Japan Holidays
Japan will provide you with one of the most memorable holidays of your life.
Japan Holidays
Planning the trip of a lifetime to the Land of the Rising Sun? Our travel experts are here to help guide you and bring your incredible Japan holiday to life. We have inside knowledge on the coolest festivals, local delicacies and where to stay for a truly authentic experience.
From the futuristic robot restaurants and neon lights of buzzing Tokyo to the serenity and fresh air of the more rural areas, we know how to get you there and how to make the most of your time in this fascinating country.
There is a well trodden path that is very popular for travellers in Japan, which incorporates many of the highlights you will want to see on your Japan holiday.
Starting in Tokyo, you won’t be disappointed. The city is a melting pot of ultra modern skyscrapers and peaceful and historic temples.
Visit the most famous intersection in the world, and hang out with the Harajuku girls while browsing in their favourite shopping haunts. Admire the views from the Tokyo Tower or race through the streets on a Mario Kart themed experience.
If you’re a culture vulture, the city has many museums and galleries. Japanese gardens and beautiful parklands offer green sanctuaries away from the hustle and bustle - there is even an urban forest! The famous red gates make for wonderful photo opportunities, and are particularly spectacular with a backdrop of cherry blossom when in season!
Continuing your Japan holiday, we would recommend heading out of the city and making Mount Fuji your next stop. Standing at a towering 3776m high, you may be lucky enough to spot it from the bullet train on a clear day. It is an active volcano about 100 miles southwest of Tokyo. Easily done as a day trip, it offers an escape from the city and a total contrast from the buzz of the city.
We can arrange for you to climb Mt Fuji, or take it a bit easier and just pop into the Visitors Centre and learn about the research that scientists are undertaking on the mountain. Although very touristy, the Pirate Boat across Lake Ashi is a must do - this experience offers the most amazing views of Mt Fuji, and if you are travelling with children they will be captivated.
After you are all Fuji’d out, the next nearest city is Kyoto, two hours away via bullet train. Kyoto is very traditionally Japanese. It is here that you will find the geisha girls peeping out from behind their fans, and it is a great place to partake in a traditional tea ceremony. You may opt to stay in a ryokan which is a very authentic way to experience some true Japanese hospitality.
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that usually features tatami-matted rooms, communal bathing areas and other communal spaces where visitors can wear ‘yukata’ and interact with the owner. It will be a highlight of your holiday in Japan!
Walking through the Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine is another exciting thing to do in Kyoto. This could very well be the most photographed place in Japan. There are officially 1000 Torii Gates in the complex, but unofficially, up to 10,000 - incredible!
Another popular addition to any Japan itinerary is Hiroshima, just under two hours away from Kyoto by train. It is a modern city that is best known for being destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War ll. Today, the Hiroshima Peace Park commemorates the events of 1945, and is a lovely place for a wander. Other prominent tourist sites include Japanese Gardens, and Hiroshima Castle, a fortress surrounded by moat and parklands.
A great place to end your trip is Osaka, which is easily served by many international airlines. Osaka is known as ‘Japan’s Kitchen’ and is arguably the best place to indulge in some sushi. It is a great place to partake in a cooking class, and its shopping and nightlife are world class. Take in a Bunraku puppet show and visit Universal Studios. Take in the splendid views from the rooftop of the striking Umeda Sky Building. Osaka has something for everyone, and we would recommend including this as part of your Japan holiday.
At some point during any holiday in Japan, we would recommend taking the opportunity to visit an ‘onsen’ or hot spring. This is quite the experience! A soak in the warm, mineral waters is a really relaxing way to end any busy day of sightseeing.
