When we spoke to Akshat about his Japan trip, we expected to hear stories about Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, or the incredible food. Instead, almost every answer somehow came back to one thing - the people he travelled with .
Whether we asked about his favourite memory, the highlight of the trip, or the experience that he enjoyed the most, his answer was almost always the same: the group he was travelling with.
As Friendship Day approaches, his story is an example how Japan gave him unforgettable experiences, and the friendships he made along the way that made his first international trip truly special.
Here is Akshat's WanderOn Japan Trip review, in his own words.
"I Finalised Japan by the Process of Elimination"
When we asked Akshat how he ended up choosing Japan, his answer wasn't what we'd normally expect from a first-time international traveller.
Akshat is from Delhi and works in the corporate sector. Since he was planning to travel in May, weather played a big role in deciding the destination.
"Since it was the month of May, I was looking for a travel location that would have nice weather. I finalised Japan by the process of elimination. Dubai would be too hot, most Southeast Asian countries would also be hot and humid, and Australia was out of my budget. Since it was my first international trip, I thought I'd keep it within Asia, so I was confused between Japan and Turkey."
Like many travellers today, he started researching online. When I searched on Google, WanderOn came up - very good SEO!" he laughed.
But he didn't stop there. "I also searched for WanderOn reviews on Reddit. It is a good thing for a company to have positive reviews there because most people find a way to be negative about everything on that platform. So finding good reviews gave me confidence. Then I entered my details on the website, the destination expert reached out to me, and I liked the itinerary."
The itinerary covered almost everything he wanted from a first international holiday, making one of the Japan Tour Packages an easy choice.
Trusting the Itinerary More Than Google
Unlike many people in the group, Akshat admits he did almost no preparation before leaving for Japan. "Honestly, I went there with zero preparation. Other travellers had come quite prepared. They had watched a lot of reels and knew what to do and what not to do. I reached without any preparation. I was totally relying on the vibes of the group."
He had checked with a few colleagues who had already travelled to Japan, and they assured him that the itinerary covered the major cities. "They just told me to have fun and enjoy my time."
Looking back, that's exactly what happened. "Thankfully, it was an amazing trip. The country was awesome, and Prashant was also good. Initially, we were a little dicey about how the DIY days would go, but that was actually a good concept by WanderOn. It gave people extra time to go and enjoy however they liked."
The DIY Days Turned Out to Be a Pleasant Surprise
Akshat's Japan group trip with WanderOn included two leisure days - one in Tokyo and another in Osaka. While he wasn't sure about the idea at first, those days ended up becoming some of his favourite memories.
Talking about the Tokyo DIY day, he shared, "There were many sub-groups for that day. Our group decided to go to Kasukabe, famously known as Shinchan City. All in all, it was a good experience exploring around Tokyo. We also visited districts like Akihabara and Shinjuku."
Simple as the answer sounds, it perfectly sums up his travel style. There wasn't any pressure to tick off every attraction. Exploring the city together was enough to make the day memorable.
In fact, if someone asked him for Japan group trip feedback, the DIY days would easily make his recommendation list.
Before we get into the highlights of the trip, here's a quick look at Akshat's Japan Group Trip Itinerary with WanderOn.
Akshat’s Japan Group Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo | Welcome To The Land Of The Rising Sun
Day 2: Full-Day Tokyo City Tour | Explore Tokyo’s Historic Sites and Futuristic Concepts
Day 3: DIY in Tokyo | Explore at Your Own Pace
Day 4: Tokyo to Mt. Fuji and Hakone | Japan’s Scenic Beauty and Mountain Charm
Day 5: Hakone to Kyoto | Scenic Cruise, Ropeway Ride, and Journey to the Cultural Heart of Japan
Day 6: Full-Day Kyoto City Tour | Experience Japan’s Cultural and Spiritual Heritage
Day 7: Kyoto to Osaka | Osaka City Tour – Explore Osaka’s Historic Sites
Day 8: DIY Day in Osaka | Explore at Your Own Leisure
Day 9: Departure Day | Take Back Happy Memories Home
"We Thought We Would Miss Mt. Fuji…"
When we asked Akshat which place exceeded his expectations, his answer came instantly.
"Mt. Fuji." He explained that when the group reached the 5th Station, the mountain was completely covered in clouds. "Everyone was a little disappointed. We even asked our local guide if there was another place where we could get a view, but he said the chances were quite less."
By the time they reached the hotel, they had almost given up. "But as soon as we opened the window, what we saw just blew our minds. It felt like a Eureka moment. We could see the entire Mt. Fuji right till the peak. It was such a mesmerising view that I still have it as my phone wallpaper."
Even better, every traveller in the group had rooms facing the same side. "Everyone came out onto their balconies. The whole group was shouting and dancing in joy while enjoying the view."
From "Questionable" Food to Late-Night Sandwiches
When we asked him about the Food in Japan, Akshat laughed before answering.
"Mostly everything was 'questionable' because they would mention meat but never specify what kind of meat!"
By the third or fourth day, the group was craving Indian food. "In Kawaguchiko, we found a Nepali restaurant serving North Indian food, and on our Osaka DIY day, we also found a tiny pizza place. I probably had one of the greatest pizzas I've ever had there."
But if there was one thing he would happily eat again, it was much simpler.
"Would it be too cliché to say the Konbini egg sandwich?" The 7-Eleven beside their hotel became the group's nightly meeting spot. "Every evening after sightseeing, we'd sit outside with our sandwiches, snacks and drinks, just talking and laughing."
"The Highlight of the Trip Was Definitely the Group"
Towards the end of our conversation, we asked Akshat to name his top three experiences in Japan.
His answers were:
- Exploring Tokyo on the DIY day.
- Seeing Mt. Fuji from the hotel.
- And finally...
"Honestly, if you ask anyone else in the group, the highlight of the trip was definitely the group itself. That hell of a group it was!"
Even when we asked about Japanese culture, his answer came back to the same thought. "Getting to know people from all states and corners of India was definitely one of the best parts."
For someone looking for genuine Japan group trip feedback, that probably says more than any itinerary ever could. Japan gave Akshat beautiful memories, but the friendships he made became the best part of his Japan group trip with WanderOn.
"Prashant Never Made It Feel Like We Were on a Managed Tour"
By now, it was quite clear that the group had become the biggest highlight of Akshat's trip. So we were curious to know - what role did their Trip Captain, Prashant, play in making that happen?
Akshat first mentioned a small incident where his return transfer had to be managed because of a flight that had been wrongly recommended. But according to him, that wasn't even worth highlighting compared to everything else Prashant did during the trip.
"Throughout the trip, the level of care he had for the group and his smallest gestures made a difference. When you travel with a group of grown-up adults, nobody expects to be spoon-fed, and I had come with the same expectation. But Prashant really guided us at every point possible and went far beyond that."
He also noticed how attentive Prashant was to everyone's needs.
"He was all ears to everyone's interests and whereabouts, especially the female travellers. He also made sure the group had eaten because the food situation wasn't always easy, so he made frequent stops at convenience stores. He also kept checking how everyone was doing health-wise. He was very diligent that way. Overall, he was very well-organised and a fun person to have as a Trip Captain."
Listening to Akshat, it became easy to understand why the group bonded so well. Sometimes, it's the small things that shape a travel experience.
The Memory That Stayed from Japan group trip
Before wrapping up, we asked Akshat if there was one memory that summed up the entire trip.
His answer came without hesitation. "Our hangout time outside the convenience store in Tokyo was the main ice-breaking moment for the group. That's when people really started opening up to each other. We also played a lot of games after wrapping up our days, usually in one of the group members' hotel rooms, as facilitated by our captain."
Interestingly, it wasn't a monument, a temple or a famous attraction that came to his mind first. It was a convenience store, a group of travellers, and conversations that turned strangers into friends.
Would You Travel with WanderOn Again?
After hearing everything he had to say, there was only one question left.
Would you do another trip with WanderOn?
"Yes, absolutely. My first experience with WanderOn was awesome. I couldn't have had a better trip for sure."
We also asked if this journey had made him more confident about travelling internationally. "Travelling internationally was never a problem for me. But yes, this trip definitely gave me the confidence to travel with strangers on a group trip."
That one line perhaps sums up his entire WanderOn Japan Trip review.
The conversation ended, but before we signed off, we went back to the Google review that first caught our attention. Reading it after hearing his story made every word feel even more meaningful.
"Japan was my first international trip, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to experience it than with WanderOn and our Trip Captain, Prashant.
Prashant is the kind of person who doesn't just manage a group—he builds a family out of strangers. From day one, he created an environment that was nurturing, playful, and full of energy, which made it incredibly easy for all of us to open up, let loose, and truly be present. We partied hard, played hard, walked thousands of steps together, ate our way through Japan—the good food and the questionable food—and did all of it as one unit.
"I came back with some of the best friendships I've made in my adult life. That's not a small thing."
More Than Just a Trip to Japan
When we started this conversation, we thought we'd be talking about Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Mount Fuji. We did. But somehow, every conversation found its way back to the same place—the people.
Akshat's WanderOn Japan Trip review isn't just about the destinations he visited or the experiences included in the itinerary. It's about taking a chance on a Japan group trip with WanderOn, meeting complete strangers, and returning home with friendships that have lasted well beyond the trip.
