With many thanks and appreciation to Ada for ...
Japan
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Oct 30 - Nov 17, 2025
With many thanks and appreciation to Ada for planning an itinerary that included most everything that we requested. Ada was there with support from start to finish. Hotels were booked within walking distance to the rail stations, and our rail tickets were sent to our first hotel location. Drivers and guides were prompt, professional, and kind. Ada's attention to detail was amazing. She even helped us to contact and visit with relatives that we initially had no information of their whereabouts. That was the highlight of our trip. Thank you, Amazing Ada!
Hotel Reviews
Very friendly staff. Great location. Amazing breadkfasts.
Luxurious lodging! Wonderful opportunity to attend evening meditation and morning service. Breakfast and dinner were incredible, very interesting, very delicious.
Room was clean, comfortable, located conveniently for our activity. Delicious breakfast!
Lovely setting. Clean, comfortable room. Wonderful breakfast!
Very, very convenient to public transportation. Clean, comfortable room. Delicious breakfast.
Convenient for our walking tour of the city. Comfortable, clean room. Wonderful breakfast.
Hotel was convenient. Many shops nearby for shopping. Clean, comfortable room. Breakfast was wonderful. Very friendly staff member offered to take photos of us in the indoor garden.
Very conveniently located. Clean, comfortable room. Wonderful breakfast.
Activity Reviews
This was an enjoyable walking tour of the marketplace and walks along the river. Tomoko san comes from that area, so our tour was more personal because she gave us information as a native of the city. She stopped often and offered to take photos of us at scenic places. She took us to a family operated noodle shop, which was a real treat. We enjoyed Takayama very much.
This was a fun class. Certainly will attempt to put to use what we learned about ramen and gyoza.
Sake is not my drink of choice, but I did settle on a sake that I liked. We were given many choices. Staff at the sake brewery were pleasant and helpful. The Monkey Park was a nice hike up the mountain trail, and we were grateful that one monkey was there to entertain us.
Hector was a wonderful tour guide who taught us so much about the history of the area as well as of Japan. We will remember him warmly.
This was the initial reason for going to Japan, but it left me the most disappointed. Tour guide was not astute enough to realize that I was recovering from bilateral Quadriceps strain from climbing the 5 tier pagode in Osaka a few days earlier. I am 84 years old and was carrying a backpack with overnight necessities. She walked rapidly, leaving me about 25 yards behind and then having to rush to "catch up." At one point, I asked her "May I ask a favor of you? Can you walk slower?" As a result of not walking a steady, slower pace, I was unable to physically complete the last bit of the trail to Tsumago. It required a taxi to get to our hotel. Although she stayed with us to register at the hotel, we did not require that help. That added time made her late for her train connection and she had to stay in a hotel that night. We offered to pay for her overtime, but she declined. I am disappointed that I couldn't complete the final part of the Nakasendo Trail.
We learned quite a lot about Hokusai and were able to see some of Hokusai's work and learn about his history. Our guide was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed our time with him.
We really enjoyed Shirakawago. The history of the village and the tour of the Temple and the museum were fascinating. I took many photos with hopes that some research now will give me a better understanding about the silkworm business. Naoko san was an excellent guide, speaking English and educating us about the history of the World Heritage Village and offering to take many photos of us. This was high on our list of places we visited. Our driver was prompt and very patient.