Japan Discovery Tour (12 Days)

On this Japan Discovery Tour (12 days) Join-in small group experience, visit the most iconic locations in Japan that is the ideal trip for first-time travelers with an English-speaking tour guide. Stay in 3 – 4 Star overnight accommodations and travel in style with Shinkansen (bullet-train) with combination of private bus or vehicle*. This tour is for a small group of 16 to 26 people (for a private experience for your group only, visit the Japan Discovery Private Tour page).

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
For children (Age 12 and below), the children must stay in the same room as adults.
For guests age 13 and up, guests may stay in a separate room, or may share a room with parents at request
Passports may be required to verify age on the day of the tour.
It is each traveler’s responsibility to have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of travel and a visa if required.
Guests are provided with the tour guides’ phone number before the tour and you can call the tour guide if you need to meet the group in the next location.
All guests arrive at the location at least 10 minutes before the designated meet-up time.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather jacket. Some religious sites may require modest dress to enter: No shorts or short skirts, knees must be covered by long pants or a long skirt. No sleeveless tops, shoulders must be covered and a shawl or scarf is frequently not accepted as a cover.
The tour operates in all weather conditions (except when there is a typhoon or other extreme situations). Please dress appropriately for all weather conditions. In such case, please note that the tour may change slightly to accommodate for the weather.
What if I’m late to meet up with Tour Manager during the tour? - We ask that all guests arrive at the location at least 10 minutes before the designated meet-up time. Since this is a group tour, we may not be able to wait for you if you are late. The tour will begin without the late guests and you can meet the rest of the group at the next location. Guests are provided with the tour guides’ phone number before the tour and you can call the tour guide if you need to meet the group in the next location.
How fit do I need to be for this tour? - This active tour covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect to walk about two to four hours on some touring days. Although the pace is moderate, you may encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps and significant slopes on this tour and there are some areas in the open air and with no shade. There may also be changes in set drop-off and pick-up locations due to driving conditions and regulations, which may require additional walking between the different locations.
Is this an ideal tour for first-time visitors to Japan? - Yes, this tour is ideal for first-time visitors to Japan. While this introductory Discovery Tour will visit many of the most iconic locations in Japan, there are also other places you’ll visit that are not the main landmarks. This will provide you with a better idea of what life in Japan is like for locals, as well as visit to some of the main attractions that Japan has to offer.
What is the difference between this tour and the Japan Autumn & Winter Illuminations Discovery Tour in late November to early December? - The Japan Autumn & Winter Illuminations Discovery Tour is an extension of the Japan Discover Tour. The tour will cover the same cities as the Japan Discovery Tour, but will include Kobe City and other scenic spots for Autumn Foliage and Winter Illuminations throughout the route (the time at some attractions in the Japan Discovery Tour will be shortened to accommodate additional attractions on this tour).
Small groups of maximum 26 travelers guaranteed. The tour with private mini bus within some cities will still operate with a smaller group of 16 people. If there are 15 people or less, transportation within the cities will be public transportation instead. For small groups or private tours (available at request), or in some cases larger groups, there may be multiple tour guides based on availability and scheduling.
Booking Confirmation based on number of guests: The tour will be confirmed within 30 days of the start date of the tour.
A minimum number of 16 guests in total is required to operate this tour with private bus for local transfers within some cities (transportation from major cities will always be with bullet train). The Tour Manager will be the same throughout the tour with 16 or more guests (with some exceptions in peak seasons). If we have 15 or less guests confirmed for this tour, the tour will still proceed, but with public transportation only (no private bus as local transport). There will be different Tour Managers within different regions/areas on your tour in Japan for tours with 15 or less guests (three Tour Managers in the three different regions of Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai).
Trip Preparation: It is each traveler’s responsibility to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel and a visa if required. All travelers should familiarize themselves with local conditions, such as high altitude or required immunizations, which could affect their health. We recommend you consult with your personal healthcare provider, the Centers for Disease Control and/or the World Health Organization for their recommendations.
Strict Cancellation Policy:
We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before event
We will charge a cancellation fee of 75% if booking is cancelled 14 days or less before event
We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if booking is cancelled 30 days or less before event
We will charge a cancellation fee of 25% if booking is cancelled 45 days or less before event
Availability: November 27th – December 8th, 2022
December 18th – December 29th, 2022
January 15th – January 26th, 2023
February 12th – February 23rd, 2023
March 5th – March 16th, 2023
March 19th – March 30th, 2023 (Cherry Blossoms Discovery Tour)
April 9th – April 20th, 2023
May 14th – May 25th, 2023
June 4th – June 15th, 2023/ June 18th – June 29th, 2023
July 2nd – July 13th, 2023/ July 16th – July 27th, 2023/ July 30th – August 10th, 2023
August 6 – August 17th, 2023 / August 20th – August 31st, 2023
September 3rd – September 14th, 2023
October 8th – October 19th, 2023/ October 22nd – November 2nd, 2023
November 5th – November 16th, 2023
November 26th – December 7th, 2023 (Japan Autumn & Illuminations Discovery Tour)
December 10th – December 21st, 2023"
How far in advance should I book?
Preparing a customized tour requires some time, especially if reservations for restaurants or other venues are required. We recommend making a reservation as early as possible. Ideally, it should be 3 months before your travel date, or 1 month before the travel date at the very least. For Custom Tour bookings that are requested with less than 7 days before the travel date, we may not be able to arrange your custom tour in time so your booking request may be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.
Why am I charged a service fee if I make a cancellation after you started planning the trip?
Organizing and planning a trip requires a lot of time and if we have made reservations on your behalf, it may be very challenging to cancel some booking requests. Once we receive your booking and your answers from the Custom Tour form, we will begin putting together your Itinerary Sheet and will start arranging your tour guide, buying tickets, making reservations at venues for your tour, etc.
If you cancel the tour any time after we have sent you the custom Itinerary Sheet, the service fee of 15% of your total tour cost will be nonrefundable.

The tour with private mini bus within some cities still operate with a smaller group of 16 people
English-speaking Tour Manager
Guests pack small luggage (carry-on size or smaller) for overnight stay in Kaga Onsen and Takayama.
one large parcel with maximum dimensions of 80 cm x 40 cm x 30cm, less than 25 kg
Comprehensive, guided sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary (optional activities not included)
One luggage forwarding per person from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned vehicles, trains, or other transportation.
If there are 15 people or less, transportation within the cities will be public transportation.
Option to transfer from Kyoto to Osaka (or Tokyo upon request) on Day 12 at no additional cost.
For small groups, private tours or in some cases, there may be multiple tour guides.
10 nights First Class accommodations: 3 – 4* overnight stay at traditional and modern hotels or inns
Small groups of maximum 26 travelers guaranteed.
Transportation costs included in the itinerary