All Reviews for 1-Day Tours

We just arrived from a fun filled experience tour in Tokyo. Our pickup transfer driver/guide arrived on time but unfortunately we got lost in locating the exact meeting area because of the wrong map that was given by the agency. Through the help of a Filipina working at Narita airport we were able to contact our guide. Inspite of the rain, our guide Taji still managed to bring us to Meguro River with full bloom cherry blossom trees and to the (secret) as described by our guide long stretch of cherry blossom trèes not popular to tourists.He also recommended an authentic and tasty ramen for our group to try. Thank you Taji for the wonderful experience!

The day before going to Yakushima, I was anxious because the flight was canceled due to strong winds, but the weather improved, and on the day of the hike, we had clear skies, which happen only once or twice a month. The charter bus with no transfers to the trailhead was indeed convenient, allowing us to secure a place for breakfast and use the restroom without any issues, enabling a smooth start to our hike.

The hiking trail itself is well-maintained with trolley paths, wooden paths, and stairs, so I felt there was no worry of getting lost, making it a mountain that one could tackle alone. However, the trolley path is quite long, and there are hardly any signboards, so if I, a beginner with no exercise habits and a woman in my 50s, had gone alone, I think I would have gotten tired of walking and missed out on enjoying the beauty of the mountain. Especially if the weather had been bad... just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.

While nodding and laughing at the guide's stories, we maintained a perfect pace, and honestly, I thought, "Did we already arrive?" It was such a fun experience meeting Jomon Sugi. The guide said, "You all were invited by Jomon Sugi on such a nice day," and I truly felt like I was "well taken care of," enjoying the mountain to the fullest.

If you want to see Jomon Sugi but are not familiar with the mountains, I absolutely recommend a guided tour! I think it provides peace of mind in case the weather is bad or if any troubles arise.

　屋久島に行く前日は飛行機が欠航になるほどの暴風で不安になっていましたが、天気も回復、登山当日は月に１，２回くらいという快晴になりました。
登山口まで乗り換えなしのチャーターバスはやはり便利で、朝食を食べる場所の確保やトイレ使用も問題なく、スムーズに登山開始できました。
　登山道自体はトロッコ道と木道、階段などで整備された道なので、迷う心配もなく一人でも行ける山だと思いました。でもトロッコ道がとにかく長く、案内板などがほとんどないので、初心者×運動習慣なし×５０代女の私が一人で行ったら、歩き飽きてしまって山の良さを感じることができずに帰ってきただろうなと思います。ましてやもし天気が悪かったら・・・考えただけでゾッとします。
　ガイドさんのお話にうなずいたり笑ったりしながら、ちょうどよいペースで、正直「もう着いちゃったの？」と思うくらい楽しく縄文杉に会ってくることができました。「こんないい日に来た皆さんは、縄文杉から招待されたんですね」と言われましたが、まさに「十分にもてなしてもらった」そんな気分になるくらい気持ちよく山を満喫することができました。
　縄文杉は見たいけど山に不慣れな一人旅にはガイドツアー絶対おススメです！天気が悪かったり、何かトラブルがあったりしたときも安心だと思います。

I was looking for a tour that my mother, who is in her late 60s, could enjoy without having to walk too much. Although we could only stay one night in Ishigaki Island, I wanted to visit other nearby islands as well. I particularly wanted to go to Taketomi Island and ride the water buffalo cart, and I was pleased that there was enough time to enjoy both the water buffalo cart ride and the glass-bottom boat. The smooth transfers also helped us make the most of our limited time for sightseeing. It seemed like my mother enjoyed it too.

６０代後半の母を連れての旅行だったので、あまり歩かなくても楽しめるツアーを探していました。また石垣島へは１泊しか出来なかったですが他の離島にも行きたいと思っていました。
特に竹富島へ行って水牛車には乗りたいと思っていましたが、水牛車に乗車する時間もグラスボード等も十分楽しむことが出来るだけの時間が確保されていました。乗り継ぎがスムーズだったことも時間がない中、効率よく観光するには良かったと思います。母も楽しんでいたようです。

I went expecting only the Churaumi Aquarium, but I really enjoyed interacting with the butterflies at Ryukyu Castle. The lunch here is Okinawa soba, which is very simple. It's really great for tourists without a car to be able to explore various places.

美ら海水族館だけを期待していったのですが、
琉球城での蝶との触れ合いがとても楽しめました。
ここでいただく昼食は沖縄そばなのですが、とてもシンプルです。
色々とまわっていただけるのが車のない観光者にとってはとてもありがたいことですね。

I booked a plan that includes a water buffalo cart, considering the possibility of rain. I decided on this because there was a discount a few days prior, and they also offered to store our luggage for free. On the day of the visit, I checked in my luggage at the counter, received my ticket, and was given a paper with the instructions. It was a cloudy day with light rain, but once we arrived at Taketomi Island, the rain stopped. After a 30-minute tour on the water buffalo cart, we rented electric bicycles and explored the island for about an hour and a half. At the coast, we were able to see sea cucumbers, moray eels, and small fish from the surface of the water. It was a very beautiful island. I definitely want to go again! ♪

雨の場合も考えて水牛車付きのプランを予約しました。数日前だと割引きもあり、無料で荷物も預かってくれるというので決めました。当日は、窓口で荷物を預けチケットを貰い、手順を書いた紙を貰いました。その日は曇り空で小雨もパラついていましたが、竹富島に着くと雨は止んだので水牛車の３０分の観光の後に電動自転車を借りて１時間半余り島を回りました。海岸ではナマコ、エラブウナギ、小魚など水面から見ることができました。とても綺麗な島でした。また是非、行きたいです♪

Unfortunately, due to the cloudy sky, I couldn't see the blue of the southern sea and sky. However, I was able to fully enjoy the wonders of Iriomote, Yufu, and Taketomi Islands.

Among them, the stories from the guides on the boat, bus, and water buffalo were very charming. Their gentle way of speaking, with phrases like "grandma" and "grandpa," and their easy-to-understand explanations made it enjoyable.

What remains in my heart are the boats cutting through the wind over the forests and rivers, the sounds of the sanshin and singing, the Okinawan lunch, the gelato we ate on the beach, and picking up star sand at Kaiji Beach—there are so many memories.

I was especially excited to see the golden chrysalis (Papilio garamas) at the butterfly garden on Yufu Island.

While cycling around Taketomi Island, we explored the beaches and townscapes, and everywhere we went, we could feel the islanders' cherished way of life and culture that they have preserved.

If I ever have time again, I would love to participate slowly once more.

　残念だったのは曇り空のため、南の海と空の青さを見ることはできませんでした。しかし、西表・由布・竹富島の素晴らしさを満喫することができました。

中でも、ボートやバス、水牛のガイドさんたちのお話がとってもチャーミングです。「おばあ」「おじい」など、優しい響きの語り口や分かりやすい説明で楽しかったです。

心に残るのは、林と川の上を風を切って走るボートや、三線の音色や歌声、沖縄料理のランチ、浜辺で食べたジェラート、カイジ浜で星の砂を拾ったことなど、いっぱいいっぱいあります。

特に由布島の蝶園でみた黄金のサナギ（オオゴマダラ）には大興奮しました。

私たちは竹富島ではサイクリングをしながらビーチや街並みを見て回りましたが、どこに行っても島人たちが大切に守ってきた島の生活や文化を感じることができました。

いつか時間が出来たら、またゆっくり参加させて頂きたいと思います。

After much deliberation on whether to rent a car or book a pass individually, I decided to join an optional tour based on the recommendation of a friend who lives locally. This was a great decision. I was able to enjoy sightseeing at a relaxed pace without worrying about parking or the bus schedule for the return trip. The guide spoke both Japanese and English, and it seemed like the foreign guests were having a great time as well. This is a tour I can recommend to both foreigners and Japanese people.

レンタカーで行くか、個人でパスを予約して行くかを散々迷い、地元に住んでいた友人のすすめでオプショナルツアーに参加することに。
これが大正解。パーキングや帰りのバスの時間などを気にせずにゆったりとしたスケジュールで観光できました。ガイドさんは日本語と英語とどちらも話せて、外国人の方々も楽しんでいるようでした。
外国人にも日本人にもおすすめできるツアーです。

5 Persons at ticket counter could process only 1 ticket per 3 minutes

The tour was as described - simple pickup process, English speaking guide, we were lucky enough to get a good clear view of Mt Fuji - plenty of time at each location (some more than adequate) - would recommend

The weather was bad, and my husband's foot condition worsened, so in the end, it turned into a tour focused solely on Jomon Sugi, but it was a very fulfilling experience. This is all thanks to our guide. Although we mentioned that we had some mountain climbing experience, our knowledge was that of beginners, so the guide taught us how to use trekking poles, and since it was just the two of us, they took many memorable photos at beautiful spots. Above all, the various stories shared were very interesting. I truly believe it was a wonderful tour. The next day, we went to Kumsoikyo on our own, and we were able to take our time on the round trip to Taiko Rock, which I thought was great in its own way. The lunch we had at Shiosai was also delicious.

天候も悪かったのですが、一緒に行った主人の足の具合が悪くなり、結局は縄文杉だけのツアーになってしまったのですが、とても充実したツアーとなりました。これもひとえにガイドさんのおかげです。私たちは山登りの経験があるといったものの、初心者の知識だったので、ストックの使い方などを教えてくださったり、私たちだけだったのもあるかもしれませんが、本当に記念に残るようなスポットで写真をたくさん撮ってくださったり、何より色々なお話が面白かったです。とてもよいツアーだったと心から思います。翌日の雲水峡に自分たちで行きましたが、太鼓岩の往復をじっくりできて、これはこれでよかったと思いました。お昼に寄った潮騒も美味しかったです。

I have used the day trip bus tour several times, so I know the drill when it comes to boarding the bus. After that, a staff member approached me and handed me an envelope, saying, "Once you enter the Ocean Expo Park, go left." I thought, "Huh?" but the bus headed to Kouri Island. The scenery here is beautiful, and the sea is so clear that it’s healing every time I visit. When the time came, we headed to our next destination, the Ocean Expo Park. After arriving, we all moved together with the guide to the entrance of the Ocean Expo Park. Then, the guide made an unexpected statement. They mentioned that they would accompany us to the Churaumi Aquarium and pointed out where we could eat. However, when it came to guiding our group to the Tropical Dream Center, it was just a simple, "Go left." Seriously? That’s it? They didn’t even accompany us or provide guidance on where to eat! Just as I was thinking that, the guide quickly left with a cheerful "Bye!" like Audrey's Kasuga. If I had known it was a joint tour from the beginning, I could have understood, but it was disappointing.

In the afternoon, we visited Manzamo and Ryukyu Village, which I had always wanted to see, so I’m glad I participated.

日帰りバスツアーは何度か利用しているので勝手知ったるなんとやらでバス乗車。その後スタッフとおぼしき人に声を掛けられ封筒を渡され、「海洋博公園の中に入りましたら左です」と伝えられた。…ん？と思いながらもバスは古宇利島へ。ここは景色も良く海も透明で何度来ても癒されます。時間になり次の目的地、海洋博公園へ。到着後ガイドさんと海洋博公園入口まで全員で移動。するとここでガイドさんからの意外な発言。なんと、美ら海水族館に同行するとか食事ができる場所はどこどこですとか。いざ、我らが熱帯ドリームセンター組への案内は「左で～す」。。。おいおい、それだけ。同行もせずに飯食うところの案内も無しかよ！と思っていた矢先、間髪入れずオードリー春日ばりの「バ～～イ」と言わんばかりに去って行きました。合同なら募集の時点で分かっていれば理解もできたのに。残念です。
午後からの万座毛・琉球村は一度は行ってみたかったスポットだったので参加して良かったです。

This Tour is very comfortable and You can see the beautiful places.

The trip was very good, we enjoyed it. Meal was very good too. Thank you.

Exploring the breathtaking spots of Ishigaki Island.
The weather wasn't great, but the charming male guide kept us entertained with his stories.
I thought the restaurant for lunch was quite good for this type of tour.

石垣島の絶景スポットめぐり。
天候は今一つでしたが、こなれた男性ガイドの方のおしゃべりで、楽しませて頂きました。
昼食のレストランもこの手のツアーにしてはまずまずおいしかったと思います。

really amazing view of mt Fuji.Mr Levin and Mrs Madoka were also friendly and patient,not so much explaning about history of the places, but there were humorous so we didn't get bored.thanks all

I brought customers from the UK on a whirlwind tour to Ishigaki, and as a highlight, we participated in a tour of Taketomi Island. They were very pleased, and it became a wonderful memory. I especially liked that we could choose the boat according to our convenience.

イギリスからのお客様を連れて弾丸ツアーに石垣に来ました、そのハイライトとして
竹富島のツアーに参加しました、とても喜んでもらいいい思い出となりました。
自分の都合で船を選べるところが特に良かった。

We loved the trip, unfortunately the weather wasn't great, Mt. Fuji was invisible most of the time, but the ninja village and Lake Kawaguchi were enjoyable places.

The trip was well organised and we visited number of different places. The scenery was beautiful despite the weather. All the places we visited, we were meant to see Mt Fuji, however it was too cloudy, which was a shame. But that cannot be helped. The tour includes going to the 5th station of Mt Fuji, however there was snow there so we were only allowed to go up to the 1st station. There we could see Mt Fuji through the clouds. The 4D simulation ride of Mt Fuji was lovely, you could see Mt Fuji in all the seasons. The lunch was delicious with good sized portions.

Overall the weather let us down but I cannot fault the tour.

A veteran guide accompanied our group of five women, including myself, and although it rained from the start, we were treated to many insightful stories and jokes, making our walk enjoyable throughout. Thanks to the guide, we were able to keep going until the end without losing motivation, and I learned a lot. The greenery after the rain was vibrant and beautiful. Hokkaido has a lot of nature, but this place had a completely different charm. I think the scenery is worth the 22-kilometer round trip.

私を含めた女性5人のグループにベテランガイドさんがついてくださって、スタートしてからは雨のお天気でしたが、身になるお話をたくさんしてくださり、そしてジョークも織り交ぜで終始楽しく歩くことができました。ガイドさんがいてくださったおかげで、最後までくじけず歩くことができましたし、とても勉強になりました。雨が降った後の緑はとても生き生きとしていて素晴らしかったです。北海道にも自然はおおくありますが、全く違った良さがありました。往復22キロあるいてでも見るべき景色かと思います。

I spent a day at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) on a bus tour from Tochigi Prefecture, and on the next free day, I participated in a sightseeing tour of Kyoto with Shinki Bus.

I arrived at the meeting place an hour early in the morning. The guide was already waiting and kindly asked if I was there for the tour, which put me at ease. The bus was very noticeable with large letters spelling "LIMON" on a yellow background.

The first sightseeing spot, Fushimi Inari, was very crowded from the morning, but the guides, wearing yellow happi coats and holding flags, stood out well. The bus was equipped with USB jacks and Wi-Fi, which was helpful.

I thought it was nice to have many foreign participants this time.

栃木県から別のバスツアーで、USJで1日過ごし、次のフリー日に、神姫バスツアーで京都観光に参加。
　朝、1時間前に集合場所に到着した。すでにガイドさんも待機され、気さくに観光参加ですか？と声をかけられ、こちらも安心。
バスは、黄色の地に大きな文字でLIMONと書いてあり目立ちました。
　観光1箇所目の、伏見稲荷は、朝から大変混雑、しかし誘導は、黄色のはっぴに旗でやはり大変目立った。
バス車内は、USBジャックとWi-Fi装備で助かりました。
　外人さんの参加が、多くたまにはいいかなって、思いました。

It has been 15 years since my last visit to Okinawa. I wanted to visit famous spots like Churaumi Aquarium, but I thought it wouldn't be cost-effective to rent a car for a solo trip or transfer by bus to the northern part of the island. While searching for tours, I discovered this one. I was a bit worried because the tour price was low and included admission tickets, but after participating, I found myself thinking, "Is this price really okay?" within about 30 minutes, as it turned out to be an amazing tour.

I have participated in various tours both domestically and internationally, but the smile of our bus guide, Naruemi, was wonderful, and the driving of our driver, Kinjo, who was introduced as resembling Ken Shimura, was very careful and comfortable. You could feel the effort and hospitality to keep participants engaged from start to finish. I would highly recommend this tour for first-time visitors to Okinawa.

Thanks to this tour, I had a very enjoyable day!

The current situation regarding the Okinawa base issue, which people from the mainland tend to approach cautiously, was educational, especially with the Uchināguchi (Okinawan dialect) class and cultural customs that felt like a social studies field trip. We also did dance stretches to Okinawan songs. The guide's quick costume change for the sweet potato girl dance was delightful. Even as a solo participant, I had a lot of fun.

However, I do have a couple of suggestions for improvement.

- Regarding meals at Churaumi Aquarium: Since I participated in a tour during a holiday period, we had free time for lunch at the aquarium, but there were very few restaurants, and it was extremely crowded. I had to wait about 20 minutes to place an order, which made it difficult to enjoy a leisurely meal, and I hardly had any time to explore the aquarium. I felt that for tours during holiday periods, it would be better to include a stop at a recommended steak restaurant for an additional fee, or if bringing food and drinks into Ocean Expo Park were allowed, an announcement in advance would have been appreciated.

- About the Okashi Goten (Sweet Shop): While it was nice to see the production process, I felt that since there is a location on Kokusai Street, it might not be necessary to go out of the way for it. Instead of visiting Okashi Goten, I would have preferred to arrive at Ryukyu Village a bit earlier or have time to visit Kouri Tower on Kouri Island.

After returning to the mainland, I happened to hear "Yui Yui," and it brought back memories of the bus tour, making me smile a little.

This was a great tour for those who want to focus solely on visiting the famous spots in Okinawa.

15年ぶりの沖縄。美ら海等の名所には行きたいけれど一人旅に
わざわざレンタカーを借りたり、バスを乗り継いで北部まで行くのは
費用対効果が合わないなとツアー検索していたところ、こちらのツアーを発見。
入場券込でツアー料金も安価なので心配はありましたが、参加して30分ほどで
別の意味で「この価格で大丈夫?」と思ってしまうほど、最高のツアーでした。

国内外様々なツアーに参加してきましたが根路銘バスガイドさんの笑顔が素敵で
志村けんさん似と紹介されていた金城運転手さんの運転はとても丁寧で乗り心地良くて
最初から最後まで参加者を飽きさせない工夫・おもてなしの心が感じられ
初めて沖縄へ行く方にはお勧めしたくなるツアーでした。

おかげざまでとても楽しい一日になりました!

内地の人間が話題に出すのも慎重になる沖縄基地問題の現状、
うちなーぐち(沖縄弁)講座や風習は社会科見学のようで勉強になりました。
また沖縄の歌に合わせたダンス・ストレッチ。
ガイドさんの早着替えでの紅芋娘の踊り。一人参加でも、すごく楽しかったです。

ただ2つほど、改善要望もあります。

・美ら海水族館での食事について
連休時期のツアー参加だったため、美ら海水族館で自由に昼食をとるのですが
レストランの数が少なく、とてつもなく混雑。注文に20分待ち等でゆっくり
食事ができず、館内もほとんど見る時間が取れなかったので
連休時期のツアー時は別料金加算でも良いのでお勧めステーキレストラン立ち寄り、
もしくは海洋博公園に飲食物持ち込みOKであれば、事前に持参等のアナウンス
対応があれば良かったなと感じました。

・お菓子御殿について
製造工程が見られたのは良かったのですが・・・
国際通りにもあるのでわざわざ行かなくてもいいかなと感じました。
お菓子御殿に行く代わりに琉球村にもう少し早く到着、もしくは古宇利島で
せっかくなら古宇利タワーにも行く時間等が欲しかったなと感じました。

内地に戻ってきて、たまたま「ゆいゆい」を耳にしたとき
バスでのことを思い出し、少し頬が緩みました。

沖縄の名所だけ集中してまわりたい方にはおすすめの良いツアーでした。

Our customized tour with Fuji-san was amazing, as we had only one full day in Kyoto I was worried we wouldn't get to see everything. Not only did we do everything we had on our list, but he took special interest in showing us things for our young children (ages 3 and almost 6) that we hadn't considered doing, such as the Toei Movie studios lot. My son LOVES Power Rangers, it was the highlight of his trip, and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the female heroine of the samurai show. He suggested a better order of doing things, so that we could see certain sights before they became too crowded. When we admired the view of Kyoto from the mountainside, he took us to a nearby temple with panoramic views of the city. He knew great spots for taking the best photos, and where to eat. He was kind and patient with our rambunctious children, and explained the history and meaning behind EVERYTHING, from the statues to the temple bells. In addition, the van we rented was spacious, comfortable, and impeccably clean. I would definitely book with VELTRA again, and would give Fuji-san the highest rating possible for his knowledge, patience, sweet demeanor and excellent English. Thank you Fuji-san for an unforgettable day!

We were picked up by our guide at around 4:30 AM at our accommodation and headed to the entrance of Shiratani Unsuikyo. Along with the two of us, there were five others in our group, making a total of seven participants.

Since we started in complete darkness with headlamps, we couldn't enjoy the scenery at all. About 1.5 hours into the hike, when we stopped for breakfast at a mountain hut, it finally became bright enough to see our surroundings.

We passed through the mossy forest that inspired "Princess Mononoke," jumped at Taiko Rock, and enjoyed our lunch at the Wilson Cedar stump.

Once we reached the trolley path, it became monotonous and very boring.

The Jomon Cedar was truly magnificent, but we could only view it from a wooden deck under construction, so we couldn't get as close as I had hoped. Even taking photos from a distance didn't convey the impressive scale.

I understand it's for protection, but honestly, I wish we could have gotten a bit closer.

Also, I think the course that covers both Shiratani Unsuikyo and Jomon Cedar in one day would be tough for those who don't usually exercise. There was someone in our group who seemed to be in pain with their knees.

There were many rocky areas, and the stairs had significant height differences, putting a lot of strain on the knees.

On the way back, while some people took a shortcut on the trolley path to catch a bus, we decided to follow our guide back via the mountain-crossing Unsuikyo route. It took about 1.5 hours longer than taking the bus, but I was glad we did it because I wanted to see the Unsuikyo scenery in the daylight.

If you exercise regularly, as long as you go at your own pace, it shouldn't be too tough.

ガイドさんに朝4:30頃に宿でピックアップしてもらい、白谷雲水峡の入り口へ。
私達2名の他に、グループで参加している人たち5名と合わせて7名での行動。

白谷雲水峡は真っ暗な中ヘッドライト装着での進行のため景色は一切楽しめず。
スタートして1.5時間後ほど経ち、山小屋で朝食をとるころにようやくまわりが見えるくらいに明るくなる。

もののけ姫の題材となった苔むす森を通ったり、太鼓岩でジャンプしたり楽しみながらウィルソン杉の切り株のところで昼食。

トロッコ道になってから単調で非常に退屈。

縄文杉はとても偉大だったけど、作成途中の木製デッキの上から眺めるだけで
おもったよりも近づけなかった。遠目に写真をとってもイマイチ迫力は伝わってこない。

保護のために仕方ないのだろうけど、もう少し近づけたらよかったなぁ、、というのが正直な感想。

また、普段運動していない人にはこの白谷雲水峡と縄文杉を一日で周るコースは辛いと思います。グループ内でも膝を痛そうにしている人がいました。

岩場が多く、階段も段差が大きいので膝への負担が大きいです。


帰りはトロッコ道からショートカットしてバスに乗って帰る人もいるなか、
私たちはガイドさんについて行って山越え雲水峡ルートで帰ることに。
バスで帰るより1.5時間くらい時間はかかるが、
雲水峡の景色を明るい中で見たかったので行ってよかった。

普段から運動をしていれば、マイペースで進む限り辛くはありません。

This tour was very interesting! As we were without a car in Okinawa, with this tour we were able to visit most of Okinawa's famous spots especially Churaumi aquarium and had traditional Okinawan lunch for a very reasonable price, considering the fact that the normal admission fee for the aquarium is around 3000 yen. Moreover, on each stop we received small presents from the tour guide, which is very pleasing! Also there was an English audio guide so we have learned some of interesting facts about Okinawa.
Overall this tour was very good and well organized, everything on time and the tour guide and bus driver were very kind! we have brought our own stroller and the driver was taking it out and folding it back on every stop, for what we are very thankful!
I definitely recommend this tour!

I was able to smoothly explore a dream world that is completely different from my everyday life. The mangrove cruise was very cold, but everything was beautiful, from the water buffalo cart to the scenery of Yufu Island and the charming streets of Taketomi Island. The bus driver during the transfers was also very entertaining, and I was able to see a crested serpent eagle. For those who want to take their time to see each attraction, it might feel a bit rushed, but I think it's a tour that is packed with experiences that don't feel short at all.

自分が普段生活しているところと全く違った 夢の世界を、段取りよく廻らせてもらうことができました。
マングローブクルーズは非常に寒かったんですが、水牛車といい、由布島の景色といい、竹富島の可愛らしい街並みといい、全てが美しかったです。
途中移動のバスの運転手さんもとても面白かったですし、カンムリワシも見ることができました。
それぞれをゆっくり見たい人には物足りないかもしれませんが、短時間と思えないほど 満載のツアーだと思います。

We did not find Fuji but instead Taiji our guide who has helped to turn bad weather into an interesting trip. We visited the Kimono museum, traditional Japanese noodles house with fresh organic ingredient from the farm (and Horse Sushi I know!) and end the trip with shopping spree in Gotemba before being dropped off at the hotel. Special thanks for extra Japanese vocab and help with contact in Kyoto.

Levin, our tour guide was excellent. He was friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable throughout the trip. He made made the day a total delight.

It is completely commercialized, and while the cows, which were imported from Taiwan, are carefully raised and trained for tourism, I found the driver of the cow shed who honestly explained everything to be likable. Hearing about how they work together as companions while sharing meals and living together gave me a different feeling when I got off the ride.

完全に観光化されたものであり、台湾から輸入した牛を大切に育て観光用に教育したものではあるが、返って正直に説明してくださる牛舎車の運転手に好感が持て、寝食一緒に仲間として働いているという話を乗車中に聞いて下車するときには違う感情で見れた。

Our group consisted four adults including two 6'3 250 lb guys. Our driver, Fuji, was an absolute pleasure; well spoken, well prepared, insightful and courteous. We were picked up in a Toyota Century - a $100,000 luxury sedan. As a car enthusiast this was a delight as it's something we don't get stateside and the only V12 made by Toyota (outside of Formula 1!). We were very comfortable in the car. I had written up a plan of sites to see, Fuji commented on each location and we pared it down to 6 chosen locations.

What we saw in our 6 hour tour was easily 2 days worth of content. We started the day at Kennin-ji to see the dragon and walk the grounds, then headed towards Arashiyama via Uzumasa (Fuji recommended). In Arashiyama we saw the Tenryu-ji temple then walked along the Bamboo Forest road, we split for the monkeys and an owl cafe. Then took in the Katsura River and the general beautiful scenery with some shopping and headed for Kinkaku-Ji by way of Ninna-ji. Then we went to Fuji's secret overview spot with a glass tea house. From there we walked the 1001 Buddha statues in Sanjusangendo where Fuji gave history lessons on the deities, the religious text/background and archery competition famous to the area. Finally we were dropped off in Gion to walk Shirakawa-Minami Dori and observe the geisha and folks in costume with the beautiful scenery.

Fuji's insightful comments to each site were well appreciated, his VIP treatment with drop off/pick up was a boon for our more handicap party members and the ability to adjust the tour (bathroom, food, etc.) was well worth the extra expense over a comparable tour bus. His suggested locations and activities gave us a behind the scenes look in Kyoto as well as the typical iconography in the area. We will happily use this service again in our next trip.

For a group of 3 or more individuals this type of tour makes good financial sense and the convenience over a tour bus or larger grouped setting is invaluable.

After the tour departed, we received a call from a passenger who was late, and we waited at the meeting point in Namba. Although the regulations clearly state that this would be considered abandonment of the tour, perhaps due to the kindness of the tour guide, we waited for 27 minutes and started late.

There was no booing from the other passengers, including families with children, and the mood was quite pleasant as we set off. Many of the tour participants were foreigners, and languages like English and Tagalog were being spoken on the bus, creating an exotic atmosphere that felt like we were traveling abroad.

The three spots on the course had changed completely from my visit several decades ago, allowing for a refreshing sightseeing experience. Although the schedule became a bit tight to recover from the late start, there was no sense of urgency, and we had enough time to enjoy the sights.

However, on the way back, we encountered a major incident on the highway, resulting in a significant traffic jam. The tour guide was visibly stressed as the vehicle had another schedule to adhere to. I had reserved a Shinkansen ticket for two hours after the tour ended, but due to the delay, I had to run to catch the train at the platform, just making it to the rear boarding gate safely.

This will likely become a memorable part of my enjoyable trip. I rated my experience as "average" because while the delays in departure and return were not the travel company's fault, I believe that if the tour guide had checked the post-tour schedules of the current passengers and provided appropriate advice rather than focusing on adjusting the next tour, it could have earned a "highest" rating.

(Please understand that I am not criticizing the tour guide's response; I am simply sharing the perspective of a passenger who was anxiously checking the time on the bus.)

ツアー発車後乗り遅れた客から連絡、難波の集合場所で待機、規定では前途放棄とみなすと明記してあるも、添乗員さんの優しさか、待つこと27分、遅れてのスタートでした。
遅れてきた子供連れファミリーにブーイングもなく和やかなムードでの出発となりました。
ツアー客は外国人の方が多く、英語、タガログ語などが社内で飛び交い、エキゾチックな雰囲気でまるで外国旅行をしているようなムードでした。
コースの３スポットは数十年前の訪問時とは全くイメージが変わっており、新鮮な気持ちで観光できました。
遅れたスタートのスケジュール回復のため、若干タイトな行程となりましたが、時間的にはそんなに切迫感もなく、十分拝観することが出来ました。
ところが帰路ハップニング、高速道路で事故があっており、大渋滞に巻き込まれてしまいました。当該車両は次のスケジュールもあり添乗員さんはその対応に大変な様子でした。
私は少し余裕をみてツアー終了後2時間の新幹線を予約していましたが、ツアーの遅れで新幹線ホームで走りやっと後尾の乗降口でセーフとなりました。
これも楽しい旅の思い出になりそうです。
体験談での評価を「普通」とさせていただいたのは、出発遅れや帰着遅れは決して旅行会社のせいではありませんが、バスの次ツアーの調整よりも、現ツアー客のツアー後のスケジュールを確認し、適切なアドバイスを頂けたら「最高」の評価になったと思います。
（決して添乗員さんの対応を非難しているわけでなく、車内で時計をみながらやきもきしていた一乗客の意見として拝読いただければ幸甚です。）