Guided vs. self-guided tours
At Japan Adventurer, we offer two main types of tour – sightseeing and outdoor adventures. On all of our tours, we use a comfortable private vehicle to get you and your luggage around smoothly and safely. For sightseeing tours, we offer the choice of an English-speaking driver, or a Japanese-speaking driver with an English-speaking guide. All of our outdoor adventures are guided.
#### **Sightseeing tours**
Our sightseeing tours visit the most beautiful and interesting places in Shikoku, while giving you the opportunity to try some enjoyable, hands-on experiences.
_With an English-speaking driver_The main role of an English-speaking driver is to get you around safely, and to see that you get checked into your accommodation without difficulty. If you’re particularly enjoying somewhere on your itinerary and you want to spend more time there, you can ask your driver to adjust the day’s timings to allow that. If you fancy stopping for a cup of coffee, just ask the driver. A private vehicle with a driver who speaks English gives you flexibility. Your driver isn’t a guide and won’t accompany you everywhere. But as a friendly local person, they’ll be glad to answer any questions you have and help out where needed. This is a good option if you’re happy to explore for yourself without detailed explanations.
_With a Japanese-speaking driver and English-speaking guide_We have native Japanese guides with good English ability, and native English speaking guides who have lived in Japan for many years. While your Japanese-speaking driver will get you around safely, your guide will accompany you wherever you want them to go, providing interesting, in-depth background and answering all your questions. This is a good option if you want to get the most out of your limited time by gaining a deeper understanding of Shikoku and Japan.
#### **Outdoor adventure tours**
We offer tours in the great outdoors of Shikoku that involve hiking, cycling, and various water activities. These tours all use a private vehicle, and all are accompanied by an English-speaking guide. This is to ensure your safety and enjoyment. Shikoku is a big place, and it’s easy to get lost on your own. Our experienced guides make sure that doesn’t happen.
#### **Self-guided tours**
Japan Adventurer currently doesn’t offer self-guided tours.
We often see customers of other companies on self-guided tours in hotel lobbies and train stations, rifling through their ‘information package’, anxiously trying to find their coupons, or maps, or timetables. Sometimes when our guides are explaining things to our customers, they sidle up to eavesdrop so that they too might understand what they’ve come to see. That’s because there isn’t very much in their ‘information package’.
With our tours, there’s no running through train stations with your suitcase banging against your legs. You won’t have to take a bus at a specific time to get to that special, but out-of-the-way place. When it rains, you won’t have to get wet. There won’t be any confusion at check-in.
We think our way of running tours is the best, and we think you’ll be glad you chose it. Our consistently 5-star testimonials confirm that this is the right way.
