A lovely day in Western Tokyo
The Western Tokyo Territory
Western Tokyo in green is a huge chunk of the capital city - way much more extended than central hyperurban Tokyo. The territory offers within a short distance all the ingredients of Japanese provincial to mountainous countryside good life within 60 to 90 minutes from the city center. Total change of mood and mind from the city grind and a secluded day of calm, food and lovely discoveries are guaranteed, next door to your urban location, but still in Tokyo.
Less words, more pictures here
Less words, more pictures here
Private tours planning offers
In a nutshell, Western Tokyo Tours are a private premium day tour entirely made and fine tuned to order, with a single objective: have you escape urban Tokyo and enjoy for a day the relaxing wonders of Tokyo green Western territories, away from the crowds, noise and commodified tour offers.
The territory you will be ushered in is located a surprisingly short one hour driving distance away from central Tokyo by vehicle * . If you think mountains and a rural day experience, add another thirty minutes and you will reach a fully mountainous territory still named Tokyo at the extreme western tip of the capital city.
Western Tokyo is the shortest destination to Japan' countryside and rural experience, meaning slow food and slow life, without leaving Tokyo.
Lovely surroundings, leisurely walks, slow-food aplenty, and genuine local encounters, are located at a mere one-hour driving distance from the center with an expert tour conductor**, myself. Western Tokyo Tours are a non-generic day escapades in lush green slow paced Tokyo, customized to guests' wishes with unique destinations, many options and deep private experiences. Jump to the end of this page to peruse a choice of possibilities.
You will love it.
The territory you will be ushered in is located a surprisingly short one hour driving distance away from central Tokyo by vehicle * . If you think mountains and a rural day experience, add another thirty minutes and you will reach a fully mountainous territory still named Tokyo at the extreme western tip of the capital city.
Western Tokyo is the shortest destination to Japan' countryside and rural experience, meaning slow food and slow life, without leaving Tokyo.
Lovely surroundings, leisurely walks, slow-food aplenty, and genuine local encounters, are located at a mere one-hour driving distance from the center with an expert tour conductor**, myself. Western Tokyo Tours are a non-generic day escapades in lush green slow paced Tokyo, customized to guests' wishes with unique destinations, many options and deep private experiences. Jump to the end of this page to peruse a choice of possibilities.
You will love it.
Guiding formats
Whereas your guide is always available for endless narratives, your privacy and the sheer enjoyment of many lovely locations during your day are best achieved at times with lighter, or no guiding. You may want to enjoy vistas and meals alone with yourself, your family or friends. This wish will be facilitated and satisfied as you like it.
* Various means of transportation are available.
** Guiding can be as light to leave you soak in the mood of locations without a barrage of explanations, or as detailed as you wish. Remote guiding is also an option. Inquire.
Guiding is provided in English or French. Other languages can be managed.
** Guiding can be as light to leave you soak in the mood of locations without a barrage of explanations, or as detailed as you wish. Remote guiding is also an option. Inquire.
Guiding is provided in English or French. Other languages can be managed.
Day tour example
9:00 Leave your hotel in central Tokyo
10:00 Farmers' market in Western Tokyo
11:00 Saké factory visit
12:30 Kaiséki cuisine lunch
14:00 Green short walk
15:00 Traditional dyeing factory visit, just watching and understanding, or doing it yourself
16:30 Coffee break
17:30 Heading back to central Tokyo
19:00 (or before) Back to your hotel. Extension to dinner possible.
... or any combination of the listed "things to do" including "doing nothing in Japanese style" below, or other wishes not listed. Just inquire.
10:00 Farmers' market in Western Tokyo
11:00 Saké factory visit
12:30 Kaiséki cuisine lunch
14:00 Green short walk
15:00 Traditional dyeing factory visit, just watching and understanding, or doing it yourself
16:30 Coffee break
17:30 Heading back to central Tokyo
19:00 (or before) Back to your hotel. Extension to dinner possible.
... or any combination of the listed "things to do" including "doing nothing in Japanese style" below, or other wishes not listed. Just inquire.
Planning your day* in a nutshell
Planning ahead is better but upon circumstances, short notice next day tour may be delivered with some limitations on what is possible to do. Private cultural deep experiences may not be available on short notice as artists and performers who are part of my private network are busy people, not touristic destinations. It is strongly recommended to avoid weekends, national holidays and the day following a national holiday, and stay instead in the city where connoisseurs only Tokyo non-generic destinations set in the calm are also available and designed to your wishes.
Make your own tour and request an estimate with this online form.
Or just contact me, Lionel Dersot, in Tokyo at contact@nextaroma.com
*A night in the utter quiet of Western Tokyo countryside is also a possibility.
Planning ahead is better but upon circumstances, short notice next day tour may be delivered with some limitations on what is possible to do. Private cultural deep experiences may not be available on short notice as artists and performers who are part of my private network are busy people, not touristic destinations. It is strongly recommended to avoid weekends, national holidays and the day following a national holiday, and stay instead in the city where connoisseurs only Tokyo non-generic destinations set in the calm are also available and designed to your wishes.
Make your own tour and request an estimate with this online form.
Or just contact me, Lionel Dersot, in Tokyo at contact@nextaroma.com
*A night in the utter quiet of Western Tokyo countryside is also a possibility.
Respite
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For a change from all you may have seen, visited and tasted in the previous days or during your last visit to Japan, or a day off during your business stay in the capital, indulge in the Western Tokyo Tour, a customized, totally private day to reset, discover or rekindle with a laid back Japan devoid of crowds and standardized formulas, at a surprisingly short distance from the urban center.
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Food
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Western Tokyo is a terroir of slow food, opulent with vegetables, selective with river fish and meat. The district is plentiful with water, which explains the many saké makers around. Countryside traditional cuisine is devoid of ostentation but genuine in hospitality and exquisite tastes. And maybe for a change, Western cooking or Japanese with a modern twist.
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Surroundings
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Centennial buildings, gorgeous saké factories, fields and rivers to walk around or just sit by, mountains in the distance that mark the end of Tokyo, a silk boutique hidden behind a bamboo grove, an odorous indigo dyeing atelier deep in blue, flowers on hillsides. Tranquility and nature are the keywords that best describe selected locations and privileged spots under each season.
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Seasonality
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Each tour is woven around the current season, weather conditions, mood and the unexpected. Multiple variety of greens in Spring, deep brown foliage of Autumn, the dampness of the rainy season, the searing heat of Summer, the crisp air and blue sky, or the odd snowfall of Winter, the sense of place is profoundly resounding a natural environment that is still named Tokyo.
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Encounters
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People are destinations, and all tours are made by and thanks to a strong network of local residents, regional actors, cooks, farmers, priests, artisans and artists who sustain a casual yet unique cocoon of slow life an hour away from the mediatic urban Tokyo.
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The Western Tokyo Tour offers the sensible traveler that rare opportunity to experience real human connexions, and that special feeling for a day to simply be a part of it.
You will love it.
A non-exhaustive selection of possibilities according to your interests and seasons:
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Food and terroir:
Farmers' market Saké factories Glass bee hives (kids will love it) Kaiséki cuisine lunch Italian lunch (for an exquisite change) Simpler lunch (soba noodles, vegetarian) Lunch alfresco Cultural experiences Indigo dyeing workshop Noh theater initiation at the private home of an active Noh actor Pottery and sculpture artists' private home and atelier visits Modern and traditional textile destination |
Well-being and relaxing
Afternoon nap in a shrine Your own meditation style in secluded locations River, hills and forest leisure short walks Hotsprings from classic to modern Things to bring back Saké, traditional and contemporary food easy to fly back, honey, Tokyo green tea, textile goods, potteries and artworks, lacquer wares, longing memories and the wish to come back again. Extensions Night in a mountain traditional inn Night in a Western style hotel on a mountain cliff Japanese or Western dinner in soothing settings |
For tour content and schedule inquiry, contact me here.
