4.5/5 Excellent
Excellent
207
Great
83
Average
9
Disappointing
3
Terrible
5
Japan Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Our leader was excellent and couldn’t be praised highly enough. Always att...
Paul Hattin
May 2024
Japan. What a country. It was so great to be part of a culture based on honesty, trust, orderliness, honour and politeness if only for a short period. It’s an experi...
Tom McElligott
May 2024
Very full and interesting tour. Lots of cultural experiences enriched by help and knowledge of our guide. Travelling by public transport also a very interesting and ...
Ann
May 2024
Excellent trip, did most of what I wanted to do really enjoyed it. Fab tour leader always went the extra mile and made sure we had information for our own explorati...
Stephen
May 2024
No need to stay 2 nights on a futon they are not comfort...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
The two trainees with us were also excellent. Pedro & ...
Lesley
May 2024
Fantastic,once in a lifetime experience. Fab itiner...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Excellent tour giving a varied flavour of Japan.
Mary
May 2024
Fast-paced holiday....lots of moving about by public transport. Varied destinations...temples and shrines, gardens... Samurai homes..Hiroshima Peace museum....modern...
Susan
May 2024
The simply Japan tour is a really good mix of places to visit and gives a good flavour of the country both old and new. Be warned that you’ll experience the efficien...
Chris
May 2024
Did everything on the itinerary and some. An absolutely brilliant trip with a knowledgeable and likeable guide. Not for the faint hearted though as it was pretty muc...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
An excellent tour. Though l would not rate it as moderate. All travel was on foot and public transportation. All the stairs in stations and the amount of crowds one ...
Lynne
Apr 2024
Simply Japan was a fantastic trip and I would truly recommend it. Japan is a feast for your eyes as well as your stomach. There is so much history and beauty to se...
Emma
Apr 2024
Explore delivered on every front. The accommodation was excellent. The tour leader was superb. He was gentle and kind and always at hand to help with queries. The po...
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Very comprehensive tour, overall, I was impressed. Useful free time and lots of varied and interesting visits, including the monastery and Ryokan. Our guide was l...
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Writing this review is challenging for me, as I've had numerous positive experiences with Explore on previous trips. However, regrettably, I cannot extend the same p...
Editor’s Take
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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