The travel itinerary exceeded our expectations and provided a wonderful and informative snapshot of Japan life, history, culture and beauty. Day one was very wet and windy and the move to the national museum was a master stroke. I believe the National Museum should be added to the schedule and a couple of hours allocated for this tour. National museum, Mt Fuji, Gifu Shirakawago, Kinkakuji Temple, Matsumoto and Himeji Castle, Okayame and Hiroshima. The exposure to a range of Japanese food at the lunches will be long remembered. It was unfortunate that both out tour leader and tour guide were subjected to some unjustified criticism by members of the party, who had either not read the tour program and its inclusions or had forgotten what they had read. Both leaders handled the situations in a calm professional manner and are to be commended.
Our Backroads of Japan walking trip was fabulous. Our guide Akemi was excellent with her knowledge and help for the tour group. However, in places where the walking was quite difficult we feel that Akemi could have had an assistant so that there would be one at the front and one at the back for safety reasons.
Not totally reflective of tour We enjoyed our trip and Muchan our guide was great. I enjoyed temples and shrines however for me I would have liked to have added one or two venues that showed Japanese technology