Travel Review: Japan Vacation, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, Takayama, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kanazawa, Miyajima Island, Sushi Making Class

Review by traveler

karla s.

5.25.2017

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Japan

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

Our trip was wonderful because of the perfect attention is given to us by our agent. He & I converted over the course of several months to plan and define exactly what we wished to do. He suggested activities such as our Home Stay outside of Kyoto which I didn't even know existed and that turned out to be one of the trip's highlights!

Prior to our departure, our agent emailed a 150-page itinerary which included every activity, hotel or ryokan, guides' names and even details as to the exact platform from which our trains would depart. It included maps, histories of a town and suggestions about places & things to do in that town.

We visited Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, Kanazawa, Takayama, Himeji, Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Shirakawa-go, Nara ( a 3.5-week trip). We had excellent guides who were knowledgeable, caring and friendly. My husband needed to see a physician while there and 2 guides in different cities accompanied him to translate. It was actually an opportunity to experience treatment in Japan, a new adventure - "medical tourism"!

We really enjoyed our sushi class, formal tea ceremony, a Geisha performance at the local theater, nights at the western style ryokans, onsens, which are heavenly, my chance to visit a school (special arrangements were made for that), the day in Nara, the temples & shrines and the sushi!

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

Our home stay in Kameoka was the highlight of our trip, Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park, Himeji Castle, the western style ryokans, Shirakawa-go, the sushi making class, Tokyo, Kyoto, my afternoon at the Kameoka school ( I'm a retired teacher) , the cherry blossoms, the bullet trains and our guides.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

We were overly ambitious and tried to see too much. I would have eliminated some of our one night accommodations and added more time to make a minimum of 2 nights in one place.

I'd skip the noodle making class as the owner wasn't there, the process was uninteresting and the sake tasting never happened. Also, check that the traditional ryokan that is selected for you carefully as the one in Gero, where we stayed was awful. The building structure was fine but it was too large, very shabby and poorly maintained, kind of like camping. Sleeping on tatami mats was fun as was the dinner in the room but not this particular one. Also, make certain that you are in a western style hotel that is not for business travelers. If you require space and attractiveness than these hotels would not be my choice.

TRAVEL COMPANY'S COMMENTS

My team and I were very happy to read this wonderful review from Karla. I really enjoyed working with her on her trip to Japan and was happy that we could arrange for her to meet some students at a local school.

Of course, I am sad that the noodle making class was not given by the owner of the restaurant. I have met him a few times and he is the reason why we introduced the class. Without him, it just became a standard noodle class which is not what we want. I spoke to our arrangement crew in Japan and we have decided not to introduce this class any longer as they do not offer a constant service.

The ryokan in Gero hot spring has wonderful photos and one of our team members visited there many years ago and it was nice back then. Unfortunately, they have not renovated the inn for a long time which it is in dire need. We have since changed ryokans in this area and have received nice reviews from the ryokan we are currently using.
Karla was wonderful to work with and I am sad that these two services did not live up to her or our expectations. Rediscover Tours has stopped using them both as our travelers only deserve the very best experience in Japan.

Thank you,
Jeff

Photos

Travel Review: Japan Vacation, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, Takayama, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kanazawa, Miyajima Island, Sushi Making Class

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

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