Reviews

In just one week we visited several cities, rode on a bullet train, ate a wide range of food and saw many sites of interest in the country. An excellent trip.

A truly wonderful experience delivered by a tour company, Wendy Wu, that really knows what makes for an excellent holiday. Our local tour guide was top class and added to the enjoyment of the tour.

Brilliant itinerary, good guide and well organised. Good hotels and attractions visited.

Tour was very well organised and the guide was very experienced and knowledgeable. A good mix of the main tourist sites in the big cities and some smaller cities and towns that were less crowded. Sometimes long days starting early but I didn't mind that because it ensured we got to see more places. Some things could be improved - the quality of the hotels varied, although all were OK and no specific issues with any. The food was generally good but the Japanese food could have been more varied and showcased more of the amazing food available in Japan - many days had very similar bento box style meals.

Excellent tour by train but non-stop. The hotels were of a high standard as it would appear they catered for the business people sector. The guide was very knowledgeable and very caring. My main criticism is that we were too far from the centre of town on many occasions and the hotels didn’t have a bar or social area where the group could meet and relax after a full on day. I am aware that Japan doesn’t have a drinking culture but there wasn’t even a coffee shop in the hotels where we could meet up. Our group was from three different countries and got on very well. I believe the tour could have stopped in Tokyo with some trips out so that we could have immersed ourselves in the art galleries and museums and the funky eating places at night, plus some serious shopping. The last few days travel didn’t enhance the tour but made it exhausting for limited sightseeing. We had to live with belongings for three days and nights whilst our main luggage was taken separately ahead, with no toiletries allowed in this main baggage. We were extremely disappointed with the last meal in the Brewery in Soppora. It was smokey, loud and the average age of the group hadn’t been considered for its appropriateness as a venue and didn’t offer us the opportunity to relax together as a group to say our farewells.
The trip ran like clockwork, stepping off one train and walking seven steps across the platform to catch the connecting one.
The trip could have been cheaper if we had finished our tour in Tokyo as we wouldn’t have had to fly from Soppora to Tokyo to get back to the UK.
All in all I enjoyed this tour very much but the points I have made could have turned a good trip into an outstanding one.

A memorable holiday that delivered what it promised. Having an excellent guide made all the difference. Great organisation throughout the tour.

This is a truly fantastic rail service, I can't fault it,

A very busy and interesting trip taking in the full range of sightseeing possibilities..
The urban sprawl of Tokyo contrasted with the peaceful monastery in the mountains . We saw monkeys and Mount Fuji under blue skies so felt very privileged.
Our guide Shioji was brilliant.

The hotels were all excellent . The guide was outstanding . The details I received prior to the trip were all relevant.
The food was excellent . The coach and the different drivers were all very good .

Visited many amazing places. The local guide was excellent. Food and Hotels very good. Would. have ped a smaller group size but I suppose that would increase the price.

A great trip, all the activities were wonderful, the guide was great snd all the logistics were perfect.

The Jewels of Japan tour was made enjoyable by our guide Arch who did an excellent job. I am a vegetarian so I expected difficulty getting food in Japan. Arch ensured everywhere we went vegetarian food was available for me which I really appreciated. Arch was attentive, well informed and patient with all the tour members. The tour itinerary provided a great overview of Japan. The tour visited all the sites I wanted and some extras beside. The only negative comment I have is the final hotel we stayed in Osaka. The Hotel Monteray was very dirty, shabby and the breakfast was poor. I would not recommend it. Also, perhaps some time could be scheduled for personal exploration, relaxing and shopping during the tour.
Overall. I had a great time and would recommend our tour guide Arch (who was fantastic) and the Jewels of Japan tour.

A lot of places covered in a short period of time. It was a busy and hectic tour- could have done with spending more time at some places and less time at others. The guide was excellent. The meals were included which was a plus point , however for those with dietary restrictions or allergies the food could have been catered for better. The ingredients were not labelled and often we were not informed of what was being served .

Great holiday, packed a lot in, so inevitably early starts in the morning.
Our guide, Rumiko, was excellent.
The food was very good, and beautifully presented. I found the meals very rushed, particularly dinner. Everything was laid out when you sat down, and as there are no””courses” often all finished in about 45 minutes. I suppose this is the Japanese way but I usually consider dinner a highlight of the evening when on holiday and would prefer a more leisurely meal.

Very interesting holiday busy itinerary.
Saw lots excellent guide.