Quick-fire answers to our most frequently asked questions

In this section we've put together some of the questions we frequently get asked about our tours and about travel in Japan. We have divided this section into three areas according to the different kinds of holiday we offer: General FAQs, Small Group Tour FAQs, and Self-Guided Adventures FAQs.

If your question is not answered below or if you have any questions about our brand new Exclusive Private Journey concept, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.

Small Group Tour FAQs

How many people go on each of your group tours?

Most of our small group tours have a maximum of 14 people, plus the tour leader. Must-See Japan and All-In Japan are slightly larger, with a maximum of 16 people.

Travelling in a small group means a more personal, flexible experience — it’s easier to get to know your fellow travellers, your tour leader can offer more individual attention, and we can include places and activities that just aren’t practical for larger groups. Our tours are very popular and often sell out, so we recommend booking early.
What sort of people usually go on your tours?

All sorts of people! Our tours attract a mix of solo travellers, couples, friends, and families of all kinds. We welcome people of all ages, and many of our travellers form great connections thanks to their shared interest in Japan.

Most of our customers come from the UK, Australia, and USA, but we’ve had travellers from all over the world. Families are very welcome and any family member under 18 at the time of travel receives a 10% discount.
Do you charge a supplement for single travellers?

For our Essential-grade tours (Japan Unmasked, Tokaido Trail, Must-See Japan), we do NOT charge a single supplement. You'll get your own room in all the Western-style hotels at no extra cost. However, in the Japanese-style accommodation we use we may ask you to share a room with another tour member of the same sex. This is because most Japanese inns (ryokan) do not have rooms designed for single travellers.

On our other tours including our Classic, All-In, and Superior-grade tours, there is a single supplement which is mandatory. This gives you a single room at ALL night stops, including Japanese-style accommodation.
What is included in the price of the tour?

All our tours include the full-time services of an expert tour leader. They’re there to help you get beneath the surface of Japan, bringing the culture to life, handling logistics, and making sure everything runs smoothly so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Also included are your accommodation, transport between destinations in Japan, and breakfast each morning. Most tours also feature a number of evening meals and occasional lunches (varies by tour). Please check individual tour pages for a full breakdown of what’s included.

Want everything taken care of? Our most comprehensive tour, All-In Japan, includes all meals, local transport, and luggage handling, so there's nothing for you to do but sit back and enjoy.

What’s not included: international flights, local transport within destinations (like subways and taxis), meals not listed in the itinerary, and personal expenses such as snacks or souvenirs.
Do you require a local payment?

No. No further payment for the tour is required once you arrive in Japan, except to cover personal day-to-day expenses as discussed above. As our tours include transport between destinations in Japan, you also do not need to buy a Japan Rail Pass or any other transport passes separately.
What standard of accommodation do you use?

On all of our tours, we use a mixture of western-style hotels and traditional Japanese-style accommodation. Japan does not use the star rating system for its hotels, but as a guideline, on our IJT Essential Tours accommodation is three-star, our IJT Classic Tours are generally three to four-star, and our IJT Superior Tours feature four to five-star accommodation.

We always select accommodation based on comfort, friendly and helpful staff, and convenient location for sightseeing and transport links. Please see the information below regarding bathroom facilities.
Does all the accommodation have en suite bathrooms?

All of the western-style hotels we use have full en suite facilities. The majority of the Japanese-style places we use either have en suite, or have shared bathrooms that can be used privately. Please see the relevant tour page for details of bathroom arrangements on each tour.
Who is the tour leader?

Your tour leader will be fluent in both English and Japanese. Most of our tour leaders are native English speakers with an excellent command of Japanese. We also have Japanese tour leaders who are highly fluent in English. All our tour leaders have extensive experience of living, travelling and working in Japan, so you'll be in good hands throughout your trip.
Which airport should we fly into?

Most of our tours begin and end in Tokyo, so you'll want to book your flights to and from Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND).

The main exception is our Hidden Japan tour, which starts and finishes in Kyoto. For this tour, plan your arrivals and departures via Osaka's Kansai Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport (ITM). If you wish to arrange extra time in Tokyo (or elsewhere) or plan your arrivals/departures through Tokyo, it's easy to arrange an add-on.
Will we be met at the airport?

All of our other tours include a meet and greet service upon arrival at the airport, along with transfers to your hotel and back to the airport for your departure.
What are the arrangements for baggage handling?

To make your journey in Japan as smooth as possible, we generally recommend packing light. For most tours you'll manage your own luggage on and off trains and for shorter distances between transport and accommodation. Japan offers an excellent and highly reliable baggage forwarding system. This service allows you to send larger bags ahead to your next hotel, making travel much easier when moving between cities. Many of our tours include some luggage forwarding as standard.
Can you arrange extra nights for us before or after the tour?

Yes. We can book additional nights for you in the same accommodation so you can arrive before the tour starts or stay on after it ends. Many people choose to arrive a day or two before the tour, in order to settle in and get over jet-lag before the tour gets going. Many people also like the flexibility of an extra day or two after the tour finishes in order to check out a few more of the sights.

We can also arrange a tailor-made add-on for you after the tour if you would like to visit a few destinations not covered by the tour itself.