Testimonials

Martha A.

Excellent stewardship from registration for the trip, during and until the completion of this marvelous second visit to Japan. I highly recommend All Japan Tours. The experiences were unique, the participants (small group for lasting memories and new friendships to nurture), and the beauty and welcoming culture of Japan made for a very memorable trip.

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.

Melanie H.

We had a wonderful trip! The tour was well organized. I would recommend and travel with AJT again.

Melody & Brannon

Our number one favorite thing about our tour was our guides - both Ken and Hiro were fantastic. Absolutely wonderful. If we travel back to Japan, we'd definitely ask for them again and we encouraged our family who will be traveling there within the next 1-2 years to ask for them by name. Both were great in completely different but enjoyable ways. Both were accommodating and knowledgeable people who answered so many questions for us and helped bridge the communication and cultural gap. Hiro truly loved to teach and knew so much history. Ken was very sweet and helpful and you could tell he enjoys learning from the people he guides as much as he enjoyed sharing Japanese stories/fables. Both Ken and Hiro were fun and funny and seemed to really like their job. We were so thankful to have met them and actually felt a bit sad when it was time to say goodbye. Driver Min was also great and made a special stop to accommodate a request for a Mt Fuji photo. Japan is beautiful and we loved seeing all the temples, shrines, gardens, castles, statues, the deer park, the "old Japan" city vibe of Osaka, the "old Japan" historical vibe of Kyoto and the Gion Geisha district. We were amazed by the view from Shibuya Sky, enjoyed the bamboo forest, and had fun on our rickshaw tour in Tokyo. I could go on. The Golden Temple was one of our favorites. Our accommodations were all pretty good and their highlight was their Japanese/Western onsite breakfast and their proximity to public transportation which really made getting around so much easier and allowed for close shopping and dining options as well. Our second favorite thing beyond our guides was our overnight stay at Hakone Hatsuhana Japanese inn/ryokan with onsen. Ah- mazing. Absolutely beautiful, peaceful, pristine and relaxing. We only got one night there and were so sad as it was such a special place. The rooms are perfect, the onsens too and the views and sounds of nature beyond words. They do serve a traditional Japanese meal for dinner and while beautifully presented and carefully prepared, it was food that you may struggle with if you are a picky eater, fyi. The yukata robes were so comfortable we bought some for home. Lessons learned in Japan - there is alot, alot of walking, hills, grades and stairs needed to get around to points of interest. There is no place to sit to rest , you should not walk and eat, there are no garbage cans anywhere, and you should carry hand sanitizer as most places don't have soap. Lol. But bottom line, Japan was incredible and our experiences with AJT from start to finish were great. I'd 100% use them again. I outlined everything we wanted to do and see and they made it happen. We are so thankful. It saved us so much time and stress and allowed us to just enjoy our trip.

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