Discover Japan Tour: 15-day Small Group

After taking a 15-day trip in November, 2025 my wife and I would whole heartedly recommend Japan and More for anyone considering a tour of Japan. While we usually travel on our own, getting about via train or rental car, we felt a bit intimidated by Japan and thought a tour might be helpful. For us it was a wonderful way to go for a number of reasons. Our feeling that we made the right decision began at our first breakfast meeting, when we were given advice on how to travel in Japan with a the goal of fitting in to the culture, and not making typical tourist mistakes that might inadvertently frustrate the Japanese. And this advice continued throughout the trip with helpful tips on things like etiquette on riding the trains, how to eat at restaurants like a local, and proper behavior at religious sites. All this understanding was brought home when we occasionally saw other tourists doing those things that we now knew to be inappropriate. It was a great lesson on respecting the culture of your host country and one that we would not have had without Becki and Shawn’s guidance. We also felt because of the logistical planning Japan and More provided we were able to experience a broader range of activities than might have been the case had we gone alone. Some of these were events we simply would not have had access to easily, such as dinner with a geisha (maiko/geiko), or a personalized sushi making lesson. But also because of Becki and Shawn’s experience with local transportation, we were much more efficient in moving about than we would have been otherwise, enabling us to get to more places in the time we were there. Before the trip we were provided a questionnaire on what we were interested in, and the itinerary was constructed and customized in part with these responses in mind. As a result we spent much of our time going to places and doing things of interest to all of us in the group. But also some free time was built in to the schedule so if a particular event on the schedule was of less interest it was no problem for us to use that time to explore on our own. Another aspect of the preparation was providing background information and recommendations on what to prep for in advance of the trip (history, books/films and also local restaurant guides). These were sent a few months leading up to our departure and we appreciated the regular communications and touch points. In addition, during our trip, both Becki and Shawn went out of their way to provide personal recommendations - whether it was where to buy handmade chopsticks, attend a local autumn festival, advice on green tea (Becki is an expert!) and tasting local traditional Japanese sweets from the towns we visited. Finally Becki and Shawn are such engaging and pleasant guides, that it wasn’t long before we really felt we were just seeing the country with a couple friends who know it very well and want you to experience it, and enjoy it, as much as they do.

We had a fabulous trip to Japan to see the autumn colours and really experience the culture and beauty of the country. Becky and Shawn showed us the beauty, culture and also taught us how to respect the culture and the local people. We saw so many fantastic things too numerous to list here, but highlights included a geisha evening, fall colours around Mt Fuji, and a sumo tournament. All spectacular and fun. As a train enthusiast I could not have asked for a better method of travel. Japan and more went out of their way to help us make the most of our time in the country.

What a trip of a lifetime! We experienced so many aspects of Japan with the best guides. Becki and Shawn of 'Japan and More' are truly dedicated to showing travelers the BEST of Japan and handled every detail. Info and advice ahead of the trip was truly helpful in preparing fully. We absolutely appreciated the small group atmosphere. Everyday was a new adventure but the itinerary wasn't overwhelming. Accommodations were top notch and group meals were varied and delicious. Not having to navigate the trains ourselves was lifesaving. Worth every penny we paid! Truly professionals but also super friendly and warm. It felt like traveling with great friends. Don't hesitate to book with 'Japan and More' - Becki and Shawn are the BEST! Highlights: Expert Guidance: Becki and Shawn handled every detail and navigation. Small Group Vibe: A personal, non-overwhelming atmosphere. Top-Notch Accommodations: High-quality lodging. Authentic Experiences: Overnight stay in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and Onsen (hot springs). Culinary Delights: Multi-course Kaiseki dinner, sushi making class, sake tasting, and fantastic food variety (sushi, ramen, tempura, etc.). Unique Moments: Private dinner with a Geisha and seeing a snow-capped Mt. Fuji.

My partner and I wanted a small group tour of Japan. After a fair amount of research we discovered ‘Japan and More’ and decided on a trip for early autumn. Over a period of many months prior to our travels Becki and Shawn sent out regular emails with helpful hints and tips regarding Japanese culture, language, customs and food. And a month or so prior to departure we had a video-link hook-up … it was a ‘getting to know you exercise’ as well as an opportunity to discuss any trip- related questions. We were very favourably impressed by all the trip preparations. And we continued to be impressed by Becki and Shawn for the two week duration of our travels. It was like being on a holiday with good friends who have spent decades living, working and travelling in Japan. The trip itinerary they prepared for us was a veritable ‘tasting platter’ of the best of Japan to be found in the southern half of Honshu island … a castle, temples and shrines, walks around old towns and modern shopping precincts, fabulous gardens and some wonderful museums. And they took us to restaurants that show-cased different varieties of Japanese foods! On many days we also had free time to wander, to find shops and discover restaurants for ourselves (often with helpful recommendations provided by our guides). And if there was something not on the itinerary that a guest wanted to see (for us it was the Shinjuku cat billboard) they varied the itinerary and made it happen. It was indeed a happy and wonderful experience. The two weeks passed far too quickly. There is so much to see and do in Japan and it is easy to feel that you have hardly scratched the surface of what is on offer. But, looking back, we realise that Becki and Shawn put together a trip that covered so many different things we do not feel that we missed out on anything we had hoped for. It truly was Japan … and More!

My wife and I have traveled extensively for the past 15 yrs while visiting many international countries. Without doubt, Shawn and Becki are the best guides we have ever used. They expertly planned and organized an extensive 15 day tour of Japan for four couples. Each and every aspect of our tour was 5 star. All the logistical aspects were flawless as we visited multiple incredible locations. The accommodations were all incredible! It was a culinary delight throughout the tour. We are still raving about the variety of Japanese food we were able to experience. From our initial day until the tours completion, it was 100% clear to us that Becki and Shawn’s goal was to make it the most incredible experience we have ever had! Mission complete! They totally exceeded every expectation we had about our Japan tour. Definitely the “more” in Japan and More is a fact! Besides providing us with an absolutely incredible and unforgettable tour of Japan , Shawn and Becki are some of the nicest people we have ever met!! Thank you so much for the memories of a lifetime! Ernie and Tish