This 3 day tour overall was a fantastic experience. We not only met some great people on the trip from around the world that we became friends with, but what we found to be exceptional was the logistics. All of the transportation and luggage handling from the moment we met our day 1 tour guide to the moment we checked out on day 3 was seamlessly handled and very professional. Along the way, every single train ride, taxi ride, or bus ride was accompanied by a uniform-wearing staff, so there is not one single moment where you felt lost or on your own. They even have someone wait for you as you exit a train to walk you to your next transfer train - for us that was at 10 PM on a Sunday night. Incredible! The sights were fantastic. While we were initially excited to see Mt Fuji, we found it to be mostly OK because it took a lot of driving and you end up only being at the fifth transfer station. So, you only see the top of Mt. Fuji, while the majority of your short 15 minute stop is spent battling tourists in what amounts to a gigantic bathroom and gift shop stop. We thoroughly enjoyed Nara and wish we had another hour to feed the deers that were on the ground. Kyoto was a great city - don't forget to check out Nashiki Market on your own, during free time. If I had one gripe, it's that much of the 3 days were spent travelling, whether on a bus or on a train. While that might be inevitable, I felt like the time spent a each stop was a little short. For example, some gift shop stops or shrine visits were only 10 or 15 minutes long. If you consider that the bus has to first park, and it takes a few minutes to get off the bus, you're only spending 7 or 8 minutes at a stop. Before you get to really get your footing or see anything, you're expected to be back on the bus. Maybe this is a universal downside to all group-style tours? Finally, for hotel choice, I would not recommend choosing the Karasuma Kyoto hotel if you don't like hot rooms. The location of the hotel was fantastic close to Ippudo, NIshiki Market, Tokyu Hands department store however, there is no air conditioning in the room. Each room has a switch that says low-medium-high, but there is not temperature adjustment. The entire hotel is set to one temperature, the front desk explained, and more likely than not it will be blowing hot air or some temperature not to your liking. In our 2 night stay, our room was so hot that I barely slept - it felt like I was in a humid sauna. We met another guest who had exactly the same comments about their room. Otherwise, this is a trip worth taking especially if it is your first visit to each of these locations. The tour certainly takes the thinking and planning out of your hands, and you are guided by some fantastic, nice, and knowledgeable tour guides!
Review by: Emilymlow, April 2018
This tour was more than I imagined. We had spectacular weather, beautiful cherry blossom viewing, and terrific information about Japan and its people. The Golden Palace and its beautiful grounds were a high point. Our guides and drivers were expert, and provided wonderful information. We enjoyed the tour tremendously and recommend it to anyone who wants an overview of these cultural treasures.
Review by: Catherine S, April 2018
We thoroughly enjoyed this experience and were looked after amazingly well throughout our trip.
Review by: Jeff D, March 2018
My family and I enjoyed this trip very much. Our guides for the 3 days were very knowledgeable and shared lots of wonderful facts about Japan’s history. If you want a fun, interesting and breathtaking side trip, this tour is great!
Review by: Jeff D, March 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Jimmicito, March 2018
Sunrise Tours did a class job. We got pretty good pictures of Mt Full because our guide and driver worked together to optimize timing under the weather conditions. They treated us well with our bullet train trip to Kyoto.
Review by: Adam Y, March 2018
It was a great experience in Kyoto and Nara. Experienced and passionate guides provided rich knowledge and key attractions of histories and traditions of the royal cities. Very well handled and facilitated transition from bus to bullet train to taxi.
Review by: adamandjoanna4, March 2018
A good tour with good guides and you get to see a lot.
Review by: Soraya P, March 2018
A wonderful tour. The Tour company and guides were efficient, informative and entertaining. Shima, Mr. Yoshu and Tammy were wonderful. So much to see and do, and they left no stone unturned. I also loved the fact that we were met at every train station and taken to our hotel. One if the best tours I have been on! Japan is a definite must on the travel bucket list.
Review by: JENNIE, February 2018
Very professional tour .We were looked after from start to finish.Always a representative present to get us to where we needed to go .Everything organised.Tour guides were very good.Some tours required a fair amount of walking,which was a problem for some people on our tour.
Review by: Jr1249, December 2017
It is really a two day tour as there is nothing on the last day. The trip was well organized, tour guides wonderful, and really enjoyed all we did. Mt Fuji was a long drive, and we did not get to go up. The boat ride and tram were ok but could easily be skipped. Kyoto and Nara tours excellent.
Review by: Abul Khair Y, December 2017
If you like full guided and courteous guide, Japan tour is for you. This is end to end guided tour with the guides sharing lots of information about the place of visits while you are travelling. The weather did not permit us to go beong station1 but we manage to snap great photos of Mount Fuji from the bus along the way. The pick up at each Shikenzen station platform is great if you are new to Japan train system. The Hotel we stayed at was New Miyako Hotel just next to the Kyoto station and AEON mall. The room is spacious but the toilet was smelly like odor from the septic tank. If you are muslim, you should ask for seafood lunch on the day 1. We did ask for seafood lunch but was given vegetarian food. However, another muslim family got their seafood lunch. We are not happy with this lunch arrangement and was promised seafood lunch before hand. We are glad there is less tourist from China mainland this season. Else, do expect jumping que and getting their way through beyond your imagination.
Review by: Dale, November 2017
Guides were amazing, extremely well organized.
Review by: starkman, November 2017
we saw mount Fji._br/_ Kyoto was great _br/_ my upgraded hotel was lovely_br/_ Nara was awesome those deer were cute_br/_ kadoshi shrine was great_br/_ golden shrine great_br/_ lunch abundant and great_br/_ what a difference a good guide makes!_br/_ All were obsessed with time rather than content_br/_ lunch at the lake was so so but the lake was great _br/_ lake ashi was super the boat ride too short _br/_ train ride back was good but wasnt there a direct train rather than a milk run?
Review by: sally-anne w, November 2017
the service was immaculate- the guides excellent. I would only change the lunch on the second day- the buffet was terrible, also the hotel we stayed in was fully booked so we had a smoking room that was very smelly._br/_ the tours were terrific and I would do it again.
Review by: Kun L, November 2017
It was a well organized tour with personal attention to the detail. Local guides showed up at every departure and transfer station and made sure we do not miss our trains. At Kyoto and Tokyo Stations local guide showed up at arrival platform, again and had each tourist taken to the right hotel by taxi cab. At Mt. Fuji 5th Station, we had only a glimpse of Mt. Fuji due to the fog and rain. After the cruise on Lake Ashi in Hakone, we took the gondola to the top of the mountain. Mt. Fuji was not visible from there, either because of the bad weather. In Kyoto we saw Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace, and Kinkakuji Temple. In the afternoon we went to Nara and visited Todaji Temple and Kashuga Takisha Shrine. On the the third day which was free day, my wife and I went to Arashiyama by subway and visited Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple.
Review by: jaja, October 2017
Our group really enjoy every tour. Tour guides are very informative. The tour took us to a lot of place such as Hakone, Mt Fuji and a lot of castle and temples in Kyoto. The Nara park is very amazing with deers all around and the stunning Todai-ji Temple.
Review by: jaja, October 2017
Our group really enjoy every tour. Tour guides are very informative. The tour took us to a lot of place such as Hakone, Mt Fuji and a lot of castle and temples in Kyoto. The Nara park is very amazing with deers all around and the stunning Todai-ji Temple.
Review by: Glenda G, October 2017
Loved this tour due to the amazing organisation and assistance by all the tour guides. It was so good to have a tour guide at each station while travelling to and from Kyoto to show us the way.
Review by: Vanessa F, October 2017
Sunrise Tours who provide this tour were extremely well-organised - down to the smallest detail. Every step of the way we were helped by guides to transfer between buses and trains and they all waited with us until departure. _br/_ Kyoto is a great place to visit and on our free day we had no problems getting around by train and visiting places not included on the tour. Would recommend to anyone who wants help travelling in a non-English speaking country - well worth the money.
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