Hi Clement,

Just some feedback from my clients who have recently returned from Japan.

They had a ball!!! Everything worked really well, and they loved it all. The Gracery was fantastic, great location. MyStays in Kanazawa was brilliant – huge rooms and easy access.

The only negative feedback that they had was that the Abant in Shizuoka wasn’t a good property – mouldy and smelly.

The rest were fantastic!!

So, thanks for all your help.

Kind regards,

Lucy

November 2017

Hi Minji/Joshua,

Maureen and I returned to Sydney this morning following our trip to Japan and Seoul.

Although we completed a feedback survey following to completion of the tour we just wanted to say a huge thank you to both of you for the role you both played in making our tour Japanese/Seoul travel experience one we will never forget.

Minji everything you promised us happened exactly the way you said it would and met all of our expectations and more. Your contribution in making this trip so wonderful  was enormous and we cannot thank you enough for your efforts.

We will certainly come back to you in the future when planning further travel.

Josh your presence on the tour and the lengths you went to  make us and for that matter everyone on the tour  feel at ease ,safe and special  cannot be complimented enough. We so enjoyed touring  with you and really loved the way you expressed your passion not only for what   Japan has to offer  but also by going the extra yards to ensure that everyone got the full benefits that the tour had to offer.

Minji and Josh,  JTB Travel are so lucky to have people like you in their employ.

Thanks again.

Warm regards,

Ray and Maureen

November 2017

Good morning Olivia

just wanted to let you know we had a very successful and enjoyable trip to Japan, and to say thanks for everything you organised for us. Hotels were very good and extremely convenient to stations, and the Japan Rail pass was a real bonus, making travel very easy.

Regards,

Barbara

November 2017

Hey Guys,

This is a compliment email as I was in yesterday ( JTB Melb office) and was very happy with the service I received.

I didn’t get the name of the lady that served me but she was fantastic to deal with and very knowledgeable in all of the products that I enquired and purchased.  Keep up the great work and thank you for the great service, this is why I always come back to you guys.  I thought I would send an email to pass on the positive experience and great report on your representatives efforts.

Thank you so much,

Joshua

October 2017

Dear Clem

it was truly wonderful! We should have stayed longer!

I took lots of photos, of the dinner we ate (and one of the breakfast). The staff couldn’t do enough to please us. There were 2 spas, unfortunately we only found one of them as it was dark and we got lost. They offered to drive us there but Michael did not want to bother them.

The Meditation Spa was really good. The outdoor spa was the one we couldn’t find (would you believe) and we ran out of time. The room’s bath was wonderful (traditional bath) and the suggestion you made that we go to the second floor was brilliant. It made a huge difference!

Aesthetically the room, scenery and surroundings were really pleasing. They took a lot of care with the aesthetics. Michael was really happy with the heated floor and the double windows. The colourful turning trees (shades of red and orange) also added to the aesthetics.

The food was prepared with great attention to detail and presentation. I kept a copy of the menu (standard one) and also my one, which I will email you when I get home.

The miso is one of the specialties of the region (they pointed this out) as well as well as their apples. The tofu was really creamy and delicious (I only had a tiny bit). It was a local tofu and very rich – yum. The nut ice cream (for Michael) and sorbet for me were both also special. Michael was most impressed with the grilled salmon for breakfast. Really well prepared, Michael says.

The hoji cha and and the traditional whisked green tea were both also just right. Attention was given to the matching of food and the drinks with them.

The breakfast was worth the extra 8,000 (approx) yen – for 2 of us.

To summarise, it was wonderful!!!! Neither Michael nor I could fault anything!!!

We are both really grateful that you found and suggested this place for us!

I hope we can go back there again!

It really delivered on this idea of a retreat from ordinary life. A place to stop and reflect. Not even the rain could take away from the atmosphere (umbrellas were provided).

Thank you again from both of us!!!!

I will be in touch soon with photos (on a CD) and the menus etc from the Hoshinoya Karuizawa.

best wishes

Judith

October 2017

Hi Miyuki,

Thank you for all your work and help with my bookings especially the Pusan ferry

and the region specific brochures where I have noted some places for next time too.

I hope you get to holiday soon with your family and have a great Christmas too.

Cheers,

Steve

October 2017

Hi Olivia

Despite our late start we had a fabulous Japan trip. Thanks so much for organizing it. Our guide Yumi made our experience so much more enjoyable with her fountain of local information wherever we went plus her very happy & approachable nature. I would recommend her to anyone interested in touring Japan. She was always very organized & punctual & explained all we had to do each day in advance so there were absolutely no hitches

Again many thanks I have already passed on your JTB details to one friend & have other requests for your details.

Jenny Lucas

October 2017

Hi Miyuki,

We are back and can not speak highly enough of Japan – it was fantastic! Thank you for all your advice.

Thanks again for all your help.

Tanya

October 2017

Hello Minji. Well, the jet lag has gone and we are left to enjoy the memories of a  wonderful JTB tour of Japan. It really exceeded our expectations. Great guides, led of course by Maya;  impressive meals especially the welcome and farewell dinners; a good mix of fellow travellers two of  whom we plan to catch up within the next couple of weeks. It was a remarkable holiday and we are so glad we didn’t allow the political situation to put us off travelling.

We very much appreciated your help and guidance in putting our itinerary together. Thank you for your friendly efficiency!

Best wishes

Keith & Isabel

October 2017

Hi Mende,

Just want to say thanks again for your help with the above.

Came back from our holiday yesterday morning.

We had a great time and really enjoyed the tours and the Ryokan experience in Kyoto @ Arashiyama, in particular.

FYI, at the last moment, I ended up hiring a Pocket WiFi from JR for the week (3GB download per day) which was super important when travelling with teenage kids; they were constantly taking photos with their phones and messaging with their friends.

Thanks again

Alan

October 2017

Dear Minji,

Thought I would update you on our wonderful holiday in Japan. We loved every minute of the whole experience. The group was fantastic, we all got on so well. We were all similar age and had similar interests.

Our tour leader Maya was just great looking after all our needs at every stage. I was particularly grateful that she went out of her way to ensure that my dietary needs were always met.

We arrived in Tokyo to a typhoon but that did not stop us. Everyday we were out and about and saw what we could despite the weather. Once the typhoon passed it was sunny and very hot and the weather remained sunny and warm for the rest of the holiday.

Wes particularly enjoyed travelling by bullet train and watching the countryside wiz past us. Everyday seemed to bring a new experience and adventure. There was such a good balance of being in a city or seeing the beautiful countryside. In many cases Japan reminded me of Switzerland with the mountains, pine trees and the efficiency of the train network. Never a second late!

I braved the communal baths – initially very hesitantly. But after the first bath I was hooked and partook whenever the opportunity arose.

We cannot say that there was one particular spot that stood out any more than another. It was all wonderful and we would certainly want to go back and see more of Japan.

Many thanks for all your brilliant planning and all of your suggestions and hints. It really did prepare us well for our travel and time in Japan. We thought JAL was fantastic and we would certainly fly with them again.

Once again many thanks for all your help in making it a most memorable holiday experience. We have not stopped raving about it to our friends and we always recommend JTB travel.

Best wishes

Jill and Wes

Dear Minji,

Just a note to say thank you for organizing our holiday in Japan, we had a fantastic time, everything went so smoothly, our JR pass was excellent,
the hotels super.  We cannot wait to return. Thank you once again.

Kindest regards

Chris & Bob

September 2017

Dear Olivia,

I came back on Monday after three fabulous weeks in Japan.  Everything went well until I caught a cold on the second last day in Tokyo which I have brought back with me.  Over the 21 days I had four days of rain which wasn’t too bad and I expected it would be wet.  However it was warm and humid which I quite like.

The itinerary was great and I had just enough time in each place.  I had no trouble with trains or schedules and took a number of local buses as well.  The accommodation was fabulous – well-located, friendly and clean.  It is hard to say what was the highlight but I did enjoy the Hotel Jirin at Zao Onsen and the ryokan at Kiso Fukushima because of the beautiful rooms and food and baths.  Also, by taking two meals a day, you get to know the staff more and can interact.

My Japanese listening, reading and speaking improved considerably but I need a lot more work on writing!

Thank you once again for making all the arrangements.  I hope to pop in next week some time if that is suitable.

Kind regards

Sally

September 2017

Dear Miyuki,

Zora and I would like to thank you for your efficiency and responsiveness in assisting the planning and bookings associated with our upcoming visit to Japan. Also your diligence in arranging bookings for our daughter and family.

Having travelled extensively internationally for the last 45 years, as a working global citizen dealing directly with or having staff co-ordinating travel , we have had dealings with numerous travel agencies and individuals.

We also own our own business that prides itself on its focus on customer service for the last 24 years.

Young lady you are a hard act to follow.

As we will now be frequent travellers to Japan to visit our son and daughter in-law we look forward to the continuance of this association.

Thank you again.

Best Regards,

Phillip 

Hi Chris

The Panoramic Coach tour in Tokyo we could recommend, especially the lunch & cruise on Tokyo Bay. Lucky to see a traditional Japanese wedding at the Meiji Shine. We found Shinjuku Station confusing to find out where to exchange our JR rail pass, but eventually with help from some locals managed to track our way through.

Our friends met us at Himeji Station where we enjoyed their hospitality for a traditional meal with them that night, visited Himeji Castle, caught cable car up to Mt Shosha for a walk amongst the pathways.

We were able to book the bullet train straight from Tokyo to Himeji, without stopping at Kyoto, which was great.

All the hotels we stayed at were great, including Kyoto which was opposite the Nijo-Jo Castle which we visited. Had dinner in the Kamo River area which is an interesting place. Did some shopping, visited Temples, did a tea ceremony, dinner at local restaurants

Jo

September 2017