Fukuoka Tours and Trips

We did the 9 days “Steps of the Shogun” tour with Explore. Booking process on the website was clear and staff were responsive in addressing additional concerns and questions we had. Our tour guide Zilola was top notch. She was friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and accommodating to the specific needs of the group. She provided daily itineraries with updates ad hoc. She suggested additional excursions based on individual interests and overall went above and beyond as a tour leader making the trip enjoyable, safe and unforgetable for all. The itinerary was for those who want to do the “must see” Japan highlights as well as the “off the beaten path” areas many tourists may miss. All transportation was well planned and activities were diverse and comprehensive to match any specific interests. Plenty of free time to “do your own thing”. Accommodations met our expectations. Safe, clean and centrally located. In Japan you need to pack light and account for small spaces- the rooms are for sleeping. 10/10 would recommend for those seeking a Japanese adventure that will check all your boxes and then some. Pace is moderate, be prepared to climb and walk a lot everyday. Nothing a thai massage in Nagasaki can’t fix! Overall, the trip of a lifeline.

Really enjoyed the tour. It covered the main cities whilst also taking us off the busy tourist trail. The culture and lifestyle was brought to life by our excellent tour guide Zi who explained in depth the Japanese way of life. She made the tour. I highly recommend the trip especially if Zi is the guide. Can’t praise her enough.

This was a great trip which we would thoroughly recommend, made all the better by our exceptional tour leader Zi (Zilola). As well as the expected itinerary we also visited other sites and benefited from additional activities arranged by Zi. The many gardens (we hit peak cherry blossom time), the clear view of Mount Fuji, the many beautiful temples and the countryside in the far south were all highlights. The bullet trains were a new experience and the luggage forwarding worked well (the last one to Fukuoka is no longer necessary). We booked 3 nights in Tokyo before the tour began, which I would recommend as it allowed us to largely recover from jet lag and see a lot more of Tokyo. Changeable weather and quite a lot of walking so come prepared!

Given the number of days we had, this was an imaginative introduction to Japan, that took in several major cities but also some of the outlying islands in the south-west of the country. The pace (for me) was perfect. The accommodation, which included a traditional ryokan by way of contrast with the more standard hotels, was good, and our tour leader - David - first class. He introduced the sites succinctly, and took us to a variety of restaurants to sample Japanese food, from conveyor-belt sushi to okonomoyaki, a kind of omelette typical of Hiroshima. And once, when I stupidly lost my smartphone, David was outstanding, efficiently tracking it down and getting it returned to me in another city. He's definitely a star!

Excellent tour of Japan with tour guide David Lam. We liked that the tour had nice chunks of free time including a full day in Kyoto, used public transport including the bullet trains, and used simple but we'll located accommodations. Our total group was 11 - a great size.

David Lam was an exceptionally good trip leader. His whole approach to his role meant that what could have been a busy trip, flowed naturally from one event to the next. I loved every moment. It was good to balance the time in hectic crowded cities, with the peace and tranquility of the south of the country particularly the area around Hirata island.