Japan Walks & Tours

Pummel your senses with food, shopping and people watching in non-stop, neon Tokyo

Marvel at Kyoto’s sublime gardens, temples and traditional architecture

Set your eyes on—or climb!—majestic Mount Fuji

Experience Japanese hospitality in a ryokan family inn

Soak your cares away in an onsen (hot spring) or sento (bath house)

Explore Japan’s ancient temples, palaces and historic sites

See Japanese culture in living colour at one of many matsuri festivals

Play in some of the world’s best powder snow in Hokkaido

Head to Japan’s stunning wilderness areas to hike among the coloured autumn leaves

Picnic under the glorious sakura blossoms in spring

While the night away in tiny drinking houses and karaoke bars

Take the time to enjoy Japan’s traditional tea ceremony

Catch a live kabuki performance, sumo match or karate tournament

Travel like a local on super fast, super efficient bullet trains

Eat your way around the archipelago, exploring one of the world’s great cuisines

Japan experiences four distinct seasons, each offering unique appeal for travellers. Spring (March to May) is one of the most popular times to visit, with cherry blossoms in bloom and mild daytime temperatures ranging from 10–20°C (50–68°F) across much of the country.

Summer (June to August) begins with a brief rainy season in early June, followed by warm to hot conditions and high humidity, particularly in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Temperatures often reach 28–34°C (82–93°F), though it can feel warmer with humidity.

Autumn (September to November) is widely regarded as one of the best seasons for walking and cultural travel. Days are typically clear and pleasant, with temperatures between 15–25°C (59–77°F) and vibrant autumn foliage throughout the countryside.

Winter (December to February) is cold in the north and at higher elevations, with heavy snowfall common in regions like Hokkaido and the Japan Alps. Temperatures in northern areas can fall below 0°C (32°F), while southern regions such as Kyushu and Shikoku remain relatively mild, averaging 5–12°C (41–54°F) during the day.

Because Japan stretches across a long north–south axis and includes significant mountain ranges, conditions vary considerably. Coastal cities tend to be milder, while alpine areas can be much cooler and subject to rapid weather changes year-round. Travellers should be prepared for a range of conditions and pack layered clothing, including a waterproof jacket, regardless of the season.

Japan is +9 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Japanese is the official national language, spoken as the primary language by almost all of the population. Many different regional dialects exist, however, Standard Japanese (as spoken in Tokyo) is understood nationwide and is the language used for news broadcasting

Written Japanese uses a combination of kanji (Chinese pictogram characters denoting specific words/concepts) and kana (Japanese phonetic characters denoting specific syllables, which form words when grouped together). The Latin/Roman alphabet is also used sometimes to spell Japanese phonetically (called romaji) for those who cannot read written Japanese

Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English, however, few Japanese are able to speak English at a high international standard due to a lack of rigorous English language training, the inherent shyness that is part of Japanese culture, and the difficulty for native Japanese speakers in pronouncing English words, due to the far greater number of different phonemes (syllable sounds) in English compared to Japanese

The unit of currency is the Yen

It is strongly recommended that you buy Yen prior to departure as the rate in your home country is likely to be more favourable than in Japan.

Whilst credit cards (both physical and digital) are now widely accepted in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, Japan is still a cash society. Particularly in regional areas.

Our accommodations will not have cashing facilities. Currency other than Yen will not be accepted anywhere in Japan.

+81

Electricity in Japan is 100 Volts, at 50/60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

Electricity in Japan is 100 Volts, at 50/60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.