The Best of Japan: Iconic Cities, Serene Temples, and Plant-Based Japanese Food (2027)

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From$12,450$11,750
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From$12,450$11,750

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Why Travel With Us?

  • All meals included, all 100% plant-based. Here's your chance to try local favorites!
  • Hand-picked tours & activities specifically catered by vegans, for vegans
  • Emphasis on wildlife with visits to sanctuaries, refuges & shelters
  • Deluxe accommodation with a focus on location and comfort
  • Two tour leaders per trip for ultimate attention & service during your adventure
  • Travel the world with fellow vegans and create life-lasting friendships

Getting Started With World Vegan Travel

  • Trip Length:11 days / 10 nights
  • Trip Dates:29 Oct-8 Nov 2027
  • Start Location:Kyoto
  • Trip Price:USD $12,450/person EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT: 11,750$/person!
  • End Location:Tokyo
  • Single Supplement:USD $4,750/person
  • Group Size:up to 20 travelers
  • Sign Up Deposit:USD 2000$/person
Bustling Tokyo, historic Kyoto, serene country side, tranquil temples, kimonos, tea ceremony, bullet trains, sake, world-class cuisine…  join us on a memorable journey to the Land Of The Rising Sun!
OverviewTrip InfoItineraryBooking TermsFAQ
We're Off To Japan

We’re heading back to Japan, and this time we’re staying a night longer.

Japan is the trip everyone dreams about and vegans quietly dread: one of the world’s great food cultures, with fish stock hiding in almost all of it.

So we fixed that.

Feast Without Fear. We spend months briefing chefs, rewriting menus and booking out entire restaurants so you can eat whatever lands in front of you. Ramen, sushi, okonomiyaki, Buddhist temple cuisine: all of it 100% plant-based, no exceptions, no questions.

Your Itinerary:

  • Kyoto: Ten thousand torii gates, the Golden Pavilion, an afternoon you design yourself, and a class where you make your own ramen.
  • Hiroshima & Miyajima: The Peace Memorial, the floating torii gate, and the best okonomiyaki you’ll ever have!
  • Kanazawa: One of Japan’s finest gardens, samurai lanes, the thatched mountain village of Shirakawa-go, and a dining experience you won’t find anywhere else.
  • Tokyo: The world’s biggest city, one neighbourhood at a time, and a night at an actual vegan izakaya. Yes, they exist, and we’ve booked the whole place.

All of it linked by first-class bullet train.

New for 2027: An Extra Night. We can’t leave a good itinerary alone. This year we’ve added a night in Kanazawa, because the only complaint we ever get about Japan is that it’s over too soon.

The WVT Advantage. Every meal. The beer, wine and sake that go with it. Every tip. From your airport pickup in Kyoto to your airport drop-off in Tokyo, your wallet stays in your bag. We even do your laundry.

How We Compare. Here’s what’s in the price on a typical Japan tour, and on ours.

  Typical luxury tour Typical vegan tour World Vegan Travel
Meals included Most About three-quarters ✓ Every one
Beer, wine & sake Rarely No ✓ Yes
Tips Some No ✓ All
Airport transfers Yes No ✓ Yes
Tour leaders One One ✓ Two, plus a local guide
Private restaurant buyouts Rare No ✓ Several
100% plant-based, guaranteed On request Yes ✓ Yes

Based on the published inclusions of comparable 2027 Japan tours.

20 Seats. That’s It. Our Japan trips have sold out in as little as 24 hours, and none has lasted more than a couple of weeks.

Don’t sit on this one!

Highlights
  • 100% Plant-Based & Worry-Free:Every meal vetted, veganized and included. You never read a label or quiz a waiter.
  • Restaurants To Ourselves:Several meals are private buyouts, including one of Tokyo's rare vegan izakayas.
  • Hands-On Japan:Make your own ramen, then pick your own Kyoto afternoon: tea ceremony, sake tasting and more.
  • Fushimi Inari, the Golden Pavilion, the Arashiyama bamboo grove and Miyajima's floating torii gate.
  • Hiroshima:An unhurried visit to the Peace Memorial Museum and park. The day people talk about most afterwards.
  • Kanazawa & Shirakawa-go:New for 2027, an extra night to fully enjoy gardens, samurai lanes and a World Heritage village in the mountains.
  • Deluxe Hotels, First-Class Trains:4- and 5-star stays in every city, and Green Car seats on the bullet train.
  • Fully Hosted, Fully Included:2 tour leaders, local guides, and every meal, drink and tip covered.
  • Edward
    Joyful Vegan Japan - with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    This was truly the best experience of my life. The food was extraordinary. The new friends I conversed with and shared experiences with were a pleasure. Many of the rare experiences and activities offered on the tour would have been impossible for me to arrange as an individual. The tour leader and tour hosts were warm, friendly, and helpful throughout the trip. It would be difficult to list all the things they did to ensure that we enjoyed our time in Japan. Thank you for an amazing trip!

  • Elizabeth C
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    My husband and I weren’t sure what to expect with group travel but we knew we would need help setting up a vegan trip to Japan. This trip offered everything we imagined and much more plus we made new friends in the process! The food and experiences really suited us and gave us a real sense of the places we visited, which is what we are looking for when we travel! The accommodations were all superior! We have already signed up for another World Vegan Travel trip! Thank you so much Brighde and Seb and Colleen and David for making this trip the trip of a lifetime!!!

  • Pamela D
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    I have traveled with WVT before so I am familiar with the level of service and the amazing experiences they provide on their trips. When I learned they were offering a trip to Japan, a place I had never visited before, I jumped on it! I have loved every moment of immersing myself in Japanese culture and customs. And, of course, the food is top-notch! From small humble venues to Michelin starred restaurants having dinner with Geisha WVT has once again provided the experience of a lifetime!

  • Kristine V
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    This trip was the best ever. I am still basking in the glow of it all. Great group leaders. Wonderful group members. We stayed in really nice hotels that we really enjoyed. Food was amazing at the hotels and all the venues. Didn’t hurt that we pretty much had perfect weather and saw the cherry blossoms at their peak. Seb is an amazing leader-kind, funny, organized, and really everything you could ask for in a leader. He may have been stressed on the inside but he was always calm, cool, and collected on the outside. Colleen is an amazing person, as is her husband David. They are really wonderful role models and also very kind. They showed all of us “beginner vegans” what being a long term vegan is really all about. I really enjoyed the days in cities and the days in the country. enjoyed the train rides. We had good guides everywhere we went. A really exceptional trip in every way.

  • Amy M
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    World Vegan Travel and Joyful Vegan have spoiled us. Going to Japan was my husband’s lifelong dream, and he said our WVT experience was “even better than I had expected.” The WVT trip gave us a sampler of Japanese culture and left us more educated for a future visit. But now we’re reluctant to do it ourselves because we couldn’t match what Seb & Brighde and Joyful Vegan did: plan the perfect variety of activities, scheduled seamlessly.

    The well-organized emails, WhatsApp group, and Zoom meetings minimized our prep work. The accommodations were gorgeous and worth every penny. We enjoyed the company of fellow travelers and appreciated that everyone kept up well. The trip wasn’t physically demanding but required some stamina.

    The extra days in Japan highlighted how much WVT managed for us. Handling vegan meal logistics ourselves was tiring and took energy away from cultural exploration. WVT left us spoiled. You’ve been warned. 😉

  • Susanne G
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    Japan 1 was “the quintessential trip of my lifetime” and I’m very grateful for the wonderful opportunity to spend precious time with the lovely owners of World Vegan Travel/Joyful Vegan Japan: Brighde, Seb, Colleen, David, and our awesome and very friendly travelers. I could not ask for a better group which felt like “instant friends/family” to me. The trip was well-organized and planned. The leaders gave all of us individualized very caring and kind attention. The guides and assistants were friendly and great. The sites, delicious vegan food, and entertainment were top-notch. I did feel the pace was extremely fast since the activities were condensed in 9 days of traveling to 5 destinations. This did not allow for adequate time for breaks back to the hotel to rest. Of course, we could also “opt out” of activities if we needed more “downtime.” The trip was very luxurious and I highly recommend it and other trips that this organization offers. I will forever savor my beautiful memories traveling in Japan with each of you..

  • Katrina G
    Joyful Vegan Japan with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - 2024

    The Japan trip is absolutely SPECTACULAR!! We visited so many amazing cities and destinations – and at every stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – the food was beyond delicious. The food ranged from traditional Japanese fare to Japanese pub food and every bite I had was so much fun and extremely delicious! The activities/excursions that were planned throughout the trip were each beautiful and inspiring in their own ways. From shrines to temples to traditional Japanese cities/communities – I found myself in awe at every destination. We stayed in top-notch accommodations the entire trip as well – I was never disappointed in a single room that I stayed in the entire trip. I honestly cannot recommend a vegan trip any more than one with World Vegan Travel/Joyful Vegan Trips. The hosts (Seb, Brighde, Colleen, & David) are genuinely caring, funny, and compassionate human beings that make the trip so engaging and fun. Every detail of the trip was so well thought out and executed by this team of professionals that you can literally turn your brain off and really enjoy every minute of your vacation. I cannot wait for my next trip with them in 2025!!

Curate Your Own Kyoto!

Not everyone wants the same Japan, so one afternoon in Kyoto is yours to shape. Pick the experience that suits you from our menu, all arranged by us and all included. Options such as:

  • tea ceremony
  • sake tasting
  • Craft workshop
  • guided temple walk
  • Samurai sword lesson

Or skip the lot and wander. It’s your afternoon.

Is this trip for me?
We want you to love this trip, so here's the honest version.

WALKING

Japan is best seen on foot. Our walking tours run two hours at most, with plenty of stops for snacks and stories, and about 90% of it is on flat ground. The exceptions: Fushimi Inari climbs if you choose to go up, and Miyajima finishes with some steps and a gentle hill. It’s more than a stroll to the corner store, but nothing you need to train for.

TRAINS & LUGGAGE

We travel between cities by first-class bullet train, and your bags travel with us. That means handling your own suitcase: on and off the bus, through the station, onto the train. The distances are short, but one travel day ([Hiroshima] to Kanazawa) has two changes. Bring one suitcase you can lift yourself on ti the train and place on the overhead racks.

PACE

Eleven days, four cities, full days. The extra night in Kanazawa adds breathing room and you can sit out any activity, but this is not a lie-by-the-pool holiday.

SHOES OFF & FLOOR SEATING

You’ll take your shoes off a lot: at temples, in traditional restaurants, sometimes several times a day. Slip-ons are your friend. A few of those places also seat guests on the floor, as locals have for centuries. Low stools are usually available, though not everywhere.

NON-VEGAN SURROUNDINGS

The Japan around us isn’t vegan. You’ll see meat and fish in markets and shop windows, and in the restaurants we don’t book out, other tables may be eating them. We’ve minimized this as far as we can, and everything we serve you is plant-based.

Trip Info

Trip Price

USD $12,450/person EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT: 11,750$/person!

Single Supplement

USD $4,750/person

Start Location

Kyoto, Japan

End Location

Tokyo, Japan

Group Size

Up to 20 travelers (plus tour leaders and local guide)

Price Includes

  • Every meal from the welcome dinner to the final breakfast, all 100% plant-based
  • Beer, wine, sake and soft drinks with every included meal
  • All tips for guides, drivers and restaurant and hotel staff
  • First-class (Green Car) bullet trains between cities
  • 10 nights in 4- and 5-star hotels
  • One complimentary laundry day
  • Two WVT tour leaders, a local guide and specialist local guides in every city
  • Private restaurant bookings, including a vegan izakaya in Tokyo
  • Private airport pickup on arrival (Kansai or Osaka Itami)
  • Departure transfer in Tokyo to your airport, station or next hotel
  • Every activity, class and entrance fee in the itinerary, plus ferries and ground transport
  • Your choice of experience on your Curate Your Own Kyoto afternoon
  • Live pre-trip Q&A with your tour leaders

Price Excludes

  • Flights to and from Japan
  • Medical travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Premium alcohol (top-shelf whisky, champagne and the like)
  • Snacks, drinks and meals outside the included ones
  • Activities you arrange yourself, and any tips for those
Itinerary

Please note that the itinerary is subject to change as things sometimes change, places close down, or we find a better restaurant or activity. If we need to change anything, it will be only for the betterment of the trip!

DAY 1:Welcome to Kyoto

Touch down and let us take it from here. Your private airport transfer delivers you straight to the Dhawa Yura Kyoto, and the afternoon is yours to settle in. This evening we raise a glass at our welcome meeting, then head out for our first dinner together. Fair warning: we rarely take the direct route.

  • Stay: Dhawa Yura Kyoto, a boutique hotel by Banyan Group in the heart of the city
  • Meals: Welcome dinner, with drinks
  • Good to know: Breakfast and lunch are on your own today.

DAY 2:The Golden Pavilion & the Bamboo Grove

We start with Kyoto’s most dazzling sight: Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, its gold-leaf walls mirrored in the pond below. Then it’s across town to Arashiyama for a walk through the towering bamboo grove.

Lunch is at Shigetsu, inside the Tenryu-ji temple: shojin ryori, the plant-based cuisine Zen monks have been refining for centuries.

The afternoon is your Curate Your Own Kyoto experience: tea ceremony, sake tasting, a sword lesson, or simply an afternoon to wander.

We regroup at dusk for a stroll down lantern-lit Pontocho, then settle in for dinner at a vegan restaurant we’ve booked entirely for ourselves.

  • Stay: Dhawa Yura Kyoto
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Shojin ryori arrived in Japan with Zen Buddhism in the 13th century. Japan has been cooking plant-based for 700 years; it just never called it vegan.

DAY 3:Make Your Own Ramen

Today you earn your lunch. We spend the morning at a ramen-making class, where you’ll build your own bowl and then sit down to eat it.

The early afternoon is yours, and our hotel is in exactly the right spot for it: downtown Kyoto and its covered shopping arcades are a couple of minutes’ walk away. Shop, nap or explore. Want to go further afield? Our local guide and minivans are on standby to take you somewhere like the Philosopher’s Path, or simply to point you in the right direction.

We regroup in the late afternoon for Kiyomizu-dera, the hillside temple whose great wooden terrace hangs out over the city, then wander the old lanes of Higashiyama to dinner nearby.

  • Stay: Dhawa Yura Kyoto
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Most ramen broth in Japan is made with pork or fish. Ours isn’t, and you’ll learn how it gets its depth without them.

DAY 4:Ten Thousand Gates, Then Hiroshima

One more Kyoto icon before we go. This morning we visit Fushimi Inari, where vermilion torii gates wind up the mountainside in their thousands, each one donated by a business hoping for good fortune. Walk as far up as you like.

Then it’s time for our first bullet train: about an hour and a half in comfy first-class seats to Hiroshima, with a vegan bento for lunch on board. Our hotel is right beside the station, so it’s a short walk and you’re checked in.

This afternoon a local guide leads us on an unhurried two-hour walk through the Peace Memorial Park, including the A-Bomb Dome. It’s a sobering place and a hopeful one. The city around it is green, lively and determined to be known for peace.

Dinner lightens the mood: a vegan Chinese restaurant serving pure comfort food.

  • Stay: Sheraton Grand Hiroshima
  • Meals: Breakfast, bento lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Eating a bento on the bullet train is a Japanese travel ritual, and a vegan one is almost impossible to buy at a station. So we bring our own. Also: hand us your laundry tonight and it’s back tomorrow, on us. Pack accordingly.

DAY 5:Miyajima, and the Best Okonomiyaki of Your Life

After breakfast we take the ferry to Miyajima, the sacred island famous for its great vermilion torii gate, which seems to float on the sea at high tide. We explore the shrines and temples together while wild deer wander past as if they own the place. They more or less do.

The afternoon is yours: browse the island’s shopping street, or head up into the forest for a walk among the trees.

Then it’s back to Hiroshima for a dinner you’ll be telling people about for years. We’ve taken over a tiny, famous okonomiyaki joint: one counter, one griddle and one man, Jiro, who cooks every plate himself while you watch. It’s elbow to elbow, loud and wonderful. Don’t be surprised if locals knock on the door hoping for a seat. Jiro will tell them to come back later. Tonight it’s ours.

  • Stay: Sheraton Grand Hiroshima
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is built in layers on the griddle: a thin crêpe, a mountain of cabbage, then noodles. It usually comes with pork and egg. Ours is entirely plant-based.

DAY 6:A Slow Morning, Then Kanazawa

No alarm needed. This morning is yours in easygoing Hiroshima: visit the Peace Memorial Museum if you’d like to, stroll a park, shop, or simply sleep in.

Then we board the train for the four-hour ride across the country to Kanazawa. Tonight asks nothing of you. Check in, put your feet up, come down for a drink, and join us for a relaxed dinner in the hotel. After a week of Japanese food, the international menu makes a nice change.

  • Stay: Hyatt Centric Kanazawa
  • Meals: Breakfast, bento lunch on the train, and dinner
  • Good to know: Today’s journey has two train changes, so pack your suitcase with that in mind. The hotel is right by the station when we arrive.

DAY 7:Shirakawa-go & a Dinner Like No Other

This morning we drive into the mountains to Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage village of steep thatched farmhouses that looks lifted from a storybook. Bring your camera.

Back in Kanazawa, lunch is in a dining room we’ve taken over for the occasion, where a local chef specializing in plant-based cooking prepares a private lunch just for us.

The afternoon is free. If you’ve ever wanted to try an onsen, a traditional Japanese hot-spring bath, this is the moment. We’ll take you ourselves, and it’s on us.

Dinner tonight is a dining experience you won’t find anywhere else. That’s all we’re saying.

  • Stay: Hyatt Centric Kanazawa
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Tonight’s dinner is seated on the floor, Japanese style. And if you join us at the onsen: baths are separated by gender, and swimsuits stay in your suitcase.

DAY 8:Gardens, Samurai & Sushi You Roll Yourself

We start at Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, and the castle beside it. Then we wander the old samurai quarter and Higashi Chaya, the geisha district of wooden teahouses.

Lunch is hands-on: we roll our own sushi, and not the dainty kind.

Tonight we keep it easy with dinner at the hotel, ahead of an early start for Tokyo.

  • Stay: Hyatt Centric Kanazawa
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Each November, Kenroku-en’s gardeners string its pine trees with tall rope canopies to protect them from snow. With luck, you’ll see them going up.

DAY 9:Tokyo, an Izakaya & a Microphone

We’re on an early bullet train, and two and a half hours later we step out into the biggest city on Earth.

First stop is Shibuya for lunch, then straight into the Shibuya Scramble, the famous crossing where what feels like half of Tokyo walks at once. We’ll say hello to Hachiko, the city’s most beloved dog, while we’re there.

Then we check in at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, the finest hotel of the trip, high above the city. Even the toilet lifts its lid to greet you. Take a few hours to rest. You’ll need them.

Tonight belongs to the izakaya, Japan’s answer to the pub: small plates, cold drinks and a lot of noise. Vegan ones are rare, so we’ve booked the whole place, a hole in the wall just big enough for us. Order everything.

Still standing? On the way home we stop for karaoke. Private room, questionable song choices, zero judgment. Entirely optional. Rarely regretted.

  • Stay: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Hachiko was an Akita who waited at Shibuya Station every day for his owner, and kept coming back for nearly ten years after the man died. His statue is now Tokyo’s favourite meeting spot.

DAY 10:Old Tokyo & One Last Feast

Our final full day starts in Asakusa, the old heart of Tokyo and home to its oldest temple. We explore on foot with a local guide, with a few vegan treats along the way.

For lunch you’re the chef again. We make our own okonomiyaki, the mix-it-and-flip-it kind this time, cooked on a griddle at your table. Compare notes with Jiro’s version at your own risk.

The afternoon is free for shopping or one last wander. If you’d like company, join our optional guided visit to Meiji Jingu, the forested shrine in the middle of the city.

Then comes the finale. We’ve taken over a private venue for a farewell dinner: course after course, glasses kept full, and a toast to a great trip. There’s also a surprise we refuse to spoil.

  • Stay: The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Good to know: Okonomiyaki means “grilled as you like it”, which is why no two cities, and no two cooks, agree on how to make it.

DAY 10Sayonara, For Now

One last breakfast high above Tokyo, and then it’s time to say goodbye. Whenever you’re ready, your private transfer takes you to either Tokyo airport, to the train or bus station, or on to your next hotel if you’re staying longer.

Thank you for trusting us with your time in Japan. We hope to see you somewhere else in the world soon.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Good to know: Transfers are included today only. If you’re extending your stay in Tokyo, your transfer today can take you to your next hotel, but later airport transfers are your own to arrange.
Your Journey

Booking Terms & Conditions
FAQ
How To Join
Solo Travelers
Payment Schedule
Payment Methods & Fees
Cancellation Policy
Important Notes

We  expect this trip to sell out quickly so ensure your spot on the trip and sign up early by paying the sign-up fee per person.    

The sign-up fee is non-refundable under any conditions UNLESS the trip is not confirmed by the deadline (see TRIP INFO).  Please carefully read our cancellation policy section for more information.

In order to sign up, fill in the form on this page.  Any problems or questions?  Email us!

If you are signing up as a single, do so quickly!  We have limited single rooms.  Please read our single travelers section for more information and the single supplement cost.

Please note that signing up before the deadline does not guarantee the trip will run as this depends on having the necessary minimum of participants.  

SINGLE ROOMS are available for solo travelers, and we do our best to keep these as affordable as possible.

To make solo travel accessible, whenever possible we negotiate directly with our hotel partners to secure a limited number of discounted single supplement rates on every trip. Because hotel partners charge per room rather than per person, once these specially priced spots sell out, additional solo spots must be charged at the hotel’s standard single-occupancy rate (which can be close to double).

Room Standards & Allocation: Negotiated solo supplement rooms are allocated within standard room categories. Depending on the hotel’s layout, solo rooms may feature a smaller footprint or a different layout than double-occupancy rooms, but they always offer full privacy, comfort, and quality. Room allocations across the entire group are determined by booking date, travel history with us, and specific mobility/accessibility needs.

Please see our SINGLE SUPPLEMENT details in the pricing section for current availability.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Following the sign-up fee (PAYMENT #1), the remaining balance will be due in 2 installments:

  • 1 month after the trip has been confirmed OR immediately if the trip is already confirmed: 50% of remaining balance (PAYMENT #2)
  • 3 months before the trip’s start date: final balance (PAYMENT #3).   This is non-negotiable.  If you do not pay the balance for your trip, your place will be given to another individual and your payments until then will be forfeited.

We can work with you on a payment plan:  pay your trip in the usual 2 installments, or opt for several.   Contact us to discuss what works best for you!

PAYMENT METHODS
We currently accept CREDIT CARDS PAYMENTS and DIRECT BANK TRANSFERS for the following currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and AUD.

EXTRA PAYMENT FEES
Online Bank Payment:  for the above currencies, we do not charge a fee for this, although your bank may do so.   Please inquire with them directly.

Credit card payment​: the following fees will be added to the total:

  • 2.9% for Visa and MasterCard
  • 3.9% for American Express

TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE​ – MANDATORY

This is a World Vegan Travel requirement. You will need to provide a policy and emergency contact number in order to join the trip. This can be done just prior to the trip’s date.

Trip Insurance (ie. covering your flight tickets, luggage, etc.) is definitely recommended as well, but not mandatory.

ITINERARY
​The itinerary is therefore subject to change, especially if we find an experience that we believe would make the trip even better. 

DIET RESTRICTION & ALLERGIES​

If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at b[email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE​ – MANDATORY

All travelers must have travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation. It is also prudent to purchase insurance to cover more. To learn more about buying insurance for a World Vegan Travel trip, read this blog post.

ITINERARY

​The itinerary is therefore subject to change, especially if we find an experience that we believe would make the trip even better. 

DIET RESTRICTION & ALLERGIES

If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at [email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

ROOM ALLOCATIONS

Room allocations across the entire group are determined by booking date, travel history with us, and specific mobility/accessibility needs.

​TOUR PRICE REASONING

Because once you land, you’re done paying. Every meal, the drinks that go with it, every tip, your airport transfers, first-class trains and ten nights in excellent hotels are all in the price.

Then there’s the part you don’t see. Japan is one of the hardest countries in the world to eat vegan in, and we spend months working with every kitchen on the itinerary so that you never have to ask what’s in the broth. Where we can, we simply book the whole restaurant.

Here’s how that compares with other Japan tours:

  Typical luxury tour Typical vegan tour World Vegan Travel
Meals included Most About three-quarters Every one
Beer, wine and sake Rarely No Yes
Tips Some No All
Airport transfers Yes No Yes
Tour leaders One One Two, plus a local assistant
Private restaurant buyouts Rare No Several
Guaranteed 100% plant-based On request Yes Yes

 

CAN I SIGN UP AS A SOLO TRAVELER?

Absolutely! We have many travelers who join our trips solo. We work closely with our hotel partners to negotiate reduced single supplement rates so solo travelers don’t face double the cost. However, because hotel partners charge per room, our specially negotiated solo spots are limited on each departure—so we recommend booking early! Once these initial spots fill, remaining solo bookings are subject to standard hotel single-use rates. Please note that while all rooms meet our high quality standards, single-occupancy rooms may vary in size or layout compared to double rooms depending on the property layout.

Please see our COST & SIGN-UP section for current single supplement availability and rates. 

​FLIGHTS, VISAS & INSURANCE

Flights: You book your own flights. Fly into Osaka (Kansai or Itami) and home from Tokyo (Narita or Haneda); most airlines sell this as a single “multi-city” ticket. Your airport pickup on arrival day is included. Our welcome meeting is in the afternoon on Day 1, so plan to land as early as you can. Better still, arrive a day early and shake off the jet lag.

Visas & Entry:  If you hold a passport from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or most European countries, you don’t need a visa. You can enter Japan as a tourist for up to 90 days with a valid passport.

Travelling on a different passport? Entry rules vary by country, so check with your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate well before you book flights.

Japan is planning an online travel authorization for visa-free visitors. It’s currently scheduled to start after our trip. If that changes, we’ll tell you exactly what to do.

Whatever your passport, make sure it’s valid for your whole stay and has a blank page for the entry stamp.

Insurance: Travel medical insurance covering emergency treatment and evacuation is mandatory, and we’ll ask for your policy details before departure. Trip cancellation cover is optional but strongly recommended, since all payments are non-refundable.

CAN YOU HELP WITH BOOKING OUR FLIGHTS AND ONGOING TRAVEL?

As we are not a travel agency or booking agents, we can’t book any flights or ongoing travel (ie hotels, transportation, etc) for you. However we can surely help with recommendations, suggestions and tips as you look into flights, or extending your holiday. It never hurts to ask, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries whatsoever!

WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?

Early November is one of the most comfortable times to be in Japan: mild, mostly dry days of roughly 15–20°C (59–68°F), with cooler mornings and evenings. Kanazawa is the exception. It’s a little cooler and has a reputation for rain, so expect a shower or two there.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

One suitcase you can lift yourself. We travel by train and you’ll handle your own bag through the stations, so lighter is better. There’s a complimentary laundry day to help.

Bring layers: long sleeves, a light sweater and a jacket for the evenings, plus a compact umbrella or rain jacket for Kanazawa. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, ideally ones that slip on and off easily, since you’ll be removing them often.

We’ll send a full packing list a few weeks before departure.

WILL MY MOBILE PHONE WORK IN JAPAN?

Yes, your mobile phone should work, but do check with your carrier to make sure. It is highly recommended to turn off global roaming unless you carrier can offer you a package for your stay in Japan. Otherwise you risk being charged exorbitant fees upon you return home!

If your phone is unlocked (please check with your carrier directly) you can also purchase a local Japanese  SIM Card before you arrive in the country (mailed to your address or hotel) or at the airport when you arrive.  Do note that SIM cards for foreigners are usually DATA only and you won’t be able to make local calls unless you use something like Skype, etc. 

More information will be provided in the Trip Information Document we send you once you book the trip. 

​WILL THERE BE INTERNET ACCESS DURING THE TRIP?

Yes, our hotels have WIFI, and we will also have internet connection on-board our trains and coaches.

​HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING?

Very little. Meals, drinks, transport, entrance fees and all tips for our guides, drivers and restaurant and hotel staff are covered. You’ll only need money for souvenirs, snacks and anything you arrange on your own, including tips for those. Cards are widely accepted, but Japan still likes cash for small purchases, so withdraw some yen from an ATM once you arrive.

​I HAVE A DIETARY RESTRICTION (ALLERGIES, GLUTEN-FREE, ETC)

If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at [email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN I EXPECT?

Plenty of walking, none of it strenuous. Our walking tours run two hours at most, with regular stops, and about 90% is on flat ground. The exceptions are Fushimi Inari, where the climb is optional, and Miyajima, which ends with some steps and a gentle hill. You’ll also handle your own suitcase on train days. There’s no hiking unless you choose it in your free time.

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO JOIN THE TRIP?

Youth above 16 years young are welcome.    We are currently not accepting any younger children. ​

There’s no upper age limit, though do note that there is a fair amount of walking on this trip. 

WHAT DRINKS ARE INCLUDED?

Water, soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea, beer, wine and sake with every included meal. Premium pours such as top-shelf whisky and champagne are extra; pay on the spot or charge them to your room.

LGBTQ TRAVELLERS

World Vegan Travel is a safe place for all LGBTQ+ travellers, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. Japan is considered safe for the community, though attitudes can be conservative and same-sex marriage is not yet legal. Public displays of affection are uncommon in Japan for everyone, regardless of orientation.

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