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Japan Travel News

Blog Archives

Japan Year Round: Dreaming of a Post-Pandemic Journey

Posted on October 14, 2020 within News

guntu vip experience

Our excitement is building to welcome you to this fabulous destination as soon as the world re-opens its doors to international travelers. Once the pandemic lifts, it will be the perfect time to explore Japan.

Japan is a year-round destination! Springtime’s sweet scent of sakura (cherry blossoms) and people celebrating the new season make a wonderful time to explore many of the country’s top destinations. The summertime is a welcoming and exciting time to be in Japan when almost every shrine in Japan celebrates with its own matsuri or local festival. Or, visit Japan during a delightfully cool season when the autumn foliage has arrived in a celebration of colors. Winter in Japan is magical as well with its snow covered landscapes and romantic getaways.

Discover quaint merchant towns, timeless mountain and spiritual retreats, fun hiking in the breathtaking Japan Alps, soothing hot spring towns, pottery villages, the top gardens in the world, the majesty of Japan’s castles, and a world-class food culture. Let us introduce you to hyper-contemporary cityscapes, off-the-beaten-path areas, an impressive art scene, the mysterious world of geisha and our endless private special experiences which will truly make your journey memorable.

Now is the perfect time to begin a conversation about your journey to Japan. Whether it be during 2021 or after, we can share many ideas with you to make your travel dreams become a reality. Just give us a call anytime. No one knows Japan better than the team at JapanQuest Journeys.

Safe Travels To Japan

Posted on August 12, 2020 within News

safe travels to japan guidelines

 

We are proud to obtain the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Stamp for tour operators who follow the current Global Protocols set forth by the WHO and CDC guidelines. This specially designed stamp allows travelers to recognize governments and companies around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’. JapanQuest Journeys has aligned with WTTC’s Safe Travels Protocols.
Continue Reading Safe Travels To Japan

Best Restaurants in Japan: Eat Where The Locals Do

Posted on May 19, 2020 within News

Find the Best Restaurants in Japan where the locals eat

There are many great restaurants in Japan. But the most discerning travelers want to eat where the locals do. Continue Reading Best Restaurants in Japan: Eat Where The Locals Do

Best-Value Splurge Accommodations in Japan

Posted on May 1, 2020 within News

splurge accommodations japan including ryokans and more

Discover Splurge Accommodations and Rice Terrace Villas in Japan

Continue Reading Best-Value Splurge Accommodations in Japan

Some Special and Different Experiences in Japan

Posted on April 27, 2020 within News

learn about different experiences in japan

Have Different Experiences in Japan

Immerse yourself in a sake related experience. Partake in the tradition of “Kaku-uchi” which means to sample different types of sake at a local sake liquor store while chatting and enjoying the lively local atmosphere. You will be accompanied by our local sake sommelier who will provide you with essential knowledge to increase your enjoyment, and assist you to find your type of sake. Or, tour a sake microbrewery with the owner, who will explain the process of brewing as well as the drink’s place in Japanese society. Afterward, the brew master will expertly guide you through a tasting, describing the nuances and subtleties of their sake range. If alcohol is not your bailiwick, we can arrange a tea tasting with an expert in Japanese tea. Continue Reading Some Special and Different Experiences in Japan

Some of the Best Hidden Places in Japan

Posted on April 10, 2020 within News

secret and hidden places japan

Find The Best Secret Places in Japan

Continue Reading Some of the Best Hidden Places in Japan

Our Expertly Guided Journeys

Posted on February 3, 2020 within News

The key to a fun and enriching journey will be your guide.

Japan is a fascinating country where modern life and age-old traditions merge in the blink of an eye. JapanQuest Journeys’ guides take the mystery out of Japan so you can navigate and understand this magnificent country as true insiders. A guided journey is simply the best way to experience Japan. Our guides are filled with a wealth of information, personality, charm and Japanese hospitality.  Continue Reading Our Expertly Guided Journeys

Travel+Leisure Names JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman to A-List 2019!

Posted on October 5, 2019 within News

travel leisure a list japan journey

Scott Gilman, co-founder of JapanQuest Journeys, has been chosen for Travel + Leisure’s A-List 2019, an annual collection of the best travel advisers and specialists. T+L recognizes Scott’s expertise on Japan, his dedication to excellence and his ability to deliver the highest-caliber unique experiences for our clients.   Continue Reading Travel+Leisure Names JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman to A-List 2019!

Discover Matsumoto and Tobira Onsen

Posted on August 5, 2019 within News

matsumoto castle japan

A Samurai Castle in Matsumoto

Journey through the beautiful Japan Alps to the castle town of Matsumoto, with its splendid four-hundred-year-old castle, one of Japan’s National Treasures. Matsumoto Castle is one of the few surviving samurai castles in the country. Continue Reading Discover Matsumoto and Tobira Onsen

JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman Featured on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Website!

Posted on June 25, 2019 within News

Cofounder and managing director of JapanQuest Journeys (JQJ), Gilman is a Japan buff and former Tokyo resident now living in Washington, D.C. His love of Japan led him to cofound JQJ seven years ago, and the company now assists as many as 1,000 Japan-bound travelers per year. A selectee of the 2018 Travel+Leisure A-list and the 2016–2018 Wendy Perrin WOW List, Gilman is recognized worldwide as a leading tour operator. Continue Reading JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman Featured on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Website!

Japan Travel Tips in AFAR Magazine

Posted on June 23, 2019 within News

japan travel tips from an expert tour guide

Japan Travel Tips from Scott Gilman

AFAR Magazine put together a wonderful article featuring Japan travel tips. We were honored to have Scott Gilman asked to contribute. Scott’s biggest tip? Continue Reading Japan Travel Tips in AFAR Magazine

JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman as Featured Travel Advisor on Travel+Leisure!

Posted on June 13, 2019 within News

travel and leisure names scott gilman a best japan tour guide company

We’re excited to share that Travel+Leisure has named Scott Gilman as a “Featured Travel Advisor” for tourism to Japan. Continue Reading JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman as Featured Travel Advisor on Travel+Leisure!

2020 Olympics and Paralympics

Posted on June 11, 2019 within News

2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Next summer, the Olympic Games will descend upon Tokyo for the first time in 56 years.

Discover the Mysterious World of Geisha

Posted on May 22, 2019 within News

A maiko geisha in traditional make-up and kimono rushes to work through the narrow alley of Pontocho Street in Kyoto, Japan.

Journey to the western side of Japan to Kanazawa and meander through Higashi Chaya, the largest and most resplendent of Kanazawa’s remaining tea house and geisha districts. Visit a beautiful ochaya (tea house) built in the 1830s. Ochaya were a luxurious place for customers to be entertained by Geisha with exquisite song and dance. As a rule, an ochaya would have been exclusively patronized by upper class merchants. Continue Reading Discover the Mysterious World of Geisha

JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman named to Wendy Perrin’s 2019 WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts!

Posted on March 7, 2019 within News

japan wendy perrin wow list 2019

Many of our travelers found us because of Wendy Perrin, whose annual WOW List remains a uniquely useful resource for sophisticated travelers seeking the world’s best trip-planning specialists. Continue Reading JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman named to Wendy Perrin’s 2019 WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts!

Awaji Island, a Great Day Trip from Osaka

Posted on November 2, 2018 within News

Awaji Island day trip from osaka

Day Trips from Osaka: Awaji Island

Discover Awaji Island, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. Awaji is a great day trip from Osaka especially for those interested in modern architecture and beautiful gardens. Experience the Tadao Ando designed Westin Awaji Island Resort & Conference Center and the Tadao Ando-designed Water Temple (Honpukuji), a peaceful complex surrounded by Awaji’s bamboo covered hills and rice fields. Continue Reading Awaji Island, a Great Day Trip from Osaka

Travel+Leisure Names JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman to A-List 2018!

Posted on October 9, 2018 within News

travel and leisure japan tips from an expert

Travel + Leisure’s A-List 2018: Japan

Scott Gilman, co-founder of JapanQuest Journeys, has been chosen for Travel + Leisure’s A-List 2018, an annual collection of the best travel advisors and specialists. T+L recognizes Scott’s expertise on Japan, his dedication to excellence and his ability to deliver the highest-caliber unique experiences for our clients.   Continue Reading Travel+Leisure Names JapanQuest Journeys’ Scott Gilman to A-List 2018!

Japan is Stunning in Autumn and Wintertime

Posted on September 6, 2018 within News

japan in autumn featuring a beautiful temple

Explore Japan in Autumn

… And Be Awed By Kyoto’s Maples

Imagine being in Kyoto on a delightfully cool day this fall. Meander into some of the city’s most tucked away temples like Unryu-in and Komyo-in before dusk hits the sky. Visit Nanzenji, home to two of Kyoto’s finest karesansui dry landscape gardens. This lovely temple is famous for its autumn foliage. Enjoy viewing the beautiful maples lining the river from Togetsu-kyo Bridge in peaceful Arashiyama. The maples are illuminated in the evening at some of Kyoto’s most famous temples. It is truly a moment when you can feel the natural beauty abound in Japan. Continue Reading Japan is Stunning in Autumn and Wintertime

Japan’s Beautiful Yamaguchi Prefecture and Famous Hagi-yaki Pottery

Posted on August 21, 2018 within News

Hagi japan

Yamaguchi Prefecture, located at the westernmost end of Japan’s main island of Honshu, has beautiful mountainous scenery and is famous for Hagi-yaki pottery. Hagi-yaki is especially renowned for its milky, white-glazed texture. Continue Reading Japan’s Beautiful Yamaguchi Prefecture and Famous Hagi-yaki Pottery

Soothing Hot Spring Areas Near Tokyo

Posted on June 10, 2018 within News

hot springs tokyo day trips

Soothing Hot Springs Near Tokyo

Some of the most soothing hot spring destinations in Japan are within easy reach of Tokyo.

Sojourn to Hakone, a beautiful mountainous area with verdant forests, small lakes and thermal springs located approximately 90 minutes from Tokyo. Behold the beautiful red tori gate of Hakone Shrine set along the edge of Lake Ashi as well as views of majestic Mt. Fuji, the iconic symbol of Japan. Continue Reading Soothing Hot Spring Areas Near Tokyo

Japan’s Best Buddhist Mountain Retreat

Posted on May 2, 2018 within News

japan buddhist mountain retreat

Buddhist Retreats: Remote, Spiritual and Beautiful Koyasan

Journey to mountainous Wakayama to experience Mt. Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the center of Shingon Buddhism. Located amidst forested peaks and with over one hundred temple complexes, Mt. Koya possesses an aura of serene spirituality. Continue Reading Japan’s Best Buddhist Mountain Retreat

Karuizawa, Japan’s Stunning Museums & Architecture

Posted on April 10, 2018 within News

Karuizawa museum and architecture

Mountain resort town Karuizawa, one hour from Tokyo, is home to fabulous museum exhibits and stunning contemporary architecture. It is a perfect day trip for art lovers. Museums are open on Mondays when most museums in Tokyo are closed. Continue Reading Karuizawa, Japan’s Stunning Museums & Architecture

Executives Discover JapanQuest Journeys

Posted on February 12, 2018 within News

Japan Executive Travel Company

Introduce Tokyo and Japan to Your Executives

JapanQuest Journeys supports businesses new to Japan by introducing corporate executives to Japan’s highly varied and exciting destinations, giving them the opportunity to hone their sense of the Japanese marketplace. Continue Reading Executives Discover JapanQuest Journeys

JapanQuest Journeys Expands B2B Travel Services

Posted on February 12, 2018 within News

Japan B2B business Travel Services for a bespoke experience

Enhance the Stays of Expats in Japan

Real Estate & Mobility/Relocation Companies

Expatriates often shy away from exploring the real Japan and miss out on the countless wonders that Japan has to offer. We work closely with luxury real estate companies and mobility/relocation firms to offer an additional resource and value-added service to their tenants and clients.
Continue Reading JapanQuest Journeys Expands B2B Travel Services

Exclusive Sake Experiences in 2018

Posted on February 5, 2018 within News

best japanese sake brands in 2018

Learn from the experts about the best Japanese sake brands and microbreweries!

Sake is an essential part of Japanese culinary culture. Experience the pleasure of sake at quintessential breweries in the heartland of Takayama or visit a Kyoto-based microbrewery to learn how sake is made and sample their delicious products.  Continue Reading Exclusive Sake Experiences in 2018

Timeless Retreats in the Mountains of Nara

Posted on December 24, 2017 within News

Rural and agricultural Nara is one of the most timeless retreats in Japan. Just wait until you behold its soft rolling plains, traditional towns and ancient walking paths. Take in the sweeping vistas of beautiful mountain ranges and rice terraces in the Soni Highlands. Visit Murou-ji Temple where you can climb 700 steps to reach its impressive five storied pagoda. You will love hiking in Akami, a beautiful and forested area with nearly 50 waterfalls! Continue Reading Timeless Retreats in the Mountains of Nara

Great Ryokans in Japanese Hot Spring Villages

Posted on September 12, 2017 within News

Unforgettable Japanese Hot Spring Ryokans

Yagyu ryokan japanese hot spring village

Hot spring ryokan Yagyu no-Sho is one of Japan’s premier inns of high quality and distinction. Yagyu no-Sho presents  an unforgettable stay where traditional cuisine, baths, scenery, hospitality, and the beauty of Japanese architecture come together impeccably. With conscientious hospitality as the staff’s guiding light, you will enjoy a truly unique and wonderful Japanese inn experience. Continue Reading Great Ryokans in Japanese Hot Spring Villages

Japanese Art Tour: The Fascinating Art Field of Echigo-Tsumari

Posted on August 14, 2017 within News

Echigo-Tsumari: A Japanese Great

japanese art by Echigo Tsumari

Experience the incredible Echigo-Tsumari region of Niigata, home to over one hundred fascinating and entertaining modern art installations shown throughout the area’s beautiful 760 square kilometer landscape. Created by both global and Japanese artists, you will love these artworks which you’ll find inside local town centers, in old abandoned schools and throughout Echigo’s ubiquitous rice fields. Continue Reading Japanese Art Tour: The Fascinating Art Field of Echigo-Tsumari

A Guide to Japanese Castles

Posted on July 29, 2017 within News

The Best Japanese Castles

when looking for the best japanese castle stop at Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle

National Treasure castle Matsumoto-jo is the oldest six story castle in Japan and one of our favorite sights to visit in the mountains. Its black and white exterior set against the shining backdrop of the Japanese Alps makes for some of the most magnificent historical scenery in the country. Matsumoto-jo ranks as one of Japan’s finest and most authentic surviving samurai castles and it doesn’t take long to see why once you enter. Continue Reading A Guide to Japanese Castles