Pompeii, Paestum & Herculaneum in the Winter
- Return flights
- 7 nights half-board in a 4-star hotel
- 14 meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners and welcome drink
Mon-Fri: 0900 -1800 Sat: 09:00 - 17:00 Sun& BH: Closed
Mon-Fri: 0900 -1800 Sat: 09:00 - 17:00 Sun& BH: Closed
Always been intrigued by the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’? Well, now’s your chance to explore it to the full thanks to Japan escorted tours with Travelsphere. A land of harmonious contrasts, Japan is a truly fascinating holiday destination; seamlessly blending ancient customs and modern technology, the coming together of two seemingly opposite worlds is a key feature of our fully escorted tours of Japan. One minute you’re riding the country’s famous Bullet Train to Kyoto, the next you’re making your way through Matsumoto Castle, Japan’s oldest existing fortification. No matter what your tastes, there’s so much on offer visiting Japan with Travelsphere you’ll be spoilt for choice.
All kinds of interests are catered for on a Japan holiday tour with Travelsphere. Nature lovers will get the chance to admire magnificent views of Mount Fuji as well as taking a trip to a traditional wasabi farm. The historic cities of Nara and Hiroshima are just some of the poignant sights you’ll get the opportunity to see with us, and you certainly won’t be short of souvenir ideas while checking out the vibrant cities of Tokyo and Osaka. Discover everything from temples to cherry blossoms on handcrafted Japan escorted tours with Travelsphere.
From Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka and beyond, discover the unforgettable highlights of Japan including an incredible high-speed ride on the Bullet Train.
We had a great time, enhanced by the people in our group and our wonderful Holiday Director, Simona and Local Guide, Yoshi. These two were the perfect hosts for our trip - we were looked after from start to finish, we saw all the sights and they were on hand to make sure made the most of our free time too.
Japan is a country of contrasts where serene temple complexes and elaborate palaces meet ultra-modern skyscrapers and high-speed trains. Here are some of our favourite experiences
From bustling Tokyo and the famous bullet trains to peaceful temples, beautiful Geisha and traditional tea houses – Japan has it all and more…
As a nation, we Brits love a cup of tea - in fact for many of us, it’s hard to imagine life without it. When we’re cold a cuppa warms us up, on a summer’s day an iced tea is the perfect cooler, if we’re tired or emotional it’s just what the doctor ordered, and it’s the lynchpin of an elegant Afternoon Tea.
There are so many reasons to ‘let the train take the strain’. Here are some of our favourite journeys by rail.
What better way to get inspiration for your own garden, than by visiting some of the world’s most beautiful spaces.
We asked some of our Holiday Directors to give us the low down on the food you simply must try when you’re away. And let’s face it, they should know
With it’s contrast between modern technology and ancient traditions, Japan is the land of wonder and a week is just not enough time to see all that this country has to offer!
The land of the Rising Sun tour takes you to see the bustling city of Tokyo and at the opposite extreme the Meiji Jingu Shrine a peaceful place of worship. You’ll visit Hakone, the gateway to Mount Fuji, take a cable car ride over Owakundi Valley, Visit the historic city of Nara, experience the famous bullet train, watch a sushi making demonstration, enjoy a rickshaw ride through a bamboo forest and so much more!
Japan is full of amazing highlights to see, to the point that it feels like there is one around every corner but the ones’ you definitely do not want to miss are:
Japanese food is delicious and due to its popularity it has been making its way all over the world. As a bonus, because of its high plant, vegetable, fruit and seafood ingredients it benefits from being healthier than most Western food.
However, many of Japan’s culinary dishes originally came from other countries such as China, Korea and Portugal. Rice, being the main candidate! The rice introduced to Japan from China was short-grain, which when boiled for a prolonged period becomes sticky and sweet making it easy to pick up and eat with chopsticks.
Another candidate is Tempura, which is a simple process of coating food in a batter and frying and originates from Portugal. The Portuguese were one of the first to fry their fish in batter.
Japan is surrounded by water; therefore the ease of local fishing means the majority of Japan’s cuisine is based around fish and seafood, with those more religious for example Buddhist monks opting for a vegetarian diet.
Popular dishes to try when in Japan are:
Etiquette – It’s worth noting that the Japanese consider it rude to leave food on your plate, whether at home or at a restaurant. It’s related to one of the fundamental concepts in Japanese culture "mottainai" which is a feeling of regret at having wasted something, so make sure to clear your plate at mealtimes.
There are several good months in which to visit Japan, for example January has nice weather and sightseeing spots are not over crowded. New Year is popular but it’s worth noting that many shops, restaurants and tourist attractions are closed for a few days between December 29th and January 4th.
Like January, February is a good month as the weather is usually sunny and dry and sightseeing spots are not very crowded. The downside is the short days, with sunset at around 5:30pm in Tokyo. March brings with it the early signs of flowering plants and trees, yet the weather gets noticeably milder.
April is often considered a pretty time to visit Japan because the cherry blossom season takes place in most regions and the weather is agreeably mild. One of Japan's busiest travel seasons, takes place at the end of April and beginning of May making all areas more bustling. However, the remainder of May calms down and is a lovely time to visit as the flowers and vegetation are lavish, and the temperature is comfortable. That being said, the rainy season typically runs from early May to mid-June so pack your waterproofs.
June is the main month of the rainy season. While it doesn’t rain all day, every day, the weather tends to be more gloomy. July marks the end of the rainy season with it typically drying out by mid-July. However this does make for the most hot and humid month and you will break a sweat by just standing outside.
August is equally hot and humid with higher altitudes being the more comfortable places to spend your days. Many local festivals with fireworks are held in August. September marks typhoon season. Typhoons cause intense bursts of rain and wind that usually last for about 2 days, mainly striking the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku. Oddly, once the typhoon passes you usually find the weather sunny with crystal clear skies.
October is without a doubt, one of the most pleasant months for traveling to Japan as the weather remains warm, but it’s not humid anymore. November is a also great time to visit Japan, as the weather is comparatively mild and the humidity is dry. The autumn colours are at their peak and are spectacular. Equally, December is a good month for traveling thanks to the generally dry weather conditions.
If you’ve never been to China (or even if you have!), there’s enough in this vast, epic country to keep you coming back for more year after year. Seamlessly blending cosmopolitan culture with dramatic elements of the natural world, there’s nowhere else quite like it when it comes to travel.
If you’re looking for a holiday in a little-explored, yet highly promising part of the world, look no further than tours to Uzbekistan with Travelsphere. Boasting some of the finest architectural jewels, natural landscapes, and historical attractions in the whole of Asia, you are in a unique position to discover this intriguingly elusive part of the world on our handcrafted package holidays to Uzbekistan.
Cultural, colourful, full of character: India is all these things (and more!). As one of the world’s most diverse countries, India has much to offer the intrepid traveller; whether you have a passion for wildlife or you’re more of a culture connoisseur, there’s something for everyone in this vast, versatile land.