REVIEWS

John Chiminski, Wisconsin

I can’t say enough good things about our experience with Jason at JapanQuest Journeys. This was a very special trip for my wife’s 60th birthday, and Jason went above and beyond to curate a personalized and unforgettable journey for us. He took the time to listen to what we wanted to do—shopping for pottery, purchasing a historic katana, watching sumo wrestling, enjoying amazing sushi and dinner experiences, meditating with a Buddhist monk, and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Museum—and delivered on every front.

What set this trip apart was JapanQuest Journeys’ carefully curated relationships in Japan. At the Ryokan in Kanazawa, the owner personally invited us for an evening tea ceremony before dinner, which was an absolutely magical experience. We also had an outstanding local Japanese guide with us throughout our travels. The guide helped with translations and enhanced our experience by providing unique insights and local knowledge that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

“This was a very special trip for my wife’s 60th birthday, and Jason went above and beyond to curate a personalized and unforgettable journey for us.”

Jason didn’t stop there—he included even more incredible experiences, like visiting a master swordsmith and witnessing the first turns on a newly forged katana. We also had the incredible opportunity to learn how to make sushi with a renowned sushi chef. One of the most memorable highlights was dinner at a Geisha tea house, where we were treated to a performance—an experience typically unavailable to tourists. Still, thanks to Jason, we could enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

One of the most exciting experiences was watching sumo wrestlers train and “spar” for nearly two hours in their gym. This was a unique opportunity that I will never forget!

This trip truly was the experience of a lifetime, and I can’t thank Jason and JapanQuest Journeys enough for making it all come to life. If you’re looking for an authentic, once-in-a-lifetime journey to Japan, look no further than JapanQuest Journeys!

George Russell, Southport, Connecticut

We very much enjoyed our trip. Narumi was truly unflappable. She did an excellent job managing our group.

The highlights for the kids were the digital museum and Nara. Those were probably my top two sites as well. The screens at Nijo Castle were also a highlight.

The Palace Hotel was exceptional. The rooms were first rate and the service was excellent. We also found the service at the Hyatt in Kyoto to be excellent. My mother also enjoyed the Four Seasons. Her room had a view of the garden and pond, which she really enjoyed.

In terms of restaurants, the Chinese place in Kyoto was the best Chinese restaurant I’ve ever been to. I majored in Chinese in college and have spent time in China, so this is high praise coming from me! The food was very flavorful and the atmosphere was perfect. The last dinner at the Japanese restaurant was a wonderful experience.

We were very grateful to have had Narumi’s capable assistance during our trip. She bent over backward to accommodate us and did an excellent job. The drivers were also very good, especially our driver in Kyoto.

Josh Pekarsky, Vancouver, Canada

The trip was fantastic. My daughters and I had a great time. The meals and accommodations were all 1st class. And our guide and the drivers all did a superb job in making our trip very comfortable and hassle-free. So many great experiences and so much fun.

I was very impressed with Tokyo – how new, clean, safe, and efficient it all seemed compared to the chaos that is New York City. I loved the onsens and visiting the countryside too. I am glad we were able to visit Kyoto for all of the beauty and history found there.

So many onsens left to visit in Japan. I would love to return to explore and enjoy more of them.

Gavin Berger, New York

As an avid international traveler with discerning standards, I was astounded by JapanQuest Journeys’ ability to surpass my expectations and deliver one of the most exceptional travel experiences of my life. Their meticulous planning and execution immersed us fully into the rich tapestry of Japanese culture.

During the planning process, guided by the invaluable insights of my JapanQuest Journeys consultant, Jason Gilman, I was encouraged to embrace activities that initially raised doubts. These experiences proved to be some of the most memorable highlights of my journey. The seamless coordination of every aspect of the trip was a testament to their exceptional planning and execution.

Our guide was an exceptional resource, providing insightful background information on our experiences and ensuring our utmost comfort and satisfaction throughout our travels. In contrast to my previous experience with another travel company, JapanQuest’s unparalleled quality far surpassed my expectations.

For those seeking an authentic and immersive experience of Japan’s beauty and culture, JapanQuest Journeys presents an invaluable investment. Upon my return, I promptly contacted them to secure another unforgettable journey.

Janet Hart, California

We read the fabulous reviews Scott received and wondered whether we would have the same experience. The short answer is an unequivocal “yes.” This experience has to be rated at or close to the top of our “trips of a lifetime.”

Scott listened to our interests and the items we wished to downplay or avoid. He quickly outlined a fabulous 4-week itinerary that enabled us to experience many of the highlights in Japan. Expensive? Yes, but it’s worth every cent. Scott booked us into excellent hotels situated in outstanding locations. He secured a wonderful guide (Emiko Sakaoka) who ensured we saw and did everything worth doing. She answered our questions, which helped us to learn a great deal about Japanese culture. While we aren’t fans of sushi we managed to eat very well. Every restaurant recommendation recognized our food interests and the special birthday dinner for Linda was a real treat.

“Scott booked us into excellent hotels situated in outstanding locations. He secured a wonderful guide (Emiko Sakaoka) who ensured we saw and did everything worth doing.”

We are grateful to Philip (the firm’s co-founder and located in Japan) for altering our itinerary to avoid the impact of Typhoon Hagibis. As the storm shut down the Tokyo airport and headed north, Philip quickly and seamlessly arranged for us to travel south via the train. Alternate accommodations were excellent and the touring continued without skipping a beat.

As for trip highlights, there are many. They include the friendly & interesting people we met, the exciting food markets we toured, the beautiful parks & gardens we walked through, the huge castles we toured, the inspiring temples & shrines we visited, the many and varied museums we saw, the efficient transportation system we used, the peacefulness of a stay in a ryokan or a Buddhist Temple we experienced. Yes, we loved the private dinner with the geishas, the private tour and discussion with the multi-generational lacquerware owner and the kimono maker, a private origami-making session, the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour, the Mt. Koya cemetery walk/experience and the Sumo practice session. However, our lasting memory will be of the marvelous and unusual Japanese culture and the gracious people we met.

Our thanks to Scott, Philip, Miho, Emiko and the many folks behind the scenes who made our memorable trip possible.

Andy Kaplan, Summit, New Jersey

We wanted to tell you how great our trip was. It truly could not have gone better and often exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed so many facets of the trip that it would be impossible to list them all. However, the best part was the people we had the opportunity to interact with.

First and foremost, Mimi-san was beyond incredible. She was knowledgeable, insightful, and sensitive to reading our needs/desires throughout the trip. The trip would not have been nearly as amazing without her.

Aki-san on the Shiki-Shima train was also absolutely great. While all the staff on the train were helpful, Aki-san went out of her way to make us feel particularly welcome and included despite being the only non-Japanese speaking guests on board.

We appreciated your efforts to make some of these unique experiences possible, including the Shiki-Shima and the Geisha evening. I know that these experiences took significant effort from you and your team. Thank you.

Suffice it to say that we had one of our most memorable trips ever.