Kyoto 15-Day Tours and Trips

Really enjoyed the trip, although we underestimated the level of fitness required to complete all the walking/hiking/climbing involved. For all that we had a wonderful time, and there were options to short circuit some of the more challenging hikes.

The itinerary was thoughtfully designed, allowing us to explore a wide range of fascinating destinations throughout the trip. Activity level was 1, not 3 as advertised. The hotels were comfortable, with two exceptions: Hotel SUI Kyoto Kiyomizu in Kyoto - Situated on a busy main road, the hotel suffered from significant noise even during nighttime hours due to poor sound insulation. Breakfast was consistently overcrowded. Route Inn Kawaguchiko - The room was small and dimly lit, with a window facing a concrete wall just two metres away. The décor was dated; it felt like the last renovation was done in the 1980s, and the breakfast offering was disappointing in both quality and variety. In contrast, Hotel Monterey Akasaka in Tokyo stood out as the best accommodation - stylish, comfortable, and well located. Dining independently was a highlight of the trip. We enjoyed excellent meals at various local restaurants, often at very reasonable prices. However, the two complimentary dinners provided in Takayama were surprisingly poor in quality. In hindsight, it would have been preferable to explore dining options on our own that evening as well. Public transportation was generally a positive experience and added to the trip's authenticity. That said, the day spent navigating Kyoto’s local buses and trains resulted in more time waiting than sightseeing. Additionally, the transfer from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo consumed most of the day. A chartered bus would have significantly reduced travel time to under two hours, and allowed for a more relaxed and efficient transition.

I got into one of the first groups after Japan unlocked for tourism, and enjoyed an October excursion through the Land of the Rising Sun. From urban to country, mountains to sea, this tour provides a smorgasbord of Japan's landscape and culture. Excellent price for what is delivered here, pretty much all of the iconic areas will get visited. The included activities were fantastic, but there was still plenty of time for personal exploring. Food from Koya, the time in Hiroshima, and the floating gate in Miyajima, really make the 14 day tour something special. Take the recommendation to pack light seriously! You'll be a much happier camper if don't have multiple bags to juggle every time you switch cities.

My sister and i had the best time- the tour guides, the other members of the tour group and the tour itself were all marvellous. It exceeded our expectations. We loved the small villages and guest houses we stayed in.

This was a superb holiday from start to finish. The itinerary was well thought out and we loved using the rail network rather than being stuck on busses. We were lucky to arrive at the peak of the cherry blossom, to have wonderful views of Mount Fuji and to arrive in Takayama on the day of the spring festival. The ryokans were great fun and we enjoyed the whole experience of the olsens. We found the Japanese people to be polite and helpful and we always felt very safe which made it a very stress free holiday.

We enjoyed the entire trip from the moment that we arrived. The varied scenery, the culture and the history were all fascinating for us. We enjoyed the great variety of lovely food that we had every day. Ayaka, Our guide, was superb and she made the whole experience memorable and most enjoyable.