Viator Travel Blog

Although originally from Tokyo, Setsuko Hayashi grew up in Osaka and has called the Japanese metropolis home for much of her life. Setsuko speaks impeccable English (she was an English teacher for many years) and her ability as a guide is the result of several seminars and five years as a licensed tour operator. She specializes in private, tailor-made tours of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara.

While white sand beaches with azure waters and billowing palms are nice, they’re far from unusual. For those looking for a truly unique coastal experience, the following beaches provide just that. Barking sand, star-shaped fossils and natural underground hot springs are just a few of the strange experiences you can have on the following weird beaches.

It’s that time of year again, when music concerts swap sticky dive bar floors for well-tramped grass and enormous open-air stages. 2012’s festival season is finally upon us and to get in the mood, here are 10 of the world’s best. From America to Australia via Europe and Japan, just about every artist you can think of, is bringing their music to the great outdoors this year and the only question is, which one do you go to first?

As a Tokyo native who has been working in the tourism industry for many years, Mami Sorimachi is the ideal guide for personalized tours around Tokyo and the surrounding region. Professional yet fun, Mami specializes in walking tours around Tokyo, using public transportation to deliver you to the cities historical highlights — a unique approach that allows you to experience Japan’s greatest metropolis through the eyes of a local.

While it might seem like a strange thing to add to your vacation to-do list, visiting cemeteries when you travel can be an interesting way to learn about a place’s history – not to mention see some of its most beautiful landscapes. Of course, what constitutes a “beautiful” cemetery will depend on the viewer’s opinion. Some will be painstakingly landscaped, some will be historically meaningful, some will be haunting, and some will have stunning views. But in this selection of final resting places around the world we think everyone will be able to find one that deserves “beautiful” as a descriptor.

For those who love experiencing beautiful landscapes, visiting waterfalls is one of the best ways to add some extra beauty to a day in the outdoors. Not all falls are created equal, however. If you want to view some of the world’s best cascades, here are our suggestions.

While confidence is growing that Japan is now safe to visit, some travelers remain uncertain. Japan itself is keen to express that the country is back to normal and eager to welcome visitors to its many attractions that were unaffected by the disaster.

Tokyo has been the imperial capital of Japan since only 1868. The capital from the late 700s until then was Kyoto, which still means “Capital”. For 70 years before that it was in Nara near Kyoto. Because of the importance of Nara and later Kyoto some of Japan’s most significant historic sites are in the Kyoto area. 17 different sites within the Kyoto/Nara area have been designated by the United Nations as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I wanted to see some of them while I was in the area, so I opted for the Kyoto and Nara Day Trip from Kyoto including Nijo Castle. The tour I took could be done as two separate half day tours.

As the world’s largest and most populous continent, with more than 50 countries spread across six distinct regions, Asia offers a wealth of experiences. The cultural, geographical and ethnic diversity that exists within Asia ensures travelers with varied interests and levels of experience will find something to cross off their bucket list. Join us for this tour of the Top 25 Things to Do in Asia!

There are different ways people bring in the New Year around the world.

Let’s take a trip, shall we?