InsideJapan Tours

My trip to Tokyo, Japan in September of 2018 was for me, both life-changing and life affirming. I've wanted to visit since I was a child and had an opportunity to do so after college graduation. Due to increasingly severe health problems, I was forced to forego my dreams of travel and spend a decade in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices.

When I was finally healthy enough and financially secure enough to make this dream come true, I needed someone who could have my back. I was not only visiting Japan for the first time, but this was to be my first time travelling outside the US. There was also the issue of the Japanese language, in which I'm not proficient.

With help from InsideJapan, I spent a week in Tokyo doing a mostly self-guided experience. (But I never felt alone or like I didn't have back-up; should something arise.) I spent a day wondering Harajuku and Shibuya with a guide, and then using the tools provided, made my own way to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, the art museums of Roppongi Hills, Tokyo DisneySea in Urayasu, had a kimono dressing with my hair done and a professional photographer at a cultural center in Yanaka, wondered Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum, and was wowed by the digital artwork at teamLab: Borderless in Odaiba.

Shakira was the perfect consultant, helping me to restructure the abandoned plans from a decade ago and turn them into something that gave me all the experiences that I wished for while still coming in under budget. She answered my many questions, helped to customize my experience in ways that I wouldn't be able to on my own, and assured me of on the ground support once in Tokyo, should I need it. She also addressed a big concern, which is my shellfish allergy and made sure that my hotel was aware and that I was prepared when going out to eat so that I wouldn't have an episode.

Brian was my first day Insider, who took me around Shibuya and Harajuku, showed me how to purify myself at Meiji-Jingu, took some wonderful photos, navigated our way to the many shops and art experiences that I had listed, and gave me a train map and taught me to use it!I'm eternally thankful to him because the things he showed me that first day allowed me enough independence to go the rest of the week on my own.

I'm extremely pleased and thankful to InsideJapan! I was even bragging about them to other English speaking tourists who had gone entirely on their own and found more chaos and hurdles than I had because they didn't have someone on the ground, who knew the lay of the land.

If I was obsessed with Japan the dream before, I'm enamored with Japan the reality. I hope to return in the next few years, explore outside of Tokyo and I will of course, seek out InsideJapan.

The most amazing trip organiser! We've just returned from the most incredible trip around Japan organised by Steven mccready and the inside Japan team. Truly the best trip and so incredibly well organised around our family and all our dreams. Absolutely the trip of a lifetime.

The best tour company I've ever travelled with. Their guides are amazing and so knowledgeable. They take you off the beaten track and tithe best restaurants making the whole experience a trip of a lifetime. They really live up to their name and get you right to the heart of the country. They only take small groups so you don't feel hearded about.

InsideJapan was amazing to work with! Amy designed us an amazing trip for us and stayed within our budget. We were kept updated throughout COVID. Unfortunately we were not able to go on our trip. We were treated very fairly by InsideJapan. We will definitely be using them when Japan reopens!

I can't believe I never wrote a review of this company! I had an amazing self-guided tour of Japan years ago. I couldn't believe all of the activities and planning the trip included for such a great price. The booking agents were so helpful and kind. I even just recently contacted them about taking another trip through them and their sister company InsideAsia and Sally Edwards who I spoke with was extremely nice and helpful! Everything about the trip I took to Japan was planned and all I had to do was follow instructions.

Fabulous service both before and during travel to Japan, a great holiday experience and we felt supported yet free to enjoy our holiday in our way. Top notch

We were treated to a private guided tour of Kyoto by Van. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the sites we visited and Kyoto generally. He was also flexible as the day unfolded, with a few challenges thrown his way thanks to the new year holiday hours. Vans insights into the temples, shrines and areas we visited were illuminating and brought each destination to life for us.
Amazing day, thank you Van!

Had a guided sightseeing tour of Tokyo with Silvia. Can not recommend her enough. It was a truly amazing day, saw and did so many things we would not have known about if we did not have Silvia with us. Silvia is a wonderful, patient, extremely happy lady. Thank you