2025- A new beginning

Firstly, I would like to wish all my previous and future clients a Happy New Year and of course a healthy and prosperous 2025. I am sure this year will be a busy but challenging one for us all.

I am going onto my 14th year as a Tour Guide and Shore Excursion specialist. I will never forget my first tour in 2011 with the Limanski party of 8.  Of course there were a lot of nerves and trepidation but the excitement was palpable with a new business venture just starting to come to fruition.

Over the years, obviously I have refined my skills, introduced many new tour offerings and expanded into many new regions around Japan as the demand for guides and bespoke/ customized experiences has become the norm.  However I realize that that a one man operation is not going to be able to satisfy the constant requests and consistent demand. Therefore I am extremely happy to announce a partnership to expand and improve on the quality and scope of operations by introducing a new alliance to provide touring services throughout Kyushu and Western Japan.

Dion and Jon are fellow expats from Canada and the USA respectively, who like me have lived in Japan for over 20 years, currently work in the University system  and are raising children in this wonderful country called the Land of the Rising Sun. Never did I think that I would find someone who could match my level of energy and passion to showcase Japan and its specific regions to the world but I was wrong.  These 2 do that and much more and I can truthfully say I would trust them with my life and my kids as well.

Our combined website is called Japan Shore Excursions and you can click on this link to see more about us and our shared philosophy.

https://www.privatetoursjapan.net/

One of our goals is to be able to fulfill a customers request at all times whether large or small. It could be a short 5 or 6 hour day tour or multiple Shore Excursions with multiple port calls allover Japan.  With this partnership, we will be more flexible to help match and provide excellent touring solutions to an eager and demanding public.

These are the regions that we are specializing in at present:

1) Kyushu: Focusing on the main ports of Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Beppu, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.

 

2) Shikoku: Focusing on the Port of Kochi

 

3) Western and Central Japan: With a focus on ports south of Tokyo such as Hiroshima, Himeji, Tottori, Osaka, Kobe, Shimizu and Yokohama.

The other amazing news is that my daughter Elisa will be joining me in the tour business.  She is 18 years old now, perfectly bilingual, has passed the highest level of language proficiency in Japan and working towards getting her professional translator license.

She will soon be graduating from High School and heading to Tokyo to study International Business at the prestigious Sophia University. In order to support herself thru University she will be conducting City Walking Tours and Private chauffeured day tours in Tokyo as well as Shore Excursions out of the Yokohama International Cruise Terminal from April 2025.

My daughter

In the meantime to boost her skills she is providing various walking tours in Fukuoka City specializing in Shopping, Culture, History and Gourmet experiences. If you would like to know more about her services please contact me or her directly at the following email address:

elisadestinylefebvre@gmail.com

Also, you can see her profile here on her TripAdvisor account:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g14127491-d32653099-Fukuoka_City_Walking_and_Public_Transport_Tour-Chuo_Fukuoka_Fukuoka_Prefecture_K.html

I am sure you will find that she shares many strong attributes like her father but with her unique perspective of being raised as a dual citizen and bilingual to boot, I am sure she will be able to share many insights into what it means to be Japanese and Australian alike.

Chinoike Jigoku: Beppu City- Oita Prefecture

The Blood Hell Ponds called Chinoike Jigoku in Japanese, in the hot spring town of Beppu, Oita Prefecture is a spring that is blood red. It has existed for over 1300 years and its color is said to be a result of some chemical reaction occurring underground. The color has remained this way ever since the beginning except for a 6 month period in the 1970's. The nearby Aso Volcano in neighboring Kumamoto Prefecture, had a very unstable period which affected the coloring of the water.

I found this information out from the owner who I was fortunate to meet in my first few years in Japan. In fact, I was a guest at their holiday house on site and of course the water that came out of the faucet for the hot bath was indeed red. An excellent opportunity was had to test the quality of the water and its therapeutic benefits. Result, thumbs up, fully recommended! Therefore for those that feel inclined, there is a footbath here can can be used on the premises. It's not the full body experience but it feels amazing nevertheless. Of course, I will bring the towels and all you have to do is sit and relax. For those who have never had a thermal mineral enriched footbath this will be a heavenly experience, guaranteed!

Today, this is a major attraction on the tourist sites of the region. Although there are 7 Hell pond attraction sites, without a doubt the Chinoike Jigoku is by far the most popular. On our private tours of Beppu we will only visit this one as there are obviously many more other remarkable sites in and around Beppu City specifically and Oita Prefecture in general.

We normally stay here for 20 to 25 minutes but they have an incredible gift shop that will be another excellent stop with many keepsakes and superb gift ideas. Those shopaholics and customers who want to find at least 1 special item from their travels, this is definitely the place for you.

Please check out the Chinoike Jigoku on this map below:

Please click on these photos below to enlarge:

Memory photo

Devil horns, lookout where you sit!

Footbath time

Lots of souvenirs

Onsen symbol

The local Oni (devil)

It is indeed Blood Red

Steam rises!

Great color and views

Lots of products to browse.

Worth trying some red beer?

Click find out more about the Chinokie Jigoku on these videos below:

Dassai Sake Brewery- Iwakuni City: Yamaguchi Prefecture

Anyone who has ever drunk Sake, done some basic investigation and learnt about this very traditional Japanese alcoholic drink, knows that Dassai is a leader in its field and has taken Japanese Sake from a ho hum everyday product to a drink that is admired around the world. In many ways, it is the crem dela crem of Japanese Sake and as a result the reputation of Sake and also its profitability and popularity especially from a international customer perspective has reach atmospheric levels.

You see, sales and consumption of sake, traditionally regarded as Japan’s national drink, have been in decline for some time. From a peak of 1.675 million kiloliters in 1975, consumption had dropped to just 589,000 kL in 2010. Part of this decline can be attributed to the tendency among younger people to drink less, together with increased sales of alternatives like beer, whisky, and wine. Over this period, the number of sake breweries fell from more than 3,000 to around 1,500.

Dassai in some regard has reversed this trend. It has revolutionized the Sake Industry and brought it into the 21st century ready to compete with others within the Sake Industry and with its worldwide competitors selling other similar products like Gin, Whiskey, Wine, Vodka and Tequila.  Now in many regards around the world Dassai can compete and beat its international rivals with its appeal, marketability and overall image on a variety of levels.

I initially had my 1st Dassai drink 10 years ago and was immediately hooked. Don't get me wrong I have had many great Sake labels over the years but in truth none of them have impressed me as much as Dassai.  Of course Dassai is not considered an everyday Sake (unless you have the financial means) but without a doubt it is seen as a drink that needs to be brought out around close friends and family as well as for major celebratory events.

Dassai values quality over quantity and the President of the Company points out that the social role of sake has changed with time. What people are looking for today is not a cheap intoxicant but a quality product that can be savored for its taste. Sakurai says his key target market is not long-term drinkers but those who may be new to the pleasures of sake. “We are targeting the younger generation, who drink far less than their parents’ generation. Women are another major untapped market,” he says.

On this day, I headed to the factory with a level of nervousness/ excitement that I haven't had in quite a while. Once I arrived, I knew immediately that this location will be a hit with any Sake enthusiast. Whether or not we are able to secure a 1 hour Factory Tour entirely in English I am sure that the overall level of satisfaction will be achieved.  I was like a child in a candy store!  Of course there was no tasting on this day (no drink driving in Japan) but I did take a take home pack to share with my wife, who is also a Dassai fan like myself.

I did grab the sampler pack with the revered Dassai 23. This Sake has been polished down to 23%, in other words the rice has been dissolved thru fermentation to 77% of its original size. This Daijigo type Sake will impart silky smooth flavor and a fruity aftertaste with a nice aroma.  It is for these reasons that Dassai 23 is the flagship product and will continue to lure customers from within Japan and around the world.

I am sure I will be posted more and more about the Dassai scene as I visit the factory more and more over the coming months.

Please check out the Dassai Sake Brewery here on a map:

Please click on these photos below to enlarge:

Kuma San design

Background

The brand

Product display

Tasting menu

Sample packs

Special event corner

The BIG ONE

Ready to drink

Pretty landscape

Deliveries never stop

Tasting location

The lucky tour members

New supplies

My take home pack

Lots of Sake being made

Tosu Outlet Mall- Tosu City: Saga Prefecture

Personally, I have been coming to this Outlet Mall for nearly 2 decades.  It really was the only Outlet Mall in the region before outlet malls became a normal style of shopping in Japan.  Nowadays there are many options for people to enjoy but the Tosu Outlet Mall is still the go to place as it has continued to develop, expand and provide much more variety than its competitors.

These reasons above as well as the fact that the Outlet mall is conveniently located (approx. 45 minute drive from Fukuoka City) with its late closing time makes it a perfect last destination on our private tour together.

Generally we will spend about 60 to 90 minutes here, but those hardcore shoppers can extend this period of time and 120 to 150 minutes is not unheard of.  However we may have to eliminate a previous attraction on the itinerary to get this option available to us.

Please look below to see the Tosu Outlet Mall here on a map:

Please click on the photos below to see the Tosu Outlet Mall in all its glory.

Click on the photos to enlarge:

Spacious on a weekday

Many brands on offer

Excellent signposting

Well worth shopping at

Please check out this video of the Tosu Outlet Mall below:

Myoban Hot Spring- Beppu City: Oita Prefecture

Founded in 1725, Myoban Yunosato is dotted with the distinctive silhouettes of the yunohana huts. Surrounded by trails of hot spring steam gently wafting in the air, these huts distinguish themselves from any other traditional buildings we’ve ever seen in Japan with their triangular-shaped thatched roofs.

Constructed since the Edo period, these huts are the result of local craftsmanship and wisdom that made use of the fumarole-rich terrain to manufacture yunohana minerals by paving the huts with cobblestone covered in blue clay. This combination lets hot spring steam flow evenly within the hut while the thatched roof keeps the temperature inside constant by absorbing the humidity and releasing it outside avoiding the reformation of water droplets that could dissolve the hot spring steam.

The mineral deposits inside the huts slowly grow about 1mm a day from Myoban’s hot spring steam. It is then collected, purified, and dried over a period of 40 to 60 days before being used in a wide variety of body-care products such as bath salts and skin care products.

Not only will you and your party be able to enjoy lunch here at the numerous different restaurants offering traditional Oita Prefecture fare but either before or after lunch you will be able to partake in a public hot spring (large and expansive with spectacular views but with communal nudity) or a private hot spring in one of the many Yunohana huts. Here you can fully relax without having to worry about others as well as to control the temperature of the warm to hot water that is teeming with minerals to completely relax your body, mind and soul. I am sure this experience will last with you for many years to come.

Please check below to see where the Myoban Hot Springs are on a map:

Please click on these photos below to enlarge:

Many lunch options

The famous Onsen pudding

Famous chicken dishes are hugely popular

Onsen steamed eggs

Great views

Yunohana salt fields

Yunohana Huts

Hot spring region

Private Onsen choices

Outdoor public bathing

Have fun!

Spectacular from all angles

Inside the private huts

Temp control is doable

Please click on these video below to see more about the Myoban Onsen region: