Shiba Park Hotel, Tokyo

Japan Express

Romantic Express + 1 more + 2 more

A whistlestop holiday following Japan's 'Golden Route'.

9 days

from £4,545 pp

including flights

Japan In-Depth

Romantic Ultimate + 1 more + 2 more

Our ultimate, three-week adventure through Japan’s most iconic cities and hidden spots.

21 days

from £9,280 pp

including flights

Japan with Teenagers

Family Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

From samurai workshops to Universal Studios, this is a family holiday to remember.

14 days

from £5,930 pp

including flights

Gastronomic Japan

Family Foodie + 2 more + 3 more

A delicious journey around Japan's foodie highlights.

15 days

from £7,135 pp

including flights

Soul of Japan

Go Local Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

Step back in time with a journey to the heart of Japan's traditions.

14 days

from £6,729 pp

including flights

Japan's Road Less Travelled

Go Local Off-the-beaten-track + 1 more + 2 more

Experience a quieter side of Japan.

15 days

from £6,650 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Japan

Japanese Cookery Class

Prepare a range of dishes with fresh ingredients, under the supervision of a culinary expert, as you conjure up your own Japanese lunch. As well as learning the precise steps required to create these seemingly simple dishes, your guide will explain the history of flavours, the etiquette of dining and the use of famous condiments such as wasabi and ginger to compliment the meal. As this class is just for you, meals can be customised to suit you - so if you are vegetarian, have any dietary requirements, or if you're already an expert cook, just let us know in advance.

Tokyo - ideas for free time

There's an almost inexhaustible list of things you can do in Tokyo - but if you have any particular interests, do let us know. Want to check out the local Kabuki theatre? Watch the sumo wrestlers strut their stuff, at the stables? Hang out with the maids in Akihabara? Take a romantic cruise for dinner? We can sort it! If you are wanting to get tickets for Disneyland (or DisneySea), watch a local baseball game, make reservations in one of Tokyo's Michelin Star restaurants, or check out the Studio Ghibli museum, we'll do our best to make it happen. And of course, if you simply want some recommendations for museums or neighbourhoods to explore in your spare time, we can point you in the right direction.

Tokyo Gourmet Walk

Treat yourself to something special for lunch with this dining experience in Tokyo's exciting streets. So many incredible culinary experiences are missed by visitors to this city, due to being perceived as 'inaccessible' - hidden behind closed doors or indecipherable menus. Join your knowledgeable guide as you head into these tiny, hideaway restaurants - frequented by locals, but welcoming to all - and try some delicious food that might have otherwise passed you by. Once you're satiated - stomachs full and happy - bid farewell to your fellow diners, or explore further with your newfound curiosity.

Karuizawa

Karuizawa is a popular escape from the heat and humidity of Tokyo in the summertime - an alpine town that could, at a glance, be in the centre of Europe rather than the centre of Japan. This is no accident - in the late 19th century, Western residents of Japan's capital grew tired of the sweat and the stickiness and did what any one would do in that situation... they ran away to the cool mountain air of a quaint mountain resort, and put their own cultural stamp on it. Many wealthy city-folk still come here for a weekend away, a respite from the urban hustle. There's a lot on offer here - outdoor pursuits such as hiking or cycling are huge here, though there's shopping and golf aplenty, if you that's more your bag. The area shines during the autumn too - a great place to enjoy a hot drink, surrounded by the reds and oranges of fall, or maybe a stroll through the volcanic landscape of Onioshidashi Park, next to the towering, active Mt. Asama. Due to it's altitude and geography, Karuizawa is also a wonderful spot for some winter sports too - skiing, of course, but also ice-skating (if you prefer things at a more gentle pace). Local cuisine features a lot of European influences: German sausages, Swiss fondue, and there are numerous French or Scandinavian-style bakeries and cafes scattered throughout town. The craft beer scene is better than most of Japan, and there's something wholly satisfying about drinking a hipster-tipple while dipping bread into melted cheese. Despite all this, the town is still unmistakeably Japanese - oddities and curios fill the shops, green tea and soba noodles share the menu with escargot, and the service received everywhere is so faultless, that you couldn't possibly be anywhere else in the world. The real treasures of Karuizawa lie in the wilderness that surrounds it. The stunning Shiraito Waterfall - a curved wall of water just three metres high, but seventy metres wide - is a sight to behold in the lush greens of summer. Throughout the seasons, the Karuizawa National Wild Bird Sanctuary Forest is one of the best places in the country to spot charming endemic species, such as the Green Woodpecker and the Copper Pheasant. As well as its winged residents, the trees are also home to the Japanese Serow - a deer-like creature that is actually a close relative of cattle - and the elusive Momonga, or Japanese dwarf flying squirrel. Asian Black Bears also roam these parts, and it's advisable to wear a bell if you go adventuring - it's certainly not the best idea to surprise them! Organised nature and wildlife trips - both during the day time and after dark - can be arranged while in town, weather allowing. What better way to round out your stay in the mountain than by searching for nocturnal animals in the moonlight?