August in Japan brings with it the traditions of the Obon holiday season, a time when many of us took the opportunity to rest and reflect, or travel and enjoy some new destinations. The heat and humidity continue to be relentless, reminding us that the typhoon season has begun. However, the breathtaking colours of Japanese autumn are not far off!
This time of year is also a crucial period for us at EXO Travel Japan, when we start to update our tariffs and draft our strategies for the following year, continuing on the path of sustainability and high level service.
Keytakeways:
- Sado Gold Mine Designated as UNESCO heritage
On 27 July, the Sado Kinzan, the huge complex on Sado Island, Nigata prefecture was added to the UNESCO heritage list, bringing the number of Japanese sites to 26 (21 cultural and 5 natural).
- Guide Training for shared tours
Starting this fall, our clients will have the opportunity to join half-day shared tours in Tokyo and Kyoto during peak seasons. This month, we conducted on-the-ground training in both cities for the select number of highly-skilled guides who will lead these limited tours. Everyone is feeling confident that we will deliver a fun and informative group tour experience for our lucky peak season guests.
- Adventure Team Drivers and Bike Maintenance Workshop
Following the popularity of last year’s workshop, on 1-2 August, EXO Japan hosted its second Bike Repair and Maintenance Workshop for our drivers. Over this two day session, our EXO driver learned best practices from bike industry experts for supporting cycling based tours. The event was excellently organised and run by our Logistics and Product Planner for Adventure, Vashkar Grunung. It was our aim to have all of our drivers able to not only be able to carry out basic bike repairs, but also be attuned to best practices with regards to sag van support and offering sterling customer service on tour. We feel confident that our drivers are some of the best qualified, best trained and fun people behind the wheel in Japan.
Destination updates
- Nintendo Museum opening on 2 October – The highly anticipated Nintendo Museum in Uji, on the outskirts of Kyoto, has announced its official opening date: 2 October 2024. Tickets are sold through a lottery system, with applications for October and November now open. Interested visitors can apply for the ticket lottery up to three months in advance on the museum’s official website here.
- Maintenance Closure – Benesse House Museum, restaurants and rooms will be affected by partial maintenance closure days between 6 January and 28 February 2025, with most of the facilities closed between 14-20 January, 2025.
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
