Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Japan culture tour, Shoguns & Samurai, independent reviews
 Reviewed 26 Aug 2009 by Ruth Hamer |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I truly enjoyed each day and the new experiences we had, every place we visited was interesting. I loved travelling on the trains and buses, seeing the surrounding countryside with the crops of rice, tea and vegetables growing. This also gave us the chance to observe people on the trains and at stations going about their everyday life and being part of the hustle and bustle. I was amazed how green and lush everywhere was and the abundance of water gushing out of wells and down the sides of streets. There were many flowers and trees growing that we have in England, which I didn't expect and it was fascinating to see how different the gardens were with the clipped shrubs and neat borders.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you travel on your own, which I did for the first time on this trip, you can be assured that you will be well looked after. We had a fantastic guide and the organisation was second to none. Even when there was free time, our guide made sure that we knew where we were going and helped us with any questions. I felt quite safe walking about on my own in Japan and even though I can't speak the language people were very helpful in the street if I needed to ask directions, so long as I had a map to point to! Always carry the name and address of the accommodation you are staying at with you so that if needed you can get a taxi to take you back if you get lost. Carry the mobile phone number of your guide with you at all times. Even if you don't have a mobile phone that works in Japan, you could ask someone to ring the number for you.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, I did because we used public transport and stayed in many family run accommodations in rural areas.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a fascinating experience and everything went to plan.
| Reviewed 5 Jun 2009 by Daniela Sommefeldt | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
For me, it was the food - tastes, presentation, new ingredients - quite different to anything I have tasted at home. It has inspired me to learn more about Japanese food.
The scenery, temples and shrines came a close second and I loved the overnight stay at the monastery on Mount Koya (wanted to stay longer). Public transport was amazing! So clean everywhere. People very helpful and friendly. I could go on and on...
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It does involve a lot of travelling, so need to be prepared for that. Pack a very light bag and then take out some stuff and re-pack! We took far too much although we had been warned (we thought it wasn't much, but wait till you have carried a backpack around for a few days).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Hope so! Liked the use of public transport and staying in local, family-run minshuku and ryokan.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic experience. We saw much more than if we had been on our own and it was great having a guide who could interpret and explain how things worked. The downside was the amount of travelling we did - some days were spent doing very little other than sitting on trains and buses. I would have liked to spend more time enjoying fewer places, I think. A bit more flexibility and choice over activities would also have been good. Tokyo was better than expected (and the hotel was excellent) but Kyoto was disappointing - I think the location and accommodation could have been better here; we were in a very busy, touristy area and I was expecting high culture!
Read the operator's response here:
Dear Daniela,Thank you very much for your review. I agree the food is excellent, particularly the local cuisine in the rural areas. I understand your point about the amount of travelling, and we'll be looking again at ways to minimize this whilst still showing visitors all these wonderful places. The Kyoto hotel on this particular tour was not our regular, and I am sorry if it didn't match your expectations. All in all I am happy that you enjoyed the trip.