Highlights of Japan

Excellent trip, full on but really well organised and perfect if you want to get a good sense of what Japan has to offer in a week. We absolutely loved it, Andrew our tour leader was knowledgeable, friendly, calm, and very organised. The group was a good mix of ages from 24-82. We all felt like we were in safe hands. Would highly recommend this trip.

Tour was excellent and our Group Leader/Guide, Andrew, was first class from start to finish. Our group varied in ages dramatically and everyone got on superbly well. A really great group! Tour was full on as was expected. It is quite fast paced and gives you a good taste of lots of amazing places to visit in Japan. Although you wish to have more time in each place it is only a highlights tour and it certainly produces a fantastic Japan experience which will make you want to come back and explore more of this amazing country again and again! I for one will be back asap!

An excellent and high paced tour (take your comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for a little mud underfoot when visiting the snow monkeys too). Marco added to the experience by sharing his insights and knowledge and taking us to local places that really made the tour.

Another fabulous tour with Explore. It was full on, super busy and packed but it gave me a taste of Japan and ideas of where to go back to one day. It was all organised well, the use of public transport was fun, the hotels were of a good standard and the 3 included meals (which I had forgotten about) were good. I wish I had added on a day at the start of the trip but it wasn’t possible due to work commitments. I highly recommend this tour.

Hannan the leader was the best part.

Enjoyed the trip though itinerary covered too much territory using too much public transportation in too little time. First trip to Japan so appreciate overview but found stop in Osaka unsatisfying. Suggest timing that might include a bunraku performance for which Osaka is famous rather than another street market, garrish lights, and not great food. Or skip altogether. Accommodations adequate except Tokyo hotel which had no real lobby and poor breakfast. Liked Kanazawa hotel’s lobby, room, and sentó and Hiroshima hotel view. Restaurants for group food outings could be improved. Loved group size and group. Hannon led, guided, informed, and advised with a great combination of assertiveness, knowledge, grace, and patience. She kept things moving and engaging even as she made inevitable adjustments. She’s a gem. Minor suggestion: She might have a map of local areas on her iPad, or hand out small city maps, and get everyone oriented for the day - sites, means of travel, food, etc.

Doni was an excellent tour guide and is very knowledgeable about the areas we visited. We were only a small group and through his leadership we immediately felt like a family. The only feedback I would like to leave is that it should be included that participants in this tour will be expected to walk 12000 steps on a daily basis, and not always on flat ground. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip but may have reconsidered it due to my health issues.

Had a great time on this quick trip through Japan. Our tour leader, David Lam, consistently went out of his way to help us experience things in addition to the published itinerary. He was great to be around, clearly wanted everyone to enjoy the trip and always had everything in hand.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Highlights of Japan trip as it basically picked up from my 2020 Japan tour which was cancelled half way through due to Covid. The tour gives a good insight into Japan and is perfect to get ideas for a longer trip to Japan for places to revisit and see in more depth as there is so much to see. The trip was a good pace and our guide, David Lam, was excellent and really went out of his way to ensure everyone in the group enjoyed the tour, thanks David for enhancing my trip to Japan.

David Lam was an excellent guide, flexing our schedule when we got caught in the tail end of typhoon. He went above and beyond to provide suggestions on where (and what!) to eat, other places to visit, and took extra time guiding us as we explored on our own, and as we departed. For the tour overall, the itinerary needs a rethink, and with guidance from local guides on what will really work for a group (and then updates to the notes). I get it is a highlights tour, it was a lot of moving around and felt really rushed. Also, until the hotels in Kanazawa and Osaka are changed, I would avoid.