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Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle.
Maximum 13 Guests
Forgo the private coach and explore Japan the way the locals do – visit Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation network, walking, hiking, cycling and more. We will send your luggage ahead so you can travel light. | Read More
Our Active Small Group Tours allow you to enjoy Japanese culture firsthand in the intimacy of a small group. The maximum group size is 13 guests, which enables you to travel between destinations by public transportation, such as by train, subway, ferry, or local bus. These tours feature off-the-beaten-path destinations and more opportunity for local interaction, to truly experience what life in Japan is like. Each city will feature an expert local guide who will be able to share in-depth information on the featured attractions and sites, and provide assistance or recommendations if needed prior to your free time.
These tour itineraries are tailored to the energetic passenger; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day, depending on the tour and destination, as you explore Japan's marvelous natural landscape. Select tours include multisport activities to engage interest of the sporty traveler. These multisport activities might include cycling, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, rafting, climbing, and more. The group is kept small to just 13 guests – meaning more attention from your guide. On an Active Small Group Tour, you will discover the country of Japan at a local level, and explore the rich culture the land is known for.
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Kumano Kodo Walking & Hiking Tour
Kyoto - Takijiri - Takahara - Chikatsuyu - Yunomine Onsen - Katsuura - Kyoto
Travel on the sacred Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail, a famous pilgrimage route to Kumano.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Nakasendo Trail Walking & Hiking Tour
Tokyo - Kiso-Hirasawa - Narai - Yabuhara - Kiso-Fukushima - Tsumago - Magome - Nara - Yoshino - Mt Koya - Kyoto
A small-group guided walking and hiking tour with four hikes of 1-4.5 hours of village-to-village walking on the Nakasendo Trail.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Nakasendo and Kiso Valley Walking & Hiking Tour
Kyoto - Nara - Magome - Tsumago - Nojiri - Yabuhara - Narai - Matsumoto - Tokyo
A short small-group guided walking tour with three hikes of 3-6 hours of village-to-village walking on the Nakasendo Trail.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Kyoto - Nakatsugawa - Magome - Tsumago - Kiso Fukushima - Narai - Kiso Hirasawa - Asama Onsen - Tokyo
A small-group guided winter tour to the Nakasendo trail. Walk or snow-shoe on five days for 1-3 hours.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail Walking & Hiking Tour
Mt Koya - Tokushima - Iya Valley - Kochi - Matsuyama - Kagawa
A small-group guided walking & hiking tour to Sacred Mount Koya & The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Trail.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Hokkaido Walking & Hiking Tour
Kushiro - Lake Akan - Mt Meakan - Mt Iou - Kawayu Onsen - Lake Mashu - Mt Nishibetsu - Abashiri - Shiretoko - Rausu - Memanbetsu
A small-group guided walking and hiking tour through the wild lands of Eastern Hokkaido.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Tokyo - Nikko - Oze - Dewa Sanzan - Kakunodate - Nyuto Onsen - Tono - Tokyo
A small-group guided walking & hiking tour exploring mountains in Tohoku with 6 days of walking and hiking of 2-6 hours per day.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
Kyoto - Asuka - Beppu - Kurokawa Onsen - Mount Aso - Takachiho - Kumamoto - Kagoshima - Ibusuki - Yakushima - Nagasaki - Osaka
A small-group guided walking & hiking tour to the land of fire Kyushu with short hikes of 1-3 hours.
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  
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Maximum 13 guests
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No local payments, no options sold
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All transport between destinations included
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Airport meet and greet and return airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified
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Sightseeing by public transport with your local guide, including local train, subway, taxi, ferry, and bus
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Transfer between cities by Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train (Japan rail pass included on select tours)
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Select itineraries include luggage forwarding, so you don't need to drag your luggage from hotel to hotel
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Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination
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More leisurely pace to fully appreciate the destinations
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Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged)
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Includes all entry fees to sites listed on the itinerary
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Free time to explore on your own
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Planned by experts, based on seasonal favorites and must-see sites.
Choose your style and split cost with other passengers
Chosen by our experienced staff
Guide is available to you 24/7 and sleeps in the same hotel
Learn to create your own Sushi, meet a geisha or maiko, and more
Meet locals and visit rural areas of Japan you might miss on other tours
4.9 stars based on 581 REVIEWS
My husband and I just got back from our tour of Japan and would like to give you some feedback. We had an incredible time! It was a trip of a lifetime. I liked it even better than Paris and that is saying something!
Read MoreThis was a outstanding tour with a lot of of sights packed into a short timeframe. Be prepared to walk, but the effort you put in pays off. Our guide and driver were fabulous getting us to places before huge crowds descended and our guide was tremendously knowledgable with both historical and current information regarding culture and lifestyles. The people everywhere we went were friendly and helpful and the food was fantastic. Accommodations were great and provided easy access to other local sights and resources. Couldn't be happier with our choice to use AJT.
Read MoreTour - Enjoyable life experience, with opportunities to learn Japanese culture and lifestyle. Visited a lot of important cultural and historical places within a short period of time. And foliage season makes this tour magical. The tour was great, and many thanks to tour guides, both Barbara and Miharu had a passion and high aspirations for their country and job!
Read MoreOur 15 day Autumn Leaves Tour exceeded our expectations beautiful hotels and locations with very knowledgeable guides. We really find it hard to pick our favorite stop we we're extremely happy with everything on Shikoku Pilgrimage and Kii peninsula. This tour is a walking paradise the cuisine and hot onsens our rewards. Thank you soo much a top cultural experience and adventure all the best from the Zukow
Read MoreWell Organized, Timely and Truly Memorable for me. Tour Director was Excellent! Had a wonderful time. Thank You.
Group Tour Style | Budget | Deluxe | Deluxe-Plus | Signature | Active |
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Feature | Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy a hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. | Sample all Japan has to offer, from unique locales to must see tourist attractions. Our Deluxe Tours are fully guided, and use our luxury coaches for your convenience and comfort. | Experience Japanese culture at a slower pace, and with a smaller group size than our deluxe tours. Stay in each city longer so you can soak in the culture and fully appreciate the destinations. | Enjoy upgraded hotels, a slower pace, and a smaller group size for a more intimate experience. Access to a wide range of unique activities that immerse you in authentic Japanese culture. | Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. |
Advantage | Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a set of quick stops to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or if you plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys, these are the tours for you. | Our most popular tours for everyone. Fully-escorted - the most hassle-free way to visit Japan for the best value. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, the duration of our Deluxe Tours range from 5 to 27 days. Whether you want to see the best of Japan in a shorter time, or take your time in each city, you will find a tour package that suits your preferences. | Smaller group sizes enable our guests to access more of Japanese culture and traditions. Our Deluxe-Plus Tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the unique Japanese culture, history, arts, food and spectacular scenery Japan has. If you love Japan and want to appreciate the best of everything Japan can offer, these are the tours for you. | Dive into the cultural aspects of Japan at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy more than just sightseeing. All of our Signature Small Group Tours feature a wide range of cultural experiences through interaction with the people and places that represent all that is authentic about the destination. Get an alternative, more in-depth understanding of Japanese culture and art. | Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best cultural locations with off-the-beaten-path destinations via Japanese public transportation. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes. |
Group Size | 20 to 45 people | 10 to 35 people | 6 to 24 people | 4 to 16 people | 4 to 13 people |
Fully-escorted | Comprehensively escorted by AJT's professional English speaking tour guide | Your guides are local experts and residents of the city you are visiting, they do not always escort the group when traveling between cities | |||
Pace | Fast pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | Perfect pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | More leisurely pace to soak in and fully appreciate the destinations, plus free time to explore on your own | ||
Airport Transfers | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified | Airport transfers are included* (If no options are taken: hotels are not requested to be changed and passengers use the correct airports) | Airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Private airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified |
Transfer between cities | Transfer between cities via private coach and Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via private coach and first class Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train. Private minivans are also used occasionally where public transport is not available or practical | ||
Sightseeing | Sightseeing by private coach with an escorted guide | Sightseeing by private coach and public transportation with an escorted guide | Sightseeing via public transportation (local train, subway & local bus) with local guides | ||
Admission fees and activities | All entry fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary are included | ||||
Luggage Transfers | Luggage transfers by private coach from hotel to hotel, plus separate luggage transfers are included on select tours | Separate luggage transfers are included | |||
Meals | Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (vegetarian or special meals can be arranged) | ||||
Accommodation | Carefully-selected budget hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected superior/deluxe hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/boutique hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/luxury hotels and ryokans | Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination |
Ages | 4 years old and above | 6 years old and above | |||
Health & Activity | In order to enjoy our tour, you should be able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing activities can only be accomplished on foot. Wheelchairs can be arranged upon request. However, we regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. | These tours are tailored to the energetic traveler; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day depending on the tour and destination. |