Japan is a place to escape the ordinary. It’s a truly unique travel destination; a place of historic temples, neon skyscrapers and great natural beauty; a place where ancient traditions meet futuristic innovation. In September 2022, Expat Explore had the privilege of launching its very first Highlights of Japan tour!
Expat Explore co-founders Carl Cronje and Jakes Maritz joined a group of excited travellers on the inaugural Highlights of Japan tour and enjoyed 11 days of incredible Japanese destinations, famous sights and unforgettable travel experiences. At the time, Expat Explore was one of the only tour groups travelling in Japan as the country was slowly opening up to tourists again following two years of travel restrictions. This made it a truly special experience for everyone involved!
We chatted with Carl and Jakes about what it was like to be on the first tour of its kind. Read all about their trip below!
Japan Discovery Tour Q&A with Carl & Jakes
Can you select three words to describe the first Expat Explore Highlights of Japan tour?
Carl: Ground-breaking, exotic and extreme-value.
Jakes: Exotic, wonderful and fulfilling.
What were your favourite destinations on the Highlights of Japan tour and why?
Carl: I really loved Hiroshima. It’s known for its tragic WW2 past, but today it is such a vibrant, fun and not-too-big city! People here are a bit more relaxed than in the business monsters of Tokyo and Osaka! There is a real sense of the people here, I guess a city with just a really cool personality. And we stay here for three nights on the tour!
Jakes: It’s really hard to choose, but Tokyo blew my mind. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto was an out-of-this-world experience.
In your opinion, what were the best included experiences on this tour?
Carl: We have a good variety of experiences, but the visits to local food markets are out of this world. Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is a real treat, and with it being at the start of the tour it also acts as a great intro and taster to a lifestyle that is built around eating seafood! Also, the Japanese version of a pub called an Izakaya. You have to take off your shoes and store them in special shoe lockers before entering and most tables are nestled in private booths! Expect to be served lots of different courses, which also means there’s a lot of time in between to top up on the sake wine!
Jakes: Himeji Castle is such a well-preserved example of Japanese culture and architecture, with a fascinating history. The Korakuen Garden in Okayama is without a doubt the prettiest garden I’ve ever been to – even better than Carl’s Alpenrose Garden in Switzerland. Miyajima Island with free-roaming deer was also a winner.
Related: These are the best things to do in Japan!
What was your favourite memory of the Highlights of Japan tour?
Carl: The fact that Japan recently opened up for tourism and when we travelled we were basically the first group of tourists is a great memory to have! Just to be able to travel with our Expat Explore seasoned travellers was my real highlight. Getting to meet some old friends while experiencing a new destination together is one of the best moments life can give us!
Jakes: Our visit to the Sumo school, where I wrestled a real Sumo. Needless to say, I won 🙂
What were the top three Japanese dishes that you ate on this trip?
Carl: Fish, fish and fish! I love fish, so I tried to eat it in any way possible. Sushi is so different in Japan – many more options and always very fresh. We also were able to visit a famous restaurant that serves the Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki – a dish that uses chopped cabbage as its main ingredient!
Oh, and dare I say breakfast! It’s totally not what we are used to. I can describe Japanese breakfast as being like a big bento-box-style tasting menu! Lots of little dishes.
Jakes: The freshest sushi ever at Tsukiji Fish Market, Kobe steak in Kobe and our Yakiniku dining experience in Osaka, where you basically cook your own food. However, I have to say every meal was a culinary delight.
Related: Take a look at the dishes you must try when in Japan.
Can you tell us a bit about the other travellers on the tour?
Carl: It was great to have had co-founder Jakes on board. Together we mostly knew everyone who travelled with us. Japan has been on the bucket list of most of these travellers and sharing memories like this is priceless. Most of the guests were from Australia or the US and we even had three Expat Explore European Tour leaders who travelled with us (Mike, Emma and Jamie).
Jakes: Of course we got along, this was an Expat Explore tour! However, our group were almost all repeat Expat Explore travellers. We had quite a mix: the US, Australia (including Tasmania), New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Europe and the UK. The group was excellent and created a bucketful of fun memories.
What kind of traveller would a tour of Japan appeal to?
Carl: Japan is a bucket list destination for most and Expat Explore has managed to create a tour that is by far the best value tour compared to everything else. So, this tour is perfect for everyone who has dreamed of visiting Japan but thought they could not afford it.
Jakes: Everyone, really. It is such an exotic destination. The people are without a doubt the friendliest and most welcoming I’ve ever experienced. The food is almost always freshly prepared, full of flavour and incredibly healthy. The country and scenery is really breathtaking. Gardens for them are like churches in Europe and immaculately landscaped. I think the country has so much diversity and uniqueness, that there’s something for everyone.
Why do you feel Japan is a must-visit destination?
Carl: Japan is truly one of those destinations that still feels different and out of this world. Japanese culture is completely different to what we are used to, and for many on our tour, this was an eye-opener. I can write a lot about this, but I almost feel that these differences are part of the secret of Japan that you have to discover yourself!
Jakes: It is so different from the rest of our itineraries, yet with the same winning Expat Explore formula. I really came back with a different perspective on a lot of things in life. Japan added a lot of value to me as a person. Just to observe how they function as a society was worth it. The people take so much pride in everything they do. To see that is humbling. It is also one of the most visually pleasing countries I’ve ever been to.
Why did Expat Explore choose to add Japan as a new destination to its tour offerings?
Carl: I love this question. As Chief Tour Product Designer, Japan has always been on my radar. Mostly because it always bothered me that tour companies were (and are) selling Japan options generally at a much much higher price than tours to Europe. So, it became an obsession of mine to discover why and then find a solution to make it affordable to everyone. And how we did it – well, this will remain our secret for you to come and experience yourself!
Jakes: Japan has always been a dream destination for myself and Carl. In 2019 we cracked the formula on how to make it an affordable, workable destination.
Why should people choose to explore Japan by coach and on a group tour?
Carl: Japan has a very mountainous interior but with excellent highways – really in itself an attraction with the 1000s of tunnels and bridges. There is a perception that travelling by bullet train is the way to do it, but the beauty of Japan is in the destinations, attractions, villages and experiences that you can only reach by coach!
Jakes: You miss out on so much if you only travel by train in Japan. We managed to discover and explore places you can’t get to by train. Also, to do Japan as a group is so much fun. It offers so much you want to share with others, it’s almost a waste to do it alone.
Was it challenging to travel with a language barrier?
Carl: No, it was fun! Make sure you have a translator app on your phone installed before you arrive. One where you can just scan Japanese and also one where you can speak via the app two ways!
Jakes: No, it was fun. Somehow you find a way to communicate. We also had the option of our guide speaking English, but I love to immerse myself in the experience.
Is Expat Explore considering exploring Japan further? If so, where would you most like to go?
Carl: Absolutely. I stayed behind another 10 days to undergo a field trip in central Japan – a region not traversed by any other tour operator out there! And I’m already working on the tour program! The destinations and places on this route will really be untouched and true jewels – we hope to have this addition ready for early 2024.
Jakes: Yes. Carl extended his trip to Japan to discover even more of the country. We were so impressed that expansion is certainly on the cards.
Do you have any travel tips for people visiting Japan in the future?
Carl:
- There are more than 2.5 million vending machines in Japan and they are very cheap. Make sure you always have some small change with you for them.
- Convenience stores like 7-Eleven are literally just around the corner. They are cheap and have a great food selection as well as drinks.
- Restaurants don’t really stock fine wine labels BUT convert yourself into enjoying sake! It is served both cold and hot and there’s a reason for both!
- Most Japanese people understand basic English but may be shy to try and speak it. So, do yourself a favour and learn at least 10 to 20 commonly used words before you arrive. Show respect and earn respect.
Jakes: Stay an extra day or two, especially in Tokyo. It is the largest metropolitan area in the world and there’s so much more to see and do than what we could fit in.
Related: Take a look at these travel tips to know before visiting Japan.
Are you ready to experience the Highlights of Japan? Take a look at our Japan tours departing in 2023, with seats available from May onwards. Secure your spot today and look forward to escaping the ordinary as you discover Japan! If you’re keen on even more travel adventures, take a look at our upcoming departures now.