Guest Experiences

Tohoku comprises the 6 perfectures  north of Tokyo on Honshu.

The autumn colors of the Japanese maples covering the hillsides and mountains rival, if not surpass the beauty of autumn in New England.  For those who want to explore the natural wonders of Japan, Tohoku has
mountains, deciduous forests, lakes, rivers and streams, rice paddies , and many hiking trails to experience this uncrowded area  up close and personal.

For “ first timers” to Japan, visit the “ must see” sights in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji,  Kyoto , Hiroshima , Osaka, and other sites in southern Honshu.  Then, a visit to Tohoku will give you a whole new concept and appreciation of natural Japan that is not geared just for tourists.

Because this area has relatively few foreign tourists, communication is difficult if you do not speak or read Japanese.  Fewer  people speak English and most signs ( including traffic signs) are in Japanese only.  Also, take cash (yen)!  Most businesses do not accept credit cards.

I heartily recommend you have a Japanese speaking tour guide.

My husband and I did  the “ must see” sights of Japan on a previous trip during the spring cherry blossom season.  I wanted to see Japan in the fall but wanted to visit a different area. We  were very fortunate in having Misa Tagawa as our guide/interpreter: translator.  She was our tour guide on our first trip and I contacted her because she is a great guide and she is a native of Tohoku.  Misa took us on a private tour to 5 of the 6 perfectures of Tohoku.  We used only public transportation ( trains and busses) and stayed in smaller hotels, and guest houses.  We purchased a JR ( Japan Railway) pass before we left which helped the cost of travel on trains, including most bullet trains, and some busses.

We were also able to eat at “local” cafes, order small plates at sake bars, sushi bars,  and have fresh seafood at coastal restaurants. We love fresh seafood and  we ate fish and seafood we had never had before—from live abalone we cooked at our table to deep fried squid!  Delicious!

Remember, since we were using public transportation only, we also had to haul our own luggage!  Pack light!!  We each took one small rollaround suitcase and a backpack.

This experience was so much different than a  regular group tour. A guide like Misa, who bought all the tickets, knew the time schedules for the trains and busses and booked hotels within walking distance  of the stations, is most important .  We certainly could not have done this tour independently just because we do not speak or read Japanese. Although, renting  a car (expensive) is an option,  remember most traffic signs are in Japanese only.If you are planning a tour of more than 4 people, I would definitely recommend a van/coach.  It would be difficult and probably frustrating for a guide to have to keep track of more than 4 people using public transportation.

This was truly a unique experience for us and I would recommend likeminded travelers to take advantage of a “ private” tour with a native guide,  in a totally different culture where the people are kind and friendly , if not able to communicate.  We would do it again!!

Itinerary Autumn 2017