All Reviews for Japan Autumn Tours 2024

travelled in july....weather was cloudy and could not visualise mt fuji clearly....tour is well organised....which includes 5th station , komitake ropeway and beautiful lake ashi cruise in hakone which is a beautiful place...will advise to book for two days tour which would be even more ..enjoying in that serene atmosphere...

Thank you Veltra for this enjoyable and great tour! It was a gift for my friend for her birthday and it was definitely the highlight of our trip in Tokyo.

The bus was on time to pick up us up from the hotel. The tour started smoothly all the way to the end. Guide was funny and shared about some Japanese cultures. She also had some jokes that are really funny. It was a perfect day when we were on the 5th station. Sky was blue and you can see the top of the Mt Fuji clearly. It was beautiful.
Lunch at the hotel was pretty good. And yeah we love the pirate boat cruise. Unfortunately, the sky gondola was not available because of the strong winds. We went to the temple instead which was pretty good as well.

Since I live in Tokyo, I hadn't taken the Sky Bus Tokyo before. I thought it might be a bit embarrassing to run into friends while riding, especially since it passes by my alma mater. However, this time I decided to take the plunge and try it out! It was my first attempt. The bus looks cute, and you can enjoy a sense of openness and height to view Tokyo in a way you normally can't!

Once I got on, I was surprised. The staff were very friendly, and they provided detailed explanations. I felt embarrassed for not knowing much despite being a local. They shared various trivia, like how the traffic lights are about the size of a volleyball. Places I usually see looked completely different from up there, and it was thrilling and exciting. I want to ride again on a different course next time! I also want to try the one for foreign tourists! I really, really recommend it! (For those living in Tokyo, definitely give it a try too!)

都内に住んでいるため、乗らなかったスカイバス東京。母校の前も通るし、乗っている時に友達に会ったらなんか恥ずかしいかなとか思ってたんです。。ですが、今回思い切って乗りました！！初挑戦。だって見た目がかわいいし、普段は経験できない開放感や高さから東京を眺められますからね！　乗ってみて、驚きました。スタッフのみなさん感じがいいし、説明もすごく詳しくしてくださるんです。江戸っ子のくせになんも知らなかった自分が恥ずかしくなりました。信号の大きさがバレーボールの玉ぐらいとかいろんなトリビアもたくさん紹介してくださいました。いつもみているはずの場所がぜんぜん違う街に見えて、どきどきわくわくしました。今度は違うコースでまた乗りたいです！！外国人旅行客用のも挑戦してみたいです！本当に本当におすすめです！（東京に住んでる人もぜひ！！）

The day I participated, it was quite windy, and there was a chance of rain, but I was relieved that it stayed cloudy during the ride. I imagined that if it rained, it would be like a regular bus, but there was an announcement saying, "We will lend you raincoats in case of rain," which made me realize that the charm of the open-top bus wouldn't be diminished even in the rain.

Once on the bus, my viewpoint was incredibly high, almost as if I could reach the traffic lights and street trees. It’s a very noticeable bus, so I felt a bit embarrassed before getting on, but in reality, since my perspective was different from the people walking on the street, I didn't mind at all. Near the National Diet Building, the bus guides leading school trips and shopkeepers along the road waved at us, which was heartwarming.

I often visit Omotesando and Shibuya, but the view from the top of the bus was completely different. Additionally, the guide provided detailed explanations, so I found myself saying "Wow, I didn't know that!" many times during the ride, and I was never bored! It seems there are courses that go to places like the Rainbow Bridge, so I would like to participate again next time with a different destination and time.

自分が参加した日は風が強く、雨の心配もあったのですが、乗車中はどうにか曇りのままでホッとしました。もし雨が降ったら、普通のバスみたいになるのかな？と想像していましたが、「雨が降った場合はレインコートを貸し出します」というアナウンスがあり、雨の場合もオープントップの魅力は損なわれないんだな～と感心しました。
バスに乗ると、目線がものすごく高くなり、信号機や街路樹に手が届きそうなくらいです。目立つバスなので、乗る前は少し恥ずかしいと思っていましたが、実際は街を歩く人たちと目線が違うので全く気になりませんでした。国会議事堂の近くで修学旅行生を引率しているバスガイドさんたちや、道路沿いのショップの方が手を振ったりしてくれて、そんなところにもほっこりしました。
表参道や渋谷はよく行く場所ではありますが、バスの上からでは全く景色が違います。加えて、ガイドさんが詳しい解説をしてくれるので、乗っている間「へぇ～そうなんだ～」と思うことが多く全く飽きませんでした！レインボーブリッジなどに行くコースもあるようなので、今度はまた行き先や時間を変えて参加してみたいと思います。

There are so many temples in Kyoto but this tour took us to the 3 temples I wanted to see and the guide also pointed out all the temples along the way from the bus. It was just enough stops to maintain my 13 year old daughter's interest without getting bored. Audio headset for English and other languages were only used in the bus so we couldn't understand the guide's explanation at all the stops, which was disappointing to us and the rest of the non-Japanese speaking people on our tour. The time spent at each stop was perfect with enough time to quickly browse through the shops and try popular snacks sold near the temples. We received small omiyage or souvenirs from each temple which was a nice surprise! Although it's a ways down a lot of steps, you should take the time to drink the water flowing down 3 channels to a fountain at Kiyomizudera. They say it has wish granting powers for love, academic success and longevity. This was a great tour but would've been perfect if it was in English!

Since I had roughly communicated the schedule in advance, everything went very smoothly. I had heard that it might be crowded due to the season of school trips, but on the day itself, we were able to move according to plan more than I expected. As a result, the later part of the schedule was very well-timed, allowing us to spend our time meaningfully. Additionally, the detailed guidance on the history and culture of each landmark, which is not found in textbooks, was provided in English, and the guests were extremely satisfied. The explanations in English were well-structured and expressive, which made the guests feel that they were in the hands of a professional. Thank you very much for your help.

事前にざっくりとスケジュールをお伝えしていたので、とても予定はスムーズでした。修学旅行生の多い時期のため混み具合が読めないと伺いましたが、当日は思ったより計画通りに移動が出来たため、後半のスケジュールは的確な時間を読めた提案いただいたきとても有意義に時間いっぱい過ごせました。また、英語での各名所の歴史や文化を教科書には載っていない詳細を丁寧にゲストにガイドしていただき、ゲストの満足度は大変高かったです。英語での説明は、うまくまとめたストーリーと表現力にゲストは納得していたのでプロフェッショナルを感じました。本当にお世話になりました。ありがとうございました。

I finally rode the bright red double-decker bus that I've been curious about while walking around Ginza!

It's Japan's first open-top double-decker bus, the Sky Bus, on the Omotesando and Shibuya route.

I got to see the scenery that I usually pass by on foot or while riding the train from the height of the expressway and pedestrian bridges.

Fortunately, it was a sunny day, and I enjoyed the refreshing breeze while sightseeing from the bus, feeling like a foreign tourist.

Starting from Marunouchi, we passed by the red brick Tokyo Station, the Imperial Theatre, and around the Imperial Palace. We also saw the National Diet Building, the State Guest House, Gakushuin Primary School, and the Akasaka Palace, which I visited on a school trip.

We went by Sakurada Gate, Jingu Gaien, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Toyokawa Inari, and Hie Shrine, which is the only shrine in Japan with an escalator. The reason why the windows of the Honda headquarters building are recessed is also interesting.

From the most famous scramble crossing in Japan to 109, Omotesando Hills, AO, the United Nations University, and the closed Children's Castle... even places I usually pass by revealed different discoveries when viewed from the Sky Bus.

普段、銀座界隈を歩いていて気になっていた真っ赤な二階建てバス。
初めて乗って来ました！

日本初のオープン二階建てバス、スカイバスで表参道・渋谷コース。

いつもは歩いて通るか電車に乗って眺めている景色を、首都高や歩道橋スレスレの高さから観てきました。

運良く晴れて爽やかな風を受けながらの車上観光で、外国人観光客気分。

丸の内から出発して、赤煉瓦の東京駅、帝国劇場前を通り皇居周辺。
社会科見学で行った国会議事堂、迎賓館に学習院初等科と赤坂御所。

桜田門や神宮外苑、警視庁、首相官邸に豊川稲荷、日本で唯一エスカレーターが敷設されている日枝神社。
ホンダ本社ビルの窓ガラスが奥まっている理由も面白い。

日本一有名なスクランブル交差点に109、表参道ヒルズやAO、国連大学に閉館したこどもの城…普段通るところも、スカイバスから観ると、また違った発見があるのでした(^ー^*)

We were picked up at our hotel by our guide, Hashi and driven to where we boarded our bus for the day. Our first view of Mt Fuji was from the bus, and it was magical, with rivers of snow cascading from the the peak. We were driven to the 5th station, however, by the time we arrived, the peak was obstructed by cloud. From here we proceeded to a lovely hotel where we had a rather strange lunch, cold french fries, hot chicken and lovely crumbed prawn with a very watery miso soup. Following this we were taken to a gondola ride to a thermal region behind Lake Ashi, where the bus met us and took us to Lake Ashi for a cruise in a beautifully designed and decorated replica of a French Galleon. Hashi then explained how we would catch the Bullet Train back to Tokyo, and we were driven to the railway station. Several trains sped through the station whilst we were waiting, which was an experience. Our train ride to Tokyo was very comfortable and an experience not to be missed. We thoroughly enjoyed our day, and would recommend it to anyone traveling to Tokyo.

It was his birthday, so even though I live in Tokyo, I participated to experience an atmosphere I usually can't! It was even more fun than I expected, and I truly enjoyed the views of Tokyo that I don't usually see. The night view of Odaiba was especially romantic! I definitely want to participate again! It was a lot of fun!!!

彼の誕生日だったので東京在住ですが、普段味わえない雰囲気を！とゆうことで参加しました(^^)
思った以上に楽しくていつも見られない東京の景色が堪能できて本当によかったです(^^)特に夜のお台場はロマンチックでした！！これはまた参加したい！楽しかったです(^^)！！！

Thank you Veltra, we had a wonderful day and enjoyed the tour.
The tour was very well paced, not fast and hurried, we arrived at the 5th Station well in formed.

The visit to the Hakone "black eggs" and Sulper Leak was interesting along with the lake cruise, after such a long day the Bullet Train return is a must, back to you hotel as soon as possible.

A wonderful experience, certainly recommended.

The Omotesando and Shibuya course is more about seeing the people who live in present-day Tokyo than visiting famous landmarks and historical sites.

The starting point in front of the Mitsubishi Building is in Marunouchi, Tokyo's office district, where you can see people going about their work. The bus departs while heading towards Kasumigaseki, passing by Tokyo Station. Kasumigaseki is Japan's government district, where you can see the National Diet Building and various ministry buildings. Next to it is the Imperial Palace. As we head towards Omotesando, we can see the moat of the Imperial Palace. Omotesando and Aoyama are where Tokyo's fashionable people gather. By this time, the people passing by have changed from suits to stylish, trendy clothes. Since it's a bus without a ceiling, you can also smell delicious food in the air.

We pass through the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, where you can see Tokyoites skillfully navigating the streets. This is the turnaround point, and we head back to Tokyo Station. The rows of trees near the State Guest House and glimpses of Tokyo Tower between the buildings excite us passengers. The bus passes by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism building and returns to Marunouchi.

The small trip of about an hour and a half of Tokyo people-watching comes to an end.

表参道、渋谷コースは東京の名所、旧跡を訪ねと言うより、今の東京の住んでいる人々を見るコース。
出発点の三菱ビル前は東京のオフィス街、丸の内。働く人々が行きかうところが見る事が出来ます。バスは東京駅横に見ながら霞が関の方向に向かい出発していきます。霞が関は日本の官庁街、国会議事堂、各省庁の建物を見て進んで行きます。その横は皇居。皇居のお堀を見ながら、表参道方向へ。東京のおしゃれな人たちが集まる表参道、青山と進んで行きます。この頃になると通行する人達はスーツ姿からおしゃれな流行の洋服に変って行きます。天井のないバスなので、この当たりは美味しそうな匂いもしてきます。そして渋谷のスクランブル交差点を通り、東京の人が器用に右往左往に道路を渡る姿を目にする事が出来ます。ここから折り返し地点。また、東京駅へと戻ってきます。迎賓館の並木、ビルの隙間隙間から見る東京タワーが乗客の私たちをわくわくさせてくれます。バスは国交省のビルを横目に見て、丸の内に戻ってきます。
約1時間半の東京人ウオッチングの小旅行の旅が終わります。

This was a good tour. Although we didn't get to view Mt Fuji due to the weather it was still good to go. It's a long day and would suggest taking the bullet train back. Our guide Hashi was knowledgable and helpful. In our opinion we spent too much time at the thermals and the meal we had at the hotel was the worst we had in Japan. But although quite expensive it was a good but not great tour.

After exchanging the voucher for tickets at the meeting point near Marunouchi Building, we boarded. Since the seats are assigned in advance, it's a bit reassuring even for solo travelers. (As we move clockwise towards our destination, sitting on the right side (side D) feels like a bit of an advantage.)

Once we started moving, there was a chorus of cheers from the passengers. The wind feels great! The traffic lights are close! It's oddly delightful to see people waving from the roadside! That refreshing feeling is something you rarely find elsewhere. Honestly, I didn't expect an open-top bus to be this enjoyable.

A guide accompanied the tour, providing commentary from the back of the seats with a microphone. The information about dessert shops while passing through Omotesando and Shibuya was particularly detailed (though we couldn't get off).

Tokyo Station, Kasumigaseki, Omotesando, Shibuya... places that aren't particularly rare for those living in Tokyo look so sparkling from a high vantage point without a roof! It was a tour filled with new discoveries. I want to invite someone and go again soon, without waiting for another opportunity.

丸ビル近くの集合場所でバウチャーをチケットと交換してもらってから搭乗。あらかじめ座席指定がされているので、一人参加でもちょっと安心です。
(目的地を時計回りに進むので、進行方向右側の座席(D側)の方がちょっとおトクな気はします)

走り始めたら、一斉にお客さんから歓声が。
風が気持ちいい！信号機が近い！沿道から手を振ってくれる人がいて妙にうれしい！
あの爽快感はなかなか他では見当たらない種類のものです。正直、オープントップバスがこんなにイイものとは思ってませんでした。

ツアーにはガイドさんが一人添乗し、座席後方からマイクで案内。特に表参道・渋谷を通り抜ける際のスイーツ店情報はかなり力が入ってました(降りられるわけではないですが)。

東京駅・霞ヶ関・表参道・渋谷…と、東京に住んでいれば特に珍しくもない場所が、屋根のない高い視点から風を受けながら眺めると、これほどまでにキラキラして見えるのか!?と新しい発見に満ちたツアーでした。
機会があればと言わず、ぜひ誰かを誘って近いうちにまた乗りに行きたいです。

I had a day when I couldn't attend to my American friends who came to rely on me, so I entrusted them to this service. Their feedback was "very satisfied." They requested places they wanted to visit that I had found online in advance, and it seems they were quite flexible. They also helped me with souvenir shopping, which was a great assistance. I believe they were able to create much better memories than if I, an amateur, had guided them around Kyoto. Next time, I would like to try it myself.

私を頼って来てくれたアメリカの友人たちに、私がアテンド出来ない日が一日発生し、その間、彼らだけをこのサービスに預けた。
彼らの感想は "大満足" だった。 予めWEBで見つけておいた、行きたい場所をリクエストし連れていってもらったそうで、かなり融通も利いたようだった。
土産物探しも、付き合ってくれて大変助かった。
素人の私が京都を案内するよりも、遥かに効率良く、良い想い出が作れたことと思う。
次回は自分も乗ってみたい。

I 'm remiss in posting this review. My daughter and I took this trip last year. We traveled from Boston to Tokyo and were thrilled that the cherry blossoms were in bloom. We only had three days in Tokyo before heading to Kyoto so this tour was fantastic. We hit all the high points. We started by going to Tokyo Tower. The views were awesome and we were lucky to be able to see Mt. Fuji. We had a tour of the city, a visit to the royal palace, several shrines, a park, lunch and a boat ride. I found the prices very reasonable for all we got and the lunch was terrific as well. Our guide was very knowledgeable and was happy to answer questions. The day was rainy and cold but the spirit of all was very bright. We were lucky that it warmed up and we were able to return on our own to some of the spots we saw. I looked at several tour companies before I left and this was the best. I have recommended this company to my boss when she went to Paris and she was happy with her tours as well. I will be using this company next year when I visit Italy.

I applied urgently because the points will no longer be available in March.
The night view of Tokyo was wonderful!
If there's another opportunity, I want to go with everyone and have a great time!

ポイントが3月出なくなるので急きょ申し込みました。
夜の東京は素敵でしたよ
又機会が会ったらみんなでワイワイ行ってみたーい

I had previously taken the hop-on bus from this company, but I had always wanted to ride it without getting off at any stops. I boarded on a sunny afternoon when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, so there was no glare from the west sun, allowing me to enjoy various beautiful views. It's amazing to be so close to the cherry trees around the Imperial Palace, but personally, I found it thrilling and exciting to see the scenery of people having hanami in the National Diet front garden and to pass under the 3.6-meter guard at Sukiyabashi. Riding through Ginza's Chuo-dori on a double-decker open-top bus was incredibly fun.

この会社のホップオンバスは乗ったことがありましたが、途中下車のない方も一度乗ってみたいと思っていました。ちょうど桜が満開の晴天のお昼に乗車したので、西日もなくきれいに色んな景色が楽しめました。皇居周辺の桜の木が間近なのも凄いですが、個人的には国会前庭で花見をしている風景と、数寄屋橋の3.6メートルのガードをくぐるのがスリリングでエキサイティングでした。銀座の中央通りを2階建てオープントップバスで通るのは凄く楽しかったです。

Thouh we encountered traffic on the way to mt. Fuji and had to hurry up to finish the tour without skipping an activiy, it was still an awesome activity. The only thing i will change for my next travel is taking a shinkansen train back to tokyo because the hiway is traffic.

Wonderful Mount Fuji, we were lucky to have good weather so able to see the Mount Fuji clearly.. Great tour guide.. Very funny.. During the bus ride, she introduce the japan culture and language.. Hope to join this tour again.. Thank you Gray Lines tour..

This tour is definitely worth it!
We did it in Feb 1st week and it was cold but worth the visit to Hakone and Mt. Fuji.
All the sites were very pretty and luckily we got a clear view of the Mt. Fuji.
Our tour guide was extremely sweet and very patient with all our questions.
The cruise at Lake Ashi was also exhilarating.
The most amazing part was the return by bullet train. The most amazing and fast Shinkasen experience!
Would definitely do this entire tour again in another season to see different scenic views!!!!
Thank you Veltra for this awesome trip!!!!

Thank You Veltra for making our Mt.Fuji tour experienced fun & memorable.

A good tour to save time. It is very difficult to navigate these places via public transport in Japan and it also saved a lot of time having to line up to purchase tickets.

First time went to Kyoto alone, we didn't know where to go, we found on the internet about this tour. We had a wonderful time and enjoy tour, tour guide is really friendly and closer with travellers. But only each sightseeing places too much travellers, and the time for sightseeing is limited, so that we have not lot of time to sightseeing as well.
If have change to travel again, we will chose this tour. Thank you

I used this service to guide a couple visiting from South Africa. It was very optimal for sightseeing efficiently in a short six-hour time frame. The driver speaking English was also a plus. I believe the direct conversation between the guests and the driver deepened personal understanding and increased the guests' enjoyment.

For the sightseeing plan, I basically just communicated the places I wanted to visit to the driver and left the rest to him, which resulted in the most efficient sightseeing experience.

Although the cherry blossom season had already passed, I was hoping to show the guests some cherry blossoms. The driver advised that Ninna-ji Temple would have late-blooming cherry blossoms in full bloom, so we visited. Just as the driver said, they were in full bloom, and we were able to enjoy it at the perfect timing.

The car was comfortable to ride in and I think it was worth the cost. I would like to use this service again on my next opportunity.

南アからの訪問者ご夫婦を案内するのに使わせて頂きました。６時間の短時間で効率良く観光するにはとても最適です。運転手さんが英語を話せるのもGoodです。お客さんと運転手さんの間で直接会話が弾み、個人的な理解も深まってお客さん自身も楽しみが増えたと思います。
観光プランは基本的に行ってみたい処だけを運転手さんに伝えて、後はお任せでしたが、最も効率の良い観光ができました。
桜の時期は既に過ぎていましたが、なんとか桜をお客さんに見せてあげられないかと思っていたところ、運転手さんから仁和寺が遅咲きの桜が満開だろうとのアドバイスがあり訪問しました。運転手さんの言う通り丁度満開で、最高のタイミング満喫することができました。
車も乗り心地が良く十分コストに見合うものだと思います。次の機会も利用させて頂きたいと思っています。

I used this service to accommodate American and Mexican guests. It was very well received, and everyone was satisfied. The driver's English was not fluent, but he had solid knowledge, and I believe the information was conveyed properly. I also appreciated his sincere attitude in explaining things. I definitely want to use this service again in the future.

アメリカ人とメキシコ人の来客対応として利用しました。大好評で皆さんに満足してもらえました。運転手の英語は決して流暢ではなかったですが、知識はしっかりしていて、内容もちゃんと伝わったと思います。誠実な説明態度も気に入りました。是非今後も利用したいと思います。

We were taken care of by a total of four people, including two Americans. As expected from a top English guide in Kyoto, they were attentive not only to temples and history but also to dining locations and movie filming spots. Their politeness was commendable. This is true Japanese hospitality.

アメリカ人2人と合計4人でお世話になりました。さすが京都の一流英語ガイドです。寺院、歴史はもちろん、食事の場所やら、映画の撮影場所紹介などこと小まめでした。礼儀正しいのが良かった。これぞ日本のおもてなしです。

This tour is certainly worth the money. Met some lovely people and enjoyed the beautiful views of Mount Fuji. Thanks Veltra!

After checking in at Urban Hotel Kyoto, our driver was waiting for us in the hotel lobby. At first impression, he spoke English well, so I was immediately confident that communication would not be an issue. He was also very polite and courteous. The car we rode in was spacious and comfortable.

Our first destination was Kinkaku-ji Temple. Our knowledgeable guide was very informative all along the way, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of this historical site. The experience at Kinkaku-ji Temple truly is a fine example of human architecture and nature co-existing in harmony.

Our next destination was the Bamboo Walk, where famous parts of the movie scene from "Memoirs of a Geisha" were filmed. Next, we headed towards Tenryuji Tsukurimichi-cho.

Our final stop of the day was Gion. After an informative introduction by our driver, we bade him goodbye and were left to enjoy the rest of the evening walking in the area of Gion. We would definitely like to come back to Kyoto again for our next trip to Japan, which has left us with an everlasting impression of beauty, cleanliness, and impeccable standards of service!

アーバンホテル京都でのチェックインした後、ドライバーさんがホテルのロビーで私たちを待っていた。第一印象では、彼は英語を上手に話せるので、すぐにコミュニケーションが問題ないと確信した。また、非常に丁寧かつ礼儀だった。そして乗った車も非常に広々とした快適です。
Our first destination was to the Kinkaku-ji Temple.Our knowledgeable guide was very informative all along the way, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of this historical site. The experience at Kinkaku-ji Temple truly is a fine example of human architecture and nature co-existing in harmony.
Our next destination was to be the Bamboo Walk where famous parts of the movie scene–Memoirs of a Geisha were taken.Next,we headed towards Tenryuji Tsukurimichi-cho.
Our final stop of the day was to be Gion.After an informative introduction by our driver,we bade him goodbye and was left to enjoy the rest of the evening walking the area of Gion.We will definitely would like to come back to Kyoto again for our next trip to Japan,which has left us an everlasting impression of beauty, cleanliness and impeccable standards of service!

The Full Day Grand Tokyo Tour was a nice and relaxing way to view the cities highlights and gardens. Nagi and Jun were excellent guides throughout the day and even taught us a few greetings and how to count in Japanese. I would recommend this tour as a good way to hit the major highlights of Japan.

The trip was nice, we enjoyed the cablecar and the pirate boat. Went to the 5th station in Fuji but other than a meandering mountain road there was nothing up there but a souvenir shop. A bit of quick trekking around would be nicer.
The guide was very helpful and made the coach trip much entertaining, providing interesting info and jokes :)
The but comes at stopping times, particularly at the Hakone fumes, which made us literally run to see the fumes and get back to the bus on time.