I’m nearing my two-year anniversary as a travel agent! I now understand my clients’ needs and what services I can best provide. I began as a Disney agent, but quickly changed course to meet client needs. Realizing that my language skills and lived experiences could help future clients was a game changer. I love helping people conquer their travel worries when visiting Japan. Luckily, client reviews confirm that my services are truly helpful! My favourite feedback is hearing clients say the subway wasn’t as scary as they expected.
As a solo traveller, I know that even with that support, the idea of travelling solo can be really overwhelming. People may have safety concerns about travelling by themselves, or worry about the costs. Dining alone can be intimidating, and the isolation is challenging at times. Dealing with all of that in a different language just makes it 10x worse sometimes. So now that I know how to support clients effectively, I want to help other solo travellers. Have Fandom, Will Travel focuses on pop-culture inspired travel, so let’s combine the two. I am planning fandom-themed trips that bring together fellow fans who might normally travel solo. The two ideas I have currently are:
PokéTour 2026
Earlier this week, The Pokemon Company finally released opening day details about PokéPark Kanto. This park will be the first permanent outdoor Pokémon attraction in Japan. It is part of Yomuriland, a theme park just outside of Tokyo. PokéPark Kanto features a small village called Sedge Town. It has a Pokémon Research Lab, a Pokémon Centre, a PokéMart, gym, a Pokémon parade and two attractions. Just outside of Sedge Town will be the Pokémon forest. There, you’ll be able to see over 600 Pokémon in their natural environment. We are still waiting for international guest ticket details. No matter what though, 2026 is going to be the perfect to visit Japan as a Pokémon fan.
I would like to plan a small group trip to Japan that has a flexible itinerary. Some days would be Pokemon themed but other days could be cultural days. We would have some days visiting Pokémon Centres and cafes, and others visiting temples. I We would also visit Osaka and have a few days there. Universal Studios Japan often have Pokémon events throughout the year, such as the parade during their “No Limit! Cool Summer” event and the dance party during the “Hahaha! Halloween Party!” events in the autumn. Of course, there are a lot of amazing things to see in Osaka aside from Pokémon things. There will be day trips to Nara and Kyoto, or even as far as Hiroshima. I know for me personally, a trip to Japan ALWAYS requires a street food tour through Dotonbori.
There and Back Again: A Trip Through Middle Earth
My travel agent origin story all started when I fell in love with the Lord of the Rings movies. I couldn’t believe that these magical locations were actually places in New Zealand. In a few cases, the sets remained to become tourist destinations that remain open to this day. Visitng New Zealand has always been on my own travel bucket list. Attempting to do that trip as a solo traveller is expensive though. Instead, let’s do a Lord of the Rings themed trip to New Zealand together!
New Zealand is well set up to visit locations from the Lord of the Rings movies. At the Hobbiton movie set, they’ve kept the sets from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. You can take a walking tour through the set, step inside an actual Hobbit hole, and have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. In some cases, the sets have been here long before people. Places like Mount Victoria, Kaitoke Regional Park, and the Southern Lakes inspiring locations like Rivendell, Isengard and Lothlorien. Filming locations are visited via kayak tours, hikes, off-roading adventures, and even helicopter tours for some of the more remote locations. We would also visit Wētā Workshops in Wellington to see props and costumes from the films.
And of course, if we’re flying all the way to New Zealand, we can’t just visit filming locations and leave! New Zealand is known for incredible food and wine. It is also the birthplace of adventure tourism, so you can hike, kayak, white water raft, mountain bike, bungee jump or heli-ski all over the islands! Just like the Japan itinerary, there would be as much flexibility as you like. I know for me, I’d love to check out the traditional Maori culture and visit the glowworm caves.
If either of these fandom-themed trips sound like they would be up your alley, leave your contact details below. If you like the idea of fandom-themed trips but have a different fandom, let me know which ones you like. Some ideas for group trips could be K-Pop Demon Hunter in South Korea or visiting Harry Potter’s England.
