Lyn simply shares Japan with 3-7 people in Spring and Autumn.
Each trip is personalised, fully-inclusive and raises funds to support community projects via Ibaraki Rotary Club or your not-for-profit.
Most nights, we are based in Lyn & Will’s 2 little cottages, midway between Kyoto and Osaka.
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Crafts, Gardens & all that Jazz
15 days Fri 24 Apr – Fri 08 May 2026
This season is so pretty with wisteria, irises and azaleas all in bloom. Japan celebrates Golden Week at this time so we will participate in many events and festivities, including a Jazz festival, and a photo shoot in kimono. We’ll also visit lots of iconic sights from Himeji Castle to the Geisha district of Kyoto. For keen walkers or cyclists, we can also include some great day trips.
Harvest
15 Days · Fri. 09 Oct – 23 Oct 2026
Would you like to join me, Karen and Stephen as we explore things close to home? The weather is generally perfect, the scents of rice and orange blossom are intoxicating and all the neighbors will catch up at the harvest festival in the 1300 year old shrine.
Our tentative plans are detailed below but we will decide some things as we go. Intent on enjoying time with friends while raising support for Ibaraki Rotary, Lyn is excited to push Really Travel in this not-for-profit direction,.
Tentative Rotary Exchange
10 Days Fri. 06 Nov – Sun.15 Nov. 2026
This trip follows the success of our 2025 trip with lots of opportunities to meet the locals and experience daily life in Japan. We hope to include a visit to the Noto Peninsula with Ibaraki Rotary Club members to better understand the post-earthquake restoration work this trip supports.
Lyn has hand-picked each day’s experiences and Ibaraki Rotary Club members are looking forward to sharing their city with us again in 2026.
AU$5,480
Tentative Zonta Fundraiser
14 May (Fri) – 23 May (Sun) 2027 10 days
I love this time of year in Japan - comfortable temperatures and an abundance of flowers everywhere. This trip is for 6 women who want to savour things at their pace, have the convenience of a personal guide/translator, and to raise funds for Zonta’s work supporting women and children.
Zonta Osaka was established in 1993 and Zonta Kyoto was established in 1980. Both clubs tend to meet once a month. (Osaka on Thursdays, Kyoto on Wednesdays). We will fine tune the itinerary closer to May 2027 to coordinate with them.
Depending on your interests, we will focus on Japanese fabrics, pottery, architecture, landscaping, crafts, calligraphy, ikebana (floral art), sake brewing, hiking, history, cooking, gardens, language, bargain hunting …
I promise to give you experiences and insights into Japan that goes far beyond a regular visit to a country.
“Lyn’s happy and caring manner ensured a holiday full of surprises from ‘off the beaten track’ to the traditional ‘Must Do’s’. A wonderful experience we will be back for more.”
About me
Hi, I’m Lyn - when I first moved to Japan in 1990, I never imagined I would end up living there for three decades. But there are a lot of things about Japan that are addictive. Today, Japan and Australia feel equally like home.
My book: Turning Japanese in 101 easy steps
I wrote this book to help guests decide which experiences they would like to have while in Japan and I adapt each trip to fulfill your wishes. Turning Japanese in 101 easy steps will also give you a lot of insight into the intricacies of life and social norms in Japan.
Our cottages
Great WiFi | Kitchen | E-bikes | Car optional
Our two cottages, “Kaeru” and “Tanuki” are part of a fascinating village midway between Osaka and Kyoto.
They back on to a bamboo forest, overlook ricefields and share a common garden.
🐸 Kaeru (Frog or return home)
Traditional, with a double bed and tatami room with two futons. It provides a wonderful glimpse into pre-1950’s Japanese architecture while being recently renovated.
🦡 Tanuki (Racoon dog)
Contemporary Japanese living, with a queen bed, 2 single bed rooms and a futon bed in a tatami room. It sits two stories high and also has been recently renovated.