"I want to gift my parents a trip. But they have become weaker, so walking around might be difficult..."
Are you postponing your filial piety journey with such thoughts?
Tabinoito's completely private tours are especially chosen by families who have such concerns. This time, based on the experiences of customers who have actually used our services, we will introduce why "filial piety trips are a good match for private tours."
The real reason why you can't show filial piety on group tours
Group tours from travel agencies seem convenient at first glance due to their affordable prices and fixed itineraries. However, when taking parents who have concerns about their legs and back, the following issues tend to arise.
- It takes time to get on and off the bus, and you end up worrying about those in the back.
- "You have 30 minutes until the next meeting time," you are hurried, and you can't enjoy the scenery slowly.
- The timing for bathroom breaks doesn't match, making it physically tough.
- There is an atmosphere that makes it hard to say, "I'm tired, I want to rest."
- Worried about falling, you focus on walking and can't enjoy the scenery.
What should be a filial piety trip ends up becoming a "trip that makes your parents feel uneasy." This is completely counterproductive.
Changes with a chartered Alphard
On Tabinoito tours, you will use a chartered Toyota luxury minivan, the "Alphard Z," exclusively for your group.
🚗 Reasons why the Alphard is chosen for "filial piety"
- Easy to get in and out: The sliding door provides a wide opening, and there are few steps. It's designed for easy assistance.
- Spacious and deep seats: You won't get tired even after long hours, and it's safe to doze off.
- No other passengers: You can request bathroom breaks or rests without worrying about others.
- Spacious for luggage: Wheelchairs, canes, and large bags are all OK
- Door-to-door pick-up: We will pick you up from the station or hotel
Actual tour experience: A family visiting from Sendai (daughter + parents)
This time, we introduce a case where a daughter living in Sendai applied because she wanted to show her parents in their 80s around Aizu. Her father had a chronic foot condition, making long-distance walking difficult.
Morning: Views of Lake Inawashiro and Mount Bandai
The first destination is Lake Inawashiro. We parked the car in a lakeside parking lot and walked slowly to a scenic bench, about 50 meters away. Even that distance allowed her father to see the blue of the lake.
"I feel like I've never seen such a large lake before. I'm glad we came."
——Father (in his 80s)
The idea of a private tour is not 'travel is impossible because I can't walk,' but rather 'delivering the best views within walking range.' Just looking at Mount Bandai from the car window is already a significant experience.
Lunch: Local small diner
For lunch, we suggested a small restaurant in Aizu frequented by locals. It's a place that large tourist buses can't stop at, located in an alley.
The menu features Aizu's local cuisine. They enjoyed local flavors such as kozuyu (a traditional Aizu soup dish) and pickled herring with sansho. The mother remarked, "This tastes similar to what my grandmother used to make," which led to a lively conversation filled with memories at the dining table.
To allow the family to enjoy their meal without the guide present, we only assisted with securing seats and taking orders, then waited at a distance, which is the style of Tabinoito.
Afternoon: Tsuruga Castle and Aizu's history
In the afternoon, we headed to Tsuruga Castle. Considering the father's stamina, we changed the plan to stroll along the stone-paved streets while admiring the castle's exterior, rather than climbing to the main keep.
🏯 The guide tells the story of Tsuruga Castle
The history of the Aizu domain and the Boshin War, the story of the young members of the Byakkotai, the bullet marks left on the castle walls—these narratives of Aizu told by the guide are the "human stories" that are not found on sightseeing information boards. It seems that your father had learned about Aizu's history in his youth and nodded several times, saying, "The stories I knew connected with the actual places."
Timing a break when fatigue sets in, we took a rest at a nearby café. Instead of saying, "Please let me know if you’re tired," the guide, observing expressions and walking patterns, proactively suggests a break—this attentiveness is a hallmark of a guide who has lived in the area for many years.
At the end of the journey
In the car on the way to the hotel, your daughter quietly said.
"It's been a long time since I've seen my parents having so much fun. I'm really glad we planned this."
——Your daughter (in her 50s)
The trip chosen for your parents became a day that deeply resonated in your daughter's heart as well.
Those suited for a private tour for filial piety
- Those who have been worried about their parents' mobility and stamina, avoiding group tours
- Those who have missed opportunities while thinking, "I want to take them someday"
- Those who want to create special memories for anniversaries (such as 70th, 77th, 80th, or 88th birthdays)
- Those who want to show their parents the "real Aizu" that only locals know
- Those who want to be in photos with their parents (and avoid someone having to be the photographer)
"While they are still a bit healthier"—please don’t postpone that feeling.
