REVIEWS

2 minutes before the Thunderbird train to Kanazawa was due to leave Kyoto Station my son John said "it's going to be late." 1 minute before leaving it arrived. It left on time. Exactly. All our travel arrangements were the same: perfect. Kaoru arranged everything for our self-guided tour. We started in the cold of late winter (snow in Takayama) but ended with the warmth of cherry blossom. We remember simple bento on the train, kai-seki, the bat's ears on the Nozomi shinkansen, monks chanting in Saiho-ji temple, and thousands picknic-ing by the river in Arashiyama. John wants to go back.

Travel in Japan was made so much easier with the Japan Rail pass. The people are so friendly and accommodating. Shopping in Japan is an experience unlike anywhere else as such care is taken to curate the merchandise on display. Japan is a country that needs to be on everyones Bucket List!

It’s worth it. Would like to visit Japan again.

I'm half-Japanese so go there frequently, but every time it's a wonder and a joy. Japanese food is amazing - make sure to try traditional kaiseki where the chef serves directly to you, and don't be afraid to duck into non-chain restaurants as that's where you'll find the best places. If in Kyoto, try Ponto-cho, and if in Tokyo, make sure to visit Kabukicho and try the tiny bars.

If you're planning to travel around the country, definitely buy a Japan Rail Pass as it'll save you loads. If you're staying in Tokyo, there's probably less incentive, as there are a limited number of lines you can travel on with the JR pass. But it's great value, and the people at the Japan Travel Centre in London are so lovely and helpful.

We had such a fabulous holiday in your beautiful country. We have been to many destinations around the world, but Japan has to be ranked No 1 in our opinion for many reasons. We greatly enjoyed the "Sakura" which was absolutely stunning, seeing families and friends coming together for this annual event, such joy. The temples and shrines were breathtaking, particularly the Golden Pavillion, we saw so many, too many to name!

 I planned our itinerary, which although hectic was fast moving, so rewarding and enriching. We learnt many aspects of Japanese life, religion and people. Visiting bustling Tokyo with it's high-tech life, to the more serene town of Matsumoto where we saw a wedding in the castle grounds. I could probably write a book on our wonderful experiences. No words or adjectives can describe what we saw, simply stunning and so interesting. Travellers need to go and experience the country, to fully appreciate it as we did. Thank you once again for all your help and advice.

The trip lived up to our expectations. The professional service we received from Kaoru was highly appreciated. She prepared for us an outstanding holiday, listening to our needs and going beyond to address any queries. We not only enjoyed the temples and shrines but delighted in eating Japanese food, the beautiful landscapes, shopping etc..

We had the most amazing trip to Japan in March 2019 which was organised by the Japanese Travel centre in the UK. We had a 14 day travel pass and booked tickets for the journeys a day or so before each trip. The hotels that we stayed in were all excellent locations and very comfortable. The Japanese night was the highlight where we stayed in a Japanese room and ate the most amazing 6 course meal at the hotel. We got great communications from the travel centre and couldn't have asked for a better trip.