Japan

Japan’s treasures often speak differently to different people. The many facets and details of Japan make it an ideal destination for leaving the tour buses behind and going your own way. In fact, some advocates for sustainable tourism would prefer you did. These trips are all about customizing a Japan tour to your travel needs.

Discover Japan’s Hidden Heritage

Kyoto is the ideal starting point for any history lover’s tour of Japan. There’s a reason everyone comes here, and yes, you’ll want to see the gold-leaf covered Kinkaku-ji and walk the endless torii gates of Fushimi Inari shrine. But Kyoto has many hidden stars just steps away from its headliners. Instead of waking up before dawn to take the perfect photo of Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, consider visiting Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple and its neighbouring (much quieter) bamboo grove. Fushimi Inari is an incredible place to visit, but it’s also incredibly crowded during peak hours. For quieter, more reflective torii photos, you’ll have to either hike beyond the crowds, or find spiritual calm at another shrine such as Hie in Tokyo’s centrally located Akasaka district.

Another good way to ease your crowd fatigue without skipping must-see sights is to devote those spare days to historic, yet less-visited cities. Hiroshima’s Peace Park is a deeply moving experience, but so is Peace Park Nagasaki and the sobering Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Famous for its nightingale calls, evocative Kanazawa can feel like a smaller Kyoto, and makes a less-crowded alternative to the historic capital during peak seasons like hanami (cherry blossom viewing).. In early November, enjoy the foliage in Nagano or Nikko instead of busy Tokyo. While Japan is extremely well-connected by rail, having access to your own driver can make all the difference to reaching smaller villages and lesser-known sites.

Individual experiences that make unique memories

Travelling independently, you’ll have more opportunities to explore Japan’s cultural cornerstones, plus find those niche experiences that will make your Japan vacation that much more memorable. There are nation-wide favourites like the Japanese tea ceremony or wearing a kimono. Individual travel also makes it easier to build your trip around festivals like Gion Matsuri in Kyoto or the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido. You can also devote your time to levelling up your Japanese cooking skills, or more uniquely Japanese arts like origami or flower arranging. Getting tickets for sumo season can be tricky, but travelling independently can make things easier. This is a country where tradition and oddity are celebrated in equal measure, so from the time-honoured tea ceremony to touring Akihabara in a go-cart dressed as a Pokemon, there’s a distinctly Japanese experience for every taste.

Customized tours for a culinary odyssey

We mentioned cooking classes? Let’s zoom in here, since Japan's cuisine can be overwhelming with its diversity, with each region offering its own specialties. Every tour guide talks about assembling a fresh sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market, or nibbling on succulent takoyaki (octopus balls) in Osaka, but what if you don’t like seafood? Japan will happily accommodate you, but a group food tour might not, so it makes sense to book independently. Perhaps you want to go a step further than the rest of your cooking class on your journey to ramen or sushi mastery, or learn about the ingredients and arrangements unique to Japanese cuisine. 

With an independent tour, you can explore Japan your way. Go beyond the clichés and discover what it means to you!