When your clients think of Japan and South Korea, it may be Tokyo and Seoul that spring to mind. But when you work with the specialists at Inside Travel, they can enjoy a deep cultural immersion in fascinating destinations that go beyond just the classics. They can explore under-visited destinations in Japan such as Toyama, Aomori, Nagoya and Nagasaki, while in South Korea, Gangneung, Gyeongju, Gwangju and Yeongam take centre stage.
Inside Travel is home to InsideJapan and InsideAsia, its Japan and Korea specialists, which offer clients an array of cultural adventures. All of these are shaped by people, as the specialists at these two brands have lived, worked and travelled extensively in each of its destinations.
This expertise means they build small group tours that go beyond the classic sights to places clients didn't even know to ask for, to help them experience slices of everyday local life, while still enjoying luxury in a way other operators may struggle to provide. In fact, Inside Travel believes luxury and off-the-beaten track combine well – clients don't need to go to the must-see sights to get a premium holiday.
Plus, Inside Travel has been certified by B Corp and believes in using travel as a force for good. It is also a member of the Travel by B Corp collective, which is working towards a world where people- and planet-positive travel is the norm.
And now your clients can enjoy these two new premium small group tours below – Luxury Japan and Majestic Korea. Both of these small group tours offers clients plenty of flexibility, as they will get free time to explore on their own, as well as being part of the group. They will experience life as a local as they travel on modern bullet trains in Japan and South Korea, and enjoy getting away from the crowds as they experience quieter, under-visited destinations.
Luxury Japan
Guests stay at Hotel Indigo Inuyama on the new Luxury Japan tour
Luxury Japan is InsideJapan’s newest superior small group tour. It brings cultural depth into sharper focus, backed by premium comfort and expert Insider guiding, from the major cities to the less obvious corners. Each group includes a maximum of 14 people, meaning clients will get truly personalised experiences from their Insider Guide. These specialists are more than just a tour leader – they are true cultural guides, who are filled with passion and share their insights from living in the destination.
Which clients will it suit?
Ideal for first-time visitors and seasoned travellers who want to explore beyond the tourist trail to locations they never knew to ask for, all without sacrificing on luxury.
Where does it go?
This small group tour combines must-see destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto with off-the-beaten-path locations such as Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Inuyama, taking clients away from the crowds.
Experiences included in the small group tour
Clients will enjoy a private dinner with a geisha in Kyoto
Inuyama: a place where feudal history, traditional crafts and gentle scenery come together in perfect harmony. Clients will wake up in the metropolis of Tokyo and go to sleep in a traditional castle town the same day. They will experience a mesmerising blaze of flames at Inuyama's foremost Buddhist temple, when a Buddhist goma fire ceremony shows off the rhythms and rituals of esoteric Buddhism. They will also visit the impressive Inuyama Castle, which is one of only twelve original samurai-era castles remaining in Japan.
Fukuoka: Fukuoka is a laid-back, youthful, fun-loving city with a buzzing food scene that rivals the more famous Osaka. Clients will visit rural Higashi-Sonogi district, home to Kyushu's 'tea country', where they’ll take a deep dive into the local tea farming culture. They’ll walk between tea rows, learn how to brew the perfect cup, meet the farmers and finish with lunch at a local restaurant.
Kyoto: in Kyoto, clients will have an exclusive geisha dinner and have the chance to meet a maiko (young geisha), talk with her about her life and watch her perform. From Kyoto they will travel in style in the bullet train's first class ‘Green Car' to Kyushu. This is the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, where Nagasaki's trading history and a lively food culture offer a change in pace from the well-trodden paths of Honshu – Japan's largest and most populous island.
Accommodation
This premium small group tour features four- and five-star accommodation, including Hotel Indigo – a lifestyle boutique hotel that seamlessly blends contemporary comfort with a rich sense of local heritage. While Nagasaki Glover Street is a red-brick building that began life as monastic college in the 19th century. Rooms feature eclectic decor inspired by the city's trading port heritage and offer views over the terraced neighbourhoods cascading towards the bay.
On both of these new small group tours, by going slightly off-the-beaten path clients are promised a unique experience they wouldn't experience in a city, while still enjoying a premium stay.
Book it
This 14-night small group tour starts from £8,270pp, with departures between 7 September and 9 November 2026.
Majestic Korea
The Seamarq Hotel in Gangneung is one of the properties included in the tour
Majestic Korea is InsideAsia’s first South Korea superior level small group tour. This is a place where centuries-old temples sit quietly beside modern towers, where your clients can try high-speed rail travel in the morning and slow-fermented kimchi in the afternoon.
It's led by an Insider guide who unlocks cultural experiences and insights through their local knowledge, and travellers meet expert artisans, explore rural regions and learn the stories behind Korea’s oldest crafts – with premium accommodation throughout. It explores South Korea in incredible depth beyond Seoul and Busan, with personal experiences that were handpicked by product manager Becky Barry.
Which clients will it suit?
This is great for first-time visitors as well as seasoned travellers to South Korea, and is ideal for clients who want to explore regions that are local favourites yet remain relatively unknown to international visitors, all without compromising on comfort.
Where does it go?
The small group tour includes Seoul, which is one of the largest cities on earth, and one of modern Asia’s most creative and characterful capitals. It also visits Busan, which is like a smaller version of Seoul, with beaches to boot. And of course, clients get to enjoy includes lesser-visited destinations such as the colourful streets of Gwangju, famous for its fiery cuisine, colourful street art and role as gateway to south-west Korea. As well as the coastal region of Gangneung, where they could easily go surfing and mountain climbing on the same day. Its cultural capital of Gyeongju is filled with history, and locals often refer to it as a 'museum without walls'.
Experiences included in the small group tour
Sayuwon Gardens: this is a serene forest garden showcasing works by world renowned architects and artists, including Choi Wook. Clients will have lunch at the gardens, followed by tea accompanied by an exclusive live gayageum performance – a traditional Korean stringed instrument.
Gwangju: from Gwangju clients will head to Sunchang to meet master potter Kwon Un Ju. This ultra-exclusive experience is likely to be one of the highlights of the tour for many travellers. With more than 35 years devoted to the ceramic arts, Kwon Un Ju's work reflects the depth and refinement of Korean ceramic culture, blending traditional techniques with contemporary design. Clients will roll up their sleeves and throw down on the pottery wheel under the guidance of a true master, with time to explore his workshop and share tea together.
Day trip to Yeongam: often not making the traditional tourist trails, Yeongam is a rural cultural heartland. Clients will go to the foot of Wolchulsan Mountain for an intimate, hands-on indigo dyeing workshop. They’ll meet Master Lee Hye-sook, who is dedicated to preserving traditional dyeing techniques using plants grown on site. During the workshop, they’ll learn her time honoured methods and techniques for creating intricate patterns.
Accommodation
Clients will stay in handpicked four- and five-star accommodation, which include unique and exclusive stays. In Gangneung they will enjoy Seamarq Hotel, which was designed by the world-renowned architect Richard Meier and primarily built for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Book it
This 13-night small group tour starts from £7,280pp, with departures on 10 October and 31 October 2026.
Further information
The Luxury Japan small group tour by InsideJapan
The Majestic Korea small group tour by InsideAsia
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