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One country, a dozen different worlds
Japan Holidays
Neon cities, silent mountains, hot springs and southern beaches, and a bullet train that links them all. We build the trip around what you came for.
Are you on the Japan list? PTS member 6494. All bookings made with ATOL protected suppliers.
What it actually feels like
The first morning, when the whole country feels both ancient and brand new
You step out into a Tokyo morning and the city is already moving. The crossing at Shibuya fills and empties like a tide, thousands of people, not a single collision. You follow the smell of something grilling down a side street and end up at a counter with six stools, eating the best thing you’ve had in months for the price of a coffee back home.
A few days later you’re somewhere completely different. A lane in Kyoto, early, before the crowds. Wooden machiya houses lean over the street. A temple bell sounds somewhere you can’t see. You turn a corner and a vermilion torii gate frames a path up into the trees, and you have it almost to yourself.
The train does the rest. You slide out of the city and within minutes there are rice paddies, then mountains, then Mount Fuji holding the horizon while you barely feel the motion. That evening you lower yourself into an onsen as the steam rises and the light goes soft, and the day’s miles fall away.
This is what the best Japan holidays do. They give you the rush and the calm, the food and the quiet, the famous sights and the lane you found by accident. The country is built for it, fast where you want speed, still where you want stillness.
You came a long way to be here. Good Japan holidays are the ones where every day feels like a different country and you never once feel rushed between them. That’s the part worth getting right, and it’s the part we plan around you.
Fourteen places, each its own reason to come back
Find the side of Japan you came for
Every region of Japan has its own character. The art is choosing which to thread together.
Best for first-timers
Tokyo
The capital is loud, fast and endlessly deep, from the crossing at Shibuya and the lights of Shinjuku to old Asakusa and the calm of the Imperial gardens. You can eat better here, at every price, than almost anywhere on earth. Most trips start here and use it to find their feet.
The cultural heart
Kyoto
A thousand years of temples, shrines and gardens, and the lanes of Gion where you still catch a glimpse of a geiko at dusk. Fushimi Inari's torii gates, the gold of Kinkaku-ji, the bamboo at Arashiyama. Early mornings here, before the crowds, are some of the best hours in the country.
The food city
Osaka
Brasher and warmer than Kyoto, an hour away on the train. Dotonbori glows at night and the street food, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, is the whole point. A brilliant base for Nara, Kobe and the wider Kansai region, and an easy city to like.
Onsen and the view
Hakone and Mount Fuji
The classic escape from Tokyo. Hot-spring ryokan, open-air art, a lake with Fuji behind it on a clear day. Stay a night, soak, eat well, and watch the mountain come and go with the weather. The closest most trips get to Fuji without climbing it.
Moving and beautiful
Hiroshima and Miyajima
The Peace Memorial is quietly one of the most affecting places in Japan. Just offshore, Miyajima's floating torii gate and tame deer make the perfect counterweight. Together they're a day or two that stays with you long after.
Easy day trip
Nara
Japan's first capital, an easy hop from Kyoto or Osaka. Bowing deer roam the parks, the Great Buddha at Todai-ji is genuinely vast, and the whole place moves at a gentler pace. Half a day or a full one, and a favourite with families.
The quieter classic
Kanazawa
Often called a smaller Kyoto with fewer crowds. Kenroku-en is one of the country's great gardens, the geisha and samurai districts are beautifully preserved, and the seafood off the Sea of Japan is superb. Reachable now by bullet train, still under the radar.
Countryside and ryokan
The Japanese Alps and Takayama
The country slows right down here. Takayama's old town, the thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, and mountain ryokan where dinner is a quiet event. This is where you go for the rural Japan that the cities don't show you.
Winter escape
Hokkaido
The northern island, and a different country again. Powder snow and world-class skiing at Niseko, the Sapporo Snow Festival, lavender fields in summer and seafood all year. Cooler and wilder than the south, and a trip in its own right.
Off the usual trail
Kyushu
The southern island rewards anyone going beyond the headline cities. Fukuoka's food scene, the history of Nagasaki, active volcanoes, and some of the best onsen country in Japan around Beppu and Yufuin. Quieter, warmer, and full of character.
Beaches and reefs
Okinawa
The tropical south, closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo. White-sand beaches, coral reefs, a distinct island culture and a slower rhythm. The Japan that surprises people, and an easy add-on if you want a few days flat on a beach to finish.
Shrines and forest
Nikko
A couple of hours from Tokyo, where ornate shrines sit among cedar forest, waterfalls and mountain lakes. Toshogu is extraordinarily detailed, and the autumn colour here is some of the best near the capital. A nature-and-history day that's easy to slot in.
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
Matsuo Bashō
Where you sleep is half the experience in Japan
The right kind of stay, in the right place
Japan's accommodation is part of the trip, not just a bed for the night. We mix the types to suit how you travel.
A Japan rite of passage
Traditional ryokan
Tatami floors, futon beds, a multi-course kaiseki dinner brought to your room, and a yukata robe to pad about in. A night or two in a good ryokan is one of the experiences people remember most. We'll pick ones that suit you, not just the famous names.
Pure relaxation
Onsen hot-spring stays
Ryokan built around natural hot springs, often with private or open-air baths looking out at mountains or snow. The whole evening is about slowing down, soaking, eating, and soaking again. Hakone, the Alps and Kyushu all do this beautifully.
Comfort and location
Modern city hotels
The cities have superb hotels at every level, from sleek business towers to high-design rooms with skyline views. The right base near a station makes a city stay effortless, and we'll match the standard and the spot to how you like to travel.
Good for families
Kyoto machiya townhouses
Restored wooden townhouses you have to yourselves, often with a small garden and a kitchen. Space to spread out, a real neighbourhood around you, and a calm base for exploring Kyoto. A favourite for families and groups who want room to breathe.
The top tier
Luxury hotels
Japan does world-class luxury, from serene mountain retreats to landmark city addresses with some of the finest dining anywhere. If this is the trip to do properly, we know which rooms and which tables are worth it.
Something different
Temple lodging at Koyasan
On the sacred mountain of Koyasan you can stay in a working temple, eat the monks' vegetarian cuisine and join the morning prayers. Simple, quiet and unlike anywhere else, for travellers who want a night with real meaning to it.
Best for larger families
Apartment-style family stays
True four-bed family rooms are genuinely scarce in Japan, so for families and bigger groups, apartment-style hotels with separate space, a kitchenette and laundry are often the smart choice. Everyone stays together, with room to relax at the end of a long day.
Whatever month you're dreaming about, something here is calling you
The experiences that bring people back
A Japan holiday is built from moments, not just places. These are the ones worth planning around.
Spring only
Cherry blossom season
For a few weeks from late March, the whole country turns pink and pauses to watch. Picnics under the trees, blossom on temple grounds, petals on the rivers. The dates move each year and book out early, so this is one to plan well ahead.
Autumn only
Autumn foliage
Many regulars rate the autumn colour above the blossom. From mid-November the maples turn deep red and gold, and Kyoto's temples and Nikko's forests are at their most beautiful. Cooler, calmer and just as spectacular as spring.
Easier than you think
Riding the Shinkansen
The bullet train is a pleasure in its own right, smooth, silent and exactly on time, with Fuji sliding past the window. Once your rail strategy is sorted, the whole country opens up, and getting between places becomes part of the fun.
Do it at least once
Soaking in an onsen
There's nothing quite like an open-air hot spring with snow falling around you. It takes a little nerve the first time, then you understand why the whole country does it. We'll point you to the ones that suit you, including private baths if you'd rather.
Everywhere you go
Temples and shrines
From the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari to the vast Todai-ji and the quiet neighbourhood shrines you stumble on, these are the spaces where Japan slows you down. The early-morning ones, before the crowds, are the keepers.
A reason to come on its own
The food
Sushi at a counter, ramen down a side street, a kaiseki feast at a ryokan, a riot of street food in Osaka. You can eat extraordinarily well at every price, and a few of the meals will be the best you've had anywhere.
On a clear day
Mount Fuji views
There's a reason the mountain is everywhere in Japanese art. Catch it from a Hakone lake, a Kawaguchiko hot spring or the window of the Shinkansen, and on a clear morning it stops you mid-sentence. We'll build in the best chances of seeing it.
Winter wildlife
Snow monkeys at Jigokudani
Wild macaques bathing in a steaming hot spring while snow falls is one of Japan's great sights. The park near Nagano is reachable as a day trip, and seeing it in winter, when the monkeys are deepest in the water, is unforgettable.
Winter only
Skiing and snowboarding
Japan's powder is some of the best on the planet. Niseko in Hokkaido is the famous name, but there's brilliant, quieter snow all over the country, often a short hop from a hot-spring town to soak in afterwards. A full ski trip or a few days on the side.
Summer only
Summer festivals
Summer is matsuri season, when towns fill with lantern-lit floats, drumming, dancing in the streets and fireworks over the rivers. Kyoto's Gion Matsuri in July is the famous one, but there's a festival on somewhere most weeks. Hot, humid and a lot of fun.
The future, today
Modern Tokyo and teamLab
The other side of the coin. Immersive digital art at teamLab, robot-tended hotels, game arcades, and views from the towers at night. Tokyo does the future better than anywhere, and it's a brilliant contrast to the temples and gardens.
Uniquely Japanese
Watching sumo
Few things feel more Japanese than a day at the sumo. If a tournament falls during your trip, the ritual, the scale and the sheer noise of the arena are extraordinary. Out of season, a morning watching a training stable is the next best thing.
Current offers
Japan holiday offers
Celebrity Japan Cruises 2028 and 2029: Millennium and Solstice
Fourteen sailings across autumn colour, winter light and cherry blossom season, on two ships based in Tokyo.
View offer →
Japan Bullet Train Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 9 Days
Nine days across Japan's three headline cities, travelling between them by Shinkansen.
From £1,299 pp
View offer →
Oceania Marina Cruise: Northern Britain No-Fly from Southampton 2027
Twelve no-fly nights exploring northern Britain, round-trip from Southampton.
From £3,835 pp
View offer →
Why book your Japan holiday with Boullies?
Because Japan rewards a trip built around you, not a fixed route
Your itinerary is built around your priorities
Japan can be a culture trip, a food trip, a family trip, a ski trip or all of them at once, and the right order through the country is different for each. We start by understanding what you actually want from it, then build the route, the pace and the nights in each place around that. You get a trip that fits you, not a template with your name on it.
The logistics that catch people out are handled for you
Rail passes, seat reservations, the right regional pass for your route, ryokan that book strangely, luggage forwarded between cities so you're not hauling it on the Shinkansen. These are the details that quietly make or break a Japan trip, and they're sorted before you go, so you arrive to a plan that simply works.
Honest advice from people who know the country properly
We'll tell you when Golden Week will work against you, which famous sight is worth the early start and which one isn't, and where the quieter version of the experience you want actually is. For the long version, we go deep on Japan in The Jason Boull Travel Podcast, so you can hear the thinking behind the trips before you ever pick up the phone.
What our travellers say
Real reviews from real Japan trips
“We recently booked a trip to Barbados staying at a Sandals resort through Boullies Travel for our Honeymoon and I honestly can’t recommend Jason enough. From start to finish, everything…”
Ryan · trustpilot
“I have just booked a rugby tour to Argentina with Jason, Jason was very helpful, knowledgeable and patient, every time I rang he answered straight away and helped me with…”
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Everything handled, nothing left to chance
What you get when you book your Japan holiday with Boullies
- An itinerary built around your priorities, not a fixed tour
- The right cities and regions, in the right order, at a pace that suits you
- Rail passes, seat reservations and transfers all sorted before you go
- Ryokan, hotels and apartments matched to how you travel
- The best dates worked out, and the crowded ones avoided
- Key restaurant and experience bookings arranged where they matter
- Luggage forwarding set up so you travel light between cities
- One point of contact who knows your trip inside out
- Everything in one place, ATOL and PTS protected
All of it planned. None of the guesswork.
Questions we get asked every week
Everything you want to know before you book
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Spring and autumn are the headline seasons. Cherry blossom runs for a few weeks from late March, and the autumn colour peaks from mid-November, with both giving mild weather and the best of the scenery. Winter is quieter and excellent for skiing and onsen, while summer is hot and humid but full of festivals. The main dates to plan around are Golden Week in late April to early May and the Obon holiday in mid-August, when the whole country travels and prices climb.
How long do I need in Japan?
Two weeks is the sweet spot and the most-searched trip length for good reason. It lets you settle into Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, add Hakone or Hiroshima, and still have room for somewhere off the usual trail. Ten days works well for a first loop of the main cities, and seven days is enough for Tokyo and Kyoto if that’s the time you have. We build the route around the days you’ve got.
Where should I go on a first trip to Japan?
Most first trips are built on Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with Hakone for Mount Fuji and Nara as an easy day out. From there it depends on you, Hiroshima and Miyajima for history, the Japanese Alps for the countryside, Hokkaido for snow, Okinawa for beaches. Choosing and ordering it is exactly what we do, and we go through it in detail on The Jason Boull Travel Podcast if you’d like the longer version first.
How much does a Japan holiday cost?
Japan holidays with Boullies start from £1,599pp, and the honest answer beyond that is it has a wide range, with the two biggest levers being when you fly and how you travel. Spring and autumn cost more, the weak yen is working in your favour at the moment, and your choice of accommodation moves the total more than anything else. Rather than stop at the lead-in figure, we price each trip to what you actually want from it, so you know exactly where the money is going.
Is Japan good for families and children?
Very. It’s safe, spotlessly clean, easy to get around, and packed with things children love, from bullet trains and robot restaurants to deer parks and theme parks. The one thing to know is that true family rooms for four or more are scarce, so for larger families we’ll often build the trip around apartment-style stays that keep everyone together with room to spread out.
Do UK travellers need a visa for Japan?
No. British passport holders can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days as a temporary visitor. Make sure your passport has at least six months left on it and a couple of blank pages, and you’re set. We’ll confirm the current requirements as part of planning your trip.
Is it easy to get around if you don't speak Japanese?
Easier than most people expect. Major signs, stations and tickets carry English, the trains are famously punctual, and translation apps fill any gaps. Once your rail passes and reservations are sorted, getting between places is genuinely simple, and that’s exactly the part we set up for you in advance.
How does money work in Japan?
Cards are widely accepted in cities, hotels and convenience stores, but Japan is still cash-first in smaller shops, temples and rural areas, so it’s worth carrying yen. The currency is searched constantly by UK travellers because the exchange rate matters, and right now a weaker yen means your pound goes further than it has in years.
Three minutes, then we take it from here
Tell us your dates. We do the rest.
No hard sell. We come back with a proper plan and a real price within 24 hours.
