Japan Cruise Trips

A brilliant trip - especially for a first visit to Japan - with an itinerary that takes in the capital and Kyoto, the scenic landscape between, with a deeply moving visit to Hiroshima then Nagasaki before moving on to some of the beautiful less well-travelled south west. The guide was excellent - introducing us to so much about the country’s distinctive and fascinating history and culture past and present, and the accommodation was varied but comfortable throughout. Too many highlights to single out just one (travelling by bullet train and on local buses is a definite plus, though), but safe to say: we can’t wait to return to explore more.

We had a really amazing trip. Our guide Raya is so knowledgeable and we learnt so much more than we would have done on our own. We really enjoyed going further afield and into Western Japan which is much more rural but still with an interesting history. Raya went out of her way to deliver things that people were interested in e.g zen gardens, cherry blossoms, cultural experiences etc - it was just great and I'd highly recommend you book with Explore.

2 of the hotels on the tour were terrible. My daughter and I shared a room, but the hotel in Tokyo and in Kyoto were so tiny that we couldn’t fit both of out suitcases in the room, unless one of the suitcases was placed in the bathroom. …a ridiculous situation. The transportation from Hiroshima to Nagasaki consisted of 3 trains and several hours. It was a very long and tiring journey. A small van should have been provided instead of a grueling 3 trains trip. There were too many “meals on our own”, which resulted in much higher costs for the trip. This was the first time a tour I took didn’t include dinner on the first night (welcome dinner) and the last night (farewell dinner). these 2 dinners should have been included. For these reasons the tour was very disappointing.

We've traveled with Explore many times, including another tour in Japan, and we really enjoyed this trip. Our guide, Doni, was excellent and kept things on track nicely. The accommodations were great, varying from more simple to nice hotels. This tour covered not only large city options, but some very rural areas, which we really enjoyed. Everything ran quite smoothly and there were no delays with transport or any of the daily events. I think we gained a deeper understanding of Japan, which was part of our purpose in taking this trip. We would highly recommend this Explore tour to other guests.

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.

Tour guide Irene excellent. Helped with questions and queries and did her best to solve any issues. Irene was fluent in Japanese and customs. I had expected a Japanese guide who would have given extra insight into all things Japanese and extra history. Accommodation was good despite being small. The last two hotels were the best with enough space to open suitcases. The traditional home that we visit was different and perhaps could be excluded from the tour. It was very tired looking. Irene has all the days mapped out and has all our tickets for travel sorted. Explanations of days were good. My only criticism was that the first day of the tour was extremely full on. All of us had had long journeys and no sleep. So to walk as much as we did on this day made us think if the whole tour would be like this. Enjoyed the tour nonetheless. Thank you