Newsroom
ATMs can be found at many 7-Eleven convenience stores and at post offices. Major credit cards are accepted by some stores; however, Japan is still very much a cash culture and as such, some places may not accept credit cards. Sake is a centuries-old alcoholic drink, sometimes used during ceremonies. Sake can be served odmcoin hot or cold and does have a bit of an alcohol kick – so user beware. Winter, while cold, offers great conditions for skiing, snowboarding, going to snow festivals and admiring the stunning mountain scenery. The summer months can be quite humid, but tourist areas are generally quieter and there are many fun festivals and fireworks displays to enjoy.
Julie Anne Barnett gets lots of positive mentions from past travelers – she brings the history alive and handles the logistics well. Just keep in mind you’re paying for convenience, coverage and local expertise rather than luxury accommodations. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. Internet access is excellent in Japan, with one of the most developed high-speed internet networks in the world. Internet cafes and wi-fi hotspots are easily found in most cities and major towns. For environmental reasons, try to use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.
- Across the courtyard from the inn you will find our recently converted Old Barn luxury accommodation.
- It’s difficult to discuss the emergence of modern Japan without talking about WWII, as it played a large and damaging role in the worldwide conflict.
- Winter, while cold, offers great conditions for skiing, snowboarding, going to snow festivals and admiring the stunning mountain scenery.
- LGBTQIA+ travellers shouldn’t have any issues visiting Japan with violence, outright hostility or overt discrimination extremely rare.
Mobile phone coverage is excellent in Japan but be aware that talking loudly on your phone in public places (like in train carriages) is frowned upon. If you want to use your mobile phone, ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive (but be aware of the fees this may incur). Summer months can be incredibly hot and sticky, so loose, lightweight and breathable clothing is essential. If you’ve ever eaten at a sushi train restaurant, you’ve got the underrated city of Osaka to thank! The motto in this city is ‘kuidaore,’ which roughly translates as ‘eat until you drop.’ You can consider that a (friendly) order. One minute you’re walking through a former black-market quarter, the next you’re paying your respects at a 1400-year-old temple.
Main Menu
Think of it like an independent global stamp of approval on the work we’re doing and the impact we’re making. We’ve always been about balancing purpose and profit, and in 2018, we joined the B Corp™ community to certify our commitment to using business as a force for good. That’s why we have verifiable science-based targets to reduce our emissions and follow carefully crafted animal welfare guidelines. We travel with respect for the places we go – from the natural environments we explore to the wildlife that calls those places home. If there are no availabilities in the regions you’d like to lead, you can express your interest below and register to receive updates for when we do start recruiting.
Japan Rescue Association are on a mission to train and deploy rescue and therapy dogs to help save lives. Donations help them train dogs, raise awareness for the importance of working dogs and promote animal welfare.Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations to The Intrepid Foundation. Trips to Japan directly support our foundation partner, Japan Rescue Association.
Our Britain and Ireland tours really click with solo travelers, running days with plenty of social moments built in. The routes combine guided walks through historic districts and group dinners in proper local pubs. Solo guests often tell us how much better it is to share moments like kissing the Blarney Stone or watching the Edinburgh Military Tattoo with new friends. Our paired travelers love how the days flow – perhaps joining a morning walk through Bath’s Georgian architecture, then spending a quiet afternoon together in a local tea room. The routes mix essential sites like Edinburgh Castle and the Cliffs of Moher with real local experiences – you might learn whiskey making in Scotland or explore Belfast’s vibrant street art scene.
One minute, you’re sat at a tranquil tea ceremony; the next, you’re crossing the busiest intersection in the world. Learn of geisha traditions, eat your way through Japan’s delicacies, search for the pinkest cheery blossom, try your hand at an arcade game, then soak away your stress at an onsen. As an Australian-owned business, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
What can visitors experience when it comes to local British culture and where should they go?
Tempura is a style of deep-frying that is often lighter than other types of fried food. Many things can be made tempura, including vegetables, so this may be a good option for vegetarians. Discover who we are, how our trips work and why you should travel with us. To double the difference, we dollar-match travellers’ donations and take care of all the admin fees.
The world needs Intrepid people
A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room. Basically, we’re a global collective that’s local at heart, with locally-based leaders out front of every trip and community-based tourism experiences on a number of adventures. Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips.
The Shoulder of Mutton
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination. If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group trip, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly.
These trips work well because you get structured activities plus time to explore – maybe join a guide for an Edinburgh morning walk, then spend your afternoon discovering little alleyways off the Royal Mile. Our customers particularly like having the basics sorted (transport and hotels) while keeping the freedom to do their own thing at times. Ten-day tours give you extra breathing room at each stop, especially in Edinburgh and Dublin where you can really dig into the local scene. Beyond seeing the major sites like Edinburgh Castle and Stonehenge, you’ll experience things like proper Irish coffee making demonstrations and visits to Welsh farms where you can see traditional farming in action. Our customers love how varied these trips are – you might start your day walking York’s medieval walls, then find yourself cruising Lake Windermere or exploring the remarkable rock formations at Giant’s Causeway the next. It’s particularly good for anyone interested in British and Irish history since you get time to understand how these countries’ stories connect.
Our travelers often mention how much they appreciate not having to figure out Highland road navigation or Irish Sea ferry timings themselves. Our leaders don’t simply read from a guidebook, they share who they are, their passion, their love of their culture and region every single day, and they are as unique as the destinations we visit. Every single day they create positive change through the joy of travel and every day our local leaders change the way travellers see the world. Our leaders come from strong customer service backgrounds and are incredible at building relationships with a broad range of people. Expat Explore and Cosmos both run solid European tours, though travelers’ experiences tend to vary. Our customers who’ve joined Expat Explore consistently mention guides Kaeleigh and Niall for their deep local knowledge and how smoothly they keep everything moving.
- The most famous volcano, Mount Fuji, is also Japan’s highest peak and is only 100km from Tokyo.
- Tempura is a style of deep-frying that is often lighter than other types of fried food.
- Our customers love how varied these trips are – you might start your day walking York’s medieval walls, then find yourself cruising Lake Windermere or exploring the remarkable rock formations at Giant’s Causeway the next.
- When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
- September, October and November are also great months to visit Japan on holidays, as the days are warm but not humid and the autumn colours are out.
LGBTQIA+ travellers shouldn’t have any issues visiting Japan with violence, outright hostility or overt discrimination extremely rare. However, Japan’s older generation still holds conservative values when it comes to LGBTQIA+ sexuality and non-binary gender expression, especially those who live in regional areas. Most travellers visit Hiroshima to see the Peace Memorial Park, constructed around the hypocentre of the atomic bomb that destroyed the city in 1945. Follow this up with nearby Miyajima, a tranquil island where tame deer roam the streets. The majority of Japan’s landscape consists of mountains, which has led to the majority of people living in the flatter coastal regions.
What we look for in our Tour Leaders
In Japan, toilets range from high-tech bidets to standard Western-style flushable toilets to squat toilets, which are still common outside the city. For over 20 years, our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has been giving Intrepid travellers a chance to make a bigger impact in the places they visit. Together we’ve raised more than $18 million and supported over 160 communities around the world. From homestays to Indigenous community-led experiences, we look for opportunities to keep the economic benefits of travel where they belong. Getting people back travelling and sharing my country’s history and beauty with all my travellers.
Leave a Reply