Unique Japan Tours Reviews 5

Delayed email responses, stranded at a train station without driver or guide, hotel in Kyoto hadn’t been paid, guides with basic knowledge, no restaurant recommendations or help with other requests. Overall would not recommend.

DO NOT BOOK! We arrived in Japan on 11/11/25 for our Discover Japan tour that was starting the next day, only to receive an email saying the company had ceased trading and was bringing in liquidators! Tour was not going ahead unless we paid another €4000 each to another travel agency! We have flown back to Australia, hoping somehow we can get our money back. 😡

After much research on small group multi-day guided tours to Japan, I narrowed my search down to Intrepid Premium Japan and Oomi Travel (formerly Unique Japan Tours) Japan Discovered.

I chose Oomi Travel Japan Discovered Mar 24-Apr 6, 2024 because:
(1) The itinerary: included snow monkeys
(2) The accommodation on the website: appeared to be superior/luxury/premium accommodation
(3) The cost: $11000* AUD (vs $13000+ AUD for Intrepid Premium)

Unfortunately, I (along with other members of my group) was disappointed with the tour and tour company because:

(1) The accommodation:
- The first 2 nights accommodation were supposed to be in the 4 star Shibuya Excel Tokyo Hotel ($136,000 JPY for 2 nights). Our group was downgraded to the 3 star Tokyu Stay Shibuya Shin-Minamiguchi which was half the price ($60,000 JPY for 2 nights). A 2nd Japan Discovered Group was changed to the 4 star Millenium Mitsui Garden Ginza Hotel ($104,000 JPY for 2 nights). Firstly, the website states that a hotel change would be to a similar 4 star. Secondly, the 2nd Group stayed at a superior accommodation even though they paid the same price as we did. The hotel we were downgraded to was a dodgy place, with small rooms, overlooking a back alley, with Japanese breakfast (I never had this as there were never enough supplied) or Western breakfast which had to be picked up from the lobby each morning to be made and eaten in our rooms alone.
- Throughout the tour, sometimes we would stay in luxury accommodation and other times we would stay in sub-standard accommodation. I have posted photos where possible.
- I paid an additional single supplement for my own room. This additional cost is usually paid because the same room is usually more expensive for a single person than a couple. But on this tour, singles were sometimes put in different smaller cheaper rooms than the couples.
(2) The tour company’s disorganisation:
- The information and final itinerary provided has not been updated to include correct meeting times, arrival train stations, tour leader tipping amounts, etc.
- Nor did it provide much information or multiple options for recommended restaurants or activities during free time in each area.
(3) The tour company’s poor customer service:
- There was a lack of response to my Mar 26th and Mar 29th emails/posts on Oomi’s messaging app about the issue with the first 2 nights accommodation.
- I finally received a response on April 9th from the Oomi Travel’s Founder that did not address or remedy the issue, but instead said “sorry, BUT” and made a lot of excuses.
- As the product did not match the description on the website, I have asked for a refund for the difference paid by Group 1 and Group 2 of the first 2 nights accommodation ($440 AUD). Instead, Oomi Travel offered an inadequate compensation of $11 AUD lunch and $20 AUD which I declined. I will now pursue the refund through different channels.

The tour itself was saved by a great group, the snow monkeys, Japan itself, and that I didn’t let my accommodation and tour company experience ruin the trip.

I have no issue staying in budget accommodation. The problem is that the accommodation on the website appeared to be superior/luxury/premium and I expect a lot more than budget sub-standard accommodation at such a premium price point.

I met people travelling with another tour group who had 5 star accommodation throughout their trip including views of Mt Fuji (vs my view of a building wall in Hakone) for a total cost of $8000 AUD.

I have travelled extensively and as a solo traveller I have gone on many multi-day small group tours and have always had a good experience.

I would never travel with Oomi Travel again, and in hindsight would have spent the extra money for Intreprid Premium Japan and stay longer/pay extra to do a day tour to see the snow monkeys.

In comparison, Intrepid is a very organised tour company, and when you pay as much money for one of their trips, you get the luxury accommodation you pay for.

I only hope my review will help other travellers make a better choice than I did, and save them from making the same mistake I did.

Very disappointed with this company. Found what we thought was our perfect Island Hopping tour round Okinawa on this company's website. After fruitless attempts to contact their UK office, (several messages completely ignored), I got a reply from the Japan end of the business. Initially, things looked hopeful with a rep saying they would definitely be able to help me book but they were busy with Sakura season and could I give them a week or two to get that all finished. After 3 weeks and no news, I emailed again, was once again told that Sakura was the problem, (even though my friends in Japan had told me Sakura season had been very short this year due to heavy rain). Again, was asked to wait a week or two and they would definitely get back to me. Sadly, after another month with no contact I've given up. We were trying to book a trip for 4 people which would have cost close to £5000 so how they stay in business when they happily throw away this sort of booking I'm not really sure. Really sad as they trip looked like just what we were after. Avoid wasting time with these people.

We used Unique Japan Tours for a 5 week self guided trip. One of the group was in a wheelchair and so much care was taken to ensure that every small detail was covered regarding their needs.
They included traditional Japanese culture with practical advise on places to see. Modern hotels to rural rykonans were all incuded.
They changed plans for 3 of the days, at very short notice, when the typhoon came through .
If you are thinking about a trip to Japan, don't hesitate, just go and let this team of experts take the strain!
Many thanks to the whole team.