Travel Japan with My Besties, the Atsusaka Sisters!

If you are planning a trip to Japan, and you want to explore less touristy areas that are off-the-beaten path, I recommend you reach out to my dear friends, Naoko & Yuko, aka the @atsusakasisters!

The Atsusaka Sisters have been supporting friends & family from the US (myself included) to explore Japan since 2000. They specialize in bringing English-speaking visitors to their home prefecture of Shizuoka to explore the beautiful nature surrounding Mt. Fuji, go on foraging expeditions, enjoy world-class farm-to-table restaurants, and soak in the healing waters of their mineral-rich hot springs.

Getting to Shizuoka is easy. It is equidistant between Tokyo and Kyoto and accessible by Shinkansen-express. Once you are in Shizuoka, if you want to explore down into the peninsula or go up to Mount Fuji, it is best to travel by car. 

Taking visitors to explore Shizuoka by car is Yuko’s speciality.  For more reasons than one, (ie. the roadways in Japan are more narrow than the US, the Japanese drive on the left side of the road, and the signage is not posted in English), it is a great idea to hire Yuko to be your personal guide into Shizuoka’s countryside since she knows the area like the palm of her hand.

Meanwhile, Naoko -- who has been living stateside for the last 20 years -- has organized at least one trip per year for American friends (like me!) to destinations all around Japan. A seasoned traveler herself, she is brilliant at snapping together exciting itineraries and landing sought-after reservations. I also owe her majorly for coaching me in Japanese etiquette prior to my departure so that I could get along swimmingly and side-step stressors. 

Yuko has been working for the government of Tokyo for the last 20 years, and as of this June, she resigned from her position and moved back to Shizuoka so that she can dedicate herself full-time to launching this sisterly travel service. (Lucky for us!)

If you have been dreaming about going to Japan, and would like some support planning your trip, I literally can’t think of any two more wonderfully qualified humans for the job. 

To get in touch with the Atsusaka Sisters, you can email Naoko at atsusaka@gmail.com or fill out this google form to submit an inquiry.