Japan tour operators
 

I am trying to rebook my first and likely only trip to Japan which was cancelled this year.

While I know I could manage the trip on my own, at this stage in my life, I’d prefer to let someone else take that responsibility.

That said, I am looking at some tour operators. The 3 tours I am considering are each run by different companies. I came here to search for comments on them but came up empty handed.

They are: Wendy Wu, Go Collette and Japan Deluxe Tours.

While I realize the tours are really dependent on individual guides and itineraries I am wanting to know a bit about the tour operators.
I have read as many reviews as I can but would like to hear from my Fodorites.
Thanks in advance.

I doubt anyone active on this board will have any experience with the 3 tour operators to offer comments.

But by taking a quick look at their website for their respective Japanese tours itinerary, I think Go Collette's "Culture Treasures of Japan" is a good itinerary for a first (and likely only) trip to Japan.
https://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/...sures-of-japan

You may always add extra days on your own in the ending city to spend more time in Kyoto.

I believe that Colette used to be the cheaper version of Smithsonian tours, I know nothing about the other companies. Friends of mine have traveled with Colette, I don't remember their experience being particularly good or particularly bad. I would look into how big their groups are. I prefer to travel solo, but if I'm going in a group I prefer under 20, and certainly no more 30.

The Colette itinerary looks OK. The 14 day tour with Wendy Wu includes Koya-san, but has more one-nighters, something else I try to avoid.

I have found Japan an extremely easy country to visit on my own using the excellent rail system, plus a few buses.

Inside Japan Tours has a very good reputation. We haven’t used them yet but asked them for itineraries etc.

Depending on when you are travelling, I have a teacher friend, who taught in Japan, and takes private tours. She currently lives and teaches in Hawaii, but speaks Japanese and knows her way around Japan very well. If you are traveling solo and this will be your one and only trip to Japan, this kind of personalized and reasonably priced tour might suit you. Message me if you want to explore this possibility at your option: [email protected].