Hello,
My husband, teen son and I are planning a first time trip to Japan for 3 weeks in June. Do you have any suggestions for a travel agency to help us with planning?

Not a travel agency, but japan-guide.com is a truly excellent resource. If you are willing, it can help you with every step of planning your own trip.

I trust you realize that Japan's rainy, humid season starts in June. Consult weatherspark.com for some excellent climate data.

Ditto about rainy season. Go as early as you can

TAs: Japan Experience, Klook, H.I.S. Travel

But, IDK if a TA helps with planning. I thought they mostly offered tours. Maybe they can help you implement a plan that you come up with, which is mostly what we are all on this to do. But you are going to do some homework.

One way to come up with a DIY plan is to take a look at tours that are available. Learn where they go and why and use that info to find out what interests you.

JNTO can help: Japan Travel Planning | Travel Japan（Japan National Tourism Organization）

I agree with mrwunrfl that looking at tours can be helpful, but would offer a cautionary note: Tour groups can proceed MUCH more rapidly than independent travelers! That's partly because they pre-arrange transportation and meals, partly because some things will be just stop-for-a-photo options, etc. Even if you are willing to adopt the same schedule (up early, on the move much of the day), I usually estimate that independent travelers need anywhere fro 25 to 50% more time for the same sights as tour groups.

I dislike the idea of looking at tour itineraries. Too much reliance on the LCD and are geared for the grandma set. Especially, if you have a teenager, many just don't apply. kja original suggestion of japan-guide.com is excellent. And only you can decide what is most important and meaningful. Once you've looked into it.

I've been to Japan three times, and my favorite day was with my two teens in Yokohama. We went to Sea Paradise, TaYa Cave, and ate at the Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum. I would never have found that on any kind of tour itinerary.

Travel agencies are heavily dependent upon your country of residence. I know of several great ones here in the UK . That said they do charge highly for their service though. I always travel independently but do occasionally check on agents for cost comparison. A 50-100% mark up is not unusual.

These site are pretty good if you do want top plan your own trip. In many case you can hire guides or take short tour when there.

https://www.japan-guide.com
https://trulytokyo.com
https://www.insidekyoto.com

If you decide to go to Japan on your own and want a guide for something or other, you might consider working with one of Japan's GoodWill guides:

The Japanese National Tourism Organization coordinates free volunteer guides throughout Japan. These “Goodwill guides” – who are generally knowledgeable and happy to guide you in return for practicing their English – can be excellent, but as I understand it, they are a bit of a luck-of-the-draw. I don't know how it works now, but in the past, you could communicate by email in advance to ensure that the plan meets your needs.

You pay any entrance fees and his/her meal if your time with the guide includes one. Do NOT tip these guides (or anyone else in Japan). My suggestion would be to make your needs regarding any meal (including price range and any particular dietary requirements or restrictions) very clear in advance.
https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/lis...unteer-guides/

Japan Experience offers tours and excursions that, like other TAs, can give you itinerary ideas. I suggest not booking a tour for reasons kja gave. Tours are much more expensive than DIY and a DIY trip to Japan is easy enough to do. Much like, say, your trip to Spain. JE does offer custom planning and advice, but again, that is what we are here, on this forum, for and with no commission.

japan-guide offers itinerary ideas, too. They are as ambitious as tours can be. Take a look at the 14-day itinerary:
Japan Travel Itinerary - Best of Japan in 14 days

That is doable but would be better for a 21-day trip. I like that page because of the links at each stop. Follow the one for Tokyo and you might find your way to the Yokohama side-trip and the Ramen Museum, among other top attractions in that city. But that would be something you might find on your second or third trip, having made something like a typical (LCD) first trip. Typical being Tokyo & Kyoto with one or more of Hiroshima, Takayama, Kanazawa, Osaka. But, starting with that 14-day itinerary and adding days you can find your own favorite day experience.

I'll start over with the question.I should have asked given that I assumed you know very little about Japan.

Why do you (your family) want to go to Japan?

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you so much for taking the time to help and share your knowledge. This trip is a high school graduation present to our son. As with so many teens, he has always wanted to see Japan. In addition to seeing the famous sites, experience the culture, cities, people and food we are also interested in experiencing nature that’s unique to Japan. We are based in the US and have been to most of its NPs. According to my research June is a great time to visit Hokkaido. As first time visitor, I’m wondering if we should spend a week in Hokkaido and the rest in Honshu. Or all 3 weeks in Honshu and experience nature there without the extra travel. We don’t want to be on the go ALL the time so I have reservations. After Japan we are also spending 3 weeks in China. Please advise.

I trust (hope) you’ve already seen the Japan-guide.com web-page(s) on traveling to Japan with an interest in nature. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2122.html

As for China, well, it really depends on what you want to see and experience. If you can find an old Frommer’s guidebook that had Peter Neville-Hadley as an editor, I think you’ll find some exceedingly useful information not covered in most other sources. And you might find some helpful information (or at least some humor) in my old report of a trip to parts of northern China, including Beijing and Xián among other destinations. Thanks for helping make my trip to China amazing!

When you’re ready, I urge you to post a separate thread about your time in China.

Flying to Hokkaido is pretty easy. Tokyo (HND) to Sapporo (CTS) is one of the busiest routes in the world. It is 95 minutes flight and inexpensive. Several other Hokkaido airports are also served by nonstops from Haneda.

My understanding is that the rain starts in late May in Okinawa and marches north in June. You would want to visit Tokyo (and Japan Alps) before or after the rains pass over central Japan.

If your 3-weeks is in early June then I think that means you visit Tokyo/Honshu and then go to Hokkaido but later in June go to Hokkaido first. Or Tohoku.

PeterNH used to post here. If you read his excellent posts you would want to go to China even if it had not been on your radar. There was a woman who lived in Hong Kong and posted here about HK Great sutff. I think her names started with a C.

PeterNH still posts here under the name temppeternh. Just recently, he provided some current information:
China Update

For China, I can let you know what I did with my teen son:
We spent 3 nights in Beijing at the beginning and 3 nights in Shanghai at the end. In between, we did an 8-night private tour with guide and driver in Northwest China, form Lanzhou we saw the Bingling Si, Xiahe, Labrang Monastery, the Sangke Grasslands, Langmusi, Jiuzhaigou National Park, Huanglong, and Songpan.

We also combined this with one week in Japan. One of the great experiences of my life.