Is InsideJapan a good company to book a luxury trip with?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
InsideJapan Tours is a trading name of Inside Travel Group Limited, a Japan travel specialist started in 2000. It has sales teams in Bristol, Broomfield and Brisbane, plus its own operations team in Nagoya, Japan. It holds ATOL number 9419 and is a member of AITO.
Is InsideJapan a good company to book a luxury trip with?
It depends on what you need: InsideJapan suits travellers who want Japan only, either on a small group tour of at most 14 people plus a leader fluent in English and Japanese or on a self-guided trip with 24/7 support while in Japan.
Does InsideJapan meet the Uncompromised Travel definition of luxury?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Not settled from its website: The pages read on 3 November 2026 do not settle it. It sells small group tours, self-guided trips and tailor-made or luxury trips; its group tour hotels run from about three-star to five-star by grade; it publishes no price per day. Source
- Our definition: A company meets it when it mainly sells private trips at a luxury standard, publishes prices of about US$500 per person per day or more, runs groups of 16 or fewer in luxury hotels, or runs its own small expedition ships or yachts. Each fact above is what its website says; the definition is ours. Source
What does it sell?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- What it sells: Is a Japan travel specialist offering group tours, tailored travel and cultural experiences. Source
- Trip styles: Publishes brochures for its Small Group Tours and Self-Guided Adventures. Source
- Group size: Most of its small group tours take a maximum of 14 people, plus the tour leader. Source
- Hotels: Its tours use a mix of western-style hotels and traditional Japanese-style accommodation. Source
Who is behind it?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Legal entity: InsideJapan Tours is a trading name of Inside Travel Group Limited, company number 4094031. Source
- Offices: Has sales teams in Bristol (UK), Broomfield (USA) and Brisbane (Australia), plus its own operations team in Nagoya, Japan. Source
- Founded: Was started in 2000 by directors Simon King and Alastair Donnelly. Source
- Consultants: Every one of its travel consultants has spent at least a year living and working in Japan. Source
- Own guides: Has two full-time guides of its own: Masa Hattori in Tokyo and Ayako Kiyono in Kyoto and Osaka. Source
- Certified guides: Also uses guides certified by the Japan Tour Guide Service across the country. Source
- Tour leaders: Its small group tour leaders are fluent in English and Japanese. Source
How is your money protected?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- ATOL: Holds an Air Travel Organiser's Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, ATOL number 9419. Source
- ABTOT: ABTOT provides financial protection for Inside Travel Group Limited, number 5233, under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 if it becomes insolvent. Source
- AITO: Inside Travel Group Ltd is a member of AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators. Source
What are its deposit and cancellation terms?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Deposit: A per person deposit is paid at booking, or full payment if booking within 60 days of departure. Source
- Balance: The balance must reach it no less than 60 days before departure. Source
- Cancellation: Cancelling more than 60 days before departure costs the deposit; 40 to 60 days costs 30% of the price, 15 to 39 days 60%, 6 to 14 days 75% and 5 days or fewer, including a no show, 100%. Each of the 30%, 60% and 75% charges is the deposit instead where that is greater. Source
What help is there while you travel?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- 24/7 support: A support team is there 24/7 while self-guided travellers are in Japan, reachable by phone, email and WhatsApp. Source
- Insurance: Travellers must at minimum have insurance for medical expenses, including repatriation in the event of medical need. Source
What awards and certifications does it name?
What InsideJapan Tours's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- TTG Luxury Travel Awards 2024: Won Specialist Luxury Operator of the Year 2024 at the TTG Luxury Travel Awards. Source
- B Corp: Is a Certified B Corp. Source
How is InsideJapan Tours rated?
Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 45 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
InsideJapan: the questions people ask
Does InsideJapan only sell trips to Japan?
Yes. It is a Japan travel specialist offering group tours, tailored travel and cultural experiences.
How big are InsideJapan small group tours?
Most take a maximum of 14 people, plus a tour leader fluent in English and Japanese.
Who owns InsideJapan Tours?
It is a trading name of Inside Travel Group Limited, company number 4094031, started in 2000 by directors Simon King and Alastair Donnelly.
Does InsideJapan have staff in Japan?
Yes. It has its own operations team in Nagoya and two full-time guides, Masa Hattori in Tokyo and Ayako Kiyono in Kyoto and Osaka.
Is InsideJapan ATOL protected?
It holds ATOL number 9419. ABTOT provides financial protection for Inside Travel Group Limited, number 5233, if it becomes insolvent.
When do I pay the balance for an InsideJapan trip?
No less than 60 days before departure; if you book within 60 days, full payment is due at booking.
What does InsideJapan charge if I cancel?
The deposit at more than 60 days; 30% of the price at 40 to 60 days, 60% at 15 to 39 days and 75% at 6 to 14 days, or the deposit if greater; 100% at 5 days or fewer.
Has InsideJapan won any awards?
It won Specialist Luxury Operator of the Year 2024 at the TTG Luxury Travel Awards and is a Certified B Corp.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 3 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.