Explore Bangkok’s Culture, Shopping, & Iconic Attractions 3D2N

Reviews from other tours by Across Africa Tours & Travel

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  Catherine4.0•April 2026
  As this was my first time travelling through Japan I thought a fully guided tour was the way to go. This proved an...
  As this was my first time travelling through Japan I thought a fully guided tour was the way to go. This proved an excellent choice. The 14 day Essence of Japan tour provides daily local guides (different ones for each city stop so they don’t travel with you) and all transfers, a mixture of the Shinkansen for long-haul and local transport such as buses, subways and even a ferry, to get around. Having a bit of independence of travel mixed in with expert local knowledge on arrival was ideal. After an initial bumpy pre-start where we were chasing the detailed itinerary and hotel list prior to departure, and the lack of included daily breakfasts in the first hotel, this misunderstanding was dealt with and responded to and was not a problem in subsequent hotels. Communication continued to improve as the trip progressed with a daily update delivered via What’s App which provided us with all the details needed to plan for the day. The local guides chosen for each city were a highlight - always knowledgeable, passionate and generous with their time and help. Apart from the first and last hotels which were not in tourist-friendly locations and required long subway commutes or expensive taxi rides, the rest of the accommodation was excellent. The itinerary itself was comprehensive and jam-packed with culturally interesting experiences such as a Zen meditation, sushi making and tea ceremony. Some lunches and dinners were included, the quality and variety selected were excellent and served to highlight the many Japanese styles of cooking, a highlight of the trip. As my friend and I were the only guests on the trip the Essence of Japan felt very much like a private tour and this afforded excellent value for money.Show more