Guided Tours

Travel your style: Guided Tours

This travel style could be for you if you’re:

Not a travel planner but don’t want to miss a thing
Traveling solo or in a small group
Concerned with language and cultural barriers
Make new friends in your travel group
Want to gain experiences difficult to find on your own
Traveling for a specific purpose like wellness, adventure, or cuisine
Want to experience local specialties like cherry blossoms, Japanese history, and technology

What’s included?

Knowledgable Tour Guide

Itinerary and guide materials for your journey

Phone app and full guidebook of your trip

Train and transportation for your tour

Accommodations

Admission and entry costs

Meals (varies by tour which meals are included)

Activity and experiences (varies by tour which are included)

Phone support and messaging through your trip

2020 Group Trips

We are a tour operator and travel advisor. For trips run by providers other than KiKO, we only partner with the most knowledgable and reputable companies in Japan.

Discover Japan

From the towers and gadgets of Tokyo to the serenity of sacred shrines and the soaring beauty of Mt Fuji, this tour provides the perfect blend of guided excursions and free time to explore this fascinating region at your own pace. Linger in the gardens of Kyoto, shoot through the mountain air on a Shinkansen bullet train, and stay in a traditional ryokan for the ultimate in Japanese luxury.

Japan Family Trips

Family can be stressful. What if you can balance your time focused on the family and your vacation and leave the organizing and logistical headaches to someone else? We got you. Japan is an incredibly family friendly destination that appeals to all ages. The food, the history, the culture, and the nature will make this an unforgettable trip for your crew.

Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage

Over 1,000km of walking trail connecting 88 Buddhist temples, choose your own adventure from walking 4 – 6 days of the trail staying at Shukobo temples along the way.

Nagano: Natural Japan

by Adam Gilbert | January 20, 2020 | Independent Travel, Japan, Onsen, Outdoor Activities | 0 Comments

Nagano Prefecture Overview Nagano is rarely part of the popular travel routes through Japan except for skiers or those in search of the snow monkeys in Jigokudani Park in Yudanaka. This often overlooked prefecture is the perfect place for travelers looking to...

Trip Ideas: Wakayama and Kumano Kodo

by Adam Gilbert | January 11, 2020 | Group Tours, Independent Travel, Japan, Self-guided tours, Tours | 0 Comments

Day 1 When you are arrive by bus, check in to your ryokan or shukobo and spend the rest of the day walking around the UNESCO World Heritage site of Koyasan where you’ll find breathtaking nature and magnificent Buddhist and Shinto architecture. End your day with a...

Trip Ideas: Travel Northern Japan in Hokkaido

by Adam Gilbert | January 11, 2020 | Group Tours, Independent Travel, Japan, Self-guided tours, Tours | 0 Comments

Why Hokkaido? Japan is a long archipelago that stretches from north to south by 1,900 miles, or 3,000 km. The largest island on the northern part of Japan is Hokkaido. Once considered a foreign land of Ezo where the native Ainu people lived, it is an island of...

Trip Ideas: Exploring Japan’s Kanto Region

by Adam Gilbert | January 11, 2020 | Group Tours, Independent Travel, Japan, Self-guided tours, Tours | 0 Comments

Greater Tokyo Area It is undeniable that the Greater Tokyo Area is at the heart of the Kanto Region, but there are six other wonderful prefectures that comprise the most populated and diverse area in Japan — Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa....

Japan Travel Stories: Roxanne and Geissler

by Adam Gilbert | January 2, 2020 | Independent Travel, Japan, Traveler Journeys | 0 Comments

Before we dive in.....We work hard to help our travelers make their Japan trips unforgettable. We love to hear about their journeys when they get back. In this post, we speak with Roxanne and Geissler who were first time Japan independent travelers and had ambitious...

Tattoos in Japan — What You Need to Know

by Makiko Oku | December 17, 2019 | Getting Around, Japan, Onsen | 0 Comments

Who doesnt have a tattoo? 98% of Japan!Tattoos long ago lost their taboo in most of the world. Many people have them and it rarely is an obstacle to any day-to-day activity. With one exception, visiting Japan. This post is for the inked travelers and what you need to...

What’s your Japan travel style? Independent, self-guided tour, or a guided tour?

by Adam Gilbert | December 17, 2019 | Group Tours, Independent Travel, Japan, Self-guided tours, Tours | 0 Comments

What travel style works for you really depends on what you deem important to your trip. Is it maximizing your time? Do you want an expert to craft your plan utilizing local knowledge, relationships, and access to get to you places you likely couldn’t? Do you like to...

Japanese Mascot Tour: Explore Japan with Cute Guides

by Adam Gilbert | December 15, 2019 | Japan, Tours | 0 Comments

The one arena the US celebrates mascots is in sports, particularly baseball. For instance, Phillie Phanatic is one of the most recognizable characters in the sport. Mascots can establish brand association and generate interest in attending events as well as...

Top 3 Challenges in Japan: Language Barrier and Miscommunication

by Adam Gilbert | December 12, 2019 | Getting Around, Japan, Language | 0 Comments

Survey Says... We recently sent out a survey to people who have traveled to Japan and asked about the challenges they actually experienced there. While many respondents said they did not encounter any issues (surprising but true), here is the second most popular...

Top 3 Challenges in Japan: Getting around by Subway and Taxi

by Adam Gilbert | December 12, 2019 | Getting Around, Japan | 0 Comments

Getting Around Japan Japan continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for travelers all over the world. It is expected that 35.5 million people will visit Japan by the end of 2019 and 40 million in 2020 when Tokyo hosts the Olympics. Not only do...

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