Best of Our 2025 Japan Small Group Tours

If you’ve heard of our Japan small group tours, you probably know we do things a little bit differently. We keep our groups small, maxing out at just eight guests. This small group size allows us to use public transportation to move around Japan easily while minimizing our footprint on local communities.

No two of our Japan tours are ever exactly the same. We tweak each journey based on the guests who sign up, customizing the destinations, activities, and experiences to fit the group. Plus, we personally escort every single trip to help with any language barriers and understandings of Japanese culture.

Best of Our 2025 Japan Small Group Tours

As we look back on our 2025 tours, we’re still reflecting on the wonderful moments we shared with our guests as we traveled across Japan. Whether we were navigating the crowded train stations in Tokyo or finding a quiet moment in a Kyoto Zen garden, these trips gave everyone a real-life perspective of Japan.

Neon Lights and Ancient Traditions in Tokyo

Every one of our Japan small group tours kicked off in Tokyo, where we spent our first day exploring the historic Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.

Sensoji Five-Tiered Pagoda in Asakusa

On our May, September, and November tours this year, we got to experience the raw power of the Grand Sumo Tournament firsthand, which is always a crowd favorite.

Group Tour Watching Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo

Fuji Mountain Views

Our 10-, 12-, and 15-day tours got to experience the magic of staying at a traditional ryokan at the foot of Mount Fuji.

View of Mount Fuji from our Ryokan

There’s nothing like spending the day taking in the iconic views of Fujisan and then sitting down to an incredible kaiseki meal.

Tour Guests at the Ryokan at the Foot of Mount Fuji

Add in a long soak in the mineral-rich waters of a real onsen bath, and it was the perfect blend of stunning scenery and exceptional Japanese hospitality.

From Bullet Trains to Ancient Castles

We rode on the legendary Shinkansen bullet train to move between cities.

The Shinkansen Bullet Train Passing by a Platform

We also made sure our guests got to experience a bit of history with a visit to an original wooden castle in either Inuyama or Matsumoto.

Matsumoto Castle Fall 2025

And of course, we couldn’t leave Nagoya without having an incredible Michelin-recommended Yakitori dinner.

Chefs at the Michelin-recommended Yakitoriya in Nagoya

Scenic Mountains and Ancient Towns

On some of our 2025 small group tours, we spent the day hiking the Nakasendo Trail between the beautifully preserved post towns of Magome and Tsumago in the Kiso Valley.

Tour Group on the Nakasendo Trail

The five-mile hike along the ancient samurai trail was a great workout filled with stunning scenery like hidden waterfalls and lush bamboo forests.

Bamboo Forest Along the Nakasendo

Another unforgettable experience was our visit to Takayama, a charming mountain town known for its centuries-old merchant streets.

Tour Group at Sake Brewery in Hida Takayama

Our guests sampled local delicacies like Hida beef and mitarashi dango mochi. To top it off, we headed to a local brewery for a tasting of some of Takayama’s best sake.

The Spiritual Heart of Kyoto and Nara

Kyoto is always a popular stop on our Japan small group tours, especially when we visit the Golden Pavilion at Kinkakuji and the dry landscape garden at Ryoanji.

Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion

We also took a day trip to Nara and stood in awe of the Great Bronze Buddha at Todaiji, which is housed in one of the world’s largest wooden structures.

Tour Guests Outside of Todaiji Main Hall

Reflections on Peace and Beauty

For those on our longer itineraries, we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan

The following day, we took the ferry to Miyajima Island to see the world-famous floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine.

Tour Guests at the Floating Torii Gate on Miyajima Island

Japan’s Best Seasonal Colors

We were lucky enough to catch Japan at its absolute best on our 2025 tours. This past spring, our groups were right there for the cherry blossom peak, wandering through parks blanketed in pink and white petals.

Cherry Blossom Tree in Nara, Japan

Then, for our fall tours, we got to watch the entire landscape transform into those deep reds and brilliant golds that make Japan’s autumn colors so famous.

Visiting the Chureito Pagoda Near Mount Fuji

What to Take Away

Every one of our 2025 Japan small group tour participants left with more than just great souvenirs, pictures, and memories. They left with a genuine appreciation of the country’s culture and its people.

We handle all the intercity travel and land transportation, leaving you free to simply enjoy the journey. If you missed out in 2025, we’d love for you to join us on our next set of adventures to see these amazing landscapes and National Treasures for yourself.