Local tour agents for a weeks trip from Tokyo
 

I have extended family visitors and want to set them up on a package tour that starts from Tokyo and ends in Tokyo. Any suggestions as to who the best travel agent could be. Must speak English, as I've been to a couple of them in and around Shinjuku without a single English speaking agent. Thanks!

I'd recommend speaking to the good folks at http://www.iace.co.jp/english/

I've no experience of buying tours, but I have been purchasing flights ex NRT from them for a couple of years. I notice on their website that they offer the kind of thing you were after. All my dealings with them have relied on their excellent English skills.

Safe hands.

The big name in that area is Sunrise Tours, part of JTB. Here is a link:

http://www.jtbgmt.com/sunrisetour/

JR

Too bad that big name charges big prices :td: .........though the service is usually above average!

Agree with both points.

JR

Any more details such as the length (timewise) of the tour, or possible destinations?

The bus tour companies (such as Hato and Grey Line) cover the one-day tours of Tokyo.
Hato: http://www.hatobus.com/tour/index.html
Grey Line: http://www.jgl.co.jp/inbound/traveler/traveler.htm

As for longer tours around Japan, an online search came up with quite a few possibilities, but I don't want to recommend anything I'm not familiar with. But I am familiar with those that follow.

When I travel around Japan, I usually put together my own trips (airfare, hotel, etc.) and then compare it with some of the Japanese travel agencies (Which can often come up with some pretty darn good prices. Went to Okinawa for a few days recently on a package tour--nope, no little flags or guides, never want that--including airfare, resort hotel and car for less than the cost of the cheapest discounted airfare). One I use quite often, Kinki Nippon, does offer tours in English, but I've never done these, and assume that the prices might not be that cheap.
Kinki Nippon (English): http://www.knt.co.jp/kokusai/top.htm
It also appears they have yet to update their tours page.

While the consolidator No.1 Travel doesn't do domestic, their parent agency, HIS Travel, does. But I would guess that even if you could book it through No.1, the tour would probably be done in Japanese.
No.1 Travel: http://www.no1-travel.com/
HIS Travel (Japanese): http://www.his-j.com/domestic/index.htm

JNTO lists some nice tour packages, but after clicking on a few, I think international airfare might be a part of these packages. Still, if you want to take a look, if only to get a few ideas.
JNTO: http://www.japantravelinfo.com/tours/

Go Japan has a page on domestic tours and travel that you might find useful reading.
Go Japan: http://gojapan.about.com/cs/travelag...japantours.htm

Hope this helps.

Thank you. It does. They were toying with the idea of a "free and easy" from outside Japan for a week. I've been persuading them to use my miles and then book a tour (max 4 days) from Tokyo to as far as it would take them and back.

I'm sorry , I don't remember you mentioning a season for this trip........Might I suggest a trip far south to the outer Ryukyu Islands (early spring , late fall ).....4 days with a JR pass would be a great time to wander around Kyushu....visit the 100+temples in Shikoku..........scoot around Hokkaido etc. , the options are endless.......