Traveler Bruce Tylock and his wife, Amy, hiking on the Izu Peninsula with a view of Mt. Fuji.

Japan has been on our list of places to go for quite some time. Originally, we had planned to visit Japan in 2020, but the pandemic disrupted our travel, and the trip was cancelled. Five years later, we decided to try again. Wendy matched us up with Andrea and Bernice, and together we planned a 15-day trip. After several Zoom calls and email exchanges, we finalized our travel itinerary. Andrea and Bernice had great suggestions for visiting off-the-beaten-path places we hadn’t considered, such as Kanazawa, the Kiso Valley, and the Izu Peninsula. These turned out to be perfect additions to the itinerary!

I cannot say enough good things about how responsive and organized Andrea and his team were throughout our journey. Our itinerary was available online and via an app, allowing us to stay up to date with any changes or requests in real-time. We received detailed information before our trip on how to efficiently navigate immigration, use the Metro, and observe local customs in Japan. Andrea and Bernice also set up a final call before our trip to help set up our Suica cards on our phones so we would be ready to navigate Japan’s train and subway systems. There was also a WhatsApp chat line set up for us during our trip – this was perfect for handling last-minute requests or misunderstandings. Bernice was especially responsive – emails were answered within 24 hours, and chat requests were answered within minutes.

On to our trip – we visited Tokyo, Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, the Kiso Valley, and the Izu Peninsula. We love good food and enjoy the outdoors, and our itinerary delivered on both fronts. We felt like we were able to see both the tourist highlights of Japan and parts of Japan that would only be experienced by locals.

We had many wonderful experiences on our trip. Some of the highlights included a private tour of the Tsukiji Fish Market followed by a sushi-making class, a bike tour through the back streets of Tokyo, touring the beautiful gardens of Kanazawa followed by a sake tasting, hiking the beautiful Kiso Valley, seeing epic views of Mount Fuji from the Izu Peninsula, and visiting a wasabi farm and harvesting our own wasabi.

The guides and drivers that were selected by Andrea and his team were excellent. They were all very knowledgeable and personable, and they were flexible in accommodating our likes and dislikes, adjusting as necessary on the fly. The hotels and ryokans that Andrea and his team selected for us were great – in good locations for exploring on our own and all very comfortable.

Finally, we want to thank both Wendy and Andrea for putting together a WOW Moment for us that was very memorable. At the end of our trip on the Izu Peninsula, we were treated to a home-cooked dinner with a local family. The family owns an artisanal salt-making business, so we were able to see how the salt was harvested and prepared before dinner. The dinner was excellent, with the local Kinmedai fish (difficult to get even in Japan!) prepared multiple ways. Everything was delicious, and it will be an evening to remember for us.

We would definitely recommend Andrea and his team for anyone planning a trip to Japan.

Travelers Jessica Tolmach and her husband strolling into their Japanese adventure.

How do you sum up the trip of a lifetime?

Our three-week Japan adventure, planned by Andrea and his team, was epic in vision, scope, and execution—and was exactly that: a trip of a lifetime. It was a year in the making, beginning with ideation Zooms, discussing the cultural, artistic, historical, epicurean goals we had for our trip and selecting the variety of destinations, accommodations, and experiences that would make it memorable and pleasurable. Japan is not an easy country to absorb in one fell swoop, and we had to be meticulous in our selections to achieve the balance we dreamed of and leave with no regrets. Andrea was deeply knowledgeable on a personal level with every aspect of the country, its culture, people, traditions and history, and our discussions were both informative and inspiring. We asked Andrea to mix up our journey with days that were guided and days that we were solo, with highly curated lists of suggestions for each solo day. He was open to customizing our trip exactly as we asked. His lists of ideas were expansive and highly attuned to our passions, and he was flexible and adaptive during the entire process. His team was remarkable, setting us up with a WhatsApp “Guaradian Angels” chat line that they monitored day and night, responding immediately to any questions, concerns, changes and snags that we might run into. Incredible service!

We began our trip in Tokyo with fascinating days of modern architecture, galleries, gardens, interesting neighborhoods, and exquisite meals. Andrea found us a marvelous small hotel, per our request, in a cool, happening neighborhood called Shibuya next to Yoyogi Park. Throughout our trip we asked for luxurious, boutique hotels and ryokans that felt off the beaten path, away from tourists and memorable in decor, service and ambiance. Andrea delivered exactly that at every destination.

From there we journeyed by bullet train to the breathtaking Izu Peninsula, where Andrea organized experiences for us at a mountain wasabi farm, a tea plantation, and a tiny fishing village founded in 453 AD, where a local family showed us how they produce salt from the waters of Suruga Bay as it has been done for eons. Each place has been keeping up age-old craftsmanship, preserving the quality that cannot be achieved with mass production or modernization. He booked us a stunning private villa with our own onsen and spa that was part of a small inn built in the hills of the peninsula. The food was as spectacular as the aesthetic and setting, and it was there that we began to soak up the heart of Japan’s beauty, serenity, preservation of tradition, and attention to detail. On our last night we were treated to a private chef who cooked dinner for us in our villa in collaboration with a Japanese flower arranger who customized arrangements during the meal to coincide with each course!

After Izu we ventured into the mountains to hike with a guide (with bear bells!) along the Nakasendō Trail in the Kiso Valley, following the path created for the Shogunate in 1600, connecting Kyoto with Edo (Tokyo). Stunning walks passed through cedar and cypress forests, past waterfalls, streams and pockets of bamboo groves. We stayed at a small ryokan built in one of the wooden historic buildings in a postal town with open-air baths in each room that looked up into the forested hills. We felt back in time, and deeply moved by the preservation of these towns, respect for the past, and honor for history.

After Izu we took the bullet train to Kyoto, which turned out to be one of our favorite cities in the world. Again we mixed it up with a guided historical day of the most important Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, and curated days of wandering on our own through the neighborhoods, visiting gardens, shopping at charming boutiques, and sitting at cafés soaking up the charm of this bicycle-riding, open, friendly, fascinating historical city. We stayed at an elegant small Japanese hotel with impeccable service and comfort.

After Kyoto we spent a day in the craftwork village of Kurashiki, an Edo-period town built on canals shaded by willow trees and filled with warehouses and shops specializing in Bizen pottery (and denim!) that gave us a taste of the essence of old Japan.

Our adventure continued on to the Art Islands of Naoshima and Tashima, where ferries were booked as transport and e-bikes were ready for us on each island to explore the fantastical modern art installations, all timed entries planned perfectly and we had a fantastic, rustic lunch at a tiny kitchen high in the hills. We stayed at the exquisite Naoshima Ryokan, again with private wooden spa baths that looked out over their quiet gardens. The organization of these two days, between ferries, bikes, food and art, was detailed and meticulously orchestrated.

We ended our adventure at the lovely Azumi Setoda ryokan on the island of Setoda, where we explored Ikuchijima and Omishima islands via e-bikes with a guide through national parks along a scenic route that blended culture, history, and seaside landscapes. We also had one of our best meals in an intimate 8-seat open fire grill restaurant, where the chef created scrumptious and more contemporary interpretations of Japanese cuisine.

Back to Tokyo for a last night before the long flight home. There is no possible way to imagine this trip without Andrea & the team. When I say it was epic, I truly mean it.

Traveler Melissa Hames and her husband learned to create bonsai trees.

My husband and I recently returned from an extraordinary trip to Japan, planned by Andrea and his team, and I cannot recommend their services highly enough. From our first conversation, Andrea took the time to truly understand what we hoped to experience in Japan. We were planning a few days before and after an already scheduled group hiking trip, and Andrea provided us with thoughtfully curated options that perfectly matched our interests, including unique cultural experiences and a carefully selected range of hotels to choose from.

Before we even departed, Andrea’s colleague Aurora was in regular contact with us, going far beyond typical travel planning. She provided fascinating background information about Japanese culture and customs, recommended books and films to help us prepare, suggested restaurants for our visit, and shared practical tips for downloading essential apps and tools for navigating Japan. This preparation made us feel confident and excited about our journey.

The company’s proprietary travel app was a game-changer. Our entire itinerary was clearly laid out and easy to reference throughout the trip. Additionally, they set up a WhatsApp group where we could ask questions at any time and receive prompt responses from Andrea’s team. This level of support gave us tremendous peace of mind. Every aspect of our travel, transportation, and accommodations was expertly handled. One memorable example: we were personally assisted to the exact car of our bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo, and upon arrival, our driver was waiting right outside the train door to take us directly to the airport. These thoughtful touches were consistent throughout our journey.

Our time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka was filled with wonderful experiences that struck the perfect balance between structured activities and free time to explore on our own. Our guide, Yuri, was an absolute delight—knowledgeable, easygoing, and remarkably attuned to our preferences (including finding us a Starbucks each morning!).

The special experiences Andrea arranged were truly memorable: a private traditional Japanese magic performance followed by an authentic multi-course kaiseki meal in a traditional setting; an energetic taiko drumming lesson with a talented instructor; time with a bonsai master, learning the art and creating our own bonsai trees; a rare behind-the-scenes visit to see the iron forgery and craftsman who hand-forges the scissors used by the bonsai master; a tour of Kyoto’s world-class fish market followed by a hands-on sushi making lesson with a trained sushi chef; and a warm welcome at a historic tea room plus a fun and enlightening Japanese calligraphy lesson.

Andrea and the team created a trip that exceeded our expectations in every way. Their attention to detail, cultural expertise, responsive communication, and ability to curate authentic, meaningful experiences made our Japanese adventure truly unforgettable.

Travelers Vicki and Peter Horowitz at Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

My dream destination has been Japan. Friends advised going by cruise due to the language barrier and complexity of Japanese writing system. I wanted to be immersed in the country and discover its expanse viscerally and confidently.

Andrea and his team helped us navigate the country seamlessly. We had wonderful guided tours with a private driver one day in each city and enough time on our own. Every recommendation was exactly correct, from the hotels, restaurants, special experiences (woodblock printing, kiln porcelain making, 5th generation and traditional tea ceremony) and the pace of our itinerary. For example, our stay at Beniya Mukayu, a nature-filled serene ryokan with luxurious, healing hot springs, was timed after engaging tour days. Additionally, private transfers, bullet train tickets, Suica card and more all arranged. No worry, enjoy.

We had video conferences with Andrea months before our trip. He asked specific questions to understand our preferences and interests and created “our travel vision,” a personal itinerary that aligned with us both. For example, he integrated my love for art with a special trip to Naoshima and the Art Islands while balancing my husband’s indulgence of my passion without being disinterested.

Andrea’s Guardian Angels, a WhatsApp group, was created on our arrival to address any question or need. We had FUN, enjoyed the most delicious food, strolled beautiful gardens, learned the history of Shintoism, Buddhism, the Emperor and Shoganate, Geisha culture and appreciated the kindness and warmth of the Japanese people.

Andrea, where are we going next? I leave it to you!

Andrea planned a first trip to Japan for us October 4/25 with our request for a varied experience that included some cycling. He listens well and curates with skill.

We had a private meditation experience with a monk, a private meeting with a maiko, a knife forging, a visit with a temple bell maker, a visit to the art installation island of Naoshima… and many other unforgettable experiences.
We loved the detailed, smooth transportation modes he planned, much easier than we could have navigated ourselves. All tickets, loaded SUICA transport card, and assigned seating to accommodate luggage were all things that we so appreciated.

Behind the scenes “Guardian Angel,” Aurora, was so helpful, especially in places where language at was a bit difficult for non-Japanese speaking clients…. i.e. tagging and sending luggage ahead of us. Every experience that could be orchestrated, groomed, or elevated was done with great expertise. The few glitches that occurred were deftly handled by Andrea and Aurora and we moved on.

Two best times: Cycling off trail in the Setouchi Islands with expert guide Ken, and WOW Moment in local fisherman’s boat feeding sea birds, followed by dinner on the canal of sea bream caught by our host that morning.
We recommend Andrea to plan your trip to Japan because he is experienced, listens well, addresses concerns and makes changes when needed. Those are a lot of skills to share when traveling in a country without the local language skills.

The grounds of Kenrokuen Gardens are filled with bridges, teahouses, and flowers. Photo: Traveler Jan Yonko

We just returned from an absolutely amazing journey to Japan that spanned from October 1-18. It ranks as one of our best trips ever, and we have traveled quite extensively. The people of Japan are so gracious, helpful (they will lead you to your destination, not only point the way!), kind and thoughtful. The food is divine!

In planning this trip with Andrea, we told him that we wanted to experience as much as possible while in country with special emphasis on history, spiritualism, the gardens of Japan, art and culture. We saw and learned about feudal Japan, the Geisha culture and the eventual rise of power of the emperor. In addition, we learned about Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and how the spiritual beliefs have evolved over time. It was fascinating!

Some of the highlights for us included the Tokyo National Museum and Taiko drumming lesson in Tokyo, the Art Islands of Naoshima and Teshima which were extremely beautiful and host interesting and thought-provoking art installations, the Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, and the town of Kurashiki which is a lovely former merchant town. We loved Kyoto—it is an absolute gem! While there we learned about Zen Buddhism, walked through the Torii gates, and saw the incredibly stunning Golden Palace. However, the highlight for me was a day trip to Mount Koyasan to see the Koyasan Kongobuji Temple, where we were fortunate to receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk and to stroll through the unbelievably beautiful moss-covered Gobyo Mausoleum (notably, a World Heritage Site) dating back to the 12th century and still in use today.

Andrea and his team were extremely responsive to our needs. He and his Guardian Angels provided on the spot and constant support. Our guides were all amazing and were happy to make adjustments to our itinerary to accommodate our requests. We highly recommend Andrea. He and his team will not disappoint!

Our trip started with a simple request to Wendy, “We’d like to see Bali,” but we were open to other location suggestions, and we had lots of time available. Wendy referred us to Andrea and after a video conference with Andrea to learn our travel preferences, he suggested seeing more of Indonesia. And then, because we wanted to see more of Asia, he and his wonderful travel designer, Savira, worked with us to add Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul to the itinerary. It was no simple trip anymore and we were so thankful to have Andrea’s great team put it together for us. Thank you, Wendy, for recommending him to us to prepare a trip we will never forget.

There aren’t enough words to express the admiration, appreciation, enjoyment, pleasure, education, etc. we had on this trip. Andrea’s entire team—insiders, guides, drivers, assistants, and all whom we met through this team—were simply outstanding. The hotels and experiences that were arranged were just as we had envisioned, and the local experienced guides allowed for on-the-spot changes that really helped to create a special and custom vacation.

We could go on and on about each of the four countries visited because everything was so amazing, but here are a few Indonesia highlights to share because we spent the most time there, and it was the initial inspiration for planning the trip.

We arrived in Yogyakarta on a holiday weekend, which of course meant many visitors to the Borobudur and Prambanan Temples. No problem for us though, because our guide knew how to move us away from crowds and had such interesting stories, we hardly knew anyone was around.

A highlight in this area was visiting a traditional Javanese village by horse-drawn carriage, where we visited several home businesses and played the gamelan with a small Indonesian orchestra of village children.

We then moved on to Ubud on the island of Bali, which we had heard is always very busy with tourists. We did encounter occasional traffic, but our personal Bali experiences were selected to provide peace, nature and culture without the crowds. We participated in a Melukat ceremony, the Balinese water purification ritual blessing, visited waterfalls, rice terraces and had wonderful meals with hardly anyone around us! A highlight of our time on Bali was touring a small village to experience Balinese village life, and we did not just taste, but also helped to make “laklak,” a beloved Balinese dessert made from rice flour and coconut, one of our favorite new foods from the trip.

Our third island of Indonesia was Flores and the town of Labuan Bajo, for beach time and Komodo National Park to see the Komodo Dragons. We did indeed see many Komodo dragons and had a great day with the private boat and guide Andrea arranged for us, which we boarded right from our hotel. We also visited national park beaches with great snorkeling. Our guide knew to get us to the park early, so we had some private time with many Komodo dragons; what a special experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Japan on 10/9-16. Neither my wife nor I had ever been to Japan or any other East Asia country, so every experience was new and different. The two hotels we stayed at, Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo and The Mitsui in Kyoto, were both excellent. We are not “foodies,” and do not eat raw fish, or enjoy exotic fixed item meals, so a big plus for many travelers in Japan did not apply to us (though I had a fabulous Kobe beef steak). Both hotels had extremely complete full breakfasts, with extensive buffets and à la carte options. The pastries and fresh fruit were fabulous.

An unexpected treat was a stop at the National Botanical Gardens. We had recently been to Giverny, but I think the array of flowers and colors here was even more spectacular. And it came with a fabulous view of Mt. Fuji as well as a short hike to a shrine that also had a magnificent view.

Our trip planner certainly added value—notably with his selection of guides. Tsubasa (who I believe owns the subcontractor), Nanami and Cole were all knowledgeable and had wonderful, engaging personalities. The special experiences we had, including watching a Sumo practice, a tea ceremony and Zen session (in private areas not generally accessible to the public) with the head monk of the whole temple complex, and a private session with Geishas (including a tea ceremony, dance and a game), were thoroughly enjoyable as well as educational.

Japan, Sept 28 – Oct 18
After a less than satisfactory interview with another travel agency, we sought out Wendy Perrin’s recommended advisor—Andrea—for our first-ever trip to Japan. As Gail is a long-term owner of a contemporary art gallery in the Western US, Andrea shared our excitement at the possibility of visiting both museums and galleries and the Setouchi Triennale festival in the “Art Islands.”As an avid art collector himself, Andrea and his team took a personal interest and designed for us an exceptional three-week trip that captured the history, beauty and countryside of Japan, all while exploring museums and art collections centered primarily around the Seto Inland Sea.

Our personal desire to avoid high-end major brand hotels was met with stays at a ryokan, two museums, and smaller local hotels. Personable guides were provided at every step, as well as train tickets, bus/taxi credit cards, and a detailed itinerary that was exceptionally helpful in the country where a little English is spoken. His team member Fahra was in daily contact with us regarding any itinerary changes we wish to make. The end result was an unforgettable trip without any hitches and at a reasonable cost.

We have now used Wendy Perrin’s recommended advisors for four separate trips – Croatia/Slovenia, southern Africa, Belize, Japan – in the last three years and had exceptional experiences each time.

JAPAN TRIP OF A LIFETIME – September 26-October 13, 2025
Where do we begin? We had been thinking about going to Japan for many years and finally decided to take the plunge. We always look on Wendy Perrin’s WOW List for the best planners to use. Wendy suggested Andrea to us because of our budget restrictions, and we cannot thank her enough. Andrea and his company are at the top of our list for customer service, care and commitment. They were always available for questions, video chats and consultations. It took a year to plan the trip because we are detailed oriented and Andrea never lost patience with us. He revised and revised until our trip was perfect for us. The best part of the experience begins once the trip starts. They are available 24/7 for any problems you have, and often responded to the very infrequent problems we had within minutes. They sent us morning updates, weather reports, and clothing suggestions for the day. We truly felt like a guardian angel was watching over us every step of the way while we enjoyed our trip. In fact, they call their What’s App group chat “Guardian Angels.” We have been home now for two days and miss the morning updates from Ina or Juliana telling us what to look forward to for the day ahead!

If you are thinking about Japan for a vacation, stop thinking and go! We loved the country, the people, the culture and the places we visited. Our trip lasted sixteen glorious days, which included Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Kurashiki, Shizuoka, and the Izu peninsula. Andrea purposely kept us away from high-traffic touristy areas and showed us the Japan that he cherishes. Each lodging that Andrea suggested was so unique and top notch, which included city hotels and boutique ryokans. We can’t say which was our favorite because each lodging was so special, in a perfect location and made us feel like royalty.

The Blossom Hibiya (Tokyo) was walking distance to the train, had great breakfast buffets and had a beautiful view of Tokyo city. The Takitei Ryokan (Kanazawa) was beautiful and the staff made you feel so special. We slept on the floor, had an outdoor onsen/shower, and had 12-course Kaiseki dinners in our own private dining room. The Hotel VMG resort was our most unique lodging (Kyoto). It didn’t have a kitchen, so every morning we were taken by taxi to the most beautiful restaurant overlooking a shrine with an amazing garden. Ryokan Kurashiki (Kurashiki) was in the center of the town and walking distance to museums, shops and gondola rides. The food was delicious and the staff couldn’t do enough for us. The Nippondaira hotel (Shizuoka) had a remarkable view out the 30-by-100-foot main windows of the town and mountains surrounding the property. And finally, the Loquat Nishi-Izu on the Izu Penninsula took our breath away. We had Amy, our private concierge/butler in the Suguro villa, who took care of our every need, two bedrooms for the two couples, a steam room and an outdoor onsen overlooking a waterfall. The dinners were beyond amazing. We actually went to the Takeru Quindici restaurant two nights in a row because the chef was so wonderful. On the last night we found out that the restaurant had just been listed in the Michelin Guide, recognition that was well deserved, and they were so excited to tell us about this before we left.

The lodging and the food was memorable, but what really made the trip unforgettable were the guides that Andrea and Ina chose for us throughout the 16 days. We not only had private cars to take us to the train stations, but all the drivers were instructed to walk us to the correct platforms so we would not miss the train or get lost. Our private guides in each city were amazing and became part of our family for the days we had them. In fact, we invited three of them to visit us in the USA if they ever come our way! A shout out goes to Mariko, Chika and Mina in particular. If you are lucky enough to ever have any of them as your guide, tell them hello from Robin and Warren, Mike and Patti.

We can go on and on about the activities we planned with Andrea, but our review would be as long as our 42-page blog we wrote to our kids back home while on the trip. Our favorites included the bonsai museum and private class where we created our own tree, the samurai experience, the wasabi farm, and the tea ceremony with a maiko.

We will end with this as an example of how wonderful Andrea and team were to work with for Japan. On the final night before we left, Andrea scheduled a private masseur for all of us. He said he wanted to relax our sore muscles before we headed home after our 16 days of traveling through Japan. It was the most unexpected surprise and wonderful experience for all of us. What travel consultant does that? We guess someone who represents the most wonderful country filled with caring, respectful and accommodating people in the world!

Visit Japan, use Andrea, and experience the most wonderful time of your life! We can’t wait to return!
Thank you Andrea, and Wendy for suggesting him.

In September 2025, we traveled to Japan with two other couples who are great friends. We all met through the Mattress Factory art museum in Pittsburgh PA and love art, and Craig is an architect, and Jacqui is an avid gardener. Andrea and his team created an itinerary weaving together unique experiences in art, architecture, and gardens.

One of the highlights for Craig (and all of us) was a day with renowned architect Azby Brown in Tokyo. Azby is from New Orleans, but has lived in Japan for 30 years, and wrote the book on the genius of Japanese carpentry! Andrea curated a walk through non-touristy neighborhoods and we got a feel for life in fashionable Tokyo, with a stop at a beautiful bookstore that provided gorgeous pop-up books for grandkids at home. We had one of the best experiences of our lives in the arts islands of Naoshima and Teshima, and our guide Yoji was an interesting guy and expert who led us to each installation, timing it so we could experience it for ourselves, almost by ourselves. It was incredible! It’s hard to describe the meaningful contemplative moments we shared with works from James Turrell, Ryue Nishizawa, and Christian Boltanski, where we recorded our heart beats, and many others. In Kyoto, we enjoyed a quiet morning at the moss garden, writing sutras on the veranda before strolling through the peaceful ancient garden. Kyoto garden guide Andrew William was special. We learned so much from him about the gardens of Japan in the context of Zen Buddhism and the monasteries we will never forget.

Andrea and team chose exceptional properties and worked really hard to get the best rooms for us. The new Janu in Tokyo was beautiful and in a great location, Naoshima Royokan Roka was lovely—we enjoyed wearing our kimonos for drinks and dinner, and the gorgeous rooms and property. Benesse House oval rooms had spectacular views, and walking in the museum at night was not to be missed. Our Shinsho-An Ryokan in Kyoto was a highlight—a showcase of Japanese carpentry and the finest techniques and rare woods. Exquisite in every way. Andrea handpicked restaurants in each location to give us a variety of Japanese cuisines. Fahra and the local team were in touch every day, answering questions, making a few changes, and adding an extra porter at the train station to help make our travels to Tokyo, Naoshima/Teshima and Kyoto seamless and joy-filled!

My husband and I have had many great trips with you, and this is no exception—we had great hotels and guides and meticulous planning throughout. It was a fabulous trip for all of us.

We look forward to our next trip with you.

A trip highlight: designing swords with a swordsmith. Photo: Traveler Kay Reiboldt

My husband and I told our grandchildren that when they reached 13, they could select a place to visit. Our grandson Porter selected Japan. We decided since it was so very far away, we should take his father with us, so off we went.

I can’t think of a time when a good travel planner was more appreciated, in that Japan is not only so far away, but the language barrier was significant.

The trip surpassed all of our expectations!!! Andrea’s pre-planning combined with on the ground support and our guides made the trip exceptional. They did a great job of ushering us around, and then making changes when we asked for them.

We were only there for 9 days so the schedule was jam packed with all kinds for tours, restaurant reservations, and participation activities. We all loved the Bonsai Experience, the Baseball Game, the Ozawa Sake Brewery Tour in Toyko. The experience at the Ryokan in Kanazawa was all new to us! Learning all about how to be a Samurai was very exciting, but the Soy Sauce tour was very interesting as we all like soy sauce. But the final experience with swordsmithing was truly something we never expected and learned so much—designing and making our very own swords.

Believe it or not, I have left out many experiences, but too numerous to list. Could not have done this without expert planning and good boots on the ground!

Thank you Wendy for the great recommendation of Andrea and his team.

This former maiko played a shamisen as part of the travelers’ WOW Moment. Photo: Traveler Glen Graves

We recently traveled to Japan, for one week. The trip was planned by Andrea and his team. They did a great job! We only had a week available, and it was in September. We went to three cities—Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto. They made all transportation/transfer arrangements, which was incredibly helpful and went smoothly. The guides they set us up with were fabulous. We had several unusual experiences—from tying bonsai to the method of ceramics repairing with gold (called kintsugi). Each experience was worthwhile.

We chose the date range, due to other scheduling challenges—it was very hot, which Andrea mentioned it could be, so if you have flexibility, go later! Probably the most unusual experience was our WOW Moment with a lovely woman playing a shamisen on a small boat on the river in Kyoto. The boat was run by a man who poled us along, so very peaceful. The young woman used to be a maiko (a geisha in training) and it was a treat to talk with her.

Travelers Laird Broadfield and Joanne Stark diving with whale sharks in Indonesia.

A trip to Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong (July 25 – August 20 2025)

We first worked with Andrea earlier this year after finding him through Wendy Perrin. We had a fantastic trip to Southeast Asia, and asked Andrea to help us with a new trip just two weeks after we returned home. Our first trip to Bali, Thailand, Singapore, and lastly Raja Ampat for Scuba diving exceeded our expectations. Andrea listened to our needs and created an itinerary that we loved. Our private guides were so knowledgeable and friendly; the accommodations and food delightful. But the luxury liveaboard scuba diving boat Andrea introduced us to, ScubasSpa Zen, reshaped our view of what a scuba diving trip could be.

Our latest trip was mainly focused on Scuba diving. We stayed at a couple of resorts on Sulawesi, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Then we went back to Scubaspa Zen for an amazing trip to Cenderawasih Bay in Indonesia where we were able to dive with whale sharks, a rare and incredibly special experience.

We needed to fly to Nabire, West Papua New Guinea, to get to the boat. We knew we were flying to an extremely remote area; what we didn’t know was how much we would appreciate the airport “handler” service arranged by Andrea. The air travel options were extremely limited, so we were nervous when our connection dwindled from 90 to 30 minutes. When our plane landed, we were greeted and raced to the head of security, making our connecting flight but with not much time to spare. Although we are good travelers, we are not sure we would have been able to navigate through the airport to our flight in time. We had a similar experience on our return, though this time we were with four of our fellow scuba divers. Every one of them asked for Andrea’s contact information after seeing how we were escorted through the airports—again, with very little time, and with very few announcements in English.

We spent our last few days in Hong Kong joined by Laird’s mother, and where we celebrated a milestone birthday for her.

Andrea created an itinerary that was interesting for all of us, again with superlative guides and drivers. We can’t thank him and his team enough for all they did, resulting in a trip of a lifetime. Having the WhatsApp group to communicate with, having the airport handlers get us to our planes, and having every detail exactly as we hoped is why we will continue to book our travel with Andrea, and would recommend him highly to anyone wanting a superlative Southeast Asia travel experience.

Meals were served in a private dining room overlooking a reflecting pool. Photo: Traveler Barbara Schoenfeld

Andrea planned a trip for me to a ryokan in Japan. It took a few rounds, trying different properties. Several were fully booked or only the most expensive category was available. But Andrea persevered and we landed on Gora Karaku in Hakone.

It was perfectly located; a three-minute walk to the Gora train station, which made it convenient to tour the area by train. My room had its own hot tub on an open patio facing a tree-covered mountain. Guests are given several robes, slippers, and pajamas, and are encouraged to lounge around the property in those comfy loose clothes. My meals were served in a private dining room with a sliding door and a wall of windows overlooking a reflecting pool. It was beyond serene and more than met my objective as a stopover to get beyond jetlag before continuing on to Mongolia.

It is our pleasure to, once again, review a trip planned and executed for us by Andrea. Andrea is a Wendy Perrin-recommended travel planner for Japan, and we used him for our 3-week trip there in autumn 2024. We were so pleased with that trip that we used him to plan our 3-week trip to Sicily and Puglia, Italy, in May/June 2025. At that time he was not “officially” a Wendy Perrin recommendation for Southern Italy, however, his knowledge and experience there, coupled with our excellent past experience with him, caused us to use him again and hopefully, he will also become a Wendy recommendee for Italy.

Our long and frequent telephone consultations with him, which he tolerated exceptionally well, gave him the essentials of the type of trip we were hoping for. We were looking for a trip at a relatively slow, leisurely pace allowing us to experience the countryside. We had no desire to tour cities, museums, cathedrals, etc. We wanted to be outdoors enjoying nature, geography, the local people and of course their cooking (some of it in their homes). We wanted luxurious country accommodations, excellent restaurants, and interesting activities at a pace that allowed us to truly experience everything we wanted and not be overwhelmed and exhausted. This is precisely what Andrea arranged for us. All of our accommodations were gorgeous country estates or old wineries or masserias—each one was unique, stunning, well located, and we were treated like royalty. His restaurant recommendations were also excellent. We wanted several Michelin-starred restaurants mixed with numerous more modest choices. All of his recommendations were excellent.

As this was a driving trip that we drove ourselves, his company’s support was excellent. We had daily, very detailed driving and parking instuctions—we never got lost! Each day we had accurate predictions of how long each drive would take and recommended stops along the way. His company also provided us with their “Guardian Angel”—a support person assigned specifically to us who was available via What’s App or phone 24 hours a day. We contacted her numerous times and we always got the support or advice we needed.

In summary, we HIGHLY recommend Andrea and his team for arranging and executing a trip to Sicily & Puglia, as well as Japan. In the future, we hope to contact him to plan a trip to The Philippines, another region of his expertise.

We’ve recently returned from an amazing family trip to Japan. We travelled to Tokyo, Okinawa, Kyoto, Kaga, and Kanazawa. Andrea and his assistant Dewi were excellent to work with! Andrea is a great listener and was able to put together a very thoughtful itinerary after our initial video meeting. We really appreciated all the pre-trip preparation that he provided such as: a Japan country guide for essential travel information and cultural etiquette, recommendations for books and movies on Japan and the Japanese culture, and music too. Also incredibly helpful were details such as links for the Japan transit cards and for the customs and immigration QR code to expedite entry into Japan.

Some trip highlights: Sumo wrestling exhibition with audience participation, private cooking lesson with two incredibly talented and warm Japanese home chefs, visit to the Miho Museum for its I.M. Pei design and incredible natural surroundings, hands-on matcha tasting and grinding experience and having the best matcha ice cream ever in Uji, and breathtaking views of Kyoto and Lake Biwa from the top of Mt. Hiei! We of course visited many noted shrines, temples, and landmarks. In addition, all the delicious foods: ramens, sushi, soba, udon, wagyu beef, mochi, kakigori, and especially the Japanese breakfasts!

There were just endless experiences all around. But of course, what made the trip more special were the local people that we met. Andrea provided us with the friendliest drivers and guides who were knowledgeable, funny, and kind. He also suggested the Miho Museum and Mt. Hiei, places we would not have thought of or discovered on our own. Then there was the “guardian angel” support team on WhatsApp to keep you updated on the daily events and for emergencies. Finally, there was a post-trip feedback video call to talk about our thoughts and experiences.

We highly recommend Andrea and his team for the expertise and thoughtful and personal guidance they provided for our trip in Japan. Arigato Gozaimasu!

Amanda Reyes and family kicked off their trip to Japan with a bang at a fireworks festival. Photo: Traveler Amanda Reyes

Reading other reviews, this was a relatively short trip (slightly over a week) in August 2025, with most of it in Tokyo and one day in Kyoto. With everything read on the internet cautioning me about vacationing in Japan in the summer, I was worried about figuring this out on my own, yet skeptical about a travel planner. I was worried that a travel planner would try to shove us into a cookie cutter, super busy trip, when what we really wanted was an opportunity for our family of four (including a teen and tween) to experience Japan, but also breathe. I am beyond relieved that I took the plunge, found Wendy Perrin, and found Andrea. I have nothing but praise for Andrea, Ina, and the team.

The support started early, with plenty of emails back and forth to help design the right accomodations and itinerary. They even sent customized recommendations of books, music, podcasts, and movies to help get us in the right mindset. Any questions we had, they quickly answered. My advice to anyone considering hiring Andrea is to ask questions, voice your needs, trust your instincts, but also to be open. We had a video call shortly before, where Andrea gently challenged us on our first planned experience. We decided to trust him, and it was perfect.

This first experience was getting to go to a fireworks festival. Firework festivals are an iconic summer experience in Japan. I wanted my family to experience this, but I was worried about crowds and asked if they could find a quieter spot. Andrea gently challenged us to immerse ourselves and be in the heart of it. While they had a quieter spot picked out if we said no, we decided to trust him and go for it. The team actually found reserved seat tickets for us and our guide and arranged for the guide to pick us up in a private car at the airport. Even with our jet lag, sitting in the park—eating kakigori (Japanese shaved ice!), people watching as the sun set, and seeing and hearing the most amazing fireworks I’ve ever seen in my life—started our trip with a literal bang.

And the entire trip maintained that level of excellence the whole way. We had a Whats App group dedicated to us from Andrea and his team. We had the same excellent guide (Marco!) for our first few Tokyo days, where we got what felt like a wonderful “translation” of Tokyo through the various experiences, foods, and sights. Knowing that we’d have some “free” days, he even gave us a priceless tutorial on how to use the Tokyo subway. We then had reserved bullet train tickets (with views of Mt. Fuji!) and a one-day Kyoto adventure with another wonderful guide (Marin!) and a private driver. I’m not sure how they pulled it off, but they managed to give us a great one-day Kyoto tour. Both guides were fantastic and able to connect with all of us (even a jet lagged teen and a jet lagged tween). The last few days we were on our own (by our choice!), with tickets arranged by the team to the Ghibli Museum, a Giants/Swallows baseball game, and TeamLab Planets, as well as restaurant reservations. They also somehow managed to find (the one request of my tween son) a place to go fishing in Tokyo. For my son and my husband, this was one of the best moments of the trip—father/son bonding, along with other local parents and kids doing the same thing.

Thanks to all the careful work by the team (including their in-country support, their guides, and their drivers), our days were full, but not too full. We felt supported and guided, but also were able to explore on our own. I think it’s telling that when I went back to work, one of my coworkers said that I looked relaxed. Even with jet lag and an inbox a mile long, I can’t stop smiling when I think about our trip.

Traveler Claudia Sender with her husband and nephew in Naoshima, Japan.

We traveled to Japan in July 2025 with the help and guidance of Andrea and his team. While we have used Wendy’s planners for almost 10 trips, I have to confess that Andrea’s planning and his team’s support was unparalleled! We have never experienced such a close daily follow up, preparation, quick response time before the trip and on the ground!

It started with a detailed briefing: this was a special trip with my 19-year-old nephew and we wanted it to be memorable for him—and fun for myself and my husband as well. So Andrea proposed an itinerary that mixed a rich immersion in Japanese culture, including tea ceremony, sumo championship hard to get tickets, a hike to Mount Fuji and a visit to the Art Islands (with a very hard-to-get hotel stay at the Benesse House hotel) with the activities that a 19-year old loves—even a manga artist from a very famous manga that my nephew loves! Andrea also understood how important it was for us to get tickets to visit Super Nintendo World, which was insane given the Expo that was going on in Osaka, but he got them anyway.

Our guides were all very knowledgeable, flexible, concerned about our safety during our hikes, and were foodies like us. On the one day that we faced pouring rain in Kyoto, our guide Sae adjusted the itinerary to take us to more secluded temples, and once she learned that I love moss, she adjusted it once more to take us to a temple with an ancient and precious moss garden. It was spectacular to see it under the rain!

We had the time of our lives thanks to Andrea, his coordination team, and all of the amazing guides that guided us in this journey. We felt that in a moment that Japan is going through this explosion of tourism, having their advice and guidance was priceless. We would most definitely travel with Andrea again!!

Andrea and his team pulled out all the stops on our incredible trip to Japan, making it an unforgettable graduation gift and family journey.

Andrea’s carefully crafted itinerary led us on a two-week adventure (June and July 2025) featuring experiences in Tokyo, Kiso Valley, Narai, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, and Kyoto. Visiting numerous locales meant we could appreciate the contrast between urban and rural: after the vibrant hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we traveled by bullet train to the tranquil towns of Nagiso and Narai. And even though we couldn’t speak Japanese, the experience was seamless. Andrea selected excellent guides; provided a virtual itinerary with hour-by-hour details and information for every excursion, accommodation, and destination; and to top it off, created a 24-hour WhatsApp group chat—all of which allowed us to navigate Japan with ease and confidence.

Andrea’s attentiveness really shone through his selection of tour guides. We are a family of history buffs, and they were well-versed on the Edo Period, able to answer our curiosities about the history of samurais, daimyos, and shoguns; we journeyed back in time while touring sites like Matsumoto castle and the imperial palace. The Geisha house tour and traditional tea ceremony in Kanazawa offered a closer glimpse of lesser-known areas of Japanese history and culture. It was in Kanazawa that we had a private session with a samurai descendant, who displayed the craftsmanship of the samurai swords and offered us the unique opportunity to view and hold his family’s relics.

Our guides were also able to accommodate our more personal preferences. While in Tokyo, our guide learned of our daughter’s love for matcha and was able to easily work in ice cream cafes and shops that sold specialty matcha chocolate bars and candies. Later on in our trip, we were shown the extent of behind-the-scenes communication and care when another guide brought us to the best matcha shop in town without us even mentioning matcha! Aside from that, Andrea recognized we had teens travelling with us, so he had wonderful recommendations for arcades, bowling, and more casual activities. Our teens were able to navigate Kyoto on their own and use public transportation thanks to his clear directions and assurances. Other thrills included kayaking in the Kiso river and hiking the 3km Tori pass, which were both a great opportunity to witness the breathtaking cliffs and valleys of rural Japan while also engaging our active sides.

What most surpassed our expectations, though, was the numerous ways we got to experience Japanese cuisine in all its many facets. On our nights in the rural Kiso Valley and Narai, we took gastronomic journeys through Japan’s forests, enjoying 8-course meals of deer prosciutto, hand-picked local vegetables, and fresh trout. In Tokyo, our Izakaya experience led us to an intimate Japanese bar—no more than 200 square feet—where we laughed with locals over homemade appetizers. Across many cities, we cooked our own food, including make-your-own hot pot (chanko nabe), barbecue (yakiniku), and cabbage pancake (okonomiyaki). Even the breakfasts were splendid, as Andrea ensured we had access to complimentary meals each morning to kick off our day.

In all, Andrea planned a surreal trip that we will look back on fondly for years to come. I highly recommend him for his expertise in making your experience just as tremendous as ours!

Travelers Linda and Tom Uhler enjoyed an insider’s look at the geisha tradition.

When we asked Wendy’s team if we could plan a packed two-week trip to Japan on very short notice, they told us, “If anyone can, it’s Andrea.” Boy, were they right!

We wanted an about two-week trip to include a LOT of specific things and significant time in Kyoto and Tokyo. Andrea suggested adding the Kanazawa region and two nights near Mount Fuji in a hot spring resort.

The recommended hotels in Tokyo—Janu—and Kyoto—Six Senses—were two of the finest hotels in which we’ve ever stayed.

Included and in addition to our specific requests, Andrea booked us for an ikebana session, bonsai visit, Taiko drumming, a visit to the Yokohama Fish Market for the tuna auction, a sushi class, a tea ceremony, paper-making experience, a glass museum, a winery visit and lunch, a Zen meditation, and multiple temples and shrines.

A highlight was an hour with a maiko, a geiko (geisha) in training in Kyoto. With great poise, she answered our questions, explained her elaborate costuming, and danced for us. This was a true insider’s look at Japanese tradition. That’s us and her in the photo.

Our first pleasant surprise on arrival was the establishment of our own WhatsApp channel, which was monitored by Andrea’s team 24/7. Any question was addressed quickly and completely.

Our guides and drivers were all excellent.

As one of us has a disability, Andrea and the team went to lengths to make certain that we were cared for every step of the way, including a guide to meet us between bullet trains and take us through the terminal to the next, very tight connection.

After a number of Wendy Perrin excursions, we feel that Andrea provided us one of the most delightful experiences of all: responsive to our needs, superb attention to the details and constant pleasant surprises. We recommend him highly!

Andrea and his team planned an amazing trip for our family of six to Japan. We stayed in Izu for the first two nights at a fabulous ryokan, where we were plunged right into Japanese culture. Andrea arranged for a wonderful guide to take around the small towns in the area, and included a special private meeting at a Buddhist temple, where we learned how to write the sutra and how to make matcha. We also had a special experience picking tea leaves at a tea plantation. Our guide pivoted quickly when rain ruined our plans for a hike, and we loved the wasabi museum and the MOA art museum.

Next stop was Kyoto, where we stayed for four nights. We did a day in Hiroshima and Miyajima Island, which was one of the highlights of the trip for us. We had another excellent guide in Kyoto, and enjoyed our time exploring all of the shrines, temples, and gardens there. Finally, we spent our last three nights in Tokyo, where Andrea arranged for us to have a private kintsugi workshop as well as a viewing of a sumo wrestling practice. We also went to a Tokyo Giants baseball game at the Tokyo Dome, which all of our kids loved. Our guide here, too, was excellent, and we learned so much about Japanese culture and history.

We had a major travel obstacle because we only eat kosher food, and Andrea worked with all of the hotels to make sure that we could bring in our own food, or that they could get ingredients to accommodate our needs. Just a few days before our trip, he noticed that one of the hotels made a mistake with our reservation. He quickly arranged for another amazing ryokan and also made sure they would help with our kosher food. Because he provided us with a great solution, it never really felt like a problem. Andrea also has a “guardian angel” what’s app chat during the trip, where his colleague Fahra assisted us with whatever we needed, often at a moment’s notice.

Overall, everyone thought the trip was amazing, and we were sad for it to end. I would definitely recommend Andrea for a trip to Japan!

In Echizen, traveler David Kinsler had private knife- and paper-making experiences.

Unforgettable Japan Journey with Andrea and Dewi

Our May trip to Japan, arranged by Andrea and seamlessly supported by his exceptional assistant Dewi, exceeded every expectation. From the moment we landed to our final departure, every detail was meticulously crafted for a truly immersive, luxurious, and stress-free experience.

In Tokyo, we were treated to a sumo wrestling experience, followed by a visit to the Imperial Palace and a fascinating walk through the bustling fish market. One day, we enjoyed a private tempura-making workshop—a definite highlight. After Tokyo, we continued on to Kaga Onsen, where we stayed at a fabulous ryokan. During our time there, we enjoyed a sake tasting and visited an artisan porcelain maker. From Kaga, we traveled to Echizen, where we experienced the serenity of a Buddhist temple, took part in a private knife-making experience, and learned the craft of traditional papermaking.

At Lake Biwa, we stayed at a fabulous resort and were treated to our WOW Moment: a peaceful boat ride along the canals, capped off with a charcoal dinner cooked specifically for us—a truly unforgettable evening.

Our journey concluded in Kyoto, where we had a meaningful tea ceremony with a Buddhist monk and an unforgettable private geisha dinner.

We’ve traveled extensively and have used many of Wendy Perrin’s WOW List recommendations—but Andrea and Dewi stand out above them all. Andrea’s deep cultural insight, impeccable taste, and thoughtful curation turned each day into something extraordinary. His ability to blend authenticity with comfort is rare and unforgettable.

Dewi was equally outstanding—always one step ahead, incredibly responsive, and quietly ensuring everything ran perfectly. Her warmth and professionalism made a real difference throughout the trip.

This journey was in a class of its own. Andrea and Demi delivered not just a vacation, but a true experience of Japan. We are already looking forward to planning our next adventure with them.

Our journey with Andrea and his colleague Stefano, Wendy Perrin’s WOW advisors, began with an hour-long discussion of our priorities and desires for a 5-day trip. Andrea thoughtfully listened, tested concepts and mused options. He quickly provided an intriguing initial plan, revised it, and tweaked it again to reflect our preferences.

Unfortunately, a prolonged flight delay erased the first day of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kyoto. But Andrea and Stefano performed behind the scenes magic. With constant reassurance to us that all was not lost, they salvaged most of our planned experiences despite the cherry blossom peak season.

Our Kyoto-centric trip had it all—temples, shrines, castles, unique accommodations, fabulous dinners, knowledgeable guides, abundant cherry blossoms and most critically, amazing memories. Highlights included: an incredible Kaiseki dinner at Michelin-starred Kikunoi Honten, hosted by a sake expert who shared insights into sake brewing and food-pairing; an enlightening tea ceremony and conversation with a Maiko/Gaiko; luxuriating in a private open-air hot water Ryokan spa overshadowed by a centuries old feudal Japanese castle; a visit to a renowned katana swordsmith and participation in the actual forging process; lessons from a master in Iaido sword-wielding; and a visit to the stunning Miho Museum—an I.M. Pei designed architectural marvel curated with millennia-old artifacts stunningly integrated into the hilly environs.

The most comforting aspect of our journey was our planners’ personalized daily activity travel app coupled with 24/7 WhatsApp availability, which made the journey seamless and hassle-free. We had high expectations for the trip, and Andrea and his team surpassed them, delivering experiences we would not have had without their expertise. We will return to Japan—and definitely on another Andrea tailor-made itinerary.

Traveler Beatrice Banu donned a kimono hand-painted by the master’s son. “It was quite an experience being put into a kimono.”

I used Andrea and his talented team to plan my trip to Japan from May to early June, 2025. This was my first experience working with an agent on all details of a solo trip to Japan, a belated retirement present to myself. “My team” really pushed to find out what I wanted and needed. Be sure you are as specific as possible about what you want and do not want. The more they know the better they can meet your expectations. Even do a little research in advance. I did not. Despite the fact that I was not clear about certain things, they did a fabulous job. I was able to avoid certain pitfalls in traveling to and around Japan because my team provided detailed practical information in advance and uploaded an itinerary to an app, which could be updated as things changed on the ground. I also had group of Guardian Angels on call if I needed help or had questions. Travel from place to place was meticulously timed out. The only glitches were my getting lost at various train stations, which can be fun since the stations are more like food/shopping malls.

The best thing the agents provided were fantastic guides, people with varied experiences that were matched to my interests. Long conversations about life in Japan were as valuable to my understanding the culture a little better as visiting historic sites. I am interested in spirituality, especially in Shintoism, unique to Japan, and the special bond between Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan. I had one guide who was a Shingon monk and another who was a devoted practitioner of Shintoism. As a special experience, the agency organized a special interview with a Buddhist monk. We talked through the guide for an hour, meditated, and then he performed the tea ceremony in which I participated as well. Amazing.

Since the material culture, fashion and architecture and design are also interests, I was able to visit with 2 master artisans and their families, an 88-year-old silk kimono painter, his son and daughter-in-law, all in the business. In Kanazawa, the silk painter had laid out one of their kimonos for me to try. This one had been hand-painted in an iris motif by the son of the master. It was quite an experience being put into a kimono. Also, I spent time with an 80+ inkstone maker and his family. It was such an honor to listen to how they pursued the perfection of their crafts. One of the most unique features of the trip was staying in the Benesse Museum Hotel on Naoshima. As a hotel guest you get to wander the museum after closing and before opening. I was thrilled, my own “Night in the Museum.” I loved the art islands. In addition, one of my guides in Tokyo who knew Japanese fashion, my passion, acquainted me with several second-hand stores because I mentioned that interest to the planners. I brought back several garments from these shops!

This was an intricate trip which I could not have done on my own. The agents were invaluable. I would have experienced half of what I did without the guides and the travel arrangements all planned out. My trip, without the agents, would have been good but not extraordinary. That’s why they are called “WOW.”

We just returned from a fabulous trip planned by Andrea and his colleague Stefano. The trip was everything we expected and more. We were in Japan from May 13, to May 26, 2025

We originally had been working with a different company in planning our bespoke two-week trip to Japan. We had purchased our flights while finalizing the trip. However, the more we spoke to the other travel planner, the more they wanted to just provide us with what felt like similar group trips they had previously done, which included all the busy touristy places. We contacted Wendy Perrin, and she suggested we talk to Andrea.

We held a Zoom meeting with Andrea for approximately and hour, and explained to him that we wanted to go off the beaten path. Having lived in Mayfair in Central London, England for six and a half years, and living in Downtown Crossing in Boston Mass. currently, we did not want to be in big cities, shopping at expensive stores, etc. Andrea heard us, and put together an initial itinerary that we then refined with Stefano over several months.

We ended up spending only a day and a half in Tokyo, two days in Fuji, then moved on to the Kiso Valley, and Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and then Tokyo to fly home. We stayed six days in a couple Onsen Ryokans, with private hot spring baths, eating delicious kaiseki meals.

We had private luxury vans for touring or getting from location to location which had reclining seats and leg rests like business class seats on airplanes, and a constant guide and driver. When traveling via bullet train, we had first class seats.

We had two guides during the two-week trip. They were both outstanding. They were both fluent in English and Japanese. One guide stayed with us for the first five days, and the second one for the rest of the trip. We were never alone. Even on the last trip, from Kyoto to Tokyo, before our departure back to Boston, we were looked after. We had to change trains along the way. The first driver made sure we got onto the first train, helping with the luggage etc. When we arrived at the station to change trains, a separate guide was waiting outside our train door to take us to the next train. This went on until we got to the airport. We were looked after 24/7.

We had a packed schedule from the moment we arrived, until we returned to the airport to fly back to Boston.

One thing worthy of notice was that the last two days I felt unwell. I called Andrea who answered his phone at 1:30 in the morning his time. His team’s employees immediately contacted the hotel, who were organizing an ambulance to take me to the hospital. But our guide came to the hotel with our driver, and they drove me to the hospital. They stayed with my wife and me until we were released later in the day with medication that reduced my fever and allowed me to rest for a couple of days for my long trip back.

Not getting into all that we did and visited, I will say that we had a unique experience that I suspect not many travelers to Japan have had. This included many private visits. We met, and had tea with a Geisha, went to a special forgery, had a private meditation session with a 19th generation monk at his temple, had a private boat tour and dined with a local fisherman at his house, had a private pottery making session, viewed a private sumo wrestling practice that I participated in, visited a private wood shop where we participated in making coasters, visited a private metal work shop, etc. etc. just to name a few things that we will always remember.

Overall, I would rate our trip a 10 out of 10. We were treated like royalty throughout, and working with Andrea and Stefano we were able to create the perfect trip for us.

We’ve recently returned from a fantastic trip to Asia, arranged by Andrea and his team. We’ve had many wonderful trips arranged by the WOW List experts, but I have to say this was possibly the best.

In Japan we visited Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Kaga and Kurashiki. In addition to seeing the sights, our activities included a number of very special experiences tailored to our interests, including a private Geisha dinner, Zen tea ceremony, sake tasting and food pairing, and stays at two traditional style Ryokans. We visited a renowned Maki-e lacquerware artisan at his home and studio as well as a photographic Washi paper artist, who had us make our own paper in her historic home.

Andrea and Justin Medalla helped us secure reservations at many excellent restaurants for dinner, in addition to insuring that our food allergies and preferences were accommodated. We rode the famous bullet train between our destinations, and were always dropped off and met by our terrific guides and drivers.

The team stayed in touch daily via WhatsApp, an amazing benefit that we’d never enjoyed before. They provided up to date information and helped solve some things for us that we couldn’t have figured out on our own.

From Japan we spent a day in Singapore and learned much about that multi-cultural and extremely orderly country. Then on to several days in Borneo to see wildlife (orangutans, white crocodiles, Pygmy elephants and more) from an excellent rainforest lodge.

A perfect trip for us, thanks to this team.

Ron and I attended a wedding in Kyoto on May 25, 2025. We stayed in Kyoto from May 21 to May 26, 2025. Ron and I have been in Japan two times prior. I decided to hire Andrea because we wanted to have different experiences from the previous ones. Ron has special diets—no pork and no seafood. Andrea did a great job for planning. He listened for our special requests (no more than 2 temples) and our food restrictions.

We love the hotel we stayed. We stayed at Six Senses Kyoto. The hotel is so beautiful and relaxing and it provided the Zen feelings. We spent time at the spa and pool for one hour daily because the facilities are great. Our day started with a very pleasant breakfast. We tried their lunch and dinner and they both were great.

The dinner reservations were well done by Andrea’s team. Ron said he had the best steak on our 2nd night. The price is expensive but everything is expensive in Los Angeles nowadays.

For 4 days, we visited Fushimi Inari, Arashima Bamboo Forest, Gion, Miho museum, Sanjusangen-do, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace. And we had a private Geisha experience. The trip was great. The Geisha experience, Sanjusangen-do temple, and Miho museum are our favorites.

Andrea’s team provided “guardian angels” service (WhatsApp). Bernice was on the app every moment. Bernice was great and very helpful. She was available while we travelled in Kyoto. We felt very relaxed because we knew we can ask her if we had questions.
We highly recommend Andrea to be your next Japan trip planner.

Japan 5/22-5/29/2025
Andrea (and his staff Dewi et al) was absolutely the best travel planner we have ever used, and he certainly merits all the accolades he has received. From the planning to the execution, everything was beyond perfection. And the transfers from one location to the next were seamless. They also provided support throughout your trip, so that you can easily contact them with questions and receive responses in real time.

Andrea was tasked with a particularly difficult itinerary that incorporated a lot of physical and cultural activities as well as immersive experiences spanning from Tokyo to the Izu Peninsula to Kyoto, with stays at some of the most beautiful lodgings anywhere. Favorites experiences included Wasabi farming, biking past rice paddy fields and along the coastline, a temple/shrine and a monastery hike, samurai visit/ swordsmanship instruction, bamboo grove visit, private meeting with a Maiko (Geisha in training), private tea ceremony lesson, and a Tokyo fish market visit.

The care and attention they put into every last detail of the trip totally sets them apart from any travel planner we have ever used.

Traveler Samantha Squires and family: “On the days we had to ourselves, we fell into nooks and crannies we hardly expected.”

Tokyo -> Kanazawa -> Kyoto -> Mt. Koya -> Kiso Valley -> Tokyo
Our trip to Japan was amazing. Each day was better than the next, which is really hard to believe, but it was.

Months ago, when we thought about going to Japan, we felt overwhelmed by the logistics of researching what we wanted to do and booking it. That’s why we turned to a travel planner from Wendy Perrin’s WOW List. If we were going to invest in what for us was a trip of a lifetime, we wanted to ensure that those expectations were met. And they were. They exceeded anything we could have imagined.

We met with Andrea and his team a few months before our desired trip date. Going to Japan is hard to do frugally, but he worked with us to find the best dates that allowed for our budget, and we discovered May to be an ideal time. It’s after the peak of March and April, but the weather is still pleasant and there were plenty of flowers to see, like azaleas, wisteria and irises. Andrea loves what he does, and loves Japan, so it was easy to tell him about our wants and wishes for the trip because he was excited about them, too. Could we see a baseball game in Tokyo? Yes. How about going to a quirky Maid Cafe? One that’s family friendly? Also yes.

It was important to us to learn about the history and culture of the country, and he worked up an itinerary that was ambitious but not overwhelming. He set us up with multiple guides and each and every one was fascinating and fun and such an expert about their area. We learned so much from them. Andrea also made the trip feel balanced. On the days we had to ourselves, we fell into nooks and crannies we hardly expected and found incredible places to eat this way.

Since we’ve come home everyone’s been asking, What was the highlight of the trip? This is so hard to answer! A monastery in Mt. Koya was definitely one. It’s a beautiful and serene place, the seat of Japanese Buddhism, and we just loved being there. This was something we would never have found on our own, or known to even look for were it not for Andrea telling us about it. We also went hiking in Kiso Valley, stopping in a few post towns along the way. This is where samurai and merchants walked back and forth between Kyoto and Tokyo. Again, we’d never have known about this without Andrea’s knowledge. We stayed in a traditional Ryokan and just loved every minute of it.

We left Japan buoyed by a sense of having been on a journey in the truest sense. We’re already saving to go back again. It’s a magical place.

Andrea was excellent. He and his people spent a lot of time with us to plan the trip and make it special for us. There were a couple of small issues at our last stop. I wish we had known the menu options, as we probably would have chosen different things. Also, we wish we had different transportation options in Hakone. Otherwise, the trip was excellent.

Andrea worked with us for about a year organizing a trip with my family of 6, for 2 weeks in Japan to celebrate my 70th birthday.

As we all like experiences a bit off the beaten track, Andrea came up with so many appealing options. Unfortunately, we were not able to include them all, which will have to wait for another trip.

The itinerary we chose to do was quite perfect. We visited all the main points of interest in Tokyo and Kyoto and had time for some experiences in ikebana (the boys did the best arrangements), kintsugi and perfume-making. And of course lots of fun shopping.

As we were unable to secure a hotel in Naoshima, Andrea suggested we stay in Kurashiki instead and do a day trip from there. What a brilliant idea! We all loved Kurashiki so much; our Ryokan was wonderful and our days quite full with visits of the historic town where we were staying, the visit of a jeans processing workshop and temari ball-making. And a wonderful day in Naoshima just before the triennial began.

Everyone’s dietary restrictions were taken into consideration which allowed us to enjoy some amazing meals. All the hotels celebrated my birthday in some form and I was very touched by the attention.

This was my 9-year old granddaughter’s first trip to such a culturally different country and she loved it. Super Nintendo World contributed of course, but she truly enjoyed everything else as well. Not so easy to please kids these days ;)

Having the guardian angels feature was very much appreciated to hold our hands and a place to ask for anything we needed along the way.

Japan is an amazing country and in spite of the language barrier, everyone makes an effort with so much patience to communicate and please. It is so clean and safe and the attention to detail everywhere was a welcome change.

Party of four for paper-making at the Yanasi Washi factory.

Andrea and his team put together a wonderful trip for four to Japan. The trip was designed, in part, to sample the culinary arts of Japan from food tasting to food artistry, sake tasting, and even the production of handmade knives. One day we participated in the preparation and cooking of savory pancakes called onomiyaki and gyoza dumplings. They made a delicious lunch! Another day we tasted sake with a very knowledgeable guide. For our tea ceremony, we all dressed in kimono, an experience in itself. Dining with a geisha gave us a window into the past, but with a modern touch. We visited the Ryusen factory which has been producing handmade knives for decades, a skill that evolved over centuries from sword making and handed down in the family.

The trip was not wholly devoted to food, however, as we visited another small manufactory where we made our own paper. We took a lesson in taiko drumming, immersed ourselves in the moving digital light show at TeamLab Borderless, visited the Studio Ghibli Museum, even went to a Tokyo Giants baseball game! Nor did we neglect the ancient history of Japan, visiting important temples and even spending a day in Nara, the capital of Japan during the 8th century.

Our guides proved knowledgeable and accommodating, helping us negotiate the transportation systems and even altering the planned itinerary as requested, on the spur of the moment. Further, the team set up a What’s App “guardian communication avenue, which proved most helpful on a day-to-day basis.

We are happy to recommend Andrea and his planning team to any travelers wishing to visit Japan.

My wife and I are just back from a 2 week trip to Japan from March 27, 2025-April 10, 2025. The trip included many unique experiences highlighting a wide range of Japanese culture. We spent 3 days in Tokyo, followed by short hikes and a ryokan in Izu, and then 3 days in Kyoto, 3 days in Naoshima, and a couple of days in Kurashiki.

The communication and organization of the trip was excellent. All of our private guides were uniformly great. The logistics were flawless in every case. We especially enjoyed the art island of Naoshima and the variety if experiences between the classic sights of Tokyo/Kyoto and the more unique sights of Naoshima and Kurashiki.

We did spend 7 nights in 3 different ryokans. As we are in our 70s we found sleeping on the floor and/or futons and the limited food choices to be uncomfortable. If you decide to stay in ryokans we highly recommend you have a clear view of what you are getting into!! Overall a very memorable trip with lots of unique experiences.

“Our arrival to Kyoto coincided with the absolute peak of the blossoms blooming. Pictures do not do justice to the explosion.” Photo: Michael Modak

Cherry Blossoms and much more…. It’s been on the list for some time to visit Japan at peak season for the cherry blossoms. We reached out to Wendy who put us in touch with Andrea and his team. As with many trips we had a major theme and some ideas on what to do. Andrea was extremely helpful in opening our eyes to a much broader set of options to consider. From his suggestions came the plan to spend about a week in the Seto Island Sea beginning at the Simose Art Gallery and Garden Villa to Setoda on Ikuchi Island to Momojima Island to the Bennesse House Museum on Naoshima to Teshima and Inujima. Each of these islands had interesting art museums and installations that were intriguing. It was good to see that on some of these islands, artists came in to purchase a building and repurpose it to a gallery in order to attract artists and visitors to these places where the population was diminishing (some islands were down to less than 30 inhabitants). It was renewal at its best. Andrea arranged all of our island travel by private boat, including a beautiful sunset cruise where we were treated to an outstanding dinner prepared by a private sushi chef. Left to our own devices we would have never discovered this wonderful area of Japan.

The timing of our arrival to Kyoto coincided with the absolute peak of the blossoms blooming. Pictures do not do justice to the explosion of the wonderful, white blossoms. The temples, the bamboo forest, and a tea ceremony were additional highlights of this portion of the trip.

Another area that we incorporated was on the north side of Japan in the area between Echizen (an area known for old style paper making and Japanese knives) and Kanazawa (which has an interesting samurai area and several old geisha districts) among other shrines and the imposing Kanazawa Castle.

Finishing up in Tokyo was a mix of museums, gardens, parks and attending a sumo practice session.

One additional note. The food was extraordinary. Andrea set us up at many Ryokans through the trip and it was a 9-course event for most evenings.

As we traveled, we got an email every evening from Andrea’s colleague Beatrice with events for the next day along with weather reports. They do a guardian angel list on What’s App of the team involved in managing the trip, and it was very useful, as we had to check on things and confirm things as we went. All in all a great adventure!

Susan Gulick and Sara Shoob built their itinerary around the arts in Japan.

Andrea and his team of guardian angels created a fabulous trip for us. The focus of our visit was the art and craft of Japan. Our experiences exceeded our expectations.

We began our trip in Tokyo. For three days we visited unique stores, learned about origami from a master, created our own small bonsai trees, and visited the Tokyo National Museum. Naturally we also walked across the Shibuya Crossing and were amazed at the order of all the pedestrians.

Taking the train to Kanazawa was our first independent trip on the bullet train. The process of lining up for the train and taking a seat was orderly and efficient unlike our experiences at home. Upon our arrival we went to two museums and participated in a gold leaf workshop. We also shopped at the morning market in Takayama and visited the village of
Shirakawa-go, a world heritage site.

Next we traveled like experts on the train to Kyoto. Independently, we explored the neighborhood around our hotel. We enjoyed discovering restaurants for dinner and a lovely coffee shop with delicious donuts.

Highlights in Kyoto were visiting a bamboo garden, exploring gorgeous temples, having a calligraphy lesson, dinner with a geisha in training, an authentic tea ceremony, visiting the Nishiki Market and a kimono experience. Phew! One of our guides in Kyoto actually made a video of our day together. What a lovely memory!

We mastered the greatest challenge of all on our next trip. We followed a video prepared by our guardian angels to navigate two trains, a bus and a ferry to get to the art island of Naoshima. In the next days, we visited unique contemporary art museums and enjoyed relaxing in our Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn.

From Naoshima we headed to Kurashiki, a historic city that was once a center of trade. Many shops displayed handmade crafts from the area. We visited a blue jean factory and created our own pottery under the guidance of a sixth-generation potter.

Our journey was nearing the end as we took our last train back to Tokyo. We explored a luxurious department store, visited the Meiji Shinto Shrine, learned about the craft of Kintsugi, and finished our trip with a Kabuki performance.

Outstanding guides helped us to appreciate the history and values of a culture that is very different from ours. The people are respectful of others and find beauty in everything. We are looking forward to returning soon.

A hike yielded “breathtaking views of Mount Fuji—an experience we’ll never forget.” Photo: Traveler Ariadna Biete

Our recent trip to Japan in March was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to the thoughtful planning and deep care of our trip planner, Andrea. From the very beginning, Andrea took the time to truly understand our family—our interests, preferences, and even individual needs—which made all the difference in how personalized and fulfilling the trip felt for each of us. Traveling with three daughters of different ages can be a challenge, but Andrea managed to create an itinerary that offered something meaningful and exciting for everyone.

Although we just missed the cherry blossoms, we wouldn’t have changed a thing. The mix of iconic sights in Tokyo and Kyoto, paired with off-the-beaten-path experiences in the Izu Peninsula, gave us a well-rounded view of Japan’s beauty and culture. Andrea’s recommended local guides were incredibly knowledgeable and added rich context to everything from history to food. One of the most unique and unforgettable highlights was our stay at a two-room hotel perched on the coast, followed by an amazing hike with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji—an experience we’ll never forget.

Andrea’s flexibility was another huge plus; he adapted the itinerary smoothly in response to weather changes and last-minute requests, always keeping our comfort and enjoyment in mind. Without a doubt, he added tremendous value to our trip, and we would highly recommend him to any traveler looking for a deeply customized and seamless travel experience in Japan.

Traveling with three young children in Asia means incorporating wildlife—here, an orangutan.

Andrea and his team planned our extraordinary adventure through the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We are a family of five with three young children, so it was a complicated trip to plan and execute. Andrea matched us with extraordinary guides who were always attuned to the children’s interests.

We saw tarsiers, camped with wild orangutans, swam with sea turtles, went tubing through the jungle, swam under waterfalls, and made our own halo-halo. We visited temples, churches, skyscrapers, and a rural fishing village in Hong Kong. The planning was carefully orchestrated and we always felt safe and well-cared for. Truly an unforgettable adventure!

Leslie Enlow and family hiking Japan’s Nakasendo Trail.

Wendy Perrin for the win. For spring break we took a family vacation to Japan. None of us had ever been so Andrea had his work cut out for him. The trip centered mostly on keeping our 9-year-old grandson entertained by going to a baseball game, sumo wrestling demonstration, samurai sword experience with a 16th generation samurai, and ninja museum. We still saw plenty of shrines and gardens to keep everybody happy. The weather started out cold and rainy but that did not dampen our spirits.

All of our guides were exceptional and very attentive to our 9-year-old. Andrea and his team were in constant contact with us and able to answer any questions that arose. The itinerary was varied in places and accommodations. The hotels and ryokans were all unique experiences. A highlight was walking the Nakasendo Trail where we had our WOW Moment, a picnic lunch at a scenic overlook. So scenic, in fact, that other tourists were taking pictures of us enjoying our lunch with a cherry blossom centerpiece. We were a little early for cherry blossom season but Andrea was determined that we would see some.

We had a busy itinerary to fit in all that we wanted to do but there was enough down time that we weren’t exhausted. It was the perfect trip and one we will never forget.

We contacted Andrea to plan a trip for my family of 5 adults to Japan over the winter holidays. All of us are familiar with Japan and I speak Japanese, so we wanted to do a combination of big city and more remote locations with personalized activities. We were all set to go when my daughter was hospitalized and we needed to cancel. I spoke with Andrea and he said he would do what he could to cancel or defer the trip but we were not hopeful as it was the holidays and the cancellation rules in Japan are rather strict. To my great surprise and delight, he and his team worked it out so the trip was rescheduled for the end of February 2025. Honestly, he worked some kind of magic! We were ecstatic and were able to take the trip to Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Naoshima and Osaka!

A few key highlights:
-The hotels and ryokan he chose for us were wonderful. In particular, the Four Seasons Osaka was amazing. I would like to live there.
-The visit to the snow monkeys was a high point and we were there when it was snowing. Perfect!
-We really enjoyed exploring Kanazawa and loved our private visits to the knife forge and making washi—handmade paper.
-The visit to the Art Islands (Naoshima and Teshima) was a very different experience and we highly recommend.
-A walking food tour in Osaka with a very knowledgeable guide.

All of the travel plans went without a hitch and were well thought through. We felt well taken care of by Andrea and his team. They really focused on client service and could not have been more helpful.

“Even with three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—we all played our hearts out.”

Tokyo 2/3/2025 to 2/9/2025

We asked for the impossible, and Andrea made it happen! With just over a month to plan, our family traveled to Tokyo for two opera matinees of Carmen, and Andrea and his team crafted a truly magical journey—one that allowed us to prepare, savor, and fall in love with Tokyo.

With only five days in the city, we didn’t want to waste a moment. Having visited Japan before, we knew this time we wanted to focus on immersive experiences without any stress. Our priorities were clear: seamless communication with guides and drivers, prompt and top-notch transportation, and the chance to feel the city’s rhythm.

Presto! From the moment we arrived, every detail was meticulously arranged. We were whisked from the airport to our hotel, where a beautifully curated welcome basket awaited us—filled with exquisite Japanese treats and treasures, including a box of handcrafted Kuromoji toothpicks from a shop with a 300-year history.

The next morning, we jumped right into a Taiko drumming class led by an incredible instructor. Even with three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—we all played our hearts out. And to top it off, our instructor, a professional performer, gave us a private demonstration. Wow! The energy was infectious, and the experience was unforgettable.

Throughout our trip, transportation was flawless which was a feat in itself, considering that our group was sometimes split between different locations. The team kept communication flowing seamlessly, anticipating every detail. They must have used magic because if traffic caused delays, they adjusted pickups on the fly. Jolina and Anne were extraordinary, keeping us informed down to the smallest details with weather updates, schedules, driver names, even what shoes to wear. And we could always reach them in an instant.

Attending the opera was just as smooth. On one occasion, when a leisurely lunch threatened to make us late, Andrea’s “Guardian Angels” relocated us to a restaurant near the opera house and sent our guide Josh ahead to hold our table. Incredible! And as vegans, we presented an extra challenge, but Andrea handled it masterfully.

Andrea had also suggested a Kintsugi workshop in our initial conversation, and he couldn’t have been more right. Our Kintsugi Master skillfully demonstrated the technique while our translator conveyed every detail seamlessly. As we glued, sanded, and painted the delicate golden veins on our bowls, we connected deeply with the tradition of embracing imperfection. It was a profound experience and one we will never forget.

No trip is complete without a cooking class, and our lesson in a traditional Japanese kitchen was one of the most rewarding experiences of all. Guided by Michie and her friend, Chef Eri, we prepared a sumptuous vegan sushi lunch. Witnessing firsthand how these dishes come together in a Japanese home was fascinating, and we learned more than we could have imagined. Not a single morsel was left uneaten!

A day trip to Nikko took us to the Shinkyo Bridge, Toshogu Shrine, and Futarasan Shrine, where our guide Wesley provided incredible historical insights. My husband, a Tokugawa Ieyasu enthusiast, was thrilled to visit his burial site and shrine. Climbing the 200 steps to the shrine has since become a source of great pride but a bit tricky afterwards when we sat on the floor for lunch at a lovely Japanese restaurant!

To top off this extraordinary journey, Andrea and his group gifted us a set of handcrafted ceramics by Shinichiro Ogata, along with his concept book—a beautiful way to continue reminiscing about our time in Japan.

View of Mt. Fuji from the hotel’s private outdoor onsen on the deck. Photo: Traveler Mike Harris

Our trip to Japan, organized through Andrea, one of Wendy Perrin’s WOW List travel experts, was phenomenal. I had been to Japan many times for work, so was eager to see parts of the country tourists (and business travelers) don’t normally see, and this trip really delivered. Some highlights:

– Super helpful, always-available support to help adjust the itinerary when required due to a cancelled flight or adverse weather. The team was highly responsive and provided great alternatives.
– A kintsugi pottery class (the art of repairing broken pottery with gold leaf)
– A private Taiko drumming experience with a great instructor and master drummer
– Staying in ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) and experiencing the onsen (baths) with incredible dining in incredibly peaceful settings
– Perfect travel arrangements, from private cars to bullet trains
– Amazing views of Mt. Fuji from a private outdoor onsen (hot tub on the deck)
– Great mix of big city (Tokyo), smaller city (Kanazawa), and post town (Narai) to give us the full flavor of the country.

This photo of Mt. Fuji is taken from the private deck of our hotel room. Doesn’t get much better than that!

This was the first time I’d used Wendy Perrin’s services and I was very happy with the overall experience, comprehensive service, and organization. I would highly recommend.

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.