4.5/5 Excellent
Excellent
207
Great
83
Average
9
Disappointing
3
Terrible
5
Japan Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised and free time. Great travelling by train
The format of the trip enabled two significant factors to coincide to make the entire experience overwhelmingly positive. 1. Our trip guide - Yuri Awanohara, made th...
Great introduction to the country. Variety of activities and all well planned by guide Yuri
well organised we appreciated not going to the expensive, flashy and touristy restaurants, which gave us a good varied eating experience good mix of organised and ...
We have always wanted to visit Japan and this trip gave us a wonderful opportunity to visit the cities, rural areas, travel by train, experience Japanese cuisine a...
Wow what an amazing trip ! Cycling in Japan is a truly fantastic and interesting cycling trip. There are several - The friendliness and courtesy of the Japanese peo...
This is a great holiday for those who enjoy cycling in great scenery and want to learn a bit about Japanese culture and the Japanese way of life en route. It of...
This was an amazingly rich first experience of travelling in Japan. The trip offers an excellent balance with cycling in varied and impressive scenery, countless ...
This trip was an excellent intro to Japan! It covered a huge variety from highlights of sprawling Tokyo to rural seaside and mountain villages as well as offering...
A wonderful insight to this facinating country. Seeing the country by bike is certainly the best way to do it, giving the opportunity to get an insight into the r...
Japan- an incredibly fascinating country with a culture like no other. The 2 week bike trip was a wonderful way to start to get to know Japan. Of course cycling i...
If ever you wanted proof that cycling is a great way to get to know a country then this is it. And what a country. So different in every respect to the UK. The ups...
William Kauffman
Nov 2024
I already filled out feedback once!!! Not real happy with the trip
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
It gave us a good sampling of Japan, from the people, the culture and food (absolutely delicious!), to its comprehensive mass transportation (we traveled on the Shin...
Trusted Customer
Sep 2024
There are some long walks which might be too much for elderly adults. Acc...
Gary Bingham
Sep 2024
This is a very good tour. Excellent accomodations, terrific tour guide. The typhone got in our way and yet our tour guide and Trafalgar worked around it. Wonderf...
Marceline Mondesir
Aug 2024
The itinerary met all my expectations
Jess Ott
Aug 2024
This was a rich experience. There was a mix of things that were comfortably tourist-y and incredibly intimate, nearly bespoke excursions. The guide made everything e...
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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