Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

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.

Beverly Philips and family at a Taiko drumming class in Tokyo, Japan.

“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 a hotel deck.

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.

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