Travel Agency Spotlight
Nowadays, most people assume that if you’re looking for a cheap ticket to Japan, you should stay away from travel agencies and look online. However, Fumiya Kawachi, sales manager at IACE Travel, wants people to give them a call next time they want to save a bit of money on airfare to Japan. “Our discounts for air tickets are cheaper than online—we get a special rate from the airlines. We also have a 24/7 reservation center, and we are always willing to help.” This emphasis on affordability, combined with a strong passion for customer service, has resulted in IACE becoming the Japanese-run travel agency with the most locations in the United States and the go-to agency for many Japan-bound travelers. Aside from discount tickets, IACE offers both pre-planned tours and customizable tours. Their pre-planned tours take travelers almost anywhere in Japan, and they vary from full-day to full-week tours. “We listen to our customers, and we make tours that will
By Ashley Insong
fulfill their needs,” explains Kawachi. If customers can’t find what they want, IACE will customize tours specifically for them. “We’ve had inquiries from people who want to watch sumo. Since sumo tournaments happen only four times a year, we took them to a sumo training stable and showed them their morning practices,” says Kawachi. Other experiences IACE has arranged for travelers include attending tea ceremonies, dressing up in kimono, dressing up like a ninja and throwing shuriken (ninja stars), and driving around the Shibuya district in Mario Kart-style go-carts. IACE is also the only travel agency in Hawaii that offers academic trips. Every summer, IACE has an exchange program that gives students the opportunity to travel back to their roots. The Okinawa Youth Exchange program started over ten years ago. “Parents and grandparents began to call us and request programs in which their children and grandchildren could be immersed in the Japanese culture,” said Kawachi. During an exchange, students get to attend a school in Okinawa, wear their uniforms, and do a homestay with a family, among other things. To apply to this
Since 1970
Email: hnl@iace-usa.com
1600 Kapiolani Blvd Suite1316. Honolulu HI 96814
Honolulu
program, the student must be a current middle or high school student. The program, which only accepts 10 students, is already full for this summer. As for the famous JR Pass, which allows holders unlimited riding on just about all Japan Railway trains, Kawachi says that not only do they offer it, they can even issue it as late as the day before a trip. Kawachi explains that IACE was founded in 1970 as a way of making travel to Japan more affordable. He says an airline ticket for a single person could cost thousands of dollars, so in order to bring ticket prices down, IACE began chartering planes and then selling tickets for these flights. Although the industry and the ways they manage to keep costs down has changed, Kawachi says IACE remains committed to making travel to Japan both accessible and affordable. “We want as many people as possible to be able to experience Japan for themselves.” IACE Travel 1600 Kapiolani Blvd. #1316 Honolulu, HI 96814 (808) 923-7070 www.iace-usa.com/en
Office Hour: Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm Closed on Sat - Sun & Holidays
808-923-7070 30