REVIEWS

We had an excellent vacation and were interested to see a culture with very different values from ours [UK]. We organised our own itinerary [with help from Sandy] but spoke or read no Japanese. We managed, but found very little English spoken outside Kyoto, which often made ordering food etc difficult. The transport system is excellent. We also hired a car and found driving on motorways or side roads easy. We stayed in many Ryokan with breakfast and evening meal included. This was a good challenge and well worth doing. The food overall was very good, but very different. No real milk or butter was seen - except for the inhouse Starbucks in the Toyota factory, [and no cows], so no desert trolley!. We noted that the kimono is making a comeback. We would return - with Sandy's help.

Everything about the holiday went well. There had been a lot of thought into all the locations and travelling arrangements and all worked perfectly. We had picked Kyushu because we wanted to see more of the Japanese countryside and the itinerary chosen for us worked as we wanted.

Japan Travel centre and Wakako in particular had obviously put a lot of effort into our holiday and we really appreciated it.

We really enjoyed the scenery of Kyushu, the mountains were spectacular. We would have liked to do a little more walking, but we were restricted a bit by the weather and the eruptions in My Aso. However there was still plenty to do.As westerners at the end of our 60s with hind sight a Japanese room, especially when it had no chairs did make life a bit difficult. We liked the JR hotels a good standard and provided laundrette facilities which were especially useful For us the only place which we could have missed out altogether was Yufuin, it may have catered for Korean and Chinese taste, but not ours. 

All in all a well planned holiday.
Thank you.

Excellent service regarding the JR in general and also excellent value for money. Food and sites to visit all first class. Must be the cleanest country in the world, regardless of the total absence of the street litter bins! Exceptionally friendly people further enhance the experience.

Thank you!

The best holiday of my life. I love Japan with all my heart and couldn't recommend this trip more.

Being able to easily hop on/off the Shinkansen has by far been one of the highlights of my life. An absolutely incredible experience and the JR Pass gives you the ability to do that. However, I would only recommend if you'll be visiting a lot of cities; otherwise you won't get your money back (e.g. if you just use it to get around locally in Tokyo.) 

However it gives you inspiration on destinations you may not have previously planned I your trip. For example, I went to Miyajima Island (Itsukushima) off the coast of Hiroshima and only because I realised I could get there completely free - the pass even covered the ferry!

It be and my most favourite place on earth.

All I have to say for the JR Pass is a huge thank you - it really made my Japan trip.

Japan is great... all of it... the people, the history, the food, the culture.

Can't recommend Japan and the rail pass enough. Dying to go back!

Great trip, great people, great food - amazing country!

Our tips: stay in a ryokan, you won't regret it; embrace the izakaya experience, so tasty and great value, don't be afraid to venture upstairs to eat since a lot of great Japanese dining is done on higher floors; do learn a few words of basic Japanese, your interactions with the locals who are already friendly, will be even better!

Finally, although the guidebooks (we had a bunch of them!) are helpful to cut to the chase and not waste any time during your trip, some of our most enjoyable experiences were spontaneous ones. 

Whether it was a random izakaya up some stairs in Shibuya or a hidden tiny bar in Pontocho, our curiosity and stepping off the main streets was always rewarded by a great encounter with locals and some unforgettable moments. 

Arigatou gozaimasu Japan Travel Centre!

Thank you for arranging what was the holiday of a lifetime!

I have visited 27 or 28 countries but when I went to Japan in 2013 I decided that I had to go again and started planning my next trip immediately I returned! Now I am busy making plans to go again in 2017 hopefully. 

The people are amazing - polite, friendly, efficient, generous and welcoming. People are proud of where they come from without any hint of xenophobia. 

The food is incredible - delicious, made with care and attention and pride. It is healthy and clean and so varied. I love how seasonal many foods are.

The landscapes - natural and manmade - are so fascinating and beautiful.

I can't wait to go back!