WHY CHOOSE US?

ABOUT US

Since 2004, Japan Journeys has been delighting travelers with expertly curated tours, making us the leading UK provider of special interest trips focused on manga, bonsai, gardens, and quilting.

Based in London, our team spends significant time in Japan each year—leading tours, exploring new destinations, and staying up to date with the latest cultural trends and travel experiences. Every member of our staff has lived, worked, and travelled extensively throughout Japan. This deep, personal connection to the country fuels our passion and ensures that we offer you only the most authentic and enriching experiences.

But don't just take our word for it—see what our past customers have to say.

In May 2010, we proudly launched the UK's first Gourmet Tour of Japan, followed by our groundbreaking Manga Tour—the first of its kind offered by a European tour operator. We also run a Classic Japan Tour during cherry blossom season, a Gardens Tour in the autumn leaf season, and regular cruise-based tours exploring Japan’s coasts.

In addition to our scheduled tours, we specialise in tailor-made itineraries for private clients and schools.

We were honoured to be named Best Specialist Company in the 2013 NEO Magazine Awards

OUR PROMISE TO YOU

Here at Japan Journeys, we understand that your holiday means the world to you because it means the same to us. The entire content of our tours is checked out and reviewed by Japan Journeys staff, tours are led by our own Tour Leaders, and we would not sell you anything that we are not perfectly satisfied with ourselves. Please click here for our full Booking Conditions.

OUR STAFF

Our team is led by James, who lived in Tokyo from 1991-1995

James (Managing Director)

James' fondest memory of Japan was visiting the wonderful onsen (hot springs) of Hakone on a regular basis from Tokyo. As a result of his love of Japan, its people, and more importantly its food, he returned to the UK enthused with a passion to help others experience the Japan he had seen.

James' top tour: Essential Japan

Ruby

Ruby spent over a year living in Tokyo and travelling with friends on the weekends.

While living in Japan, she developed a love for theatre and used it as a way to polish her Japanese knowledge, seeing everything from small student-run productions to a high-end production of 1887 by the Takarazuka Revue, a famous all-female theatre troupe. Ruby is also passionate about wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, so eating some of these is a must-do for her every time she visits. If she had to pick, she’d say her favourite is ichigo (strawberry) daifuku, which she has also learned to make herself – although they’re nowhere near as pretty and delicate as the ones you can buy around Asakusa!

Ruby's top tour: Japan Quilt Tour

Leah

Leah spent a year travelling and volunteering across the length of Japan 2017 -2018, from snowy Sapporo in the North, to the rich green forests of Yakushima in the South. Highlights of this trip included rice farming on the Izu Peninsula, gardening at a temple in the mountains of Nagano, and teaching English in the countryside of Okayama.

Leah is also an artist, specialising in Japanese woodblock printmaking, a technique she studied in Kawaguchiko in 2019. She loves visiting exhibitions of ukiyo-e prints and is fascinated by depictions of famous placed of Edo period Japan.

Leah's top tour: Kyushu Islands & Onsen

Brianna

Brianna is a passionate linguist who speaks Japanese, Mandarin, Korean and Spanish, as well as English.

She spent a transformative year abroad in Nagoya and she’s always eager to share its hidden gems, especially when it comes to the local cuisine (miso katsu is her favourite!). In her free time, you could often find her exploring Nagoya City Science Museum, home to the world’s largest planetarium, or taking peaceful walks around Atsuta Jingu, which enshrines the legendary sword of the sun goddess Amaterasu. She also developed a love for karaoke during her time in Japan and is always ready to belt out some classic J-pop hits!

Brianna's Top Tour: Hike The Sacred Trail (she is also very interested in Shinto and Japanese spiritualism)