4.5/5 Excellent
Excellent
207
Great
83
Average
9
Disappointing
3
Terrible
5
Japan Tour & Trip Reviews
Japan Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
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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...
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 ...
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Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Our guide, Karique, was extremely knowledgeable and an expert in steering the group through crowded rail stations without losing his cool or any members of the group...
Japan Reviews
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Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Wonderful trip, ideal if you want a flavour of Japan- visiting a number of fascinating places. Fast paced with lots of walking and train travel. Doni was an excellen...
V
Val
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Marco was great. He went out of his way to answer questions and to make everyone comfortable.
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Sandra
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Our tour in Japan was amazing. The hotels standards were excellent. The itinerary was tight at times, but understandably if you want to see more places. Our tour gui...
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Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This is a full on tour with some long days. We covered a lot of miles and saw local culture. Our guide, Jared, was very flexible and went above and beyond with an e...
N
Neville
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
This was our first tour with Explore and our first trip to Japan. We found the itinerary excellent for experiencing Japanese culture throughout a variety of interest...
Top Japan Tours
Japan Reviews
C
Charles
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Interesting and busy itinerary and excellent tour leader
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Sally
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
We had a great experience on this tour. Our guide, was a total star! He was knowledgeable, patient, organised, helpful and understanding. We learnt a great deal ab...
R
Rosemary
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Excellent holiday, enjoyed travelling around and seeing the sights. Jared was a fantastic tour guide, friendly organised and extremely helpful...couldn't ask for bet...
S
Shane
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
What a trip!. The promise was that it was an introduction to Japan, and it delivered. Ok, the fact that Japan is so amazing made Explore’s job easier in one sense, b...
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Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
A wonderful trip around some key areas of Japan. A mix of modern & traditional, all with insight from our amazing tour lead, Irene. Accommodation is basic and sm...
Japan Reviews
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Trusted Customer
Sep 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Great country to visit, very efficient train travel between locations, unfailingly polite people. I travelled in early September. This trip was a tour around the c...
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Trusted Customer
Sep 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
The trip was better than anything I could imagine. I felt I h...
W
Wendy
Sep 2024
Written on
Simply Japan
Interesting trip. Lovely leader. Some accommodation rather small
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 »
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