Reviewed by: Marie
I was on the fence between booking a private tour or a bus tour to visit Mt. Fuji but I’m so happy I decided to book a private tour. I couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable and accommodating tour guide. Taiji made sure we were able to visit all the places we wanted to see around Mt. Fuji even if it went beyond the allotted time. He and the driver, Toshi, we’re fun to be with. I highly recommend their services to anyone who wants to visit Japan.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2019/06/12 |
Activity Date: | 2019/06/04 |
Reviewed by: LKL
Higashi is my Chinese-speaking Japanese born private
tour guide and having worked in China for many years, he is a gem that could give us Japanese culture and yet be able to relate to us - we are a Singaporean family (I was with my 70 year old mother and 2 sisters). He paced the entire trip nicely taking into account our speed, to the extent of serving our food needs and even accompany us to shopping to wherever we want and with such patience for a man! Encourage all to book him!
东谦一是我们的日本长大又能说中文的私人导游。他在中国工作了很多年,所以美好的融合了日本传统又能够跟我们的文化接近。由于我带了70岁的妈妈和两个妹妹,他完美得随我们的步伐导游,恰到好处。他更帮我们照顾周到, 餐饮和购物都随我们一起走,帮我们翻译,难能可贵的一个导游。大家请指定他为你的导游!
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji Viewing and Five Lakes Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2019/04/04 |
Activity Date: | 2019/04/04 |
Reviewed by: Adam s
The guide was fun and knowledgeable. The tour of the whiskey distillery and sake brewery was great. The sake brewery did not have an English translation but the guide translated for our group. We went to a great spot for lunch that was recommended by the guide. Amazing, I recommend the tour and especially if you need help with translation. Our driver was very friendly and accommodating interacted with the party. Highly recommend the tour.
Thank you very much for joining our tour. The restaurant we went used malted rice in their food, a result of the fermentation of Sake which is a portion of healthy food and gives tenderness to meat. It is called Kome Koji.
You can also find a naturally sweet rice drink (juice) called amazake known to have an anti-aging effect.
I hope the wine you bought at the supermarket was good also.
Thank you very much again.
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Packages: | Plan B: Suntory's Hakushu Whisky Distillery & Lake Kawaguchi Course |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2019/03/18 |
Activity Date: | 2019/03/13 |
Reviewed by: Diane Lorenzo
Our tour was perfect. it was more fun because of Saturo San and the driver(sorry i forgot the name, but he even gave us a parting gift which he drew himself) treated us not as guests but as friends. they made sure that we are comfortable and they are very knowledgable about the tour and about Japan. Saturo San made sure that he answered all our questions before the tour ends. the only thing is the time in Gotemba outlet, I didn't have enough time for shopping. but it was still ok! will highly recommend this to my family and friends.
it's really convenient and more fun if you have a tour guide and a private van especially when you're travelling with kids.
:)
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2018/11/15 |
Activity Date: | 2018/11/10 |
Reviewed by: Jeannette and Tony
Overall tour was excellent. Long drive, but that was to be expected. Nori was friendly and informative.
Climate control in van needed to be more efficient.
Lunch stop location was excellent. Participants pay for own lunch, not included with tour price.
Tour stops were not the typical tourist stops, but more local attractions which were wonderful and not at all crowded.
Thank you for your warm words! Very happy to hear from you... It was a pleasure for us as well to spend with you all!!! Cloud sea was so beautiful, wasn't it? So sorry for the climate control in van and thank you for letting us know... Please say hi to everyone and thank you very much again!!! Noriko
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2018/10/09 |
Activity Date: | 2018/09/27 |
Reviewed by: Ming
We were picked up on time by our guide Tom Harada. He was very throughout and thoughtful in planning what we should visit and made all the different sites arrangement efficiently . He is knowledgeable about the itinerary on hand . His approach is filled with dedication and heart . I would recommend to anyone looking for an English speaking guide to reserve Tom Harada. You will not be disappointed.
I hope all is well with you and your wonderful family. I want to thank you for your very kind and generous review on Veltra site. It means a lot to me ! My work on 20 August around Mt. Fuji has become a great memory thanks to your kindness and quality personality of all your family.. Thank you for giving me a fond memory. Once again, I will be wishing nothing but the very best for you and yours.
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Packages: | Plan B: Suntory's Hakushu Whisky Distillery & Lake Kawaguchi Course |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2018/08/30 |
Activity Date: | 2018/08/20 |
Reviewed by: Firdaus Samsuri
Overall the tour was a great experience for me and my family.
Our guide Taiji was very knowledgable about the places we visited and was very flexible and accomodating to our plans. He was also very engaging towards the group.
We would definitely engage him again when we tour Japan again and strongly recommend him to travellers.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2018/08/29 |
Activity Date: | 2018/08/20 |
Reviewed by: Renato
Guide was extremely friendly and knowledgable. We found anew friend in Japan!
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Packages: | Test Package |
Posted on: | 2018/04/30 |
Reviewed by: Izham
Yoshi was an excellent guide. He showed us around well and was a good source of information. We would like to thank him very much.
Dear Izham
I'm very glad to see your comments and five stars.
I'll be with you in anywhere Japan if you have a chance to come to Japan again.
I hope your business will be prosperous forever.
I'm dreaming if I could perform as a Jazz singer in your music program in Malaysia.
Good luck!
Yoshi
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2018/04/13 |
Activity Date: | 2018/04/07 |
Reviewed by: DiJoyce
Endo-San was waiting for us at the appointed time in our hotel, he is truly fluent and an excellent guide and we had a knowledgeable and fun day. The other thing that was memorable was our udon lunch in a small restaurant (inn?) which was both delicious and good value. We ended the wonderful day with 45 minutes in an onsen - my first in an open-air onsen, looking at Mt Fuji. Of course thanks to God who gave us perfect weather and thus a marvellous view of the mountain. I would recommend Endo-San to anyone traveller.
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2018/04/06 |
Activity Date: | 2018/04/03 |
Reviewed by: Don
This tour made me enjoy seeing Mt Fuji at our own pace. We were picked up by a good driver and a knowledgeable tour guide. Upon riding the van wee discussed first the final.itinerary. the guide Akiko detailed out the places we were visiting and their significance. So we proceeded as planned to the heritage center shrine lunch near the pond and the lake. My family enjoyed it very much especially at our own pace. I highly recommend this tour to small groups.
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2018/03/28 |
Activity Date: | 2018/03/26 |
Reviewed by: Erth C4
The tour was really enjoyable and educative. The sceneries were amazing. The tour guide was very kind and accommodating to assist us and extend extra services to his customers.
It was only frustrating that we did not reach the 5th station since the access was closed due to the climate condition. However, the overall experience was great
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2018/01/28 |
Activity Date: | 2018/01/04 |
Reviewed by: Sam
Our tour guide, Masayuki (Masa is his nickname), was very kind and patient to us. He speaks good english so there was no language barrier. He always tries to grant our requests such as bathroom breaks etc. Since it is a private tour, the tour itself is very flexible.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/12/31 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/28 |
Reviewed by: Maria Salazar
I am a returning customer of dicovery tours/veltra. The 1st time was last january 1,2017 and this time december 1,2017.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/12/24 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/01 |
Reviewed by: Jon Domingo
We really had a great time to our visit to Mt. Fuji with Taiji and this is our second time to get our tour arrangement with him. He suggest all the best place to visit aside from the given places to visit. We will definitely contact him again with for our future guests.
Thank you Jon for your comment with the pictures. I was very happy to see you again I will keep on getting more and more data base of the sites and best places to choose for each season and hopefully having more chance in the future.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/12/08 |
Activity Date: | 2017/06/01 |
Reviewed by: Fifi oktini
We, a group of 7 adults, chose the tour having browsed the internet. The review was good and what we experienced was great! Taiji san is knowledgable, helpful and very accomodative. He picked up us at the hotel on time. We discussed and agreed the itinerary, modified one. We added Nenba and Halal Ramen Tokyo to end the day.
Taiji san is a skillful driver. Driving 10 seater Toyota Hiace he skillfully manouvered in very narrow Tokyo streets when we tried to locate Halal Ramen. Taiji san even attended our exhibition the next day. For us, Taiji san is beyond a tour guide, he is our new friend in Japan.
Arigatou gozaimasu Taiji san!
Thank you Fifi
I hope your days in Japan was a success.
I had a wonderful day having your group on board laughing and talking about various topics. Thank you also for giving me the opportunity to discover cultural exchanges trough art in Shinjuku, I always love to discover new things especially in art.
I hope to see you again and very good luck for your success in your art activities.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/07/24 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/21 |
Reviewed by: Ina
We were picked up at our hotel at the exact time as mentioned. 1st, we went to the Fujisan heritage center, and on the way our tour guide explained us everything! History, roads, emperors and my favorite THE LAST SAMURAI :) 2nd part of our day was the yummy yakiniku lunch and 3rd we went to Gotemba Premium Outlet! (shopped til we dropped haha). It was supposed to be the last part of our tour but our guide (Taiji) was kind enough to drive us around tokyo and the busy streets of Ginza! What a bonus!
Rating: 200%
P.S: car ride was about 1 hr and 30 min :)
Thank you so much for choosing and joining my tour.
I was a little worried if we could be able to see the Mt. Fuji but we finally could see it, Thank you for posting the picture that we were able to shoot at the end of the day.
We had so much for lunch, and it seemed that your bother was very satisfied with the order, I did enjoy myself as well.
I did the Tokyo night sight seeing on our way back to your hotel because It just makes me happy to see you enjoying the places you haven't been yet and who knows if you will have the same chance while your stay in Tokyo.
I also think that I should get THE LAST SAMURAI and add in the DVD box in the car.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/07/19 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/19 |
Reviewed by: Janina
It was a a long but awesome activity! We really enjoyed the sights in Mt Fuji! Great experience!
Thank you so much for leaving the review.
It was a good experience and awesome time talking various subjects with Jojo.
I am very excited with what we have been discussing and we will be able to start new things. Please also recommend the tour to your friends if they plan to came to Japan.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/07/12 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/07 |
Reviewed by: Nyssa
Taiji was our tour guide on this trip just this March 2017. He brought us to a temple, the lake with Mt. Fuji view and Gotemba shopping area. All with considerations on our end. He was very friendly and accommodating, answered questions about the trip.
We had lunch with him and he shared stories with us. He also asked questions about us and he also took our pictures.
He even offered to wait for our shopping time and when we're about to get off, he asked if we have plans for the next day because he's willing to give a city tour. However we do have planned itinerary already so we just thanked him.
He also helped me find my purse which I lost on that day. Sadly, we weren't able to retrieve it.
I recommend him as a very friendlya nd helpful tour guide. He speaks english well and can converse naturally.
Thank you Nyssa for you comment. I hope your final went OK and you are spending a good time.
I just looked at the picture, our tour was on March 19th.
I myself had fun with your group because I don't often have young people on my tour. I hope to see you aging.
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/06/30 |
Reviewed by: MML
On the morning of our tour, our guide, Taiji was waiting when we exited our hotel lobby. After introductions, Taiji familiarized himself with folding my wife’s wheelchair. Once we were in our seats, we explained that we would prefer not to participate in the hot springs bathing. Taiji accepted this and said we should still see the lakes and towns along the way to Mount Fuji as they are quite remarkable.
Taiji took us to the World Heritage Site Visitor Center where we watched an informative video about Mount Fuji. It was there that my wife noticed photography by Rocky Tanaka. We later learned Taiji and he are friends. At the end of our tour Taiji arranged for us to meet with Mr. Tanaka so we could view his gallery and purchase a piece of his art.
From the Visitor Center, we traveled on to see lakes and ponds which have formed by snow melt from Mount Fuji. Some of the villages along the way also exist only because Mount Fuji is towering in the distance. Mount Fuji is a Religious symbol to the Japanese.
We saw and ate white strawberries for the first time. We saw a traditional Japanese home with a thatch roof that will last for 100+ years. We saw bonsai trees and gardens and shops and fish ponds with giant fish and markets. We ate a traditional Japanese meal in an authentic Japanese restaurant where no one spoke English except for us. The food was DELICIOUS and the portions were HUGE! Then we continued on to the Fifth Station.
Taiji is an exceptional tour guide: He was a very safe and capable driver. Even in the high traffic areas of Tokyo’s interstate, we felt we were in safe hands. His English is impeccable and he is extremely articulate. His manners are first rate and he was professional, observant and intuitive. He has a seemingly unending knowledge of Japanese history and culture.
Thank you so much for giving me such an impressive comment.
You posted actually few days after my birthday and I felt like a gift for having the best comment I've ever had.
I felt like you found me at the right moment and we've had a wonderful day and you finally found your favorite picture of Mount Fuji at the end of the day. It was beautiful one and I'm also telling Mr. Tanaka that I will one day get one of his picture and bring it to my place.
I also learned from you about the shift of power in US from an objective angle and could have a fair understanding witch keeps on helping me every time I'm asked what I think of your new president from US guests.
Everything that took part of the service I did it because I don't think as a part of the job, but I myself enjoy or even love to do it and I appreciate so much that you could keep such good memory of the day.
I really hope that your wife is getting better and we will have the chance to meet again.
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/05/26 |
Activity Date: | 2017/05/06 |
Reviewed by: Laya & fam
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.
We had last minute snow in end of march witch remained for about 10 or more days in different area in Fuji.
Although we couldn't see the mountain I'm happy to hear that you had a good experience.
Thank you for giving me such nice comment. I hope everything including your business is fine.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/04/05 |
Activity Date: | 2017/04/01 |
Reviewed by: Derek Edmonds
We had a fabulous time with our guide Taiji. Not only did we luck out in mid December with nearly perfect weather that afforded us with gorgeous views everywhere of Mt. Fuji, but Taiji was able to recommend some great sightseeing as well as shopping spots to us. The highlights included an amazing visit to the kimono museum that Taiji recommended to us that included a magnificent tea room, as well as a fantastic local lunch spot that also included an amazing photo gallery upstairs with one-of-a-kind shots of Mt. Fuji. What an utterly memorable and unforgettable experience! Thank you for all of your hard work and wonderful guidance, Taiji!
Thank you so much Derek for your kind comment.
It was a great pleasure to receive and attend your dads anniversary trip. The tea room was awesome and did not expect that all of you will love the museum so much.
It was also nice to discover the grape jelly that I'm now recommending to my new guest when I take them there.
We were lucky to have had such nice weather for 2 days and were able to take some beautiful pictures of Mt. Fuji.
Thank you for the dinner at the end of the day at Ginza.
p.s.
And thank you for the happy news about the wallet that came back, trust us lol.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/12/13 |
Activity Date: | 2016/12/10 |
Reviewed by: Nicca.p
We went on the private Mt. Fuji pilgrimage tour. Our tour guide was Taiji Endo. We all had a good time and our our guide was great! Very informative and a safe driver. He also gave us a good restaurant recommendation for lunch. We would definitely recomment the tour and our tour guide as well.
Thank you very much for your comment. It was also great for me to attend your family. We've had a very nice day and I'm so happy that you enjoyed my plan. I hope you enjoyed the rest for your days in Japan. I wish I had more time to talk with you all and I really hope to see you again.
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Packages: | Mt.Fuji 5th Station and Lake Kawaguchi Tour < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2016/11/13 |
Activity Date: | 2016/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Pearly
Taiji is a great guide. He arrived on time and took us to Mt Fuji. He has the 'Mt Fuji luck' where every tour group he brings, the mountain view is clear. He speaks very good english and french too! My children loved him. This itinerary was fun and relaxing just the way we wanted.
The pleasure was all mine with such lovely kids on my van. I'm also glad that you parents did enjoy the meal. Thank god for this "Goen" that we had and hope to see you again, maybe in your country next time.
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Packages: | Plan A: Lake Kawaguchi & Gotemba Outlets < 10-Hour > |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2016/10/23 |
Activity Date: | 2016/10/23 |
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Reply from activity provider
An unexpected error has occurred. Please go back to the previous page and try again, or wait a few minutes and try once again.
Dear Marie, it was a great pleasure to welcome you and thank you so much for leaving us a warm comment of your experience in the Fuji are.
Thank you also for booking both transfer services and I am sure Toshi welcomed you with his funky jokes since the day you arrived.
Hope that you will be back to Japan and to serve you again.
Sincerely,
Taiji