Japan Small Group Trips

An amazing experience! Our tour leader Geoffrey really made the trip helped by a good group of enthusiastic travellers. Geoffrey made sure all our needs were met. He was attentive and communicated well verbally and by regular What's App messages. Where there was an opportunity for free time he would structure activities if so requested. The whole trip was pretty full on but this gave us the opportunity to see a lot. Highly recommended.

The whole tour was fabulous but made so by the quality of our tour leader Sam. He is so knowledgeable and conveyed the cultural and historic things so comprehensively. He was also kind and engaging. Japan was magnificent and I feel I’ve only brushed the surface.

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.

Raya was an exceptional leader. Charming and vivacious and extremely knowledgeable. She was caring of the needs of all the group members. She successfully guided us onto trains in hectic stations and was so enthusiastic about the culture and food of Japan. She also had two trainee Leaders - Marika and Parisa. They were both a real asset to the group and we loved all three of them.

This was a fantastic introduction to the many different parts of Japan. Our guide Raya was so good at making sure we navigated the busy schedule, and public transport ,as well as sharing her knowledge to ensure a wonderful experience on our first time in Japan.

This was a well organised tour which gave me a good varied taste of central Japan. Our tour guide Raya was very efficient and explained our travel and activities each day and was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and the history and culture of Japan. She offered extra interesting sight seeing visits on the free days which added to the whole experience. She was ably assisted by two trainee guides, Marika and Parissa, who offered their own perspectives and were helpful with practical advice. They were all very cheerful and managed to keep the group together on the public transport and didn’t lose anyone! I enjoyed all the places we visited but felt that the last nights in Osaka were a bit of a disappointment as the hotel was a long way from the centre with little to do in the vicinity. Overall it was an amazing experience.