Review

Laura Hysjulien

Best of Tokyo and Kyoto

October 14, 2025 - October 25, 2025

This was our first tour and realized that tours are just not our style. We loved all the details that went in to our tour. Loved that transfers and tickets were taken care of. We just are not tour people and having only 4 people on the tour was fabulous.

Itinerary

The reason for a 4. Most things worked well. There were a few things that were very rushed and a few places that were not worth the rushed and long travel effort. The boat ride tokyo ( not the evening ride) was not great, couldn\'t see anything and wasnt worth it. The fee early meeting times just doesn’t work for us. The crater, while interesting was a very long travel day for the payback. The garden after himeji castle was so-so. Not worth it. Day 1 great, day 2 great, day 3 good river cruise not good) , day 4 free day, day 5 ok. Long travel day lots of time spent traveling. Going to Kyoto on that day was too much. Day 6 kyoto, great. Day 7 great. Day 8 was great. The lunch at the temple was not that good. Would have preferred a lunch in a regular restaurant as it just seemed like a tour group experience for tourists day 9 was fabulous except for the garden after himeji castle. Really not much to see could have easily skipped. Day 10 good.

Lodging

Tokyo gets a 5 fabulous stay!. Kyoto a 4 or 3. Massive hotel so crazy busy with huge tours coming and going made it hectic.

Food

Most of the food was great. Exception was the temple lunch sayonara dinner which were ok.

Guides

All guided amazing!!! Absolutely.

Pre-Tour Handbook

Tour Organization

Tour Transportation

Would you go on another tour operating by Samurai Tours: No.

Would you recommend Samurai Tours to friends or family: No.