Heading to Japan? Want to Find the Best Japan Tours for 2024? Read This.

Japan is an awesome place to visit, however due to the language barrier it can be a bit more complicated to work out your trip than many other destinations.  For many people the option to book a package tour is attractive as you only need to make one booking rather than many, and you also usually have the benefit of the tour being escorted so you don’t need to work everything out by yourself.

With that philosophy in mind I have put together a detailed article on how to find the right tour to suit you for travel, which includes overviews for some of the major reputable tour operators in Japan.  Most Japan tours use the extremely good Japan Rail or JR shinkansen or bullet train system.

Best Japan Tour Options for 2024

A great option to find the right tour to Japan is to do some searching on Tour Radar – they offer a wide range of multi-day package tours for Japan, and after you click through, you can quickly filter the tour options to find the ones which will suit you best. They regularly offer great deals of up to 60% off package tours, so I suggest you sign up for their email list to receive those deals as they arise. Click here to check out the Japan tour options on Tour Radar.

If you prefer to book directly with a reputable tour company I have put together a detailed list of options to consider in the following categories.

The tours I am recommending are all reputable travel companies.  G Adventures, Intrepid, Peregrine, Contiki and Gecko Adventures are all reputable worldwide tour companies.

Best Japan Small Group Deluxe Package Tours

  • The G Adventures Iconic Japan is a 12 day National Geographic Journeys small group deluxe tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Tsumago, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Kyoto. This tour uses higher quality hotels for 10 nights and a traditional Ryokan for one night.  This tour includes accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour has a higher number of included activities and has 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Iconic Japan Tour.

Best Japan Small Group High Inclusion Package Tours

  • The G Adventures Discover Japan Tour is a 14 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mt Fuji region and then returns to Tokyo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights and traditional Ryokens for 4 nights.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour has many included activities and has 2 breakfasts and one dinner included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Discover Japan Tour.
  • The Peregrine Explore Japan is a 12 day small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Takayama and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights and traditional Ryokens for 2 nights.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk 10-15km on some days.  This tour has many included activities and has 11 breakfasts and two dinners included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Peregrine Explore Japan Tour.
  • The Intrepid Classic Japan Tour is a 12 day Comfort small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Kyoto, Mt Koyasan, Hiroshima, Tsumago, Matsumoto and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels and traditional Ryokans for 10 nights and a temple stay for one night.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk up to 10 km on some days.  This tour has many included activities and has 11 breakfasts and 2 dinners included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Classic Japan Tour.
  • The G Adventures Backroads of Japan Tour is a 12 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kurashiki and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels and traditional Ryokens for 9 nights and traditional inns for 2 nights.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour has many included activities and has 1 breakfast and one dinner included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Backroads of Japan Tour.
  • The G Adventure Japan Express Tour is a 9 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Osaka, Mt Koyasan, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Hakone/Mt Fuji Area and Tokyo. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour has many included activities and has 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Express Tour.
Views over Matsumoto Castle, Japan
Views over Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Best Japan Small Group Low Inclusion Package Tours

  • The Intrepid Japan Express Tour is a 9 day Basix small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Tokyo, Nikko and Kyoto. This tour uses mostly Ryokan and small guest house accommodation.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk up to 10km on some days.  This tour is structured to maximise your independent travel time with very few included activities and no meals included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Japan Express Tour.

Best Japan Tour Options for Younger Adults

  • The Contiki Japan Unrivalled Tour is a 13 day tour for 18-35 year olds which visits Tokyo, Hakone (Mt Fuji area and onsen stay), Takayama, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Wakayama (temple stay) and finishes in Osaka. This tour uses a combination of hotels and traditional Ryokan and Shukubo stays, as well as a combination of train and private Contiki coach to get around.  14 meals are included in the tour package.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Contiki Japan Unrivalled Tour.
  • The Geckos Discover Japan tour is a 10 day tour for 18-29 year olds which visits Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. This tour uses a combination of hotels and traditional Ryokans, as well as public train and bus transport options.  This tour requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and to do a lot of walking (up to 10km each day).  No meals are included in the tour package.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Geckos Discover Japan Tour.
  • The G Adventures Epic Japan tour is a 9 day tour for 18-39 year olds which visits Tokyo, Mt Fuji/Hakone area, Kyoto and Osaka. This tour uses multi share hostels for accommodation, as well as public transport to get around.  This tour includes some activities and no meals are included in the tour package.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Epic Japan Tour.

Best Japan Package Tour Options for Families

In the other tour descriptions in this article I have included details of the minimum ages to participate in the tours.  The majority of G Adventure tours will take children aged 12 and above, as long as they are in the company of an adult who is at least 18 years old.  Other tour operators have minimum ages of 15 and 16 years old, also in the company of an adult.

For younger children the below tour options are available:

  • The Intrepid Japan Family Holiday Tour is an 11 day Original small group tour which visits Tokyo, Mt Fuji/Hakone Area and Kyoto. To participate children must be at least 5 years old.  This tour uses hotels for 8 nights and traditional Ryokans for 2 nights.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour includes many activities and 10 breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Japan Family Holiday Tour.
Hogwarts School in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter USJ, with the reflection over Black Lake
Hogwarts School in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter USJ, with the reflection over Black Lake

Best Active Japan Package Tour Options

  • The Intrepid Cycle Japan Tour is a 14 day Original small group tour for ages 16 and above which visits Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, the Noto Peninsula and Tokyo. This tour uses mostly Ryokan (8 nights) and hotel (5 nights) accommodation.  This tour provides accommodation, a bicycle, support vehicle and train tickets and requires a good level of fitness to ride a bicycle between 35 – 65km each day.  This tour includes many activities and 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners are included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Cycle Japan Tour.
  • The G Adventures Japan Hike, Bike and Kayak Tour is a 13 day Active small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Osaka, Chikatsuyu, Katsuura, Wakayama, Kyoto, Onomichi, Ikuchi Jima, Matsuyama, Hiroshima and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels (9 nights) and traditional Ryokans (3 nights).  This tour provides accommodation, a bicycle and kayaks and public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour includes many activities and 12 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Hike, Bike and Kayak Tour.
  • The Govoyagin Mt Fuji Climbing Tour is a two day tour which is suitable for both adults and children from 6 – 15 years of age, as long as they are accompanied by an adult of at least 20 years old. Children aged 16-19 can climb Mt Fuji by themselves as long as they have a letter of permission from their parents.  The Mt Fuji climbing season typically runs from early July to early September each year.  The tour is conducted as a group tour with Japanese speaking participants, however for this specific tour an additional English speaking guide will accompany the tour participants for the full journey.  A mountain guide will also provide support to all members of the group.  The tour departs from Tokyo, which enables you to climb to the 7th hut on the first day and have a short sleep, before then continuing your climb overnight so that you can view the sunrise from the peak of Mt Fuji.  For an additional fee (and an extra 90 minutes) there is an option to walk around the crater of Mt Fuji. On the return journey you can visit the Benifuji no Yu hot spring.  The tour subsequently returns to Tokyo.  You can either bring your own mountaineering equipment or hire everything you need – rental gear can be collected in Shinjuku in Tokyo and returned to the Mt Fuji 5th station.  Note that mountain insurance is not included and should be purchased by the participants prior to this tour.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Govoyagin Mt Fuji Climbing Tour.
Murodo on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Japan
Murodo on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Japan

Best Japan Package Food Tour Options

  • The Intrepid Real Food Adventure – Japan Tour is a 12 day original small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Osaka, Mt Koyasan and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels for 6 nights, traditional Ryokans for 4 nights and a monastery for one night.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness and the ability to walk up to 10km on some days.  This tour includes many food related and other activities and 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners are included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Real Food Adventure – Japan Tour.

Best Japan Winter Package Tour Options

  • The G Adventures Sapporo Snow Festival and Japan Winter Highlights Tour is a 13 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Shirakawa, Kanazawa, Kawayu, Osaka, Kyoto, then flies to Sapporo, Noboribetsu and Sapporo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights, traditional inns for 2 nights and a farmhouse for 1 night.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets, the flight to Sapporo and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour includes many activities and 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Sapporo Snow Festival and Japan Winter Highlights Tour.
  • The G Adventures Japan Winter Highlights Tour is a 9 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Shirakawa, Kanazawa, Kawayu, Osaka and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels for 6 nights and traditional inns for 2 nights.  This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness.  This tour includes many activities and 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included.  Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Winter Highlights Tour.
Best Japan Tours

Understanding Japan Distances and Travel Times

When you think about visiting Japan it is a good idea to get your head around the size of Japan and the typical places people visit, and how long it will take you to get around.  The majority of first time visitors to Japan will typically visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with many also visiting Hiroshima.  The four cities can be visualised as a straight west to east line as you can catch a single train line which stops in all 4 cities.  The distances are travel times are as follows:

  • Tokyo to Kyoto is a 457km / 284 mi distance which takes approximately 2:30 hours on the Shinkansen bullet train. Kyoto does not have an airport, so flights arrive in Osaka
  • Kyoto to Osaka is a 55km / 34 mi distance which takes approximately 30 minutes on the train. The train from Tokyo to Osaka takes approximately 2:50 hours.  Flights from Tokyo to Osaka take approximately 1 hour.
  • Osaka to Hiroshima is a 326km/203km distance which takes approximately 1:45 hours on the Shinkansen bullet train.

The majority of tours of Japan explore the area between Tokyo and Hiroshima with quite a few itinerary variations and a diverse range of experiences, mostly in the comfort of the high speed shinkansen bullet trains and other local transport options.

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