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Hi Darina,
Just back from our holiday in Japan. We had a wonderful time. Our starter hotel in Tokyo, the Shiba Park was good with very helpful staff and in a quiet area yet close to the underground. Our two guided tour days went very well. Both guides were excellent. Also our guide at the airport was very helpful. It was great to get the Japan rail passes sorted there. Mark got an opportunity to practice his Japanese which he enjoyed immensely. Thanks for all your help and patience with the planning. Jennings Family (March 2012 The Golden Route Self Guided)____________________________________________________________________________
Hi Darina
Just a quick note to say thanks very much for the organisation that went behind making our tour of Japan so memorable. We had a fantastic time and saw a tremendous cross section of this fabulous country and experienced some wonderful places. The service delivered by the 3 guides in Tokyo, Kyoto & Gokayama was superb and really added to the experience.
Thanks again, Regards
Maurice & Rachel (March 2012 "Forgotten Japan" Self Guided Tour)
____________________________________________________________________________
I just wanted to say that we had a fantastic time in Japan, and we really enjoyed the cookery lesson. Thanks for organising it all for us. We really hope to go back there one day. You come from an amazing place!
We had no earthquake related difficulties at all, so I do hope tourists start going back to Japan soon.
Catherine (April 2011 - The Golden Route Self-guided Tour)
I just wanted to personally thank you and your team for all your efforts in my trip to tokyo, it was probably one of the best trips of my life and your organization and detail really helped me over there to relax and enjoy myself. The tours were fantastic and and the guides were very interesting and helpful in showing me all around tokyo. I will without a doubt be returning to tokyo in the future and i will have no hesitation to go through your company again. Once again thank you and i wish you well in the future.
David Farrell (Feb 2011 - The Golden Route Self-guided Tour)
Hi Darina,
It's hard to know where to begin to give you an overview of our trip to Japan - it's impossible to pick out a highlight. First and foremost it is the Japanese people that leave the greatest impression - they are just so friendly, helpful and respectful. Tokyo was lovely - we really liked the city and Nobuku was absolutely excellent. The day trip to Nikko was well worth the effort and the parade was an added bonus - it wasn't nearly as crowded as we expected. Hiroshima was a must see as far as we were concerned and the memorial was beautifully done. The ryokan on Miyajima worked out really well - we had a view of the torii gate and as for the food - certainly a highlight. The Shabu shabu dinner and time with the Maiko was another special experience although one can't help wondering why such young girls would choose such a life. The weather changed as we arrived in Takayama but even in the pouring rain Shirakawa-go was great - well worth the trip. The bus trip to Matsumoto was a real treat as the display of colours in the woods on the mountains was really something and of course the castle in Matsumoto was another very special sight.
The rail pass was excellent value and I'm now a convert to train travel! All the hotels were great too and the access maps were excellent. So to sum it up, it was a great trip which we really enjoyed - we could have organised it all ourselves but not without a lot of stress and time so, thank you, I'm really glad we availed of your services because it is what made the difference in that we were free to get on with enjoying ourselves rather than having to work out how to get from a to b - the itinerary was spot on and all of that extra information and particularly the access maps made all the difference in terms of getting around and getting the most from the trip. Well done Japan Ireland Travel! I would certainly recommend you. Thanks for everything.
Regards
Margaret Farmer (Sep 2010 - The Golden Route Self Guided Tour)
Hi Darina
Just returned from the Land of the Rising Sun and wanted to let you know we had a great experience. It was a very well organised trip and we crammed a lot into the two weeks. It gave us an excellent flavour of so many different aspects of Japan.
In particular I want to say that we had an absolutely marvellous tour buddy in Kumi. She was highly efficient managing the group through what were sometimes quite complicated transport arrangements and did everything with good humour and a smile. She even managed to locate the house keys that one of our party had left behind but didnt know where. Kumi located them at the left luggage compartment of a major rail station and arranged to have them delivered while making it all seem simple and obvious. It was a pleasure to be with her for two weeks and I am sure you know what a great colleague you have. Feel free to quote me to any prospective customers you may have in the future.
David (Japan Discovered - Sep 2010 - Small Group Tour)
We are back from Japan where we have spent a very good holiday. It was very nice and we saw beautiful areas. Hotels were perfect . The second ryokan was excellent . The island was lovely.
We thank you very much for organizing the visit of the Shin Tachikawa. It was a very unforgettable and emotional day for us. Thanks again.
Best regards,
Caroline (The Golden Route Self Guided Tour, Sep 2010)
Hi Darina
Just a brief note to thank you and your colleagues for organising a great itinerary for our recent visit to Japan. The whole trip was a fantastic experience for all of us from the local guides, the hotels and various cities to the sites and island resort on the itinerary. It was also lovely to meet up for the lovely meal in Tokyo.
Kieran, Mary and Clare (The Golden Route Self Guided Tour, May 2010)
We had a great time in Japan and wanted to thank you both for your help in putting everything together for us. It all ran very smoothly and we had no trouble at all with travel arrangements, hotels etc.
On our first day we were upgraded in the Keio Plaza hotel to a larger room as they were aware that it was our honeymoon. We really liked this hotel and the location in Shinjuku was great. We loved the ryokan in Miyajima Island and the temple in Koyasan was very different. The only hotel we didn't really like was in Osaka as the room was small and very basic. However I know this wasn't the one that you had originally suggested in the package and its location was very good.
We both really loved the Bashayama hotel. As you mentioned there was a mix up in the dates but K gave us a very big room and the service was great over the few days. The food was delicious and even though it rained when we were there we had a great time and really enjoyed the day trip with Jacky. Its definitely somewhere we would never have discovered had you not suggested it! The picture I have attached is from our last night there.
I can't think of any problems we had over the two weeks or anything that we would have done differently. The Takkyubin service worked really well and everything was very efficient unlike anywhere I've been before. Thanks again for your help,
Killian & Anne-Marie (Japan Honeymoon, April 2010)
Hi Darina,
Just back from Japan, a note to thank your contribution to the venture..We used your services for 10 days of our trip..really must say that Unzen + Hotel Kyushu was the highlight...springs were fab..hospitality was superb and really enjoyed the rural relaxation after the activities of the cities.
A few comments..
- 7-11 ATM'S no longer take international cards...was a little concerned but Post Offices were fine..
- The connection from Nagasaki to Isahaya as suggested is very tight, trying to find the bus station etc, a wrong staircase on the overpass and...but there is a Local Nagasaki to Isahaya JR train dept. Nagasaki at 13.39 which gets into Isahaya Terminal at 14.14 and leaves plenty time to find the Bus and pre buy the ticket.
- One hotel we used ourselves which was excellent was ANA Kyoto. It has a shuttle to/from the station every 15 mins...great service (free).
- Fantastic country, so safe and stress free, surprising lack of English almost everywhere....menus especially ..so the "Cupla Focal" were well worth learning.
Thanks Again,
Would repeat the experience..especially Unzen.
Dermot Curran, Kilkenny (Kyushu Highlights Self Guided Tour, May 2010)
Darina.....We just want to thank you and your team so much for all of the excellent organisation and help you gave us for our recent two week trip to Japan. We had a brilliant time!
We were really impressed at how you organised everything, right down to the smallest detail, from train times on our daily planner to suggested places to visit each day. You really took all of the hassle out of planning a trip like this, especially given the language difficulties that we would have encountered. I don't think we could pick a favourite thing that we did on this trip, simply because our itinerary was so varied. We loved everything, from tropical Amami Island to traditional Kyoto and Miyajima. Tokyo was such a unique experience and something we will never forget. We will be sure to recommend your company to any friends of ours who may be considering travelling to Japan. Thanks again to all of you.
Diane and Michael (Traditional & Tropical Self Guided Tour, April 2010)
Dear Darina,
We have returned from what has been a trip of a lifetime. Our plans went 100% to the letter. Japan is a really beautiful country and the people are even nicer. The wedding went off without a hitch and the Japanese attention to detail is second to none. Our guide Yumiko was brilliant. She went above and beyond the call of duty in helping everyone on the trip. She even made it her business to talk and help each and every one of us including the children. The trips were beautiful and very informative. We had one rainy day but we did not let that stop us enjoying the Buddha!! Thank you again for all your help. If we ever visit Japan again, we will be sure to contact you.
Hope all is well with you!
Bernie & Brian Cahill, Wedding Group/Tailor made (Oct 2009)
To Darina and the team at Unique Japan Tours
We just wanted to say thank you for putting together an amazing honeymoon in Japan for us. The travel pack made it so simple to get around even though we had no knowledge of the language or any previous exposure to the country. The trip you tailor made for us was a perfect introduction to the country, its traditions and people. We have every intention of returning and seeing the rest of it over time and look forward to asking you to help us with that. We feel this was excellent value for money and would have no hesitation in recommending anybody interested in traveling to Japan to ensure that your team organises it for them.
Many thanks again,
Bian & Audrey (Oct 2009) Traditional & Tropical Japan
Hi Darina
First of all I want to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we really had a ball and it was only when we got there and realised that the language barrier could have been a big obstacle in terms of arranging things ourselves that we really appreciated how lucky we were to have had the trip all mapped out for us.
We loved Tokyo, both times we were there, even managed to get to the sumo world championships which was such a laugh. Nobuko, our guide in Tokyo was lovely, unfortunately it lashed rain on our first day when she was showing us around but she was very helpful and interesting and a delight to spend a day with. All of your organisation in relation to the trains and other transport and train times was invaluable, we didn't have one problem (except when we arrived in Hiroshima we couldnt find the tram in front of the station!).
As you know we left Tokyo and headed for Kawaguchicko, and stayed in the Fuji View Hotel. I absolutely loved climbing Mt. Fuji (well maybe not towards the top!), we got such a sense of achievement and adventure out of it, it was really well worth it, even if we were wrecked for a few days after. The Hotel was fine but definitely not one of the nicest we stayed in. We also asked about buses up to the 5th station early in the morning and they told us that we were out of season so there were none so we had to order a taxi which cost €120 and as it pulled up, a bus did as well and three other guests got on the bus.
We then went to Kyoto, the half day morning tour of the temples was plenty and in fact we missed the end of it as I wasn't feeling well. The Mitsu Garden Hotel had tiny rooms but it was fine, nice lobby etc. We had a great time on the tea ceremony/and geisha tour, the restaurant was so cool and was an experience meeting the Geisha, as James said we were both reading Memoirs so it really brought the book to life! We had a great night out in Pontocho as well.
Hiroshima was really interesting, we spent a whole morning at the museum and peace park (we actually got an earlier train from Kyoto than you had suggested to allow more time at the museum). Loved Mijajima and the Ryokan was such a treat!
Koyasan was another gem that we really enjoyed. We loved Osaka and the Swissotel was superb. The Peninsula was such a treat and we had such a great last day wandering around Tokyo, went to a museum and went to Shibuya and Harajuku which was hilarious!
Overall superb trip, I genuinely didn't want to leave. We didnt really encounter one problem and with all your help, the trip went so smoothly and was such a treat. Thank you so much and we'd be happy to meet up to discuss the trip if you'd like.
Aimée (Traditional & Tropical Japan, Self Guided Tour, August 2009)
Hi Darina,
The trip you designed for us was superb, and we realize the value in having it set up beforehand. After Tokyo, we climbed Mount Fuji which was tough, but delivered a massive sense of achievement. The weather was kind enough to us, and we made it up and down in around 7 hours having lost our way on the descent. We were wrecked for around 24 hours after it though.
We really loved Tokyo and Osaka cities – especially the Swissotel and of course the Peninsula Hotel. WOW! The Geisha evening was also a lot of fun as we were both reading Memoirs of a Geisha. And your real gem was Miwagima Island – what an amazing Roykan (IWASO). WOW! Koya-san likewise was stunning. And Hiroshima so interesting. The Bullet Trains were super – albeit expensive as we only used them around 3 times.
Overall we have you to thank for a really wonderful trip. Our pictures look great – well done for all your help!
James (Traditional & Tropical Japan, Self Guided Tour, August 2009)
Dear Darina
Just wanted to say a big big thank you or "domo arigató" for organising such an amazing honeymoon for us!!
From the moment we stepped in to your office every little thing was organised for us. We left it all in your hands and we were looking forward to what lay ahead for us. Our itinerary was just perfect and while we got to see so much of Japan and experience so much of the culture, it never felt rushed or that we were trying to "fit things in". Our hotels or the ryokan in each destination were top class and we relished all the pampering as honeymooners!
The highlight was definitely the people themselves...From the people in hotels and restaurants to the people we met just walking down the street.... everyone made us so welcome and made everything so enjoyable. They are such warm and genuine people and unbelievably kind and helpful. It was embarassing not to have a word of Japanese but with the best of efforts we learnt a few a long the way! Certainly they did not mind about our language barrier and were so patient in trying to understand our humble attempts!! In fact we have even had a few emails from some of our new found "friends" already!
As for the sightseeing highlights? we just can't decide...lazy days on Amami Island, dinner with a Geisha in Kyoto, staying in Iwaso Ryokan on Mijajima Island....even as I write this I can think of so many more which could compete for top spot!
Your recommendation to stay in the Penisula Hotel in Tokyo for our last few nights was the best! It was more than worth it and we indulged in all the luxuries there! It was also a great high to the end of our fabulous honeymoon.
Thank you so much for all your help and recommendations. We truly feel our honeymoon was the total experience and hopefully not a "once in a lifetime" holiday!!! We have recommended Japan and your expertise to all our friends and family so hopefully a few more people will get to enjoy a similar experience! We certainly plan to return to Japan in the future and look forward to seeing even more of this wonderful country.
Thanks again Darina.
Bláthnaid & Michael (Japan Honeymoon, June 2009)
Dear Darina
The perfect honeymoon – beautiful and varying landscape, friendly people, little or no crime, ability to travel with ease and the option of bright city lights to a quiet paradise island. On a few recommendations, Japan was the choice of honeymoon for us.
Myself and my husband went to Japan using Japan Ireland Travel on our honeymoon for 3 weeks. It was an amazing trip and completely different to what we thought it would be. The flat and industrial image of Japan in our minds was replaced by lush, vast green mountain ranges. We spent our first 4 days relaxing on a tropical island in the south of Japan. Here we did as little as possible to recuperate from wedding madness and lazed around the pool, swam in the blue ocean and dined on local cuisine. It was really the perfect place to relax.
We then made our way through the rest of Japan, stopping in Kyoto, Miyajima island and Hakone (with Mt Fuji), among others. Probably my favourite memories were the narrow quaint hopping streets of the old Kyoto capital, the dancing Geishas, picturesque canals and buildings, beautiful mountains and islands, stunning shrines and temples, the very friendly natives, endless variety of food, the absurdity, craziness, awe and madness of Tokyo, and the bullet train combined with the uncanny transport system and infrastructure (something I’ll never see the like of again).
I must also add that we always wanted to go to Japan but had it not been for Japan Ireland Travel, we would never have gone. I cannot say enough of how well our itinerary and trip was planned to our taste and needs. We had a guide in Tokyo to show us around and answer questions the first day and who was always on call. Another thing we realised while in Japan was how much we saved using this company and the valuable tips we received over there. The service was great and I would highly recommend them. We didn’t have to organise a thing which takes from the stress and time of organising a wedding.
I’ve tried to capture a sense of Japan which is probably impossible, and although it’s not really considered a honeymoon destination or even a holiday destination, we cannot recommend it more. It has everything.
Sara & Xavi (Traditional & Tropical Japan - Honeymoon Sep 2008)
Hi Darina,
Just wanted to say thanks for organising a great honeymoon for us. Amami and Takayama were fantastic and we'd never have ended up there without your expert help. Our day trip in Amami was great too, the canoeing in the mangroves was one of the highlights of the trip. 'Jackie' said to say 'Hi' too. We loved the ryokan in Kyoto too. The food was some of the best we've ever had and the location is perfect. I'm trying to persuade Rose to go to Japan again and if we do we'll definitely be back in touch.
Thanks again,
Niall & Rose (July 2008)
Darina Slattery from Japan Ireland Travel escorted myself and my partner on the Wonders of the West tour during May 2008. We booked our own flights and were met by Darina in the arrivals hall of Kansai airport and steered through the at times bewildering but efficient rail network to our hotel and checked in.
Darina put a lot of work and planning into this trip and which went very successfully. Throughout the tour, she provided smooth hassle free connections between the hotels in the various locations, she organised transport on trains, buses, taxis and a ship, provided admission tickets to the sights we visited and showed an ability to deal well with the unexpected. During the tour she escorted us to a wide variety of sights and cultural experiences, and organised some excellent Japanese meals.
From the beginning to about the halfway point, we were together as a group for much of the time, with more free time in the second half of the tour.
She remained available throughout the entire stay for help and advice.
We were both very satisfied that the tour was provided as advertised, we found Darina to be a patient, friendly and capable tour guide. Hope this helps.
Paul Ballance"
Wonders of the West Tour Small Group, May 2008
"Dear Darina
My husband and I visited Japan in August and got our rail passes from you. I first wanted to thank you for your advice the day I called to collect them.
We had an incredible three weeks in Japan. We were overwhelmed by the friendliness and kindness of the people, a few very memorable nights were had in izakaya's being invited for food and drinks by people we'd only met and could barely communicate with!! The food was beyond our wildest dreams and the beauty and serenity of the temples and shrines coupled with the madness of the lives of Tokyo and Osaka was a fantastic experience.
We visited most of the places you recommended so once again many thanks.
Sheila"
(Sep 2008, Japan Rail Pass Purchaser)
"Myself and my husband went on the wonders of the west tour in May and I just had to leave a comment!!
I can't find any way to express just what it was like to find ourselves in Japan having wanted to go there for years. The first thing that struck us was the language barrier, not to be underestimated! however with Darina who was our tour guide (and so much more) it wasn't the problem
that it could have been,therefore the whole experience was multiplied 20 times over.
For anyone who wants to not just see Japan but to feel it as well I couldn't recommend any company more than Japan Ireland Travel, so much so that we are already planning our next trip!!!
Best of luck for the future, you deserve it."
Frances Gorman
Happy Japanese Tourist May 2008 (Wonders of the West, Small Group Tour)
"We were thrilled with Japan.Okinawa was great. Kari and Tomishira were great and took a great interest in us and taught us some Japanese. Yuki was absolutely fantastic to us. She had a dry wit which was great and also a sense of humour. The sightseeing was good.The sword shop was a revelation as was the artifacts which were upstairs. WE WERE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THEM. The palace was disappointing but that is in comparison to other places. Hakone park was great and we as a group had great fun.
The Fujiya Hotel was a great old world hotel and it just so happens we have the secret hakone boxes at home so it was of more relevance. Patrick Carey the manager was very cordial to us, which we appreciated.
The Karate was outstanding and we felt this was a major highlight for two of us.Hotels were tops. We went to the Sumo wrestling and ventured on the underground without any problem. The advice on the bus that using a mobile phone could cause displeasure to another traveller was nice. We are very pleased and had no hiccups on our trip. Thanks again for helping us out."
Dr. M. O'Neill (Tailormade Karate Trip, September 2008)
Darina!
I don't know when I had such a wonderful trip! It was particularly special because I only met with Japanese people for the whole time. Mayuko and I had such good times - I hope she thought so too. I really loved going into the country and mountainous regions which would have been impossible without her. Thank you for arranging everything so well - Japanese friends were green with envy as they hadn't done some of the lovely things on the itinerary themselves.
Rosamond
(Sakura Spring 2008 Small Group Escorted Tour)
Hi Darina
First of all let me thank you and Masaki for a great experience.The trip has wetted my appetite for more and I am sure I will be returning to Japan some time in the near future hopefully with some friends to enjoy it again. Masaki was an excellent tour guide and we would have been lost without him from the start.Very patient and laid back, he looked after us all extremely well.Too many highlights to name here but the trip was very varied and rewarding and we got to see different parts and aspects of Japan.The food was difficult at times but that was more down to narrow palettes and Masaki did his upmost to help us all . I must thank him for his great patience at meals. But we all survived and are all the culturally wiser for it.On the whole there were no negatives for me. I only wish we were beginning our trip again.
Andrew Catchpole
(The Northern Trail Small Group Escorted Tour ) August 2008
Dear Darina,
Just to say I had a most enjoyable time in Japan and would not have been able to do it without your help and assistance. Wishing you all the best with your future tours to Japan. Thanks again and best of luck.
Anne Cunnane
(Wonders of the West May 2008 Tour Member)
"Just to let you know we really enjoyed the kimono wearing experience. They were lovely girls and the photos were very good quality. I am totally in love with Japan and the Japanese people. We had a fantastic trip from start to finish. My family also went to Miyajima ( I was unable to go due to exhaustion!). They absolutely loved it and have said it was the highlight of their trip so thank you so much for that tip".
"We had a fabulous time and thank you for all your help. We had no bother at Tokyo Airport getting the hotel shuttle as you advised. Kyoto was lovely and Hiroshima was very moving but well worth the visit. The Japanese people are lovely people and despite problems with the language were extremely helpful. Also we couldn't get over how clean everywhere was, we could learn a lot from them here. Thank you for your help once again."
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