DESTINATIONS INSPIRATION ABOUT US LOGIN + 44 (0) 20 3958 6120 START PLANNING HOME > DESTINATION > JAPAN JAPAN HOLIDAYS JAPAN HOLIDAYS REGIONS COLLECTIONS BLOG GUIDE The best Japan holidays start by throwing you in at the deep end of this extraordinary country. Despite his jet lag, Bill Murray shone a light on the poetic and urban chaos of Tokyo in the film Lost in Translation. There is so much to see: salarymen out enjoying themselves; Shibuya girls pulling out all the stops in their Prada, Chanel and Louis Vuitton; futuristic Shinjuku beauties straight out of a manga drawing; college girls with their sailor-suit collars. Then, out of nowhere, you could be on a Shinkansen bullet train passing Mount Fuji in a brief, almost subliminal flash. Next scene: Kyoto, Read more CONTACT ONE OF OUR JAPAN SPECIALISTS + 44 (0) 20 3958 6120 START PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY Japan Holiday Ideas A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started JAPAN - TOKYO - SHUZENJI - KYOTO Winter in Japan: Tokyo and Kyoto without the Crowds Do things differently and fly to Japan in winter: hopefully you'll find a white blanket of snow, bright sun and dazzling[...] 11 DAYS, FROM £ 4,200 TO £ 5,300 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS TOKYO,THE JAPANESE ALPS,KYOTO Luxury Japan Cultural Adventure Take a tour of Tokyo's main sights and hidden gems 13 DAYS, FROM £ 4,200 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS JAPAN - TOKYO - KANAZAWA - HIDA FURUKAWA - KYOTO - MIYAJIMA Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, the Alps, Kyoto and Miyajima Island Travel across Japan by train and at a flexible pace, and from age-old sites to modern marvels 15 DAYS, FROM £ 4,700 TO £ 5,800 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS JAPAN - TOKYO - ALPS - KYOTO - OSAKA Japan through the Eyes of a Child: Mangamania and Samurai Tokyo, Kyoto and the Japanese Alps: from the megalopolis to the rice fields 13 DAYS, FROM £ 4,700 TO £ 5,800 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS THE JAPANESE ALPS,HONSHU,TOKYO,KYOTO Across the Japanese Alps Visit Jigokudani Park and see its iconic snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs 12 DAYS, FROM £ 4,705 TO £ 5,650 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS JAPAN - KYOTO - MOUNT KOYA - OSAKA Highlights of Honshu: Imperialism, Buddhism and Island Life A machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) in Kyoto, a temple in Mount Koya, a ryokan (traditional inn) in Kinosaki: accommodation[...] 18 DAYS, FROM £ 6,700 TO £ 8,200 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS KYUSHU Kyushu in Style Sample some fantastic Japanese cuisine and lively nightlife in Fukuoka 13 DAYS, FROM £ 6,820 TO £ 8,620 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS JAPAN - TOKYO - HAKONE - SHUZENJI - KYOTO - KINOSAKI - OSAKA An Authentic Journey through Japan: from Onsens to Ryokans The frenetic rhythm of Tokyo, the creative energy of Kyoto 12 DAYS, FROM £ 7,000 TO £ 8,700 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS HOKKAIDO,TOKYO Hokkaido in Style Look down on twinkling Hakodate from the top of Mount Hakodate at dusk 13 DAYS, FROM £ 7,945 TO £ 10,035 OUR JAPAN HOLIDAYS SEE ALL JAPAN HOLIDAY IDEAS (13) A few of the benefits of travelling with us Previous OUR LOCAL CONCIERGES TRAVEL DIARY APP UK AIRPORT LOUNGE PERFECT PICKS MODIFY YOUR ITINERARY Next What our clients say about us Japan customer reviews (2 reviews) 4.5/5 Thanks for arranging such a great holiday, we had a wonderful time. All of the guides were excellent, we can't praise them enough. The hotel choices were inspired, each for different reasons, and we had a great experience overall. So again thanks for a terrific holiday, we look forward to coming back to you soon to consider next year. SEE ALL JAPAN REVIEWS Japan Guide Practical advice, client testimonials and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday BLOG Japanese Transport, The Rail System PRACTICAL GUIDE Best time to visit to Japan Contact one of our Japan specialists + 44 (0) 20 3958 6120 START PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY Japan holidays in more detail Who is Japan best for ? Japan holidays are above all an immersion in Japanese culture. Enjoy bewitching encounters with Edo-era 'floating world' culture; Japanese cinema; the imagery of Kabuki theatre or a tea ceremony; the subtle symbolism of a traditional kimono motif or Ikebana flower arrangement; and the often enigmatic universe of Japanese writers and illustrators. Lovers of nature will also be captivated by Japan's majestic, romantic scenery. For travellers who love new and original experiences, a stay at an onsen (hot spring spa), a ryokan (traditional inn) or a Buddhist temple is the perfect way to reiterate that this country really is like no other place on Earth. Known as a profoundly spiritual place, Japan is perfect for anyone looking to find themselves, or their inner peace. Japan is also a superb family holiday destination, and ideal for teens particularly thanks to the profusion of adolescence, Manga, state-of-the-art gadgets, electronics, gaming consoles and inter-active games, robotics, and very creative fashion. What to do in Japan ? What you can find in Japan that you cannot find anywhere else Quite simply, a holiday to Japan is like visiting another planet. It is a country that is both strangely familiar yet totally unpredictable, surprising and original in its traditions, culture and civilisation. Japan is home to an ancient civilisation which is very attached to its values, codes, rituals, beliefs, and roots and yet resolutely looks towards the future. The contrasts here are stronger and more striking than arguably anywhere else. Japan is one of the few countries that speaks as much to the heart as to the head. The best things to discover on your Japan holidays The best option for a Japan holiday when it comes to flights, accommodation and train passes is a combination of slick organisation and freedom. Even the language barrier is not really a problem. The Japanese will listen to your needs and you will find that they are as interested in listening as they are about anything else. A typical 15-day itinerary could include Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Mount Koya-san, Miyajima Island and Osaka, staying alternately in international hotels and ryokan traditional inns, and with one night staying in a temple. What are the best options for a Japan holiday? Few places on Earth offer visitors so diverse a range of experiences as Japan, from the snow-covered mountains of Hokkaido in the north to the pristine beaches of Okinawa 2,000 miles further south. With so much to see and do in the archipelago visitors simply do not have the luxury of enough time to see it all in one visit. Despite the wonders (particularly to someone from Britain) of the Japanese railway system, a nation that stretches some 2,000 miles from north to south is just too big to see all at once, and that's where we come in, with expert knowledge on which bits you should prioritise and which you should save for next time. In fact, of all the destinations in the Original Travel portfolio Japan is probably the one that requires the most expert advice, given language barriers and the sheer alien nature (in a good way) of the country. And what a country it is, with 127 million inhabitants living on increasingly over-crowded coastal plains beneath rugged mountain ranges that stretch the length of the islands, and with these megalopoli some of the most vibrant, innovative city destinations an urban warrior could wish to visit. Equally, those in search of calm and serenity can find respite from the hubbub surrounded by mountain peaks or in one of the country's remarkable Zen gardens. It's the contrast between technology and tradition that makes Japan such an alluring destination for luxury travel, but with so much to see, careful planning is required. For the ideal 'beginner's guide to Japan' the starting point has to be Honshu - the main island - and home to Tokyo, Kyoto and much, much more. For the time pressed, there's a lovely loop taking in Tokyo, the beautiful rural area of Hakone (home to magnificent Mount Fuji), venerable Kyoto and then most likely the harrowing Hiroshima and elegant Miyajima island. A well-trodden route, but understandably so given what a perfect combination of experiences this represents - ultra-modernity, ancient capitals, urban energy and rural idylls, and a superb range of accommodation options from luxury hotels in Tokyo taking up the top floors of skyscrapers to luxury ryokan traditional Japanese inns in pristine countryside. For the smitten (trust us, you will be) looking to return, or the fortunate few with longer to explore, we passionately urge exploration beyond the above. Honshu itself has other unmissable luxury travel highlights, from bathing hot spring snow monkeys and skiing in Nagano to the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Takayama. Further afield the islands of Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and Okinawa are all fascinating as well. For luxury skiing in Japan, the place to visit is northerly Hokkaido, and in particular the resort of Niseko. Beer drinkers please note that Hokkaido is also home of the Sapporo brand. Kyushu island, to the south west of Honshu, is renowned for onsen hot springs, spectacular volcano lakes (as seen in the classic Bond You Only Live Twice) and the beautiful southern city of Kagoshima, known as the 'Naples of Japan' thanks to its coastal setting and brooding volcano. Kyushu is already well off the tourist trail, and neighbouring Shikoku island even more so, but the place to go for temples and long distance walking trails; and then there's Okinawa for a taste of the tropics. Stay in a luxury ryokan by the beach for the ultimate in original beach holidays. Related ideas Tokyo / Mount Koya / Kyoto / Dream Islands / Ryokan / Hakone & Mount Fuji / Osaka / Hiroshima & Miyajima / Japanese Alps / Kanazawa 100% Tailor-Made Holidays 1 START PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY Newsletter Sign-Up Our social channels HOLIDAYS IDEAS Where To Go? 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