Japan Deluxe Tours, Inc.

Highly recommended for first-time visitors! A dream trip of mine for years was fulfilled thanks to Japan Deluxe Tours! Specials thanks to Yuki from the flight/airline department, our tour guide Shige, and driver Kowakami!!!

We had the best time! Our tour guide Kana was amazing! She super sweet and patient with each individual. She is always willing to help you. Will definitely book again!

My wife and I had an amazing experience with Japan Deluxe Tours. Yuki was our guide, and we can highly recommend him. He is outstanding. The rickshaw experience in Kyoto was truly a highlight.

Incredible journey!! We attended a 10 day tour including anime, manga, and culture. We had guided tours with a guide, Yuki. He was very knowledgeable and answered questions we had about each location. He gave free time to roam around the destinations, on our own, after each segment of the tour. We traveled with 10 others who were originally unknown to use but became fast friends. The temples shrines and bullet train were phenomenal. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. One which you should not miss!!!!

The Japan Delux Tour was a great experience to explore all of Japan for your first time. The staff is very friendly and I absolutely love the tour guide for my group. You explore many different cities and the most popular locations. The only downside would be you don't get to spend too much time at certain places because you're busy traveling around, but it's great to note which places you wish to visit again for future trips!

Kana is the best!!! She did a great job taking care of our group. She is sweet and cares about every single person individually.

My husband and I used Japan Deluxe Tours for our honeymoon and we had a wonderful experience. We had a private tour and it was so worth the money. We made friends with our guides and got to ask more questions and go to more places that we really wanted to see. The hotels were fantastic and transportation was easy with our guide. My husband and I can’t wait to come back to Japan and would definitely book with them again with our friends!

I’m so happy I booked with Japan Deluxe Tour. The communication from the beginning to end was exceptional. Once we arrived to Tokyo, our guide Kana, was extremely helpful. She is the sweetest person and was very patient with our questions. We felt very comfortable with her as a guide. Will definitely be booking again!

After two years, Japan finally opened in July and the tour company called me right away. With the new change for what was required to enter Japan it was a difficult process with paperwork, applying Visa cards, and getting vaccines. The tour company people were very helpful and patient with me as I was asking a lot of questions and concerns.

After all was set and done, I began my Japan Anime theme tour with my friend and it was an amazing experience!!! 9 days in three different cities (Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka). We enjoyed the shrines, the shopping and special tour attractions like the Studio Ghibli museum and Universal Studio Japan. I personally like to thank our tour guides on the trip that were very knowledgeable of Japan as well as helpful when asking our questions.

After a difficult time during Covid, Japan Deluxe Tours helped me achieve my wish for a very long time. I’m very satisfied with this tour company and when things have settled down with Covid and fewer restrictions, I like to do another tour again in the future.

My wife and I attended the Essence of Spring|Anime tour in March through April. It was a wonderful experience and we highly recommend it!

Tour Guide: Kana
We had the good fortune to have Kana as our tour guide. She is genuinely such a sweet, humorous, and good-natured person. She shares interesting stories to keep the bus rides entertaining and gets us prepared for our next destination. When our group members would share our experiences, Kana would join in on our excitement and made us feel so welcome and comfortable.

Our group consisted of wide-ranging members as young as 9 years old to more senior travelers, coming from places like Australia, Singapore, USA, Mexico, etc. Though our members had different preferences, needs, and interests, Kana was adaptable and was able to make arrangements such that everyone had a good time. JDT is lucky to have a tour guide as amazing as Kana!

Program: Essence of Spring | Anime
We started the tour in Kyoto, then Hakone, then Tokyo. The itinerary is fast-paced out of necessity since we did so much each day. We never felt rushed, but at the same time, we did not feel we could indulge too much in any place either. I guess a good analogy would be food: we were satisfied with each visit but never had enough time to get stuffed.

The locations were well-selected. Every place we went was interesting and had plenty to do. It's difficult for us to choose highlights because the entire trip is basically a highlight reel, but we would say a few places that exceeded our expectations were the Jin-riki-sha ride, Harajuku, and the Ghibli museum.

Meals were for the most part really tasty. The included breakfast buffets at the hotels were the best we ever had. Pre-set meals for lunch and dinner were good, but if you are used to larger portions, you might find yourself wanting more. This will not be a problem if you snack throughout the day when visiting places.

Hotels were all high quality but small compared to US standards. If you bring full-size luggage with carry-ons, you might feel a little cramped. Not a big deal since you won't spend too much time in your hotel room.

Charter bus was clean and comfortable. Our bus driver Mr. Miyagi did a great job.

Tips:
We came during cherry blossom season. Everywhere is pretty packed so just expect crowds and traffic congestion in the more popular touristy sites.

You will walk quite a bit. We had more advanced aged travelers who managed but I think they did struggle at times.

We stayed an extra 3 days in Tokyo after the tour ended. We used that time to visit animal cafes, Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Teamlab Borderless, special restaurants, shopping, and more. If you want to see special events like Sumo wrestling, get tickets early as they seem to sell out. It's a good idea to stay a few days more if you are able.

Conclusion:
Thanks JDT and Kana for giving us the best vacation ever!

I have been traveling mostly on my own for a while now but decided to spend 8 of my 14 days in Japan on a guided group tour. This turned out to be an outstanding decision. With the highly knowledgeable, experienced, warm and approachable tour director, Miho, and 24 other friendly and enthusiastic travelers in a comfortable bus, every day and every destination was a winner. I so enjoyed the Takayama festival and spending the following morning exploring the charming and quaint old town, shopping for some Japanese products to take home with me. The two villages on the Nakasendo trail were picturesque, and stopping for some soba for lunch was a treat. Yes, there were times when it felt rushed and hectic but, overall, the itinerary worked for me. Thank you, Miho, for all your good work. The mini-lessons on the history, culture and way of life in Japan were enlightening and your appropriate personal anecdotes were insightful. I learned a lot from traveling with you.

If you're going to Japan, this is the tour to use! Our guide, Hiro, was so amazing. I can't say enough good things about her. She treated us like family. We always felt safe and secure...our bus driver was fantastic. It is amazing how many fun, historic, educational, beautiful, and scenic places we were able to visit in just 10 days. Hiro is a master at handling all of the logistics. And when one of the spots was unexpectedly closed for the day in Hakone, she was able to secure a visit to the Open Air museum instead...which turned out to be one of my favorite stops. This is an especially good tour for first-timers to Japan. I now feel like I could return on my own and have a basic handle on how to get around.

Such a great tour and a great experience! Our tour guide Hiroko was knowledgeable and helped make sure everyone had a good experience. Anime, pop culture, food and historical places all over Japan. This was a trip of a lifetime!

Booking this tour was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. We did the 11-day Anime-Hiroshima Tour. This tour was amazing and made transportation a breeze. Yuki was our guide and he is the best guide ever. He was fun to chat with and knowledgeable about the sites he was showing us. He taught us the correct way to bow and clap at Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples. He is willing to assist you in any way and really cares about his job.

Having a bus drive you from location to location was wonderful. It worked great except for the day we drove from Tokyo to Owakudani Valley in Hakone. We ended up on the bus for about 5 hours trying to drive to Owakudani Valley (since the ropeway was down due to strong winds). And it was all for nothing since we ended up not visiting it due to too much time in traffic and a lack of parking at Owakudani Valley. All we saw in Hakone was an Open-Air Museum which was skippable.

All the destinations in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima were great. I wouldn’t change a thing with those. The amount of free time at each location was the perfect amount. It gave you enough time to explore the site, Temple, or Shine and still shop for souvenirs and eat street food. My favorite activity was the rickshaw ride through the bamboo forest. You even get a private section of the bamboo forest to your rickshaw group that walking tourists cannot go into! It was so fun. I also loved the Fukagawa Edo Museum.

I highly recommend visiting Takeshita Dori on your free day rather than just with the group. Takeshita Dori it too busy when the group visits and you don’t have much time. I suggest going early in the morning around 10:30am to try things you won’t get to when the place is super crowded.

Even though feeding the deer in Nara was disappointing because most of them were full and didn’t want to eat anymore rice cakes, it was still fun to pet them and watch the young ones play. It was so relaxing to watch the deer in the Nara Deer Park. Todaiji was MASSIVE. A trip to Kyoto wouldn’t be complete without a half day excursion out to Nara.

The two of us were the only ones to visit Himeji Castle, Koko-en historical gardens, and Hiroshima and let me tell you that it is so worth it to extend your trip by two days and visit those sites. Himeji Castle is too beautiful for words. It is a must see! The historical gardens was something that I wasn’t looking forward to, but WOW, they were awesome to see in the fall. The leaves and ponds were gorgeous. I loved watching the koi fish and walking the stones over the ponds. It was relaxing. The museum near the A-Dome in Hiroshima was somber. It was heartbreaking to see what people went through, but also a must for anyone interested in WWII history and paying their respects to all those who lost their lives there.

There was some incredible food experiences on this trip. My favorite was the Kaiten Sushi restaurant or conveyor belt sushi. It was so fun ordering things and having them arrive to you on a conveyor belt. I had so much fun ordering things there and it was super cheap. You can order many different types of sushi. Try the ones with mayonnaise, they were all so delicious! I also loved the Teppen-yaki meal with a view in Tokyo. The meat melted in your mouth. The savory style pancakes on Miyajima were also a favorite of mine. The Maiko dinner is massive, there were too many courses to count. It was a fun experience although I’m not a picky eater and even I didn’t like some of the traditional food items. The traditional style foods were great to try though. Having the tour group compel you to try traditional food, whether I liked the taste or not, was an awesome experience.

The Maiko performance was entertaining, especially when she played the traditional game with members in our group. The tea ceremony was okay, but not as exciting as I thought it was going to be and there just isn’t room for a group of 14 to all sit on the floor in that tatami room. It was uncomfortable. Overall, the trip was wonderful and I am so glad that I booked it!

We are half way through our Southern Japan Tour with Japan Deluxe Tours and are having a wonderful time. Our tour guide Hiro is amazing, always helpful, always smiling, always there and very knowledgable. We have seen some wonderful sights and the hotels are always comfortable and well equipped. I am happy to recommend Japan Deluxe Tours to anyone wishing to tour Japan

Essence of Japan Tour was excellently successful guided by Mr. HIDE a very professional and funny at times. It was a brief tour of Japan, but covers it all. Its cultural experiences and history of Japan. A lot of scenery along the route like going to Hakone, riding the local and bullet train to kyoto. Riding the Glandola at Owakudani Ropeway and also the Rickshaw (Jin-riki-sha) at Arisimaya Kyoto. Eating Japanese traditional dishes, good for your diet, low in carbs, maybe it will lower your cholesterol level if you eat some of the sushi (high in omega-3 because of fish). Their delicacies or pastries are really good, not too sweet. We did drink matcha green tea that was made like latte. Japan is very clean, you seldom see trash can, no litters allowed. This kind of trait is very good to bring back home for cleanliness.

The tour guide was fantastic. Pack in a lot while leaving the hotel at a reasonable hour. A good mix of provided meals, which sometimes include traditional food that may not be for everyone, with meals on your own.

The tour also included 2 free days. Being able to explore on your own a couple days is really nice.

1 criticism is the cup of noodles museum. This should be reserved for tours with children. More time could be spent at the immigration museum.

Hotels were great. Busses comfortable. Taking the trains was a great experience too.

I did the Takayama Festival tour. This is a great way to experience Japan! We saw a wide variety of sights. The travel was also broken up well with frequent stops to sightsee. I would give the tour 4.5 stars if Google allowed half stars. There were several times at gardens, castles, and shrines that we didn't have enough time to see everything or our time felt very rushed due to being locked in by meal reservations or the need to travel to the next town.

Japan Deluxe Tours provided an incredible adventure through Japan, and our guide, Mr. Shige, played a pivotal role in making it a memorable journey. Shige's helpful nature and sense of humor added a unique charm to the tour. From the moment we arrived, everything was well-organized for us, except for the flights, which we had to arrange ourselves.

Our accommodations throughout the trip were excellent. The first hotel in Ikebukuro, the Prince Hotel, left a lasting impression. Being connected to the massive shopping mall, Sunshine City, was a fantastic convenience. Exploring the mall and discovering treasures like the Pokémon Centre, Sanrio shop, and One Piece store added a layer of enjoyment to our stay.

While Tokyo demanded a lot of walking, with approximately 20,000 steps daily, it was invigorating to explore this bustling metropolis. In Kyoto, we had the luxury of buses, which meant less walking. Osaka, especially Universal Studios, offered us the opportunity to enjoy the attractions at our own pace. The smaller group size during the days in Tokyo and Kyoto enhanced the experience, allowing for a more personalized and intimate exploration.

The itinerary was packed with exciting activities, leaving us feeling like we'd only scratched the surface of Japan's treasures. The exhaustion at the end of each day was a testament to how much we saw and experienced. Tokyo alone could easily occupy a month of exploration!

Although the Ghibli Museum visit had to be canceled, our visit to TeamLab provided a mesmerizing and unforgettable alternative. The "day off" allowed us to catch our breath, do some laundry, and leisurely explore Ikebukuro, which was a pleasant break from the packed schedule.

The hotels in Kyoto and Osaka also exceeded our expectations, and enjoying breakfast at the hotels was a great way to start the day. We had a couple of meals provided, and while the wagyu beef lunch wasn't to my taste, my husband thoroughly enjoyed it. The traditional Japanese dinner at the Japanese-style hotel in Kyoto may not have been our favorite, but it was a cultural experience in itself.

One downside was the timing of our visit to Universal Studio, as it was extremely busy and overwhelming. A visit earlier in the week might have been a better choice.

Overall, our trip with Japan Deluxe Tours had a few minor downsides but numerous upsides. The memories we created during this adventure far outweighed any inconveniences. We returned home with a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of Japan, and we are planning our next trip already!

This tour is perfect for those that are nervous about going to a foreign country. All of the transportation is fully solved by them, so no need to learn the train system or bus system or taxis of Japan. Kana was an awesome tour guide, and incredibly helpful! Be comfortable with lots of walking, though. Several fun destinations