After two and a half years of closing borders, Japan is finally reopening to travellers. We chatted with intrepid leader Alan Sabourin about how coronavirus has changed Japan and what he's most looking forward to as the visitors return.
Until March 2020, Japan It was one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. Travelers flocked to the area for the cherry blossom season to risethis ski, that Eat (Oh, the food!) and soaking up the culture of this wonderful, hospitable and unique country.
Then COVID came and everything changed. The Olympics have been postponed, entire cities are on lockdown, and borders are closed. Silence fell over the normally bustling country. But now, two and a half years later, travel restrictions have finally eased and travelers are preparing to return to Japan.
Intrepid tour leader Alan Sabourin has just returned from leading his first trip in over two years (it wasn't a big deal, but it received rave reviews and a whopping 4.96 out of 5 traveler feedback!) and can't wait to start showing people around the country again.
“I am very happy that Japan is reopening, especially seeing other countries take these small steps and allow travelers to come back,” says Alan. “Japan has played a more conservative role, but it is very good to see these restrictions lifted and people allowed to return.”
Twenty years ago, Alan moved to Japan from western Canada, where he lived and worked at two large ski resorts. “I met a lot of people visiting from Japan and that made me interested in visiting,” he says. “I first came in 2001 and fell in love with the place, then moved to Nagano in 2002 to teach English and ski in the Japanese Alps.”
There is a lot to love about Japan, and Alan has a hard time narrowing down what makes it so special. “Besides the beautiful people and great food, I also like to respect nature, the elderly, and the space around you. Japan is also very safe and clean.”
According to Alain, it's the perfect time for travelers to start booking their adventures in the "Land of the Rising Sun." "Japan is still a hot destination, and with the yen so much lower, the dollar will be stretched more than it has been in the past," he says. “There aren't a large number of bus tours running yet, so travelers will be able to experience a Zen garden or temple without big crowds. When my last group visited the Golden Temple in Kyoto, which is a very popular site, we were almost the only ones there. There is a chance to get an experience.” More intimate now.
After spending the past few years driving for a ride-sharing company and working at a ramen restaurant, Alan got a little insight into Japan's history before he started driving tours regularly again.
“Things are a little rusty; I need to bring those 10,000 years of history back into my head!” he laughs. “When you're on this set of dynamic journeys, you get up to 400 questions a day, which can be quite a challenge. But all that knowledge is still there — I can't wait to start sharing it with people again.”
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