Published on Jun, 2024

Our guide Zia was a breath of fresh air. He was responsive and engaging. Trip was very comfortable, he helped us pick the right spots and even recommend some great eats and shopping along the way. Very thorough in japanese history, did not rush us at all. We enjoyed the experience.

Published on Jun, 2024

We knew up front that seeing Mt. Fuji was going to be an issue. Rain, cloud, wind (lots of it), you name it, we had it. Despite this, our guide Rabs was fantastic. He genuinely wanted us to see Fuji, and made sure we covered the best chances to see it, including going on a last ditch attempt at the 5th station (still no go). Despite being a little disappointed we headed to Oshino Hakkai which means Eight Seas of Oshino. There are 8 ponds there, with water that is literally from Fuji's melted snow and some of the freshest water in the world. There was a food market there with tasty treats, and a local crafts store. We were just about to leave, when the clouds parted, the sun shone, and Mt. Fuji in all her glory was clear as day in the distance. The photos were so good that friends thought they were from a postcard. Regardless of what the weather is, you'll have a great experience and the moral of the story is don't give up hope!

Published on Jun, 2024

Long overdue review - went on a tour with Haseeb in November 2023 with my parents. We lucked out and had great views of Mt. Fuji, despite it raining the night before. The tour company texted me the night before offering to cancel for a refund due to the weather - we decided to take the chance and were so glad we did. Haseeb was able to accommodate an extra stop in the tour which was also a pleasant surprise. A great option if you are traveling with elderly family or companions.

Published on Jun, 2024

Mukarram was an excellent tour guide on an enjoyable tour. The tour covered lots of territory surrounding Mount Fuji and would have provided many excellent viewing opportunities except that the mountain was shy and mostly hid behind some clouds. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed our day. Mukarram is Pakistani but speaks excellent English and Japanese. He provided interesting views on Japan, being not only a long term resident but also an outsider. We especially appreciated his being happy to start our tour at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. in order to beat the traffic and tour buses.  In fact, we were leaving all the popular sites just as the crowds were arriving. Using WhatsApp we were able to exchange photos ahead of time for recognition purposes and get information about when to expect him; he was right on time. We chose the cable car over the boat ride and were happy we did. Unfortunately, a rockslide blocked the road to the Fifth Station on Fuji, so we could not get to that viewpoint.  Lunch is not included in the tour but since it was basically an all-day affair, Mukarram had a planned stop at a local family owned traditional Japanese restaurant. We even sat on the floor! The food was excellent and reasonably priced but only cash was accepted.

Published on Jun, 2024

Mukarram was an excellent tour guide on an enjoyable tour. The tour covered lots of territory surrounding Mount Fuji and would have provided many excellent viewing opportunities except that the mountain was shy and mostly hid behind some clouds. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed our day. Mukarram is Pakistani but speaks excellent English and Japanese. He provided interesting views on Japan, being not only a long term resident but also an outsider. We especially appreciated his being happy to start our tour at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. in order to beat the traffic and tour buses.  In fact, we were leaving all the popular sites just as the crowds were arriving. Using WhatsApp we were able to exchange photos ahead of time for recognition purposes and get information about when to expect him; he was right on time. We chose the cable car over the boat ride and were happy we did. Unfortunately, a rockslide blocked the road to the Fifth Station on Fuji, so we could not get to that viewpoint.  Lunch is not included in the tour but since it was basically an all-day affair, Mukarram had a planned stop at a local family owned traditional Japanese restaurant. We even sat on the floor! The food was excellent and reasonably priced but only cash was accepted.