3,362 reviews
On alot of optional tours we noticed other tour guides showing their group around but we were left to fend for ourselves a lot which was difficult sometimes. Not sure if this is something g the organisation Trip A Deal needs to review. Yo-yo was an exceptional guide and helpful and Mr Front the bus driver an exceptional driver.
It was a busy trip but we got to see a lot and we could not have had a better guide than Dragon he was informative friendly and unbelievably helpful anyone that gets him as a guide can be sure you will have a great time Show details
- +7
We had a really great experience on a 10-day tour in Japan. Our tour guide, Leia, was amazing—super knowledgeable, entertaining, and very accommodating. Our driver was also fantastic, getting us safely to each destination and somehow managing to play Tetris with our luggage every time we moved hotels! Japan has so much to offer, and I feel like… Read more
this tour allowed me to see a lot of the country. I don’t think I would have been able to fit in so much in such a short time otherwise. That said, it did feel quite rushed at times, with limited time at each location to properly explore and enjoy it. However, I do understand that with such a packed itinerary, peak-hour traffic, and Japan’s spring holiday period, we had to stick to a strict schedule.
The tour group size was 40 people, but it didn’t impact the experience at all. Everyone was friendly and followed instructions, so everything ran smoothly.
On the downside, I wasn’t happy with the booking platform and process. I originally booked for four people (2 adults and 2 children), but then found out six weeks before the trip that I had to pay an additional $500 AUD for my daughter, even though she was already listed as the fourth person on the itinerary. This wasn’t clearly explained upfront.
The accommodation also wasn’t very family-friendly, as we were given two separate rooms at each hotel, which meant splitting up the family. That said, Leia did her best to arrange rooms next to each other, which we really appreciated.
Overall, I really enjoyed the tour, and Leia truly made the experience special. She was incredibly friendly, and the kids absolutely loved her.
If I were to book another tour, I would probably consider a different booking platform due to the lack of family-friendly options and the unexpected charges added after full payment.
Reviews with attachments
The Tour guide Henry was very good. He explain us each place very well. He help us for everything as much as in his reach. Show details
- +5
Definitely a Great experience! Had an amazing Tour Guide name Dragon and bus driver Annie, both very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of Japan. I saw a lot of places within my 2 weeks and saw different parts of Japan. My favorite part of the Trip, was visiting Himeji Castle and heading to Nara Park to feed the deers. I couldn’t believe… Read more
how beautiful Japan is, so clean and the people are so friendly.I would definitely come back again and would definitely recommend Dragon to family and friends if they were to visit Japan. He is the Best Tour Guide to have.
- +1
Well what a great Cherry Blossom Tour The blossom started off a bit slow But by the end,all woke up and put on a great display Loved every minute with our awesome Tour Guide Leia, whom kept us entertained On some long bus trips, with games , storytelling , knowledge and karaoke Love Kyoto the best Will return to explore that region more thoroughly Show details
We did the 9 night Cherry Blossoms tour with the lovely Leia! She was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun! We saw cherry blossoms everywhere in so many different colours. This tour was jam packed with activities and at times we were challenged by time and the volume of people/traffic because we were in peak blooming season. But… it was a taster tour that has inspired us to visit Japan again! Show details
- +5
Ultimate Japan Highly recommend this tour we had an amazing tour guide that was so knowledgable and helpful Dragon and bus driver Anne. We loved everything and the extra tours were amazing. Our favourite thing was the Maiko dinner highly recommend doing this well worth the money. The people were so beautiful. The scenery was amazing. We had an… Read more
great group of people on our tour and have made great friends from Australia and New Zealand. Dragon you were so helpful with helping us with getting to our extra destination with no worries thank you. Thanks again Dragon you were amazing.xx
- +2
Cherry blossom tour March 21-30 Alternate options offered across the whole TAD booking flights extra tours on rest days good communications. 5 stars to all Hayashi tour guide caring, entertaining, knowledgeable, tour was full on hotel rooms Japanese style clean and compact Tour was well kept Hayashi and toga son got us too some great… Read more
destinations in timely manner and comfort. We had 4 seasons of weather over the 10 days. Was memorable moment for my wife and myself.
What an incredible trip. We booked the Ultimate Japan 17 day experience. We covered so much more of Japan than I had anticipated. Our bus driver and tour guide (Dragon and Ani Sun) went out of their way to offer additional tours for those who wanted to see more, while offering the flexibility for others who wanted to explore alone. Dragon truly… Read more
made the tour amazing. He always made sure checkins were smooth, questions were answered and we knew where all the local eateries were located. Highly recommend this tour!
Yo Yo was our host and did an excellent job and we felt safe with the driver too
My family and I have never been to Japan. For myself and my dad, it was our first trip out of Australia. Yoyo and Mr Frount were exceptionally wonderful. They work hard to accompany all customers and made my day especially feel special for my birthday. The tour itself can only be described as full and eventful. If on time, it was outstanding what… Read more
can be seen and achieved on all the days in different areas of Japan! That for me was amazing, I cannot believe how much we have seen, eaten and done in a short time frame. Even during our free time. Thankyou for this exceptional offer. It would have been nice to spend one night in Kyoto but that is my only recommendation. I wouldn't change the experience or the people and their approach and efforts to making it special for each customer. Yoyo is beautiful and so very sweet and accommodating, making any moment fun and exciting, even on long bus rides and Mr Front always putting in effort to learn more English for his customers and always greeting us at the bus and driving us around safely. Thankyou for this experience once again. We hope to be back soon sincerely' Family 13 and 14 (Maddi, Anita & Rick)
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Im back home from a wonderful Japan 12 day experience. Hotels were surprisingly good, great bunch of travellers on our coach - made many friends. Our tour guide Henry was very knowledgeable and fun to be with, making the tour run smoothly. Would love to come back to Japan - hopefully soon. Show details
I just returned from the Cherry Blossom tour in Japan (March 15-24, 2026). Henry, our guide, was knowledgeable and organized, providing historical insights everywhere we visited. The tour covered all major highlights of Japan and optional trips were worthwhile. Henry also recommended excellent spots and local foods. The trip involved plenty of… Read more
walking, and cash was convenient, but cards were accepted. As a vegetarian, I found the food amazing. Both Henry and the driver were friendly and professional, making the experience memorable for everyone.
I recently returned from the Cherry Blossom Tour in Japan (March 15-24, 2026). Our tour guide, Henry, along with the driver, provided exceptional service throughout the trip. Henry demonstrated extensive knowledge and managed the group with remarkable organisation. At each destination, he offered brief historical overviews and ensured all… Read more
arrangements, such as hotel room assignments, were seamlessly handled in advance. The itinerary covered key highlights of Japan, and the optional excursions added significant value. Henry also recommended excellent spots for exploration and dining. While the tour involved substantial walking and full days, participants had flexibility regarding their level of involvement. Cash was convenient for purchases, though cards were also accepted. The culinary experiences were outstanding. We were fortunate to travel with a diverse group ranging in age from 15 to 90. The driver maintained a friendly and safe environment throughout the journey. Overall, Henry was an exemplary guide—friendly, harmonious, and highly knowledgeable. His leadership will be fondly remembered by all members of the tour. (Quocdat Ho)
- +5
My wife Rosemary and I went on the Ultimate Japan 16 day Japan trip with 2 delightful ladies from our area which started on 7 March 2026.The tour leader Leslie was mature, dedicated and looked after us so well. The bus driver Matsu is a terrific bus driver who never got stressed despite driving a bus with 40 lively Aussies for 16 days. Both… Read more
meticulous in their attention to detail. The trip itself was so diverse and interesting. We saw Tokyo in al its density, Hiroshima with its horror history- thriving now. Kyoto with its Geisha maiko, Osaka with great shopping, some old world post villages, and some seaside resorts , an overnight ferry ride with a public hot bath, and Mt Fuji right up in the snow. All of it was in the shadow of the cherry blossoms starting to bloom. Great food, hotels and fellow Aussies. Thanks again to Leslie and Matsu who put up with us- 40 mischievous elders who love a laugh. We had many. Jimmy Lardner, Mornington,Australia
- +4
Leslie was a fantastic tour director: organised, empathetic, engaging, funny and a positive influence on the entire group. He dealt with all eventualities and personalities with a mature and individual approach. He made the tour a fantastic experience rather than a good experience by his wonderful personality and thoughtfulness. A tour is only as good as its tour guide. Thank you Leslie for making it a fantastic trip. Regards, Rosemary Lardner Show details
Our Grand Japan tour was amazing. We were able visit some incredible locations, such as Shibuya Crossing and Mt Fuji, as both on the tour and part of the optional extras, the Maiko Dinner. We were able see so much history and different culture on our tour. Our Guide Hayashi Don was wonderful. He was able understand our Australian humour and communicated really well with the whole group. Show details
Latest follow-ups
My friend Sophie and I went on the Unbeatable Japan tour with tour guides Dragon and Blair. They were helpful, understanding, knowledgeable and super organised. They made the trip a real pleasure. The trip was great value for money and we had a well… Read more
balanced program of activities, information and down time if we wanted it. Trip A Deal sent information in plenty of time and the tour information was really helpful. I would definitely go on another Trip A Deal holiday. The optional tours were well planned and we loved watching the Sumo wrestling training and the day tour to Hiroshima. Patricia
Follow-up · Our guide said small accommodation was described as cute. We had some cute rooms. We also had a room with two double beds. I thought the accommodation was good value for money. We did not pay for five star but we did get comfortable, clean, friendly and helpful service. All of the included breakfasts were great. I love Japanese food and our… Read more
Booked India and Sri Lanka tour Plus extension to stay extra days in Galle only to find we do not stay in Galle but over 1 hour away. Tripadeal basically said sorry but can't change - even though the place they originally advertised has numerous vacancies....first and last Tripadeal! Show details
Follow-up · Tripadeal redeemed itself after so much effort and pushing I should not have been forced to do. They got us a very nice hotel near Galle and supplied transport to get us to the main town. The rest of the tour was fine including accomodation and the tour guide. Coming home with Influenza A that took me out for 3 weeks was unfortunate. Be well aware of the final places and accomodation booked as it may not match expectations.
TAD are fine if everything is going smoothly but encounter a problem and they leave you high and dry. False advertising too with “half day tours” mostly one hour and even less — one was just 45mins. We had many other problems with our tour and they… Read more
were completely disinterested in resolving them. It’s such a shame as we had a good experience with TAD the year before but it’s hard to trust them again. We made the most of our trip, especially as we are thankfully very experienced travellers, but we would not do this trip again given how many issues we had.
Follow-up · How did TAD respond? After weeks of back-and-forth emails where they ignored our major issues with the tour that we took we were offered a $200 credit towards a future tour. Laughable! We are waiting for our case to be heard at VCAT now. We don’t want other people to have experiences as bad as ours so we will keep fighting for what’s right. It’s… Read more
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In-depth reviews
- +2
Very good value, but not a relaxed holiday. We travelled on the Trip a Deal China tour in March 2026 and found it to be very good value overall. Everything was well organised from start to finish. The guides were excellent and made the experience much easier, particularly in a country where language can be a barrier. Hotels were clean and… Read more
comfortable, and transport between cities was efficient.
The biggest thing to understand is the pace — this is not a relaxed holiday. The itinerary is very full, with a lot of walking (often 15,000–20,000 steps a day), early starts, and multiple one-night stays which can make parts of the trip feel rushed.
There are also:
- Regular shopping stops with a strong sales focus - Optional tours that add to the overall cost - Limited flexibility to do your own thing
A few other practical points:
- You cannot drink tap water - Public toilets can be basic — take your own supplies - WiFi is slow, but an eSIM worked well - Some itinerary items have changed (e.g. Tiananmen Square closure, Dynasty show no longer running)
Despite this, the overall experience was very positive. You see a lot, everything runs smoothly, and it’s a great introduction to China.
Best suited to travellers who want everything organised and are happy to trade flexibility for price.
- +5
Our trip to Japan was nothing short of unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, everything felt seamlessly organized, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty, culture, and energy of each destination. We explored a perfect mix of modern cities and traditional landmarks, bustling streets, serene temples, incredible food, and… Read more
breathtaking scenery all came together to create an experience we’ll always cherish.
A huge part of what made this trip so special was our tour guide, Cindy. She was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. Her knowledge of Japan’s history, culture, and local customs added so much depth to everything we saw. She didn’t just guide us, she brought each place to life with stories, insights, and thoughtful details we would have completely missed on our own.
Cindy was also incredibly organized, attentive, and genuinely caring. She made sure everyone in the group felt comfortable, kept everything running smoothly, and was always ready to help with a smile. Whether it was recommending hidden food spots, helping us navigate local etiquette, or adjusting plans when needed, she went above and beyond every single day.
What really stood out was her passion. It was clear she truly loves what she does, and that enthusiasm made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Thanks to Cindy, our trip felt personal, engaging, and stress-free.
We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better overall experience. This trip to Japan exceeded all expectations, and Cindy played a huge role in making it so memorable. We would highly recommend her to anyone planning a visit, you’ll be in the best hands possible
We did the Unbeatable Japan 9 Day Tour, starting March 9th/10th. Everything was well organised, ran smoothly, and allowed us to experience so much in a relaxed and enjoyable way. A huge part of what made the tour so special was our guide, Edna. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of the… Read more
area. Her explanations were clear and interesting, and she added so many little details and stories that you simply wouldn’t get exploring on your own.
Edna also went above and beyond to make sure everyone in the group felt comfortable and included. She was patient with questions, happy to give recommendations, and had a great sense of humour which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
You can really tell she cares about what she does, and it made the tour both informative and memorable. We learned so much and had such a wonderful time.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan, and if you’re lucky enough to have Edna as your guide, you’re in for a fantastic experience.
Recent reviews
Highlights of Vietnam 27/2 to 13/3/26. Just an amazing tour. The 3 tour guides Tung (Ho Chi Minh), Dung Mai (Hoi An) and Tom (Hanoi-Ha Long Bay) were amazing. Very patient, very knowledgeable and had great sense of humour. We did the extension and went to Ninh Binh as well and well worth it. Overall an outstanding trip. Show details
Great trip to give you a taste of Japan. A bit rushed but worth it. We now have a better idea of what we want to see more of next time we go back to Japan. Our tour guide was awesome trying to contain 49 plus people. Show details
Excellent experience with the Tripadeal Japan Cherry Blossom Tour commenced on 24 March 2026. Our tour Director Edna Hayashi is very experienced and knows everything in Japan. Very friendly approach taken by Edna to take the group where Cherry Blossoms are amazing and lovely including the historical Hiroshima, bullet train trips. We never felt… Read more
bored in the bus or anywhere. I am very happy to recommend this Tripadeal tour to others who plan to travel to Japan. The bus driver was also very helpful, friendly and experienced with traffic in the cities. Edna and the driver were very open with gratitude payable at the end of the tour. Overall we were extremely happy with the Tripadeal accommodations, planning, timing, breakfasts etc.
Just completed Ultimate Japan trip . Tour was very well run and itinerary was excellent .Accomadation was very comfortable . Our bus driver was very experienced and nice and our tour guide Dragon was just excellent . He was very knowledgeable and helpful and went out of his way to help with any problems or information we needed . Show details
Unbeatable Japan 2/3/26 Ref 5865 516410 I would like to pass on what a wonderful tour guide Don was on our above tour. He was knowledgeable, humorous, and attentive.Don went above and beyond to arrange postage of a sentimental article I left behind back to Melbourne. He also was caring to a solo passenger who got disoriented on our tour and… Read more
missed coach. Please pass on to Don’s direct report his great service . I have recommended Trip a Deal to friends and family. Regards Julie S
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