What is Riki's Tours Japan?
Riki's Tours Japan is an Australian company (ABN: 86606873223) that functions as a specialist tour operator and travel agent. As a tour operator, Riki designs, arranges and escorts a range of small group tours for you, his fellow travellers. As a travel agent, he provides travel services for independent travel, for example, hotel bookings, rail passes and cultural activities. When you book with Riki's Tours Japan, your rights are protected under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Riki's Tours Japan is an Australian company so all profits remain in and taxes are paid within Australia. You can find out more about Riki's Tours Japan by clicking here.
Who manages it?
Riki's Tours Japan is co-directed by Riki Inamura and Jason Longmore, and is based in Sydney, Australia.
Riki is originally from Kyoto Japan, but has been living in Australia for more than ten years, and has been working in travel and tourism in both Japan and Australia all his life. He has travelled extensively with Australians, and is fluent in both Japanese and English. He is a certified national guide of Japan (#EN00597) and holds a BLaw (Ritsumeikan), DipTeach (UTS), DipTourism (NSW TAFE) and CertIV Tour Guiding (NSW TAFE). Riki looks after the guiding and planning of all tours as well as handling traveller bookings & enquiries.
Jason is from Sydney Australia and has been working in secondary and tertiary education most of his adult life while dabbling in travel on the side. He holds a MA (Hons) in Japanese as well as a MEd (Applied Linguistics), both from UNSW, and has lived, travelled and worked extensively in Japan. He communicates in Japanese relatively well, and looks after the marketing, planning, accounting, website management, brochure design, and traveller booking & enquiries. He also looks after some guiding on the Shinetsu Trail.
Riki is originally from Kyoto Japan, but has been living in Australia for more than ten years, and has been working in travel and tourism in both Japan and Australia all his life. He has travelled extensively with Australians, and is fluent in both Japanese and English. He is a certified national guide of Japan (#EN00597) and holds a BLaw (Ritsumeikan), DipTeach (UTS), DipTourism (NSW TAFE) and CertIV Tour Guiding (NSW TAFE). Riki looks after the guiding and planning of all tours as well as handling traveller bookings & enquiries.
Jason is from Sydney Australia and has been working in secondary and tertiary education most of his adult life while dabbling in travel on the side. He holds a MA (Hons) in Japanese as well as a MEd (Applied Linguistics), both from UNSW, and has lived, travelled and worked extensively in Japan. He communicates in Japanese relatively well, and looks after the marketing, planning, accounting, website management, brochure design, and traveller booking & enquiries. He also looks after some guiding on the Shinetsu Trail.
Who will lead my tour?
Tours are led by Riki Inamura unless serious illness or unforseen issues prevents him from doing so. Jason Longmore may also lead some Shinetsu Trail trekking tours. However, when Riki or Jason cannot lead a tour, an alternative professional English speaking tour escort will be arranged.
What kind of traveller joins one of Riki's tours?
Although it varies widely from tour to tour, Riki's tours attract people who are experienced travellers, but who also want to get closer to the society, culture and nature of Japan with a friendly native at hand. They like being among a supportive group of people whom they can share the experience with, but also enjoy having some time alone as well. The tours attract people of various ages from a variety of ethnic, cultural and language backgrounds as is represented in modern Australia.
Of course, some tours are more suitable for particular types of people than others. The designated walking tours suit travellers who enjoy walking in nature and feel confident on their feet. In contrast, the aesthetic tours - Classic Sakura, North Sakura, Earth & Fire and Autumn Colours - suit travellers who prefer touring for cultural experiences with a little more comfort and not being so 'on the go'.
Anyone can join one of Riki's tours from thirteen years of age and over. We have an upper age limit of 70 years old on our Shinetsu Trail Full Trek tour only. On previous tours, Riki has travelled with couples, singles, friends, and families of all age groups. Those a little older and wiser have travelled safely and comfortably by making suitable preparations and taking it easy when required. Because Riki's tours make use of public transport, a fair amount of walking is required, so the tours are well suited to people who enjoy getting around on foot. In addition, most train stations do not have lift access so you will be going up and down stairs. If you are concerned about your mobility, or have a disability that limits your movement, talk to Riki about your options.
Of course, some tours are more suitable for particular types of people than others. The designated walking tours suit travellers who enjoy walking in nature and feel confident on their feet. In contrast, the aesthetic tours - Classic Sakura, North Sakura, Earth & Fire and Autumn Colours - suit travellers who prefer touring for cultural experiences with a little more comfort and not being so 'on the go'.
Anyone can join one of Riki's tours from thirteen years of age and over. We have an upper age limit of 70 years old on our Shinetsu Trail Full Trek tour only. On previous tours, Riki has travelled with couples, singles, friends, and families of all age groups. Those a little older and wiser have travelled safely and comfortably by making suitable preparations and taking it easy when required. Because Riki's tours make use of public transport, a fair amount of walking is required, so the tours are well suited to people who enjoy getting around on foot. In addition, most train stations do not have lift access so you will be going up and down stairs. If you are concerned about your mobility, or have a disability that limits your movement, talk to Riki about your options.
Are the day walks difficult?
The day-walks can be described as gentle to moderate and are suitable for travellers of average fitness. Most walks are accomplished in a leisurely morning or afternoon, and all follow well marked paths. Walks in mountainous areas involve some ups and downs on staircases, but no special equipment besides comfortable walking shoes is required. There are often all sorts of weird and wonderful transport in place at popular walking sites in Japan, which makes the upper reaches accessible to more people. These include chairlifts, ropeways and funicular railways. Most walks start and finish at the hotel*, so any guests who do not want to walk, or who would like to return early from the walk, can easily do so. Whichever tour you choose, practise some walking for a few months before your tour so that you feel confidently prepared for your trip.
Note that the walks on the Spirit of Japan, Dewa Sanzan Pilgrimage and the Shinetsu Trail tours are longer and tougher than our other tours and form part of our movement from place to place each day so they are better suited to keen walkers.
Note that the walks on the Spirit of Japan, Dewa Sanzan Pilgrimage and the Shinetsu Trail tours are longer and tougher than our other tours and form part of our movement from place to place each day so they are better suited to keen walkers.
What is the weather like?
Japan has four distinct seasons that occur at opposite times of the year to Australia. Also, the south of the country is hotter and more humid than the north. The best times to visit Japan are in the Spring and Autumn because the temperature is comfortable and there's much colour to be seen. Mid-Summer can be very hot and sticky in the south of the country, but it is a good time to visit the north. Winter can be bitterly cold, but it's great for skiing!
Although it varies a little from year to year, Spring appears dramatically at the end of March with the sakura cherry blossoms. It starts a week or so earlier in the south, and a week of two later in the north and mountainous areas. In May, the country turns a brilliant green. This is Riki's favourite season as the days are long, the holiday crowds have gone, and the temperature is perfect for travel. Summer usually begins in June with a short rainy season, but this does not usually consist of huge down pours like in South East Asia and doesn't greatly affect northern areas. July and August are hot and steamy, and it also marks the beginning of the typhoon season, which normally comes from the south in August and September. Fortunately, typhoons normally pass quickly and leave clear weather in their wake. Autumn begins to show in October, with the best colours to be had in November depending on the location. Although it can get chilly in Autumn, it's not until New Year that winter sets in. Although the air is dry and the skies are often clear in winter, snow falls in most areas from January to February, with heavier falls in the north over longer periods.
Although it varies a little from year to year, Spring appears dramatically at the end of March with the sakura cherry blossoms. It starts a week or so earlier in the south, and a week of two later in the north and mountainous areas. In May, the country turns a brilliant green. This is Riki's favourite season as the days are long, the holiday crowds have gone, and the temperature is perfect for travel. Summer usually begins in June with a short rainy season, but this does not usually consist of huge down pours like in South East Asia and doesn't greatly affect northern areas. July and August are hot and steamy, and it also marks the beginning of the typhoon season, which normally comes from the south in August and September. Fortunately, typhoons normally pass quickly and leave clear weather in their wake. Autumn begins to show in October, with the best colours to be had in November depending on the location. Although it can get chilly in Autumn, it's not until New Year that winter sets in. Although the air is dry and the skies are often clear in winter, snow falls in most areas from January to February, with heavier falls in the north over longer periods.
When are the main holiday periods?
The Japanese holiday periods tend to be more crowded with domestic travellers than at other times. Most notably, these include New Year, Golden Week in the first week of May (a string of public holidays), Obon in mid-August, and a new string of public holidays in late September. The cherry blossoms in early April and Autumn foliage in November also tend to attract tourists to particular areas, which makes accommodation more difficult to book and more expensive too, particularly in Kyoto. Japan is also becoming increasingly popular as a destination for travellers from neighbouring countries, which is putting more pressure on the tourism industry in general.
Is Japan expensive?Japan has had a reputation for being an expensive country for travel, which stems from the good times of Japan's bubble economy. However as the bubble burst more than 20 years ago, and deflation has continued, this reputation is now largely untrue. One Australian dollar was buying around 78 yen at the start of 2019, so travellers will find that most things are reasonable value in Japan. In particular, transport, dining out, clothing and electronics will probably seem cheaper to you than in Australia. For example:
- city trips on subways - 240 yen ($3.10) - short taxi rides - 600 yen ($7.70) - bowl of ramen - 800 yen ($10.25) - moderate lunch or dinner set - 1500 yen ($19.25) - nice evening meal with drinks - 5000 yen ($64.10) - coffee at a cafe - 300 yen ($3.85) - beer at a bar - 700 yen ($9.00) Like anywhere however, travellers seeking high-end retail or services can expect to pay for it. Should I use cards, cash or traveller's cheques? |
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Fortunately, you can easily access your money from your bank account with your normal bank card at ATMs in all post-offices and 7-Eleven stores throughout Japan. These ATMs can be found in every town, and all have an English service so they are easy to use. They routinely give an exchange rate that is close to the official one, and certainly better than what you'll get at bureau de change kiosks or banks. Your credit card will be accepted in most large establishments, but cash is still king in many restaurants and at smaller places. Although traveller's cheques can be used in Japan, they are not recommended as you will need to spend considerable time in banks changing them to cash.
What are the hotels, minshuku and ryokan like?
All hotels, minshuku (local inns) and ryokan (traditional hotels) have been specially chosen by Riki for their superior quality and convenient location. Most hotels are 4 star rated, however some 3 and 3+ star hotels are used, particularly in smaller centres. You can find specific hotel details for each tour on the relevant webpage. In minshuku and ryokan, the rooms are Japanese in style with tatami mats and comfortable futons rolled out in the evening. Note that in rural minshuku on City Lights & Alpine Trails, Spirit of Japan, and the Shinetsu Trail the bathroom and toilet facilities are sometimes shared. Nowadays, most modern ryokan have private facilities, but in smaller or more traditional ones, you will find that western style rooms are either unavailable, few in number, or of a lower standard than the Japanese style rooms.
Other than at five star hotels, rooms in Japan tend to be smaller than what you may be used to and are configured somewhat differently. For example, you can expect to see some very small bathrooms! In addition, twin bedded rooms are easier to secure and almost always bigger than double rooms. This is because double rooms are generally designed for single travellers. Because of this, Riki generally books twin bedded rooms for people travelling together. Talk to Riki about the accommodation on your tour if you have any concerns.
Other than at five star hotels, rooms in Japan tend to be smaller than what you may be used to and are configured somewhat differently. For example, you can expect to see some very small bathrooms! In addition, twin bedded rooms are easier to secure and almost always bigger than double rooms. This is because double rooms are generally designed for single travellers. Because of this, Riki generally books twin bedded rooms for people travelling together. Talk to Riki about the accommodation on your tour if you have any concerns.
What kind of luggage should I bring?
Travellers should bring two easy to carry pieces of luggage: a medium sized suitcase (70-100L) with good quality wheels, and a small overnight bag (35-45L backpack). As Riki's tours make use of public transport, all your luggage needs to be of a manageable size and weight so that it does not restrict your ability to travel comfortably. Hotels are well chosen for location, but there will be times when you need to move your luggage in public spaces for relatively long distances over tiled surfaces and sometimes up and down stairs in train stations. However, Riki's tours make use of Japan's extremely efficient and reliable luggage forwarding service, which is included in your tour price. This is the way most Japanese people travel around the country so they don't have to lug their gear around. It will allow you to travel with just your overnight bag for a night or two while your main luggage is sent to our next hotel, so be prepared for this by making sure that your overnight bag is large enough but compact enough for this purpose.
What kind of clothing and footwear should I bring?
You should bring the clothes that you are comfortable wearing for touring on a holiday! The most important items to bring are comfortable walking shoes and a warm but light water resistant jacket. The temperatures can be quite cool in Spring and Autumn, particularly in the evening, so be sure to bring the kind of warm clothes that you wear in Australia's southern states in Winter. Although Japan is sometimes perceived to have a relatively conservative dress sense (particularly for office workers), there is no need for you to bring any formal clothing. Travellers undertaking a Shinetsu Trail tour should prepare for hiking, refer to this page for more information.
Do I need a visa or inoculations?
Australian passport holders are generally granted a 90-day visa for free on arrival. Other passport holders should check with their relevant embassy. All foreign nationals will be finger-printed and photographed at immigration. There are currently no inoculations recommended for travel to Japan, however Check Smart Traveller for the latest advice for further information.
Is it safe to travel to Japan?
Japan is a safe country that enjoys a low crime rate so travellers are recommended to only exercise normal safety precautions. This includes keeping your luggage and travel money secure. Check Smart Traveller for the latest advice for further information.
Will my mobile phone work in Japan?
Japan is a great place where you can leave your mobile phone habits behind. While your smartphone will work in Japan, you should check the roaming charges with your service provider before leaving Australia. If you are in any doubt, keep global roaming off to avoid bill shock. Although you can purchase a data only sim in Japan (from companies like Sakura Mobile), most hotels have free Wifi, so you can easily keep in touch with friends back home via apps like Facebook.
Can I plug Australian devices into Japanese sockets?
You will need to buy an adapter with two vertical pins to plug your electronic goods into sockets in Japan. You can buy adapters at the airport as you are leaving Australia. In Japan, 100 volts AC is used, and there are two frequencies: 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Osaka and Kyoto). In general, you can safely charge most of your devices without concern, but you may find that they heat up more than usual. Larger devices will generally need a transformer. For all devices, you should check your user manual to find out if a transformer is needed before leaving Australia.
How do I book and make payments?
Once your booking form is received, Riki will contact you to confirm your details. He will then send you an invoice by email for the $500pp deposit. The deposit needs to be paid within 5 working days for your booking to be confirmed, with the final balance due 90 days before your departure. Payments can be made by direct deposit (from any account including credit card) or cheque. If you would like to use PAYPAL, please tell Riki in advance because a 2.5% surcharge will be applied. To get around this, you can use your credit card for a direct deposit, but as this will be considered a cash advance, interest will be calculated from the day of purchase, so make sure you have some cash at hand to pay if off quickly. Some travellers want to pay by credit card in order to take advantage of any travel insurance which may be provided, however make sure you check the fine print carefully, and are satisfied with the level of cover and its conditions.
Which airline should I fly with?
Riki knows much about all the flight options for getting you to Japan and is more than happy to talk through your options. However, he does not have the facility to book your international flights, so you will need to book them through your local travel agent or on the direct sites of airlines (as most people tend to do nowadays). Rome2rio is also very useful for looking into all the different routes and fares available into Japan. Except for Classic Sakura & Deep North Autumn Walks, all tours start in one city and finish in another, so you need to choose a fare that allows you to fly into one airport and out of the other. There usually isn't an additional charge for doing this. If you choose an airline that requires you to transfer through a hub, avoid purchasing a ticket that offers you a transfer time of one hour or less (as Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific tend to do). When all is well, quick transfer times are great, but experience has shown that bad weather or slight congestion can make them impossible to make.
From Sydney
You can fly direct to Tokyo from Sydney with JAL, QANTAS or ANA; time-wise these three airlines are your best options. If you prefer flying during the day, then JAL's flight to Narita is for you. Both QANTAS and ANA are night flights, flying directly into Haneda early in the morning, which is a good option for onward journeys as Haneda is the main domestic hub for Japan (however, if you are staying in Tokyo you will probably want to pay for early check-in at your hotel). All three airlines provide good connections to Osaka (Kansai or Itami), Fukuoka and Sapporo. QANTAS also has a direct flight to Osaka's Kansai airport several days each week with a day flight up and a night flight back. For all of these airlines, the discount economy fares are usually around $1000, but they can be more or less expensive. If the fares are more than you want to pay, check Jetstar or an Asia-based airline such as Cathay Pacific or Korean Air. Any return economy fare to Japan for less than $1200 is pretty good value, but do check the transfer times so that your trip doesn't take too long. If you're given the choice of Narita or Haneda, always choose Haneda if the schedule's good. Haneda is much closer to Tokyo city than Narita. There are many possibilities, so click on any of the logos below for bookings, (or use your travel agent) or talk with Riki for advice.
From Melbourne
JAL and QANTAS now have daily direct flights from Melbourne to Tokyo Narita, which is a great option for travellers. JAL has day flights for both the forward and return journey, but the arrival time back in Melbourne is quite late. QANTAS is a day-flight up and an night-flight back.
From Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth
QANTAS has daily direct flights from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita, which is a great option for travellers. Alternatively, consider using an Asia-based airline to avoid transiting at Sydney domestic. From Brisbane, the schedules are very good with Korean Air, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. If flying from Adelaide (or Perth until 1 Sep 2019), look into Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. These airlines can get you to most large cities in Japan with only one stop at their hub. Another benefit is that some of these airlines can get you to Japan using Tokyo's Haneda airport, as well as Kansai, Fukuoka or Sapporo, so you can fly into one and out of the other very easily. From 1 Sep 2019, ANA will commence daily flights between Perth and Tokyo Narita airport, which will be a great thing for West Australian travellers.
From New Zealand
Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar are worth comparing for flights out of Auckland. Singapore Airlines also has flights to Christchurch.
Low Cost Carriers
Jetstar is a good option from Sydney, Gold Coast or Cairns to Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai. From Perth, Air Asia X through Kuala Lumpur has great fares and schedules to Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai. However, it is less convenient from other Australian cities.
From Sydney
You can fly direct to Tokyo from Sydney with JAL, QANTAS or ANA; time-wise these three airlines are your best options. If you prefer flying during the day, then JAL's flight to Narita is for you. Both QANTAS and ANA are night flights, flying directly into Haneda early in the morning, which is a good option for onward journeys as Haneda is the main domestic hub for Japan (however, if you are staying in Tokyo you will probably want to pay for early check-in at your hotel). All three airlines provide good connections to Osaka (Kansai or Itami), Fukuoka and Sapporo. QANTAS also has a direct flight to Osaka's Kansai airport several days each week with a day flight up and a night flight back. For all of these airlines, the discount economy fares are usually around $1000, but they can be more or less expensive. If the fares are more than you want to pay, check Jetstar or an Asia-based airline such as Cathay Pacific or Korean Air. Any return economy fare to Japan for less than $1200 is pretty good value, but do check the transfer times so that your trip doesn't take too long. If you're given the choice of Narita or Haneda, always choose Haneda if the schedule's good. Haneda is much closer to Tokyo city than Narita. There are many possibilities, so click on any of the logos below for bookings, (or use your travel agent) or talk with Riki for advice.
From Melbourne
JAL and QANTAS now have daily direct flights from Melbourne to Tokyo Narita, which is a great option for travellers. JAL has day flights for both the forward and return journey, but the arrival time back in Melbourne is quite late. QANTAS is a day-flight up and an night-flight back.
From Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth
QANTAS has daily direct flights from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita, which is a great option for travellers. Alternatively, consider using an Asia-based airline to avoid transiting at Sydney domestic. From Brisbane, the schedules are very good with Korean Air, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. If flying from Adelaide (or Perth until 1 Sep 2019), look into Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. These airlines can get you to most large cities in Japan with only one stop at their hub. Another benefit is that some of these airlines can get you to Japan using Tokyo's Haneda airport, as well as Kansai, Fukuoka or Sapporo, so you can fly into one and out of the other very easily. From 1 Sep 2019, ANA will commence daily flights between Perth and Tokyo Narita airport, which will be a great thing for West Australian travellers.
From New Zealand
Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar are worth comparing for flights out of Auckland. Singapore Airlines also has flights to Christchurch.
Low Cost Carriers
Jetstar is a good option from Sydney, Gold Coast or Cairns to Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai. From Perth, Air Asia X through Kuala Lumpur has great fares and schedules to Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai. However, it is less convenient from other Australian cities.
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We recommend Japan Airlines for its direct day-flight from Sydney to Tokyo and the best economy class airline seats in the world (SkyTrax 2017).
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We recommend ANA for its direct night-flight from Sydney to Tokyo and also its new direct Perth-Tokyo route commencing 1 Sep 2019
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We recommend QANTAS for its direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne to Tokyo, and also Sydney to Osaka.
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