Kate's graduation trip
Japan | Jun 4 - Jun 14, 2024

E
Eisha A.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2024

Hotel Reviews
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Tokyo

In a business district so quieter at night but close to everything. Beautiful very large park one block away. Excellent western-style amenities, huge rooms, amazing gym, great food.

Authenticity & Character
Very western
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora
Hakone-machi Ashigarashimo gun

Hotel was nice but view was awful - even on the river side you are overlooking dingy industrial-style buildings and mountain side you overlook ugly buildings and a parking lot. Indoor hot springs were basically a few oversized jacuzzis - nothing outside. Hotel staff hardly speaks English.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hyatt Regency Kyoto
Kyoto

Fantastic location in between two amazing temples and the national museum and feels like an oasis. Fantastic food and western style amenities including fitness center.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
Osaka

Incredibly overpriced. Not a western-style hotel and demanded extra payment at check in because my 16 year old is not a "child". Room was super tiny and food was awful. Room was also on 5th floor and we were woken up all night by sirens.

Authenticity & Character
Location
close to shopping district
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was way too small for two people - did not even have space to unpack luggage
Activity Reviews
Full day Tokyo Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Animal Cafe, Sumo Show and Experience (with Sumo Lunch), Ginza,  Akihabara, Shibuya
Full day Tokyo Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Animal Cafe, Sumo Show and Experience (with Sumo Lunch), Ginza, Akihabara, Shibuya
Tokyo

We did not need a guide for this as guide offered little value other than making sure driver got us to where we needed to be. Could have just taken a cab to all of the places. Was offered no "guiding" or inside or local perspective - just dropped off and met up with an hour later at each destination. Sumo show was very fun and entertaining.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide offered no value, driver was puled over by a cop 10 minutes into the day
Transport
Full Day Tokyo Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Jump Shop Parco Shibuya, Nintendo Tokyo, Jump Shop Parco Shibuya, Harajuku, Robot Restaurant
Full Day Tokyo Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Jump Shop Parco Shibuya, Nintendo Tokyo, Jump Shop Parco Shibuya, Harajuku, Robot Restaurant
Tokyo

We did not need a guide for this as guide offered little value other than making sure driver got us to where we needed to be. Could have just taken a cab to all of the places. Was offered no "guiding" or inside or local perspective - just dropped off and met up with an hour later at each destination. Robot at robot restaurant was super lame, we should have been told that the Nintendo and Pokemon experiences were much better elsewhere. Could not visit jump shop because it required tickets - again - we should have been told that Jump Shops elsewhere were less crowded. We needed up not going back to robot restaurant at night because it was so lame.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
TeamLab Planets Tokyo
TeamLab Planets Tokyo
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Full Day Hakone Mt Fuji National Park Excursion from Tokyo by Private Vehicle and Guide:  National Park, Cable Car up Mt Owakudani, Pirate ship across the Lake Ashinoko
Full Day Hakone Mt Fuji National Park Excursion from Tokyo by Private Vehicle and Guide: National Park, Cable Car up Mt Owakudani, Pirate ship across the Lake Ashinoko
Tokyo

Overly crowded. Should have been told it would be very cold so we could dress more warmly. Water too bad we could not see Mt Fuji. No help getting lunch so ate terribly.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kyoto Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide:  Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show, Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle
Full Day Kyoto Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show, Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle
Kyoto

Fantastic guide who actually stayed with us the whole time and gave us information

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer from Kyoto to Nara, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple , transfer from Nara to Osaka
Transfer from Kyoto to Nara, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple , transfer from Nara to Osaka
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Osaka Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide:  Godzilla Park on Awaji Island
Full Day Osaka Tour by Private Vehicle and Guide: Godzilla Park on Awaji Island
Osaka

Did not need a guide AT ALL for this. Should have just gotten a cab or other car, no driver. Godzilla park was fun for Godzilla lover in our group. Otherwise, it was kind of lame.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Kate Long