Japan Tours from USA

We knew very little about Japan and even less about our travel company, having been referred to them by Zicasso. We explained to our assigned coordinators our interest in food, exercise, and culture. They diligently created an itinerary and then worked with us patiently as we evaluated the presented options, and efficiently helped us to evolve our travel plans all the way through our departure.

Based on the professional manner in which they listened to us and helped us plan our trip, we had a good feeling. Still, we left for Japan not fully knowing what to expect.

The outcome was a trip that far exceeded our expectations. Every aspect of the plan unfolded with impeccable professionalism, reliability, ease, and comfort. When we needed to move from one destination to another, the transportation was arranged with remarkable attention to detail. For example, on our two encounters with the Shinkansen (bullet train), with our prearranged reserved seats, we were pleasantly surprised to find that, each time, our seats were located exactly where it was easiest to store our luggage, in space available only to the four of us.

Our hotels and planned dining events were four- and five-star quality.

We received white-glove treatment throughout the trip, such as an unforgettable private tea ceremony with one of Kyoto’s preeminent hostesses. Our visits to shrines, onsens (hot springs), cultural events, and overnight stays at remote Buddhist monasteries were orchestrated with impeccable planning, delivering us to each locale with hospitable private drivers. Everywhere we went, we were always made to feel like VIPs.

Perhaps most impressive was the selection of our private guides. We had three during the course of our two-week trip, and each was well versed in English, incredibly knowledgeable, well prepared, and could not have been more accommodating and kind. They coordinated our adventures, which included biking around Mt. Fuji, canoeing in Lake Kawaguchi, hiking in the Wakayama mountains, visiting the Hakone hot springs, touring us through Koyasan at the top of a sacred mountain, and educating us on the many historical sites, such as the Imperial Palace and the Kongobuji Temple, the famous shrines of Fushimi, the burial grounds at Okunoin, and the innumerable sights, sounds, and dining pleasures of Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, and Koyasan.

Our takeaway was that Japan is a land of wonder, with happy, kind people, a culture that values technology, hygiene, spirituality, sustainability, and discipline, and we look forward to returning to explore it further. When we do, we will again utilize the services of this travel company. Their remarkable choreography and orchestration, down to the finest detail, had us singing their praises at every turn of this trip.

From planning to execution, it was truly an exceptional trip. My husband, 17-year-old son, and I spent two weeks in Japan this June. We visited Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. We covered a lot of ground, but Zicasso's travel specialists made sure it was a stress-free experience, with activities for our varying interests. They really listened to what we wanted and provided a trip that exceeded even our high expectations.

I highly recommend planning a trip to Japan a year ahead. One of the highlights for us was a stay at our hotel in Osaka, with only 18 rooms, which made it hard to book. Favorite activities were knife making, the Osaka food tour, and the Nintendo Museum. We are glad we went in mid-June to avoid crowds and extreme heat. It was also easier to get into restaurants and shops that are otherwise packed.

Thank you to the tour operator and all the kind guides and drivers for two weeks of amazing memories.

This trip was a wedding present for my son and his wife. Zicasso’s travel specialist and travel company did an outstanding job planning an adventure we all loved. It was a balance of guided days, planned experiences (sushi making, matcha art, samurai fighting), and independent exploration of Japan. Just what we asked for!

We visited Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka as well as day trips to Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Nara, Uji, and Himeji. The hotels we stayed in were all well-located with restaurants and train stations nearby.

The guides we had were knowledgeable and friendly. We especially enjoyed the two days our travel specialist guided us around Kyoto, Nara, and Uji.

Overall, very pleased, with some challenges and hiccups along the way. We gave Zicasso’s travel specialist the general parameters of our trip request and received a very detailed itinerary suggestion, which we adjusted as needed. Our travel specialist was also able to offer very helpful recommendations and suggestions. We had many requested places to visit in a short amount of time. Our travel company put together an itinerary that made sense and that worked for us.

Excellent Tour Guides: Our guides in Tokyo and Hakone, in Osaka, on the Osaka night tour, and in Hiroshima were excellent! They were kind, respectful, and knowledgeable, and did a really good job making sure we were all accounted for, asking if we were doing OK and if we needed bathroom stops. It was impressive that they were able to move us along on our tour to see all that was promised, while not making us feel rushed.

Tour Guide, Not Good: Our guide in Kyoto kind of abandoned one group of us when he had the taxi drop us off at a spot near the second temple stop. He followed with the rest of our group in a different taxi, but he didn’t look for our group and headed straight up to the temple without us. After much confusion and walking while trying to find him, my sister and I decided not to make the walk to the temple because of difficulty walking. He said: you have the itinerary and knew which temple we were going to. Really?! The temple was so crowded that no one went in. My sister and her husband decided not to finish the tour and took a taxi back to the hotel. This tour was a lot of walking and not the best fit for our group of seniors. I would have preferred to visit less traveled, less busy temples and spots in Kyoto.

One slight hiccup was when I requested an 11am pickup instead of 1pm from our hotel to Haneda on the day of our departure. I thought it was set for the 11am pickup. It was not. After talking with the local contact from our travel company, we were able to get picked up around 12:30pm. This was one detail that our travel company said was received well in advance of our departure from the States, but never confirmed back with an itinerary change. And it was one I never followed up on. Lesson learned: don’t assume your plans are confirmed, always follow up.

The self-guide app was extremely helpful, and one that we referred to often to guide us on our trip. However, some details not in the self-guide app were in the second app. It was confusing to have to go back and forth to double-check things. One situation was with our Osaka to Kyoto pickup. By mistake we read in the self-guide app that the pickup time would be 11am, but that was the start time of our Kyoto tour! You have to go to the second app to see the pickup time was 9:00am. As a result, we were 30 minutes late getting to the start of our Kyoto Cultural tour!

Overall, the trip was culturally enriching, enjoyable, and educational. The guides were outstanding. The communications through the app with Zicasso’s travel company were easy and prompt. Having the tickets for the Shinkansen took away any stress with navigating the system, and the reserved seats were always at the end of the car with the extra luggage storage, so thoughtful! Everyone did their best to help me navigate restaurant dining, and for that we are so thankful. It was a challenge!

Kanazawa was delightful. The restaurant suggested by our travel company was terrific. Kyoto is magical. Concluding the trip at our hotel near Mount Fuji was wonderful, restful, and beautiful. Quite a contrast to Tokyo.

We have a couple of observations. We struggled with jet lag, which made the first 2.5 days of guided tours exhausting. We arrived on Monday afternoon and would have been better served with a free day on Wednesday or Thursday instead of Friday. By the time we arrived in Kanazawa on Saturday, we were hungry and tired.

While we appreciate the uniquely Japanese onsen experience, it was not to our liking. The chef did an amazing job accommodating my food restrictions, but set multi-course dining is not our style. And to have huge meals for dinner and then again breakfast in an environment with little opportunity for activity was uncomfortable. This experience is not for everyone, and it is expensive.

We would prefer to have stayed another night in Kyoto and made a day trip to Hiroshima. The guide and driver were not needed in Hiroshima.

We would recommend our travel company to friends and family. The guides and ease of train travel made the trip!

My husband and I recently returned from an incredible 17-day journey through Japan arranged by Zicasso’s travel company as part of our 40th anniversary celebration, and we could not have been more pleased with the experience.

From the very beginning, communication was exceptional. The planning process was smooth, included several meetings to refine our itinerary, and the final detailed itinerary provided everything we needed, including dinner reservations, transportation arrangements, after-hours contacts, guide information, and helpful Google Maps links in both English and Japanese. The team was also very responsive throughout our trip, giving us confidence and peace of mind.

The itinerary itself was thoughtfully designed and perfectly paced. We traveled through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara, Nikko, Sendai, Matsushima, and Ginzan Onsen, experiencing an excellent mix of large urban cities, cultural activities, guided tours, scenic destinations, and personal downtime. Highlights included the Tsukiji Fish Market, an immersive digital art experience, a private tea ceremony, a traditional geisha experience, visiting a knife artisan workshop, Hiroshima, Nara, and Nikko.

The accommodation selections, including hotels, ryokans, and onsens, were excellent.

The guides were another standout feature. Every guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and communicated very well, helping us gain a deeper appreciation for Japan’s culture and history. The private guides and carefully planned experiences added tremendous value throughout the journey.

Transportation arrangements were flawless. Every driver arrived early, vehicles were spotless and comfortable, and all transfers were handled professionally and safely. Whether meeting us at airports, train stations, or hotels, the drivers were reliable and courteous, making travel between destinations stress-free.

What impressed us most was how seamlessly everything came together. We saw everything we wanted to see while never feeling rushed. The balance between guided touring and independent exploration was exactly right for us.

Thank you to Zicasso’s travel specialist and the entire travel company team for creating such a memorable anniversary trip. Your attention to detail, professionalism, and personal service made our Japan adventure truly special. Special thanks to the travel specialist and her colleagues as well as the exceptional guides and drivers you provided to us. We would happily recommend this travel company to anyone seeking a well-organized, authentic, and unforgettable experience in Japan.