Santuários Sagrados de Ise e Litorais Cativantes (partida de Nagoya)

This was by far the best tour I’ve ever been on in Japan. Definitely not the typical chaotic tours… The tour itself was well planned with a good paced schedule. The team was incredibly professional and friendly. Kim was an absolute delight, informative, knowledgeable, and engaging. Along with driver Iwasaki san, who spoke great English and was very polite. Kemil (pretty sure, I butchered the name here, sorry), a learning guide from the Philippines, showed great enthusiasm, and this clearly shows that the company (Snow Monkey Resorts Tours) have great & passionate employees .

Our guide, A, was great! The pace of travel was just right, and the driver was very safe too. We had a nice, cozy group of 7 people, and the van was just right to accommodate us all. Ise is not a common tourist destination (I think), so I'm glad we got to see it this time!

I booked this tour without looking into it as I had a free day in Nagoya and I didn’t regret anything. Both tour guides were very knowledgeable about the history of the shrines. I would highly recommend it.

My guide, Kim (Snow Monkey Tour), was superb. Kim is very knowledgeable about Japanese history and folklore despite not being a native Japanese speaker. This diversity adds a very refreshing perspective to the tour. Language was no barrier as Kim is fluent in English and Japanese. I was in awe of the tales of Goddess Amaterasu, Goddess Tsukiyomi, and Susanoo-no-Mikoto throughout the journey. The itinerary for this tour is a gem. The featured places are very well-known destinations for locals, and this offers a unique experience to have been able to visit sacred spots only the locals know. Ise is a city worth visiting in Mie Prefecture. Hence, this is definitely a tour not to be missed when you are in Nagoya. Highly recommended to be included as part of your travel plans! Last but not least, the Snow Monkey Tour group does not discriminate against solo travelers, and this means that as a frequent solo traveler myself, I am able to participate in tours that cater to just one person.

Our guide was Kim from America, a friendly and knowledgeable lady. She taught us things about Japanese culture that other tours never mentioned, such as how to pray when visiting shrines. We were so lucky to have her for our day tour to Ise. One issue was that we didn't receive any email from Klook informing us of the contact person and company who would be taking us on the day tour. Please look into this matter so that we don't have to search for the guide without any information.

I'm sorry, I forgot the name of our American tour guide, but they were incredibly nice, introducing the past and present of Ise Grand Shrine every step of the way. They explained each point in detail, so diligently and charmingly. The shrine's location is fantastic! I just have a small question: I read online that it's rebuilt every 20 years, but the guide said 30 years... Oh well, I won't dwell on it. On the old street next to the shrine, I tried a spicy beer – honestly, I really couldn't get into it 🤣. Then I had Ise Udon 😋. Afterwards, we went to Ise Bay. Based on the forecast and the guide's initial warning that the weather would be mediocre and might even rain, I didn't have high expectations. But once we arrived at the bay, the blue was so stunning that I just wanted to sit there and zone out... It was absolutely beautiful! The two other groups of tourists with us were from Hong Kong, which was a great opportunity to practice my Cantonese, hahaha 🤣.

Although this was a new tour for the travel agency and few people had signed up, I ended up being the only guest. However, this did not diminish the quality of the trip; on the contrary, it became its advantage. During this incredibly peaceful journey, our guide Kim had thoroughly researched Ise Grand Shrine, providing detailed explanations of the entire pilgrimage process and its historical background. Our driver, Orlando, drove safely and efficiently, always arriving early for pickups.

The tour guide was very enthusiastic and friendly, providing detailed explanations. She had a deep understanding of culture, history, and traditions, even though she wasn't Japanese. Communication was very smooth, and the entire trip was delightful; we had a wonderful time.

Ise is the biggest Shintoism shrine in Japan and is a must visit for anyone who wants to experience Japanese traditions. The guide, Kim, made learning Japanese culture fun. The old town was quite crowded this time of the year with locals, but you will still be able to enjoy the food. Kim also recommended this coffee shop with a good view of the river, and it has really good coffee too. Be ready for the cold and windy weather when visiting the wedded rocks.

Ise is quite far and difficult to reach with children. Thank you to both guides for being so thoughtful and professional. Although it was hard to converse in English, both guides explained everything meticulously so I could understand. The weather was a bit cloudy today, but it was still magnificent and beautiful.