2025- YTD

 Hello All,

Just thought I would give you an update on how everything has been progressing this year. The team (Dion, Jon, Elisa and myself) have been extremely busy over the last 6 months and as we speak are generally fully booked for the whole of November and most of December. Obviously we are currently in one of the peak seasons in Japan as a result of the amazing cool weather and subsequent Autumn foliage.  This respite from the draining summer heat is more than welcome and its nice not to be drenched in sweat after a 10 minute stop at a local attraction.

My daughter Elisa, has slowly but surely started building up her clients in the Tokyo, Yokohama and Shimizu regions.  I am careful not to give her too much part time work as she still needs to focus on her studies and bring home the good grades. She might not LOVE working for me (I can be a hard boss and father when necessary) but the flexibility that touring offers and the fact that she is a strong communicator and effective translator has really allowed her to showcase her skills.

Here are a few photos of her in action.

I am sure you will appreciate her efforts and passion to promote Japan to the world.

In Nagasaki at the Hario Radio Towers

Ready to explore at the Akiyoshido Caves

Meeting the clients at a Tokyo hotel

Yatai food carts in Fukuoka

Having a bite to eat on her walking tours in Tokyo

Kunimigaoka Observatory: Takachiho Town, Miyazaki Prefecture

Kunimigaoka Is an observatory point in Miyazaki prefecture located close to Takachiho town and stands at an altitude of approximately 500 m above sea level. At the viewing platform, you pretty much have a 360° panoramic view of amazing scenery for as far as the I can see. On a clear day, you can see Mount Aso to the west and the Takachiho basin to the east and it really is one of those amazing places that will leave you spellbound and wondering why you’ve never heard of this place before. 

Legend has it that the grandson of Emperor Jimmu, the first Shinto god that left heaven to take his place on Earth, viewed this area of Takachiho from this exact spot and hence there are commemorative stones and statues to remember this very important part of Japanese mythology. 

All I can say is that it is an incredible place and as long as the weather gods are in our favor, it’s an amazing start to the day.  It's just the beginning, the views and scenery will just keep getting better and better and better

This is absolutely God’s country.

Come and see the Kunimigaoka Observatory below on a map:

Click on the pictures below to enlarge:

A view for the ages

Non stop beauty

Well signposted

This is truly God's country

A rough translation

The famous swing 

Protectors of the land

A place to say your blessings

Please check these videos below to see more of the Kunimigaoka Observatory:

Ito Sai Sai Farmers Market: Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

Ito Sai Sai Farmer's Market is a very popular shopping experience that specializes in locally sourced produce, flowers, meat, and seafood. Itoshima is renowned for its healthy livestock products such as Itoshima beef and pork and also boasts the largest catch of wild red sea bream in Japan. 

Visitors can enjoy fresh fruit at lower prices than supermarkets and a great selection of flowers and plants.  In fact, during the right season you can get not only the freshest fruit and vegetables at the highest quality but also pricing that is so reasonable you will not be able to just buy 1. 

Case in point is the Strawberry season in Japan from December to mid April. I can guarantee that you will not have any better than what you can get here in Fukuoka.  Our special type of Strawberry that is specifically grown to be SWEET, is called the Amaou. I cannot tell you how many past clients have argued that the strawberries from their hometown region are the best they have ever tasted.  In these cases 100% of them stopped arguing as soon as the strawberry touched their lips. The question that has to be asked, is can you stop a just one pack of strawberries, I think not!

The handmade corner features sausages and tofu, jams, sauces and more, as well as a plentiful selection of bento boxes and sushi. I use this option on sunny days and we have a picnic at a nearby park.  Not only some of the most delicious sushi that you can have but get some Vitamin D and fresh air to boot!

Please check out Ito Sai Sai Farmers Market here on a map below:

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Let's shop

Plentiful

Flowers anyone?

Always packed

Fresh fish

Wagyu

Lots to observe

Amaou Strawberries

Satisfied

Please click on the videos below to see more about the Ito Sai Sai Farmers Market:

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal: Tokyo Port, Tokyo City

Now that my daughter is fully settled in Tokyo, started University and getting accustomised to her new Megalopolis city, we have started to prepare her for the upcoming touring season.

The first thing we wanted to explore was the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal to familiarize with the location, access points, facilities and also deal with any small issues that could pop up on any given day.

Must I say that the location and the facilities are all of World Class which you would expect of such a cosmopolitan and modern city like Tokyo. Having excellent access all across Japan, the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal is a central hub for traveling in Japan and a gateway to exciting sightseeing experiences for visitors from around the world. Opened in 2020 within the Port of Tokyo, the terminal became the new marine gateway of Tokyo with a four-story building with a vast floor area of approximately 19,000 square meters that is capable of accommodating even the world's largest cruise ships.

On this day we arrived by monorail and its only a 10 minute walk from the station to the Port entrance. We did a quick walk around and found everything to be easily locatable and extremely organized.  Looking forward to seeing my daughter organize and operate her first tour in the upcoming weeks and months ahead.

Here is a map of the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal below:

Please click on these photos below to see more about the Tokyo International Port Terminal:

Modern in all areas

Very picturesque

New facilities

Beautiful Japanese art

The sign says it all

Great location