Customer Reviews for Wada Akihiro (Coconuts Hike Japan)
“Great hike, not too complicated but still challenging! The forest and temple are beautiful and relaxing at the onsen after that was a magical moment! Akihiro was a great guide and explained the history of the place every step of the way. Very thoughtful and kind. Would recommend 100%!”
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest Bathing in temple and enjoy onsen with healing power Experience)
“Akihiro was a wonderful guide who was so kind, knowledgeable and passionate about sharing Japanese culture and history, and he provided one of the most amazing tours I’ve ever done! I highly recommend signing up for this experience if you have a day to enjoy the nature of Japan, it’s a must do!!!”
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest Bathing in temple and enjoy onsen with healing power Experience)
“Amazing day with Akihiro. He showed passion in giving me a great experience, with a lot of informative explanations about the areas & unique sites visited, and great conversations! Strongly recommend!”
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest Bathing in temple and enjoy onsen with healing power Experience)
“I had a great time on this hike. The views were amazing and the Lunch and Onsen afterwards felt like a good reward for our hard work climbing.
Akihiro is very knowledgeable about the area and Japan in general and was happy to answer all our many questions 🙂
I would recommend this to anyone.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
“We’ve been to Japan three times. Akihiro’s experience was by far the best. Not only is it the best hike with the best views and the most beautiful and peaceful onsen, Akihiro is a lovely person whom you’d love to spend a day with. It was a cultural exchange as well that you don’t get to do if you do t speak Japanese.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
“Had a ton of fun with Akihiro climbing Myojingatake today! He was super friendly and easy to communicate with in English (he studied it in college even), and, as someone studying Japanese, I got to ask him a few questions! The hike itself is really gorgeous with different foliage (conifers early on, thin bamboo of varying heights in the middle and top, and a few small sections of smallish maple trees). We were a bit unlucky weather-wise but he warned me ahead of time that other days would be better. In particular, clouds obfuscated Mt. Fuji and the winds made the peak feel a bit exposed. Personally, I still found the view of Hakone itself to be riveting and the clouds moving over the ridge to be awe inspiring. Lastly, I also liked that the path is both well maintained but also a bit rougher/more natural than something like the Grand Canyon (should be easy/comfortable for anyone young/athletic, but may be a bit rougher if you are only used to flat/paved trails–there was one section where we did a simple rappel for ~7ft because the ground was slippery. He was also there to brace if I slipped). Afterwards we stopped at a somewhat intimidating but fun soba shop and I got to try their wonderful teishoku, “soba latte”, and purin. There was some scheduling mishap with the onsen so that didn’t end up working out. He offered to spend extra time with me, but it wasn’t a huge deal (since I’ve done onsen a couple times before and it let me catch an earlier shinkansen to Nagoya).”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
Decided to book this experience because I want to experience the nature of Mt. Fuji area but also want something less intense than hiking/trekking for my mom.
Akihiro, who grew up in this area, was knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of the temple and the cedar forest we went to. I felt like i had a true insider’s perspective on the area. Also, he was always willing to stop to rest or take pictures for us whenever we requested. He also prepared snacks and tea.
About the locations, the thick cedar forest was so impressive and magical. We walked during noon hours but thanks to the shade it was a breezy walk. The temple was a calm and peaceful experience that I’d recommend to anyone regardless of their religion. Finally, the onsen was great, or it might have been just my blas coz I love onsen. There is an outdoor and indoor bath as well as a sauna. Apparently the men side also has an additional cold bath. You do need to cover your tattoo here. In the relaxing area there is small path leading to a heart-shaped rock beside a small stream. All in all if you want to try the more quiet and tranquil side of Japan, I’d definitely recommend going on this experience with Akihiro
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest bathing in temple and enjoy onsen with healing power Experience)
“Akihiro is an excellent host/guide. The experience was very personal and I can feel his passion about his hometown and this wonderful place. The place is beautiful and Akihiro is a wonderful storyteller. He was also very patiently answered all of my questions. The lunch which he arranged is excellent. Onsen was a great experience. Also, the extra effort in taking photos as part of the package is very much appreciated. Overall, a very memorable experience. Thank you, Akihiro.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest bathing in temple and enjoy onsen with healing power Experience)
Great hike during 5 hours with our Guide Aki-san, who has enriched our experience with plenty of anecdotes and explanations about the flora and fauna, as well as about the island.
Beyond guiding you on the path, he is adding sense of safety and care.
He speaks a perfect English and even some good french, Kudos to Aki-san
Written on 05/08/21 (originally on Trip Advisor)
No worries, enjoy the hike!
I had the tour Shiratani-Unsuikyo with Akihiro in October 2019.
He speaks fluent english and definitely know the track in every detail, from the best for best photo spots – he can also take pictures of you on the go – to tree branches that you’re likely to bump your head into, to helpful reminders of where toilets are located – trivial but important detail on an island that you have to maintain as clean as you find it. He adapts the pace and path to your capabilities, constantly paying attention at your fatigue level. The lunch is also very good – he also offered me miso soup!
He’s not just a guide telling you about trees and Yakushima history, he’s also a good hike companion you can have good talks with, about several subjects. He’s open minded and flexible, professional in what he does, considerate in how he does it.
Written on 10/20/19 (originally on Trip Advisor)
I participated Jomon-Sugi Tour with my boyfriend for the first time and it was truly an amazing experience. Our tour guide Aki was very experienced and knowledgeable, and we learned so much about Yakushima and its nature throughout the trekking. It was a long day of walking, but with Aki’s constant support and thoughtfulness, we were able to enjoy the tour from the beginning to the end. For us, it became a very memorable experience and couldn’t have done it without Aki’s support. Thank you very much to Aki and I highly recommend anyone to try this tour.
Written on 04/26/19 (originally on Trip Advisor)
Thanks to our guide Aki, our one day trip was fantastic. He spoke very fluent english and was knowledgeable and kind. He was flexible to accept our requests to visit other places in the island. We really enjoyed to see monkeys, deers, and banyan trees in deep forest.
Written on 12/05/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
Aki led us on a truly exceptional hike earlier this spring. He is very experienced and knowledgeable about the area. And conversational! In excellent English, he shared insights on the history of the region, plant names and to my delight the names of birds we heard. Although he is very fit, he was attentive to our pace, and kindly offered walking poles when they seemed like a good idea. He carried all kinds of extra supplies. We would have booked this services for more days, but he was already committed. Our visit was so much more fun and meaningful because of Aki. Truly exceeded our expectations.
Written on 07/18/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
We did the day trekking to the Jomon-sugi with Akihiro, who was very nice and helpful. He spoke very well English and shared lots of interesting facts and trivia about the cedar trees (Yakusugi) and the Yakushima island. Other than the few particularly famous cedar trees, the scenery along the trail was astonishing as well and the atmosphere was refreshing. Despite walking for 9 hours in heavy rain we had a very enjoyable tour. Highly recommend.
Written on 06/20/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
Aki was a really easy going, knowledgeable tour guide. His English is excellent and he’s great company! He and I did a walk around the Shiratani Ravine on my first day at Yakushima. He’s well-equipped for all eventualities and brought walking poles, which I found I needed on the slippery, uneven terrain. A couple days later, my husband and I spent a full day with Aki. We did a walk in Yakusugi Land, marvelling at the greatest cedars on earth, then drove all around the island, stopping at waterfalls and various other points along the way. The western side is stunning as it’s not inhabited by people at all. The monkeys were hanging around in big family groups and were a joy to watch. Aki patiently stopped many times so we could watch and photograph. I would recommend his company unreservedly. Thanks Aki.
Written on 07/02/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
I made a wrong decision of going to this island during the Japanese golden week, but Akihiro quickly pointed out that it wouldn’t be enjoyable to go to Jomon Sugi with a thousand trekkers along the route, but he offered to guide me to Jomon Sugi if I insisted. I finally made the right decision and hiked up to Mt Tachu with him instead and it was a fabulous day and I could enjoy the forest more or less by myself. Another thing to mention is Akihiro’s English is quite impeccable and it’s really easy to talk to, which is quite unlike the guides I met during this 90-day trip in Japan. Highly recommended if you want to debunk some myths about japan as it’s really not easy to find a Japanese who is so fluent in English and who is so friendly!
Written on 05/09/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
“Aki and Carmen truly went above and beyond expectations! Not only did they provide an excellent tour, but they helped me plan and execute a proposal to my now fiancé on the trail. They facilitated one of the best experiences (in or outside of Airbnb) in my life. Incredible guides, incredible people.”
(originally written on Airbnb)
“We had an extra day on our way back to Tokyo. We couldn’t get there too early so Akihiro was accommodating to allow us to alter the timing and starting location. He communicated well and helped us out with all of the logistics. The hike was much cooler than we thought so refreshing for the summer. We knew it might be difficult to see Mt Fuji and it was due to summer clouds. He was very thoughtful and picked a lunch spot where we could faintly see the silhouette. Besides being a helpful tour guide for the hike, he was patient to answer all of my questions. We enjoyed the mix of quiet nature moments and great conversation.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone and caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
“Challenging hike was rewarded with super views of Mount Fuji. Soba for lunch then onsen was really relaxing. Aki was super personable/accommodating and took care of all the logistics (even helped to suggest an easier route than we initially planned to get into Hakone from Tokyo early AM). Great way to spend the day – would recommend to anyone looking for a day trip out of the city.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone and caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
Aki is an AMAZING host and put together a fantastic experience for my two elementary school aged boys and my friend while we were visiting Hakone. Because we were staying close to Gora, Aki understood we didn’t want to go all the way down to the main station back-and-forth with our limited time so he customized our own adventure. Also, my boys weren’t ready for an onsen experience so he researched other options and found a zipline adventure that they will be talking about for years. He even tested it before we arrived so he knew it was safe. So the overall experience was a special visit at a teahouse, a great forest hike, a visit to a beautiful shrine, a delicious lunch that even my somewhat picky American boys loved with beautiful views of the lake, and photo ops of mt fuji that were picture perfect…ending with the zipline adventure. His communication before the trip was top-notch as well, and he planned out all of our transportation needs so on the day of the tour everything ran seamlessly. Meanwhile, he documented the experience with so many awesome videos and photos, and somehow remained so patient with my rambunctious kiddos. It was definitely a highlight of our Japan trip we’ll always remember. Thank you for everything, Aki!
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest Bathing Experience)
“Akihiro是非常专业的向导！
(originally written on Airbnb – Forest Bathing Experience)
“This was a great experience and I’d recommend it to anyone visiting Hakone. We spent most of the day hiking, then went for a yummy lunch, checked out a very hip coffee store, and finally spent some time relaxing in a Onesen (hot spring). Really great value and a very busy day. Akihiro is super knowledgeable of the area and Japanese culture. Hopefully we get to visit again!”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
“This is my first trip to Japan and the best highlight was the peaceful tranquil hiking experience I had with Akihiro. He’s a friendly and funny guide and speaks English really well, we had a great time learning history of Hakone and japan while joking and gossiping about things around the world. The trip itself was just soo mesmerizing. We start with some good workout to have a clear full mount Fuji view as our rewards at the peak. Then we continues hiking through various terrains includes some absolutely surreal bamboo forests. We finish with some of the best ramens in local shops and a beautiful amazing onsen to wrap up the day. Would absolutely go back again to explore other hiking trails with him.”
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
I enjoyed my experience with Akihiro so much! I was very lucky to have a clear and sunny sky on the day of my hike, so the views of Mount Fuji were stunning! Akihiro was a very helpful and attentive guide who thought of everything! He gave me an opportunity to use the public restroom near the trailhead before we started our hike and kept a roll of toilet paper in his backpack in case I needed to use the bathroom along the trail. He was so gracious to take plenty of photos and videos of me along the way and share all of them with me afterwards. He carried a thermos of hot water and offered me hot tea or coffee once we made it to the peak while we enjoyed our snack, and after our hike we had lunch at a nearby restaurant that happened to have a view of Mount Fuji! The ~1 hour spent at a nearby onsen was also the perfect end to our ~4 hour hike, and the open air bath even had a view of Mount Fuji, too! This exceeded my expectations for a long but incredibly fulfilling day trip of hiking, eating, then relaxing before catching a bus and train back to Tokyo.
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
Akihiro is a great guide. Everything was well planned. The location is very beautiful with views of Mount Fuji, the Pacific and other cities around. The nature of the mountain is captivating and the vegetation changes style along the way (mountain to bamboo to mountain). The sound of birds accompanies us too. At the top, we stop for a snack, and at the end Aki indicates good places to have lunch and, finally, we go to an onsen overlooking a small garden. Very satisfying.
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
We had a wonderful experience with Akihiro climbing up the mountain – Akihiro made up for uncooperative weather with engaging stories and excellent hospitality – including treats and coffee up in the mountain, an experience we’ve never had before! The views once the weather cleared were beautiful and i’m sure on a clear day the views would have been beautiful. The trek was a somewhat long one but manageable and we will look back on the hike with fond memories. At the end of it all we had a scrumptious meal at a nearby ramen shop after which we had a nice soak at an onsen near Hakone with exquisite views. thanks again Aki for the amazing experience and we look forward to visiting Japan again with you!
What a magical experience with Akihiro. Aki planned the day perfectly, from meeting us at the train station and arranging for our lugguage to be sent to our hotel, to the beautiful hike to the incredible local temple and onsen. We spent time in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka on this trip but our day in Hakone was the highlight for us. Highly recommend for other travelers looking for a truly memorable day.
(originally written on Airbnb – Traverse outer rim of Hakone caldera and enjoy onsen Experience)
Terrific Hiking Experience
I had an unforgettable hiking experience in Yakushima, the stunning view and so lucky we have Aki as our tour guide. We chose the route of Jomonsugi Cedar which is a 10 hrs trip and I was not really confident to finish the trip in the beginning. Aki is not just a nice person, he is well planned in everything, knowledgeable and experienced guide. He shared many useful information and interesting stories about the cedar throughout the trip. Though part of the route is rugged, you won’t fell its tough and difficult with his excellent leading skill and time management. He just knew your needs. And one of the most impressive about Aki is his attitude, I remembered I dropped my cellphone from the bridge down to the valley over 20m when we are on the way back to the starting point. I was almost to give up and not even asking Aki to help, but he just went down without any hesitation and have my cellphone back so that I could have all my photos of the trips. Just want to say “Big thank you” to Aki again.
P.S. Aki is a very good snapshot taker
We would highly recommend Aki to anyone who are planning to experience the hiking tour in Yakushima.
Written on 04/05/20 (originally on Trip Advisor)
Excellent tour in Yakushima
We had an amazing couple of days with Aki, a very knowledgeable, experienced guide, who was able to understand our needs and took us to the main trails and nature sites in Yakushima. We really appreciated his kindness and generosity to share with us his ideas and advice to enjoy our visit in the best possible way. Thank you Aki and good lucky in the future!!!
Written on 05/10/19 (originally on Trip Advisor)
My husband and I enjoyed two days of trekking with Aki; the second day was a 9 hour marathon trek to Jomon-Sugi. Aki picked us up from our hotel at 4:15am in order to catch the first bus at 5:15am. Despite the hour, he was bright and cheerful. He took care of all the logistics and prepared us well for the journey we were about to make. I liked that he managed our expectations well, and tended to overestimate walking times so that when we finished early, we felt a sense of achievement. Enroute, he brewed fresh coffee for us (much appreciated) and made us hot miso soup to complement our packed lunch. He was extremely knowledgeable about the amazing cedar trees and other vegetation we passed. It turns out he’s also an accomplished photographer, and sent us some great photos of our experience the following day. I would highly recommend Aki and his company if you are keen to explore the more remote parts of Yakushima in capable hands.
Written on 04/22/19 (originally on Trip Advisor)
Thanks Aki, a very friendly and experienced guide accompanying us to see the beautiful nature in Yakushima! Aki spoke good English and he tried his best to fit our tight schedule. He drove us directly to airport after the hike. Thanks for his hospitality and it was certainly a unforgettable experience for us!
Written on 08/24/18 (originally on Trip Advisor)
A wonderland to all
Two days exploration to Jomon Sugi and Shiratani Unsui was definitely an unforgettable experience to me. My guide, Akihiro san, is a very nice and friendly guy. He is knowledgeable in telling you every single details in the forest that I really enjoy my hikes at Yakushima. Besides, Akihiro San always gives hands not only to his guest but also to other hikers in need. He is patient and reliable guide that would never leave his guest unattended.