Custom Japan Private Tours
Your dream Japan journey starts here
Private Japan Tours, Tailor-Made for You
A private Japan tour is built entirely around you: your own itinerary, your own pace, and as much or as little private guiding and transport as you want. Journey to the East plans all private Japan tours in-house and delivers them with the help of local guides who live in the places you visit, taking you past the standard Tokyo and Kyoto route into rural villages, artisan studios, and the regional culture most big operators skip, with as much walking as suits you and no more.
Enjoy a Unique Experience with Journey to the East
Plenty of companies sell tailor-made tours. What sets Journey to the East’s private Japan tours apart is how they are made and who makes them.
We listen, then build your tour around you
We do not hand you a standard product and call it custom. You tell us what you want from Japan, and we design your private tour from the ground up, around your interests, pace and budget. The feedback we hear most is simple: it was exactly what we wanted. It is your holiday, not ours.
Designed by people who have lived in Japan
Every one of our team members has lived and worked in Japan, so your itinerary is shaped by first-hand knowledge, not internet research. On the ground, local guides look after you: English-speaking Japanese who live in each region, not guides brought in from elsewhere. The trip design is done from our Australia office; the expertise comes from years in the country.
Attention to detail, nothing left to chance
Because we arrange everything in-house rather than subcontracting, our private tours stay under our control at every booking and transfer. It is why travellers call our trips effortless, trouble-free and 'run like clockwork'.
What's Included in a Private Tour
Private tours mean the logistics are handled long before you land. Your quote sets out exactly what is covered, in writing, so there are no surprises when you arrive.
How much guidance you have is flexible and up to you. Some travellers want a private guide throughout; others explore independently and travel between regions to meet a local guide in each one. Either way, your guides are English-speaking Japanese who share the history, food and culture behind each place, plus the experiences that make a trip stick: a tea ceremony, a market morning, a meal you would never find alone.
Planning and support, start to finish
You are in our hands from your first enquiry to the day you fly home. A travel consultant handles everything through to booking, then a customer support officer looks after the trip itself. We run a wholly owned operation in Japan, never subcontracted, with ATIA membership and ATAS and CATO accreditation.
Ready to design your trip? Enquire now or call a Japan specialist on +61 7 3368 1966.
Beyond the Golden Route: Experience Real Japan
This is where private Japan tours with Journey to the East differ. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are worth seeing, and we include them. But the Japan we know best sits off the beaten path.
Japan's with Your Interests
Deeper culture, quieter corners
The best of both
A good itinerary blends the icons with the quiet corners: a few days in Kyoto, then into the mountains along the Nakasendo; busy Tokyo, then a village barely changed in a century. We customise that mix, and the experiences within it, to each traveller.
Sample Japan Private Tours
14 Day Private Tour of Japan
Tokyo | Kawaguchiko | Matsumoto | Takayama | Shirakawago | Kyoto | Hiroshima | Miyajima | Osaka
- 14 Days
This model itinerary is the ultimate introduction to Japan, capturing its culture, beauty, and must see highlights in one seamless journey. Perfect any time of year, it is Japan’s best in one trip.
From AUD 10,680
Art and Japanese Garden Private Tour
Tokyo | Omiya | Kawaguchiko | Matsumoto | Kanazawa | Kurashiki | Bizen | Naoshima | Teshima | Kyoto
- 15 Days
Japanese gardens and art are timeless and refined. If you share that passion, take this unforgettable 15 day journey celebrating Japan’s most exquisite gardens and artistic treasures.
From AUD 9,270
Cherry Blossom Private Tour of Northern Japan
Tokyo | Matsushima | Kakunodate | Hirosaki | Hakodate | Noboribetsu | Sapporo
- 13 Days
Dreaming of Japan’s cherry blossoms without the crowds? This private tour takes you to Northern Japan, where timeless history, rich culture, and stunning landscapes bloom in harmony.
From AUD 8,400
Autumn Rural Japan Private Tour
Toyko | Nikko | Aizu Wakamatsu | Urabandai | Aiku Onsen | Yamagata | Naruko Gorge | Kakunodate
- 14 Days
The ultimate off the beaten path adventure. Immerse yourself in authentic Japan, vibrant autumn scenery, expert guided experiences, and relaxing stays away from the crowds.
From AUD 10,765
14 Day Private Tour of Japan
- 14 Days
Tokyo | Kawaguchiko | Matsumoto |
Takayama | Shirakawago | Kyoto |
Hiroshima | Miyajima | Osaka
From AUD 10,680
Art and Japanese Garden Private Tour
- 15 Days
Tokyo | Omiya | Kawaguchiko |
Matsumoto | Kanazawa | Kurashiki | Bizen | Naoshima | Teshima | Kyoto
From AUD 9,270
Cherry Blossom Private Tour of Northern Japan
- 13 Days
Tokyo | Matsushima | Kakunodate |
Hirosaki | Hakodate |
Noboribetsu | Sapporo
From AUD 8,400
Autumn Rural Japan Private Tour
- 14 Days
Toyko | Nikko | Aizu Wakamatsu |
Urabandai | Aiku Onsen | Yamagata |
Naruko Gorge | Kakunodate
From AUD 10,765
Walking Tour of Nakasendo
- 6 Days
Nakatsugawa | Magome | Tsumago |
Kisa Fukushima | Narai |
Matsumoto | Tokyo
From AUD 4,396
Who Private Tours Suit
A private tour suits anyone who wants the trip on their own terms rather than a fixed schedule. Our private tours work best when your group already has its own shape and its own interests.
Families and couples
First-timers and returning visitors
New to Japan? A sample itinerary gives a confident start. Been before? We build private trips around the destinations you have not reached.
Slower, culture-focused travellers
Weighing a private trip against travelling with others? Our small group tours carry 6 to 10 people on set dates. Private tours make sense the moment you want a flexible itinerary shaped entirely around you.
Beyond Iconic Sites
Meet The People
Hidden Treasures
Hands-On Experiences
Planning Your Private Japan Tour
Planning starts with a conversation, not a contract.
Start with a Tour Concept
You can begin from one of our sample Japan private tour packages, but more often we design your private tour from the ground up. After a first discussion, we present a Tour Concept with a cost estimate, then refine it until it is yours. We will suggest destinations and experiences, from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka to quieter regions, to match your interests.
How much does a private Japan tour cost?
Because every private trip is tailor-made, the cost depends on your dates, accommodation, how much private guide time and transport you want, and the length of the trip. Our Japan private tour packages are quoted per itinerary, never off a price list. Private tours run from around seven days, many about two weeks, some more than twenty. You get an estimate up front, then a firm quote once the itinerary is agreed.
Your planning consultation
Send an enquiry or call a Japan specialist, and we will suggest a tailor-made itinerary and a cost estimate, then refine it with you to a firm quote and booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a private Japan tour package?
Our private Japan tour packages typically include accommodation, in-country transport such as bullet train seats and private transfers, your English-speaking guide for the guided parts, and the experiences on your itinerary. We pre-book tickets that need reserving ahead; the rest stay open. International flights and travel insurance are separate, and every inclusion is set out in writing.
Can I customise my Japan itinerary?
Yes. Customising the itinerary is the whole point of our private tours. We usually build your trip from the ground up around your interests, though you can start from a sample package. Want more countryside and less city, or an extra day in Kyoto? Just tell your consultant, and we will reshape it.
How much does a private Japan tour cost?
The cost of private tours depends on your travel dates, trip length, how much private guiding and transport you want, accommodation and group size, so every quote is tailor-made. Private trips run from around seven days, with many lasting about two weeks. You get an estimate up front, then a firm quote once your itinerary is agreed.
How do I start planning a private tour?
Start with a quick enquiry or a call to a Japan specialist on +61 7 3368 1966. We will discuss your interests, dates and budget, then present a Tour Concept with a cost estimate as a starting point, rather than a fixed set of packages, and refine it with you into a firm quote and a finished itinerary.
How far in advance should I book a private Japan tour?
Book 6 to 12 months ahead for most private trips, and earlier for spring and autumn. Cherry blossom and autumn dates fill first, and both accommodation and guide availability tighten as they approach. Booking early gives you the best choice of dates, guides and places to stay, and more time to shape the itinerary.