Andrea and his team planned and executed a world-class, 5-star trip to Japan for us. The journey encompassed 16 days and 6 separate and fascinating destinations (Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Koyasan, Mount Fuji, and Izu). Having never travelled to Asia before and wanting to get away from tourist destinations, we put all our trust in Andrea and he delivered!

We really wanted to get a feel for authentic Japan, and Andrea pushed us mildly outside of our comfort zone to go to 4 places less visited by Western tourists and to stay in ryokans rather than Western hotels. It was a fascinating trip. Our drivers and guides were all superb. We always felt extremely welcome and safe wherever we went. Andrea puts together a team of “Guardian Angels” on the ground in the destination country and they were invaluable in resolving and small (or large) issues we encountered. They were in contact with us daily, or hourly if we needed more help. Moreover, the guides were excellent at changing our planned days if interesting events became available or because of weather.

This was one of the best travel experiences we have ever had and we look forward to planning more adventures with Andrea and his team.

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.

Andrea, Stefano, Juliana and the other team members brought off a superb vacation for us. As I am primarily interested in architecture, these 10 days were a blend of historic, contemporary, and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. I’m not an architect. Understanding architecture of any period requires context to the politics and history of how the country and prefectures operate. The guides were all excellent at mixing the history with the buildings and neighborhoods. Each one brought different expertise and provided a window into historic Japanese culture and how that culture operates today.

The logistics were the smoothest vacation I ever took—10 days, 4 hotels, and 7 trains, including tight connections and drivers awaiting arrivals at each destination. I could not be happier with the planning, execution, and choices they made and presented us. We were urged to convert the dollar several months before payments was required because of the dollar strength to minimize any currency effects. This is planning and execution at its best!

Our trip to Japan, December 16-January 5, was one of the best if not the best trips our family has ever taken. We were a family of seven spanning 3 generations ranging from teenagers to an octogenarian. Our planner Andrea created a truly bespoke itinerary that appealed to the interests and activity levels of each of us. He really went above and beyond what we have come to expect from travel professionals from the beginning of the planning process, a year before the trip. At that time, he told me that the Dollar was very strong against the Yen, and he advised me to convert the total cost of the trip to Yen even though no payments were required for many months. I followed his advice which turned out to be prescient, as the Yen became considerably more expensive over those months.

The hotels he recommended in Tokyo, Hakone, Osaka, and Kyoto as well as the Ryokan in Naoshima were all wonderful—beautifully appointed and attentive and accommodating staff. Several in the group had specific dietary needs and Andrea made sure that every hotel and every restaurant he booked for us knew our needs and were totally prepared for us.

The on-the-ground people he worked with were amazing. The guides, the drivers were great. Everyone was at the right spot at the right time, whether it was the airport, the train station, or anywhere else. The guides especially were amazing. Their knowledge of Japanese history and culture was extensive as was their ability to convey that information. They were keenly aware of the wide difference in ages and were able to customize our days to meet everyone’s needs and desires. They went out of their way to accommodate any changes we requested, although because of Andrea’s careful planning ahead of time, there were very few changes.

I should especially mention as high points a cooking class in sushi making, a class in Samurai sword fighting by 2 actors who do this on stage, and a private dinner with a Geisha apprentice (Maiko). I think these may have been included with the teenagers in mind but ended up being a highlight for everyone. It was this kind of balance between this kind of fun stuff along with visits to Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines, art museums, parks and sites of historical interest that made the trip so extraordinary.

I would recommend Andrea and his team to anyone planning a trip to this part of the world.

Jennifer Cheng and family snowboarding in Japan.

When my two teens and pre-teen told me they wanted to visit Tokyo and go snowboarding in Japan, I started researching the trip and got quickly overwhelmed trying to plan a trip for 5. I had engaged a Wendy Perrin travel planner for our trip to Hawaii, so I felt confident that another Wendy Perrin travel planner would be helpful. I didn’t expect that Andrea and his team would be essential to a very successful and memorable trip! Shoutout to Bernice and Juliana for coordinating all the little details and being our WhatsApp guardian angels!

In our first meeting, I threw out all the usual things families do in Tokyo: TeamLab, Ghibli, Disney, Sanrio, Ginza shopping (all of which was scheduled and thoroughly enjoyed). But then Andrea told me that when my family went snowboarding, I had to see the snow monkeys, and he was right! Honestly, I was a little skeptical, but my day with the snow monkeys was magical, a highlight of my trip. I loved seeing my family off on the slopes and then making my way by bus and then through the woods to the Snow Monkey Park where the snow monkeys were enjoying the hot springs while the snow fell, ending my visit with a yummy ramen and matcha latte. I then had a beautiful walk through the snowy town to our ryokan where I enjoyed our room’s private balcony onsen and then very special dinner. Truly, our mid-trip detour to Yudanaka was my favorite part of the trip, and I would not have had such a lovely experience without the expertise of Andrea and team.

The first and last legs of our trip were in two locations in Tokyo, the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya and the Tsuki Tokyo in Ginza, both great for families and very well-located. We loved our guide Juliana at the beginning of the trip, as she was a delightful addition to our family, like the best fun auntie. After our two days with Juliana, the kids missed her the rest of the trip. She taught us how to navigate the trains and helped us pick places to eat and shop and find some face wash the girls forgot! Having all the tips and transportation details sorted helped tremendously and eliminated frustration for sure. I cannot imagine navigating Tokyo station with all 5 of us and all our luggage without our helpers. During the trip, I marveled at all the moving parts and was so thankful for all the planning from Andrea and the team. As the kids say, it was epic!

It is our pleasure to write a review of our recent trip to Japan, planned and organized by Andrea and his team. They were a delight to work with, equal to or better than many of the other WOW List travel planners we have dealt with in the past. To begin with, we didn’t give them much lead time—we decided to go in mid-late October 2024 and only contacted them in August—very short lead time for a three week trip to Japan!

Andrea and his team were very easy to talk with and they understood and executed the kind of trip we wanted. We wanted to spend the bulk of our time “off the beaten track.” We weren’t interested in spending much time in the major cities but rather wanted to get into the small, authentic towns and experience the true culture of the country. We also didn’t want to rush—we wanted to have time to truly absorb the culture. The company provided exactly that. They had to work hard to move the jigsaw puzzle of our itinerary around to get the best accommodations for us on short notice. It was a tall order, but they succeeded. We spent some time in Tokyo and Kyoto but the vast majority in small, picturesque towns and islands.

Our guide, Giulia, was superb. She was a wealth of knowledge and fun to be with. Throughout our three weeks, our “guardian angel,” Justin, followed our progress and was available to assist when needed (very infrequently). Even Andrea was available to us. I highly recommend Andrea and his company for a trip to Japan.

We just returned from a trip to Japan, planned and coordinated by Andrea and his team. It was wonderful.

The itinerary was diverse and clearly tailored to preferences we expressed to Andrea during our initial meeting: minimize crowds (not easy), stay in local-flavored lodging, and see some of the natural beauty of the country. He balanced seeing sights with other experiences—classes, hiking, kayaking—to make for an interesting blend of ways to discover Japan. Notably, a traditional tea ceremony, meeting with a Buddhist monk, and a personalized Geisha experience were unique and personalized experiences we likely wouldn’t have found on our own.

Our lodging was topnotch—luxury, but local-feeling, even in Tokyo and Kyoto. We avoided large resort hotels, in favor of ryokans. Andrea also arranged most of our dining, which was delicious.

We were well supported by his team on the ground in Japan, when any questions arose. We have scheduled a review meeting with Andrea in a couple weeks, at his request, so he takes an ongoing interest in our feedback.

I would definitely recommend his company to others planning a trip to Japan.

Taking in the Shizuoka tea fields with 15th-generation tea farmer, Takuya Shigeta.

Japan: Until We Meet Again

We flew to Tokyo on October 4 and traveled by bullet train to Kiso, Kyoto, Shizuoka, and by ferry across Suruga Bay to Toi Izu returning home on October 18, 2024. At the top of many published travel lists, Japan ranked highly for us as the travel distance would be equitable for our friends meeting us from Saipan. Leaning on Wendy and her trusted list of trip planners, she put us in touch with Andrea and his colleague, Floriana. We visited virtually to detail interests, ideas, and idiosyncrasies to develop the perfect itinerary. Andrea and Floriana created a journey embarking from Tokyo, traveling by high-speed train to the Kiso Valley, reuniting with our friends in Kyoto, and then parting ways to continue our trip south to the Izu Peninsula curating a selection of superb hotels, excellent drivers, and amazing guides.

Landing late in Tokyo, we made it through immigration and customs and were whisked to the Tokyo Toranomon Edition Hotel. We enjoyed a night cap at the spectacular lobby bar and called it an evening after a long day of international travel. Awakening to a memorable view of Tokyo Tower, we prepared to explore all the offerings of the most populous city in the world.

From temples to towers, sushi to sake, and crowds to calm, Tokyo did not disappoint during our brief three-night stay. We enjoyed our first bullet train experience heading west to Kiso Fukushima. Appreciating the big city, but always attracted to the close connections made spending time in rural locales, we grew excited to settle into a traditional Japanese ryokan for the next few days. At the small inn, we learned to lounge in jinbei and yukata, dined on the delectable daily breakfast and divine dinners, and ventured throughout the countryside with our guide, Sachi.

The highlight of our time in the Kiso Valley is difficult to choose as we hiked to many ethereal shrines and wandered the path of the samurai through post towns, however we will never forget our opportunity to take part in the century’s old tradition of takigyo, meditating under a freezing cold waterfall, and then sharing the same moment with a local family at Shintaki Falls.

Filled with gratitude and innumerable memories, we left the Japanese Alps and traveled to Kyoto to meet our friends. With our intrepid guide, Mina, we navigated the bustling city by bus, taxi, and subway to visit numerous cultural sites with ease. Understandably crowded at times in the most popular spots, we escaped to a serene family temple with a private tea ceremony and contemplated the Zen gardens by Shigemori Mirei.

Over four days in Kyoto, we enjoyed learning history of the Samurai, mastering sword technique, and wide-ranging dining from yakiniku to yakitori. As the saying goes…time flies when you’re having fun…and we sadly had to say goodbye. Our friends headed back to Tokyo, and we traveled south to Shizuoka for the remainder of our trip.

For the last few days of our trip, we asked to get off the beaten path and find a quiet, relaxing place. Andrea and Floriana did not disappoint…coordinating a mountain green tea tasting in Shizuoka, a ferry ride with awe-inspiring views of Mt. Fuji, and a sanctuary stay in a historic mansion in Nishi-Izu.

We spent the remaining days strolling quiet seaside towns, visiting a secluded organic wasabi farm, and soaking in our private onsen.

It is without question…we could never have planned an experience in Japan like this without the assistance of a brilliant travel orchestrator. Enchanting our minds and our senses, we wait patiently for our next journey to Japan.

The Schoenfelds on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, looking for proboscis monkeys. Photo: Traveler Barbara Schoenfeld

Andrea organized a fantastic trip across the South Pacific for my husband and me. Over a three-week period, we visited Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Although we approached the consultation with ideas of where we wanted to go, Andrea’s suggestions for itinerary design were considerably better. For example, he advised that we visit Borobudur, near Yogyakarta, in Indonesia. We did, and it was a highlight. It was never on my to-visit list, but I’m so grateful we went. All of the guides he provided were knowledgeable, but of just as much interest to us, were open to sharing their personal perspectives.

We especially appreciated the time he spent on a couple of iterations mapping out the trip. In particular, we wanted to go to Borneo and initially he proposed a short river cruise. We found it unappealing, so he reoriented to the Sukau Rainforest Lodge—with river excursions—a favorite of our trip.

The hotel choices were terrific. Besides being comfortable and super well-run, they were in excellent locations, allowing us to maximize our enjoyment of our unstructured time. One special experience was the Sala Waterfall Temple in Bali. It went beyond most of the Balinese blessing ceremonies because it involved wading in a fresh water spring, led by a guide, stopping at 21 stations to undertake ritual cleansing steps and prayers. It culminates in climbing to a rushing waterfall, where you stick your head under the cascade and scream three times. It’s a surprisingly calming experience.

Overall, the trip was all we hoped for and more—to gain understanding of the countries and cultures we visited, enjoying discovery on a special vacation.

Marie Becker at a drumming class in Japan.

Andrea and his team of guardian angels were available 24/7
Itinerary was flexible
Guides and drivers were great
We made changes as we went to schedule and itinerary it was flexible.

“Motonosumi Inari Shrine’s 123 brilliant red torii gates to a cliff overlooking the Sea of Japan.”

I am forever grateful to Andrea’s team for helping me with designing my dream trip to Japan. Having lived in Japan as a child and had occasion to visit the country several times since, I knew when working with the team that I was asking for a lot in wanting an off-the-beaten path itinerary. For much of the trip I had in mind, I wanted to go where few tourists go and engage in activities that would be a challenge to arrange. I also wanted to compress as much as possible into my two weeks in the country.

Working with me by email and face-to-face zoom calls, the team strove to understand what I wanted while also offering up wonderful suggestions themselves. In virtually every respect, they surpassed my hopes and expectations!

There are almost too many highlights of my customized trip to Japan to even list, let alone describe, but here are a handful:

Vaulting down through Motonosumi Inari Shrine’s 123 brilliant red torii gates to a cliff overlooking the Sea of Japan.

Clinging to ancient tree roots and chains to climb to the top of the sacred Mt. Mitojusan to reach Sanbutsuji Temple, a wooden prayer hall built into the mouth of a cave on a sheer precipice of the mountain and completed in 849. Known as the most dangerous national treasure in Japan, it remains unfathomable how it could have been built on such an inhospitable site.

Climbing the massive sand dunes at the edge of the Sea in Japan in Tottori, and hiking along the beautiful shoreline there.

Practicing “takigyo” (waterfall meditation) with two Buddhist monks, by standing directly beneath a sacred waterfall—its strong cold water taking one’s breath away as it pelts one’s head and shoulders—before being revived and uplifted by its force.

Meeting with so many artisans: potters in Hagi who showed me their hand-built kilns and exquisite Hagi ware; elderly basket weavers at a bamboo basket weaving studio exhibiting their exquisite baskets and demonstrating their craft; a glass crystal etching expert who instructed me in producing an etched crystal glass of my own; and masters of indigo dying who helped me create my own dyed tee-shirt in their studio workshop.

Wandering through the Akiyoshi Cave, Japan’s largest stalactite cave, more than 100 meters underground, marveling at the wondrous and mysterious limestone features formed over tens of millions of years.

Rising at dawn to walk out and photograph the Itsukushima Shrine’s massive red torii gate at low tide.

Hiking some of the Hagi Okan trail with an expert guide who not only shared with me some of its important history, but also belted out songs sung by samurai to ready themselves for battle.

In the home of a fisherman’s wife, learning how to make several classic fish dishes and then sharing a delightful meal with her and my guide—three older women exchanging intimate life stories while dining on the dishes we’d prepared.

After a profoundly moving afternoon spent in Hiroshima at the Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Park, taking a ferry to the nearby magical island of Miyajima, making it up Mt. Misen for a spectacular view.

Revisiting favorite sites in Kyoto—the Golden and Silver Pavilions and gardens (Kinkaku-ji and Gingaku-ji Temples); the trail of red torii gates up Mt. Inari (Fushimi Inari); the Kiyomizudera Temple with its stunning views; the Sagano Bamboo Forest in nearby Arashiyama; and my all-time favorite: the Ryoan-ji Zen temple and rock garden.

Strolling through Kyoto’s Gion district, and enjoying a private tea ceremony and dance performance there by a young maiko (an apprentice geisha), and being given the opportunity to ask her candid questions about her life and her art.

A full day of shopping in Tokyo—for local artisanal goods in Aki-Oka Artisan alley; traditional crafts in Ayoyama Square; exceptional kitchenware in “Kitchen Town” (Kappbasji); an unparalleled offering of stationery and calligraphy goods at the legendary Ginza Itoya stationery store; and fine art at galleries in Ginza and Rappongi.

A day trip to Yokohama for a stroll down memory lane, visiting my old home there, as well as the nearby Sankeien Garden where I regularly wandered in my youth and which remains one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, and stopping by Kamakura on the way to admire the Great Buddha that I first photographed as a 12-year-old.

Visiting as many waterfalls as possible in the beautiful mountainous region of Nikko, led by a local canyoning guide, as well as some of Nikko’s magnificent World heritage Site shrines and temples.

One can’t expect most travel experts to be willing or able to create such a packed, customized, and unique itinerary. The logistics, careful planning, and creative out-of-the-box thinking required to pull off this dream trip to Japan was truly daunting, with so many advance reservations required to handle all of for my transportation needs, lodging, and activities, and so many guides that had to be lined up!

A huge thank you to the team for managing to make all of this happen for me—seamlessly and without any hitches—and providing me with truly fabulous guides who, for the most part, spoke English with enough fluency to allow for insightful and free-ranging discussions, and who were deeply knowledgeable about the places we visited—their history and enduring significance.

Andrea’s company also arranged for me to stay in a number of truly exquisite lodgings. The Ryokan Otozure outside of Yamaguchi is out-of-this-world sublime, with its exquisitely beautiful architecture and design; its gracious and attentive staff; and the truly fine dining to be had in its restaurant. The small luxury hotel in Kyoto’s Gion district was also enchanting, with beautiful rooms, gracious staff, and a fabulous restaurant. And the newly built Ritz Carlton in Nikko was fantastic as well, with its extraordinary attention to detail in its design, furnishings, and art.

Traveling on my own for most of the trip, I was also especially grateful to the company for keeping me connected with a WhatsApp group of “Guardian Angels”—staff members who were available by text or phone call, 24/7, to answer any questions or concerns I might have, and to help with any arrangements or modifications I might want or need. Happily, these Guardian Angels were invariably responsive and helpful on the few occasions when I reached out to them.

Thanks to the team, my two weeks in Japan were everything I wanted them to be—and so much more!

Traveler Shelley Baker cycling along the Izu coastline.

We enjoyed working with Andrea and his team on our recent trip to Japan. Everything was very well organized and he tailored the trip to our interests. All the properties he selected for us to stay at were terrific. The pace notes and online help from Mathew were invaluable for keeping us on track. We especially enjoyed our outdoor activities like cycling through the back streets of Tokyo and then along the beautiful coastline of the Izu peninsula as well as sea kayaking there. Unfortunately it was quite windy, so our guide decided to adjust the time spent kayaking and take us on some beautiful coastal hikes instead.

A private sushi making class in Ginza was fantastic and was the best sushi of our trip. Our hotel in Shizuoka afforded spectacular views of Mt Fuji which was something we had hoped to see. While we were there we cycled to a tea plantation also with views of Mt Fuji and had a special impromptu museum visit of Rodin’s works which included the Thinker en route. A Samurai experience and a tea with a Maiko in Kyoto were both fun.

We had private guides in Tokyo and Kyoto that helped us get around on the trains and local buses which made us feel more like locals. We had food tours in both Tokyo and Kyoto that allowed us to try some new foods. The Tokyo food tour was a bit disappointing and the best thing we had was a cup of coffee, but the Nishiki food tour in Kyoto was very good. All in all it was a fun ten days.

Andrea and his team really went out of their way to make sure our trip was “off the beaten path,” which is exactly what we asked. There is no way I would have ever found the beautiful and amazing hotels and special day trips on my own. Each was authentic, no tourists, and the guide we were paired with quickly became family as we explored Bali. During the trip, Andrea and his team were always close by via WhatsApp, which was very reassuring. We visited Bali, Java and Singapore and each destination easily flowed into the next from a logistical perspective. Loved every second!!!

A sushi-making class: “an unforgettable family evening, joyous and full of laughter.”

This was our first trip using Wendy’s Wow List travel specialists. I can’t imagine visiting the Far East without her specialist’s guidance. I was overwhelmed with how to plan a trip to a country so diverse, with a language barrier, and we didn’t want to spend every day visiting temples and shrines. Andrea spent a full hour on the phone to understand our interests and wishes, before suggesting an itinerary. We had multiple zoom calls with him to fine-tune our itinerary.

He redirected us to a different city than we thought we wanted to visit, where we experienced one of the three most famous Japanese gardens, and had a class in gold-leaf applique. We were “spoiled” by having guides to/from railways, to/from airports. This was a luxury and a relief. (Most of our guides spoke good English, but be prepared because most people we interacted with do not speak English.)

The Gate Hotel in Tokyo was wonderful: central location, deluxe, great food, English-speaking staff. Excellent accommodations in Kanazawa at the Hyatt, as well. I must mention that I’m a “foodie” and the buffet breakfasts at both hotels were included, and were superb! A third hotel was under renovation, so unfortunately we missed staying at this boutique hotel, but Andrea was quick to find a satisfactory substitution.

I wanted to be able to interact with a Geisha, and he made it happen! This is not an easy thing to arrange. We had a special, 10-course dinner and she joined us and danced for us. An experience not to be missed—a glimpse into one of Japan’s cultural treasures. Andrea arranged for us to travel to the countryside, visit a swordsmith, and make our own knives forged in the fire! The trips to the city markets were a unique experience, and I loved seeing all the different foods and spices. Lastly, Andrea suggested a night in an intimate ryokan, where we experienced onsen bathing and a beautiful multicourse meal with all the local specialties. (Beware, most meals are raw fish (sashimi) or ramen. Research other ethnic restaurants if you don’t want fish for most meals.)

The best family experience Andrea arranged was a cooking class to make sushi, learn about miso, make matcha and mochi. That was an unforgettable family evening, joyous and full of laughter. I’ll add: Andrea’s assistant Giulia was delightful, kind, and “shepherded” us through the trip with humor and grace. Andrea planned a memorable trip, within our budget, and yet ensuring we experienced many of the “flavors” of Japan—the country and the culture. He also arranged days when we could explore on our own, which was something we really wanted. We did not want to be over-scheduled and exhausted.

Andrea loves Japan, and his skill in selecting experiences that are unforgettable and unique to Japan makes him a travel specialist of the highest caliber!

We had an amazing trip. I will be brief and not describe what we did, but instead focus on how Andrea and his team added real value:

— Everything was extremely well organized. Even though we did so much, it never seemed rushed. Every single guide and driver was on time exactly at the spot we were told they would meet us (e.g., we arrived with the bullet train in Tokyo, and our driver waited on the platform exactly in front of our train car). There is no way we could have done this much on our own, particularly in Kyoto, where the famous sights are rather spread out.

— We had three different guides who all adhered to the culture of accomplishing much in a given timeframe without it feeling rushed or stressed. We also liked that they struck the right balance between being helpful and educational but not overpowering us with a word stream (as some guides can be prone to be).

— Andrea and his team were always available in real time. It’s 5 PM and you need a special dinner reservation at 6 PM and a car to get there? They will get it for you.

— Personal highlight: We met Andrea by chance (as far as we were concerned) in one of the ryokans and had a very enjoyable conversation with him over dinner.

A trip of a lifetime! Andrea’s office exceeded our expectations in planning and executing our trip to Japan while staying within our budget. The team went above and beyond in terms of accommodating our needs and dreams. We can’t say enough about the time and attention put in to planning this trip. In fact, at the last minute they were able to add our cousins to the trip, making sure we would be following the exact same itinerary.

Andrea and his team made sure that all aspects of the trip ran like a well-oiled machine. As a result, we were able to see far more of Japan in 15 days than we expected. We were able to visit Tokyo, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Naoshima (Art Island) & Hakone. We had a private car and driver with informative guides leading us on our tours of museums, temples, shrines and gardens. Most of our accommodations were at exquisite Ryokans. The surrounding beauty and quality of the food was amazing. All of our transportation was flawlessly planned, and we even had a guide traveling with us on the bullet trains for all but one leg of our trip. Additionally, Andrea’s office created a WhatsApp chat which allowed the four of us to have 24/7 access to his team, giving us tremendous peace of mind in case of an emergency. We are very grateful to have been introduced to Andrea and will certainly keep him in mind for future trips.

Our trip to Japan was absolutely outstanding! The itinerary Andrea and his team created (along with slight modifications) was ideal and met all of our criteria.

We toured Tokyo – Nagasaki – Kumamoto – Kyoto – Kaga, with local cultural experiences and incredibly informative, local guides and private drivers. I have slight mobility issues so couldn’t manage the many miles of walking — our guides and drivers literally brought us to the door of our experiences and were a phone call away to collect us. Although we still managed 10,000+ steps per day.

Arguably everything was a favorite, though the most memorable was a stay in Kaga Onsen (fantastic accommodation) with a guided tour by Kanmei, a monk from Henjoin Temple (Tendai School)! Fantastic!

Andrea and his team have spoiled us for all trips going forward. They were easily accessible and when an issue arose they were quick to reply and rectify. Exceptional! We’re already thinking about a trip in 2025!

Barbara and Robert Fierman at Senbon Torii in Kyoto.

Andrea planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband Bob and me and our friends as a joint anniversary celebration. The trip was well-paced and balanced, but also so exciting. Our guides were outstanding—they were well-prepared to share history and culture with us as we navigated through the trip. They went above and beyond each day to maximize our experience.

I expected to visit impressive shrines and temples, and beautiful gardens, but wow! They exceeded all of our expectations. Each of our special activities was a blast! My favorites included taiko drumming, where our drumming expert got us to perform a brief but lively routine and then performed for us; having a private tea ceremony with a geisha; and attending a sumo wrestling tournament. We also enjoyed learning from the youngest of many generations who have practiced pottery, candy, and soba noodle-making.

We stayed in an outstanding array of accommodations. The Capitol Hotel in Tokyo was perfect for our introduction to a new, foreign city; at the boutique Hiramatsu Kyoto we experienced the height of service and elegance. The three ryokans—one each in Kaga, Naoshima, and Kawaguchiko—were beautiful and Zen. Our favorite was Fu Fu Kawaguchiko, where we had spectacular views of Mt. Fuji. The location was accessible to many sites, and it was in an idyllic setting.

In addition to the cities, we visited an organic tea farm in Uji where we learned about the industry, picked tea leaves, and were treated to a delicious lunch which included tea leaves prepared a la tempura-style. We spent a day in Nikko where we hiked along a massive waterfall to a lake and then visited the magnificent Toshogu Shrine, set in a beautiful forest. Our overnight on the island of Naoshima provided a glimpse of restored homes turned museums as well as state-of-the-art museums designed by famed architect Tadao Ando and outdoor installations, including the pumpkin, created by Yauyoi Kusama.

Andrea and his team did an amazing job of coordinating the multitude of details this experience involved. We can’t thank him and his team enough.

Awesome! That’s the word to sum up the trip that Andrea and Lauren planned for us. We had such a good time in Japan. We saw so much, we ate so much, and more importantly, we want to return! My husband and two college-age daughters and I spent 9 days in Japan—covering a lot of ground as everyone had specific requests. We were able to spend time in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Osaka, and the magical Kyoto. Our guides were excellent—giving us historic and cultural significance to all we saw and did. We went to so many fabulous markets and the food was incredible! Andrea and Lauren were also able to procure us tickets to Studio Ghibli—a real highlight of our trip and we were able to enjoy 1/2-day at Nintendo world (Osaka). My family loved the Akibahara district and the Meiji Temple in Tokyo, and the many gardens and shrines throughout. A shout out to the Moss Temple in Kyoto area and the Umeda Sky Observatory in Osaka!

Every day was packed with activities from morning to night (our request because we wanted to do so much)—Andrea and Lauren were magicians at getting all that we asked for into that short time period. We did a combination of public and private transportation and it was frictionless all the way! We had the best of both the modern Japan and the cultural historic Japan in our trip—leaving us with a desire to return soon so we can spend more time enjoying the country. Thank you to Andrea, Lauren, our guides—Numo san, Akemi san, and Yuki san—for making our trip so memorable. Highly recommend Andrea’s team—a definite WOW trip!

Andrea Phillips and daughter Rachel diving off Balicasag Island. Photo: Sander

Taking advantage of the time left before my 18-year-old daughter leaves to start college, the two of us jetted off on a 10-day scuba diving trip to the Philippines from late March to April. After in-depth planning with Andrea, an expert on unique travel in Asia, we chose the Dauin coast and Panglao Island, off Bohol, for our trip, as this was an excellent time to visit for great weather and diving conditions. Our goals were simple: level up our scuba certifications, immerse ourselves in welcoming cultures, and, finally, cross off swimming with whale sharks from our bucket list! Andrea and his team planned it perfectly, starting with a special airport welcome that whisked us from the arrival gate and quickly through a chaotic Manila airport.

Our first stop was Atmosphere Resort, where my daughter earned her Advanced Open Water Diver certification under the guidance of their skilled dive masters. We explored local dive spots and Apo Island, a beautiful marine reserve. The relaxing resort was wonderful after diving, with its refreshing pools, delicious food, a sanctuary spa, all while being cared for as Andrea’s VIP guest by the warm and friendly Filipino staff. It all brought back memories of doing my own AOW certification in Asia 25 years ago.

Moving on to Amorita Resort, we spent our days diving at Balicasag & Pamilacan Islands with another great dive team recommended by Andrea and earned our Enriched Air Diver certifications. Andrea also surprised us by sending an underwater photographer along on our first dive to capture a forever moment on our mother-daughter adventure under the sea. Saving one of the best days for last, our Bohol countryside tour was incredible, from swimming with a group of large whale sharks to cruising on a private Lomboc River boat with live music, hanging out with Tarsier and macaque monkeys, admiring the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol and even enjoying coconut wine at a local’s home. It was a perfect conclusion to our unforgettable journey in the Philippines.

One of the best aspects of traveling with Andrea was his responsive support team, always just a WhatsApp message away. They swiftly resolved any questions or issues we encountered, such as when there was a mix-up with our room at Amorita, and they went the extra mile to secure a complimentary upgrade for us. Their extensive network within the local communities demonstrated their dedication to ensuring a memorable experience for us.

This trip was tailored-made for our needs, combining the best dive resort locations for our goals, avoiding crowded tourist spots for the whale shark encounter, and adding in authentic cultural stops and touches to make each day unforgettable, including celebrating my birthday. Even though initially I had some reservations about taking this trip, as sometimes it’s difficult to find the right time to travel, it ended up being a wonderful experience and one that will hold memories for us that we will always treasure. Pushing ourselves to try somewhere new and doing it together, made it even more thrilling and well worth the efforts, especially with Andrea, Pablo, Lauren, Michael and the rest of the team to support us along the way.

Faced with a lengthy layover in Tokyo, we hoped to tour the city and avoid spending 10 hours in the airport. Wendy suggested that we contact Andrea, who thankfully was willing to work with us, despite it being such a short visit.

After a thorough discussion via Zoom, Andrea crafted an itinerary designed to give us a flavor of Tokyo. In advance of our visit, his team provided us with a wealth of information. They guided me through the online customs process, provided reading material and Japanese etiquette tips, and created a “Guardian Angels” WhatsApp group to enable easy, timely communication. I appreciated their thoroughness in helping us be as prepared as possible.

From the moment we met our guide, Zilola, in the Narita airport, we knew we were in good hands and bound to have a fantastic day. She expertly navigated us to/from the airport via the express train and through the city via the subway. Although Andrea had initially proposed a private car, we wanted to maximize our time and avoid potential traffic congestion. So, we pivoted and arranged to ride the subway. It worked out perfectly.

As we walked through the Imperial Palace gardens, Zilola explained the traditional elements found within a Japanese garden. As we wandered around the grounds of the Meiji Jingu shrine, we had the good fortune to observe a wedding party procession. As we stepped out of the Shibuya subway station, we were amazed to see the countless number of people crossing the intersection. And of course we jumped at the chance to join the morass and cross the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.

Zilola comfortably handled a slight curveball that we threw her way and adjusted our itinerary on the fly so that we could explore Shimo-Kitazawa, the Tokyo equivalent of Greenwich Village. It was such a fun area and where we enjoyed the best ramen!

Beyond everything that Andrea, Giulia, Pablo and Zilola orchestrated, Mother Nature also did her part to make our day memorable. After five days of rain in Tokyo, the sun shined brightly and Spring was in the air. The best part? The Sakura were blossoming!! Our timing couldn’t have been better, as the cherry blossoms had just begun to open the day before our visit. Gorgeous!!

We enjoyed a wonderful tour of Tokyo that enabled us to become immersed in the Japanese culture as best as possible within our limited timeframe. There is still so much to discover, and we can’t wait to return for an extended experience. I would not hesitate to partner with Andrea and his team for a future visit.

Andrea planned an EPIC trip to Japan for our family of 6. We are an ambitious group of two adults and four children aged 9-15. He left no detail behind. We had a long conversation before the trip planning and he was able to understand how we like to travel and the pace we like for our family. The process before the planning was very detailed so that once we arrived in Japan we knew exactly what to expect. Upon arrival there was a slight hiccup in our first hotel for sleeping / bed arrangements and Andrea and his team worked on it, making sure that hotel and the ones to follow could accommodate the rooms / beds as we wished. He also called me personally on the second day of our trip to make sure we were ok with the pace of the itinerary and happy with our guide.

We were thrilled with our guides and every detail of the trip. It was not unnoticed how synchronized Andrea was with the local guides, drivers, hotels. We hopped around from city to city and train to train and felt like we had a direct local line of communication for any need. At one point my daughters really wanted to go to a Japanese nail salon and between the guides and Andrea they called over 20 places and together they managed to make it work on our trip. Andrea is already planning a trip for a friend to Japan and we really hope to go back and try other areas in the near future. He is the sixth Wendy Perrin agent we have used and most definitely stands out as one of the best. He is very detail oriented and more importantly really cared that we got what we wanted out of our trip. He was amazing!

When we discovered that neither of our husbands was interested in traveling to Japan, my girlfriend and I decided to go for it. Our travel window was limited to the last two weeks of March, high season for Japan travel, and this was only a month away. The first three travel agents that I spoke to turned me down outright; small group trips were also fully booked. When we were about to give up, Wendy Perrin introduced us to Andrea Oschetti. Andrea added value to our trip even before we left home, sharing lists of books to read, movies to watch, and insight into the culture. He took the time to get to know our interests, and his enthusiasm for all things Japanese was contagious.

Andrea managed to pull off the impossible — a rich and varied itinerary customized to our taste, drivers and guides (all excellent) when desired, free time when requested, train tickets reserved, even some unusual experiences along the way. He and his team were in constant contact with us via a dedicated WhatsApp group (appropriately called “Guardian Angels in Japan” to check in and keep us updated on the itinerary. We enjoyed sharing pictures and summaries of each day’s adventures with our angels.

There were several moments that Andrea planned — a tea ceremony and visit with a bonsai master in Tokyo, crafting in Kanazawa and Takayama, a traditional dinner in Kyoto with a Maiko (Geisha in training) — that were unexpected highlights. I have traveled with other experts before, but Andrea’s attention to detail was extraordinary.

Andrea Oschetti and his team of dreammakers really came through for a celebratory trip for our recent trip to Japan celebrating two mothers’ 80th birthdays. We are not an easy group to plan for, our multigenerational family (ranging from age 11 to 80) with many different interests, energy levels, food and weather preferences.

In the one-year period that we’ve been thinking of making this trip, we definitely encountered moments when it felt like this was too big of an undertaking given the level of busy-ness and pandemic-level inertia in our group. Andrea took our group on at a late stage (4 months prior), gathered us all on a call, asked the right questions and showed such enthusiasm and infectious optimism for what we were trying to do that we felt like it could be done. He planned a trip for us that spanned 5 cities — Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara — chock full of sight-seeing, craft workshops and incredible food. There were wonderful local tour guides and drivers for every location, which was critical for handling the logistical intricacies of a packed itinerary for such a group. The workshop experiences were truly revelatory — something we’ve never done on a family trip — and really served as bonding experiences for young and old. Some of these were ones we had suggested and were incorporated, but others, like the sushi experience, art of bonsai in Tokyo and kintsugi experience in Osaka, gave us such a unique way to remember this trip. My mother (who has cognitive decline) already doesn’t remember the names of any of the places we went to, but has been revisiting the products of her own making every day since we’ve returned.

If there is anything to offer by way of things-to-improve-on, it would be that it was too packed of an itinerary, without enough rest-time or general free time for shopping and wandering through interesting markets built in. At the half-way mark, when we gave feedback to Andrea, however, he responded promptly, liaised immediately with his team and the pace slowed down considerably, with all subsequent tour guides checking in often to get the temperature on the group and making changes accordingly.

This was an incredible trip, and we couldn’t have done it without Andrea and his team.

We had an amazing trip to Bhutan thanks to Andrea & his team. Andrea mapped out a perfect itinerary for us, prioritizing the right locations and activities given the 9 days we had in the country. It was a good balance of scenic hiking and cultural activities, often combining the two. We loved nearly all our hotels, which were for the most part small, independently owned boutique lodges. Our guide and driver were top-notch. You spend so much time with your guide and driver on a trip like this, that their fun personalities, flexibility and knowledge really make the trip. We all joked that by trip’s end, we were proud graduates of “Jamyang (our guide’s name) University” given how much we’d learned about Bhutanese history, art, architecture, culture and religion.

We unfortunately couldn’t sync our availability with any of the festivals, but the opportunity to see a few smaller informal ceremonies and festival rehearsals was unforgettable, so we highly recommend any such opportunities. We especially loved the Khamsum Yuelley Chorten hike & temple in Punakha and Trongsa Dzong. We had a particularly nice hike in Gangtey that was a spontaneous addition to the itinerary. We also loved the surprise picnic lunch in Phobjika Valley!

Andrea & his team were so helpful & responsive throughout the planning process, and also set up a group chat for us upon arrival that included their office, our local guide & driver, should we ever need assistance. We also appreciated their help getting us checked in with seat assignments on the local flights, since we were always on the road without wifi at those times. A great trip overall that we will never forget.

We had a fantastic trip to Japan. Andrea, Pablo and the whole team were great listeners while we were planning the trip, gave us lots of advice leading up to our departure date including things we didn’t expect — recommendations of books to read, a Spotify playlist of Japanese music, and lists of their favorite coffee shops in the country. They were attentive to the specific needs of our family and to our desired budget, and were flexible when things needed to be changed. For instance, we were in Japan when the earthquake hit, and although we were not near the epicenter, they were in touch and monitoring our itinerary in case anything needed to be altered. Also, when our in-country flight was canceled because of the accident at the Haneda airport a few days before, the local team helped us book train tickets so we could make our flight home. They were easy to work with — before and during the trip. Andrea booked us at a special place — Sasayuri-Ann, a traditional Japanese villa near Nara. It was a perfect respite from the bustle of the city. Overall, everyone was happy with the trip, and I would recommend them to others.

My November trip to Japan was everything I wanted and more. I knew I wanted to have an active walking trip that included hiking the Kumano Kodo to experience a thousands-of-years-old pilgrimage. I also wanted to eat good food and see Fuji and Kyoto with a mostly off-the-beaten-path agenda. My trip planner Andrea Oschetti, with help from local Shannon Walker, could not have done a better job coming up with an itinerary of “Japan”s Ancient Paths” that connected and expanded upon all of my choices into one theme. After a fabulous Michelin-starred tempura meal at Motoyoshi in Tokyo (note that not all important restaurants have visible storefronts!) the night I arrived, I took a train the next morning to begin the first hike on the ancient Tokaido road, culminating with a wonderful view of Mt. Fuji. I was led by a wonderful local guide, who beautifully set the tone for all the ancient trails ahead. Staying at a ryokan (heritage inn) in the lovely town of Izu, I was able to experience the first of many gorgeous fall colors, hot-spring baths (onsen), bamboo groves, and a lovely temple in town before more scenic hiking with guide Shannon. On a particularly rainy day, we ended up at one of the trip’s highlights: I made washi paper using ancient techniques alongside the artist.

Next, Kyoto was an easily walkable city, gorgeous in November, with carefully-selected temple visits, perhaps the most well-crafted, beautiful and warm-service lodging I experienced, and a local guide who made wise recommendations that catered to my interests, such as Kiyomizu Temple at sunrise. The delights kept coming, with a luxurious temple stay in Koyasan at the beginning of my Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. I could not have had a better guide for those five days than Alena. She was patient, kind, an exceptional communicator, and a talented hiker who accommodated my needs and interests with ease and great knowledge. Culminating the pilgrimage over many uphill and downhill stone steps on the way to Nachi temple and falls made the entire life-affirming trip complete. The final night was spent on the sea, where the volcanic origins of the country were clear and more hot springs healed in Nakanoshima. If I had to change one thing about the trip it would be to not compel myself to consume all of the 8-18 course meals (breakfast included) presented throughout! Andrea listened and gave me exactly what I wanted and needed.