Our Japan specialists are experienced and passionate about the country - between them they have spent many weeks a year researching new experiences and ensuring everything is of the highest standard. They know Japan inside out.
Practical Information
No country in the world is as ‘foreign’ as Japan. 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.
Travelling with us
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.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in major cities.
Food & Drink
Japan has one of the world's most sophisticated food cultures. Some of the more famous specialities, including sushi and sashimi can be a little expensive, but it is easy to find delicious food at very reasonable prices. Noodles are an excellent lunch option in soup or fried dishes, offering a varied and filling meal. Other favourites include bento boxed lunches, teriyaki, sukiyaki, tempura and nabe. Traditional Japanese drinks include sake and shochu, a strong aquavit, often mixed with soda or juice. Local brands of beer such as Kirin, Sapporo, Suntory and Asahi are recommended.
Tipping
There is no culture of tipping in Japan, and nobody expects it. The only exception is in high class ryokan, where a token of ¥2000 might be left in an envelope for the room attendant. Compulsory service charges are levied in some hotels and restaurants.
Money
Do not be afraid to carry cash on your person as Japan is an extremely safe and even more importantly, honest country. The local currency is the Yen. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants, but it is difficult to use them to get cash advances. The Japanese Post Office ATMs in major branches accept foreign issued debit and credit cards, as do the ATMs in many branches of the ubiquitous 7Eleven convenience store. Travellers cheques in sterling or yen can be exchanged at most major banks, larger hotels and some duty-free shops.
Social Issues
Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. However, they do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs but expect them to behave formally and politely. Bowing is the customary greeting. The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing adults. When entering a Japanese home or restaurant it is customary to remove shoes and exchange them for indoor slippers. When entering hot-spring baths, which are normally segregated, clothes are removed and you enter the bathing area naked except for a small towel. Wash thoroughly at the showers or taps before entering the bath. Never wash in the baths themselves. The principle thing to avoid when eating, in common with most of northern Asia, is to leave your chopsticks sticking up vertically from your rice bowl.
Under The Skin
Read
'Geisha of Gion' - A Memoir of Mineko Iwasaki, who was a Geisha girl in Kyoto. This autobiography is the most honest account of daily life in one of the world's most intriguing trades. 'Snow Country' - Yasunari Kawabata. A portrayal of rural alpine life in the snowbound mountains of west Japan - evocative and moving.
Listen
Kodo Drummers - Any cd, but try 'Sai-So - The Remix Project', which features the mesmerizing drum rhythms, flute and percussion mixed by djs to produce an addictive fusion, which would be just as at home in clubs as it would be in a concert hall.
Watch
'My Neighbour Totoro' - Hayao Miyazaki's delightful animation film from the Ghibli Studio, about a family who move to the countryside and make friends with the woodland animals, with whom they share the beautiful surroundings. It allows you to see everyday rural life in animation. There is a wonderful museum in Tokyo which showcases Miyazaki animation films, popular with both adults and children. The Ghibli Museum is well worth a visit.
Eat
Tempura (freshly battered seasonal vegetables), local fish and large, juicy prawns! Nothing beats a steaming bowl of ramen or udon noodles in broth filled with vegetables and meat served with a plate of gyoza dumplings.
Drink
It has to be sake, the unique rice wine, which is imbibed hot and steaming in the winter and hits the spot! For non-alcoholic beverages try genmai-cha, which is pure green tea with puffed rice in it, so it has a delicate and soft flavour and distinct aroma.
Word
Irashaimase (welcome) is a greeting shouted to customers entering shops and restaurants in Japan. Eki wa doko desu ka? (where is the train station?). Very useful when travelling almost exclusively by train on a trip.
Trademarks
Unique, traditional, refined, quirky, modern, elegant.
Chopsticks, handkerchiefs, handmade pottery, digital cameras, Hello Kitty merchandise, kimono.