Japan360 is a Japanese-led school tour specialist focused on Japan. We understand the language, culture, and on-the-ground details that make a school trip more meaningful and more practical. We also work directly with suppliers and partners in Japan wherever possible, which helps reduce unnecessary middleman costs and allows us to create programmes with better value for each school. Our approach is simple: we plan carefully, we coordinate properly, and we travel with your group.

We create custom Japan school tours from New Zealand based on each school's goals, budget, and interests. This can include Japanese language and cultural programmes, sports-focused tours, school visits and exchange opportunities, and sightseeing and educational experiences. We believe the best school tours are not one-size-fits-all. They should reflect the group's purpose and deliver real value.

We begin with a consultation to understand your school, your travel goals, your preferred dates, and your budget. Once the direction of the tour is agreed, a non-refundable booking deposit is required to confirm the school's commitment and allow us to move into the detailed planning and coordination stage. From there, we begin itinerary development, supplier coordination, and programme design to build the right tour for your group. You can read more about how we work on our How It Works page.

Yes. This is one of our key strengths. Where relevant, we can communicate directly with Japanese schools, principals, coaches, managers, and other local partners before departure. This helps build stronger relationships in advance and makes the experience feel more purposeful, personal, and connected from the beginning. For language and sports tours especially, this direct communication can make a real difference.

Japan360 provides the Japan land programme for school groups, designed around each school's goals, budget, and travel style. Our services can include itinerary planning, accommodation, transport within Japan, cultural activities, language-focused experiences, sports-related programmes, and on-the-ground coordination. A Japanese-speaking tour leader and interpreter is included in the tour cost from beginning to end, supporting the group throughout the trip.

International flights are arranged separately through the school's preferred flight provider or travel agent. Japan360 specialises in land operations in Japan, with a focus on designing and managing the in-country experience. This includes itinerary planning, accommodation, transport, activities, school connections, and on-the-ground support.

Yes. We work directly with suppliers in Japan to help reduce unnecessary middleman costs and create better value for schools. Direct relationships also allow us to design programmes more carefully, with options that better match the school's goals, group needs, and budget. For us, value is not about offering the cheapest trip — it is about creating the right trip at the right level, with more meaning and less unnecessary cost.

School payments are handled through a secure online payment platform with a clear staged payment process. Payments are usually made in stages: a non-refundable booking deposit at confirmation, a second payment 90 days before departure, and the final balance 45 days before departure. Exact payment dates and terms are confirmed in writing before the programme is finalised.

No. The booking deposit is non-refundable. It confirms the school's commitment to proceed and allows us to begin the detailed planning, coordination, and supplier arrangements required for the tour.

The initial booking deposit is non-refundable. If a tour is cancelled more than 90 days before departure, only the deposit is retained. If cancellation takes place between 90 and 46 days before departure, 30% of the total trip cost is non-refundable. If cancellation takes place 45 days or less before departure, 100% of the total trip cost is non-refundable, subject to group commitments and supplier terms. Full cancellation terms will be confirmed in writing before the programme is finalised.

Tour pricing is based on the itinerary, travel dates, group size, and supplier costs at the time of quotation and confirmation. Once group numbers and core arrangements are confirmed, pricing becomes much clearer. However, the final cost may change if there are changes to student numbers, travel dates, itinerary requests, or supplier pricing before bookings are fully secured. We will always communicate any changes clearly before moving ahead.

Once the tour is fully confirmed, we provide a digital itinerary with mobile app access so the latest information can be shared clearly in one place. This allows the school, trip leaders, and where appropriate, parents, to stay updated with schedules, meeting points, key arrangements, and important changes before and during the tour.

Yes. All students must have travel insurance before departure.