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 then work closely with our specialist team in Japan to develop the journey.
Their knowledge on the ground is an important part of the process. Together, we consider the route, accommodation, transport, experiences and practicalities of travelling between places, rather than treating them as separate bookings.
It means the journey is developed from two perspectives: an understanding of you and what you want from your holiday, combined with the knowledge of people who live and work in Japan.
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 from people who know your journey
The specialist team in Japan involved in developing and arranging your journey is also there to support you while you're travelling.
That continuity is important to us. The people looking after you already know your itinerary, understand the arrangements that have been made and know the thinking behind the journey. If something needs attention, you aren't starting again with somebody encountering your holiday for the first time.
Most journeys run exactly as planned and you may hardly need that support. But if circumstances change or something needs sorting out, having knowledgeable English-speaking people in Japan who already understand your trip 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 and what has made you want to visit Japan.
From there, we can start working out what your Japan should look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tailor-made holiday to Japan cost?
For a typical two-week tailor-made journey, we recommend a budget starting from around £4,000 per person, excluding international flights, with many journeys costing more depending on the time of year, accommodation, private guiding and experiences included. Shorter journeys can cost less.
The important question isn't simply how much you spend, but what that budget gives you. We look carefully at where spending more will genuinely improve your journey and where it won't, using your budget around the things that matter most to you.
Why does a tailor-made Japan holiday cost more than a standard package?
A standard package can be a perfectly good way to visit Japan, but it is designed to work for many different travellers. A tailor-made journey starts with you. We consider how you like to travel, the pace that suits you, where it is worth spending more and where it isn't, and how the different parts of the journey work together. You also have support in Japan from the team involved in planning your trip, rather than simply being handed an itinerary and left to manage it yourself.
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. Just as importantly, we help decide what not to include, so the itinerary has a sensible pace and each destination has a reason for being there.
How does the planning process work?
We begin with a conversation about you rather than a list of destinations. We want to understand what interests you, how you like to travel, your preferred pace, budget and what you want from Japan. We then work with our specialist team in Japan to develop the route, accommodation and experiences into a coherent journey. Once the overall direction feels right, the detailed arrangements are developed and booked in Japan.
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 route 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 throughout your journey. Importantly, these aren't people encountering your holiday for the first time if you need help. The team supporting you has also been involved in developing and arranging your trip, so they understand your itinerary, the decisions behind it and what matters to you.
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. That's part of what we're here to help with.