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Great one-week stop-over - three city exposure of Japan
Japan | Apr 14 - Apr 21, 2026

Tom
Tom D.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Apr 26, 2026

We had a great time with a quick one-week stopover in Japan. Really enjoyed Kyoto gardens and temple/shrines. Picture and weather perfect day in Hakone - doing the loop - with the iconic snow-capped Fuji. Toyko is much to big for just 2 days - but loved the Palace Garden and the Asakusa area was buzzing.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA
Kyoto

Nice quiet room. Really amazing breakfast buffet. Location next to train station made navigation and transfers really accesible

Authenticity & Character
Great shower - clean and comfortable - Japanese food available at breakfast buffet
Location
2 minute walk to train station
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean. Firm beds
Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka
Hakone-machi

Clearly a good resort experience with baths and very close proximity to the transit needed to make the loop

Authenticity & Character
If you like to dress up - they provide all the robes and such. Very nice hot baths and spacious rooms. However zero flexibility with set menu and over the food is average taste
Location
2 minute walk from train station / cable car
Staff
Had issues communicating and had issues with seating on reserved 2nd day dinner. We were first in lline for our shift and they sat us (initially in a dark corner table with no view of anything- while the many garden view tables were all open and available. After a few challenges trying to communicate our issue they finally re-sat us at a good view table. But it was not friendly and barely accommodating. No flexibility and as non Japanese speakers found communication bumpy.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large clean room - plenty of towels and good garden view
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku
Tokyo

Very modern city hotel. Very clean quite and comfortable. Helpful staff. Breakfast buffet at their main building was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
It's a very modern hotel - clean, quiet and comfortable.
Location
Fun to be right in the Asakusa area and easy access to subway
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)
Kyoto

Yuki our guide made this our top highlight of all our time spent in Kyoto. Especially enjoyed the pacing and allowing us some peaceful time to soak in the very private Zen garden. She also moved us thru the more busy tourist areas, finding great spots for pictures and explanations. Tofu lunch was amazing, best authentic food on our entire trip in a beautiful house (glad we ate there over the temple lunch which was not available that day). Plus she sent us over 50 photos she took of our day together. Yuki also was extra special post tour - riding the train with us to get us right to the market and taking extra time later to send suggestions for a shop in Toyko where we might find masks (we collect masks from our travels). Yuki made the whole day exceptional

Quality of Experience
Great locations, Guide and Learnings - highly recommend (especially for the less touristy stops)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yuki is exceptional
Transport
it was a walking tour -
Local specialist: Cannon Xiao
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