4.5/5 Excellent
Excellent
207
Great
83
Average
9
Disappointing
3
Terrible
5
Japan Tour & Trip Reviews
Japan Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Sort by:
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
A wonderful, once in a lifetime trip with a warm and kno...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
The Simply Japan holiday was fantastic. Very pacy, but in order to see all the main highlights of Japan within 2 weeks, it couldn't really be any other way. The gr...
C
Christine
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This tour is simply amazing. Doni, our guide, was very knowledgeable and gave deep and meaningful insights into Japanese culture and way of life.. I enjoyed the use ...
C
Caitlin
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
The simply Japan tour with explore was great. We weren’t originally planning on doing a guided tour but the number of unique locations this visited in 2 weeks was ap...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This is a huge and varied trip travelling by bullet train, local train, tube trains, local buses and plenty of walking. The cities and towns are modern with some old...
Japan Reviews
S
Susan
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Simply Japan provided a wide variety of experiences in a range of exciting locations. Exemplary organisation meant we could relax and enjoy it all to the full. Our t...
M
Margaret
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Doni gave us an excellent tour of Japan's highlights. His excellent organisational and personal skills ensured everything ran smoothly. The only negative is that lar...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Be warned - this is a very demanding trip! You are on the go all the time and will do a LOT of walking. You certainly get a full and interesting experience of Japan ...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
An excellent trip. Superb tour leader. Good itinerary. Very well organised.
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
The whole experience of visiting Japan was amazing. The travel arrangements by air, various trains, subways and local buses were excellent and always extremely well ...
Top Japan Tours
Japan Reviews
D
David
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This was my 19th trip with Explore and amongst the best. A good tour leader in Henrik who arranged all the train travel perfectly and imparted his knowledge of Japan...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This was a great trip . Busy itinerary and we covered a lot of Japan and experiences. Our guide was knowledgeable and kept us on schedule for lots of train journeys ...
L
Lesley
Nov 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This is a comprehensive trip. However it is very full on to cover the itinerary averaging up to 20/22k steps a day. As all the travel is on public transport (train...
T
Tim
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Througherly enjoyed trip to Japan. Found it full on, a lot of walking and use of public transport which was good for experiencing the country but took its toll on th...
Japan Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
We had an excellent trip and enjoyed it all. My only complaint was that we did too much too quickly and would have preferred having the Hiroshima part as a 3 night e...
J
Judith
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
An excellent fortnight's overview of Japan's main island, in which we saw/ experienced a huge amount in the time available - ranging from modern cities to centuries-...
T
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
I really enjoyed this trip. It covered many of the key highlights you would expect and more besides. It was a good mix of cities and smaller towns, closer to nature....
H
Hilary
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
The tour was busy with only short stays at each location, but it was a fabulous experience and a wonderful introduction to Japan. The tour leader was knowledgeable, ...
A
Alan and Tracey
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Tom Fallon was our explore leader and he was fantastic. Full of charm , character and knowledge. We feel a bit more information on the forwarding of luggage section ...
Editor’s Take
What to Look For in Japan Reviews
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary. Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
Traveling in Japan can take a bit of adjusting, particularly for western travelers. The cultural nuances take some getting used to, and the language is difficult (not many Japanese people speak english).
Having a local guide in Japan is an extremely helpful way to get to know the culture and history, but it is also invaluable to have someone to ask about what food to order, and how to navigate the transportation. Without this, Japan may end up being a unique adventure but a stressful one.
Japanese food is a divisive topic; people either love it or hate it, or they love ramen and sushi and not much else. The flavors in traditional Japanese cuisine are quite unique - if your palate is not used to them you may feel a bit stuck as a traveler. Having an adventurous and respectful approach to food is key when traveling in Japan.
When you visit Japan, your tour itinerary will almost always include visits to a lot of temples and shrines of great importance to eastern religious history and Buddhism. In Japan, religion is a natural and common topic of conversation.
Some negative reviews for tours in Japan express frustration at the sheer number of Buddhist sites included on the itinerary. While you may experience some temple fatigue it's important to remember that they are an enormous part of Japanese culture and history. Having an open mind as you visit various temples will definitely help you enjoy the experience.
Accommodations in Japan can be very different that what western travelers are used - and most tours in Japan include stays at traditional inns, onsens, and homestays. If you are expecting westernized hotels, these kinds of accommodations may come as a shock. Especially considering the many cultural nuances and expectations when it comes to lifestyle in Japan. You are expected to remove your shoes at all times, and rooms are simple and minimalistic, beds are often comfortable mattresses on the floor.
If you want a professional take on traveling in Japan, see the Travelstride Japan Guide »
Top Japan Travel Packages
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!