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!

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.”

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.

Susan Morita, Maryland

We had an absolutely wonderful time in Kyushu!  Everything worked perfectly and we felt very well taken care of every step of the way by our excellent guides Tomo and Nobu, and by the places you recommended for our accommodations.

The itinerary was excellent — very well-balanced with a terrific mix of nature, history, culture, and crafts.  Yakushima was beautiful — we loved seeing the loggerhead turtle come to shore to lay her eggs, our hikes to see the ancient cedars and the moss-covered forest were amazing, we had many sightings of the Yakushima monkeys and deer, and Nobu introduced us to a craftsperson who makes gorgeous things from the cedar wood.  

Hanzuiryo in Unzen was gorgeous and the onsen was fabulous — so restful and relaxing.  And the kaiseki meals were amazing — a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.  We really enjoyed Nagasaki’s history and sights, and Tomo will tell you we probably spent too long going through the museum at the Peace Park and the Glover House site.  

Thank you for arranging for us to meet and see the galleries of three active potters — we loved meeting them and being able to see and purchase some of their work.  We are glad we made the stop in Arita — we learned a lot on the tour you arranged, and Onta was fascinating — so interesting to learn about the techniques used by the potters through generations and in such a beautiful setting.

Thank you for arranging for a truly wonderful vacation for our family!  We had a fantastic experience and have many happy memories.

Dalia Rawson and Gareth Hughes, California

We had such an amazing time.

It’s difficult to summarize our impressions, but these are memories we will cherish forever, and I don’t think that “life-changing” is too strong a phrase. Going through the photos, I can’t believe how many wonderful experiences we shared, and Narumi-san’s wonderful daily recaps are helping me to keep clear what was what. 

The restaurants were spectacular, and the experiences were even more so. Every restaurant was a contender for our favorite restaurant ever, maybe the chicken place in Kyoto as a really high note, although the tofu place, La Paix, take-out sushi at the fish market, every meal at the Ryokan, and dinners at the villa were all almost equally spectacular. 

The pacing of the trip was perfect, with busy city days interspersed with less busy days. 

We absolutely couldn’t have done this trip without JapanQuest Journeys. It was the perfect way to really explore a country and culture that was largely new to us without any of the worry of typical travel. We could just relax and try to take it all in. The whole thing was magic.

Tom Geniesse, New York

Thank you for all of your help putting together an epic and truly memorable adventure.  It was an amazing trip.  We loved being with our guide again.  She is like family to us.  And she was genius in navigating the “one pescatarian, one vegetarian, one gluten-free” challenge.

Zenagi was, as promised, a mind-blowing stay. Teshima is still a favorite.

Again, a thousand thanks for all of your help.

Brian Pike, Texas

We started planning a trip to Japan four years ago. Multiple Covid shutdowns and life changes later, my wife and I just returned from an extraordinary sixteen-day trip. WendyPerrin.com referred us to Scott Gilman. If you take nothing else from this review, ask for Scott to plan your trip. After a detailed conversation about our interests, Scott presented a very thoughtful first draft for a trip. Much of it was great, but several suggestions required adjustments and additional planning. Scott took it all in, modified the plan and submitted his revision. As we got closer, a few additional changes were requested, and all were accommodated while improving the itinerary. Ten days before departure we spoke to Scott again and some of his last-minute suggestions regarding travel strategy, clothing etc., were enormously helpful.

From the time we landed at Haneda Airport we were looked after at every step. The amount of coordination was impressive and greatly appreciated.

Hotels, restaurant suggestions, unique museums and locations were all fantastic. We told Scott we enjoy getting away from typical tourist sights and locations but wanted to see the highlights. He curated a beautiful balance of historic sights and private unusual opportunities for us to meet local people and experience a much more intimate sense of culture. Meeting a tea master, going to the homes of local artists and artisans and spending a remarkable evening in a cooking class at a private home were all wonderful and very satisfying. All of this was in coordination with guides and drivers.

We loved the hotels and ryokans and always felt Scott’s choices were thoughtful and right for us.

Right up to the time we were driven to the airport and met by a local associate that helped us through check-in and security, we were in the best of hands.

We’ve taken many wonderful trips, and this one was right up at the top of the list.