About Nextaroma
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I am Lionel Dersot, a French national in Tokyo since 1985.
The stance ”Not for tourists” featured on the site top page is not a gimmick but an expression of clear, confirmed, affirmative positioning. The tourism industry is an industry. It doesn’t much differ from the fast food industry. With Nextaroma, I am positoned into artisanship. It is articulated from the view point that some travelers are not looking for the ready-made for tourists attractions and experiences churned out on-demand, but yearning for something like the “textures of the ordinary, the remarkable and the distinct” all woven together. Tourism industry is productive illusion. I deliver authenticity. I quote from a remarkable entry of the London Review of Books dated March 9 entitled Worldwide by author John Meek. You can read more here on Nextaroma’s positioning in the niche world of artisanship applied to the design of private days and itineraries. At a time of overtourism, faked authentic destinations, theme-parked locations and artificial experiences unrelated with local realities and the meaning of the good life, I offer a different take on private custom travels uniquely designed to your envies, including those you may not be aware of yet when it comes to Japan. If you are still reading, chances are pre-formatted ready-made formulas are not your cup of green tea. In that case, please do read on and inquire. I design custom private only itineraries based on real knowledge of Japan, visited destinations and people encounters inside. Custom design means the exact opposite of packaged touristic offers and the guidebooks mantra, or the überized guides whose qualification is enthusiasm. You don’t build an itinerary for grown-ups and senior travelers on the knowledge of where to slurp additive laded cheap noodles in a chain outlet. I only bring you to and recommend destinations of value for gastronomy, beauty, landscapes that matter and the sheer contentment of unique moments in Japan. At a time when most destinations are listed and highlighted for marketing purposes, the ultimate competence is the crafting of sensible and intelligent itineraries day by day, even for a single day, exclusively designed to create lasting memories of your visit to Japan, memories based on the authentic. Focusing on the authentic means concentrating on the essential. The scope is large, from traditional to the lesser known hamburger place that is a valid destination too. Typically, European guests also crave at times fro a good espresso coffee in Tokyo. I turn this crave into a local experience logged onto the superior textures of the ordinary good life here. Planning starts with dialogue, inviting you to evoke what Japan inspires you, how Japan speaks to you and the style of travel you favor first. My task is to build around your wishes. I do the planning and the leading, including remote concierge like guiding and support as needed. Implementation is performed through an expert local travel agency when requested. I am confident you will love the experience even for one day. My expert territories start with Tokyo inner city, but also the wonderful Western green and huge countryside of the capital city that allow to disengage from the urban grind for a day of discovery. I am very much into gastronomy and the sharing of destinations up and low scale that are authentically favored by locals, not by guidebooks. Comfort, relaxation and access to beauty are essential ingredients to make your days in Japan unforgetable. I seriously take these into account when designing your days. With Tokyo as a base for day trips, I recommend the Western green and mountainous part of the city, the ocean side around Kamakura and beyond, the Suruga bay for fish galore with mount Fuji in the background down to Shizuoka. See, mountains, countryside wrapped in enchanting settings and delicious food can all be experienced with the comfort of being back in central Tokyo at a convenient hour. As a side note, I am also much into citrus growing and the darling yuzu. Japan is a citrus paradise and citrus, like wine grapes elsewhere, is an original and in seasons very valid entry point into the discovery of rural Japan. First territories of choice are the Wakayama, Kôchi and Tokushima districts. In seasons, you can discover yuzu right inside and neaby Tokyo. Kyoto without the crowds is also a destination I favor and share. Wherever you go, food, elating landscapes, the good life are the main axis of itineraries made for pleasure and enchantment. I also plan expert study tours for professionals in citrus, fruits, food and the attached industries, technologies, agriculture know-how and the associated culinary culture. I am a certified tour manager at the Japan Tourism Agency, license number 13-16-0179. Contact me at contact@nextaroma.com Tokyo: +81 80 2083 1812 A philosophy of travel Philosophy is a big name, but in an industry where mass tourism is the rule, Nextaroma is never inspired by what conventional contents travel agencies deliver, nor by any guidebooks diktats, nor even by the media obsession forcing travelers with the cool de rigueur to focus on compulsory destinations and experiences where crowds are a standard feature. Travel here is inspired by the world of villégiature (villeggiatura in Italian) and encounters, not the accumulation of destinations. What only matters by the end of a single day, or a string of lovely days in Japan is your contentment. |
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Nextaroma is also supported by Martin Esposito in Europe for advising at large, communication and strategy.
Martin is a bilingual language specialist providing support to individuals and organizations wishing their content to be fully localized and come to perfect fruition. The advice he provides is not industry-specific, but pertains rather to language and cultural form, be it British English or Italian. His service offering is completed through a range of interpreting and text creation and management ability. Contact him at bigcitymartin@hotmail.com London: +447762566542 |