We just got back from Japan and used “Inside Japan” as a tour group. I got their name from this forum, so I feel it’s important to clarify our experience. If you are expecting a Rick Steves type of tour this is not the tour for you. The group leader we had was on his first tour and he was poorly trained. He had difficulty navigating the cities, recommending food destinations and making reservations for group dinners, being empathetic to fellow travelers, and explaining what was included in the tour—group dinners and tickets for sites. Additionally, Japan does not have the licensing requirements for guides that Europe has, so anyone can sign up for the job. We also believe his Japanese skills were not what was needed to guide a tour, since there were many blank looks from the Japanese that he spoke to and lots of “lost in translation” moments. Check to make sure you have an experienced guide before doing any trip where you don’t know the person, or are going into a country that doesn’t have licensing in place.
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