Thank you for choosing our Around Japan in a Half Day Tour on June 7. We welcomed 3 guests from Canada and USA. I hope you all enjoyed the tour and had interesting conversations with us. Group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the good times we had.
Japan is made up of four main islands and 47 prefectures. Popular routes often include destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Takayama. However, the country offers countless other fascinating places to explore.
One such hidden gem is Nagasaki, a city with a rich history as Japan’s gateway to the world. In ancient times, it served as a hub for trade with China and Korea. During the Edo period, when Japan largely closed its borders, Nagasaki remained the only port open to Dutch and Portuguese merchants. As a result, the city developed a distinctive blend of Japanese, Chinese, and Western cultures.
This cultural blend is especially visible in Nagasaki’s vibrant festivals. The Lantern Festival (top photo), based on the Chinese New Year, lights up the city with around 15,000 colorful lanterns. In August, the Spirit Boat Procession (Shōrō Nagashi) is held during Obon, a Japanese tradition to honor ancestors. Beautiful handmade boats, crafted by local artisans, are paraded through the streets with prayers for the spirits to reach the afterlife peacefully.
In our “Around Japan in a Half Day Tour,” we explore Nihonbashi, Tokyo’s historic commercial district since the Edo era, and discover the culture of Japan’s lesser-known regions. Our guide shares stories about local traditions, and we visit antenna shops—stores operated by regional governments.
Today, we visited shops from Nagasaki, Toyama, and Fukushima, browsing beautiful lacquerware, ironware, and unique local foods. Guests enjoyed seeing elegant Japanese crafts shaped by centuries of regional history, and even sampled famous sake from Fukushima. By joining this tour, can catch a glimpse of the hidden charm of regional Japan—places that many foreign visitors never get to see.
