All Reviews for Japan Autumn Tours 2024

Cruise trip was best of all.

It would have great if the bus stops near to international restaurant rather than local ones.
It becomes difficult to manage the food.
Would be good if we have McDonald's or KFC, which would be preferred by most of travellers.

Thanks

The tour was very well organized, and it was very diverse in different activities. We were also very lucky with the weather and were able to see clearly all the gorgeous landscapes along the trip.

I found the tour to be too cumbersome. We visited few places, but the guide didn’t give us overall city perspective.

The positives: bus transportation and pre-paid access into shrines and temples. The negatives: It was initially described as a Fall excursion but it was more like a highlights tour. They did not address any of the autumn trees or traditions for that time of year. Because of the Fall season is so popular, all of the places were very crowded, leading to a near race at each site just to get there and back in time for the bus. It also lead to a more than one hour delayed return, which, to be fair, they said might happen, but an update as the day progressed would have been better than announcing it at the tail end of a long day. We had plans to get back to JR station by a certain time so we had to depart the bus early and catch our own cab ride back which cost nearly $40.

We missed the Hakone and Lake Ashi cruise and no refund

the tour guide was very informative and has akways full of energy to lead us to where will be leading. The Mt. Fuji and Mt. Hakone were so amazing and so the other places nearby...

This tour was incorporated into our two-night, three-day trip to Kanazawa. It started raining the night before, so I was a bit worried about the weather on the day of the tour, but by the time we departed, the rain had lightened up. Even at the destination, it only drizzled occasionally. The not-so-great weather actually made the atmosphere of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama's villages very impressive, allowing us to stroll through the villages slowly while feeling as if we had time-traveled back to the past.

The lunch was also very delicious, and experiencing hand-baked rice crackers was a first for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The tour guide provided clear explanations along the way, and I thought the interpreter for the foreign guests was excellent as well. They spoke in easy-to-understand English, and I was able to catch what they were saying. I even managed to study some English while on this trip! (laughs)

Going on this tour created wonderful memories for my husband and me during our trip to Kanazawa. Thank you for providing such a lovely tour.

今回のツアーは金沢の二泊三日の旅行の中日に組み入れました。
前日の夜から雨が降り出して当日の空模様が少し心配でしたが、出発の時には雨も小降りとなり、また現地でも時々小雨が降る程度で済みました。
そのあまり良いとは言えない空模様が、逆に白川郷や五箇山の集落の雰囲気をとても印象的なものにしてくれて、まるで昔にタイムスリップしたような不思議な感覚を味わいながら集落の中をゆっくりと散策することができました。
昼食もとても美味しかったし、手焼き煎餅の体験も初めてのことで、とても楽しむことができました。
添乗員の方が道中いろいろと説明してくれた内容もわかりやすく、また、外国からの方への通訳の方もとても良かったと思います。わかりやすい英語で自分でも聞き取ることができました。旅行に来て英語の勉強までできました。（笑）
このツアーに行ったことで自分たち夫婦にとって、とても素晴らしい思い出に残る金沢旅行となりました。素敵なツアーを提供していただきありがとうございました。

The tour was very well organized and worth every penny. The service was great and the places were incredible. To top it all, the Vegetarian Japanese meal was awesome. Thank you!!

Our tour was perfect. it was more fun because of Saturo San and the driver(sorry i forgot the name, but he even gave us a parting gift which he drew himself) treated us not as guests but as friends. they made sure that we are comfortable and they are very knowledgable about the tour and about Japan. Saturo San made sure that he answered all our questions before the tour ends. the only thing is the time in Gotemba outlet, I didn't have enough time for shopping. but it was still ok! will highly recommend this to my family and friends.

it's really convenient and more fun if you have a tour guide and a private van especially when you're travelling with kids.

:)

Norikosan, our guide made the day really memorable. She kept the day simple, on track and her local knowledge was invaluable.

The visit to the Tokyo skytree was easy - no waiting in line, Norikosan purchased the tickets and fast tracked our group.

Odaiba's giant robot - she knew that the best time to see this was in the evening and Norikosan made sure that we arrived just as the show was starting - made my day

Veltra have a great team on the ground in Japan.

Perfect - a day well spent, lots to see and taste.

Masazumisan was great guide, professional, punctual, patient and most of all very knowledgeable.

I cannot recommend Veltra and their local team in Japan highly.

Unfortunately, the weather was not great, but on October 30th, the scenery of the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road was more wonderful than I had expected. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Shirakawa-go and Gokayama freely. It was a tour with about 20 people, both Japanese and foreigners, but it felt very well-organized and considerate, not overwhelming at all. The guide and the interpreter were both excellent. If I have the chance, I would love to visit this course again.

あいにくの天気でしたが、
10月30日、白山白川郷ホワイトロードの景色は期待していた以上に素晴らしかったです。
白川郷も五箇山での自由散策も満喫出来ました。
日本人と外国人の20名前後のツアーでしたが、大人数を感じさせない気配りの行き届いたツアーでした。
ガイドさんと通訳の方の話がとても良かったです。
チャンスがあれば、また訪れたいコースです。

Joji was sooo funny!!! She was a great guide!! The trip was awesome too!! The driving around was a tad too long but it gave us time to nap and ended up giving us some energy for night activities.
Thanks heaps!!!

Sites visited were absolutely stunning. It is now a bucket list item to climb to the top of Mt. Fuji!! The tour guide was awesome and provided history, language and cultural lessons in a very clear and entertaining way. I cannot remember his name but our guide (bus 3 on 11/2/18) was outstanding.
The only complaint is that we were very rushed. We were only able to stay at Mt Fuji for about 30 minutes and ran through Owakandani. Understanding that it was peak fall traffic, perhaps the tour should start a few hours earlier?
Other than that aspect, we had a great time.

A day day trip out from Tokyo to try and see more of the country but be warned - the time on the coach is considerable. I knew of course there would be around 2hrs to Mt Fuji but there is then over an hour to lunch, another hour to the next site and so on. We were a little unlucky with the weather but the submit was visible at station 4 - a shame to then have to stop at station 5 with no visibility

Guide was very sweet and tried hard. It was a good day out if you have time but I would not rush to book this trip again.

The road to Shirakawa-go is best approached from the Kanazawa side. The driver mentioned that the road from the opposite side has terrible traffic, taking about two hours just to park. On the White Road, we were delighted to see some monkeys pop out along the way. The waterfall was impressive, and it felt refreshing surrounded by so much greenery. Foreign visitors were enjoying making rice crackers. The tour guide was very friendly and made the experience enjoyable. He also casually answered questions about sightseeing in Kanazawa and assured us that the local conveyor belt sushi is always a hit.

白川郷への道は金沢側から行くのが正解。反対側からの道は物凄い渋滞で駐車場に停めるまで 2時間はかかると運転手さんが言ってました。ホワイトロードで途中お猿さんがひょっこり出て来てくれました。滝も見応えがあり、緑いっぱいの中気持ちよかったです。外国人の方はお煎餅焼きを楽しんでました。添乗員のお兄さんはとてもアットホームな感じで楽しかったです。金沢観光や地元の回転寿司はハズレがないなど質問にも気軽に答えてくれました。

The driver and guide were kind, the conversation was interesting, and there was a nice nap time (laughs), making it a fun day. The lunch in Shirakawa-go was also delicious.

ドライバーさん、ガイドさんが親切、トークも面白く、適度にお昼寝タイムもあり（笑）楽しい一日でした。　白川郷のランチも美味しいかったです。

I’m living alone in Kanazawa for a work assignment, and since I don’t know how long I’ll be here, I have to visit the famous spots whenever I can. I went from the unknown Hakusan White Road to Shirakawa-go.

The weather forecast had been predicting clear skies all day for the past couple of days! I was really looking forward to it! My main goal was to take photos, so the weather was crucial. However, it started raining the night before, and during the tour, there were only brief moments of sunshine. I desperately pressed the shutter…

At the final destination, the Gokayama village, it was raining quite heavily, but just 15 minutes before we finished… suddenly, the sun peeked out and a rainbow appeared… All’s well that ends well! (=^x^=)

単身赴任で金沢ひとり住まい…いつまで居るかわからないから、名所には行ける時に行かねばと未知の白山ホワイトロードから白川郷へ
二日ほど前から天気予報は一日中晴れマーク‼️
これは期待出来る‼️最大の目的はカメラ撮影だから天気に左右される。しかし前日の夜から雨が降り出し、ツアー中はわずかの晴れ間のみ。必死のパッチでシャッターを切る…
最終目的地の五箇山集落ではかなり降っていたが残り15分となった時…突然晴れ間がのぞき虹が…終わり良ければ全て良し‼️(=^x^=)

Wonderful experience. Very pleasant and knowledgeable guide.
Our day was very pleasant. Would definitely recommend this tour to other friends.

Our experience on the Mt Fuji was the highlight on the weather and the snow experience that make my family enjoy the trip.
My daughter was enjoy the Hakone and Lake Ashi.

We enjoyed our full day tour. It gave us a feel for the city and met our expectations for a reasonably priced tour experience.

Lunch was quite good and there was plenty to eat. We got on the bus at 8am and the lunch stop was after 1pm, so I’d recommend taking snacks to keep you going.

The bus pulled-up in a couple of awkward places, making it difficult for some of passengers to get on and off at destinations.

Overall though, I’d recommend it.

I participated alone on October 21. I signed up two days prior, but it was no problem. The young guide was very friendly and had a soft way of speaking, which I appreciated, and the driver greeted us by saying he would drive safely, which made me feel at ease. I had always wanted to visit Shirakawa-go, and a sightseeing bus tour is a convenient option for solo travelers. I wish I had a bit more time in Shirakawa-go. As for Gokayama, personally, I could have done without it... The tour that goes around Takayama might have suited me better. The weather was nice, and the scenery on the White Road was beautiful, so I was satisfied. I hope to come back with my mother next time.

10/21に一人で参加しました。
2日前の申し込みでしたが、大丈夫でした。
若いお兄さんがガイドでしたが、話し方も柔らかく好感もてましたし、運転手さんが最初に安全運転で参りますと挨拶をしてくれて安心できました。
いつかは行ってみたかった白川郷、、一人旅には観光バスツアーはお手軽です。
白川郷ではもう少し時間が欲しかったです。五箇山は、個人的には無くても良かったかな、、？高山を回る方のツアーの方が自分には合っていたかもしれません。
天気も良くホワイトロードの景色も綺麗で満足です。次は母と来れたらいいなあ。

What a great tour - well organised, great variety of activities, professional staff

The autumn leaves have started in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. We were blessed with clear weather and enjoyed a relaxed tour of this World Heritage site. Three-quarters of the group were international visitors.

I wondered about the bus seating arrangement, as we were completely separated during lunch. It felt quite awkward, especially since communication was completely lacking. The charm of travel often lies in the interactions we have, right?

The lunch didn't come with a menu, and while it was likely local cuisine, I was disappointed that I couldn't tell what I was eating. If I, as a Japanese person, felt this way, I can only imagine how the international guests felt. It seemed a bit inconsiderate.

The interpretation on the bus was really just "interpretation," and it was somewhat abbreviated. I think it would be better if the guide studied more about the tour destinations before providing interpretation. There was also a trainee tour conductor, but it felt like they were just sightseeing together with us. Even when we crossed paths during our walk, they seemed too absorbed in the sightseeing.

The experience of making rice crackers was interesting, but there were no English signs for the international guests, and there was very little sample food left. It felt like they weren't really interested in introducing their shop or encouraging purchases.

If there were a bit more thoughtful consideration, I would want to use this service again. The weather and route were fine, which made it all the more disappointing.

紅葉がはじまった白川郷。五箇山。
快晴に恵まれ、落ち着いたツアーで世界遺産を満喫しました。
４分の３が海外の方々と一緒でした。
バスの座席。昼食の席が完全に分かれていました。
バスの座席はいいのかな？と思いましたが、昼食の時はさすがに違和感がありました。
完全にコミュニケーションが取れない感じで。
旅行の魅力って、コミュニケーションだったりしますよね。

昼食もお品書きがなく、その土地のお料理なんでしょうが、何を食べているのかがわからず、残念に思いました。
日本人の私が思うのですから海外の人たちはもっと思ったのでは？
ちょっと不親切。

バスの中での通訳もほんとに「通訳」しかも少し端折っての通訳。
もっとツアー先の事を勉強してから通訳ガイドされたほうがよいのでは？
研修中の添乗員（？）の方もいらっしゃったのですが、一緒に観光のようでした。
散策中に顔を合わせても。観光に夢中のようで。

おせんべいの体験も面白かったのですが、海外の方々が寄るのに、英語の表示がなく、また試食も残りわずか。
本当にお店を紹介したいのか？購入してもらいたいのか？っていう感じでした。

もう少し細やかな気遣いがあれば、何度も利用したいと思いますが。

お天気とルートは問題なかっただけに。

On October 23, my spouse and I participated in a one-day tour from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The weather was nice, and the autumn leaves along the Hakusan White Road were very beautiful. I have great respect for the locals who take care of the houses in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.

The tour itself was very good.

However, there were a few disappointing points that need improvement: this time, there was a high percentage of European foreigners, with only four Japanese participants, which was quite few. The Japanese guide's explanations in Japanese were easy to understand, but I am worried that the subsequent English translation by the Indian guide did not match the Japanese explanations and was sometimes omitted, which may have left the foreign participants unsatisfied. It was very disappointing that there was no guide who could accurately explain the detailed information provided by the Japanese guide in English, considering historical context and customs, in a way that was easy for foreigners to understand. I hope that the Japanese trainee guide who was able to speak English will develop further.

10月23日に金沢発白川郷・五箇山１日ツアーに夫婦で参加した。天候もよく白山ホワイトロードの紅葉はとてもきれいでした。また、白川郷・五箇山集落の家々を大事に使用している現地の方々には頭が下がる思いである。
ツアー自体はとてもよかった。
少し残念で改善が必要なポイント：今回は欧州系外国人の割合が多く、日本人は４名と少なかった。日本人ガイドの日本語説明は分かりやすかったが、続くインド人？ガイドの英訳が日本語説明と合っていなかったり、省略されたりで外国人参加者が満足できたのか心配である。日本語ガイドの細かな説明を正確にかつ歴史・時代背景・風習など考慮して外国人にも分かりやすく英語で説明できるガイドがいなかったことがとても残念である。当日参加の英語のできる日本人研修生ガイドが育ってくれればと期待する。

It was a fantastic day except for the lack of WiFi in the bus

We did the all day tour. Our guide in the morning was wonderful great English and did a good job of keeping group together and on time. The afternoon tour was very unorganized and rushed. Tour guide English was average talked muffled into microphone and did not keep the group together would walk a few steps stop and wait for everyone very disappointing! Also return service to hotel is long and exhausting!

We had a fabulous tour of Tokyo with Tom as our guide! He was so kind, informative, and interesting. He picked us up at the cruise port right on time and showed us as many highlights of Tokyo as we had time for, and we loved them all. We saw a really nice variety of Buddhist temple, Shinto shrine, Imperial palace as well as more modern shopping and government districts. We had a great driver too who dropped us off close to whereever we were going. Tom was flexible about our needs. We requested one of the department store food halls for lunch, and he took us to a great one and found a nice rooftop area for us to eat at. It was so fun to have Tom guide us through the hall and explain the food to us. After the trip, Tom sent us all pictures and a journal of the day—so thoughtful! We loved Tokyo and Tom and can’t wait to return and schedule more tours with him!

I will rate it 5 stars/outstanding if the weather in mt fuji were good but it was foggy/cloudy that day. Thanks to our tour guide mr.yoshi of japan gray line, he tried his best making our tour enjoyable though the weather was not favorable for us to see mt fuji. We enjoyed the tour. Highly recommended.

Great tour. I love the lake cruise esp the pirate ship and the gondola. It was an amazing experience. The tour guide spring was very nice and entertaining, she is very funny and helpful.

Overall, tour was excellent. Had a unique experience and i enjoyed it even though i'm solo traveller.