Passeios por Oirase Gorge

I was the only guest on the trip as the other two guests suddenly cancelled their plans. Luckily, the guide, Narita-san, was incredibly caring and helpful throughout the entire day's journey. For example, he planned every sightseeing spot considering the weather, and also explained everything in detail using a phone translator. His recommended ice cream (shijimi clam) was delicious 😛 The views that day were magnificent, especially at Cape Tappi! Thanks for everything, Narita-san!

This year's Spring Festival was in mid-to-late February, and there had been very little snowfall during my days in Aomori. Luckily, I booked a private car for February 19th to Hakkoda, Oirase Stream, and Lake Towada. As soon as we entered the mountains, a blizzard began. Although the cable car wasn't operating, we still had a solid day of fun playing in the powder snow! Who can understand the joy of powder snow! Mr. Fukuda is truly a wonderful and professional person. He is the most attentive, professional, and polite driver I have ever encountered during my many trips and private car bookings in Japan! Due to the blizzard, visibility in the mountains was very low, but his driving skills were excellent; I didn't feel any impact from the weather. He took us to check in at every scenic spot along the Oirase Stream, and during the blizzard, he waited by the car for us every time, opening and closing the doors! Thoughtful and meticulous! 100% positive review!

行程非常满意，节奏适合，不是很辛苦，司导服务很好，及时翻译器沟通，路况熟悉，驾驶平稳、有礼貌很专业，还帮助拍照，一次愉快的旅行。

Aunque llovió por la tarde, disfruté mucho del recorrido. Erina fue muy servicial y siempre nos asistió, es amable y siempre sonríe y, por supuesto... hermosa, jeje. ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS, ERINA!👍

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Japan! If you’re a fan of JDM culture, Fast & Furious, or just love cars, this experience is absolutely worth it. It doesn’t feel like a typical tourist tour—you really become part of the local car community. Seeing legendary cars, meeting passionate owners, driving through Tokyo at night, and visiting Daikoku PA created memories we’ll never forget. A special thank you to our driver, Timi. She was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and professional from the very beginning. She made us feel comfortable, shared interesting stories, answered all our questions, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Her passion for JDM culture really shows, and it made the night feel authentic and special. Thank you, Timi, and the whole Gaijin Tuned team for an unforgettable evening. We would definitely do it again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo!

Sun Peng, our guide, deserves full marks! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Kumamoto throughout the trip, explaining the unique features of each attraction. To be honest, the Aso Boy train wasn't really worth it, haha. 2300 yen per person just to see a mountain; it's not as beautiful as the Ghibli train I rode in Hakone, Tokyo. It was a shame we couldn't go boating in Takachiho Gorge today, but the scenery was still good, though slightly less impressive than Hokkaido's Blue Pond. However, my only complaint about the guide is that he sent us to Takachiho Shrine. It's fine to go, but the path is genuinely difficult, so be prepared. But on the way back to the parking lot, the guide told us to follow Google Maps to the third parking lot, which would have been a disaster! You absolutely must return to that slope and head straight for the third parking lot. When you go to the shrine, there's a fork in the road on that slope; pay attention to the sign indicating the direction to the third parking lot. It's only 300m that way. Do NOT follow the map! A large group of us followed the map, but luckily I had seen the sign on the way there, otherwise, we would have been completely lost trying to find our way back! The cheese mini-bread recommended by the guide was decent, and the cream puffs were also good, filled with ice cream. I didn't try the summer iced tea special. The horse sashimi and barbecue were okay, but don't have high expectations; it's not as good as grilled beef. Next, regarding the guide's recommendations at Kusasenri: I didn't buy the keychains, didn't buy the horse oil cream, but I did buy a fridge magnet. The green house was a bit hard to find, so look carefully. The beef burger was sold out. The only thing I think is worth recommending, which the guide didn't, is the ice cream. If you go, remember to try the ice cream at the museum! Oh, and I also want to mention that the time at Kusasenri is actually very short. If you climb to the observation deck and then come down, and also want to eat and shop, it might be quite rushed. Be prepared to just have ice cream! The fridge magnet is very cute and worth buying for 800 yen! Finally, the Tenkaippin ramen was a bit disappointing; the firm noodles were very salty and not as good as Ippudo in Osaka, haha. Ippudo is also salty (apparently ramen is meant to be paired with sake). As for the Osmanthus fried rice: it tasted like something any Chinese restaurant could make; no need to specifically try it in Japan, hahaha! Overall, this group tour was actually pretty good, just a bit rushed. Of course, that's because there were many places to visit, and it wasn't a self-guided trip, haha! I would still consider a group tour again if I have the chance!

Mr. Fujii, our driver, was very conscientious and responsible, good at communication, and skilled in driving. He patiently shared information with us. The friends in our small group were also very harmonious and friendly. Mr. Fujii would carefully remind us about icy or deeply snow-covered roads, and fellow group members also helped each other. We were very lucky that when we arrived at Mount Hakkoda, there weren't many people, so the waiting time for the ropeway was very short. The scenery was indeed beautiful, and it was also very cold. The night before, it had been raining and sleeting in Aomori, and we had prepared for the possibility of the ropeway being closed and our itinerary changing. However, we were very fortunate to have a bright, sunny day the next day. During our Oirase Stream sightseeing, Mr. Fujii also used a translator to tell us the differences in the scenery under various conditions. Finally, catching a stunning sunset on the sleepy return journey was an unforgettable experience (he even made a heart shape with his hands when I asked him to, haha). Klook's one-day tours are truly high quality, and the coordination is very smooth. I have already purchased tours in both Japan and Korea, and all have been excellent and satisfying. Highly recommended.

Apparently, it was the first day of heavy snowfall on the trip day so we couldn't see much. But Nakamura-san still drive us to Lamp No Yado onsen, which was the highlight of our trip. The snow covered mountain is so beautiful, and Nakamura-san.. What can I say? So skillful and calm the entire day. It must be so hard to drive on a snowy day, because on our way we saw a lot of cars had accident and in each scene, she stopped and helped. We were so in awe. She's one of the best driver and guide in Japan, I guess. Thank you so much, Nakamura-san! It was truly one unforgettable trip!