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After our first conversation with Andrea we could tell that we were in for a special experience from beginning to end. Our actual trip exceeded even these initial, high expectations.
Andrea is an engaging and inspiring traveler and storyteller, which made every step of the planning process an absolute pleasure. His talent for sharing his vast experience and deep understanding of every aspect of Japanese culture, history, and spiritual life is matched by his skill as a listener: after hearing our answers to his thoughtful questions about our goals for the trip, he was both responsive to our particular interests and persuasive in suggesting additional areas for us to explore that we would never have found on our own. He was patient, creative, and collaborative in crafting our itinerary. Perhaps most importantly, Andrea was an excellent editor who made sure that we had in-depth, authentic experiences that we could savor, rather than an overly ambitious list of tourist highlights to check off. The result was a trip that felt tailored to us and personal in every respect.
Our accommodations and dining experiences were absolutely superb. Our transportation between destinations was flawless. But Andrea and his team went above and beyond simply making arrangements. They paid careful attention to be sure we were fully prepared for our trip, giving us some very useful guidance on day-to-day etiquette in Japan and providing further context for our trip with a reading list of Japanese literature. We so appreciated that they considered the period prior to departure to be part of the whole journey, and this resulted in a richer, fuller experience for us once we were there.
Andrea clearly surrounds himself with colleagues who reflect his own high standards, expertise, and thoughtfulness. The level of detail that Justin, Martina, Lauren, and the other “Guardian Angels” looked after for us prior to departure and during the trip itself enabled us to relax throughout. We knew they were standing by at any time if we needed them. A local snafu at one point prompted us to ask for their assistance, and they responded instantly to resolve the matter. Their kindness, care, and professionalism allowed us to completely immerse ourselves in our trip without a worry, which was the greatest luxury of all.
This quality of excellence extended to all of the people Andrea had contracted with on our behalf in Japan. We cannot say enough about the superlative service and kindness of the people we interacted with at every accommodation Andrea recommended, and every agent, driver, and guide we were lucky enough to spend time with. Over the years, we have learned that a good guide can make the difference between an okay trip and a memorable trip, and Andrea’s relationships with exceptional guides made this trip an absolute dream. They were all knowledgeable, professional, and an incredible pleasure to be with. We are so grateful for the perspective each one of them shared with us about their particular location, and for the many beautiful memories they made possible for us.
We can’t wait to plan another trip-of-a-lifetime with Andrea!
We went on a trip to Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand designed by Andrea last month. We had a wonderful trip, and are so pleased with Andrea! We particularly loved the liveaboard dive boat he recommended. The trip was to Raja Ampat, a bucket list destination for us, and the level of service on the boat was outstanding.
The food, the dives, the excursions—all exceeded expectations. We loved our time on land in Bali, Singapore, and Thailand as well. The quality of our guides was universally very good to outstanding, with some being truly exceptional. We enjoyed our excursions, with favorites being the waterfall purification in Bali and the elephant feeding/bathing in Thailand. We appreciated the WhatsApp group Andrea set up in each country including our guides and Andrea’s team; we felt comfort knowing we could contact someone for assistance at any time. Perhaps the best feedback we can give is that we have been home only two weeks and have already started planning our next trip to Southeast Asia with Andrea!
Skier Julie Lee pushes off and drops into snow “so light it barely seemed to exist.” Photo: Traveler Anson Lee
Skiing in Japan. The dream. The legend. The whispered tales of bottomless powder so light it evaporates between your fingers. A place where ramen shacks sit at the base of lifts, vending machines dispense hot coffee in cans, and après means soaking in an outdoor onsen while steam curls into the icy air.
Japan has 500 ski areas. Let that sink in. The U.S., sprawling and vast, barely has more—despite being twenty-five times bigger. The variety is staggering. There are massive, Euro-style resorts with high-speed gondolas and mountain cafés serving espresso and Wagyu sandwiches. And then there are tiny, single-lift, mom-and-pop hills—some rustic and soulful, others teetering on the edge of sketchy, depending on your aesthetic and risk tolerance.
Planning a ski trip to Japan feels like solving a puzzle where the pieces keep shifting—terrain, snowfall, logistics, and that delicate balance between adventure and efficiency. Factor in unpredictable storms, a labyrinth of train schedules, and the desire to do more than just ski—to eat, explore, experience—and it quickly becomes overwhelming.
Enter Wendy Perrin, who connected us with Andrea and his team. They didn’t just help us plan. They translated a dream into reality.
Andrea understands the vision because he’s lived it. His team isn’t just made up of travel experts; they’re mountain people—the kind who wake up every day thinking about snow, who know the difference between a storm and the storm, who talk about microclimates the way chefs talk about ingredients. He didn’t deal in hypotheticals. Our “Where should we go for…” questions became “Here’s what you’re going to do.”
And when we threw in our curveballs—visiting my cousin in Obuse (a town famous for the artist behind that wave), then detouring south to Naoshima, where art dissolves into the landscape—he didn’t hesitate. He just got it. The whole thing. And he made it work.
Then there was the efficiency. The kind that feels almost supernatural, like the world itself bends to the precision of the Japanese train system. Trains arrive exactly when they say they will. If one is late—by even a minute—someone apologizes. Into this clockwork world stepped Andrea and his team—drivers, fixers, handlers—moving us seamlessly from powder to platform to ramen counter in a kind of quiet choreography that never felt rushed, only right.
We were never hungry. Never under-caffeinated. Never left staring at a timetable, wondering what came next. If we needed a last-minute dinner reservation, a weather update, or flight confirmation numbers at just the right moment, someone was already on it.
And then—the snow.
A crisp bluebird morning after 30 centimeters of fresh—the kind of day that, back home, would mean hour-long gondola lineups, full of people who arrived at dawn with thermoses and thousand-yard stares.
But here, in Japan, our guide just pointed off into the distance and asked:
“Are you okay if we hike a bit?”
Now, if travel has taught us anything, it’s that when a local asks this kind of question, the answer is always yes.
We kicked off our skis, shouldered them, and started bootpacking away from the lift-served terrain. A few others, clearly in the know, were doing the same. But then, just as we reached what seemed like the logical starting point, our guide stopped.
“Put your skis on here. Let’s wait.”
Wait? Why? The first rule of powder days is that you don’t wait. But she had a look that said: Trust me.
So we stood there, watching as the others clipped in, adjusted their goggles, and dropped in—first tracks, untouched lines, that intoxicating sound of powder swallowing movement whole.
Then, as the last skier disappeared, she pointed with her pole to a small gap in the trees.
“We’re going over there.”
What had looked like a sheer drop was, in fact, the entry point—the real one. A barely visible opening in the forest, a portal to something deeper, quieter.
We pushed off, one by one, and dropped into snow so light it barely seemed to exist. A floating sensation, weightless, almost silent—except for the occasional gasp, the involuntary Oh my god that sneaks out when something is too good to keep inside.
Halfway down, we pulled into a clearing, breathless, needing air, needing to process what had just happened. These are called “wow moments,” but that feels insufficient. It was more than that. Something closer to reverence.
Our guide smiled, reading our faces.
“How are we doing?”
I had no words.
But, as it turns out, there are words for this.
Before dropping into untracked powder, Japanese skiers often say: Itadakimasu (いただきます). A phrase traditionally spoken before a meal, a way of expressing gratitude. But here, it means something just as sacred. Acknowledgment. Appreciation. A quiet thank you to the mountain before taking what it has offered. Because powder—like the best meals, the best moments—isn’t something to be consumed. It’s something to be received.
Skiing, at its best, isn’t just sport. It’s ritual. And for that ritual—for knowing exactly when to wait, where to go, and how to make it all seem effortless—we owe everything to Andrea and his team.
From the planning to the execution, from the perfectly timed detours to the unshakable calm in the face of our endless questions, they made it all seamless. They knew when to push us, when to hold us back, and when to just let Japan work its magic.
And for that, Itadakimasu.
Conrad and Sandi’s wish list included sumo wrestling lessons and learning the art of samurai swordsmanship.
We were so pleased with the detailed planning efforts and suggestions of Andrea and his staff that we fully intend to engage his services the next time we are in his territory. Ours was not a typical trip to Tokyo, as we had limited time and specific interests that we knew would be challenging to arrange. This was due to our flying there on January 10th, only three days before embarking on the Silversea 2025 World Cruise on the 13th.
Our wish list included private sumo wrestling lessons and lunch with sumo wrestlers, securing Box Seats (which are extremely difficult to obtain) for the opening day of the Sumo Grand Championship Match at Ryogoku Kokugikan, learning the art of Samurai swordsmanship, participating in a private traditional tea ceremony with a Tea Master, having lunch at Tokyo Skytree, and witnessing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing firsthand—at street level during rush hour and from above, first at Shibuya Sky and later while dining at Shunsai, the restaurant in the Shibuya Excel Hotel that directly overlooks the Crossing.
In addition to piecing together all these elements, which Andrea, Stefano, and the other people at their company accomplished masterfully, my wife Sandi and I made their job even more challenging by requiring afternoon naps and my following an annoying pescatarian, non-dairy, low-salt diet. Despite this, Andrea and his team orchestrated everything seamlessly. Andrea personally spent considerable time speaking to the restaurants ahead of time, conveying my dietary restrictions, and even explaining what I should say upon arrival.
One of the real perks of working with Andrea’s team was their use of WhatsApp for what they call their “Guardian Angel” service, which allowed us to communicate with them and request help at any time. This feature proved invaluable when we had trouble finding the entrance to the location for the sumo lessons and lunch. We simply uploaded a photo of where we thought the entrance was, and Andrea’s assistant Marilyn promptly responded, letting us know we were just around the corner. Knowing that help was immediately available gave us a great sense of relief and security in a country where we couldn’t read or speak the language.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Andrea to anyone wishing to plan a customized trip to Japan, and I truly appreciate your having him on your list of experts. We are big fans of your website and tell everyone about it.