Browse our Japan group tours

Covering the whole of Japan in a range of travel styles, we're confident that you'll find something that appeals to you from amongst our Small Group Tours.

We have four different Japan tour styles, with departure dates throughout the year: Deluxe, Superior, Classic and Essential. Our Japan tour styles ensure there is always something to suit you, whatever your budget and tastes. Some tours visit the famous sights, whilst others cover special interest areas. For example, our Winter Highlights Japan tour is ideal for keen birdwatchers whilst Kyushu Elements focuses on one particular region of Japan. Solo travellers happily join in on all our tours, and on selected Essential departures you can choose to travel with other solos only if you prefer.

Click here for our 2018 and 2019 Japan Group Tour Calendar

Click here for our 2015 / 2016 Group Tour Calendar

If you're not sure which tour style is for you, click the question mark below or have a look through some of the Japan tour itineraries below for inspiration.

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Small Group Tours styles explained

Spirit of Honshu

Small Group Tour IJT Superior

Spirit of Honshu

Tokyo
Nikko
Izu Peninsula
Kyoto
Nara

Have a limited amount of time and want to get the most out of your visit to Japan? This is the tour for you. In between stays in Japan's two greatest cities you'll relax in hot springs, explore the beautiful Izu Peninsula, and make day trips to the fascinating historical sites of Nikko and Nara.

8 Nights: from US$6307

Trip Code: SOH

Departure Months:

MAR
MAY
OCT
NOV

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Classic Japan

Tokyo
Hakone
Osaka
Kyoto
Takayama
Kamikochi
Tokyo

Imagine basking in a hot spring bath at the foot of Mount Fuji, drinking sake with an apprentice geisha in Kyoto or seeing Tokyo from the water as you cruise down the Sumida River. This tour collects the best of Japan's classic cultural and natural locations.

13 Nights: from US$5067

Trip Code: CJ

Departure Months:

MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT
OCT

A Northern Soul

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

A Northern Soul

Tokyo
Nikko
Hiraizumi
Naruko Onsen
Ishinomaki
Sendai
Niigata
Sado Island
Tokyo

The northern reaches of Japan's main island hold some of the country's most beguiling attractions: rugged national parks, mountaintop temple communities, and enchanting hot spring villages. A Northern Soul introduces some of these hidden delights, revealing a side of Japan rarely seen by outsiders.

14 Nights: from US$5350

Trip Code: ANS

Departure Months:

JUN
OCT

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Hidden Japan

Kyoto
Mount Koya
Tokushima
Takamatsu
Kotohira
Matsuyama
Hiroshima
Kyoto

Are you looking for more depth of cultural insight, with experiences that take you away from the tourist trail? This tour gives you both, liberating you from the pressure of ticking off destinations or visiting �must-see� locations and steering you instead towards the road less travelled.

12 Nights: from US$5357

Trip Code: HJ

Departure Months:

MAR
MAY
JUL
SEPT
OCT
NOV

Small Group Tour IJT Essential

Tokaido Trail

Tokyo
Kamakura
Hakone
Kyoto
Tokyo

Tokaido Trail proves that you can cover the classic �golden route� sights of Japan without breaking the bank or missing out on unforgettable cultural experiences, and is the perfect building block with which to plan a longer trip. Selected departures are dedicated to solo travellers.

9 Nights: from US$2863

Trip Code: TT

Departure Months:

MAR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV

Kyushu Elements

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Kyushu Elements

Kyoto
Nagasaki
Unzen
Kumamoto
Mount Aso
Kagoshima
Yakushima
Kyoto

Kyushu is a little-visited oasis filled with steaming volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, lush rainforests and sandy beaches. Not only is its countryside some of Japan's finest, but Kyushu's cities have plenty of cosmopolitan charm � without the crowds that Tokyo is famous for!

13 Nights: from US$5350

Trip Code: KE

Departure Months:

MAY
JUL
NOV

Small Group Tour IJT Essential

Japan Unmasked

Tokyo
Nagano
Matsumoto
Takayama
Kanazawa
Hiroshima
Kurashiki
Kyoto
Tokyo

Japan Unmasked is a tour with modest accommodation and minimal inclusions, giving you the freedom to choose where you spend your time and money - whether you see yourself slurping on a quick bowl of noodles or splurging on sushi. Selected departures are dedicated to solo travellers.

13 Nights: from US$3588

Trip Code: JU

Departure Months:

FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV

Japan Enchantment

Small Group Tour IJT Superior

Japan Enchantment

Tokyo
Nikko
Karuizawa
Nagano
Kanazawa
Kyoto
Hakone
Tokyo

With a range of high-end accommodations, superb included meals and your tour leader on hand to make sure everything runs like clockwork, this is the perfect introduction to a fascinating culture often considered impenetrable by the outside world.

14 Nights: from US$8663

Trip Code: JE

Departure Months:

MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
AUG
SEPT
OCT

Historic Mountain Trails

Small Group Tour IJT Essential

Historic Mountain Trails

Tokyo
Tsumago
Kamikochi
Matsumoto
Kyoto
Hakone
Tokyo

What better way to discover Japan's beautiful landscapes than to pull on your hiking boots and get out into the wilds? With plenty of culture thrown in for good measure, this is a physically challenging tour with fantastic rewards.

13 Nights: from US$3878

Trip Code: HMT

Departure Months:

JUL

Seven Night Taster

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Seven Night Taster

Tokyo
Kanazawa
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Himeji
Miyajima

The perfect introduction to the fascinating culture of Japan. Travelling in springtime means you should have a chance to catch the beautiful Cherry blossom for which Japan is famous. This tour includes day trips to Hiroshima, Miyajima Island and Himeji Castle.

7 Nights: from US$2892

Trip Code: 17JPH

Departure Months:

APR

Samurai Express

Small Group Tour IJT Essential

Samurai Express

Tokyo
Hakone
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Miyajima

A compact tour visiting some of the best cultural and modern cities that Japan has to offer, during the popular Spring season presenting the possibility to see the famous Cherry Blossom bloom.

7 Nights: from US$2320

Trip Code: 18JS

Departure Months:

MAR

Small Group Tour IJT All-Inclusive

All-In Japan

Tokyo
Hiroshima
Kyoto
Kaga Onsen
Kanazawa
Tokyo

With all meals, local transport, and luggage handling included there's nothing for you to do on All-In Japan but sit back and enjoy. Covering Japan's classic destinations with a few unusual twists, this trip is full of cultural experiences to give you a stress-free introduction to Japan.

12 Nights: from US$7032

Trip Code: AIJ

Departure Months:

MAR
APR
OCT
NOV

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Hands On Japan

Tokyo
Togarinozawa Onsen
Matsumoto
Kyoto
Takefu
Tokyo

From soba noodle-making classes to taiko drumming, from boat rides to pottery, and from traditional Japanese ryokan inns to ultra-modern Tokyo � this tour is practically overflowing with unforgettable experiences.

14 Nights: from US$5727

Trip Code: HO

Departure Months:

MAY
SEPT

HYPERJAPAN's J-Pop & Go!

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

HYPERJAPAN's J-Pop & Go!

Tokyo
Hakone
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Osaka
Tokyo

From day-glo caf�s, video game arcades and kawaii street fashions to ancient temples, exquisite gardens and spectacular natural scenery; J-Pop & Go! is the perfect mixture of kitschy pop culture and traditional Japan.

10 Nights: from US$3407

Trip Code: HYP0002JPOP

Departure Months:

FEB
MAR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT
OCT

Winter Highlights

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Winter Highlights

Tokyo
Tsurui
Rausu
Abashiri
Sapporo
Kyoto
Yudanaka
Tokyo

From incredible snow sculptures and rare birds in Hokkaido to snow monkeys and cultural treasures on Honshu; this tour demonstrates the myriad attractions of the winter season on Japan's two largest islands.

14 Nights: from US$6017

Trip Code: WH

Departure Months:

JAN
FEB

Spring Elegance

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Spring Elegance

Tokyo
Matsumoto
Takayama
Kanazawa
Kyoto
Hakone
Tokyo

Spring is when Japan casts off its winter blanket and really lets its hair down. Every park is packed with revellers gathered to view the cherry blossom, festivals are underway across the country and nearly everyone embraces the party-like atmosphere � this really is a wonderful time to travel.

13 Nights: from US$5147

Trip Code: SE

Departure Months:

MAR
APR

Rural Japan Explorer

Small Group Tour IJT Classic

Rural Japan Explorer

Kyoto
Mount Mitoku
Misasa Onsen
Oki Islands
Matsue
Hagi
Hiroshima
Kyoto

If you would like to get away from the crowds and explore a region of Japan rich in history and brimming with myths and legends, all set in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, then this is the tour for you.

13 Nights: from US$5473

Trip Code: RJE

Departure Months:

MAY
SEPT

Small Group Tour IJT Deluxe

Luxury Japan

Tokyo
Hakone
Kyoto
Kanazawa
Tokyo

Explore Japan's classic sights in luxurious style on this deluxe group tour, with five-star hotels, top-quality cuisine and an array of exclusive cultural experiences arranged especially for your group.

10 Nights: from US$12977

Trip Code: LJ

Departure Months:

MAR
MAY
NOV