Holidays to Japan 

The land of the rising sun, where the past meets the future, Japan is a country like nowhere else.  Where ancient gods jostle for attention with cutting edge technology, and centuries old temples that sit in the middle of bustling cities, a holiday to Japan holiday is an unforgettable experience.  With a completely baffling language, very complex social etiquette and unique food, it certainly offers holidays outside of the normal Asia experience!  

Joanna Lumley's Japan & Tea with a Maiko

 Joanna Lumley's Japan on ITV was a wonderful insight to Japan and its crazy culture, exotic wildlife and unusual food experiences!  Mags has been to Japan and fallen in love with this beautiful country.  Read her travel blog and see testimonials for more feedback from our clients who have been to Japan. She even had the pleasure of meeting the same Maiko as Joanna Lumley  - we have the contacts! 

Maiko

Bamboo Forest

Regions of Japan

Japan is made up of a series of islands.  Each part of Japan has its own attractions, heritage sites and culinary delights.  We can arrange for you to hire a local guide for a good insight to the culture and history of the country.  

Tokyo is the capital and sits in the middle of Honshu island. It is stunningly beautiful with volcanic mountains, temples and gardens all surrounded by colourful people and culture. Above all it has the iconic Mount Fuji.  Here is you also where you will find Kyoto, the old imperial capital.  The centre of Japan around Honshu is the best place to head for outdoor sightseeing and hiking around the Japanese Alps. This region is the real rural Japan and a great cultural experience, offering you chance to meet the people  and enjoy delicious food at the mountain inns.  In the winter enjoy snow castles, ice sculptures and ski slopes! 

Shibuya Crossing, Japan

Unspoilt Hokkaido is Japan’s second-largest island.  It is wild and remote, covered in thick forest, icy mountains and hot springs.  Sapporo, Hokkaido’s urban hub, is characterised by tree-flanked boulevards and large public green spaces. It’s also a stylish city with a great reputation for food and one of the best beer scenes in Japan. Sapporo also hosts a Snow Festival each February, a quirky and typically Japanese celebration featuring statues, slides and mazes carved from snow and ice, accompanied by the region’s best food and wine.

Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan

Kyushu is Japan’s third-largest island and has much natural beauty, with volcanoes, near tropical rainforest and hot springs everywhere.

Okinawa is very distinct culturally from the rest of Japan thanks to the rule of the Ryuku Kingdom until the 19^th century. For example their languages are completely different and the islands have their own religious traditions. Perhaps the most distinctive facet of Okinawan culture, though, is the cuisine. Dishes are based on unique ingredients  and rely heavily on meat.

Seasons in Japan 

Japan performs all four seasons in spectacular style!

 Cherry Blossom season in the Spring is peak travel time in Japan but some say that the Autumn is even more spectacular with the carpets of reds and oranges across the hills and mountains as the gardens all turn to gold!   Winter is beautiful as the snow arrives accompanied by the ski season and snow festivals.  Summer sees the arrival of hot, humid and rainy weather and is perhaps not the best time to travel.   However, if this is your only choice you will be assured of a warm welcome and lower prices!

Autumn in Japan

Wisteria in Spring, Japan

Tadami Railway in Winter, Japan

Kyoto

The capital of imperial Japan for eleven centuries, Kyoto is steeped in history and culture.  From ancient Buddhist and Shinto temples and shrines to extravagant imperial palaces and beautiful gardens. Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms which colour the country pink in the spring, are held to be particularly beautiful in the ancient capital. Add to that serene Zen gardens, geishas in old Gion, and countless sake brewers, craftsmen and artisans, and in Kyoto you have Japan’s cultural heart.

Kyoto

Gion District, Japan

Beaches and islands of Japan

To the south the Okinawa Islands stretch to Taiwan with a sub tropical climate and a slow pace of life. There are sandy beaches, coral reefs and clear water attracting divers and beach lovers.  Additionally, there are areas of jungle where you can find unusual wildlife and areas of the coast to whale watch.

Ishigaki Island, Okinawa

Summer Olympics 2021

After the disappointment of 2020, the Olympics have been rescheduled for 2021!  All the attractions of Japan plus the greatest sporting event on earth!

Wildlife holidays to Japan

For wildlife enthusiasts the Japanese Macaque (or Snow Monkey) is the highlight of a holiday to Japan.  The best time to see them is in the middle of winter, January and February, so wrap up warm! The second half of February is also a good time to see the fabulous Red-crowned Cranes displaying.  The Macaques are found a few hours by road from Tokyo in the snowy mountains of the north Nagano region.  At Jigokudani hot springs you can find these snow monkeys warming themselves in the water of 50C.  Temperatures outside often reach as low as -15C, so they are very happy wallowing in their hot bath!

Holidays to Hokkaiddo

Natural history, wildlife and outdoor activities

With its rolling hills, wide open spaces, lakes, rivers and nature reserves, Hokkaido is a haven for wildlife and natural scenery. Whether you're visiting in the middle of summer for walking and hiking, or in the depths of winter to see the breathtaking ice floes and the huge sea eagles that make this rugged landscape their own, Hokkaido offers those who make the journey north a unique experience of Japan.

Contact us on 01728 748209, use the live chat or send an enquiry.