Japan Travel Agents

All the guides were great. Leny was fantastic putting the trip together. She had to make changes on the fly because of a typhoon which changed our itinerary overnight. I would strongly recommend her.

Hotel Review

Marufukuro

We never stayed there because of a typhoon

Authenticity & Character

N

Location

Never made it there

Staff

N

Cleanliness & Comfort

N

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Artisan Traditions & Old-Town Discovery with Edo Kiriko Experience with English-speaking guide and Vehicle

Tokyo

The etching of glass was interesting and not as difficult as I thought it would be The instructor was great. I would recommend it

Quality of Experience

Great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kintsugi Experience in Tokyo: The Art of Golden Joinery

Tokyo

Very tedious and difficult It’s not something that you could do on your own It was a very interesting experience which is unique to japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We went by taxi. Difficult to get in because the elevator does go down to the basement until the time of the experience

Forge Your Own Piece of Japanese Craftsmanship: Traditional Knife-Making Workshop in Kyoto

Kyoto

Great guys who were helpful. Hard work. 3 hours it took to make the knifes There were two different places to make the knives. One is for a private lesson and the other is for a group. I would strongly recommend the private lesson. It’s not easy because you pound the steel until the metal is thin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

He was great because we went to the wrong place initially but everything worked out fine

Welcome (Yokoso) to Tokyo!

Japan

He was fantastic. Fun. Friendly and easy to talk to. Lots of walking Helpful when we were looking for a map. Went to dinner with him to a local restaurant which was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Port of Osaka to Kyoto City Center

Japan

The driver spoke no English and told us to the front of the department store and the guide was at the back of the store which took 1 hr to meet the guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

She was great. Lots of food and interesting food. Enjoyed your company and was knowledgeable Would strongly recommend her and the tour. Lots of walking Need to be in reasonable shape

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was great. Interesting culture

Transport

Tokyo After Dark: Golden Gai Night Walk (2 Hours)

Tokyo

He was great Went to bars and had a drink. Bars are very small. Area was weird with lots of young women outside trying to talk to men. Very safe

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Evening Gion Food Tour

Kyoto

We did not do the evening tour because of a typhoon which affected our time in Kyoto She was great interesting with different food

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We was poorly informed about our initial meeting place

Our local specialist Ada did an amazing job right from the trip planning stage and into the execution phase. Her efficiency and attention to detail were commendable. At the conclusion of each part of our itinerary she would summarize the next activity and actions needed which we found very handy. Most memorable was day 4-- Mt. Fuji & Ryokan experience in Hakone. The pristine landscape and relaxing ambience was a welcome change after Tokyo. The guide/driver Datong san was excellent. The Ryokan provided us with a vegetarian dinner and breakfast that exceeded expectations.
Not to denigrate Tokyo, which had it's own attractions. We appreciated the efforts of guide Tomoe Koyano on day 2. The afternoon of day 3 could have been better utilized. It was aggravating to navigate ourselves from our hotel to the meeting point at Nezu station in pouring rain. I wonder why the guide couldn't meet at our hotel ? The walk through the old town was uninteresting. The guide didn't have much to contribute as we meandered through the streets!
Day 5-- Kyoto. The tea ceremony was disappointingly contrived and lacking authenticity.We were not impressed by the attitude of the host of the show.
Day 6-- We appreciated our guide Sanae Uchida on this excellent excursion.
Day 7-- A good day's trip with driver Tan san to Himeji castle. The Mt Nunobiki visit was curtailed due to rain and we just rode the cable car up and down.
Day 8--An interesting visit to Nara with the competent guide Yuki.
Day 9--Very interesting visit to Tsumago and Magome with Vincent. Disappointed having to drop hiking plan due to heavy rain.
Day 10-- Was wasteful. Not enough time for the self guided morning tour and to catch a 11.48am train. We should have been booked on a later train. Reaching Kanazawa around 3pm was a wasted afternoon there as well.
Day 11--Appreciated the Shirakawa go tour with the well informed K san.
Day 12-- Drive to the Kurobe gorge. It was disappointing not to have visited the Shomyo Falls. The guide Mike said there wasn't enough time. However, this would have been possible by spending less time at the final trolley station and the Unazuki Onsen city (where there was nothing much to do). This was the first day that the trolley resumed going to the final station. Due to ongoing construction we couldn't go anywhere outside that station. It looked like the tour guide didn't have the authority or flexibility to make these small changes that would have enhanced the experience. Your itinerary promised a "stroll through nature"--- but it was sadly lacking! It was mostly a trolley and bus ride.
A suggestion for future trips: It would be useful to know the price break up of total trip cost to each segment of the tour. This helps to put a value on the experience at each venue.

Hotel Reviews

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Excellent service. They specially prepared vegetarian food for us and the presentation was superb! Amazing private onsen. Great views from room.

Authenticity & Character

Blends in with it's natural surroundings

Location

Set in a picturesque location

Staff

Personal attention to detail

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't ask for more.

the b asakusa

Tokyo

We stayed here on the way in to Japan and on the way out.Very conveniently located providing easy access to public transport. Room very functional despite the small size. Very friendly staff. Adequate breakfast options.

Authenticity & Character

Great location, customer friendly.

Location

.Very conveniently located providing easy access to public transport,shopping and cultural sight seeing.

Staff

Great service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day Tour to Kurobe Gorge, Unazuki Onsen, and Shomyo Falls

Kanazawa

It was basically a long bus ride followed by a trolley ride (admittedly a beautiful scenic ride) We were not taken to the Shomyo Falls apparently due to time constraints ( not very credible). It happened to be the first day that the trolley resumed the full ride till the final station but there was nothing to do there as construction was ongoing. This time could have been better spent at Shomyo Falls or at any other scenic spot, for a stroll through nature. The halt at Unazuki Onsen wasn't worth the time. Anyway the onsen was lukewarm and unimpressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly.

We had just gotten married and wanted to have our honeymoon in Japan. We said it would be a trip of a lifetime-and it sure was! With the help of Rob, two tour guides, several drivers, and just the exceptional hospitality and kindness of the service staff at each hotel we stayed at, we had an unforgettable honeymoon. Shout out especially to Rob! His prompt communication and guidance made us feel totally prioritized and at ease. We didn’t have to worry about all the logistics of a long international trip and just got to enjoy our time in Japan.

Thank you for all who put in the work for us to have that trip of a lifetime! Only question now is when do we get to go back?

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Park Hotel Kurashiki

Kurashiki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Selfguided Tokyo City Highlights, Sumo Lunch & TeamLab Planets（Selfguided Tour）

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tsukiji Outer Market, Meiji Shrine, Sushi Making Class and Harajuku（Guided Tour；Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canals, Art, and Timeless Streets of Kurashiki（Guided Tour；Public Transport）

Kurashiki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naoshima day tour：Art Islands, Seaside Ferries, and Contemporary Creativity（Self guided Tour）

Kurashiki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Tokyo to Hakone via Mt. Fuji（Arakurayama Sengen Park）

Japan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hakone’s serene lake, mountain panoramas, and a leisurely evening(Private Guide&Private Vehicle)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All the tours planned by Winnie were very good. Our guides were on time, knowledgeable and helpful. We especially enjoyed Taku and our Kyoto city tour.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Taku was an amazing guide and gave us a lot of history that helped put our tour into perspective.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We rode the metro and all went smoothly.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest E-Biking Tour

Kyoto

We had a nice ride through neighborhoods to Arashiyama and a little bit of country side. Once at the forest, you really have to walk your bikes because of the crowds. The bamboo forest was cool but not sure the bike riding part was anything special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport to/from the bike shop was not included in the package. I think it should be.

Hiking Kurama-Kibune through Sacred Peaks and Ancient Paths

Kyoto

This was a great hike and the area was very cool. Beautiful forest and Tribune seemed like a neat little village. It was lightly raining so we didn't get to eat at one of the restaurants over the river but that looked like it would be a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All transport was through public transportation including a bus which took a little longer due to all the stops. Transportation was fine.

Discover Daruma Magic and the Beauty of Minoh Falls

Osaka

This area was very beautiful and we loved the falls. The description of the tour made it seem like we would hike from the Temple to Minoh Falls but we took a taxi. The guide said if we hiked it would be along the road however, the tour write up made us think the hike would be in the woods. Despite wishing we had more hiking time, we loved the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

What a fun tour with delicious food. We had a great time making our own okonomiyaki. The only thing we didn't get that was mentioned in the tour description was the box of Takoyaki.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mr. Ju, Mr. Eric, Mr. Ye, and any other tour guides were all great. Shibuya was a great spa, was totally taken care of and relaxed, it is an experience. Rob was great from the very first communication to guiding us as we were in Japan. Great trip and using KimKim was such a positive experience, will use it again. Thank you!