Sustainable Holidays

• Introduction
• Our Holidays
• Our Offices
• Going Green In Japan
• Carbon Offsetting
• My Chopsticks
• IJT Charities
• Past Charity Projects

OUR HOLIDAYS

All of our holiday packages include aspects of Sustainable Tourism:

1. GROUP SIZES
   
   The name gives it away: ‘Small Group Tours’. We keep group sizes to a maximum of 14 (less on most trips) to minimise our impact. Small groups tend to have better dynamics, and allow you to travel on public transport and get closer to the people and places you are visiting. You wouldn’t want to experience Japan in a tour bus bubble
   
   
2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT
   
   Trains and buses are the best ways to get around Japan. We only recommend car hire in remote locations where there is a limited public transport network. Our Info-Pack destination guides also include details of cycling and hiking opportunities.
   
   
3. RURAL COMMUNITIES
   
   Almost all of our itineraries take clients off the beaten track and into rural areas. Here local economies are suffering as farming and fishing have declined, and  young Japanese people have moved to the big cities. Visiting rural areas means your money helps revitalise poorer communities.
   
   
4. ACCOMMODATION
   
   The hotels and ryokan that we use most often complete our health & safety survey every other year. The survey includes Sustainable Tourism questions to encourage hotels and ryokans to conserve energy and resources, and reduce waste.
   
   Although we do use national and international chain hotels, we encourage clients to stay in small independent hotels and traditional Japanese inns.
   
   
5. INTERACTION WITH LOCAL PEOPLE
   
   By travelling on public transport, staying in traditional inns and using local Japanese private guides (for our self-guided clients), you’ll undoubtedly meet lots of Japanese people. The Japanese are always welcoming, friendly hosts who will ensure that you have a wonderful holiday and a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
   
   
6. ENVIRONMENTAL & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
   
   We hope to help conserve biodiversity and cultural diversity through tourism. For example we offer bear watching tours in association with the Shinshu Asiatic Black Bear Conservation Group. We don’t send clients to bear parks or zoos in Japan where we feel wild animals are kept in cruel conditions.
   
   Hunting whales for their meat is a controversial issue. We recommend whale watching tours: a much more sustainable venture for fishing communities dependant on whales.
   
   
7. ST PRODUCTS
   
   We are always on the look out for new Sustainable Tourism products in Japan and we have recently discovered some great eco-lodges and farm stay experiences. Please ask any of our travel consultants for details