Luxury tours of Japan are offered by countless tour operators, but not everyone has the same understanding when it comes to luxury.
According to Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, luxury is defined not just by opulent decor, but by exceptional, personalized service that makes every guest feel valued and cared for. Sharp’s vision emphasizes that true luxury stems from the way people are treated and the experiences they have, not just from the lavishness of the surroundings.
If you share Mr. Sharp’s belief, you’ve just found the right luxury Japan tour operator in Laurus Travel. Established in 1998, Laurus Travel specializes in premium small-group travel to Asia with a focus on China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Our fully guided tours hold special appeal to discerning travellers seeking in-depth experiences that are culturally enriching, intellectually stimulating and physically active.
Laurus Travel is a boutique tour operator offering mid-level to luxury tours in a small group environment. Our Japan tours may not utilize top-of-the-line luxury hotels, but our level of service stands up to the best in the industry. We speak Japanese and spend lots of time every year travelling in Japan.
When you shop around for luxury tours of Japan, you should read carefully what their customers have to say about them and pay close attention to legitimate complaints. Many vendors offering luxury tours of Japan are nothing but marketing shells – middlemen with no intimate knowledge of the destinations. They don’t have adequate first-hand experiences of Japan and solely rely on local suppliers for everything.
Luxury Tours of Japan – Recommended Itinerary
Laurus Travel offers a good selection of Japan tours to suit different budgets and preferences. The 14-day Best of Japan has been very popular. We do not call it a luxury tour of Japan but it is close. That said, we do have solutions for those looking for luxury tours of Japan.
Tokyo – Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Kanazawa – Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Tokyo
With a focus on history and culture, this premium small-group Japan tour conducted by outstanding guides showcases the best of the Land of the Rising Sun. From the present capital of Tokyo to the former imperial seat of Kyoto, Japan’s illustrious blend of ancient traditions with state-of-the-art modernity is on full display.
Important Features
- Small group size (average 15, maximum 20)
- Expert guides
- No shopping stops
- Quality Japanese & Western cuisines
- Traditional dinner (kaiseki) with maiko (geisha trainee) performance
- Special dinner featuring premium Japanese beef (wagyu)
- Optional day trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
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 pre-trip update two weeks before departure.
Day 3/Wed: Tokyo (B/L)
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 Senso-ji (Shallow Grass Temple), the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo dating back to 628.
We then drive through ritzy Ginza shopping district to arrive at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace (the palace itself is closed to tourists) for a stroll.
After lunch, we tour the grounds of the tranquil 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 inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. On a clear day, the visitor should be able to see the peak of Mount Fuji which is located about 84 km to the west.
Read what our customers have to say
Our 14 day Best of Japan tour was simply “the best” and then some. We had a spectacular time while visiting a place I had dreamed of for many years, on our 30th wedding anniversary. Our guides and our tour mates were a joy. I look forward to future journeys with Laurus Travel and would highly recommend them to my family and friends.
Elizabeth R
Miami, Florida
