Japan’s Natural Galleries

May 10, 2013

Feast your eyes on Japan’s little-known visual arts scene and the natural aesthetic delights of her islands and mountains:  the unique Setouchi Triennale Arts Festival and two new itineraries from specialist InsideJapan Tours – the self-guided Japan Arts Trail and the escorted Historic Mountains Trail – provide the perfect introduction.

Japan – the ultimate winter destination Snowscapes and ice festivals in the north contrast with white sandy beaches and warmth in the south

October 24, 2012

With each winter, Japan becomes a little better known for its supreme snow conditions, which can last from November to as late as April across northern Honshu and Hokkaido. Not so well known is the wildlife that revels in the winter wonderland of the Rising Sun. Pretty much unknown outside Japan are the diving delights around the sub-tropical islands in the south, where winter temperatures rarely dip below 20°C.

Family Fun in the Land of the Rising Sun

September 19, 2012

InsideJapan Tours’ new family focus

Bright lights in big cities; courteous people and clean streets; bullet trains and cable cars; animation and wild animals; futons on tatami flooring and Japanese kimono; make-your-own pancakes and all-you-can-eat ice cream parlours; fireworks and festivals; Geisha and gizmos; awesome architecture and mammoth department stores; mountains, jungle and tropical beaches, and a whole load more. Japan is a fascinating destination for any family. There are activities to suit all ages and, contrary to common belief, the experience doesn’t have to be expensive.

Sumo giants, Chelsea skills, baseball home runs & Formula 1

August 24, 2012

InsideJapan Tours provides the ultimate fix for sports fans

As the nation continues to bask in the glory of Olympic gold, specialists in travel to Japan,InsideJapan Tours has come up with some experiential travel ideas featuring similarly special sporting moments. Tailor-made packages, including tickets to one of the annual sumo tournaments, the FIFA Club World Cup, baseball games or Formula 1, are sure to keep that winning feeling alive as well as offering a cultural look at sport in Japan and the country’s impeccable organisation of major sporting events.

Sumo in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka

Grand sumo tournaments, often attended by members of the Imperial family, take place over a two- week period, six times a year (in January, March, May, July, September & November). See the up and coming wrestlers compete at the beginning of each day, with the big guns headlining during the afternoon and early evening. Ancient ceremony is integral to sumo and customs are strictly adhered to at the beginning and end of each fight; ring-side seats are often Japanese floor cushions and traditional lunch boxes (bento) and green tea or beer are always on sale.

InsideJapan Tours & Virgin Atlantic launch a ‘Blog to Japan’ competition

July 26, 2012

Celebrating its 12^th birthday this year, InsideJapan Tours asks bloggers to digitise twelve reasons to go to Japan

InsideJapan Tours and Virgin Atlantic are launching a competition for an imaginative and creative blogger, plus blogging companion, to win a 19-night trip to Japan. Celebrating 12 successful years of presenting this enigmatic country to travellers, InsideJapan Tours now invites potential first-time visitors to present their own 12 reasons or motivating factors to go to Japan, using innovative blogs, video, photographs and well-written copy. The winning blogger will be asked to blog their way across Japan and provide daily entries that feature heaps of visuals revealing the unique culture, land and soundscapes of The Land of the Rising Sun.

Says Co-Director Alastair Donnelly: “We established InsideJapan to make this ostensibly mysterious country more accessible to travellers from the west. We fell in love with Japan during our first visits, and we wanted to show other people what an inspirational place it is. Thankfully, for 12 years our clients have continued to return from their trips exuberant about their experiences, as can be seen from the live reviews page on our website. Via the ‘Blog to Japan’ trip, we hope to capture a first-time traveller’s reactions in real-time, via digital media, and use the material to inspire others to go to Japan.”