Osaka Tours in November 2027

Great itinerary with a very caring and dedicated guide (Santi) who really went above and beyond. This is a fantastic tour to introduce an amazing country. Loved the unconventional (non hotel) accommodation… It’s these things that make explore trips special and give you something that would be difficult to sort out yourself on the first visit to a country. I heard that Simply Japan may be dropping one of these for 2026 which would be a mistake in my opinion. There could also be a bit more thought to scheduling detail - for example in Hiroshima the hotel is really close to the Peace museum and would be easy to schedule a visit at a time that is less busy.

This was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. I had been wanting to visit Japan for nearly twenty years, but with my limited knowledge of Japanese language, we wanted to have a guided tour led by someone with more local experience. Our guide Giulia was an absolute rockstar, and gave us lots of interesting insight into Japanese life and culture. All of her recommendations for things to see/do and places to eat were absolutely spot on, and our trip would not have been the same without her. We loved each location we visited, from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to the quieter mountain towns. We had some unforgettable experiences, and are already looking to plan another trip to Japan. This was my favorite trip I've ever taken, and we'll be sure to direct our friends and family to this tour.

Very much enjoyed the variation of the locations - which gave a glimpse of the great variety in Japan. All the destinations were different and travelling by train connected us with the Japanese way of life.

This is a great tour with a diverse itinerary. Although it is advertised as a trip with moderate pace, be ready for a lot of walking, about 12-15,000 steps a day. You should also be ready for the ryokan experience with shared bathroom facilities. The hotels were correct, all clean, with generally small rooms that is the standard for Japan. Transferring your suitcases in advance of day trips, as suggested by Explore, is highly recommended. Japan is very clean, there are no garbage cans on the streets, and public toilets are amazingly clean and are available everywhere and are free. Credit cards are generally accepted, except for a few small restaurants. We were particularly lucky with our guide, Synjun who was super professional, very knowledgeable and kind.

The itinerary was all about discovering the culture of Japan, and this trip delivered in spades. We experienced the people, the urban environment, the religion, the public transport system (of which the Japanese are justifiably proud), and much much more. Our guide Synjun Howearth was extraordinary in his knowledge, his temperament, his sensitivity to our needs, his capability, and his ability to navigate the people & circumstances, so much so that we hardly had to think for ourselves at all. There was just the right balance of activity and relaxation. All in all, a super introduction to a very different culture from our own, exactly what we expected and received. Thank you.

Quite a lot of walking involved but not excessive. Plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. Tour guide Marco was very helpful in many ways, knowledgeable about the customs, food, transport etc. and patiently managed our group of diverse individuals .