Testimonials

Walter and Tori

This tour met and often exceeded our expectations for an in-depth dive into the culture and customs of the Japanese people. We had two guides, Mr. Susumu “Sam” Toyoshima for the first half of the tour from Kyoto to the hot sand baths of Ibusuki and Ms. Satoko Tsushima for the visit to Yakushima Island, Nagasaki and the conclusion in Osaka. Both guides were very knowledgeable in the historical importance of the various tombs, temples and castles which we visited on our many hikes. They also moved us seamlessly through the various modes of transportation (especially the ultra-efficient Shinkansen trains) where we traveled with the people of Japan and not some non-Japanese tour group. This was exactly what I had hoped for – meeting everyday Japanese people who, though reserved, were very helpful and kind. Lodging was a nice mix of traditional ryokans which were first-class and very welcoming and several western style hotel rooms. The group dinners were multi-course feasts, expertly prepared and served, consisting of various Japanese delicacies and fresh, regional ingredients. The hosts were very accommodating for special requests like vegetarian and “no raw fish” options. Breakfasts were buffet style with an abundant selection of Japanese and Western cuisine to satisfy any meal preference. The tour consisted of many short hikes, though none were especially arduous. A good pair of light hiking boots made the walks easy. Be prepared to remove shoes in temples, castles and the ryokans with tatami mats. Sandals were provided for guests in all but the Nijo Castle – just wear good socks! In reflection, I feel we gained an in-depth exposure to the real Japan thanks to the expert knowledge and planning of Oku Japan. We bathed in a wide variety of onsens, experienced the friendly and helpful staff of the various lodging choices, visited many historical castles, temples, tombs and other culturally significant locales, met the genuine Japanese people in locations largely visited by the Japanese and not a horde of tourists. I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who would value such and experience.

Mr. Verse's Group

Everything was great - thank you so much!

Catherine & Charles

We enjoyed the variety of things we saw in Japan. The people were incredibly welcoming and our accommodations were comfortable. The Gear Experience in Kyoto was exceptional as well as our dinner with the geisha in training. Loved the Molecular Tapas in Tokyo.

David & Sandra

We couldn’t have been happier with our experience. AJT was extremely responsive before and during our 3 week private tour. They worked with us to craft a unique and very personalized experience. We loved all of our guides and the accommodations were fabulous. As we had hoped we had a huge variety of experiences and even made some "on the fly" modifications to adjust t for the weather and last minute impulses. Wow - we had a fabulous time.

Mr. & Ms. Blundell

Exactly like we wanted.

Mr. & Mrs. Akima

Our tour guide Kim was fantastic! She had to deal with a few extremely demanding group members who had food allergies, were vegetarian, with physical limitations, people who did not know their limits and got lost, and she handled it with great style and respect. She was very knowledgeable. Our driver Yoshi was amazing and got us to all sites safely and efficiently. I really enjoyed all of the locations and experiences we had!

Mr. & Mrs. Pheasey

Our tour was very good and our guide Kim was exceptional. But it was a whirlwind covering a lot in a short time. At some places more time would have been nice - at others less. The pace at times tired my wife but she still enjoyed the tour and the people in our group. Kim's knowledge of Japan was excellent. I must commend Kim for helping us know the way to book our Bullet train from Osaka back to Tokyo. It was easy thanks to Kim. And Kim handled the individual needs of all. The food was great and the experiences with traditional Japan (sushi, bath, geisha) were memorable. Even though it snowed at Mt. Fuji the experience was still memorable. (We did Mt. Fuji in all it's majesty from our bullet train back to Tokyo.)

Shakeel & Joan

Complex itinerary. Perfectly organized logistics. Excellent people to work with.

Mr. Criste & Ms. Gutierrez

The tour guide Joyce was very knowledgeable and patient with the group. Covered a lot of things that we would not have been able to do on our own. Having two meals was great but could have done with less hot pot almost every dinner.

Mr. Lopez & Ms. Lowe

Incredible experience. Loved visiting Japan!