Essence of Japan June 2026
We recently returned from this tour, so here are some of my impressions:
Itinerary:
I found the daily schedule to be a good blend of guided tours and free time. We were reminded about promptness and keeping to the prescribed meeting times; the Japanese expect you to arrive early for tours and dining. There was such a good mix of history and culture - from learning about tea ceremonies, sumo wrestling, Samarai warriors, cooking (making our own okonomiyaki pancakes for lunch), flower arranging. We visited Shinto and Buddhist temples, a beautiful exhibit of kimonos, took multiple high speed trains, and even did some karaoke. Very well rounded for an introduction to Japan.
Guides: our Tour Director was excellent- one of the best we've ever had. He has been with Tauck for a long time- really knows how to manage the group without drama. A real ace. Our local guides (2) were also very good, with vast knowledge and good skills in getting us in and out of sites.
Group size: we were on the Classic tour with 34 participants. Mostly couples...2 groups of 4 and one group of 5. Three singles. A good mix of personalities. The bus never felt crowded - most of our longer rides were on trains. Everyone got along well- some people got together to do some touring in their free time.
Food: most of the group meals were good, some were excellent. The worst meal always seems to be the welcome dinner - not sure why that is! Some dinners you could choose off the "Tauck" menu at staggered dining times. Lunches we mainly ate as a group with set menus. Food was a combination of Japanese and Western. I liked the balance. I get tired eating lots of raw fish and need some different choices. Pasta is very popular.
I should also mention that I eat a gluten free diet - they were extremely accommodating to me. Whenever we entered a restaurant, the TD would immediately point me (and others with diet restrictions) out to the manager, and they would set a marker down by my place to identify my special diet. I never once got sick on this trip, and felt very confident in the food I was served. This is my 8th Tauck tour, and it's never been an issue. When we eat on our own, I have an App to help me, but Tauck really makes me feel safe.
Hotels: we liked all the hotels; luckily most were for 2 nights or more, which made this land tour a bit easier. All Western style hotels with comfy beds, those fabulous Toto toilets, good space. My least favorite was the Gero Onsen, which was the Japanese style ryokan (inn). You sleep on stacked mats (almost like a mattress) on the floor. Once down, they are comfortable, but for me, it just didn't work well. I'm up a few times during the night, and I need my glasses to see where I'm going. There's no nightstand ( the mattresses are set up in the middle of the room)...no place for your phone (for alarm). I had to roll over onto the floor to get up, and then figure out where I was going in the mostly dark room. My husband said he had a really good sleep. The actual baths were nice, but I found the water very hot. The modesty thing wasn't really an issue - we were all women (and I had my glasses off!).
Overall: we really like Japan, and this tour. The country is beautiful, clean, safe. The people we met were kind (led us to the correct subway line when we messed up). The weather was warmer than I had expected - despite constant checking on different sites, I still packed too few lightweight shirts and my husband could have used a pair of shorts. But we managed.
One of the highlights of our trip was attending a Yomiuri Giants game at the Tokyo Dome. I love baseball, and luckily they were home and playing a day game the day of the welcome dinner. It was so fun! We went early and bought merch for our family. We left after the 6th inning, in order to make the dinner, but got the experience. The fans are really enthusiastic and it was a great afternoon.
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Comments
Thank you posting your notes, SGF. You are adding to my anticipation for our trip in September 2027. We also want to go to a baseball game, if possible while we are in Japan, so hopefully their schedule will line up with ours.
Thank you so much for your comment. I'm going on this tour in Feb 2027 and very worried because I have celiac disease but no other tour company would agree to take me. Do you have any tips for me as it relates to gluten free meals or snacks that were not part of a group meal? Also, any tips on what you did in your free time? Again, thanks so very much!
Here is a thought. I’m on a tour( not Japan) right now with somebody who is a strict vegan. All meals are included and the TD knows she is a vegan and the restaurants have all provided appropriate food. But she told me she carries a huge amount of food in her suitcase to cover her for the entire trip! She generally does not eat dinner with us, so I assume that’s when she eats her own food. And yes, all the restaurants have come out with her food to find out she is not there.
I had a travel partner with celiac disease. It was easier for her to eat abroad than in the US. Many cultures are not wheat based (corn or rice instead) and she had no problems. Just let your TD know your issues, that it is serious - not a fad or trend for you.
Regarding gluten free dining: I was told that Japan generally does not handle dietary restrictions well. That said - TAUCK DOES! Everyone was so accommodating! I had special portions made just for me. One lunch was a tempura meal- they made mine with rice flour (I was sure I was going to eat salad that day 😉). The lunch in Hiroshima where we made our own pancakes - they had special batter ready for me. My name and GF was marked at my place at many meals.
Remember, we often ate at hotels, where they are very helpful and accustomed to these issues, and have dishes clearly marked. When we were on our own, I used the Find Me Gluten Free app which is a great resource. We ate at a pasta place in Tokyo which had delicious fresh brown rice spaghetti - I purchased some vacuumed packed to bring home. Also an Italian restaurant in the Ace Hotel in Kyoto, and lunch at Waco Crepes in Kyoto. My husband doesn't mind tagging along and eating GF once in a while. Also, those 7-11s sell lots of potato chips - I used Google Translate to help with ingredients. Sadly, no special flavored Kit Kats for me. We bought those for the kids.
As far as bringing food, I only brought snacks and protein bars for emergencies..and frankly, I didn't eat most of it. I'm not going on a luxury tour to eat my own food from home. I do indulge at breakfast - often with an omelet and GF toast, fresh fruit and maybe yogurt. I grab a piece of fruit for my bag. Desserts are tough - usually sorbet or fruit is all they have. Maybe a panna cotta or crème brûlée. They always bring me a gf roll - often more than I need!
I was worried about this trip because of the prevalence of soy sauce in much of the food - no problem. They brought me a little dish of tamari when we had sushi. I never got sick, and felt confident in the honesty of the kitchen staff.
My husband thinks that Tauck tours are somewhat of an indulgence, and that we could do just as well with a more "modest" company. I think not. This last experience proves to me that they take my dietary restrictions seriously, which gives me great comfort. Why would I risk my health to save a few dollars?
I should mention...I did NOT eat at the game at the Tokyo Dome. We had a big, delicious breakfast at the Conrad that morning. The stadium was noisy and crowded and I just couldn't figure out what to eat (there was a crepe place with a long line- not sure if it would have been safe). So just a soda. I would have gotten peanuts or popcorn (Cracker Jacks?) but alas, none for sale. I suppose it has to do with keeping the floor clean! I had a bar with me. I didn't starve!
'My husband thinks that Tauck tours are somewhat of an indulgence, and that we could do just as well with a more "modest" company.'
Depends on what you will settle for in doing 'just as well'. Tauck spoils you.
Nothing wrong with spoiling yourself.
[I never analyzed a land tour, but I did analyze a few cruise companies. When you add up all the bits and pieces of a small ship cruise that's not "all inclusive" the price is about the same. Unless you just don't do much on a cruise - skip most of the excursions, for example - you wind up in the same ballpark. I suppose if you were willing to take an inside cabin on one of those huge cruise ships it would be less expensive.
We used to do land tours of Europe that we arranged ourselves. It's a lot of work to find hotels that will be nice, set up all the travel, and we had to schlep our luggage on the trains. It was less expensive because you do a lot of the work the tour company does for you.]
Mike - of course I agree with you. We have also traveled on a few luxury, all-inclusive small ship cruise lines. Lovely!
While we've done the do-it-yourself European cities (before smartphones!), I don't have the energy or desire to manage these trips independently anymore. I'm also now less interested in the big foreign capitals, and prefer the quieter towns. Loved Northern Spain, Loire Valley, countrysides of Scotland, Morocco and Switzerland. Patagonia! So many great places that would be hard to navigate on our own. I live in the NY metro area, so if I want crowds, tourists and excitement, I know where to find it.
I just wish the Tauck pricing wasn't so daunting...
Our first tour experiences were with Tauck. We have learned that there are other tour companies out there which are just as good. Often, the tour can be a make or break on the Tour director you get. Yesterday, we were on a small Baltic island and sitting next to our vegan traveler. The restaurant was known for its gorgeous desserts. They had a delicious looking main course for her but no suitable dessert. To be honest I’ve not seen her eat many desserts. Suddenly, our TD arrived with a carton of strawberry sorbet. He had run down the street to a small food store and purchased it for her. He arranged for the restaurant to keep it in the freezer until she was ready for it. So no, Tauck is not the only tour company who can spoil you.