Audley in Japan
No country in the world is as ‘foreign’ as Japan. Whilst this is one of the country’s most appealing aspects, it can also cause practical difficulties, which are then compounded by the often prohibitive cost of private transport and guides. It is therefore essential to have someone planning your trip who knows the country first-hand and who can talk you through the precise details of your day-to-day itinerary.
To travel between attractions we generally recommend making use of Japan’s world-class rail network, and combining this with some private guiding and carefully selected small group tours to help you get your bearings. We hand-pick accommodation to suit your taste and budget, choosing from our personally researched selection of hotels and traditional ryokan inns.
With our thorough knowledge of the destination we can send you extremely comprehensive pre-departure information, including detailed transport and accommodation information in English and Japanese to enable you to get as much out of the country as possible in the time you have available.
Whilst other tour operators find themselves tied down to simplistic ‘follow-the-flag’ group tours, our approach ensures you will talk to an expert from the first phone call, whose thorough knowledge and detailed planning will provide you with all the support required to experience the real Japan.
Accommodation
As one would expect of an advanced society, Japan boasts the full gamut of international-style hotels of all standards, from excellent-value business hotels to the finest five-star accommodation. However we recommend that at least one night in Japan be spent sampling the unique hospitality offered at a traditional ryokan inn. These can vary from homely guesthouses to the sublime sophistication of Kyoto’s finest establishments, but all share the same devotion to excellent service and warm hospitality.
Fundamental to the ryokan is the elegant tatami-mat style of room where exquisite kaiseki meals, featuring the freshest seasonal and regional ingredients, are served and, each night, your futon bed is carefully laid out. Many are cleverly constructed around beautiful Japanese gardens, and though most have en suite facilities, a larger shared bathing facility, or onsen, is also common. A stay at a ryokan is far more than just a place to lay your head for the night - we guarantee that it will become one of the defining experiences of your time in Japan.
Rail Travel
Stretching from the southern tip of Kyushu Island to the far north of Hokkaido, Japan’s extensive rail network is justifiably the envy of the world, with services running with a speed and efficiency that makes travel by train an absolute pleasure. Furthermore, with English increasingly in use around the network it is becoming ever easier for the first time visitor to make the most of this fantastic service.
The futuristic shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ link Japan’s main population centres and make journeys from Tokyo to Kyoto (and beyond) an experience in itself. There are also some great scenic rail journeys in Japan: amongst the best are the coastal views around Ariake Bay en route to Nagasaki and the dramatic river valleys and mountain vistas leading up to Takayama or Mount Koya.
In the majority of tours we will include a Japan Rail Pass for either standard or first class Green Car seating, which allows free access on almost the entire JR network. These passes represent excellent value (a one-week pass costs less than a return Tokyo to Kyoto ticket) and allow a degree of flexibility that puts you in full control of your trip. An excellent and efficient baggage forwarding system is also available at most hotels, to permit unencumbered travel between each destination.
Self-Drive
In the most popular tourist centres around Tokyo, Kyoto and the main island of Honshu the great majority of sights are easily reached by Japan’s excellent public transport network. Should you wish to travel a little further afield, however, hiring a car opens up whole new areas, such as the beautiful national parks of Kyushu or Hokkaido, or the secluded hot spring resorts and ancient samurai towns of northern Tohoku or western Japan.
With most road signs in both Japanese and English, satellite navigation equipment provided in all vehicles and driving also on the left there are few logistical obstacles to overcome, making car hire a very achievable option and offering the freedom to explore some of the country’s finest destinations beyond the reach of most train-bound travellers.