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So you’ve decided to visit Japan, but you can’t make up your mind whether to do it yourself or use a tour operator like InsideJapan Tours. This is something we hear all the time, and with something as important and expensive as your holiday we know that it’s crucial to know that you’re getting the very best possible service. In this blog post, we’ll take you through a few of the benefits of using a tour operator so you can make the right decision for yourself.
Over the past fifteen years, we’ve sent over 40,000 people on holiday Japan – including many repeat visitors who loved their experience so much that they came back again, some even more than twice, and some to our other Asian destinations too. With so many happy customers, however, there is one comment that has cropped up again and again:
“We had a fantastic holiday, thanks, but now you’ve shown us how easy it is we’ll do it ourselves next time.”
In a way, it’s great that so many people think this when they come back from Japan. Our main aim is to make our trips as seamless, relaxing and enjoyable as they possibly can be – so if we made it seem easy, good!
What our customers don’t see is all the hard work, experience and planning that goes on behind the scenes. Imagine you’re watching an Olympic diver executing a perfect quadruple pike somersault, for example. Looks effortless, right? But we all understand the years of planning and dedication that went into pulling off that move. Basically, InsideJapan Tours is the Tom Daley of Japan holidays. (Apologies for the cringeworthy sporting analogy).
What’s more, you’ll benefit even more from our expertise the second time around. Most first-time visitors are keen to visit Japan’s major tourist destinations – and for good reason – but second- or third-time travellers are more likely to want to get off the beaten track, explore the less visited corners of the country and dig a little deeper into the culture. This is where our wide-ranging expertise really comes in to its own: we’ll find you that gem of a ryokan in the depths of rural Shikoku, or help you make that incredible dive off the coast of the remote island of Yonaguni. We can take you to parts of Japan you never even knew existed.
“We were worried about taking public transport, but now we’ve seen how easy and well-organised it is we’d feel confident to do it ourselves next time.”
We can’t argue with the fact that Japan’s public transport system is the best in the world. A well-oiled machine; its subway systems work like a dream, the bullet train can take you from A to B in comfort and style, and even the buses somehow manage to turn up on time.
But would it have been so easy if you hadn’t had our Info-Pack to hand? With all your tickets pre-booked, instructions on what time to arrive, which station to go to, which platform to find and how to get there – that’s an awful lot of planning we’ve done for you. And if you do happen to miss your train, our Japan office is just a phone call away to help get you back on the rails. Holidays are for relaxing, surely – not wrangling with subway maps and ticket fares?
“I’ve seen how efficient the Japanese are. What could possibly go wrong?”
You’re right, Japan is one of the most efficient and well-run societies in the world, and it’s very unlikely that you’ll experience disruptions to your holiday – but no amount of planning can safeguard against the unexpected. A freak snowstorm, an earthquake, a typhoon or even a tsunami (God forbid) could cause delays to your holiday – which could be a very expensive inconvenience indeed.
With us, your finances are protected and you’re covered by UK travel regulations, as well as having the benefit of a 24-hour emergency helpline, and an English-speaking office in Japan to ensure that you are never really on your own – which is as important on your second trip and your third as it was on your first.
“There’s so much great information on the internet, I’d have no problem researching the trip myself – now that I know my way around.”
The internet is a wonderful thing, and there’s no denying that websites like TripAdvisor have made it incalculably easier to plan your own holidays. For many people, spending hours trawling the web for research is part of the fun, and if that sounds like you – then maybe using a tour operator isn’t for you.
But what the internet in all is informative awesomeness cannot compete with is the personally tailored expertise we provide. There was a time when information was king, and the more you had of it the better off you were – but these days everyone has such a glut of information at their fingertips that what’s really valuable is being able to filter out the stuff you want from the stuff you don’t.
This is where we come in. With fifteen years of experience (every single one of our travel consultants has lived in Japan for a year or more and is proficient in the language – no other tour operator can say that!) all you need to do is tell us where your interests lie and we will tailor a holiday exactly to suit you.
“Really? You’re sure about that? My interest is pretty niche…”
Just try us!
We’ve organised a trip for a team of geologists, planned a themed tour for a pottery expert, and put together an inspirational holiday for a Shibori dyeing enthusiast – amongst many others even more weird and wonderful. Our team have a wide range of expertise, covering everything from Zen Buddhism to Japanese manga – and we can suggest experiences that you may have never even heard of. Tatedo sword fighting, perhaps; or afternoon tea with a geisha; or maybe a session of sutra-writing and zazen meditation with a temple priest. You’ll never know what we can do unless you ask.
Our travel consultants love a challenge, and there is no themed itinerary that we can’t provide – given the right information and a bit of good planning. Just tell us what interests you and we’ll do the rest.
“OK, fine. But I can take your proposal and get it cheaper if I book it myself.”
So we’ve given you the blueprint for your perfect holiday – complete with hotels, flights, experiences, trains and even guides. What could be easier than going and booking it yourself?
Trust us, it’s really not that simple. We’ve spent fifteen years building up relationships with our suppliers (many of whom do not have an English website and do not appear on the usual booking sites), so that we can ensure that you stay in the most authentic family-run inns, eat the most delicious local food, and get the very best of everything for the most competitive rate.
So yes, you can go away and book your own holiday – and yes, you’ll probably do it more cheaply than we will – but we never promised to provide the cheapest holidays. We promised to provide the best: and that’s exactly what we do.
“These all sound like very good reasons, but you’re a tour operator – of course you’d say those things. Why should I believe you?”
If you need any more convincing, just check out the (unedited) customer feedback on our website – or better yet, give us a call and let us persuade you in person!
