Passeios por Nabana no Sato

素晴らしい経験でした！バンでの移動はスムーズでした。ドライバーが指定された場所で送迎してくれます。アウトレットパークからなばなの里への移動はかなり歩くことになるので、プライベートな交通手段は非常に便利です。アウトレットパークで買い物をする時間は十分にあり、イルミネーションはとてもリラックスできました。イルミネーションの開始時は、光のトンネルの点灯を待つ多くの人々が並んでいたため、かなり混雑していました。公園に入ったらすぐに光のトンネルへ直行すると、良い景色を見ることができます。ベゴニアガーデンも美しく、リラックスできる素晴らしい場所でした。公園内では光と音のショーも開催されています。

A small group of 8 people (in an 8-seater MPV) is good (50-minute ride to arrive around 1 PM). We have enough time (1 PM to 4:45 PM) for the Mitsui outlet (as we only visit the shops we are interested in). There is a food court selling most of the famous foods (Miso Tonkatsu, Ramen). We had our dinner there. As for the illumination, we stayed from 5 PM to 8 PM. Since there weren't many people (early February), we completed the entire area in about 2 hours. We just sat around for nearly an hour. Probably during peak season, the timing would be just right. The ticket included a ¥1500 voucher for you to spend in souvenir shops or some pop-up snack booths. This trip is extremely worthwhile, bringing you to two itineraries (which would be a little troublesome by public transportation to two different places).

There was no tour guide accompanying us during the stops—the driver and our guide simply dropped us off and picked us up at the agreed time. Honestly, this setup worked perfectly. These destinations don’t really require guided explanations, so having the freedom to explore at our own pace was ideal. The time allotted for Mitsui Outlet Park was brilliant. It was more than enough to browse properly, try things on without rushing, enjoy some snacks or coffee, and still make thoughtful purchases. It didn’t feel hurried at all, which made the shopping experience much more enjoyable. Nagano no Sato Winter Illumination was beautiful and festive, especially in the evening. There are lots of restaurants in this stop also. Overall, highly recommended!

It was the best tour! We got to taste 7 different kinds of strawberries during strawberry picking, and they were all big and sweet, making me feel incredibly happy! The owner of the strawberry farm was also very kind and wonderful, and the female staff even took pictures for us, which became a great memory with my mother! Then, we went up the snowy mountain, 1212m above sea level, in a ropeway. I was nervous, but it was very stable with no swaying at all, so there was no need to worry! The view from the summit was a breathtaking panorama! I also recommend the soft-serve ice cream 🍦 here! Lol 👍. At the next outlet, I was able to visit my favorite stores and make some good purchases! The fourth enjoyable part was Nabana no Sato! With its amazing light show, tunnel of lights, and even the mirror pond, it felt like I had stepped into another world! Most importantly, our tour guide for today, Mr. Fujiki, was a very cheerful, friendly, and kind person! I felt that being a guide is his true calling 👍. Thanks to him, it was an incredibly happy day, and my mother was also very satisfied, saying it was wonderful! I've grown to love Japan even more! Thank you so much! I would definitely like to use this service again! ^_^

Our companion, Mr. Li, was very up-to-date and very friendly. Thank you very much.

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!