About Secret Japan Travel
A more thoughtful way to experience Japan
We created the company because we believe the best journeys through Japan aren’t necessarily the ones that include the most places, the most expensive hotels or the longest list of experiences. They’re the ones where the choices have been made for the right reasons.
Japan is an extraordinary country to travel through, but the sheer amount of choice can make planning difficult. There is always another city to visit, temple to see or experience to add.
Our role is to help make sense of those possibilities and create a journey that reflects the people actually taking it.
Why Japan
There are, of course, places that almost every first-time visitor will want to see. Tokyo and Kyoto are remarkable cities for good reason. But Japan becomes particularly interesting when you begin to understand the differences between its regions, the smaller places between the major destinations and the everyday experiences that rarely appear on a list of must-see attractions.
That’s the Japan we want our clients to experience.
Not an itinerary designed to prove how much can be fitted into two weeks, but a journey with enough time to appreciate where you are and some freedom to discover things for yourself.
Planning in the UK, knowledge in Japan
We take time to understand what interests you, how you like to travel, your preferred pace and what you want from your holiday. You may already have a detailed list of places you’d like to visit, or you may simply know that you want to go to Japan. Either is a perfectly good place to start.
We combine that understanding with detailed knowledge and practical support in Japan. Depending on what you need, that may involve developing the journey with you from the beginning or helping turn plans you already have into a properly arranged trip.
Accommodation, transport, guides and experiences are considered in the context of the whole journey, rather than simply as a collection of separate bookings.
It means you benefit from advice here in the UK alongside people on the ground in Japan who understand how the arrangements work in practice.
A journey that makes sense
Every journey is considered around the people taking it. Sometimes that means including Japan’s best-known destinations; sometimes it means introducing somewhere you may never have considered.
We think carefully about pace as well as place. Adding another destination isn’t always an improvement, particularly if it means spending more of your holiday travelling and less time enjoying where you are.
The same judgement applies to accommodation, guides and experiences. There are occasions when spending more can transform part of a journey and others when the simpler option is actually better.
The objective is to create a holiday that feels coherent and personal, rather than a collection of individually appealing places and experiences.
Support while you travel
You have English-speaking support in Japan while you’re travelling, from people with access to your itinerary and the arrangements that have been made for you.
Most journeys run exactly as planned and you may hardly need that support. But if circumstances change or something needs sorting out, having knowledgeable people in Japan who understand your arrangements can make a considerable difference.
You have the freedom to experience Japan independently, while knowing that support is there when you need it.
Start your journey with us
Tell us a little about yourselves, when you’re thinking of travelling, how long you have, what interests you and your approximate budget. If you already have ideas for the journey, tell us those too.
From there, we can work out the most appropriate way to help you plan and arrange your time in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tailor-made holiday to Japan cost?
There isn’t a single starting price that works for every journey.
Cost depends on how long you travel for, the time of year, the standard and type of accommodation, how much private guiding or transport you want and the experiences you choose to include.
Tell us your approximate budget when you enquire. We can then consider what is realistic and how your money is best used, rather than encouraging you to spend more simply for the sake of it.
What does Secret Japan Travel actually arrange?
We can arrange the main elements of your journey, including accommodation, transport within Japan, private guides and selected experiences. International flights can also be arranged through our UK flight partner.
You don’t necessarily need everything arranged for you. Some clients want a comprehensive itinerary; others prefer more independent time with particular arrangements made where they add most value.
We can also work with arrangements you have already made yourself.
How does the planning process work?
We begin by finding out about you rather than simply asking for a list of destinations.
We want to understand what interests you, how you like to travel, your preferred pace, approximate budget and what you want from Japan. If you already know where you want to go, that is equally useful.
From there, we can determine how much planning you need and develop or refine the route, accommodation, transport and experiences accordingly. The detailed arrangements are then booked in Japan, with support available while you are travelling.
Will my holiday really be tailor-made?
Yes.
We have example itineraries on the website because they are useful for ideas, but they aren’t packages that we simply reproduce.
Your journey is developed around your interests, priorities, dates, budget and travelling style. Sometimes that means including famous places; sometimes it means going somewhere quite different.
What matters is that the journey makes sense for you.
Who looks after us while we are in Japan?
You have English-speaking support from our team in Japan while you are travelling.
The people supporting you have access to your itinerary and the arrangements that have been made, so if you need help they can understand what has been booked and what needs attention.
Most clients will travel independently for much of their journey, but support is there when it is needed.
How far ahead should I book a holiday to Japan?
For most journeys, planning six to twelve months ahead gives considerably more choice, particularly if you want to travel during cherry blossom season or the autumn colours.
Certain ryokan, smaller hotels and specialist experiences can fill much earlier than people expect. We can sometimes arrange journeys at shorter notice, although greater flexibility may be needed.
Can you help if we don't know where in Japan we want to go?
Absolutely.
You don’t need to arrive with an itinerary. Tell us what interests you, what you’ve enjoyed on previous holidays and how you like to spend your time.
We can then work out which parts of Japan are likely to suit you and how they can sensibly be connected. Working out the right route is an important part of what we do.
Do you arrange holidays for families, solo travellers and people with mobility requirements?
Yes.
Different travellers need very different journeys. Families may need more downtime and carefully chosen accommodation; solo travellers can benefit from a different balance of guided and independent time; and mobility requirements can influence everything from hotel choice to station access and transport.
These considerations are incorporated into the journey from the beginning rather than dealt with afterwards.
How do I start planning my Japan holiday?
Start by telling us roughly when you would like to travel, who is travelling, how long you have, your approximate budget and anything you already know you would particularly like to experience.
You don’t need to have worked out where to go or how everything fits together. Equally, if you already have a good idea of the journey you want to make, tell us that too.
We’ll use that information to work out the most appropriate way to help.