Amazing Japan Trip 2026
Japan | Jun 16 - Jun 29, 2026

Carl
Carl D.
Madison, WI, USA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2026

Sandy was great to work with, she was very knowledgeable about Japan and what to bring and do. We really liked the private tour guides and being able to make adjustments on the fly. It was so nice not having to worry about the logistics of booking trains, cars, tours, etc. We appreciated having days that were full day tours and then days that we had to relax and explore on our own.
We will definitely use this service again in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Tokyo

Great location and great view from our room!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Osaka Midosuji
Osaka

Great hotel and location. It felt brand new with a great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fuji View Hotel
Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi

The onsen on location was awesome and we enjoyed staying in the traditional Japanese style room

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was a bit far from the downtown area but they did have a free shuttle which was nice. Unfortunately, it rained most of the time we were there but we were told there is a great view of Mt Fuji if it's not raining.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
Kanazawa

The breakfast buffet is amazing! the largest spread of food we've seen. The location was really close to all the attractions and a short walk from the main train station.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO
Kyoto

It's a very eco friendly hotel. We had a balcony room that faced the interior courtyard, it was kinda odd but also unique. Great breakfast buffet and a good location to the train station and shopping.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Meiji Jingu Shrine & Harajuku
Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Meiji Jingu Shrine & Harajuku
Tokyo

Or guide was awesome and did a great job showing us the sights and explaining everything to us. The one thing I would change is that it would've been nice to have an IC card that we could've used for the day instead of having to buy one way tickets, but overall it was a great day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our guide was able to get through the stations and trains with ease.
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo

The lake tour was awesome and well worth it. The whisky tasting was more about the distillery and less about trying Japanese whisky. I wish there would've been an option to skip the tour and just try the whisky.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yoshi and our driver were great!
Transport
The van we rode in was basically first class. We were in captain's chairs that reclined with foot rests. It was great!
Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour
Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour
Kanazawa

This was my favorite walking tour. We got to see the castle, Geisha district, gold leaf, and Samurai quarters. We did 22k steps and it was worth it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ian was awesome and very knowledgeable about the area and history.
Transport
Full Day  Gokayama and Shirakawago  Tour from Kanazawa
Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa
Japan

These were great and I really enjoyed Shirakawago. They were both Unesco sites and had a lot of history and beautiful views. I do feel like you just need to go to one and not both.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jul 08, 2026
Hi Carl, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. I really appreciate it! I especially enjoyed reading your feedback about the accommodations and activities. Comments like these are incredibly helpful—not only for us as we continue to improve our service, but also for future travelers who are planning their own trips. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed having a mix of private guided days and free time to explore on your own, and that we could take the... Read more

Hi Carl,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. I really appreciate it!

I especially enjoyed reading your feedback about the accommodations and activities. Comments like these are incredibly helpful—not only for us as we continue to improve our service, but also for future travelers who are planning their own trips.

I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed having a mix of private guided days and free time to explore on your own, and that we could take the stress out of arranging the logistics so you could simply enjoy your vacation.

Thank you again for trusting me to help plan your Japan trip. I truly appreciate it, and I hope we'll have the chance to help you plan another adventure in the future. You'll always be welcome back!

Best,
Sandy