Why Rediscover Tours?
WHO ARE WE?
Rediscover Tours is a travel company focused on cultural and authentic experiences for travelers to Japan. Jeff and Yoshimi Aasgaard started their first travel business in Japan in October 2000 with Japanese Guest Houses, a ryokan inn reservation service for travelers wishing to experience a ryokan (Japanese inn). They found that travelers want to experience Japan but did not always have the time or expertise to design, organize and make all the arrangements for their trip so Rediscover Tours was formed to take care of these details. Rediscover Tours now has offices in the US and Japan and works with travelers from all over the world. The company’s vision is to show the world the Japan that we love.
Rediscover Tours offers visitors a rare chance to truly get to know the Japanese people and to intimately experience the Japanese culture.
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
My first experience in Japan was in the late 1980’swhen my dad’s company assigned him to a project in Hiroshima. I fell in love with the country, the people, the food and the culture. In college, I studied international business which included Japanese language and history classes. After graduation, I moved to Osaka to increase my first hand knowledge of Japan and to find ways to show the world this amazing country.
A few years after moving to Japan I saw a group of tourists exiting a bus. They all looked exhausted and disengaged which surprised meas they were in one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, Kyoto. I knew there was a better way to travel in Japan so my wife and I started Japanese Guest Houses which makes reservations at ryokan inns all over Japan. This service opens the world of traditional ryokan inns and kaiseki dinners to international travelers. We are helping tourists rediscover what travel should be.
In 2006 we decided to expand our offering and created Rediscover Tours which is a full service tour company that designs, organizes and arranges your custom tour to Japan. Our Japan travel experts listen and work with you to create your ideal trip and then our arrangement crew take care of all the details. We make traveling in Japan easy so you can simply enjoy it.
Japan Experts
Our Japan travel experts are here to answer all your questions and to make your tour just as you want it. Read more…
Japan Branch
We are in Japan to support you during your tour.
Rediscover Tours is “People and Culture”
Our mission at Rediscover Tours is to provide culturally enriching experiences by meeting and getting to know the Japanese people and discovering Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
Your Pace – Slow, Medium or Fast
To create your ideal holidays in Japan, we will consider the “pace” of the trip. Pacing involves the number of locations visited, the number of nights in each location, the activities included, and the types of sites visited.
Your Travel Expert will listen to you and together will design a tour that fits your pace.
Slow-paced and In-depth
Rediscover Tours focuses on slow-paced tours, rather than offering you the typical Japanese package tour, where you visit two cities in one day. While the number of destinations is fewer, our tours offer the chance and time to get to know the Japanese people and to experience the Japanese culture in-depth. In addition, our tours will take you off the beaten track, to discover places most visitors would never see.
Varied Japanese-style Accommodations
Japan offers an array of accommodations. These accommodations include ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), minshuku (a smaller Japanese inn), shukubo temple lodging and Western hotels. By carefully choosing a variety of accommodations for your tour, Rediscover Tours aims to give you a deeper insight into life in Japan. Furthermore, the intimate accommodations will allow you to have close personal contact with the owners and staff of these inns.
Read more…
The Best Local Guides
Rediscover Tours only hire the best guides for your tour. They will make the difference between a good day and an experience that you will never forget. Years after years we have selected the best specialists around Japan.
Read more…
Varied Japanese Cuisine
Food is an essential part of Japanese culture. Rediscover Tours offer you the chance to sample a large variety in types of food: from eating with the local Japanese in small diners and trying homemade Japanese meals to sampling full course seafood dinners or some of the refined traditional Japanese cuisine.
Read more…
Social Responsible
Rediscover Tours is committed to operating tours that are not only interesting for our guests but are also responsible to the local economy, environment and society. To understand how we meet these responsibilities please read the following information.
Read more…
Tour Types
Rediscover Tours arranges amazing trips whether you are traveling with your family, on your honeymoon, as a couple or as a group of friends. We work with you to make sure everything is exactly as you want it.
What Our Customers Have To Say
The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what's possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.
John Moawad
Classical Japan Tour
It was our first trip to Japan. Working with Jeff was a pleasure. His knowledge of the country and local contacts were very helpful. Choice...
Marina Boyer
North Central Exploration
Working with Jeff at Rediscover Tours was a wonderful experience. He helped me plan a 10 day trip of a lifetime to Japan with my mother...
Edan Ecker
Shoguns and Samurai
I would like to take this opportunity to commend and thank you for the marvelous vacation we recently enjoyed in Japan. The entire experience exceeded...
Our Team Of Local Experts
Our team of Japan experts have all lived in Japan for years and know its the hidden treasures. Our team is here to answer all your questions and to build your tour just the way you want it.
![](https://www.rediscovertours.com/wp-content/themes/RediscoverTours/img/team/team1.jpg")
Jeff Aasgaard
Tour Sales Director
Jeff was born in a south suburb of Chicago named South Holland and lived in Japan for 14 years. He now lives in Commerce Township, Michigan with his wife Yoshimi, son Shota, and daughter Mina. He enjoys playing with his kids, volunteering with his daughter’s marching band, cycling and training and teaching Aikido.
Michiyo Kakiuchi
Tour Arrangement ManagerMichiyo was born in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido Prefecture though currently lives in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture. Her main passions in life is traveling all around the world and enjoying their cultures.
Izumi Yamauchi
Tour Arrangement teamIzumi has spent most of her life in the Kansai region, except for the 10 years that she enjoyed in the UK. Living abroad has made her appreciate her own culture and local beauty even more. She currently lives in Osaka with her family, including two cats and two dogs.
Why Rediscover Tours
Great trips don't just happen; it takes expert knowledge and years of experience to create a truly memorable holiday. You can rely on Rediscover Tours to make your perfect Japanese experience. Our dedication to excellence makes the difference.
Trips Made for You
Your Japan travel expert will create your trip just for you
Your interests and travel style will be front and center when designing your tour
Accommodations will be selected based on your style and we will inform them of all your special meal and physical requirements
Japan Experts
Your Japan expert has lived in Japan or is Japanese
They know the hidden treasures of Japan that you will love and most tourists miss
Most of our team lives in Japan giving them first hand knowledge of the latest trends and experiences for you to enjoy
Finest Guides
Private local guides add a whole new depth to your Japanese tour
We only hire the best guides and review each trip with them insuring excellent experience
Your private guide will listen to you, show you sights of interest and will make on the fly changes to match the weather and crowds
With Confidence
Our office in Japan is here to assist and support you
Rediscover Tours has been organizing travel to Japan since 2000
You will arrive comfortable in the knowledge that all details are taken care of and that our Japan office is just a call away