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Who is on the August 4th, 2025 tour?
We are, with 9-year-old granddaughter Evelyn (aka Evie). We have a friend who is also on this tour travelling with her similar-age granddaughter. We hope to hear from others to share thoughts.
Scott & Judy
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A puzzlement: today we received some very nice small duffle bags with a tag (general language) saying they'd be needed for our upcoming trip. On the Tauck web site under "luggage restrictions" for the tour it says "An overnight bag for your stay at the Tobira Onsen on Day 5 should be packed including all essential clothing and personal care items as the balance of the luggage will be transported by luggage truck and there will be no access to the remainder of your luggage. A small bag with wheels that you can comfortably manage on your own without assistance is strongly suggested."
But the personalized itinerary document and the on-line description of the tour make no mention of the Tobira Onsen for day 5 when we are supposed to be staying at the Hilton Hiroshima. In fact, no mention of the Tobira Onsen anywhere. Google maps indicates it is nowhere near our tour. Seems the most likely explanation is that it's a feature of one of the other Japan trips (Essence of Japan) and their distribution system messed up.
It IS a very nice duffle, so thank you Tauck!
Update:
In the final itinerary document it now includes:
On-Tour Duffels
For your convenience, and so you won't have to bring your larger, heavier, primary luggage with
you for your 9 nights in Japan, a special duffel will be mailed to your home prior to your tour
departure, which you may use for clothing, toiletries and other essentials. Due to luggage
restrictions on the various trains you will take on this itinerary we are providing you with a
complimentary Tauck duffel bag for you to use in place of your larger primary luggage on days 4
& 5. You will be reunited with your primary luggage on day 5 in Hiroshima. You are free to bring
your own hand carry bag/duffel (same approx. size/dimension), you do not need to use the
Complimentary Tauck duffel but you do need to have either our duffel or your own small rollaway
for these days. However, you are solely responsible to carry your own hand carries/duffel bag on
these days.
If you reside in the mainland United States, the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should
arrive approximately 30 days prior to your departure for Japan. If you reside outside of the
continental U.S., you will receive your duffel from your Tauck Director while on tour.
PLEASE BRING THE DUFFEL (or your own small roller bag) WITH YOU ON THIS TRIP, AS IT WILL
BE YOUR PRIMARY PIECE OF LUGGAGE WHILE IN HAKONE & HIROSHIMA. We suggest that you
pack the empty duffel inside your checked luggage (rather than packing additional items inside it
and using it as a second piece of luggage) in order to remain within the weight restrictions set
forth by the airlines.
The reason for small luggage is because the Bullet train only stops very briefly at each station so you have to line up and be ready to get off very quickly. Japan is my favorite country. Enjoy
British,
Understand about the trains. Been there, done that. They only so this on the day to Hakone and the next day to Hiroshima, so just the 1-night stand in Hakone. The verbiage is a bit misleading since the duffle isn't the only luggage we'll have access to in Hiroshima where our regular bags will await us at the Hilton when we arrive in the afternoon.
Unlike Africa which we've done and the duffels had to serve for multiple days for the Serengeti, but with a bigger duffle.
The ones for Japan are smaller, but very nice with multiple compartments so the overnight will be a snap.
We have quite a collection of Tauck duffle bags.
We used to have a collection but gave most away.