Specialty Tours
These are small, escorted group tours (maximum of 16 tour members) allowing us to stay in smaller neighborhood hotels and family-run ryokans, use public transportation and to visit destinations and eat in more intimate restaurants that large group tours can only dream of. All of the hotels and ryokans we use have en-suite, attached bathrooms with western-style toilets. Since all of your group transportation costs, admission fees, all breakfasts, half of your lunches and dinners and more are included, there are no hidden costs.
These packages feature:
- Small groups (16 members maximum) with a friendly atmosphere
- Smaller neighborhood hotels and family-run ryokans
- Public transportation (no tour buses)
- Well-rounded and creative itineraries
- Experienced guides and tour leaders
- Mixture of Japanese-style and Western-style food
- Well-balanced cultural activities
- Guaranteed prices with no hidden costs
If the fun, friendliness and flexibility of small escorted group travel appeals to you, join us!
Friendly Groups
"Traveling small" gives our groups a congenial atmosphere. Because of the way we organize our tours, and the way we travel, we tend to attract friendlier, more flexible and fun-loving people for our tours. If you are interested in learning about Japan, its culture, people and want to have fun at the same time, you will fit right in.
Experienced Tour Leaders and Guides
You will enjoy the full-time services of our experienced, bi-lingual tour leaders who will ensure your Japanese experience goes off without a hitch. And our licensed, English-speaking Japanese guides, well versed in Japanese culture, history, art and architecture, provided at the appropriate times during the tour will bring Japan alive with their insights.
Smaller Neighborhood Hotels and Family-run Ryokans
Whenever possible, we prefer to stay in smaller more intimate neighborhood hotels and family-run ryokans in the middle of the sights and culture rather than convenient to the transportation hubs. By staying in central locations, you are within walking distance of what you came to see. This saves you time and money, and gives you lots of independence. All of the hotels and ryokans have en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms will include a bath/shower combination, sink and western-style toilet.
Public Transportation
We use only public transportation for these tours. We use the same trains, subways, buses, taxis and ferries that millions of Japanese use every day. By traveling this way, you will get much closer to the people and culture you traveled thousands of miles to discover. You won't view Japan through a tour bus window on a whirlwind bus tour. And no trip to Japan is complete without at least one ride on the fast and convenient Shinkansens (bullet trains).