Japan Luxury Travel Advisor

04/27/2024

I have a special announcement today!

I am going to host a Taiwan and Southern Isles of Japan cruise via Seabourn in April 2025!

It’s going to be only for Virtuoso guests, and my co-worker is the host, and I am a co-host. Since I am Japanese, I am happy to have this opportunity to personally share my knowledge of Japan with you.

It’s a great itinerary for the people who have already been to Japan and visited many popular places on the mainland and would like to experience something different.
Cruising around southern Japan via a luxury ship will be an amazing experience!

I will post more details with pictures , but I just wanted to announce it briefly here!

Please join me if you are interested in being part of this great experience!

The benefit by booking through me:

You will receive $200 USD Personalized Experience Credit Per Person, or $200 USD Shipboard credit Per Person, welcome reception, and I will be onboard too!

Please see the Virtuoso website below.

https://www.virtuoso.com/travel/luxury-cruises/sailings/16640517/taiwan-and-isles-of-southern-japan-13apr2025-27apr2025

03/16/2023

I just received some beautiful pictures of cherry blossoms (Kawazuzakura) from Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto!

So, let me share them with my followers! I wish I was there….

It looks like the weather is really warm in Kyoto, so the cherry blossoms started blooming earlier than usual.

This is a Japanese website, but you will see when the cherry blossoms are going to fully bloom.
https://weathernews.jp/s/topics/202303/140205/

Actually, I did not know that nearly 4000 people are following my page… I keep receiving booking requests to Japan, so I do not have that much time to spend on SNS.

Please contact me if you are interested in luxury travel to Japan!



Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/luxury.experience.travel/?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY%3

11/22/2022

This is what I wanted to watch in Shibuya!
The 3D Akita dog shows up at the top of every hour.

Find a perfect spot to watch it!

I’m glad I was able to watch it. Just so cute!

I’d like to watch the 3D cat in Shinjuku next time.

10/25/2022

There was some confusion at the airport, but I managed to enter Japan, my home county!
My journey started from Tokyo.

Izumi - Luxury Travel Advisor shared a post on Instagram: "Japan trip Day-1! A beautiful night view of Tokyo Station made me forget all the hassle and bothersome check point processes at the airport! ...

09/22/2022

Hang in there! It's been reported that the visa requiment for travel to Japan will be removed sometime soon.... Japan has distinct four seasons, and fall is one of the recommended traveling times.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Japan-to-remove-entry-cap-soon-with-eye-on-autumn-tourism-official

Kihara says many people want to visit the country in the 'fall and winter'

05/23/2022

Some promising news recently regarding Japan easing the restrictions of foreign travelers entering Japan. The daily cap on non-tourism related visitors will be increased in June from the current 10,000 to 20,000.

Japan is also looking to allow tourists to enter as part of small-group tours (not individuals) starting soon.

Hopefully, this gradual relief in restrictions will continue and individual tourists will be able to go back to Japan sometime this year. Fingers crossed!


https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/11/national/double-entry-cap-june/

The relaxation of the cap is expected to go ahead following an examination of airport quarantine infrastructure and the coronavirus situation in the country after the Golden Week holidays.

04/10/2022

Dreaming of visiting some of these gardens the next time I go to Japan. I have already been to many of them but was happy to add a few new ones to my list!

Any trip to Japan would not be complete without at least one visit to a traditional Japanese garden. For many visitors, Japanese gardens prove to be one of the highlights of the whole visit, and considering the riches Japan has to offer it is not hard to see why. Gardens in Japan range from immacula...

03/19/2022

As we wait to go back to Japan, I am reminiscing about the fantastic expedition cruise on which I was the Virtuoso On-board Host on the beautiful Silver Explorer in 2019!!

Over 10 days we visited select historical and beautiful destinations in Japan and ended in South Korea.

I thought I would share my blog post from that wonderful journey. Here you can see photos and brief thoughts on our stops in Kobe (where we boarded the ship, Okayama, Takamatsu, Miyajima and Hiroshima, Hagi, Sakaiminato, Kanazawa, and in South Korea at Sokcho and Busan (where we disembarked).

These destinations are great for those who have already visited Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan and are looking to explore different areas of Japan.

Thanks again to Silversea Cruises for such an excellent adventure!

In this 2nd blog of our Silver Explorer Expedition cruise around Japan and Korea, we introduce the ports that we visited on this cruise.

02/21/2022

As we eagerly await the border restrictions in Japan to soften to allow tourists to once again visit Japan, I read some good news in an article from the Japan Times today that some restrictions for non-tourist travel are scheduled to be eased as of March.

Some highlights included in the article are (click the link below to read the full article):

• From March, non-tourist foreign nationals will be allowed to enter Japan. This includes students and business travelers – they will need to have a sponsor (i.e., their school or companies)

• A shortening of the quarantine period for travelers from 7 to 3 days – you may be able to avoid quarantine if you are fully vaccinated (including a booster) with approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca) and are coming from a non-omicron hot spot (the government will have a list of these countries).

• An increase in the number of people allowed to enter Japan each day from 3,500 to 5,000 (this includes students, business travelers, as well as Japanese nationals and foreign residents re-entering Japan)

• A negative Covid test is still required within 72 hours departure as well as another test upon arrival in Japan

• You can take public transportation from the airport

Of course, conditions are always changing, and I can’t stress enough the importance of doing your own research before doing any travel to anywhere, including Japan. As we all know, there are no guarantees when it comes to Covid and what rules are in place now may very well change tomorrow...

Hopefully though, this is a step closer to tourist travel returning to Japan in the near future.



https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/02/21/national/march-border-rules-explainer/

March will bring sweeping changes to the country's border rules — covering quarantines to those eligible for entry — but navigating government websites for answers can be tricky.

01/31/2022

I am often asked what time of year is best to visit Japan to experience the beauty of Cherry Blossom Season 🌸. This is always difficult to answer as one cannot schedule Mother Nature 😊. The best we can do is rely on the experience of the experts to give us their best predictions.

For 2022, it looks like the blossoms will be out earlier this year!!

Take a look at the article below which provides a map of the predicted blossoming season this year. The article also provides some information on the best viewing spots in some of the regions.

Even if you miss them in your region, don't worry, you have the chance to jump on a train and make a day trip to a region close to you with the blossoms appearing later.

I have also created my new Instagram recently which I am updating slowly with all my travels, not just Japan. Please follow me!

https://www.instagram.com/luxury.experience.travel

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸



https://japantoday.com/category/national/cherry-blossoms-set-to-bloom-even-earlier-in-japan-this-year?

Now that we’re past the Dec 22 winter solstice here in Japan, the days are gradually becoming longer, carrying us gently towards the warmer months of spring. That means it won’t be long until cherry blossom season is upon us, and every year we await the forecast that lets us know when the…

01/02/2022

I wish you and your family all the best for 2022!!

My wish for the new year is that we are all able to travel freely again soon. I was lucky enough to visit my family in Tokyo in November before the restrictions were tightened up.

I have also created my new Instagram recently which I am updating slowly with all my travels, not just Japan. Please follow me!

https://instagram.com/luxury.experience.travel?utm_medium=copy_link

09/19/2021

Are you as eager to get back to Tokyo as I am? Until the travel restrictions are lifted, here is a great site where you can share your memories of Tokyo and possibly provide someone with an inspiration for their next trip to this fabulous city!

When you are ready to restart your travel plans, please feel free to contact me through the following link for more details and to see what other special offers I can provide you: https://luxurytraveltojapan.com/contact/

Keep in mind that I can book luxury accommodations throughout Japan, as well as cruises, and plan a custom tour for you to ensure your trip to Japan leaves you with memories to last a lifetime.

https://worldwideluxuryhotels-cruises.com/.../the.../

Tokyo is a place for everyone to share and enjoy. For people who live in or who have been to Tokyo, share your best shot of the city! For those who are looking forward to future travels, share a story of yourself in “Tokyo” using Tokyo Tokyo’s official Instagram effect!

09/11/2021

Kusatsu Onsen is one of the most famous hot spring resort destinations in Japan. With its' beautiful Ryokans, specialty shops, and relaxing Onsen’s, Kusatsu Onsen should be a destination on everybody's list when visiting Japan.

The video below is of the Yubatake (Hot Water Field) that runs through the center of the town with the shops and Ryokans surrounding it. The water is approximately 70°C (158° F) and has a rather nice sulfur smell.

Kusatsu Onsen is in the Gunma prefecture and can be reached from Tokyo in approximately 3 hours. It is a perfect overnight getaway.

09/11/2021

07/05/2021

After completing the cruise around Japan in 2019, I flew back to Tokyo and stayed the beautiful The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo. This property was the perfect place to rejuvenate after the long cruise. The room was amazing (see the view in the blog!), the service was perfect, and the food in the restaurant was excellent.

If the above wasn't enough, this fabulous hotel is located right next to Shinagawa Station, allowing easy and convenient access to local trains for quick trips around the city and to the Shinkansen (Bullet Train), allowing for day trips to areas outside of Tokyo. Not to mention the wonderful shops and food available in the station.

Click the link below to learn more about The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo.

If you book this property through me, you will receive the following amenities:

• Guaranteed 2:00pm late check-out
• Breakfast included daily for two at hotel restaurant
• $100 USD value-added amenity (hotel credit)
• Upgrade to next room category (subject to availability on arrival)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi (unlimited devices)
• Bottled water and fresh fruit/snacks in room upon arrival

Your IHG Rewards membership number can also be applied to the booking.

When you are ready to restart your travel plans, please feel free to contact me through the following link for more details and to see what other special offers I can provide you: https://luxurytraveltojapan.com/contact/

Keep in mind that I can book luxury accommodations throughout Japan, as well as cruises, and plan a custom tour for you to ensure your trip to Japan leaves you with memories to last a lifetime.

https://worldwideluxuryhotels-cruises.com/2021/03/07/the-strings-by-intercontinental-tokyo/

The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo is a wonderful property located right next to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. With exceptional customer service, fantastic views, and close proximity to a major train station, The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo is an ideal hotel to have as your base when visiting...

05/30/2021

I had the wonderful experience of staying at Bettei Senjuan. It is a wonderful Ryokan located in the Gunma Prefecture which is just under 2 hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen - a great option for a overnight getaway while visiting Tokyo.

There are two blogs, one on the property and the our room (https://worldwideluxuryhotels-cruises.com/2017/05/13/bettei-senjuan/) and the second blog showcasing our breakfast and kaiseki dinner experience (https://worldwideluxuryhotels-cruises.com/2021/05/16/bettei-senjuan-2/)

As they are a Relais & Châteaux property, and we are a preferred partner of them, I will ask them to VIP you during your visit.

If you are interested in exploring more Relais & Chateaux properties, check out their website here: https://bit.ly/3wMTtwe

Bettei Senjuan, is a beautiful ryokan located in the Gunma Prefecture, an area famous for it's onsen districts. The perfect overnight trip from Tokyo.

03/24/2021