The Real Japan Travel Bulletin

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Hello {{contact.first_name|there}},

Welcome to this week's Japan Travel Bulletin.

I have some incredibly exciting news to share: The Real Japan has just been named "Travel Agency of The Year 2025" by Corporate LiveWire – marking my third major international award this year alone!

This recognition comes at a time when Japan travel is more popular than ever, but also more challenging to navigate authentically. Mass tourism has changed the landscape, making expert, independent guidance more valuable than ever before.

This issue celebrates this milestone achievement and explains what makes my award-winning Japan travel planning service fundamentally different from traditional travel agencies and cookie-cutter tour operators.

AWARD NEWS! Why I Just Won My 3rd Travel Award This Year
UPDATED! Discover Honshu - Japan's Biggest Island
UPDATED! 6 Japan Food Tours You Can Book Today
UPDATED! Stay In A Ryokan: The Best Way to Experience The Real Japan
New Guides on TheRealJapan.com
Latest Episodes From The Real Japan Podcast

AWARD NEWS! Why I Just Won My 3rd Travel Award This Year

The Real Japan has been named "Travel Agency of The Year 2025" by Corporate LiveWire's Innovation & Excellence Awards – marking my third major international award in 2025 and validating over two decades of dedicated Japan travel expertise.

This follows our "Best Independent Japanese Travel Specialists 2025" and "Best Japanese Travel Experts 2025" wins from LUXlife Magazine earlier this year, creating an unprecedented triple crown of recognition in the Japan travel industry.

What makes my service fundamentally different:

Complete independence: No package sales, group tour commissions, or hotel kickbacks – only recommendations based purely on what's genuinely best for your specific trip and interests
Authentic local experiences: Direct access to traditional craftspeople, seasonal festivals unknown to tourists, neighbourhood gems, and cultural experiences that most visitors never discover
Deeply personalised approach: Every single itinerary is crafted from scratch around your specific interests, travel style, and pace – whether that's remote mountain ryokan, bustling Tokyo neighbourhoods, or artisan workshops
25 years of hands-on expertise: Extensive personal exploration from Hokkaido's winter festivals to Okinawa's coral reefs, bridging the crucial gap between generic guidebooks and lived reality

My comprehensive three-tier service structure:

1. Travel Planning Support: Unlimited email Q&A sessions to help refine and perfect your travel ideas

2. Travel Planning Calls: One-on-one personalised Zoom consultations with detailed follow-up recommendations

3. Full Concierge Service: Complete bespoke itinerary planning with accommodation bookings, restaurant reservations, and exclusive access arrangements

These awards recognise something I've been passionately building for over two decades – genuinely independent, innovative travel expertise focused entirely on creating your perfect Japan journey, not maximising profits from generic packages.

Explore My Award-Winning Services →

Looking For A Japan Travel Specialist?

UPDATED! Discover Honshu - Japan's Biggest Island

Honshu is Japan's largest island and contains most of the country's best-known cities and destinations. It's here you'll find Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Hakone, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Niigata, Himeji and Mt. Fuji.

But its size and geographic diversity also means there are hundreds of barely known spots, making getting off the beaten path easy and rewarding.

It's the main event: Honshu is Japan's largest island and where you'll find most of the country's famous cities and attractions, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Mt. Fuji.
It's big and diverse: Honshu is the world's seventh-largest island and is divided into five distinct regions, each with its own unique character and climate.
There's a season for everyone: Honshu has four distinct seasons, so you can plan your trip to experience anything from the cherry blossoms in spring to the snowy mountains in winter.
Getting around is easy: Honshu has Japan's most extensive railway network and is home to the country's major international airports, making it easy to get to and around the island.
Don't forget to get off the beaten path: While the big cities are a must-see, Honshu's size and diversity mean there are plenty of hidden gems to discover if you're willing to explore.
It's a food lover's paradise: From the street food of Osaka (known as "Japan's kitchen") to the fresh seafood of the coast, Honshu has something to offer every palate.

Discover Honshu - Island Travel Guide →

See My Honshu Island Guide

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UPDATED! 6 Japan Food Tours You Can Book Today

Japanese food in general is usually high on most people’s list of reasons to visit Japan.

A key advantage of booking a food tour in Japan is that you’ll get far greater access to experiences, the knowledge and passion of your guides, along with their help overcoming any language barrier if you don’t speak Japanese.

This special combination enables you to experience food in Japan in a far deeper way than if you attempted it yourself.

These six curated Japan food tours – from Osaka’s secret back alleys and Fukuoka’s legendary yatai stalls to Kyoto’s 400-year-old Nishiki Market – offer authentic culinary experiences with expert English-speaking guides who provide access to hidden food spots, cultural insights, and local connections that solo travellers simply can’t match.

6 Food Tours You Can Book Today →

See The Complete Guide

UPDATED! Stay In A Ryokan: The Best Way to Experience The Real Japan

Stay in a ryokan - it's the single best thing you can do to encounter The Real Japan.

There are many things you can do, and experience, in the land of the rising sun that will get you closer to and give you a feel for deeper, richer cultural travel.

But, for me, there is one thing that stands above all others in delivering that enigmatic essence of feeling. To experience The Real Japan you must stay in a ryokan.

Stay in A Ryokan (Traditional Japanese Inn) →

See My Complete Guide

In Case You Missed It

New Guides on TheRealJapan.com:

Latest Podcasts:

That’s it for this special award announcement issue of my Japan Travel Bulletin {{contact.first_name}}.

This recognition means everything to me because it validates the independent, personalised approach I've been developing for over two decades.

Unlike large travel companies focused on volume and commissions, my service remains dedicated to creating genuinely authentic Japan experiences tailored specifically to each traveller.

If you have any requests for content you'd like to see, or if you're considering a Japan trip and want award-winning planning support, just hit 'Reply' and let me know.

Happy travels!

Rob

p.s. If you'd like to work with me CLICK HERE

Book Your Trip: Japan Travel Essentials

Book Your Flights
Find the best flight using Skyscanner.

Book Your Accommodation
My wife and I always use Booking.com.

Book Your Cultural Experiences
I recommend Wabunka for enriching cultural and artisan experiences.

Book Your Japan Rail Pass
The only official agent I recommend is JRPass.com.

Book Your eSIMs/SIM cards
I recommend Mobal's eSIMs and SIM cards.

Book Your WiFi
I never travel in Japan without pocket WiFi. Get Ninja WiFi.

Book Your Hire Car
Rent a car in Japan without speaking or reading Japanese via Booking.com Car Rental.

Ready To Book Your Trip?
Check out my Recommended Japan Travel Resources.

Want My Help Planning Your Trip?
My Travel Planning Services are tailor-made for you.

📍 Why I just won my 3rd travel award this year (and what it means for your trip)