Fantastic introduction to Japan A packed and very varied two weeks from the majesty and beauty of old Kyoto, through to the traditional ryokans in the Japanese mountains and finally the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo. The travelling was a joy in clean, comfortable and punctual trains. The Japanese people were friendly and polite and always happy to help.
The shrines, temples and breathtaking scenery were memorable but so was enjoying traditional Japanese restaurants and being introduced to a vast selection of street food.
The Japan tour by World Expeditions was exceptionally informative and adventurous and their itinerary was varied and off the tourist track in a small group.I did like having the flexibility option to miss some of the longer and more strenuous walks and take public transport and taking it easy as at times the trip was pretty go-ey with a few long days. I'm very glad I took 5 nights post trip to relax before returning home. The public transport system is very prompt and efficient and I'm glad I used a tour to navigate this for the first time as some of the train stations are overwhelmingly large and busy especially Tokyo as I arrived late at night and tired, however the station staff are very helpful!! The smaller cities like Osaka and Kyoto are easier. Google maps is very useful for this but you need international roaming or a Japan Sim card etc. I think some highlights were the smaller towns where we stayed at a Ryokan or smaller hotel and enjoyed a more interactive and cultural engagement and just strolling through the towns and shops.
I just finished the first Japan trip of 2023. The whole schedule was amazing, offering a good mix of cultural experiences, food, history, exploring Japans nature and even some downtime to relax. Met some awesome people in my group, led by the coolest group leaders, Anna, Adam, Brad and Michelle! They had everything planned out and made for a stress free enjoyable trip. Would definitely recommend this trip and Ill be booking another intro tour myself!