My 2018 tours are now on sale

Bookings open! We have just finished updating our website for 2018 and are excited to now take bookings! The lineup is similar to this year and we have print friendly flyers on our website for each of our tours. There are just two small changes. My North Sakura tour is pushing further north next year with two extra nights, one at the volcanic geopark of Lake Toya, and the other in Sapporo. For my City Lights & Alpine Trails tour, we will be skipping Sendai to have two nights at Oirase Gorge, allowing us more time to enjoy the pristine nature there... Please be aware that my Classic Sakura tour sold out very fast last year. We take bookings on a first come first served basis. May & June tour reports I took two groups on my City Lights & Alpine Trails tour this year. One group was my scheduled tour and the other was a private group. The first group had beautiful weather in Kamikochi on the roof of Japan, while the second group (pictured above) had a perfect day on Asahidake in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido. This tour is my grand walking tour - we traverse the length of Japan from Kyoto to Sapporo. It suits travellers who enjoy nature, regional food and culture. Independent tours A traveller's pic of a friendly local met on the Nakasendo this year... If your schedule doesn't match my tours or you want to visit Japan in your own way, we can still assist you. We regularly put together independent tours for travellers like you. We provide everything you need to travel easily in Japan and tailor it to your personal interests. We're happy to help. Where do I holiday during Australia's winter? This was taken a few weeks ago on Iriomote Island south of Okinawa. It's a great place to escape the cold.

From sakura pink to new green

Just a week in Sydney to relax and play soccer The sakura season has come and gone in Japan, and I have returned to Sydney for just ten days to recover and play two Saturday soccer matches - one win, one loss, no injury. Sydney Rangers will have to cope without me as I head back for Japan's new green tomorrow! Private tours I kicked off 2017 with a private tour taking in western Japan's kiln sites. It was a group of four Americans, who all had an interest in ceramics. Particular highlights were Hagi, where we enjoyed guided kiln visits, and also Inujima, which is a small island and part of the Naoshima Benesse Art Site on the inland sea (pictured below). I can tailor any private tour for you but please let us know in advance as times are limited.  Sakura tour reports The sakura season for 2017 was excellent as the weather was good and the flowers were in full bloom at most of the places we visited. Here is my troupe of Classic Sakura travellers in Ueno Park in Tokyo (top right). My North Sakura tour this year was extended to include Hakodate at the southern tip of Hokkaido. Here we could enjoy Tarabagani (Red King Crab), which is a local speciality. Next year, I am thinking of pushing further north into Hokkaido. What do you think? Availability in 2017 A couple of my tours in late 2017 still have availability, including my Earth & Fire ceramics and art tour (Oct 3-14), and my Autumn Colours aesthetic tour (Nov 17-30) pictured below. There are just a few spots left in each, so please get in touch with me if you're interested.