We were met on arrival at the airport by our lovely representative who gave us our welcome pack with the train/bus tickets and vouchers for our excursions, all clearly labelled. He then escorted us to the train so we could make our way to our first hotel. Our pocket wi-fi router was waiting for us as we checked in. This great bit of kit creates a wireless hotspot to connect up to five mobile phones or devices, giving you free and unlimited wi-fi access whilst on the move – so no roaming charges to worry about.

We started our trip with a full day city tour of Tokyo. Aside from ticking off all the key sites from Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji to the eccentric street fashion and pop culture of Harajuku, with one of our brilliant tour guides (the ones TF use are the best around) there’s another reason to not skip this.

Don’t underestimate how ‘foreign’ Japan can feel. Of course, that is absolutely part of its charm, but at the start of your tour having someone to answer any questions, explain the culture (anything from how to greet people to chopstick etiquette) and show you the ropes of using the public transportation system is priceless. They are also brilliant at recommending places to eat or where to go to buy anything specific you were after (for me this was Japanese kitchen knives in Kappibashi Street – around 1/3 of the price you’d pay in the UK if you’re interested).

Getting around is easy with our SelfGuide app - think of it as a personalised interactive guidebook on your phone or tablet. It’s super simple to use. There’s full details of your day by day itinerary as well as maps, directions to your hotels, in-depth information on the attractions you are visiting, details of your transport and any local experiences you have booked. There’s also handy phrases in Japanese (it’s very much appreciated when you try them) the weather forecast and a currency converter. The portable wi-fi router is brilliant to ensure you are always connected. You can also use it to contact our local team via the app with any questions as you go.

The majority of my trip was using Japan’s phenomenal train system. Like many things, there are several dos and don’ts to remember. Trains always run on time, so make sure you are on the platform at least 15 mins before departure. Grab a ebiken bento box (a Japanese lunch box) from the shops in the station to enjoy a meal on board – the self-heating ones where pulling a string magically heats it up were a revelation! On the platform there are clear queuing lines for each carriage so make sure you use them. On the train itself, do keep your noise levels down – raising your voice or speaking loudly on a mobile is frowned upon. Then all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. One top tip - if travelling west from Tokyo, do ask us to try to reserve a seat on the right-hand side. If Mt Fuji is not being shy, you’ll get an amazing view from the window.

From Tokyo we travelled to Shibu Onsen to see the adorable snow monkeys. As we wanted to break the journey for a few hours in Nagano to visit the 7th Century Zenkoji Temple and getting to our ryokan in Shubu Onsen involved catching a bus from the station, lugging our suitcases with us would have been a little inconvenient, so we used Japan’s slick luggage forwarding system. It’s not pre-bookable but easy to arrange locally. We deposited our luggage with our Tokyo hotel’s concierge the night before departing, provided the details for our next-but-one hotel, paid the £12-13 charge and they whisked them away. On arrival in Matsumoto two days later our cases were ready waiting in our hotel room as we checked in. This meant we could travel light to Shibu Onsen with just a small overnight bag. Now you’re not going to use this everywhere, but where you can I highly recommend it to make any more complex journeys super easy to navigate. Don’t worry, with Japanese efficiency at its core, the service is incredibly reliable!

As well as exploring Japan’s bustling cities, where dazzling neon streets and the latest technological innovation sit side by side with imposing castles, elaborate temples and traditional gardens, we made sure to build in some time in to explore Japan’s great outdoors. My top pick is Kamikochi, a popular hiking spot in the Japanese Alps which offers an easy four-to-five-hour circular hike in really beautiful scenery.

Japan is a real match made in heaven for foodies and we offer food experiences in most cities. Given Osaka’s motto is ‘eat till you drop’, there is no better place to experience the flamboyant and colourful world of Japan’s street food and nightlife scene than here, and our Flavours of Osaka tour is the perfect place to start! I also recommend the walking tour in Takayama to sample rice dumplings and local sake, the traditional and delicately flavoured kaiseki multi-course meals served in your ryokan and of course a tea ceremony, a tradition which still holds a treasured place in Japanese life.