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WaWo Japan Tours

ホーム
日本
Minato-ku, Tokyo
WaWo Japan Tours

We are a team that loves traveling and loves Japan, and hope to invite more visitors to witness and experience unforgettable momentsnin Local Japan!

17/07/2025

It’s always great to see hard work pay off. We’re thrilled to announce one of our new tours, Best of the West: A Completionist’s Journey Across Setouchi, which is the culmination of years of on-the-ground research and strong bonds with local organizations and businesses.

Occupying a vast stretch of Western Japan, the Setouchi Area encompasses the beautiful Setouchi Inland Sea and many well-known destinations, such as Hiroshima, Kobe, and Naoshima.

The area quite literally has it all.

Its cuisine balances a wide array of flavors, ranging from fresh, zesty citrus to the homey soul food of Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki scene.

Its scenery pops with color around every turn, with gorgeous blue island views and mountains covered with greenery.

Its local culture stands at the forefront of modern art, while also housing multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like the floating Itsukushima Shrine.

And we’ve barely scratched the surface here…

For detailed information about the tour, please access the link below!

https://wawojapantours.com/tour/best-of-the-west-a-completionists-journey-across-setouchi/

10/07/2025

As part of WaWo's series on the wonderful Niigata Prefecture, we're happy to share our coverage of the 2024 Echigo Yuzawa Art Triennale.

What really made the Triennale for us was not so much its art or its open-air format set against the hills and mountains of Niigata but rather an expert combination of the two.

As much a regional revitalization project as it is an art festival, the Triennale had us thinking about its overall organization, use of physical space, and engagement with the natural and cultural heritage of its host location more than any other art museum or event we’ve experienced thus far.

While the Triennale has unfortunately come to an end, most of the installations we discuss in the article are still open to the public as part of the permanent Echigo Tsumari Art Field.

You can read the full article here!

https://wawojapantours.com/the-echigo-tsumari-art-triennale-in-niigata-art-born-from-nature-nature-born-from-art/

At WaWo Japan Travel, we pride ourselves on promoting destinations off the beaten path, like the Echigo Tsumari area. If you’re looking to plan a restorative, surprise-filled trip that avoids the crowds, look no further than our team of travel experts.

*Art Credits

Photo 1: Tunnel of Light - Mad Architects

Photo 4: Reverse City - Pascale Marthine Tayou

Photo 5: Palmipsest: pond of sky - Leandro Erlich

Photo 6: Kamaboko-type Storehouse Project - Ozawa Tsuyoshi

04/07/2025

One of the real joys of exploring some of Japan’s lesser-visited prefectures is that incredible wow moment where you realize just how much variety one place can hold.

Niigata Prefecture blindsided us in such a way, when we visited last November.

Our goal was to get as much as possible out of the prefecture in 3 days. Easy peasy, we thought.

We soon realized, however, just how in over our heads we were. Niigata is a huge place, differing drastically by region in terms of cuisine, geography, and local character. Our flimsy 3-day itinerary covered only a fraction of the prefecture–if we’re being generous.

Nevertheless, the trip was a doozy for the ages, and all of us returned to Tokyo just chomping at the bit with stories of Niigata’s unbridled awesomeness to share.

We ended up writing a little series of articles about the trip, with a different team member handling each piece.

Part one, penned by Jolene Chu, covers Niigata’s Myoko area, where we enjoyed an e-bike tour, a sasazushi-making experience, and the mouthwatering sake of Kimi-no-I Shuzo.

Read it here!
https://wawojapantours.com/myoko-niigata-explore-niigatas-natural-splendor-on-an-e-bike/

27/06/2025

Very few visitors to Japan make their way to Tohoku, the northernmost region of Honshu. Recent statistics from JNTO show that only about 3% of all visitors stay overnight.

Believe us when we say the other 97% are missing out big time.

Tohoku has it all:

・Some of Japan’s best hiking, trekking, climbing, camping, etc. If it’s outdoorsy, Tohoku most definitely has it and is doing it exceptionally well.

・Bountiful snowfall that allows for great skiing and snowboarding as much as it does breathtaking natural scenery.

・No shortage of rustic, atmospheric hot springs to keep you warm after you enjoy the above.

・Delicious regional cuisine, ranging from the familiar with its delectable seafood, to more out-there options with its various bear meat dishes. That’s right, bear meat!

・The fascinating traditions of the matagi. Been a while since I’ve been taken down a rabbit hole as deep as this one.

Recently one of our team members, Ben Bramhill, was fortunate enough to explore a good chunk of Tohoku. Check out his article on the region, which recounts his experience seeing snow for the first time, meeting modern day matagi, and enjoying the magical hot spring baths of Shin-Tamagawa Onsen!

https://wawojapantours.com/trekking-the-trails-of-tradition-into-the-mountains-of-the-matagi/

23/06/2025

Okinawa Prefecture offers up some of the finest island experiences in Japan.

So too does it provide a window into the distinct cultural and linguistic heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

What we get then is a delightful hodge-podge of cultures, traditions, and cuisines stretching out across an archipelago of crystal clear water, mighty palm trees, and the bluest skies you’ll ever see.

It’s an utterly thrilling space to be in, whether you’re looking to go for a dive or a drink.

Travel consultant Benjamin Bramhill, who spent five sunburnt years in Okinawa, shares a few of his favorite spots in his article on the prefecture. Check it out!

https://wawojapantours.com/okinawa-the-vibrant-islands-of-the-ryukyu-kingdom/

20/06/2025

Few towns wear their identity on their sleeve quite as literally as Arita, Saga Prefecture.

Arita is famous as the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, bearing a history that stretches back some 400 years.

But even for those visiting the town blind, it wouldn’t take much sleuthing to pick up on this.

The town bears many physical reminders of this tradition, with porcelain umbrella stands, sinks, pillars, lights, and all manner of decorations. There’s even a porcelain-plated car and an entire shrine made of porcelain. You’ll have porcelain falling out of your ears by the time you leave the place.

Of course, there’s also a healthy collection of shops selling Arita porcelain tableware and other goodies, for those who really can’t get enough.

The coolest thing about Arita porcelain, however, is the way it’s produced–by hand. And the story of those hands and how they continue to shape the town’s legacy are more than worth the travel expenses.

To learn more about Arita, read travel consultant Saori Futsukaichi’s introductory article on the town.

https://wawojapantours.com/arita-saga-the-birthplace-of-japanese-porcelain/

*Saori liked the town so much she put a photo of it on her business card. Check it out!

16/06/2025

If you visit a temple or shrine in Japan, you’ll likely find yourself drawn to the colorful display of omamori.

These are small fabric amulets that come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs.

But, these aren’t just cute accessories.

Each one carries a world–no, a universe–of meaning.

Some keep you safe during long journeys.

Others keep your hair healthy.

Some date back to the legendary onmyoji diviners of the Heian court and ward off evil spirits.

Others feature circuit-boards and help keep your computer virus free.

Yeah, this is quite the rabbit hole to dive down, and travel consultant Fangfang Zhu is here to guide you every step of the way with her thoroughly researched guide to omamori.

Check it out!

https://wawojapantours.com/a-world-inside-a-tiny-pouch-an-in-depth-journey-into-japans-omamori-culture/

13/06/2025

A good guide can turn a fun trip into a life-changing one.

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our best, BINGO Guide Network’s Takayuki Fukumoto.

Our talk covered a variety of topics, ranging from Fukumoto-san’s guide history and Onomichi’s many sightseeing spots to rural Japan’s growing abandoned house crisis and the kaleidoscopic world of the late great film director Nobuhiko Obayashi.

If there were an international competition for charisma and personability–or for just reading a room–Fukumoto-san would be banned for being just too gosh darn strong.

You NEED this man on your next Hiroshima trip.

Fukumoto-san is your go to guide for:

・Miyajima, home to the dream-like floating Itsukushima Shrine and its massive torii gate
・Cycling on the Shimanami Kaido and the many islands of the Seto Inland Sea
・Walking tours and food/drink crawls of downtown Onomichi (a personal favorite of mine!)
・Hiking Onomichi’s mountains
・Just about anything else in Hiroshima Prefecture.

If you’re still not convinced, you certainly will be by the time you finish reading Joseph Bayliss’ full interview with Fukumoto-san!

https://wawojapantours.com/local-guide-interview-shimanami-cycling-onomichi-hiking-and-more-with-takayuki-fukumoto/

09/06/2025

Are you a mountain or a sea person?

For those living in Japan, this is one of 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 questions, the kind you ask to fill an awkward silence. Water cooler talk.

Are you a dog or a cat person?

How’s the weather?

I digress.

But, if you’ve spent any amount of time in Japan, you’ll know that this is actually quite a difficult question to answer, when we’re talking about a country that clears the competition with both killer mountain retreats and beach getaways.

I spent the better part of three years here, wracking my brain over which one I liked more.

That was until Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture came along and just absolutely blew my socks off.

It has both! The rich, rolling greenery of Eastern Hiroshima’s mountains. The dazzling blue splendor of the Seto Inland Sea. All in one!

And sandwiched in between the two are layers and layers of history, art, and a transcendent love for people and community that continues to keep Onomchi alive and well.

Long the muse of writers, artists, architects, and other creators, Onomichi calls out to people near and far, inviting visitors to not only maintain and continue its history but to weave their own personal histories within that tapestry.

Essential for travelers who are looking to explore Japan’s countryside!

Check out our new travelogue on Onomichi written by travel consultant Joseph Bayliss!

https://wawojapantours.com/onomichi-hiroshima-in-the-labyrinth-of-time-and-dreams/

16/05/2025

We are a team that loves traveling and loves Japan, and have visited local regions of Japan where we have met the local people and have witnessed the local food, traditions and culture rooted in each region. Each region is distinct, and a different story lies within. Although Japan is a destination known to the world, it has many more stories to uncover.

Join our tours to find stories only the locals can speak of, and make your trip unforgettable!

住所

Minato-ku, Tokyo