If you are looking best group tours to Japan, you must check out what Laurus Travel has to offer.
Laurus Travel specializes in premium small-group tours of Japan with a focus on cultural immersion. We offer group tours of Japan for different budget levels and travel styles. Whether you are looking for a luxury group tour of Japan or an affordable vacation package, you can find it here at Laurus Travel. Our Japan group tours are not cheap, but they represent incredible value if you compare apples to apples.
|
From: Raul G. We recently returned from the Essential Japan tour with Laurus Travel, and we couldn’t be more pleased. The entire trip was fantastic—beautifully organized from start to finish. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy the experience. We felt especially lucky to have Julius with us for the entire journey. His presence added so much to the experience—professional, warm, and always attentive to everyone’s needs. Our local guides, Katie and Shin, were also outstanding. Their knowledge, passion for Japanese culture, and genuine care for the group truly enhanced every moment. If you’re considering a trip to Japan, we highly recommend Laurus Travel. Essential Japan was everything we hoped for and more. Sylvia and Raúl G. Regina, SK. Canada Read more testimonials like this |
Best Group Tours of Japan – Recommended Itinerary
Essential Japan (12 days)
Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka
Join us on this exquisite small group tour through the heart of Japan, where ancient traditions gracefully dance alongside the vibrant rhythm of modernity. In dynamic Tokyo and Osaka, neon lights and bustling energy of urban life pulse with the beat of contemporary Japan. As we wander through the poetic streets of Kyoto, where cherry blossoms and autumn leaves whisper tales of ancient elegance, we find ourselves embraced by the essence of a bygone era. In the ancient capital of Nara, sacred deer roam freely. Chances are, until now, you haven’t heard much about the romantic city of Kanazawa and the mountain town called Takayama. Now is the time to go find out why they are becoming so popular among overseas visitors.
Important Features
- Small group size (average 15, maximum 20).
- Expert tour leader and local guide(s).
- Premium hotels.
- High-quality local and Western cuisines.
- No shopping stops.
- Sushi making lesson.
- Kaiseki dinner featuring geisha dancer (maiko) performance.
Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner
Day 1/Mon: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.
Day 2/Tue: Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome to Tokyo!
Please make your way to the hotel on your own. Detailed up-to-date information on how to get to the hotel will be provided in the final update two weeks before departure. Private transfer can be arranged on request.
Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L/D)
Tokyo, literally meaning “eastern capital” and officially named Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the most populous mega-cities in the world with a population of 14 million. Formerly known as Edo, the city has been the de facto seat of the Japanese government since 1603 when shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu chose the city for his headquarters. The shogun (general) was a hereditary commander ceremoniously appointed by the emperor but held real power over the country during the shogunate period between 1192 and 1867. Edo was renamed Tokyo after Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto in 1868 when the last shogun was forced to return power to the imperial court. The city covers an area of 2,187 square kilometres following the merger in 1943 of the city of Tokyo and Tokyo Prefecture.
Our full-day sightseeing begins at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. A stroll across the plaza accompanied by commentaries on the imperial family and the history of Tokyo gets the tour off to a good start.
We then proceed to Senso-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.
After lunch, we drive through the ritzy Ginza shopping district on the way to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852 -1912) and his wife.
We end the day with a visit to the observation deck atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor could see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west. The building complex completed in 1990 at a cost of US$1 billion consists of three main structures each taking up a city block. The architect of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is Kenzo Tange (1913 – 2005), who in 1987 became the first Japanese to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture.
Welcome dinner features premium Japanese beef.
Day 4/Thu: Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo (B/L)
We depart at 7:45 AM for a full-day excursion to Mt Fuji and Hakone.
Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain (3,776 metres) in Japan, is a two-hour drive from Tokyo. We stop by the Fujisan World Heritage Center to view the summit and learn about the history, formation and ecology of Mt. Fuji through exhibits and a short film. However, it is purely a matter of luck whether the summit is visible as Mt. Fuji is often shrouded in clouds. Our schedule does not include hiking the mountain – the trails are open between July and early September and it would take the average person at least six hours to hike to the summit even if one starts from the highest station at 2,305 metres above sea level.
We then proceed to Lake Ashi in Hakone for a half-hour cruise across the pristine alpine lake. This is followed by a 10-minute cable car ride that transports us to the station overlooking the sulphur-spewing Owakudani Geothermal Valley. On a clear day, the cable car ride provides stunning views of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding mountain slopes.
We expect to arrive back at the hotel around 6:00 PM.
