Japan Tours 2023 / 2024

In this type, you will have a private vehicle and a driver who speaks little English. He is only responsible for the transfers and is not able to provide any explanation to you.

It costs a little less than a private car with a driving guide and is recommended in remote areas without English-speaking chauffeur guides or for natural sightseeing without much history or cultural things to tell.

In such a tour, you will have a guide to escort you around and explain what you see and do. However, you need to take local transportation, such as city metros or buses, from one site to another. It is a way to experience local life, but you may spend more time on the road. And due to local customs, the guide will not chat with you on the metro or bus.

If you want to understand the country in-depth and in an economical way, this should be the best choice. It's only feasible in major cities with highly developed public transportation systems.

In this mode, we will arrange a private vehicle with a private driver and a private tour guide for you and your group.

If you have an adequate budget and want the most comfortable travel, or there are seven or more people in your group, it will be the best way.

It is a join-in group tour, which means you will share the guide and vehicle with other travelers staying at different hotels. The tour itinerary is fixed and nonadjustable. In most cases, you will be picked up at the designated point instead of your hotel. Traveling in this way is relatively affordable and more recommended for solo travelers.

Japan is a charming country to visit all year round, and each season offers a different highlight for visitors. With dreamlike cherry blossoms to feel the coming of spring, summer festivals with dancing, sea breezes and night-blooming fireworks to be remembered, autumn leaves with the color of the sun that warm the whole country, and a world of cotton-covered winter snow to ski and explore, there is always something not to be missed at any time of the year!

For a complete visit to the main attractions and some special experiences, you can take a week-long trip to Japan. If you are in a hurry, you can spend three days in Tokyo and Kyoto, the most typical cities that can give a full representation of this country. While there is plenty of time for your Japan tour, you can take a longer trip of about two weeks, with more cities to visit and more details to experience, such as eating in Osaka, enjoying Hakone Onsen, marveling at the parks in Hiroshima, heading north to Hokkaido and other lovely cities.

Public transport in Japan is very convenient, with almost all cities connected by multi-line buses, subways and trains. With an IC card, which can be purchased at most train stations, you can easily get to the sights and attractions of Japan. 

For one of the most comfortable ways to travel in Japan, try the Shinkansen. The Shinkansen is a railway system that runs through almost all of Japan's major cities, with high speeds, comfortable interiors to get you to your next destination, and some routes that sometimes have stunning exterior views of Mt. Fuji, making it very pleasant to travel between cities on the Shinkansen.

For more information about the Japanese bullet train, please check the articles below:

• How to Take Shinkansen: Guide to Japan's Bullet Trains
• Travel Around Japan: Which Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Line to Take

Although UnionPay and JCB credit cards are widely accepted (with a 3% fee) at major hotels, shopping centers and restaurants, it is still necessary to change the Japanese yen. It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you as most street shops, restaurants and hotels prefer to charge in cash. You may also have some coins in case you need them, especially when visiting shrines. ATMs for exchanging currency are usually located at airports, so you can do this when you arrive in Japan if you have time. Alternatively, you can use the Post Office ATMs, Citibank ATMs or the internationally friendly ATMs that are easy to find in 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Tipping is not required or necessarily expected, but if you are satisfied with the service you receive, you can tip appropriately, especially your guide or driver. You can tip each of them USD 5-10 per day to show your appreciation.