All Reviews for Japan Winter Tours 2025

This is the best tour because you can visit both Takayama and Shirakawa-go in one day. The bus guide's commentary is kept to a minimum. While this may be a matter of personal preference, I had no issues with that style. There was also plenty of time at each location.

高山・白川郷の両方を1日で回れるという意味で、最高のツアーです。バスガイドの案内も必要最小限です。これは好みが分かれるとは思いますが、自分はそのスタイルで問題なかったです。各地の時間も十分にありました。

Fortunately, I was able to meet a lot of people. It was a bit far, but I was able to see a lot.
I recommend filming videos, but if you're not very skilled with a camera, it's better to leave it to the professionals and focus on enjoying the experience.
I thought I would see more during the winter, but I heard that in March, towards the end of the season, you can encounter quite a bit.
It's essential to have significant measures against seasickness. Just taking motion sickness medication is not enough, and I felt sorry for my son who came with me. I think the adults managed their own measures, but it was quite chaotic.
However, despite that discomfort, I'm glad I was able to see it!

幸いなことに、たくさん出会えることができました。少し遠かったのは残念でしたが、いっぱい見れました。
動画撮影はおすすめですが、カメラは余程の腕がない方は、もうプロにお任せして、見ることに専念する方が良いです(^^)v
冬の時期の方が見れるかと思いましたが、シーズン終わりかけの3月は結構遭遇できるとのことです。
かなりかなりの船酔い対策は必須です。酔い止めだけでは難しく、一緒に行った息子にはかわいそうなことをしました。大人の方もそれなりに対策されたと思いますが、バタバタと。。
ただ、その苦痛があっても見れて良かったです！！

The guidance and explanations provided by our tour guide, Mr. Kuroda, were very clear and left a positive impression. I am very grateful for the information about the post office in Shirakawa-go. By the way, the post office stamp was from the "World Heritage Hida Shirakawa-go Hatogaya Post Office." For someone like me who collects stamps in a passbook, it became a wonderful keepsake. Additionally, the driver was very cautious, allowing us to enjoy the tour with peace of mind. Thank you very much.

添乗員の黒田さんの案内と説明、非常に分かりやすく好感が持たれました。
白川郷で郵便局をお教えいただいたこと、大変感謝しております。
ちなみに局のハンコは「世界遺産飛騨白川郷鳩谷郵便局」でした。郵便局の通帳にスタンプを集めている私にとっては、非常に良い記念になりました。
また、ドライバーさんも慎重な運転で安心してツアーを楽しめました。
有難うございました。

It was my first tour of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. I wanted to see the snowy scenery of Shirakawa-go, but it was disappointing that there was hardly any snow. However, following the guide's recommendations, I was able to take the best photos. The souvenirs were also very well received. If I have the opportunity to go again, I definitely want to join the tour. I would also like to recommend it to my friends.

初めての白川郷、五箇山ツアーでした。
雪景色の白川郷を見たかったのですが、ほとんど雪がなく残念ではありましたが、ガイドさんのおすすめ情報に従い、ベストな写真が取れました。
お土産も大好評でした。
次回も行く機会があればぜひツアーに参加したいと思います。
友達にも薦めたいと思います。

The view of the ship's bow breaking through the ice was amazing! The weather was great, and it was the best experience! The ship was also comfortable. It was an experience I would want to participate in again.

船の先端が氷を砕いて進む景色は最高でした！天気もよく最高の経験ができました！船も快適でした。また参加したくなる経験でしたよ。

I finally got to visit Shirakawa-go, a dream I've had for many years. The guide immediately lifted the atmosphere on the bus with their lively chatter and fluent English, making the long journey feel quick and enjoyable. They shared many hidden gems and interesting facts, allowing us to have an unexpectedly wonderful time in Shirakawa-go! I believe the guide, Mr. Kuroda, played a significant role in this experience! Thank you very much.

長年の夢だった白川郷にやっと行くことができました。ガイドさんは出発と同時に軽快なお喋りと流暢な英語でバスの雰囲気を一気に上げてくださり長い移動も全く苦にならずあっという間の時間でした。
穴場スポットや豆知識をたくさん話してくださり、白川郷でも想像以上の楽しい時間を過ごすことができました！ガイドの黒田さんの力は大きかったと思います！！ありがとうございました。

I've visited Okinawa many times, but I had never experienced this before, so this time I signed up for this tour with hotel pick-up in Naha City!

I was worried because it was raining in the afternoon, but by the time we set sail, it was beautifully sunny, with no wind and calm waves, so I had no worries about seasickness at all!

In the first half of the tour, we didn't see any whales at all, and just when I was starting to give up, we spotted a blow (spout) in the distance, and thanks to the captain chasing it at full speed, we were able to see it up close!

I didn't get to see it jump dramatically, but just encountering it was moving!

According to the guide, we were able to see six whales. They all looked the same to me, but I learned that the patterns on their tails are different!

It was a great experience!

何度も訪れている沖縄
一度も体験したことがなかったので、今回那覇市内ホテル送迎付きでこちらのツアーに申し込みしました！

午後便で、雨が降ったりで心配でしたが、出航時には見事に晴れて、風もなく波も穏やかで、船酔いの心配は全くありませんでした！

ツアー前半は全くクジラの姿がなく、少し諦めてた矢先、ブロー(潮吹き)が遠くの方で見えて、船長が全速力で追いかけてくれたおかげで、近くで見ることが出来ました！

豪快にジャンプする姿は見れませんでしたが、遭遇出来ただけでも感動しました！

ガイドさん曰く、6頭ものクジラに会えたそう
私には全てが同じに見えましたが、尾びれの模様が違うことを教えてくれました！

いい経験になりました！

I was glad to experience various recommendations from the tour guide. Also, if I have time at my travel destination, I would like to use them again. The bus tour in Hawaii that I went on last time was also great.

添乗員さんのお勧めを、いろいろ体験出来て良かったです。また、旅行先で、時間があれば、利用したいです。前回行った、ハワイのバスツアーも、良かっです。

The tour guide's explanations were very clear, and they provided great insider information, which was really nice. They also explained things in English, so I think it's good for international visitors as well.

添乗員さんの説明が、とても分かりやすく、穴場情報も教えてもらい
とてもよかったです。英語でも説明してくれてたので、海外の方にもいいと思います。

It included highlights such as Kitahama Station right by the sea and Notoro Cape, which is beautifully colored by the sunset, making it so full of attractions that there wasn't enough time to see everything. Since I don't have a driver's license, I think I wouldn't have been able to see it all in just one day if I hadn't joined a tour. I highly recommend it. For lunch, I suggest grilled fish instead of seafood rice bowl.

海のすぐ傍の北浜駅や夕焼けに染まる能取岬まで含まれていて、見どころが満載過ぎて、見学の時間が足りないくらいでした。
免許を持っていないので、ツアーに参加しなかったらとても１日では見きれなかったと思います。おススメです。
お昼は海鮮丼ではなく、焼き魚をお勧めします。

The guide had extensive knowledge of hidden photography spots and recommended souvenirs, providing unique explanations filled with humor that made the trip enjoyable. Additionally, the service was excellent, as the guide also provided explanations in English for foreign tourists.

撮影ポイントの穴場やお勧めのお土産などの
知識が豊富なうえ、冗談を交えたユニークな説明をされ楽しい旅を満喫できました。また、外国人観光客のために英語でも説明されるなど接客が素晴らしくガイドさんでした。

The explanations during the car ride were helpful. They distributed maps and were very responsive to individual questions at that time, which was great. It was nice to be able to go around without wasting any time.

車中での解説が役に立った
地図を配布してくれたが、その時にも個別の質問に答えてくれたり対応が凄くよかった
無駄な時間がなく回れるのがよかった

Although it was a last-minute reservation on the morning of the day, they handled it smoothly, and I was able to experience the long-awaited whale watching. I had some concerns about participating with three small children, but they were very considerate, allowing both adults and children to enjoy it with peace of mind. We were able to see many whales safely, making it a very valuable experience. My family and I are discussing that if we have the opportunity to go to Okinawa during this season again, whale watching is a must! We would like to rely on them again at that time.

当日朝の急な予約でしたが、スムーズに対応していただき、念願のホエールウォッチングを体験することができました。
小さい子供3人連れての参加でいろいろと不安はありましたが、いろいろと配慮していただき、大人も子供も安心して楽しむことができて良かったです。
無事にたくさんのクジラ達に会うことができ、とても貴重な体験になりました。
今後もこの時期に沖縄に行く機会があれば、ホエールウォッチングは外せないね！と家族で話しています。
その際にはまたお世話になりたいと思います。

On March 8, 2023, I was taken from a hotel in Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, and then dropped off at Kanazawa Station. The driver was very enthusiastic in explaining each location. The weather that day was great, and there was hardly any snow or traffic, so we returned to Kanazawa much earlier than expected. Because of this, we were also able to visit Higashichaya District and Utasu Shrine, which were not part of the original plan. Next time I visit, I plan to request driver Jiroma.

2023年3/8に金沢のホテルから白川郷、五箇山を廻り金沢駅まで送って頂くコースでお世話になりました。お世話になりました。運転手さんはとても熱心に各場所の説明をして頂きました。当日はとても天気が良く雪もほぼ積もっていなかったのと渋滞もなかったので思いもほか早く金沢まで戻って来れたので予定には無かった東茶屋街と宇多須神社にも連れて行ってもらえました。また伺った際には運転手の次郎間さんご指名でお願いしようと思います。

The staff were very kind and explained everything well. They also took care of my child when he got sick, and I really appreciate that.

As for the whale watching, we were able to see the pectoral fins and tails coming out of the water, and they came quite close to us, which was an impressive experience. I would like to try again when the waves are calmer.

スタッフのみなさん。とても親切に説明してくださいました。また子供が吐いてしまった時も親身になって対応してくださいました。その節はありがとうございます。
ホエールウォッチングのほうは胸ビレや尾びれなど水面に出してくれて近くまで寄ってきてくれてとても迫力がある場面に出会うことができました。波の穏やかな時にもう一度挑戦したいと思います。

Was it the snowy Shirakawa-go at this timing? Or the fresh green Shirakawa-go? There was a possibility of being caught in between, but it turned out to be a very good timing.

With the snow from a few days prior still remaining, we were able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery under warm, sunny skies with no wind on the day of our visit.

It was my first time seeing the gassho-zukuri houses, and I made various discoveries that were quite enjoyable. Although these buildings are now recognized as a World Heritage site, they were originally ordinary homes rooted in daily life. To us, they may seem unusual, but you can sense the daily activities and ingenuity of life within them, which evokes something special. I believe they are definitely worth seeing.

The tour also had a relaxed schedule for a day trip from Kanazawa Station, making it easy to participate and enjoy casually. There was plenty of time, including for meals, and the time allocation was just right. The tour guide and the driver shared various stories along the way, so we were never bored.

I thought it would be wonderful to join again in the fall.

このタイミング、雪の白川郷か？新緑の白川郷か？どっちつかずの状態もあり得ましたが、非常に良いタイミングでした。
数日前の雪が残った状態で、当日は晴天無風の暖かな日差しの中、絶景を堪能する事が出来ました。
初めて合掌作り家々を拝見しましたが、色々な発見があって良かったです。今は世界遺産として認定されている特別な建物ですが、本来は生活に根差した普通の家屋だった筈です。我々にとっては異様な風体ですが、日々の営みと生活の工夫が見え隠れして、何か感じるものがあります。一見お価値ありだと思います。
ツアーも金沢駅からの日帰りで余裕を持ったスケジュールなので、気軽に参加し、カジュアルに過ごせる事が出来ると思います。食事も含め、時間は十分。過不足の無い時間配分でした。ツアーガイドの方、ドライバーさんに至っても、道中色々とお話をして下さり、退屈しません。
次回は秋に参加出来たら最高だと思いました。

Great one day excursion in Abashiri; including the Aurora icebreaker and the Kangoku Prison. The tour guide lady is very professional. The seafood lunch is good. I would highly recommend this one-day trip.

Great one day excursion in Abashiri ; including Aurora ice breaker and the Kangoku Prison. The tour guide lady is very professional. The seafood lunch is good. I would highly recommend this one-day trip.

I was able to capture the almost deserted snowy landscape of Shirakawa-go early in the morning, and the recommended spots by the guide were truly wonderful.

Gokayama was also a place I would never have visited without the tour, but compared to Shirakawa-go, it was less crowded and quiet, and I genuinely felt glad to have gone there.

The guide and the lunch were almost all fantastic, but there was one point. The view of several gassho-zukuri buildings and the village was mostly visible only from the "left side" of the bus, and those of us sitting on the right side couldn't see anything while the bus was moving, which felt unfair since we all paid the same amount.

I would like to see some arrangements for seat exchanges or free seating on the tour bus.

白川郷には朝早くほぼ誰もいない雪景色を写真に収めることが出来たし、ガイドさんのオススメスポットは本当に素晴らしかった。
五箇山も、ツアーでなければ絶対行かない場所だが、白川郷に比べ人も少なく静かで行けて良かったと心から思えた場所だった。
ガイドさん、ランチのお食事、ほぼ全て素晴らしかったのだが1点。
合掌造りの建物数件、集落などバスからの眺めがほぼ全て「左側」の車窓からしか見えず、私含む右側席の人々は走行中立って見ることもできず、同じお金を払っているのに不公平に感じた。

ツアーバスの座席交換や自由席などのを工夫をして欲しい。

This year, it seems that it was warm with little snow, and the drift ice was hard to see. The day before, there was no drift ice... However! On the day of the ride, we were able to see plenty of drift ice! I definitely want you to experience the thrilling atmosphere! When it was cold, we could go inside and then come back outside, so it wasn't a problem to not dress too warmly. We visited many places, so it was a bit tight on time and busy, but it was truly a fulfilling and enjoyable tour!

今年は暖かく雪が少なかったようで、流氷も中々見れなかったそうです。
前日は流氷なし…
しかし！乗車当日はバッチリ流氷が見れました！
迫力のある臨場感を是非体験してほしいです！
寒いときは室内に入り、また外に出るようにすれば
そこまで防寒しなくても問題なかったです。
たくさんの場所を巡るので時間パツパツで忙しかったですが、本当に充実した楽しいツアーでした！

Handmade Senbei Experience
I baked senbei for the first time.
It was done in no time!
It was delicious.

手焼きせんべい体験
初めて　お煎餅を焼きました
あっという間にできるんですね
美味しかったです

It’s common for tours to have limited time at each stop, and I felt rushed while choosing souvenirs.

However, I think it was because the itinerary was so packed with activities.

We got to see the drift ice, and the weather was great, making the final stop at Cape Notoro the highlight of the trip. After researching, I found that it’s difficult to reach the cape by public transportation, so I felt that participating in the tour was definitely worth it.

On a side note, I also made friends on the Aurora ship, so I’m very satisfied.

ツアーにありがちですが、それぞれの滞在時間がわずかで、お土産も焦りながら選びました。

ただ、それだけ盛りだくさんな内容にしていただいたからだと思います。

流氷も会えたし、天気にも恵まれたため、最後の能取岬が最高でした。後から調べたら、岬へは公共交通機関では行きづらく、それだけでもツアーに参加した価値があるなと思いました。

ついでに言うと、オーロラ号の上でお友達もできたので、大満足です。

We departed from sunny Kanazawa, and after passing through the tunnel, we were greeted by an overwhelming snowy landscape. The sight of thatched-roof villages standing still in the deep mountains, surrounded by gently falling snow, was truly breathtaking. It was a perfect representation of a secluded mountain valley. I was very grateful for the driver's kindness in providing various information. I was completely satisfied!

快晴の金沢を出発、トンネルを抜けると圧倒的な雪景色。深い山奥、しんしんと降る雪の中に佇む茅葺き屋根の集落の佇まいは圧巻でした。まさに深山幽谷の景色。運転手さんが親切に色々ご案内してくださってとてもありがたかったです。大満足！

I was worried about what would happen since I received an email about a bus change the day before, but on the day of the trip, it was a full-sized bus with all seats taken! The guide provided explanations in both Japanese and English, and since they go to Shirakawa-go every day, there was a lot of fresh information included.

前日にバスのチェンジのメールが来たのでどうなるのかと心配しましたが
当日は大型バスで満席でした！
ガイドさんの説明は日本語・英語で行われましたが
毎日白川郷へ行かれているとかで、
新鮮な情報がたくさん織り込まれていました

I wanted to see Shirakawa-go covered in snow, but I was anxious about driving on snowy roads, so I joined a bus tour. The guide was fluent in English, and the timing and content of the highlights shared during the ride created a wonderful atmosphere, making the journey very enjoyable.

At Shirakawa-go, I was able to see beautiful scenery at the points recommended by the guide, and the meal was delicious. The driver was very reassuring, and I ended up sleeping soundly on the way back. Thank you for a fun and valuable experience.

雪の積もる白川郷を見てみたかったものの、自分で雪道を運転していくのは不安だったのでバスツアーに参加しました。
ガイドさんは英語も堪能で、車内での見どころ案内などの内容やタイミングもとても雰囲気が良くて道中ほっこり楽しませていただきました。

白川郷現地ではガイドさんにおすすめしていただいたポイントでとても綺麗な景色を見ることができ、お食事も美味しかったです。
運転手さんもとても安心できる運転で帰り道は熟睡してしまいました。
楽しくて貴重な経験をありがとうございました。

Mr. Hayashi, who was in charge, listened to my requests as someone who enjoys photography and allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted. I am very grateful for the flexible support.

担当していただいた林さんが、カメラが趣味の私の要望を最大限聞いていただき、撮りたい写真を思う存分撮ることができました。
臨機応変な対応に大感謝です。

My long-held dream of "actually seeing the drift ice" has come true! I boarded the Aurora and was able to see the drift ice up close. What surprised me positively was the sightseeing train, the Drift Ice Train. At Cape Notoro, I experienced a wonderful collaboration between the remote land and the drift ice.

かねてからの夢である「流氷を実際にみる」が叶いました！オーロラ号に乗船して至近距離で流氷が見られました。思ったより良かったのは、観光列車流氷号の列車でした。能取岬では、最果ての地と流氷の絶妙なバランスでのコラボを体験できました。

The snow remained, the weather was clear, and everything was sparkling, making it great for photos. The bus guide shared stories both on the way there and back, so the travel didn't feel long. I recommend this tour.

雪が残り、天気が晴れて全てがビカピカ光っていて、とても写真映えが良かったです。
行きも帰りもバスガイドさんが話があり、移動が長く感じなかったです。オススメするツアーです。

First of all, I would like to thank the guide. Thank you for the clear explanations! I was very satisfied to finally visit Shirakawa-go. Although the weather was warm and there wasn't a lot of snow, I had a great time exploring!

ガイドさんにまずはお礼します。
わかりやすく説明してくれてありがとうございます！
念願の白川郷に行けて大満足です。
天気が暖かく雪がいっぱいあるわけでもなかったですが
大変楽しく回れました！

The day after the snowfall was clear and sunny. We were fortunate with the weather and were able to see the white Shirakawa-go. Half of the participants were international guests, and I think they really enjoyed the beautiful Shirakawa-go. The tour guide, Mr. Kuroda, provided clear explanations and pointed out less crowded photo spots, allowing us to take great pictures.

In Hida Takayama, we had more than enough time to relax and enjoy coffee. The Mitarashi dango, with its soy sauce glaze, is not sweet and is unique to Hida Takayama. The Hida beef sushi was popular, and there was a line for it. The experience of making rice crackers was also enjoyable for the international guests. It was an interesting service for buying souvenirs.

I had a lot of fun, but I deducted one star because the lunch was just okay. The grilled Hida beef wrapped in magnolia leaves was delicious, but the rest was rather average.

前日の雪から晴天の当日。お天気に恵まれて雪の白川郷を見ることができました。
参加者の半分が海外からのお客様。絶好の白川郷を楽しんでもらえたと思います。
添乗員の黒田さんの説明もわかりやすく、観光客が少ない映えスポットもおしえてもらって、良い写真が撮れました。

飛騨高山では、十分過ぎる滞在時間で、ゆっくりコーヒーが飲めました。みたらし団子がお醤油たれで甘くなく飛騨高山独特のものです。飛騨牛のお寿司は人気で行列ができていました。
お煎餅焼き体験も海外の人に楽しんでもらえます。お土産を買ってもらうサービスとして面白いです。

とても楽しかったけど、星がひとつ減ったのは、ランチがもう一つ。飛騨牛2切れの朴葉味噌焼きは美味しかったけど、他はまあこんなものかという感じでした。

I had a fun and fulfilling day visiting the World Heritage sites of Shirakawa-go and Takayama. There were many foreign visitors, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Since it's a challenging journey to do on your own, I recommend taking a tour.

世界遺産の白川郷と飛騨高山も行けて1日が楽しく充実しました。
外国人の方が多かったですが、喜んでしました。
個人で行くのが難しい道のりなのでツアーがおすすめです。