Tom's Guide to the the best escorted tours to Japan

** Top Selling Tour **

This is a hugely popular tour and for good reason. It covers all the major tourist sites of Japan. You'll visit castles, temples, shrines, and gardens, travel on the bullet train, enjoy a cruise near Mount Fuji, and spend some time in the Japanese Alps. It's here that you'll hopefully get to see the snow monkeys, although they are more prevalent during the colder months.

As it's a Wendy Wu tour, the cost includes ALL meals throughout your tour.

This is a classic itinerary taking in the key places in Japan, staying in decent hotels mainly on a bed and breakfast basis. That means you get the choice to dine when you want and outside of the hotel if you wish.

Insider Journeys specialise in small group tours with a maximum of 16 travellers, which means less time waiting for everyone else. This tour follows a classic itinerary, starting in Tokyo and ending in Kyoto.

A great trip for being in a smaller group - the maximum is around 16 people although often it's less than this. Accommodation can be more simple and transport can include buses and ferries, but that's all part of really getting to know a destination. The tour includes a stay in a ryokan which is a traditional Japanese Inn, and also a night in a simple monastery.

This unique trip combines a 13 night cruise with Azamara Cruises with a few nights on land in the key places - Tokyo, the Japanese Alps, Kyoto, and a stop in Mount Fuji, and is the longest trip on this list at 23 days. The cruise circles Japan with a stop in South Korea, and these tend to be smaller ships than average with a maximum number of guests at around 800.

This is a unique trip departing in late January, and which includes a visit to the Sapporo Snow Festival with around 250 snow and ice sculptures illuminated by candles and coloured bulbs. You can enjoy a local tipple at the ice bar and perhaps even glide down the giant snow slide! Either way, it's an unforgettable part of your trip.

If you prefer to do sightseeing on your own and have the freedom to choose where you dine for lunch and dinner, then this tour might be perfect. There are only minimal inclusions and modest accommodation. The transport between all the major places is included, and your guide will be on hand to help you plan your day, and there's still a few entrance fees included.