Journeys: Iconic Japan National Geographic

Traveler Reviews

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  Rheal

  October 28th, 2025
  We booked this tour based on the National Geographic affiliation which created a certain expectation regarding the...
  We booked this tour based on the National Geographic affiliation which created a certain expectation regarding the tour. It did not live up to that expectation at all. First of all, the accommodations were sub-standard with the exception of the Hilton in Kyoto. The ryokan was particularly awful. Not only was the trip to get to the Tsumago and the ryokan long, the ryokan was uncomfortable, the beds and covers were not clean and women sharing a washroom with men was not appropriate. The tour did not allow for proper food at lunch with many of our lunches having to be purchased at food stores / kiosks in train stations or fast food shopping centre locations. Finally, while our guide was a wonderful person who did go above and beyond to guide us from location to location as well as dealing with some unique issues (i.e., retrieving a lost mobile phone and lost luggage), her command of English was not good. She was difficult to understand with most tour participants not listening to what she had to say. When explaining the relevance of the historical and cultural significance of what we were looking at, she also had a tendency to jump from one topic to another making it very difficult to follow her. This trip was not worth the money that we paid; FULL STOP.Show more
  Traveled in October 2025
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  Catherine

  May 21st, 2024
  Iconic Japan tour was a great introduction to Japan.
  Traveled in May 2024
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  Susan

  November 6th, 2023
  This tour is a fabulous introduction to Japan. It is fast paced with lots of walking and use of Japan’s massive...
  This tour is a fabulous introduction to Japan. It is fast paced with lots of walking and use of Japan’s massive transportation system- from the bullet train to the subway with someone to guide you through the complexities. Our guide, Mika, was exceptional making sure each individual’s needs were met and sharing her vast knowledge of the country and culture. The itinerary was varied from big city to country side and we found the Japanese people to always be polite and helpful. The group is limited to 15 or less so you get to know everyone. We were fortunate to have a great group.Show more
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  Traveled in October 2023
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  Martin

  September 26th, 2023
  The tour was well organized, and provided great insight into Japanese culture and history
  Traveled in September 2023
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  Gregory

  January 6th, 2023
  The tour was a fantastic display of both Japanese culture and sights. The group I was with was great enhancing the...
  The tour was a fantastic display of both Japanese culture and sights. The group I was with was great enhancing the already wonderful experience. I was also travelling with an elderly individual so I didn't know how well they would take to the physical requirements of the tour, but are tour guide made every effort to accommodate them when they could - be it taking a little bit of a detour to find a elevator; escalator or always checking in on them when they could which we both appreciated greatly. I was also interested in Japanese culture personally so I would ask the guide different questions related to the topic and they answered each question gleefully, glad that I was taking a personal interest into the subject. With that said I'm already planning my next trip back.Show more
  Traveled in December 2022
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  Charlotte

  September 15th, 2019
  I loved this tour and I would book it again! You get a perfect overview of nice places in Japan, with a perfect mix...
  I loved this tour and I would book it again! You get a perfect overview of nice places in Japan, with a perfect mix between traditional Japanese and modern culture. Everything was nicely planned and organized by our amazing guide, resulting in no worries and no stress during the trip. The hotels, the transportation, the food...everything was great. I especially liked the additionally planned activities/experiences, such as the chopstick gold leaf experience or the meeting with the Kembu Masters. Also the size of the group (10 persons) was a very good fit.Show more
  Traveled in September 2019
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  Paul

  November 3rd, 2018
  I enjoyed the contrast between urban and rural Japan. We also got to see the fish market in Tokyo and enjoy a sushi...
  I enjoyed the contrast between urban and rural Japan. We also got to see the fish market in Tokyo and enjoy a sushi demonstration and meal. Travelling with a small group made it and easy adventure.Show more
  Traveled in October 2018
  

  Reply from: National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures

  That's fantastic to hear - thank you Paul.

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  Michael

  August 12th, 2018
  This was such an amazing trip. It's a great mix of modern culture and traditional Japanese experiences. Our guide was...
  This was such an amazing trip. It's a great mix of modern culture and traditional Japanese experiences. Our guide was perfect in making sure we all had a wonderful experience, and tailor-made recommendations for our own free time. There was a great mix of included experiences and down time to explore and eat on our own. The included activities were some of the highlights of our trip. Overall, it's an awesome tour for an overview of the great places in Japan.Show more
  Traveled in July 2018
  

  Reply from: National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures

  YES! So happy you had a great time in Japan - what a place! Thanks for travelling the world with us.

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