DebitNM

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.

Reading54

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.

thursdaysd

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.

HappyTrvlr

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