Reviews

We had a brilliant time filled with so many experiences- it fulfilled my lifetime dream to visit Japan and see the ancient sites whilst experiencing modern Japan too. Our guide, Kaori was great fun and very informative. Whilst it was a whistle stop tour with a lot of travelling included, we had a good balance of time spent at attractions, having experiences and eating out at restaurants, sampling local cuisine. Being vegetarian we were very well looked after wherever we ate. We enjoyed shopping in quality outlets to buy lovely souvenirs. Our colleagues were great company and the group gelled really well. We had some free time at the end of the tour to enjoy Osaka and our transfer was easily managed too. The only shame was that on arrival we had to wait a further 2 hours at the airport before the next transfer bus which meant that we missed our dinner and nothing was provided for us on that first night. Luckily we could pick up some snacks from the convenience store. We were issued a refund but that wasn’t much of a welcome after such a long journey. Given that Wendy Wu arranged the flights they must have known this would happen so this was disappointing but didn’t spoil our overall experience. We had a great time in Japan!

It was amazing. Our courier Akiko was so helpful , nothing was too much trouble.

The actual tour was excellent and better than expected. The inclusive meals were varied and gave me a true taste of Japan.
The tour guide, Akiko, was knowledgeable and helpful throughout.
My only point of concern was the flight times. The first day I arrived at the hotel too late for dinner. This was quickly covered by giving me a refund for the meal. However, the last ‘day’ myself and another woman on the tour had to leave the hotel at 3am with no breakfast. Therefore, my advice would be to check the flights available and specify your wishes.

Holiday to Japan was great, but Wendy Wu not so great! Communication before the holiday was poor, welcome at the airport was non-existent. When we eventually found the rep at the airport (hiding under a tiny banner), we were told we were not on their list, and basically didn't want to know us. Eventually we could see our names highlighted on their list! This is not the welcome we expected from a premium holiday like Wendy Wu. Our tour rep was not really the best English speaker if she was asked questions. She was also poorly organised at the welcome party. The intercom system used on the tours did not really work properly, and was unsuitable for hearing aid users. Many times we could not hear what she was saying. Our biggest problem was that on two occasions on the same day she failed to count the group numbers, and left us behind, despite us being on-time and in the correct place. Food at lunch times was mixed with some very odd venues chosen (a theme park on one occasion!). Highlights were very good hotels and the cherry blossom.

I have already emailed your company. Bad use of time on a couple of precious days . Only one choice for lunch . Either you had nothing or you could pay for your own . Not a good idea considering the cost of the holiday.

An excellent tour but very ‘full on’!
A good overview of Japan with very good guides, very knowledgeable and helpful ladies. However the last day was too much as after a long day, arriving at a hotel at 6.45 pm, out at 7pm to catch a train to a restaurant and up at 4am for a 5am airport pickup left us needing another holiday! We saw all the sites we wanted to see, met the people, who were lovely and ate the food! Would recommend!

I have waited a couple of weeks before responding as I wanted to express my views as clearly and articulately as possible.

In brief, this is the first time I have travelled with Wendy Wu - I was expecting it to be a 'higher level' of travel than other groups I've travelled with. Sadly I was disappointed.

Some of my feedback, on reflection, may be to do with my own expectations including:
Group size too large
No welcome meeting - opportunities for introduction
Itinery not reflective of 'real Japan' e.g. I was expecting a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, instead we were given a demonstration of a tea ceremony on the top floor of a shopping centre then left an hour to 'spend' money whilst waiting for the bus.

Feedback in relation to Wendy Wu organisation/quality of guide is however vital to ensure things can be improved - I'm hoping this is 'just' unfortunate and not the norm.
Examples of concerns I'd like to share:
Guide was inconsistent in using marker to recognise self - did not have any identifying marker in the busiest of places, including train stations/City Centres; he actually lost a member of the group (left behind at 2 road crossings).
Guide was inconsistent in sharing information e.g. telling group to meet back at a certain time and place then changing time and/or place but only telling some not others - this was particularly problematic for myself as a solo traveller.
Guide spent too long talking about 'maps' and procedural info. rather than sharing relevant info. about the site being visited - I was itening in to other guides from other groups to glean information.
Guide unsure of some directions - coach unable to locate hotel on 1 occasion, guide unable to locate restaurant on 1 occasion
Luggage was collected a day prior to being needed - not delivered at next hotel until almost 48hrs later
Time in some locations was so restricted that there wasn't time to access them eg. Himaji castle visit was recommended 1hr 30mins - we were given 50mins - this wasn't even enough time to join the queue to get in to the main keep. Zen Gardens - 40mins - barely had time to sit and enjoy them (restricted self to 10mins).

For the record - I have never provided a negative review for anything previously be that food, travel, accomodation, anything.

A lot of money spent on what was supposed to be my trip of a lifetime; it did not meet my expectation. If I had not already got another trip already booked (China 2025), I would not be booking again.

Kind regards
Pam Anderson

The pros
Excellent variety of places visited in Japan and the hotels were all of a high quality with the exception of the last one prior to flying home. This was very basic.
Restaurants used for lunch and evening meals were excellent and the range of Japanese food chosen was good. The tea ceremony, origami and noodle making
sessions were all great fun and enjoyed by all.
Our second guide Nana, was absolutely excellent and would be a good role model to follow for the others. We were very sad to lose her when she passed us on to the next guide.
The cons
However, we were disappointed that we had three different tour guides in 10 days and their ability to communicate in English was very different. The first guide neglected to pass on the microphone attached to our headsets which meant after the first 3 days we could no longer use headsets for commentary wherever we went which was a limit to the knowledge we could take in.
We also missed out on the included breakfast prior to our early flight home and when queried, the guide said we didn’t get this refunded even though we had paid for it and was on our itinerary.
Overall though we had a fantastic time but felt Wendy Wu had let us down with the succession and limitations of the guides given to us.
We would definitely recommend the tour but it was definitely not as slick and well organised by the two inexperienced guides . We had expected a different level of organisation after a previous Wendy Wu tour we had taken to Egypt in October 2023.

Lady on the phone was lovely, listened to my requests and adjusted flights etc to suit me better. just one error in that flights for my 3 day add on we're not included. however after pointing this out the error was immediately amended.

As a couple who have travelled extensively around the world, this was by far the worst and most disappointing tour we have ever undertaken. It was also one of the most expensive and reflected very poor value for money. We would certainly never choose Wendy Wu again if this is the standard of tour offered.

Despite the promise of outstanding guides and immersion into the culture and history of Japan we learned nothing during the tour. The journeys by coach were in silence – there was no commentary on the sights we passed or information on the places we were going to see, apart from the occasional brochure passed around towards the end of the trip. There was no guided tour around any of the locations visited (only the instruction of the time to return to the coach) and the headsets were purely for decoration and only used for a few minutes during the whole time we were away. The only way we learned anything was to hover near other tour parties whose guides gave fascinating talks as they led their own group around. This was not what we expected to have to do for almost £8,000 each. It’s such an amazing country and we feel very let down by Wendy Wu tours.

The hotels were of a reasonable standard, in particular the hotel in Mishima which was lovely. The food was interesting and varied (although the quality of some meals, particularly at the theme park near Mt Fuji, was of a poor standard). It would have been helpful to know a bit about the things we were eating as it would have helped avoid a huge amount of food waste and issues such as saving a custard item for dessert and then finding out it was a fish flavoured savoury custard!

On the whole, the tour was chaotic, unprofessional and poorly organised. Multiple changes of timing arrangements and very unclear instructions on when to return to the coach (often using WhatsApp when half the party had no access to roaming data) plus poor instructions of how to return. Hence people returned at a variety of times and sometimes got lost. The coach set off twice with people missing and had to return to find and pick them up. Only towards the end of the tour were people counted before the coach left.

Don't waste your money on a Wendy Wu tour - choose another tour company.

Holiday was as advertised but our second guide was not very knowledgeable about the historical facts so we had little detail about the places we went to.

Calling and speaking to an advisor was easy. I was given all the information I needed to help me make a decision about booking a holiday. When I rang back a week later I was able to speak the same advisor and he made my booking. Thank you, I look forward to a good holiday.

Helpful and knowledgable staff

Very polite and helpful service on telephone.

Well informed, friendly. Answered questions fully, useful suggestions, gave me confidence that I had chosen the right company for my holiday.