Booking With Us

Travelling in Japan is safe and reliable, but organizing the tour on your own can be very overwhelming with many different options, both when it comes to accommodation and transportation. Our expert travel consultants will make sure your holiday is well planned, so you don’t make common mistakes or end up paying for excessive services not needed. We know the unique side of Japan and can ensure that you will enjoy your holiday both during the planning and during travelling for your benefit.

Simply fill out the inquiry form with your details, the type of tour you are interested in (plus any adjustments) and a member of our team will be in touch to begin the process. The majority of our tours are tailor-made for each customer. You will have the opportunity to discuss your travel needs in much more detail so that a finalised proposal and quotation can be provided before you commit to the booking.

All our individual and self-drive tours are tailor-made, you have the flexibility to adjust the program, and our expert travel consultants will advise the best options to meet your travel needs. We will contact you with some questions to better understand what is important to you and ensure your trip becomes your dream holiday.

As Japan is getting more and more popular, it is important to book well in advance (more than six months before departure). We will, of course, work on getting the best value for money using our expert knowledge about Japan, in combination with your expectations and flexibility (travel dates and budget).

Japanspecialist requires a deposit payment of 20% of the tour package price, and the costs for non-refundable services included in the tour proposal to secure the booking. A higher deposit might be required depending on the service confirmed. For flight tickets only, we require 100% of the payment upfront.

Payment for your trip can be made by bank transfer or by credit/debit card. Your personal representative will be able to provide you with more details before booking.

Payment is always to be made in the local currency based on the department location from which the purchase is made.

Final payment is required 6 weeks before departure. If the departure is within 6 weeks of booking, full payment is required right away.

If you'd like to buy optional extras, excursions or flight pre-seating, then please let our colleagues know, no later than two months before departure.

If you are disabled or travelling with medical equipment, wheelchairs, etc., the Japanspecialist must be made aware of this before booking the trip. 

In that case, it can be a great challenge to travel around Japan, and even though our hotels in Japan are approved according to local standards, they may deviate from your local requirements. 

Access to all hotel facilities can not be guaranteed. Remember to make us aware of your needs when you book the trip, so we can help you in the best possible way.

If you have allergies or need special meals, special meals can be pre-ordered from the airlines. While vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, and lactose-free food requests are becoming more common, there is no tradition of ordering specially adapted food in Japan.

Vegetarian food is available in some restaurants. But be aware that the staff may not do not always understand what type of vegetarian you are, and they will therefore provide their interpretation of vegetarian food. However, in the larger cities, it is possible to eat at specialty restaurants. 

Children aged 12 years old and above are considered adults and require an adult price. Children aged 6-11 years old get a discounted price.  For accommodation, own beds and child meals (smaller portions) are provided.

Children aged 2-5 years old have their own seat on flights but no seat on transportation (they're required to sit on their parent's lap). For accommodation, no bed nor meals are provided. Children under the age of 2 are entitled to an additional discount but will not get a seat on the flight.

The best seasons are during spring/summer (April – May, July) or autumn (October – November). The Winter months can get cold, especially during nights in the mountains. June and September tend to be rainy, while April, August and November can get very crowded.

High seasons: 10-25 April, 25 June – 31 July and 01 September – 15 November.
Super high seasons: 15 March – 10 April, 25 April – 10 May and 01 – 31 August.

Our advertised 'from' prices are based on regular seasons and with the best availability upon reservation.

This is possible, and we have a number of add-on packages available for you. Tailormade extension arrangements will also be possible.

Kindly send us a written notice of confirmation (preferably by email).

Once final- or full payment is settled, we will provide you with documents, vouchers and essential information on travelling around Japan. We will try to send the documents around four weeks, at the latest three weeks before departure.

As an official travel agency, you are covered by the law for tour packages. In the unlikely event of any involuntary changes before or during your travel, such as strike, cancellations due to weather, bankruptcies, or pandemic outbreaks, we will take care of you. 

In case the government does not allow non-essential travel to Japan, you are entitled to a full refund, so you do not need to worry about chasing airlines, hotels or service providers for refunds.

We are very flexible when it comes to selecting airlines, and this generally depends on your choice of the departure airport. Flight tickets prices can fluctuate a lot, and flexibility on travel dates is beneficial. The majority of airlines used are European or Japanese airlines, but Middle Eastern or Asian airlines might also be available.

Flights offered are within reasonable travel time, either direct or with one (max two) short connections. Our expert consultants will make sure you reach your destination without spending all your budget or travel time on the flights using our beneficial agreements with the airlines.

If you have any preferences in regard to airlines, mileage alliance or cabin-class, please inform us of your requirements.

You can purchase a tailor-made individual or self-drive tour excluding flights. When submitting your initial enquiry form or online meeting request, please include your preferred flight details, and we will factor these into the quotation for your bespoke itinerary.

It is recommended that you start by contacting the staff on-site and ask if they can solve the problem immediately. 

It is your responsibility to keep yourself informed of any changed return times by contacting the airline no later than 72 hours before the return journey and to arrive in time at the places and times for the outbound and return journey stated in the itinerary. On the airline's website, you can log in with your reservation reference and last name to see details and updates and changes. This can also be done at www.checkmytrip.com but requires you to register first.

If you have bought all or parts of your flight ticket yourself, we recommend that you purchase insurance that covers delayed attendance if possible and covers if you are delayed with your one flight so that you do not reach this next flight. Also, make sure that you comply with the rules for transit time between your flights.

Please contact your Japanspecialist Consultant, who will be able to inform and guide you about the options available from your local airport.

Flight times vary depending on your departure airport and layover options.

As a general estimate, here are the approximate flight durations from major European cities:

• London: 11-14 hours
• Paris: 12-15 hours
• Copenhagen: 12-15 hours
• Berlin: 13-16 hours
• Amsterdam: 13-16 hours
• Rome: 14-17 hours
• Budapest: 14-17 hours
• Madrid: 15-17 hours

Be sure to factor in potential layovers and consider adjusting your travel dates for better flight options.

Most airlines require payment to pre-book seats, and this can be done online on the airline's website after we receive the final payment and when the airline tickets are issued.

Many airlines are opening up for online check-in. The departure time varies from 22 to 48 hours before departure, depending on the airline. At online check-in, you can choose or change your seat yourself, provided that the desired seat is available.

The airlines strive to place people who are on the same travel document in places close to each other. However, this is not always possible, therefore recommend that you purchase specific seats on the airline's website. It will usually also be possible for you to request specific seating at check-in (including online check-in), free of charge. During certain periods when the planes are full, however, it is not always possible.

This can vary according to the airline; however, we would advise arriving at the airport between two and a half to three hours before your flight is due to depart.

Depending on the time of day, long-haul flights generally include one hot meal and one breakfast. Snacks / drinks will also be provided on the flights.

Generally, one piece of check-in baggage of a maximum 23 kilograms is included in the price of long-haul flight tickets, but conditions can vary, so this depends on the specific airline regulations, booking class and fare type.

We always strive to include airport transfers in Japan. However, there may be exceptions. All inclusive transports will appear on the invoice.

In Japan, each driver must bring a valid local driving license and an international driver's license. If this is not brought, the car cannot be rented, and paid rent is not refundable. In connection with ordering a car rental, please confirm that you have a minimum of one year of experience driving a car and informing Japanspecialist of your age. English GPS can be ordered in some cases but can not be guaranteed everywhere. 

Be aware that there may be road taxes in several places, and there may be parking fees in larger cities. Both parts are usually settled on the spot in cash.

In Japan, you drive on the left side of the road, and driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly forbidden and severely punished.

For more information visit our dedicated Driving in Japan FAQ page.

Japan has an incredibly low crime rate relative to its population. In Japan, the likelihood of being robbed or assaulted is minimal, and one can walk the streets peacefully without discomfort. 

There is also no culture of negotiating with the prices, and you will then be sure that you have paid the same price for the item that a local Japanese has paid.

If you forget your jacket, lose your mobile or lose your money there's a good chance you'll see it again. 

Leftover valuables are often picked up by local Japanese or cleaning staff. Clothes and umbrellas were most often lost, while purses came in third place. You can have your lost items returned upon presentation of ID.