Japan As You Like It

Customize Your Own Japan Adventure.

JOURNEYS offers you a creative, affordable, and dependable way of experiencing Japan exactly as you wish. We'll work with you to develop an itinerary that includes both the highlights and the back roads, focusing on the sights and ideas that personally draw you to Japan.

Our itineraries incorporate a number of themes, whether you want to see the classic sights, explore the wilds of Hokkaido, relax in the mineral-rich waters of Japan's many onsen (hot springs), or organize a “sampler” that allows you to take in a bit of everything.  We'll organize your itinerary, accommodations, and transportation; arrange for you to be met upon arrival in Japan; and provide you with expert local guides and local in-country support staff to ensure that your trip goes as planned.  Through a long relationship with our local operator in Japan, we're able to offer customized itineraries that are also easy on the wallet, a valuable option in this expensive destination.

We can organize any of the following thematically-oriented trips – and more – for you and your travel companions:

Traditional Japan:  Journey into the heart of old Japan, stay in ryokan (traditional inns) that also offer fabulous kaiseki meals (“of the moment” freshly-prepared seasonal cuisine), and experience the contrasts between cosmopolitan Tokyo and atmospheric Kyoto.

Gardens of Japan:  Seek out the finest examples of this renowned art form, enjoying the hidden delights and meticulous details of the Japanese garden.  Visit the top three gardens in the country, each offering its own unique beauty, as well as lesser-known but also-stunning moss gardens, miniature bonsai gardens, and more.

World Heritage Japan:  Structure your travels around a variety of Japan's finest World Heritage Sites such as spectacular castles, ancient villages, beautiful gardens, mountaintop temples, and historic Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.  This cultural odyssey provides a unique and comprehensive experience of a broad cross-section of Japan's history, culture, and modern society.

Hot Springs of Japan:  Part of a cultural tradition stretching back more than a thousand years, onsen hot springs are quintessentially Japanese.  Combine visits to some of the very best onsen in the country with stays in the must-see cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, unwinding from city life as one of the country's shinkansen (bullet trains) gently speeds you into the heart of the Japanese Alps.

Seasonal Japan:  Combine any of the concepts above or your own customized itinerary with an additional layer of sensation by planning your travels to coincide with the sweet-smelling cherry blossoms of spring, the buzzing festivals of the hot summer, the blazing colors of autumn, or the crisp, clear skies of winter.

Islands of Japan:  This is another way to focus your Japanese experience, either as an add-on to any of the concepts outlined above, or as a stand-alone trip for the beach and island lover.  White sandy beaches, fantastic snorkeling and diving, and friendly seaside inns await as you explore the beauty and serenity of Japan's coastal towns and villages.

We have many other concepts that may appeal to various interests, including cultural and music festivals; sports activities such as snow skiing and bicycling; hiking on Mt. Fuji or on the “roof of Japan,” the Japanese Alps; and nature/wildlife-oriented travel.  You are limited only by your imagination and available time.

The following is one example of a customized, detailed JOURNEYS 12-day /11-night itinerary in Japan: