Testimonials

Valeriia & Iryna

This tour was absolutely amazing! My mom and I had a wonderful time exploring both Korea and Japan. Since this was our first group tour, we weren't sure what to expect, but everything was exceptionally well planned and organized. The accommodations, private transportation, admission tickets, and several lunches and dinners were all included, which made the experience completely stress- free. We didn't have to worry about logistics and could simply enjoy the destinations, activities, and cultural experiences along the way. Our guides in both Korea and Japan spoke excellent English and shared a wealth of information about each country, its history, and the places we visited. We also really appreciated the thoughtful itinerary, which included several destinations that would have been difficult to visit independently. In Korea, one of the highlights was visiting Andong Hahoe Folk Village, a beautiful cultural site that is quite far from Seoul and would have been challenging for us to reach on our own. We also visited the Korean DMZ, and thanks to our guide, the entire experience was smooth, informative, and hassle-free. In Japan, we participated in a traditional tea ceremony and learned how to prepare matcha, which was something I had been especially looking forward to. We also visited incredible destinations such as Owakudani and Mount Fuji. These locations are a bit outside Tokyo and would have been more difficult to arrange on our own, so having them included in the tour was a huge benefit. Overall, this was an excellent introduction to group travel. Everything was well organized, the guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the itinerary struck a great balance between sightseeing, cultural experiences, and convenience. We made wonderful memories and would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in visiting Korea and Japan.

Joseph & Jordan

We very much enjoyed each of the tour stops with our local guides. The days in China were shorter than those in Japan and we had more free time than I realized, which was not a bad thing. We enjoyed the days with free time at the end, but I wasn't sure how to plan ahead of time because there wasn't really a time estimate for each day. I do understand that is hard to estimate with tour sizes, tourist volume, and individual case by case basis. However, possibly a tentative end time or number of hours spend on tour each day could be helpful. The food recommendations and restaurants our local guides took us to were phenomenal. I loved very much that it wasn't a tourist trap, and we were eating with locals. We enjoyed being on a private tour in China, we did not expect that. We also loved the group we toured with in Japan. I would have loved to be able to connect with them before the trip. We did have a slight issue with the airline we flew with from DFW airport to Hong Kong and finally Beijing to start the tour. We were almost denied checking in and were very close to missing our flight due to a visa misunderstanding. I had emailed with AJT ahead of time to confirm that we were in the visa free range for China as we were there less than 240 hours. The Cathay Pacific attendants were adamant that we were not allowed for more than 6 days. The attendant suggested that we purchase another return flight that went straight from Tokyo to DFW, to avoid coming back through Hong Kong. I once again assured them that was unnecessary but they were refusing to let my Dad and I check into our flight and we had been there for over 2 hours. When it looked like we were going to miss our flight, I purchased yet another 2 return flights for $1800 so they would check us in and let us board the flight to Hong Kong. An employee for AJT also spoke on the phone to the attendant and Cathay Pacific employee- but to no avail. I know this is not your fault, but I would maybe avoid using or booking through Cathay Pacific specifically in the DFW airport to avoid other customers going through this very expensive and stressful time.

Mary & Thomas

My boyfriend and I were very pleased with our tour, and are considering traveling with you again next year. I especially want to commend Kim Kida, who did an excellent job of guiding us through our days and our busy itinerary, with a personal and caring touch. And we can't forget our driver Niwa, who was behind the wheel for over half of the time we spent on tour in Japan. He took the time to greet each passenger each time we boarded and disembarked. We loved seeing his smiling face! And also everyone who had a hand in arranging my meals. I am vegan, and thought it might be a bit of a challenge to adhere to that while in Japan, but I enjoyed great food throughout the tour. Everyone I had contact with exceeded expectations!

Connie & Kristin

Our tour was fantastic! Our guide Billy spoke excellent English, had an engaging personality, and tried to tailor this tour according to our wishes. The weather was perfect, and we found Japan to be a clean, organized, and welcoming country to visit. Our itinerary was quite varied, focusing on sites of historical and cultural significance interest and natural beauty. We visited many interesting temples and shrines. Three of the most memorable were 1) Meiji Shrine, where we took part in a Shinto ceremony for good luck and prosperity, 2) Todajii Temple where we saw a 165-foot high Buddha and freely roaming, tiny Sika deer and, 3) Fushimi Inari Shrine where we walked through thousands of bright- orange Torii gates. Other unique cultural/historical destinations included ancient castles (one was UNESCO-recognized), a wonderful modern art museum (which included several of Monet’s original Water Lillies series), and the Golden Pavilion with its 18-carat gold-leaf covered upper tiers glistening in the sunshine. Our tour also highlighted many areas of great natural beauty. We visited a flower park with giant wisteria and azaleas in bloom, a festival of moss phlox, which covered huge swaths of ground at the base of Mt. Fuji, and gardens rated to be the most exceptional by Japan. We also took ferries to 2 lovely Japanese Islands. For me, the real highlights of this trip were the many cultural activities in which we participated. We learned to play Taiko Drums, to fold origami into lovely shapes, to do calligraphy (this is CHALLENGING!!), to create Ikebana flower arrangements, and to make sushi. We also enjoyed a cultural show, took a rickshaw ride, toured a Sake Brewery and tasted their wares, strolled through UNESCO- listed old towns dating back to the Edo Period (17th-18th c.), learned how to practice Zen meditation, participated in a traditional green tea ceremony, and had dinner with a Maiko (a Geisha in training). I liked the tour so well, I am planning to return to Japan in the near future and have already recommended this tour to friends.

Olivia & Rhae

It was a wonderful experience. I would recommend this tour to friends, colleagues and family. Our drivers were great and Kim was an excellent guide. The food was extremely delicious and we were delighted at seeing what Hokkaido had to offer.

Colin & Nancy

We had a wonderful time on the tour, enjoying a wide range of Japanese scenery, culture, food, and history. It was an excellent introduction for first-time visitors like us.

Leonard & Vivian

An incredible, well-organized trip for lovers of nature and Japanese history. The ability to witness both cherry blossom festivals and the start of wisteria season makes this 16-day trip worth every penny.

Arianna B.

Susan & Kayla

AJT staff were very helpful setting up the tour and flights. They communicated with me and kept me informed. I appreciated their willingness and support for my requests. The tour covered some of the top tourist destinations in Japan, and our tour leader, Mr. Ishii, and tour driver, Mr. Iwamoto, prioritized keeping us on schedule and always cared for. Mr. Ishii always kept us informed of the ongoing schedule in his professional and friendly manner. Our tour driver Mr. Iwamoto, was an EXCEPTIONAL driver and member of the tour. He always greeted us and drove exceptionally well throughout the tour. We always felt safe and comfortable, even in Tokyo traffic. Both Mr. Ishii and Mr. Iwamoto enhanced the tour and provided exceptional support and service.

Sharyn & Teruo

We really loved the trip. Billie our guide was wonderful. He was so informative and caring We have recommended your company to others and hope to do another in the future