2 independent reviews for Japan small group tours
Reviews for Japan small group tours
Ariadna Sanchez review 13 Nov 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It is hard to pick just one moment because there were many incredible highlights during the whole trip. Seeing Mount Fuji in person, watching the monkeys surrounded by stunning nature, were standout experiences. Beyond the specific sights, the most memorable part was discovering such a beautiful, vibrant country and its rich, ancient culture alongside a wonderful group of fellow travelers.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack as light as possible because you'll be moving around a lot. Also make sure to bring a smaller daypack or overnight bag, there are a couple of shorter stays along the itinerary where your main suitcases won't travel with you, so having a separate bag ready for 1-2 nights makes things much easier3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, it felt like the trip support local the community whenever possible. Staying in a traditional ryokan that has passed through many generations of the same family and taking part in hands-on experiences (like a local noodle-making class with a mother-daughter duo and origami lessons with residents) made the trip feel authentic while directly benefiting local people. While it's hard to measure the conservation impact, using Japan's public transport instead of private shuttles helps to keep our footprint low, and our guide was always very thoughtful about briefing us on respectful, responsible behavior around wildlife, such as the monkeys in Nagano and deer in Nara.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I loved the trip! Every activity and visit was thoughtfully planned and I genuinely enjoyed them. It was such a nice experience that I'm already hoping to return to Japan soon to explore more off-the-beaten-path regions.Helen Bamford-Wakefield review 2 Dec 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The wonderful group of people and embracing the Japanese culture.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a small backpack aswell as your main one.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I mean I hope it did but I didn’t really see much evidence of it4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was great, however vegans and vegetarians weren’t really considered in the choices of restaurants.Read the operator's response here:
Hey Helen
We are so glad to hear you had a great time in Japan with a wonderful group of people! And great tip for other travellers!
Many of our tours have specific activities that group members can engage in that visibly and directly benefit the environment and local community. Our Japan Adventure is not as directly visible to our groups, however to clarify all suppliers used in the tour whether that be the Buddhist temple, Sushi making class, Samurai lesson or any others, are all local small businesses, so we have a direct positive impact on their livelihoods.
I am sorry you felt vegans and vegetarians weren’t really considered, we try to visit a variety of local restaurants so group members can sample a range of authentic Japanese food. Japanese cuisine is known for its use of meat and fish, and even stocks and sauces tend to contain meat. Because of this, vegetarian and vegan options can be hard to find, especially outside of cities. Restaurants in Japan also tend to be catered to certain types of food - such as sushi, ramen, gyoza or tempura. At restaurants our group leaders will always make sure group members with dietary requirements know what they can eat, and ensure they have enough variety in meals. When this is not possible, the group leader will help find alternatives and suggest veggie-friendly restaurants for free evenings.
Thank you for your comments and feedback, it is really important to us. We hope to see you again soon!
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