Japan Escorted Tours & Guided Holidays

Japan Touring Holidays Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Tours to Japan?

With it’s contrast between modern technology and ancient traditions, Japan is the land of wonder and a week is just not enough time to see all that this country has to offer!

The land of the Rising Sun tour takes you to see the bustling city of Tokyo and at the opposite extreme the Meiji Jingu Shrine a peaceful place of worship. You’ll visit Hakone, the gateway to Mount Fuji, take a cable car ride over Owakundi Valley, Visit the historic city of Nara, experience the famous bullet train, watch a sushi making demonstration, enjoy a rickshaw ride through a bamboo forest and so much more!

What are the highlights of Japan?

Japan is full of amazing highlights to see, to the point that it feels like there is one around every corner but the ones’ you definitely do not want to miss are:

• Kinkakuji Temple – Better known as the Golden Leaf temple, covered in pure gold leaf
• Miyajima Island - Japan has some beautiful islands but Miyajima tops the list. It’s an ancient pilgrimage site that is now a national park inhabited with wild yet friendly deer
• The Shinkansen - The Iconic bullet train – carrying 10 billion passengers a year at speeds of 200mph
• Shirakawago - famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old
• Osaka building and Floating Garden - This 173-meter tall building consists of 2 towers that are linked to each other by a Floating Garden Observatory. The observatory offers a great viewpoint to see all of the city. You will also find a special restaurant in the basement that that imitates a town in the early Showa Period.
• Takayama - a traditional city hidden in the centre of the Hida mountains, renowned for its exceptional preservation of its many old buildings and temples
• Other things to try.... if you find time are a rickshaw ride, sushi-making and a cruise on Lake Ashii

 

What is the food like in Japan?

Japanese food is delicious and due to its popularity it has been making its way all over the world. As a bonus, because of its high plant, vegetable, fruit and seafood ingredients it benefits from being healthier than most Western food.

However, many of Japan’s culinary dishes originally came from other countries such as China, Korea and Portugal. Rice, being the main candidate! The rice introduced to Japan from China was short-grain, which when boiled for a prolonged period becomes sticky and sweet making it easy to pick up and eat with chopsticks. 

Another candidate is Tempura, which is a simple process of coating food in a batter and frying and originates from Portugal. The Portuguese were one of the first to fry their fish in batter.

Japan is surrounded by water; therefore the ease of local fishing means the majority of Japan’s cuisine is based around fish and seafood, with those more religious for example Buddhist monks opting for a vegetarian diet.

Popular dishes to try when in Japan are:

• Sushi - raw seafood placed on/or in vinegared rice, or wrapped as rolls in dried sheets of seaweed, rice paper, or soybean skin. There are some cooked sushi dishes, however, most sushi is served raw. Sushi started out as a way to preserve fish but soon became a delicacy enjoyed by many.
• Rice - The Japanese hold rice in high regard, so much so that it is not to be flavoured or seasoned with spices or sauces. It is boiled in pure water so that the rice’ own aroma and natural flavour can radiate as nature intended.
• Tempura - deep-fried prawns, seafood, fish or vegetables coated in a batter consisting of egg, water, and wheat flour. The fried coating is delicate, golden and delicious.
• Sashimi - similar to Sushi in that it is based around raw seafood or meat thinly sliced and served with a dipping sauce like soy sauce. Sashimi is always raw and is served alone, no rice or vegetables.
• Miso Soup - a traditional soup of a soy-based paste placed in stock. Chefs then add a selection of local ingredients for personal taste.
• Noodles - Japanese noodles are delicious and are available in many varieties. Udon noodles are made from wheat flour, Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, and Rice noodles are made from, you guessed it…Rice! All can be served in a broth or coated with meat, fish or vegetables or even dipped in sauce. For those with gluten allergies Soba noodles are gluten-free, as are rice noodles, giving you two options for dinner.

Etiquette – It’s worth noting that the Japanese consider it rude to leave food on your plate, whether at home or at a restaurant. It’s related to one of the fundamental concepts in Japanese culture "mottainai" which is a feeling of regret at having wasted something, so make sure to clear your plate at mealtimes.

What is the best time to visit Japan?

There are several good months in which to visit Japan, for example January has nice weather and sightseeing spots are not over crowded. New Year is popular but it’s worth noting that many shops, restaurants and tourist attractions are closed for a few days between December 29th and January 4th.

Like January, February is a good month as the weather is usually sunny and dry and sightseeing spots are not very crowded. The downside is the short days, with sunset at around 5:30pm in Tokyo. March brings with it the early signs of flowering plants and trees, yet the weather gets noticeably milder.

April is often considered a pretty time to visit Japan because the cherry blossom season takes place in most regions and the weather is agreeably mild. One of Japan's busiest travel seasons, takes place at the end of April and beginning of May making all areas more bustling. However, the remainder of May calms down and is a lovely time to visit as the flowers and vegetation are lavish, and the temperature is comfortable. That being said, the rainy season typically runs from early May to mid-June so pack your waterproofs.

June is the main month of the rainy season. While it doesn’t rain all day, every day, the weather tends to be more gloomy. July marks the end of the rainy season with it typically drying out by mid-July. However this does make for the most hot and humid month and you will break a sweat by just standing outside.

August is equally hot and humid with higher altitudes being the more comfortable places to spend your days. Many local festivals with fireworks are held in August. September marks typhoon season. Typhoons cause intense bursts of rain and wind that usually last for about 2 days, mainly striking the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku. Oddly, once the typhoon passes you usually find the weather sunny with crystal clear skies.

October is without a doubt, one of the most pleasant months for traveling to Japan as the weather remains warm, but it’s not humid anymore. November is a also great time to visit Japan, as the weather is comparatively mild and the humidity is dry. The autumn colours are at their peak and are spectacular. Equally, December is a good month for traveling thanks to the generally dry weather conditions.