culture, scenic beauty and delicious cuisine. It’s not difficult to understand why it has become the destination of choice for many...

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