All Reviews for Japan Autumn Tours 2024

I participated with eight colleagues who came from overseas. Although I usually work in Tokyo, seeing the city from an open-top bus offered a fresh perspective. We were able to enjoy the Tokyo Tower's light-up right beneath it, and I was moved, thinking, "It was this beautiful!"

We traveled from the Shuto Expressway through the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba. Experiencing the Shuto Expressway and Rainbow Bridge while feeling the wind was a valuable experience. During the one hour of free time, we took photos with the Statue of Liberty and the Rainbow Bridge, enjoyed ice cream, and took a group photo, though we felt a bit rushed for time.

I recommend this experience not only to tourists but also to those working in Tokyo.

海外から来ていた同僚と一緒に8人で参加しました。普段から東京で働いていますが、オープントップバスから見る東京の街は、目線が違うこともあり新鮮。ちょうど東京タワーのライトアップが始まる時間に真下で鑑賞。『こんなにキレイだったんだ！』と感動しました。

首都高からレインボーブリッジを通ってお台場へ。風を感じながらの首都高＆レインボーブリッジも貴重な体験です。フリータイムの1時間は、自由の女神像とレインボーブリッジの写真を撮ったり、アイスを食べたり、全員でプルクラを撮ったりと、少し時間が足りなかったくらいでした。

観光客の人たちはもちろん、東京で働いている人にもオススメします。

We participated in this tour blessed with the best weather. Thanks to the advance reservation, the check-in was very smooth, which was a great help. While waiting at the bus stop, a bright red body arrived! My child was extremely excited. Although we are familiar with the streets of Tokyo, the guide provided a thorough explanation, making it very enjoyable. And above all, the open deck made the breeze feel wonderful! This alone made it worth participating. We quickly toured famous spots like Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge in just 50 minutes. In the end, there was spontaneous applause from the participants. It was a wonderful tour.

最高の天気に恵まれた中、参加してみました。
事前予約のかいもあり、受付は大変スムーズでした。とても助かります。
バス停で待っていると、真っ赤に輝くボディーが到着！我が子は大興奮です。
見慣れた東京の街並みですが、ガイドさんが丁寧に案内頂けるので、とても楽しめます。
そして、なんといってもオープンデッキのため、風がとても気持ちいい！これだけでも参加した価値があります。東京タワー、レインボーブリッジっと名所をぐるりと周りあっという間の50分。
最後は参加から自然と拍手喝采。素敵なツアーでした。

On the morning of our tour, our guide, Taiji was waiting when we exited our hotel lobby. After introductions, Taiji familiarized himself with folding my wife’s wheelchair. Once we were in our seats, we explained that we would prefer not to participate in the hot springs bathing. Taiji accepted this and said we should still see the lakes and towns along the way to Mount Fuji as they are quite remarkable.

Taiji took us to the World Heritage Site Visitor Center where we watched an informative video about Mount Fuji. It was there that my wife noticed photography by Rocky Tanaka. We later learned Taiji and he are friends. At the end of our tour Taiji arranged for us to meet with Mr. Tanaka so we could view his gallery and purchase a piece of his art.

From the Visitor Center, we traveled on to see lakes and ponds which have formed by snow melt from Mount Fuji. Some of the villages along the way also exist only because Mount Fuji is towering in the distance. Mount Fuji is a Religious symbol to the Japanese.
We saw and ate white strawberries for the first time. We saw a traditional Japanese home with a thatch roof that will last for 100+ years. We saw bonsai trees and gardens and shops and fish ponds with giant fish and markets. We ate a traditional Japanese meal in an authentic Japanese restaurant where no one spoke English except for us. The food was DELICIOUS and the portions were HUGE! Then we continued on to the Fifth Station.

Taiji is an exceptional tour guide: He was a very safe and capable driver. Even in the high traffic areas of Tokyo’s interstate, we felt we were in safe hands. His English is impeccable and he is extremely articulate. His manners are first rate and he was professional, observant and intuitive. He has a seemingly unending knowledge of Japanese history and culture.

Since it was just before Golden Week, there were only 10 participants, which made for a comfortable experience with plenty of space on the bus. Six out of the ten participants were foreigners, and it was enjoyable to chat during the meal. Shirakawa-go was in full bloom with cherry blossoms, and we were able to see the beautiful scenery of the gassho-zukuri houses, the cherry blossoms, and the snowy mountains in the background. The guide was also very kind, which was great. I planned this trip as a birthday present for my mother, and she was very happy, so I'm glad we went. Thank you very much.

GW前だったため、参加者が10名と少人数で、バスも広く使えて快適でした。10人中6人が外国人参加者でお食事中にお話も出来て楽しかったです。
白川郷はちょうど桜が満開で、合掌造りの家と桜と背後の雪山の素敵な景色を見ることが出来ました。ガイドさんも親切な方で良かったです。母親の誕生日プレゼントに計画した旅行でしたが、母が大変喜んでくれて、行ってよかったです。ありがとうございました。

It was great one-day tour. Highly recommended.

Hope to spend more time in Hakone.

A great day spent with our guide. He was very well informed and friendly. We saw so much in our short time from shrines, temples, the Palace and we were even lucky enough to see part of an traditional wedding. Lunch was something we'd not experienced before but was very delicious. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time next time.

Shoji was a super host and guide. Made our day trip through Kyoto most enjoyable. His time management was effective and led us through with enough time to make trip back to Tokyo. Lexus car was very clean and comfortable for 3 people

I was guided by Natsuko, who can provide tours in English, along with my German friend to places like Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama. Her thoughtfulness, language skills, and knowledge of history were all wonderful, and my friend from overseas was very pleased. Her explanations at each temple and shrine were profound, and I believe she has studied very well. I would definitely like to explore Kyoto again with Natsuko as my guide. Thank you very much!

ドイツ人の友人と共に二条城、金閣寺、嵐山などを英語ガイドが出来る夏子さんに案内して頂きました。彼女の細やかな思いやりも語学力も歴史の知識も全てが素晴らしく、海外からの友人もとても喜んでおられました。それぞれの寺社での彼女の説明は奥深く、とてもよく勉強されていると思います。また京都観光をするときにはまた夏子さんのガイド付きで是非回ってみたいです。本当にありがとうございした。

The Grand Tour of Tokyo Highlights gives you insight into the historical background of what Tokyo is, the shoguns and the emperors and the cultural achievements of that period, as well as an understanding of what Tokyo is today, a 36 million capital, surprisingly well functioning and hugely impressive.

We were accommodated even if reservation was only one day before the activity. We were fetched on time and arrived to our destination as expected. Lunch was good. It was very organized. The tour guide spoke English well and explained everything very well. No time was wasted. Yes, we enjoyed the one day trip and will probably recommend it to friends.

I have always wanted to see Mt. Fuji and this day tour did not disappoint on the visit. I enjoyed seeing the countryside and also the very impressive Bullet Train on the ride back to Tokyo.
I would skip at all costs the included lunch. It had been sitting out all prepared for some time when we arrived at the restaurant. The fried food was cold and the other parts of the meal were tasteless. It was not worth the money. My advice is pack a sack lunch and eat it outside where the view is pretty. Also, the cruise on Lake Ashi was fair. There were too many people crowding the railing of the boat and it was difficult to see the scenery if you are under 5 foot 5 inches! There were no available seats. This was a very long day trip and it would not be suitable for young children as they would be tired and bored. I am glad i saw Mt. Fuji and experienced the Bullet Train. I could have passed on the lunch and the cruise. My two companions were of the same opinion. One last comment, I felt rushed on this trip as we just made the last cable car ride and there was also a good deal of commotion getting everyone settled at the station where we caught the Bullet Train.

I gained a better understanding of place names that I only knew as knowledge through the guide's explanations. It was great to increase my knowledge about places I usually encounter casually, like the Imperial Palace and the National Diet Building. The time was a bit short.

知識として知っているだけの地名などがガイドさんの説明でよくわかった。普段何気なく接している皇居、国会議事堂などに関する知識が増えてよかった。時間は短め。

It was an amazing power spot. It's moving to see how the wisdom of the past is utilized, with the villagers helping each other, and to be able to see the gassho-zukuri houses in their original state even today. Thank you.

凄いパワースポットでした。こんな風に昔の人の知恵を生かして村の人々が助け合い、今でもそのままの状態で観れる合掌ずくりの家は感動します。ありがとう。

A nice overview of Tokyo with a chance to see major attractions in One day.
Our Tour Guide Taiji Endo was professional, friendly and informative. He gave us a lot of background and history of the sites we visited.
Highly recommend this tour.

We were very lucky because we actually got to see the mountain. Best viewing is in the winter because there is no fog. We had a stroke of luck (in April) and got to see the mountain from the bus. By lunch time the entire mountain was obscured by fog. This is normal, be prepared not to see it. We got to the 4th station (5th was closed due to dangerous weather). The only opportunity to see it is from the bus. The lunch was lovely and tasty and a good sized portion. If people on your tour are late you might miss out on some things because everything is timed to the minute. Be on time. Lake Ashi was pretty. The cable car ride was neat too. You're supposed to have a great view at the peak but as I said the fog obscured everything. It was still cool to go up, there's shrine at the peak and the view if nearby nature and the lake is great. You couldn't see Fuji. Our guide was incredible and offered a lot of information about the Japanese culture, the people and customs. It was a nice tour. We would have had a hard time seeing what we did in our own. It's not very accessible without a rental car.

After much deliberation on whether to rent a car or book a pass individually, I decided to join an optional tour based on the recommendation of a friend who lives locally. This was a great decision. I was able to enjoy sightseeing at a relaxed pace without worrying about parking or the bus schedule for the return trip. The guide spoke both Japanese and English, and it seemed like the foreign guests were having a great time as well. This is a tour I can recommend to both foreigners and Japanese people.

レンタカーで行くか、個人でパスを予約して行くかを散々迷い、地元に住んでいた友人のすすめでオプショナルツアーに参加することに。
これが大正解。パーキングや帰りのバスの時間などを気にせずにゆったりとしたスケジュールで観光できました。ガイドさんは日本語と英語とどちらも話せて、外国人の方々も楽しんでいるようでした。
外国人にも日本人にもおすすめできるツアーです。

The tour was as described - simple pickup process, English speaking guide, we were lucky enough to get a good clear view of Mt Fuji - plenty of time at each location (some more than adequate) - would recommend

Our customized tour with Fuji-san was amazing, as we had only one full day in Kyoto I was worried we wouldn't get to see everything. Not only did we do everything we had on our list, but he took special interest in showing us things for our young children (ages 3 and almost 6) that we hadn't considered doing, such as the Toei Movie studios lot. My son LOVES Power Rangers, it was the highlight of his trip, and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the female heroine of the samurai show. He suggested a better order of doing things, so that we could see certain sights before they became too crowded. When we admired the view of Kyoto from the mountainside, he took us to a nearby temple with panoramic views of the city. He knew great spots for taking the best photos, and where to eat. He was kind and patient with our rambunctious children, and explained the history and meaning behind EVERYTHING, from the statues to the temple bells. In addition, the van we rented was spacious, comfortable, and impeccably clean. I would definitely book with VELTRA again, and would give Fuji-san the highest rating possible for his knowledge, patience, sweet demeanor and excellent English. Thank you Fuji-san for an unforgettable day!

We did not find Fuji but instead Taiji our guide who has helped to turn bad weather into an interesting trip. We visited the Kimono museum, traditional Japanese noodles house with fresh organic ingredient from the farm (and Horse Sushi I know!) and end the trip with shopping spree in Gotemba before being dropped off at the hotel. Special thanks for extra Japanese vocab and help with contact in Kyoto.

Our group consisted four adults including two 6'3 250 lb guys. Our driver, Fuji, was an absolute pleasure; well spoken, well prepared, insightful and courteous. We were picked up in a Toyota Century - a $100,000 luxury sedan. As a car enthusiast this was a delight as it's something we don't get stateside and the only V12 made by Toyota (outside of Formula 1!). We were very comfortable in the car. I had written up a plan of sites to see, Fuji commented on each location and we pared it down to 6 chosen locations.

What we saw in our 6 hour tour was easily 2 days worth of content. We started the day at Kennin-ji to see the dragon and walk the grounds, then headed towards Arashiyama via Uzumasa (Fuji recommended). In Arashiyama we saw the Tenryu-ji temple then walked along the Bamboo Forest road, we split for the monkeys and an owl cafe. Then took in the Katsura River and the general beautiful scenery with some shopping and headed for Kinkaku-Ji by way of Ninna-ji. Then we went to Fuji's secret overview spot with a glass tea house. From there we walked the 1001 Buddha statues in Sanjusangendo where Fuji gave history lessons on the deities, the religious text/background and archery competition famous to the area. Finally we were dropped off in Gion to walk Shirakawa-Minami Dori and observe the geisha and folks in costume with the beautiful scenery.

Fuji's insightful comments to each site were well appreciated, his VIP treatment with drop off/pick up was a boon for our more handicap party members and the ability to adjust the tour (bathroom, food, etc.) was well worth the extra expense over a comparable tour bus. His suggested locations and activities gave us a behind the scenes look in Kyoto as well as the typical iconography in the area. We will happily use this service again in our next trip.

For a group of 3 or more individuals this type of tour makes good financial sense and the convenience over a tour bus or larger grouped setting is invaluable.

We spent 4 days in Tokyo and this tour helped us to have an idea of what to visit afterwards in detail. Highly recommended with very good guides too.

After visiting Shirakawa-go, I went to Gokayama, and by that time, I was getting a bit bored. I wish there had been a half-day tour just for Shirakawa-go.

I had plenty of free time in Shirakawa-go, so it was nice to relax in the hot springs and wander around. There wasn't much to see in Gokayama, and I got bored quickly. I usually don't have high expectations for lunch on tours, but the lunch in Shirakawa-go was better than I imagined! I definitely want to eat it again.

白川郷行ったあとに五箇山行き、その頃には飽きてきちゃってました。白川郷だけの半日ツアーがあるとよかったな。

白川郷での自由時間がたくさんあったので温泉入ったりプラプラできてよかったです。五箇山は見るとこがなくすぐ飽きてしまった。ツアーのお昼ご飯ってあまり期待してないのですが、白川郷でのお昼ご飯は想像以上によかった！ぜひまた食べたい。

It is better than Ad described. The lunch is very good at an advanced hotel. Prices of Skyline Gondola and Pirate Boat Cruise are included in the package, which were unexpected. It is worth trying.

I wanted to visit Shirakawa-go during my trip to Kanazawa, so I joined this tour. (I was looking for a tour that starts and ends at Kanazawa Station.)

After making the reservation, I was anxious because it remained in a provisional booking state due to not reaching the minimum number of participants. Even after checking the Q&A, it only stated, "We will contact you by the day before," and there was no phone contact available, so I decided to just wait. A week before the tour, I finally received a message confirming my participation, but since it affects my plans at the travel destination, I wish they could have confirmed it earlier.

The tour itself was very good. It was a clear day, and the scenery in Shirakawa-go was beautiful. It's a place you can only reach by car, and I was worried about the snowy roads, but it was very convenient to go on a bus tour like this. I also enjoyed the experience of making rice crackers on the way back.

I'm glad I participated in this tour.

金沢旅行の際に、白川郷にも訪れたいと思いこのツアーに参加しました。
(金沢駅集合・金沢駅解散を探していました)

予約手続後、最少催行人数未達との理由でずっと仮予約状態となり、いつ予約完了となるのか不安でした。
Q&Aを見ても、「前日までを目処に連絡します」しか書いておらず、電話の連絡先もなかったので、とりあえず待つことにしました。
１週間前になり、漸く連絡が来て参加決定となったのですが、旅行先での予定にも関わってくるので、もっと早く確定していただけたらと思います。

ツアー自体はとても良かったです。
その日は快晴で、白川郷での景色もとても綺麗でした。
車でないと行けないし雪道は不安ですが、このようなバスツアーで行かれて大変便利でした。
帰りにお煎餅焼き体験ができたのも楽しかったです。

このツアーに参加して良かったです。

It was my first time in Shirakawa-go, and I had a great time with the perfectly timed schedule! The lunch featured plenty of local cuisine, allowing me to enjoy a variety of Shirakawa-go's food in just one meal. Although it wasn't part of the plan, I opted to visit Takayama, and it turned out to be an incredibly satisfying trip that exceeded my expectations. There were many foreign guests, and the explanations in both English and Japanese were thorough, allowing me to converse with other foreign tourists as well.

I hope to have the opportunity again!

初めての白川郷でしたが、ちょうど良い時間設定で大変楽しむことができました！
昼食も郷土料理をふんだんに使ったもので一食で白川郷の食べ物をたくさん食べることができました。
予定にはありませんでしたが、オプションで飛騨高山の方まで行きましたが、こちらも期待を大きく超える大満足の旅となりました。
外国人のお客様も多く、英語と日本語の解説が丁寧で外国人観光客の方ともお話しすることできました。

是非また機会がありましたらよろしくおねがいします！

I spontaneously traveled to Kanazawa and signed up for this tour on the Shinkansen. Personally, I think it would be quite hard to visit both Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go in just one night and two days, but thanks to the tour, I was able to enjoy a comfortable experience and make effective use of my time, which made me very satisfied. It was great to stroll through the snow-covered Shirakawa-go, and the free time was relatively long as well. I was able to catch a glimpse of the lives of people in the heavy snowfall area, making it a meaningful day.

思いつきで旅した金沢、行きの新幹線車内でこちらのツアーに申し込みました
個人的に足を延ばすとなると、1泊２日で金沢と白川郷はかなりハードだと思いますが、ツアーのおかげで快適に、時間も有効に使えて大満足です
雪深い白川郷を散策したり、自由時間もわりと長くて良かったです
豪雪地帯の人の暮らしを垣間見ることができて有意義な１日となりました

During my 2-night, 3-day trip to Ishikawa Prefecture, I participated in this tour because I could only book a late flight on the third day. The area was very beautiful with fresh white snow from the day before. One of the great points of this tour was that we could start early in the morning and visit places before other tourists, and there was also a reasonable amount of free time. However, personally, I felt that it would have been enough to visit either Shirakawa-go or Gokayama, as I got a bit bored when we arrived in Gokayama.

石川県に２泊３日で旅行した際、３日目の飛行機が遅い便しか取れなかったため、ちょうど時間的に良いこちらのツアーに参加しました。前日に雪が降ったため、現地は新しい白い雪でとても綺麗でした。朝早く出発するため他の観光客の方たちより先に回れること、程よいくらいの自由時間もあることがこのツアーの良かった点です。ただ個人的には白川郷、五箇山どちらか一方だけで良かったなと感じました。五箇山に来た時には少し飽きてしまいました。

Thank you for the guide who was very kind and communicated in English! The food was delicious, and I appreciate the enjoyable time!

英語通じてて、ガイドさんすごく優しくて対応してくれててありがとうございます！
食事もおいしかったです、楽しい時間ありがとうございますー！

The guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The private tour gave us a lot of flexibility to decide on the tour in the 2 days and we had a lot of fun. I was really impressed with Kyoto and the culture as well as Japanese overall simply because the guide was such a great person who is kind, helpful and polite.

This time, I requested a guide to show my American female relative around. The driver's stories were very interesting, and even as a Japanese person, I found myself captivated by them (laughs). On the day, you can discuss the destinations and dining options, but I think it's more efficient for those who apply to have a plan prepared in advance. The course was Kinkaku-ji → Arashiyama and Togetsukyo (photo opportunities only) → Tenryu-ji and the garden → Bamboo Grove → Lunch (Tenkaippin) → Nishiki Market → Kiyomizu-dera → JR Kyoto Station. I think this is a great service for entertaining foreigners. I would like to use this service again next time. Thank you very much!

今回、親戚のアメリカ人女性を案内するためにお願いしました。
多岐にわたるドライバーさんのお話はとても面白く、日本人の自分も一緒になって聞き入ってしまいました(笑)
当日に行先や食事場所は相談できますが、やはり申込される方が予め計画しておいた方がより効率は良くなると思います。金閣寺→嵐山・渡月橋(写真撮影のみ)→天龍寺・庭園～竹林→昼食(天下一品)→錦市場→清水寺→JR京都駅というコースでした。外国人をおもてなしするのに、とても良いサービスだと思います。次回もお世話になりたいと思います。ありがとうございました！