This last March's trip was fantastic, truly a very special time full of spiritual and meaningful moments that I would love to share with you again next year.
While we have only 1 spot on this year's October tour, this is your chance to join us in 2027.
We won't return for sakura (cherry blossom) because it is an incredibly crowded and expensive of the year (up to double on hotel prices) and, while beautiful, I believe the rest of the spring season in Japan is equally magical without the sticker prices and sardine-can feeling.
In May, there will be many other flowers in bloom, the weather will be much better (less cloudy, less rain) and the crowds will have dissipated. In keeping with our intention to be more responsible travelers, we will focus on May and also November, the season for fall leaves which, in Japan, will absolutely make you feel like you are in a fairytale.
In this week's email:
Our Japan 2027 trips are live. And we are announcing them with a very generous launch off of 500 EUR OFF!
This week's podcast episode is a chat between me and our wonderful Greek host and logistics manager Stella who shares her suggestions of Greek islands to visit besides famous ones like Mykonos and Santorini
Our 10 day itinerary will spend time in the most important sites in Japan, as well as time off the beaten path with artisans and experts who will welcome us into their homes and studios and share their craft with us.
This is a very spiritual trip, with many mindful experiences that will foster the present and being in the moment. We will get an insight into Japan's many ancient practices that promote calmness, spiritual wellbeing and meditation in ways that will surprise and enlighten you.
Our tour will connect with several local women through our interpreter-host, and will get behind closed doors of Japan's rich heritage and traditions with exclusive experiences curated and available just to our groups.
JAPAN LAUNCH OFFER - 500 EUR OFF
Our launch offer includes a 500 EUR discount for the first few who book a spot.
The are limited discounted spots, and once they are booked, we will not be adding more, so don't wait up as they are available on a first come first serve basis.
We won't just witness Japanese culture, we'll learn to understand and appreciate it through the eyes of the women who are keeping traditions alive.
We will meet artists and experts in their private spaces so they can share their craft with us behind closed doors. These are not tourist activities, they don't have booking systems, they are artists and live off their craft which they will share with us exclusively.
Many of them do not speak English, so we will connect through our interpreter-guide, and fully immerse in Japanese culture in a meaningful way.
2. Gastronomic experiences
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Japan is all about the food, and we will get the chance to try lots of different dishes and foods throughout the trip, from a private sushi demonstration and dinner, to a craft mochi, soy sauce and miso paste factory tour, a do-it-yourself okonomiyaki lunch, several fine dining kaiseki meals and so much more.
The Japanese gastronomy is vast and diverse, so you will have some free evenings to prioritise other foods you want to try such as tempura, gyoza, ramen, etc.
3. Time for shopping
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I am not a shopper at all, but I returned home from Japan with 10kg of extra luggage. This is the land of creative fashion, electronics, manga (comics) and anime, sake, tea and so much more.
There is a lot you can buy, so we have built in free time for shopping in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Note: We do recommend you arrive earlier to enjoy the MANY activities available in Tokyo that are easily bookable on your own.
4. Hand-picked hotels
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You know we love great hotels and always prioritise local brands, especially those owned by women, and accommodations that are premium as well as culturally relevant.
We will combine stays at new and sleek hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo with a luxury, female-owned sea-facing onsen in Mie and a hotel set in nature in Nara.
Japanese people follow two main religions: Shintoism and Buddhism, and the most important places to visit are temples and shrines.
We will not only visit and admire these architectural masterpieces and religious centers, but also learn about the philosophies and ways of life that make Japanese culture as thoughtful and mindful as it is.
We will attend a powerful kagura ritual, talk and meditate with a Buddhist nun, feed sacred deer, cleanse our souls when we visit religious sites, enjoy a Buddhist lunch and meditate at a zen garden.
I am sure that you will go home with a more present and aware self and with practices you can continue in your day to day. Japan stays with you, no matter your spirituality or set of beliefs.
6. Hands on experiences
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We will get involved in Japanese culture and actually participate in it.
We will repair a plate with gold powder, create our own Kawaii bento box, make our own pearl accessory, attend a Noh performance demo, participate in a tea ceremony and walk the streets of historical Kyoto wearing a kimono.
These experiences are not only fun, but help us understand the Japanese way of life from the inside, so we can live them not just observe them.
Our trip to Japan is not your usual tour. It's jam-packed with enriching experiences and awe-inspiring moments. You won't leave the same person as when you arrived
Reply to this email or book a time to speak to us live here.
Episode #10 - Greece beyond Mykonos & Santorini
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This week's podcast episode is packed full of insider tips from Stella, or Greek host and Logistics Manager at Solo Female Travelers who shares her suggestions for lesser visited and known islands in Greece you can visit if you have already been to Mykonos or Santorini, prefer to avoid them or are visiting them, since several are nearby.
Stella has worked in the Travel industry for over 25 years in all kinds of roles from sales person to hotels to wedding organizer, travel writer and more. She really knows many of the islands like the back of her palm and has been to many of them multiple times.
If you want to visit Greece, don't miss out on her tips.
Check out all the details of the podcast here, listen to the episode and start following us [Solo Female Travelers Podcast] on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode:
Have dinner in Finland, hosted by the national tourism board. Here is their message: "This autumn, Finland will be serving the worldβs first national Official Tasting Menus: culinary tours of the countryβs different regions, hosted by the worldβs happiest nation." This is by application only and you can apply here.
Did you know that Everest is not the farthest point from the center of the Earth that Chimborazo volcano, in Ecuador, is? Read more here.
I hope you have a great rest of the week wherever you are.
Hugs from Spain
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Solo Female Travelersβ C/ Europa 18 5-2, Sitges, 08870
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