ABOUT US

Our mission: to become the first Tour Operator specializing in Japan and to share our real knowledge of the country.
 

The Japan Experience Vision

 

 


Strip out
intermediaries

For better rates, and to put the traveler directly in contact with the person who will welcome them.


Combine freedom
with security

Our "Travel Angels" based in Tokyo and Kyoto will assist and advise you for the entire duration of your stay.


Experience the country, don't just visit it

Go beyond
the average tourist trip with an exciting and
authentic experience.


The
"Cultural Aspect"

Spend the day
with a private guide or participate in our cultural and gastronomic activities.
 















Key Figures

 
25 000 travelers in  2018
3 000 online articles
100% experts in Japan
40 peoples (France and Japan)

 
60 houses in Japan
48 tours and itineraries








The Japan Experience Team


 

The President

 

Thierry Maincent discovered Japan in 1994 during a professional internship in Tokyo, where he met his Japanese wife.
After he graduated from Paris Dauphine University in 1995, he returned to Japan between 1996 and 1998 to work with a French cooking school.

After moving back to France in 1998, he founded an online wine sales company with two friends, which was listed on the stock market in 2006. In 2010, he joined the specialized tour company Japan Experience to participate in the development of the company alongside the founder Claude Saulière. After sustained international growth, Thierry Maincent became president of the company in 2018. He splits his time between Paris and Tokyo.

 




Our experts in London          

            
             SARAH                        REBECCA                   ALEJANDRA


Our experts in Los Angeles  


               FRANK                            ERIC                          


Our experts in Paris


          MICHIKO                     LAURENCE                    ROMAIN                         JULIEN                       CLEMENT

Our experts in Berlin


            NANAE                      CHRISTIAN


Our expert in Madrid


               SARA



Our Travel Angels in Japan

in Kyoto



               SAKI                            AURORE                        JULIEN                       DAISUKE    

in Tokyo


            LAETITIA            PIERRE-ALEXANDRE

in Kanazawa


         VALENTINE                     CHRIS


in Osaka


                 YANN


in Hakone


              DANIEL

in Kamakura


            ISABELLE

in Takayama


               GWENN


     Key Dates



2018
New office in Madrid
2017
New office in Los Angeles
2016
New office in Berlin
2015
Launch of the "Visit Japan" section with 1,500 articles to prepare your trip
2014
Creation of the book "The Japanese Railways Travel Guide"
2013
Launch of Self-drive tours
New office in London
2012
Launch of Car Rental
2011
"Voyageurs au Japon" becomes "Vivre le Japon"
2006
House rentals launched under the "Vivre le Japon" brand
1996
"Voyageurs au Japon" separates from the "Voyageurs du Monde" group
1991
"Carrefour Japon" becomes "Voyageurs au Japon"
1990
1st French travel agency offering trips to Japan
1981
Creation of "Carrefour Japon"

   The Company

 

Japan Experience is the English name of Vivre le Japon.

In France:
Vivre le Japon is a SAS company in France, created by Claude Saulière since 1981 and directed by Thierry Maincent since 2018 .

Siret: 32060777300035
RCS: 320 607 773
N° Atout France: IM075110003
N° IATA: 202 22565
Financial guarantor: Crédit du Nord
Professional Liability Insurance: Policy No. RCP009565 HISCOX

In Japan:
The company Japan Experience in Japan, is a "Kabushiki Gaisha" company under Japanese law, established in 2005 by Claude Saulière and directed by Thierry Maincent since 2018.