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Geisha in Kyoto

Japan holidays 2022 & 2023
Geisha in Kyoto
Travel with confidence. Secure your trip now with full flexibility in your plans.
  •  Secure your trip now

    Speak with a specialist for the latest advice on all your travel options. As soon as you're ready to plan, they'll create the trip you’re looking for.

  •  Full flexibility in your plans

    Book by 31st December and we'll give you the flexibility to change your plans for free if changing travel guidance or restrictions impact you.

  •  Travel with confidence

    Your safety is our first priority. In your specialist, you have an expert advisor you can rely on before you travel and while you’re away.

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Japan’s distinct culture, futuristic cities and striking natural landscapes make it one of our most rewarding destinations. While the lifestyle may seem intimidatingly different, our specialists have spent time living, and often working, in the country and can help you navigate the cultural idiosyncrasies. With their expert guidance and help in planning your tailor-made itinerary, experiencing a culture far removed from your own is part of the country’s charm.

In one sleek bullet train journey, you can travel from the dense, neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the fresh, clean air of the Japanese Alps. Buddhist temples dot the country, and in rural areas you can stay in traditional ryokan inns for a taste of Japanese life from a bygone era. Our specialists can advise on everything from the best local festivals to attend, to which local delicacies to try during your holiday to Japan.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

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Suggested tours for Japan

These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Japan could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

View all Japan tours

Suggested activities for Japan

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Japan.

  • Visit Tokyo Disneyland
    Entrance to Tokyo Disneyland

    Visit Tokyo Disneyland

    Tokyo

    Visit Tokyo Disneyland

    Enjoy the rides and atmosphere at Tokyo's Disneyland and Disney Sea.

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  • Hakone National Park
    Hakone Open Air Museum

    Hakone National Park

    Hakone & Mount Fuji

    Hakone National Park

    The full day Hakone Free pass allows you unlimited access to the local scenic train line, the bus network, a funicular train up Mt Kami which leads on to a gondola rope-way, and a cruise boat on Lake Ashi. Mt Fuji can be sighted from various points around the park, weather permitting.

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  • Tokyo City Tour
    Streetlife, Tokyo

    Tokyo City Tour

    Tokyo

    Tokyo City Tour

    Begin your day with a visit to Meiji Jingu shrine in Harajuku, one of Tokyo's busiest sights but an oasis of calm in the early morning. From here wander through the shopping streets of Harajuku and head south to Shibuya for morning coffee and people watching at the Hachiko pedestrian crossing.

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See more things to do in Japan

Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made tours
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for over 25 years
  • 98% of our clients would recommend us
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Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Japan, including information about climate, events and festivals.

Best time to visit Japan

Request a brochure

Our detailed brochures feature trip ideas and travel experiences recommended by our specialists.

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Useful information for planning your holiday in Japan

  • Timezone
    UTC +9

  • Flight time
    11½ hours (Tokyo)

  • Recommended airlines
    British Airways, Turkish Airlines

  • Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in major cities.

  • Japan has one of the world's most sophisticated food cultures. Some of its more well known specialities, including sushi and sashimi can be a little expensive, but it is easy to find delicious food at very reasonable prices. Noodles are an excellent lunch option in soup or fried dishes, offering a varied and filling meal. Others to look out for include bento boxed lunches, teriyaki, sukiyaki, tempura and nabe. Traditional Japanese drinks include sake and shochu, a strong aquavit, often mixed with soda or juice. Local brands of beer such as Kirin, Sapporo, Suntory and Asahi are recommended.

  • There is no culture of tipping in Japan, and nobody expects it. The only exception is in high class ryokan, where a token of ¥2000 might be left in an envelope for the room attendant. Compulsory service charges are levied in some hotels and restaurants.

  • Do not be afraid to carry cash on your person as Japan is an extremely safe and even more importantly, honest country. The local currency is the Yen. Major credit cards are accepted in most international or large hotels but it is difficult to use them to get cash advances. It's advisable to carry enough cash on you to cover the costs of eating out as not all restaurants accept credit cards. If in doubt just ask the restaurant beforehand. The Japanese Post Office ATMs in major branches accept foreign issued debit and credit cards, as do the ATMs in many branches of the ubiquitous 7Eleven convenience store.

  • Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. However, they do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs but expect them to behave formally and politely. Bowing is the customary greeting. The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing adults. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant it is customary to remove shoes and exchange them for indoor slippers. When entering hot spring baths, which are normally segregated, clothes are removed and you enter the bathing area naked except for a small towel. Wash thoroughly at the showers or taps before entering the bath. Never wash in the baths themselves. The principle thing to avoid when eating, in common with most of northern Asia, is to leave your chopsticks sticking up vertically from your rice bowl.

Japan in pictures

  • Monk in Takayama
    Visit the morning market in Takayama
  • Lake Chuzenji, Nikko
    Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nikko
  • Tsukiji fish market
    Visit the fish market in Tokyo
  • Yudanaka monkey
    Meet the snow monkeys in Yudanaka
  • Hakone National Park and Mt Fuji, Japan
    View Mount Fuji from Hakone National Park
  • Scenery enroute
    Go trekking or skiing in the mountains
  • Floating gate
    See the floating torii gates on Miyajima Island
  • Panoramic from the top of the castle remains, Tsumago
    Walk in the Kiso Valley