Frequently Asked Questions (small group tours)

How many members join your tours?

Our maximum number per group is 14 and minimum number is 6.

What happens if there are not enough people to join one of your tours?

If you are booked on one of our tours and we cannot gather enough people to run the tour as it states on the itinerary, we will offer you a few options. The first option is to change the small group tour to a semi-escorted tour. Instead of having a tour leader throughout, you will have local guides in the places you will visit. We will basically tailor the exact same tour to include guides instead of a fully led tour leader. The price will not change as the cost to hire local guides is still very high. You actually benefit more from this as you will have full attention from guides on the spot and more flexibility on each day as you are not fixed to seeing this temple or that shrine - instead, you can chose your own itinerary in each spot! If this does not suit you we will find try to match your itinerary with another scheduled tour. The final option will be to refund you your money back in full.

What is the best season to go to Japan?

The best months to travel in Japan are considered from the End of March / April (Cherry Blossoms), May (great weather), October and November (Autumn leaves, comfortable weather, and magnificent colours). June and September are also great times to go with warm temperatures and little humidity. July tends to be quite hot as well as August. December, January, February will enable you to get great special offers and also take in a little skiing/snow boarding if you venture to the mountainous regions of Nagano, Hokkaido, etc. More info on Climate & Seasons click here.

How do I get there?

You arrange your own flight or we can arrange it for you. We work closely with another agent for flight bookings. So, if you prefer to deal with just one company for tour & flight, we can do this for you. Ask for a quotation when booking your tour. We recommend you communicate your interest in the tour before booking your flight as this way, we can advise you on your best options. ALL tours begin and end in Japan. This means you are not limited to just one country either.

How much extra money will I need?

We estimate you will need approx. 6000JPY - 10000JPY per day which will be used for personal use only, i.e. some meals, drinks, souvenoirs, etc.. All other inclusions such as entrance fees, transport, meals (not all), hotels, and activities will be included in the tour price. So really, once you pay for the tour, you won't have to put your hand in your pocket too often while there! For more info on money click here.

What type of transport modes do you use?

Depending on the size of the group, we use either Japan Rail Pass to get around on their highly efficient and comfortable trains with some private transfers included, or mainly chartered coaches with a mix of express trains for the longer journeys. No matter what tour you choose however, you will ALWAYS get the chance to ride on the infamous bullet train (Shinkansen). Our tours are designed to make your journey as smooth as possible. With that in mind, you will feel very comfortable and relaxed at all times.

If you have any more questions, please send us an email or call us during office hours GMT 9.30am - 5.30pm tel: +353 (0)1 6787008.