All Reviews for Sightseeing Tours

This was my second time on the three-island tour. Since my companion was a first-timer, we signed up during the rainy season, but the weather was nice, and we had a great experience.

However, I have one regret.

I wish I had checked the tide schedule before booking the tour... I wanted to see the Sakishima Suo no Ki again.

２度目の３島巡りでした。同行者が初めてだったので申し込み梅雨の時期でしたがお天気も良く楽しく体験できました。

ただひとつ後悔

行く前に潮の満ち引きを調べてツアーを申し込めばよかった‥
最後のサキシマスオウノキをまた見たかったです。

At first, we were hesitant to book this tour because the price was too good to be true, but we took a chance and wanted to experience it ourselves. We had a difficult time finding the meeting place and was late for a couple of minutes, but Ms. Terry, our guide, waited for us. The bus ride took 2 hours from Shinjuku to the Mt. Fuji 5th station. We were greeted with a picturesque view of the mountain as well as a lovely 40 minute tour with a pleasantly cold weather. Don't forget to try the mountain-shaped melon bread there! We had a good three course lunch at the Fuji Q Highland restaurant. It's also a great photo spot where you could see more of the mountain. We then headed to the Lake Kawaguchi boat cruise where you could have a closer look at the mountain as well as a cable car ride at Hakone rope way. As you exchange the ticket for the cable car, you also get a free pen as a souvenir. The tanuki dango with soy and matcha drink there is really good. There was also a good ice cream shop where you could choose from four flavors; peach, vanilla, lavender and grape. All in all, with the tour, food and the bus ride going back to the meeting point, the price for this full day tour is such a steal. I highly recommend this tour for those of you who want to maximize their budget. The guide was really good at explaining and was very accomodating!

The day after climbing Jomon Sugi, I was worried about whether I could go, but since the departure was at 8:30 AM and I was back at my accommodation by noon with a shuttle service included, I’m really glad I chose this plan. The guide was kind and took photos at various points, creating great memories. Above all, the scenery of the Forest of the Mononoke was amazing. Compared to the Jomon Sugi climb, this course is easier, so if you're considering this course the day after climbing Jomon Sugi, it seems that athletic shoes would have been sufficient, and you can go with minimal luggage—just water and your phone. If I have the chance to go to Yakushima again, I would love to visit this place.

縄文杉登山の翌日で、行けるかどうか不安でしたが、出発も8時30分と余裕があり12時には宿泊先に戻っている送迎付きのプランだったので本当にこのプランを選んで良かったです。
ガイドさんも優しく、ポイントポイントで写真を撮ってくださり良い思い出が出来ました。何より、もののけの森の景色が最高でした。
縄文杉登山と比べると簡単なコースになるので、縄文杉登山の翌日にこのコースを検討しているのであれば運動靴でも良かったようで、荷物も水と携帯のみという最小限で行けるコースです。屋久島に行く機会があればまた行きたい場所です。

In spite of very inclement weather conditions, we enjoyed the tour and appreciated the effort of our guide, Asako, to keep the tour on track.

Highly recommend this particular tour of Fuji. Tour description is very accurate, every activity was completed in time. Tour started at 5th station, ok time was allowed there. Then lunch was in Fiji-Q park, lunch place was nice, French restaurant with full course menu. Then plenty of time was given for the scenic rope-way with best views of Fuji and a boat at Kawaguchiko lake. All tickets and lunch included in tour price; they even gave a voucher for an ice cream or small souvenir at lake Kawaguchiko. Would absolutely do it again.

Highly recommend this particular tour of Fuji. It is really hard to get to Fuji using public transportation outside of climbing season, so bus tour is great option. Tour description is very accurate, every activity was completed in time. Tour started at 5th station, ok time was allowed there. Then lunch was in Fiji-Q park, lunch place was surprisingly nice, French restaurant with full course menu. Then plenty of time was given for the scenic rope-way with best views of Fuji and a boat at Kawaguchiko lake. All tickets and lunch included in tour price; they even gave a voucher for an ice cream or small souvenir at lake Kawaguchiko. We are family of 4, and everyone highly enjoyed overall experience in this tour. We would absolutely do it again. Thank you, VELTRA, well done!

This was my first visit to Shodoshima. I was unsure whether to rent a car to explore the history, shrines, and traditional culture, but I learned about this island tour bus and decided to use it.

I was able to efficiently visit places like Choshikei Monkey Park, Ohnote Hime Shrine, Kankakei, Azuki Island Shrine, Shodoshima Sacred Site No. 20, Butsuga Falls, Takesan Soy Sauce, the Village of Soy Sauce, the Twenty-Four Eyes Film Village, Doten Shrine, the Tsuboi Sakae Memorial Museum, Olive Park, and Kojin Shrine all in one day, making for a truly fulfilling sightseeing experience.

In addition to these sites, the bus guide kindly provided information about Shodoshima's culture and scenery from the bus window, but I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't see Angel Road and the landscape of Nakayama's terraced rice fields, which also appear in "The Eighth Day's Cicada." The bus guide was very kind, and the recitation of "Twenty-Four Eyes" was wonderful.

小豆島を訪れるのは今回が初めてでした。歴史・神社・伝統文化を知るためレンタカーを借りて回るかどうか迷っていたところ、この島めぐり観光バスツアーの存在を知り利用させて頂きました。
銚子渓お猿の国・大野手姫神社、寒霞渓・あずき島神社、小豆島霊場二十番 仏ヶ滝、タケサン醤油・醤の郷、二十四の瞳映画村・同天満宮・壺井栄記念館、オリーブ公園・荒神社を１日で効率的に回ることができ、本当に充実した観光となり利用して良かったです。
これら以外にもバスガイドさんが車窓から小豆島の文化や街並みを案内して下さいましたが、エンジェルロードと、「八日目の蝉」にも出てくる中山の棚田 千枚田の風景を見れなかったのは少し残念でした。
バスガイドさんにもとても親切にしていただき、「二十四の瞳」の暗誦朗読も素晴らしかったです。

I was glad that I could change my reservation when the forecast predicted rain on the scheduled day! The road to the shooting location was quite dark, so it's best to drive carefully, but when I looked up at the sky, the stars were truly beautiful, and the finished photos turned out amazing! It was really great.

予約していた日が雨の予報だったので、日程を変更できるか電話してみたらしていただけてよかったです！撮影場所までも真っ暗な道で運転には気をつけた方がいいですが、空をみると本当に星が綺麗で、出来上がりの写真は本当にすごかったです！
とてもよかったです。

My family and I took the private tour arranged by Tokyo Star Agency to the Mt. Fuji area, not to the Mt. Fuji itself, but rather to the surrounding areas such as Lake Saiko, Saiko Iyashino-Sato Nenba, Hanaterasu, Mt. Fuji Ropeway and also a visit to the local sake brewery, Ide Sake. Our tour guide, Mrs. Yuko Matsuka was an amazing lady and spoke good English. She lives in the Mt. Fuji area so she has extensive knowledge about this particular region. I really adored her. She also paid attention to my daughters' needs, I could tell that she's sincere and thoughtful. She took us for lunch at Maple Restaurant, the food was very good, enjoyed by my kids and also myself. It was one of the many great meals I've had during my trip in Japan.
Although what we hoped for was to see Mt. Fuji from a far unfortunately didn't come true due to the weather (it was covered with clouds), yet we weren't disappointed since Mrs. Yuko tried her best to entertain us and took us to alternative spots for us to enjoy the day. I also need to mention our driver, Mr. Kenichi Higashi, who was a good driver and also very friendly. He made sure that we're well informed about the traffic condition; also was keen to offer us to make stops at the rest station along the highway.
Overall, I do recommend everyone who's interested in taking a private tour to Mt. Fuji area, to choose the Tokyo Star Agency's service.

We were blessed with beautiful weather and were thrilled by the magnificent scenery. The cheese fondue and hamburger lunch were delicious and absolutely the best!

晴天にも恵まれて、壮大な景色に感激♡
チーズフォンデュとハンバーグのランチも美味しくて最高でした♡

I visited Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, and it included a pretty delicious lunch, along with tickets for the Usuzan Ropeway. The time allocation was also perfect. As an option, I also enjoyed a boat ride on Lake Shikotsu and a soak in the hot springs at Lake Toya.

I highly recommend this.

I had a thoroughly fulfilling sightseeing experience.

支笏湖と洞爺湖を観光して、
結構おいしい昼食も付いていて、
有珠山ロープウェイのチケット付き。
時間配分も申し分ないです。
オプションで
支笏湖のボートと
洞爺湖温泉の入浴もしました。

いやいや、これはお勧めでしょう。

たっぷりと充実した観光が出来ました。

Overall, Caca did a good job. Her English was understandable. I am glad I took the trip as I would not have seen these sites otherwise. Now, negatives were the really impolite guests- obviously not the fault of the company. We waited on the bus at our first stop for 45 minutes, Caca looking for them, and we thankfully just left. The next stop we waited an additional 15 minutes for 2 more guests. The departure times were very clearly stated. There were 2 other guests continually having a loud conversation while Caca was talking-making it difficult to hear. I wish someone would have said something because they were obviously oblivious- but I guess I also could have stepped up. The only other thing was I felt we spent way too much time on the bus. I totally understand these tours need to cater to all, but I definitely like to be more active. Something to think about for an active traveler. The lunch was surprisingly very good and filling. I took the bullet train back and Caca was great about making sure we knew exactly what we needed to do.

Overall, it was wonderful. The guides spoke great English and were kind, informative, and helpful. Fuji is amazing and the Forest was incredible too. For the caves...the description could have been much better. I did not realize it would involve significant climbing and dangerous conditions. The description simply said weird comfortable shoes and clothes that can get dirty. There are deep caverns, small ladders, and dangerous icy terrain. I actually stopped early into it because I was concerned. Everyone else went and loved it, but I stayed back of my own volition.

At the Valley of Gangala, it was a walk in the humid heat, which made me feel uncomfortable. Was the explanation just following the manual? They provided detailed explanations, but my questions went unanswered. Since there are various types of tourists, it must be difficult to satisfy all customers. However, personally, I don't want to participate in such a tour again. The Sefa Utaki and the valley were good, though.

ガンガラーの谷では、蒸し暑い中での散策でしたので 私自身も不快な気分でした。 マニュアル通りの説明なのか？ 細々した所まで、説明してましたけど 私の、質問には答えて貰え無いままでした。 色々な観光客が要るのですから、全ての客に満足して貰うのは 難しいでしょうね。
しかし、私個人は もう こんなツアーには参加したく無いです。 斎場御獄、谷は、良かったです。

We loved the trip to Mount Fuji, it was very cold and rainy. We only had about 30 min to look around, would have loved more time! The included lunch was excellent! The boat ride was nice with great views. We didn't get to do the ropeway due to wind but was refunded the cost which was great customer service. The free ice cream was a bonus that I forgot about! Overall I would take the trip again if I ever make it back to Tokyo!

I was able to efficiently visit many places, and the duration of the stay was just right. I think this price is a great deal, including the admission and transportation fees.

効率良くたくさんの場所を巡れ、滞在時間も丁度良かったです。
見学料金、乗車料金含めてこの料金はお得だと思います。

I was expecting the famous guide, but due to scheduling, we had a female guide instead. It's understandable that she had a day off, and the female guide was very pleasant, so I have no complaints. For beginners in travel, a sightseeing bus tour that efficiently takes you to the attractions is very helpful as an introduction. However, due to time constraints, lunch was served quite early (at 11:30), and I ended up leaving some of the food uneaten. When I asked the staff to reduce the portion because I have a small appetite, they said not to worry about leaving food if there was too much. It feels uncomfortable to waste food, so I wished they could have reduced it. After lunch, it started pouring rain, and at the last stop, Tamatorizaki, we couldn't go up to the observation deck, which was disappointing. On the way back, they also drop you off at the airport, which I think is convenient for those who want to make the most of the morning and head straight home.

名物おじさんのガイドを期待していましたが、シフトの関係で女性のガイドさんでした。お休みの日があるのは仕方のないことですし、女性ガイドさんもとても感じのいい方でしたので、不満はありません。旅行初心者にとって、要領よく名所を回って下さる観光バスツアーは、入門編としてとてもありがたいと思います。時間配分の関係上、お昼ご飯の時間が早く（11：30）、せっかくのお料理を残すことになってしまいました。箸をつける前にお店の方に「食が細いのでご飯を減らしてください」とお願いしたところ、多かったら気にせず残してくださいとのことでした。食べ物を残すのは心苦しいので、ご面倒でも減らしてほしいと感じました。昼食後に土砂降りになり、最後に立ち寄った玉取崎では展望台に上がれず、残念でした。帰りには空港にも寄って下さるので、午前中を有効活用してそのまま帰路につく方にも便利だと思います。

It is really weird when the weather is not good (rain and windy ) and your guide instead of making your day better, nice and interesting in each stop he was reminding and highlighting our bad luck because of the weather and we will not be able of see nothing

If we had a knowledgeable guide during the 5/6 hours bus ride, the trip maybe become much better instead of dropping us in each stop telling have a round and see you in 30/45 min.

I believe it is not good idea to join the trip when
sky is not clear if you can check the weather forecast before

For those who booking before like in our case it would be fair from the VELTRA to cancel the trip and refund it or exchange with another trip

Wish that my feedback make your service better

We have enough experience with hop on hop off buses in many cities around the world and I believe that the info given during Tokyo tour could become more interesting if they talk about Japanese culture, tradition and the county it self instead of just taking when there is interesting city seen place !

The rest of the tour was music back ground

I hope the next time something could change

Regards

The trip was great. Apart from a bit hurry at each stop. We visit the ninja village and expect that we will see the ninja show but nothing except only one ninja for photograph.

I was on the fence between booking a private tour or a bus tour to visit Mt. Fuji but I’m so happy I decided to book a private tour. I couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable and accommodating tour guide. Taiji made sure we were able to visit all the places we wanted to see around Mt. Fuji even if it went beyond the allotted time. He and the driver, Toshi, we’re fun to be with. I highly recommend their services to anyone who wants to visit Japan.

We booked this tour to cap our Japan visit based on several reviews. Overall the experience was great because it went to several places which had it's good and bad points. Blessed with good, clear skies, our group was lucky to see Mount Fuji on our way to the lake and when we reached the 5th stop. That in itself made the trip worthwhile-be forewarned that when the weather does not cooperate, you may not have a chance to see Mount Fuji. As for the rest of the day, our tour guide was Liza who was super sweet and entertaining. She gave information about each area and about Japan in general which was fascinating. There was an automated guide who spoke a little about the area as well but honestly, we preferred listening to Liza. I've been to other tours in the past where you listened to a recorded guide but it was a human voice. The tour was packed with several destinations which made us feel a bit rushed. Our 3rd stop was at the ninja village which was also our buffet lunch. The park itself was so fun but because we were only given an hour there, we didn't enjoy the entire village. Wished we could've spent more time eating and exploring the village. We also enjoyed the 5th stop but were only given 30 minutes there. Again, would've loved to have hiked up and enjoy the area but we had a final stop to get to. The final stop was a virtual ride in a theme park which is similar to one of the Disney California adventure ride. In my opinion, we could've skipped this activity entirely so we can spend more time at the Ninja Village and 5th stop. Overall, the tour was good not outstanding due to the time constraints. Liza kept everyone on track and on time and did a wonderful job explaining the sites and history. I would recommend this tour with the lunch option because it was very good for what you get.

I participated alone as a woman! On the day of the tour, there were six of us.

Since the Arakawa Trailhead was under construction, we started from Shirakawa Unsuikyo. It was a hard course that took 2 to 3 hours longer than usual, but we all managed to reach the goal safely.

It rained heavily, but at each spot, the rain stopped, and the guide took great photos for us.

Before we started, I was disappointed about the rain, but the vibrant green moss and the slightly misty forest were so beautiful that I think the rain actually allowed us to experience the true essence of Yakushima.

I participated in early June, and because of the high humidity, it got hot quickly once we started walking. A short-sleeve T-shirt was enough under the rainwear. We could refill our water from springs multiple times along the way, so a plastic bottle was sufficient (it's best to go light).

I initially used a folding umbrella, but on the way back, I relied on my trekking poles instead. Especially for beginners, I think it's better to give up on staying dry early and fully enjoy the nature of Yakushima (laughs).

The guide not only had a wealth of knowledge but also helped with pacing and finding great photo spots, so if it's your first time, I definitely recommend going with a guide. (I was so happy that they took such beautiful photos of the heart-shaped Wilson stump!)

Some may be worried about the recent rain, but even as an amateur, I was fine! I believe there are views that can only be seen now, so experiencing the emotion of seeing the estimated 7,000-year-old Yakusugi and the sense of achievement from trekking at the same time is something I highly recommend to anyone who is hesitant.

Thank you to the guide and everyone in Yakushima for a wonderful time.

女性ひとりで参加しました！当日は6名のツアーとなりました。

荒川登山口が工事中とのことで、白川雲水峡からの出発。時間も通常より2〜3時間長くなるハードコースでしたが、無事にみんなでゴールすることができました。

雨がすごかったのですが、各スポットでは雨も上がり、ガイドさんがしっかりと写真をおさめてくれました。

スタート前は雨が残念と思っていましたが、苔の緑がとても綺麗だったり、少し白んだ森が幻想的だったりと、逆に雨の方が屋久島らしさを味わえたのではないかと思います。

6月初旬の参加でしたが、湿度が高いので歩き始めるとすぐに暑くなります。レインウェアの下は半袖Ｔシャツで十分です。水分も湧き水を途中で複数回くめますので、ペットボトルで十分だと思います(とにかく軽装で行った方が良いです)。

折り畳み傘は最初は使っていましたが、帰りはストックに頼ることになったので使いませんでした。特に登山初心者の方は、濡れるのは早々に諦めて、屋久島の自然を丸ごと楽しんだ方が良いと思います(笑)。

ガイドさんは、さまざまな知識はもちろん、ペース配分、そして写真のスポットまでしっかりサポートしてくれるので、初めてであれば絶対にガイドさんと登った方が良いと思います。(ウィルソン株のハートをあんなに綺麗に撮ってくださって、すごく嬉しかったです！)

先日の雨でご心配される方もいらっしゃるかもしれませんが、素人の私でも大丈夫でした！
今しか見られない景色もあると思いますので、推定7000歳の屋久杉を生で見る感動と、トレッキングとしての達成感を同時に味わえるので、迷ってる方がいれば、ぜひおすすめします。

ガイドさんはじめ、屋久島の皆様、素敵な時間をありがとうございました。

Best way to keep awake after trip from Europe and see as much as possible from Tokyo in short time

I applied because I wanted to go to Kabira Bay. The guide shared various stories about the explanations and history of different places, and it was enjoyable.

川平湾に行きたくてお申し込みしました。
各所の説明や歴史など、様々なお話をガイドさんがして下さり楽しかったです。

I was a bit anxious as we walked down the completely dark path to the meeting point, but the starry sky was truly beautiful. They also showed us the photos on the spot, which made me feel at ease while taking pictures. The staff were very friendly and easy to talk to, and they recommended sightseeing spots during the waiting time, making it a fulfilling experience.

集合場所に向かうまでは真っ暗な道をひたすら進むので不安でしたが、本当に綺麗な星空でした。写真もその場でデータを見せてくれるので安心しながら撮影できました。またスタッフの方々とても話しやすく親切で待ち時間に観光のオススメスポットも教えてくださり、充実した時間でした。

We had an exelent tour good driver, did sprak Bert well english. Knew evwrytibg we did Visit and brought us also to placets with no tourist . We were Bert impressed and would recoment this tour.

We didn't even stop at Ryugujo, the butterfly paradise. We had an hour lunch break near a hotel with shops/food court and I was expecting Okinawa soba as stated in the itinerary but we got a "hot sandwich" which ended up being a tiny triangle of basically taco salad sandwich. Had to go buy a bowl of Okinawa Soba to have enough to eat. We spent 40 minutes at the pineapple park. We definitely didn't need a whole hour for lunch as tiny as it was. It simply forces you to buy more food at the food court. Not going to see the butterflies at all was a huge disappointment. No explanation given as to why we didn't even go.
We had 3 hours at the aquarium which was great. Wish we had more time there.

I participated with my parents in their 60s. Since all three of us are inexperienced drivers, it's great that we could visit northern tourist spots on a bus tour. The travel was comfortable in the cool interior of the bus. I think the price, which includes tickets to the aquarium and lunch, is a fantastic deal. My parents seemed to enjoy visiting various tourist attractions. I believe this is a tour I can recommend to everyone!

６０代の両親と参加しました。
３人ともペーパードライバーなので、バスツアーで北部の観光地に行けるのはありがたいです。
移動も涼しい車内で過ごせて快適でした。
水族館のチケット、お昼御飯がついてこの値段は破格だと思います。
両親もいろいろな観光地を回れて楽しそうにしていました。
みんなにおすすめできるツアーだと思います！

I participated with a friend and their child. The factory night view from the sea was magical, and I was very satisfied. It was a bit cold, but I was happy to be able to borrow a blanket. I am thinking of going again.

友人親子と一緒に参加しました。
海からの工場夜景は幻想的で大変満足でした。
少し寒かったですがブランケットをお借りできうれしかったです。
また行きたいとおもっています。