Inside Travel Group – parent company of specialist brands InsideJapan and InsideAsia – has launched its first small-group tours to take place over the Christmas and New Year period.
It said the additional departure dates for Japan highlight the growing popularity of the destination and align with its overtourism strategy, encouraging people to travel out of the busy peak season.
The operator said small-group tours to Japan are up 54% year on year for the first half of 2025.
The extra dates have been added for the best-selling Must-see Japan tour, which takes clients to Tokyo, Hakone National Park, Kyoto, Hiroshima and other highlights. The 10-night holiday costs from £2,850.
The departure on December 17 enables clients to spend Christmas Day in Tokyo, to see huge winter light displays alongside the regular neon glow.
Departing on December 27 means clients can ring in the New Year in Kyoto, then those departing on January 7, 2026, can join the locals as they perform hatsumode – the first shrine and temple visit of the New Year.
Richard Farmer, Japan-based group tour programme manager for InsideJapan, said: “The temples, mountains and bamboo forests that amaze visitors through the warmer months take on a whole new look when the temperature drops and the snow falls.
“Winter in Japan is serene, spiritual and sacred – steam rises from bubbling natural springs, and the vermillion sheen of Japan’s torii gates stand out against the white snow.”
There are no single supplements for solo travellers, and there is also 10% off for travellers under 18 to encourage families to book the winter tours.
InsideJapan has launched its ‘Winter in Japan’ campaign page highlighting reasons to travel to Japan through winter.
Gabo Quiros, global head of trade, said: “Inside Travel want to help our agent partners sell incredible cultural adventures to their customers and we will continue doing what we can to make it as easy as possible for them.”
AloJapan.com