Bucket list Japan: Is 2025 the year you will make your travel dream a reality?

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Even as a ‘seasoned traveller’, Lauren Howard was utterly captivated by Japan’s enchanting allure during her first visit in 2023.

“I went to Japan for the first time on a family trip and just fell in love with the country and now I feel I want to share this with others,” Lauren said.

I think it’s the culture, the people, the fact that you feel safe. It’s really different and spotless, no bins anywhere. There’s no rubbish on streets and the people are so polite and respectful.”

With over 30 years of extensive travel experience, Lauren is excited to discover Japan with up to 16 curious travellers on the intimate, exclusive How We Travel, Enchanted Pathways of Japan tour.

Departing May 12, 2025, Lauren and her team have meticulously designed a 15-day tour of Japan to give the group a taste of this captivating country at its best, done in comfort and style.

Lauren says all the accommodation booked for the tour are 4 and 5 star hotels with larger comfortable rooms in prime locations.

“Of special note is the accommodation at Mt Fuji where every room has a mountain view – it’s just spectacular,” she said.

Landing in Toyoko, the tour includes Mount Fiji, Kanazawa, Osaka, Hiroshima and finishes off with three nights in Kyoto.

Travelling during Japan’s spring you will see this amazing country is at its most vibrant, with mild temperatures and clear skies adding a special layer to it’s already stunning scenery.

Lauren says one of the highlights of the trip will be the Fuji Shibazakura Festival which is held in Japan from mid April to late May or early June.

It is a festival honouring the shibazakura (pink moss or phlox moss in English) flower that blooms in vast fields that have, as their backdrop, the magnificent Mount Fuji.

Although it can vary, the best time to see the flowers is usually in the first three weeks of May. So get ready for some bright and colourful photo opps with the 800,000 stalks of five varieties of shibazakura in pink, white and purple hues.

The best part is all of the hard work of planning your trip have been done for you leaving you to enjoy specially curated moments that blend immersive cultural experiences with more leisurely paced sightseeing.

Imagine the serene whispers of an ancient temple – Japan has some of the biggest and best wooden temples on Earth – while also enjoying the exuberant hustle of some of the most technologically advanced metropolis’ not to mention unique UNESCO world sites.

Scenery aside, indulge in the unique flavours of Japanese cuisine as you wander through backstreets, off the usual tourist paths.

There is also a visit to the Nishiki Markets in Kyoto which has a history of several centuries and we will see and taste the amazing produce Lauren said.

“Nishiki Market is a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants and is known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen'”.

“We will be seeing some of the most incredible sites, taking part in a tea ceremony and cooking class, making origami paper and just doing some different special things that will make for lifelong memories,” she said.

The smaller group, maximum 16 spots, also ensures a more personal travelling experience leading to spontaneous adventures and authentic interactions with locals and their culture helped by local speaking guides.

“We want people to enjoy small intimate group and travelling on coach and bullet trains, it’s easier to move a small group.

“Also included is the convenience of luggage transfer so the group won’t have to drag their own suitcases around, but will get to the hotel and find their baggage already there.”

There is the opportunity for spontaneity and to explore your own passions with a free day giving flexibility in the itinerary to please yourself, and Lauren promises a few surprises thrown into the mix as well.

If you have always wanted to visit Japan in the spring, then 2025 may be the year to do it.

Included in the tour are all international and domestic flights; premium accommodation, transportation inclusive of Bullet train trips; daily tours and entrance fees to attractions; Washi paper making workshop; Okonomiyaki cooking class; and much more.

And what better way to tick off this spectacular destination than with confident tour leader, Lauren, her How We Travel team and passionate, knowledgeable, hands-on, local guides?

How We Travel has over 30 years experience, designing and creating lifetime travel memories. You can feel confident in your choice, as they are part to the bigger Travellers Choice Network which has travel agencies throughout Australia.

Travellers Choice, with over 45 years experience and a huge network of independent travel agents working together, has often been recognised as Australia’s best travel agency group at national travel industry awards.

Their personalised service, passion for travel and desire to create near perfect holiday experiences, makes them among the best travel agents in the country.

Expect, worldly knowledge, hidden gems as well as practical travelling tips from these ATAS accredited agents.

For those who need to know more Lauren is holding a morning tea on November, 20, 2024 at 10.30am, at Sails Resort Port Macquarie, 20 Park Street. RSVP November 13.

Or if you can’t attend the information morning you can call directly on (02) 6584 4334 or email [email protected].