Step into a world where tradition and technology harmoniously intertwine on the "Premium Japan" tour package. Crafted for experienced travelers and seniors, this 12-day, easy-paced journey begins in Tokyo, where futuristic skyscrapers rise beside centuries-old shrines. With an expert local leader guiding the way, you’ll discover the tranquility of Hakone’s hot springs, the Edo-era charm of Takayama, and the rural beauty of Shirakawa-go’s thatched villages.
In Kyoto, immerse yourself in the city’s intricate tapestry of temples, gardens, and geisha culture. Along the way, find peace in Hiroshima’s memorial parks and deepen your appreciation of Japanese cuisine with a sushi-making class led by a local expert. Soak in the rejuvenating waters of an onsen, and let each day reveal new facets of Japanese life—from bustling urban centers to serene mountain retreats.
This guided small group tour includes thoughtfully selected accommodations, delicious meals, and seamless transportation, allowing you to relax and soak in every moment. The unique selling point of this trip is its balanced immersion in both Japan’s ancient customs and its dynamic modernity. Whether you’re captivated by castles, holy mountains, or culinary artistry, this tour offers a comprehensive and comfortable introduction to Japan’s diverse wonders—perfect for those who appreciate both depth and ease in their travels.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Northern China’s tapestry of history and scenery is yours to discover on the "North China Getaway" tour, a 12-day journey from Beijing to Shanghai. This immersive trip weaves together the ancient and the modern, from the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors to the glittering cityscapes of Shanghai.
Travelers will experience curated local stays in village guesthouses, explore the misty peaks of Huangshan, and savor authentic cuisine along the way. The tour includes cultural highlights like Hongcun’s UNESCO-listed beauty and the vibrant pulse of China’s largest cities.
With moderate activity, this tour package is perfect for those seeking a balanced mix of sightseeing, local interaction, and cultural deep-dives. Its USP? Hand-picked experiences that take you beyond the tourist trail, offering a genuine taste of northern China’s rich diversity.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Sleeper Train, Guest House, Hostel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Beijing, Shanghai, Hongcun, Grea
Beijing, Shanghai, Hongcun, Great Wall of China, Xian, Huangshan
Simply Japan is pretty much as described in the trip notes, a full-on tour. Owing to the challenges of travelling by Minibus on Japan's highways the tour makes full use of Japan's Efficient rail network. Each location change is via train (Shinkansen or Ltd. Express). This would be more difficult without forwarding main luggage items by courier, hence living out of an overnight bag on 3 separate occasions during the tour.
All these travel arrangements and surviving the many city Metro and tram systems would be extremely daunting if it was not for the ceaseless attention of the tour guide. I could not praise our guide Henrik enough for his support. His enthusiasm and local knowledge was invaluable and clear instructions and morning briefings kept everyone in the group on track.
Almost every night he offered a group dinner option for those who wished to join him and he would take us to some less known local restaurant for authentic local cuisine. Even on the designated free time days Henrik (his designated days off), would offer to show anyone who wished to local places of interest.
All in all a wonderful experience. The only improvement I would suggest is that arranging an extra day in Tokyo at the beginning and in Osaka at the end would be highly beneficial (Some in the group had done this). Time is limited at the start and end of the tour and I certainly felt that I have not quite explored Tokyo and Osaka as much as I would have liked.
Lliasing with your tour group leader is very useful to plan visits to the most popular temples shrines and attractions. Most big tour groups tend to plan visits for opening time and pre lunch or post lunch. Visiting attractions at around 9:45, 13:00 or 15:00 generally avoids the massive peak-time coach tours.
Thank you Explore for another great travel experience
Train tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Osaka, Miyajima, Kyoto, A
Tokyo, Osaka, Miyajima, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Takayama, Hiroshima
The Japan Unrivalled trip was an amazing blend of hitting all the touristy hotspots, finding out of the way gems, learning all about the amazing history, and eating amazing food! Ikimasho!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Mount Koya
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Mount Koya, Hakone, Takayama, Hiroshima
David are your guide was superb . He always went the extra mile.
Most of the hotels were excellent and well located . Another tour day in the last stop would have been. Good
Cruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Fukuoka, Ikitsuki Island
Tokyo, Fukuoka, Ikitsuki Island, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nagasaki, Dejima, Hirado Island
Our third time with Expat Explore, value for money heaps to see. A fast pace tour with some long days, but if you're up to it, I would highly recommend. An enjoyable way to travel to cover Japan.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
10-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Takayam
Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Takayama, Kanazawa, Shizuoka, Iga, Osaka
Japan in a week was incredible! The tour and the people were a blast and created memories ill cherish for the rest of my life! Tokyo and Kyoto were amazing, the Nara Deer park add on is well worth the money and day!
I do wish we spent a little more time in Osaka however
I have just completed the 17 day Japan tour and it has been an incredible trip. The itinerary is packed with a wide variety of experiences from an origami class, staying in a 1000 year old temple, seeing snow monkeys (if you are lucky!) and a Samurai class to name a few. There is also plenty of free time throughout the trip to shop and explore which I appreciated as there were a few things I wanted to do which weren’t part of the itinerary.
My group leader Dan is an absolute legend!! It is my second tour with him and he always goes above and beyond to ensure we all have the best experience possible. He truly cares about each individual in the group and ensures everyone feels included. When we had free time Dan gave us plenty of recommendations of things to see and do and took us to additional places. He has an extensive cultural knowledge of Japan and I learnt a lot about Japan which I didn’t know about prior to the trip. It was also my birthday on the second day of the trip and it will definitely be a birthday that I will always remember!
I highly recommend doing this tour, you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much Dan! 😊
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay, Hostel
Age Range
18-55 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiros
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nagano, Hakone