Japan tours, The Land of the Rising Sun
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
In Japan we use only public transport – and discourage the use of disposable chopsticks! In the UK we don't produce glossy brochures and run an almost entirely paperless office – everything is done by email or online.
Vegetarians are very welcome on all our tours, and despite Japan being a difficult country to remain fish and meat free, vegetarian options are always available at the places where we eat.
We are active supporters of, and have made donations to, WDCS.org (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society).
Community
This tour stays very close to the ground, travelling in a small group, eating at local restaurants, using public transport and very much being part of the world we are travelling through – not observing it from the behind the smoked-glass windows of a tour bus!
We stay at a variety of accommodation including a small family run guesthouse on Miyajima Island and at a traditional Japanese 'bed and breakfast' near Mount Aso. At the 'bed and breakfast', being a little bit off the beaten track, we are the only foreign tour group that stays there and over the years have developed a fantastic rapport with the family who runs it – this usually provides for some great cultural interaction and a lot of fun for all as well!
This tour has been lead by Orientalist and Japanese-speaker Phil Colley for over ten years now and has been crafted to maximise participants experience and understanding of Japan whilst minimising our impact on the local community and environment. By travelling in a small group we are also able to drink at local bars without impinging on the local community – in fact as the tour leader is now a familiar face, everybody finds themselves very welcome! Phil also knows how to find the best hostelries for sampling local sake! We support the performing arts by attending, when showing, performances of Kabuki theatre and Maiko (Geisha) Cherry Blossom dances. For those who wish there is also a great night out at a local family-orientated club where a live Japanese band plays old style rock and roll hits and an old and young, local and foreigner, all dance together!
