Ancient & Modern Japan

Japanese cuisine is usually a highlight of any Japan trip. It is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes usually prepared with seasonal ingredients. Seafood is common, and usually comes grilled or deep fried. Sushi and sashimi aside, other staple dishes include soba or udon noodles, sukiyaki (meat, fish and vegetables cooked in broth) and yakiniku (grilled meat). When food is not included, your tour leader can always recommend the best local eateries and arrange group meals for a full immersion in the varied and excellent local cuisine. Worth knowing Food for certain diets (including gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan) is minimal or non-existent in many areas of Japan. The group meals arranged by the tour leader are in traditional eateries where the choices of vegan dishes may be limited to simple salads or boiled rice. However, there are several vegan restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo. Please let us know at least 30 days before travel of your dietary requirements so we can ensure meals are appropriately catered for. Most stocks, which are common in Japanese cuisine, contain animal products and even vegetable tempura is mostly fried in the same oil as meat or fish. While some substitutions may be possible, strict vegetarian or vegan meals cannot be guaranteed. Those who can consume dashi stocks typically have fewer issues, but for those concerned, we recommend bringing supplementary food items.

Japan has four distinct seasons. We avoid the extremely cold winters and schedule only a small selection of departures during the humid summers but overall settle for the more pleasant climes either side.

In Tokyo, September and October are warm, maximum temperatures are 26C (79F) and minimum 12C (54F). September is likely to be the warmer of the two and there is a likelihood of rain. April is cooler with temperatures possibly going as low as 7C (45F) with a high of 17C (63F). Kyoto is very similar climatically to Tokyo but the higher up into the mountains we venture, the colder it will become with nights being especially cold, particularly in March and November.

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Travelling with us in Japan: We rely on the country’s world-renowned public transportation network, making our Japan trips unique compared with our tours in other destinations, in which we generally use private transportation. Public transport here is accessible, clean and punctual. It’s also intrinsically woven into the local way of life, which is why we encourage travellers to embrace this way of travelling in Japan.

On this trip, we mainly travel by train (both bullet and regional services), though we also use buses in some locations. The trains are extremely efficient – it is essential everyone is punctual to ensure we do not miss any of the services. Some of the distances covered are long, and we may need to change trains on some journeys, but they are very comfortable, while also allowing us to meet the Japanese people and admire the landscapes.

As Japanese trains have very limited storage for large bags, there are three occasions when we cannot travel with our main luggage and instead need to pack a small overnight bag. This is noted on the daily itinerary for Day 4, 7 and 11. See the Essential Equipment section for more information about how to pack.

It’s essential you pack light, as you need to carry your luggage through train stations and busy areas.

Luggage transfer services include one main bag per person.

Personal audio headsets: At the start of the tour, personal audio headsets (known as whisper devices) are provided to help you hear your tour leader clearly, particularly in busy areas. In Japan, where speaking loudly in public spaces and on transport is generally discouraged, these allow your tour leader to share commentary in a more considerate and unobtrusive way. They also give you greater flexibility to move around without missing information. Each device is sanitised between departures, and each participant is provided with their own single-use earpiece at the start of the tour. Use of the headsets is optional, but we recommend using them for the best experience.

Suitcase cover: At the start of the tour, your tour leader provides a protective cover for your main suitcase. These are routinely used by trusted luggage transfer providers throughout Japan and help protect baggage in transit. Please retain your cover and use it whenever your luggage is being forwarded between hotels. The use of the cover is a requirement of the luggage transfer provider should a damage claim need to be considered.

Walking profile: We mostly walk in cities and towns; the amount of walking each day is considerable and fast-paced (bring comfortable walking shoes) – our average step count is around 20,000 per day. We also visit a lot of temples and shrines, most of which are built on hillsides. This means ascending and descending lots of steps, so good fitness levels are essential.

Itinerary flexibility: The order of activities may change depending on the weather and other factors. Your tour leader provides full details of the schedule during the welcome briefing.

Internet: Consider an eSim or Japanese sim card to stay connected while on the move. These can be very useful when you’re in conversation with the friendly locals but need the aid of a translation app.

Hotel check-in: It is standard policy in Japanese hotels that rooms are only available from 3pm, though you can store luggage beforehand.

Before you go: We recommend downloading the Uber or GO Taxi apps before you arrive, as both are widely used in Japan. The Google Translate app will also be useful.