REVIEWS

Hannah and Bill, New Orleans

My dad and I traveled on a trip of a lifetime throughout Japan in the summer of 2023. Scott’s guidance and expertise helped us plan a trip where every detail was accounted for. While in Japan, our two guides were superb; they were friendly, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to accommodate our last-minute requests and our tricky food allergies. 

Reflecting back on our JapanQuest Journeys trip, I still cannot believe how unique, personalized, and seamless our travels went, we didn’t have to worry about anything (such as navigating the tricky train system)! We highly recommend JapanQuest Journeys, a truly priceless experience. 

Thank You, Scott, JapanQuest Journeys, and our phenomenal tour guides.

Lori Whitten, Texas

We enjoyed our trip so much, and we have recommended JapanQuest Journeys to a number of friends who want to travel to Japan. Alas, ridiculously high-priced airfares may have delayed a number of those planned trips, but I hope that when they do get to visit Japan, they work with you for the planning.

Alex and Vivian Strogen, Washington State

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.

Elisa Spain and Art Beyda, Chicago

We had a wonderful time. All of the private experiences were fantastic; they made our trip. 

You and your team made everything easy so we could “be on vacation.” The logistics were flawless. One of the biggest stressors of traveling in a foreign country is the transfers, and JQJ made this stress free with someone to meet us at each end with train tickets in hand, getting us on and off the trains, etc. What a delight. 

The itinerary was well planned, a great mix of city and outdoor adventures and mixed in just the right way. And what a pleasant surprise to find the reputed reserved Japanese warm and friendly. 

Our favorite experiences were:

Tokyo – Everything we did in Tokyo we loved — dinner w/Kyoko, our guide Haruka, Jim the architect, dinner at the sushi place where everyone made us feel like locals, and of course Enoura. My dream is to go to Enoura at the Equinox. And we feel like we just scratched the surface. 

Art’s knife experience – Everything exceeded his expectations. He was glowing. It’s an experience he will never forget. And the knife he made is gorgeous. Hopefully, he will let me use it.

Zenagi – This was Art’s favorite meal experience. The hike with the monk was quite steep and slippery in the pouring rain. Ando and I were both impressed that I did what I did. He said I was in great shape and was surprised to hear I am nearly 68. That said, I ultimately bailed, the monk went back on his own and Ando and I walked back together – that was the best part – I enjoyed chatting with him. The manager, David, was super accommodating and even had a bath waiting for me when I got back wet and cold from the hike. All that said, we have fond memories of all that we did at Zenagi.

Sasayuri-Ann – Tetsuji was an excellent host. Our guided hike (we went to the fourth waterfall) with him as Mountain Monk blowing the conch was an unforgettable spiritual experience. The conch reminded us of the shofar, which made it even better. And our favorite temples were in Nara. 

Naoshima Island – What a unique place and a thrill to see such amazing site-specific art. Another experience we will never forget.

I could add several more to the highlights, and one I couldn’t let pass without mentioning was the Ryokan. We loved everything about it, the beautiful place, gardens, wonderful food, especially breakfast, the official Japanese bath and the wonderful service. All in all, a terrific trip. 

Thank you for everything you did to make it so.

Thank you Scott and JQJ!

Steve K., Seattle, Washington

The trip exceeded our expectations, which were already heightened based on everything we had heard about Japan. We were awed by so much of what we saw and experienced. Yes, parts of the country are physically beautiful, but we were even more impressed by the Japanese people and culture – the cleanliness, efficiency, sophistication, and especially civility. Neither of us had ever visited a country where its citizens’ concern and respect for each other – and even for us as tourists — was so apparent.

Our trip was also executed flawlessly. We did not experience a single glitch – everybody was present at the appointed time and place. And our guide, as you alerted us, was phenomenal. In fact, we became so reliant on her that we, experienced travelers though we may be, doubted our ability to function in Japan without her on our last day. We loved how concerned she was about our well-being, first and foremost, and her wanting to answer all of our questions (even the silly ones), her desire to learn the few things she did not know, her sincerity, down-to-earthiness, and kindness, and her impeccable taste. Thank you so much for assigning her to our trip.

Thank you again for your exceptional service. We would, of course, recommend JapanQuest Journeys to anyone traveling to Japan.

Rose Horn, New York, New York

I recently returned from an extraordinary trip to Japan planned by the extraordinary Scott. I traveled with a dear friend. We were meant to go two years ago, but like everyone else, our trip was delayed until May. Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. As I delved into my research, there were so many areas and experiences that I wanted to indulge in, but how to choose for a two-week trip? Scott helped me tremendously here. The way Scott describes a place or experience is so evocative and rich that you can almost imagine it in your mind. After telling him of my interests, he helped shape the trip that would become truly special and specifically designed to what I was looking for in my first visit to Japan.

I wanted a mix of urban and rural life, so Scott made a number of recommendations that would fulfill my desires. Besides vibrant Tokyo and Kyoto, we included a trip thru the Japanese Alps, thru the Kiso Valley and its enchanting post-towns and fairytale villages untouched by time, to the charming towns of Takayama and Kanazawa. The trip was topped off with a two-day stay in the beautiful Hakone. Our choice to travel with the same guide throughout our 13-day trip made our trip particularly memorable. Scott’s expertise has led him to believe this is an essential trip element. I can’t express how incredible it was to have Makiko with us the entire trip, immersing us in her knowledge of Japan, whether it be a historic site with great significance, or a stunning garden based on an age-old tradition.

Makiko was the most knowledgeable and compassionate guide and became our cherished friend by the end of the trip.

And the WOW Moment! Made even more special by the happy coincidence of Scott being in Kyoto for business. So, he was able to join us at the incredible multi-course dinner at the Michelin-star French/Japanese restaurant, Motoi, a beautifully atmospheric restaurant with divine food, made extra-special by the talented chef visiting us at our table.

It can’t be helped when waiting two years, that you build up expectations based on what you read and by Scott’s insights. This trip exceeded my wildest imagination due in great part to Scott’s magnificent knowledge and love of Japan and our incredible guide, Makiko.

I feel so fortunate to have found Scott. It would never have been the same without him. A truly priceless experience.