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Das Baden hat in Japan eine lange Tradition! In vielen Städten findest du öffentliche Bäder (Sento) und die bekannten Onsen mit ihren natürlichen heißen Quellen. Solche Bäder gibt es oft in Tempelherbergen, im Ryokan, bei einigen Reisen im Yurari Onsen und manchmal auch in Hotels als Gemeinschaftsbadebereich neben den eigenen Duschen.

So funktioniert das Baden im Onsen oder Sento:

Die Bäder sind nach Geschlechtern getrennt, und Badekleidung ist nicht erlaubt. Die ausführliche Etikette erklärt dir dein Reiseleiter vor Ort, hier schon einmal die wichtigsten Punkte:

1. Im Eingangsbereich schließt du deine Sachen und Schuhe ein. Handtücher werden meist gestellt oder du nimmst dein eigenes mit.
2. Du gehst in den Bereich für Männer oder Frauen.
3. In einem Vorraum entkleidest du dich und legst deine Kleidung in ein Schließfach oder einen Korb. Das Handtuch bleibt dort.
4. Mit einem kleinen Waschlappen gehst du in den Badebereich. Dort wäschst du dich gründlich (Haare, falls du sie nicht waschen möchtest, hochstecken – sie dürfen nicht ins Badewasser, also Kopf nicht untertauchen).
5. Erst wenn du dich vollständig gesäubert hast, gehst du in die verschiedenen Becken mit heißem Wasser und genießt die wohltuende Hitze.
6. Wichtig: Nimm niemals den Waschlappen (egal ob benutzt oder nicht) mit ins Badewasser! Das sieht man leider manchmal bei Touristen.

Weitere Hinweise:

Sprich bitte nicht zu laut, das Bad ist ein Ort der Entspannung. Das heiße Wasser kann den Kreislauf belasten – bleib am Anfang nur kurz im Wasser, sei vorsichtig beim Aufstehen und übergieße dich zwischendurch mit kühlerem Wasser. Trinke ausreichend, damit du nicht dehydrierst.

Im Yurari Onsen, das wir bei einigen Reisen besuchen, gibt es verschiedene Becken, auch im Außenbereich mit Blick auf den Fuji, sowie Sauna und Dampfbäder.

Die Etikette, sich vor dem Entspannen im heißen Wasser gründlich zu waschen, gilt übrigens auch bei Gastfamilien, in Tempelherbergen und im Ryokan. Besonders in Familien ist es üblich, da jedes Familienmitglied einmal in die heiße Wanne steigen möchte. Um Wasser zu sparen, wäscht man sich daher sehr gründlich, bevor man das Bad genießt.

Achtung: Bitte beachte, dass einige Onsen und Sento Gästen mit Tätowierungen den Zutritt verweigern können.

At Ventura, AI is a core part of how we work. We use it intentionally to increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and avoid unnecessary processes, including automating before hiring. We are aware that AI and digital tools consume energy. That’s why we aim to work with responsible providers, choose efficient models where possible, and continuously question how and when we use AI. We believe transformation and responsibility must go hand in hand. We are committed to learning, improving, and reducing our impact as technology evolves, while staying transparent about the choices we make.

Yes, we still visit iconic hotspots, as they are important cultural and natural highlights. However, we take several measures to ensure our visits do not contribute to overtourism:

• Small group size: Our groups are limited to a maximum of 12 travellers, which significantly reduces our impact compared to larger tour groups.
• Scheduling to avoid peak times: Where possible, we organise visits during off-peak times of day or outside peak travel seasons. This approach helps minimise pressure on popular attractions and allows for a more enjoyable, less crowded experience.
• Supporting local communities: We collaborate with local guides and businesses, ensuring tourism benefits are distributed among the local community, not just concentrated in tourist hotspots.
• Traveller education: We brief our travellers on the importance of respecting local rules, following their guide’s recommendations, and acting responsibly at all sites.
• Staying mindful and adaptive: We continuously monitor the situation at major sites and are prepared to adjust our itineraries if we find that certain destinations become overwhelmed.

The CO₂e emissions per trip are measured after each design adjustment and are transparently published alongside the trip presentation on the Ventura Travel brands’ websites as part of the Frequently Asked Questions.

Ventura TRAVEL regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys, including the long-haul flights as well as the on-the-ground-program. All Brands actively reduce emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.

From 2018 to 2024, VTT supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians. [Link: www.theforestguardians.org]

More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact

At Ventura, we ensure fair remuneration by assessing payments against current industry standards to remain competitive and aligned with local market conditions. In addition, we operate a bonus system that rewards excellent guiding and service, providing opportunities for additional earnings based on performance. This approach balances sustainable pricing with fair compensation and incentivises high-quality guest experiences.

We reduce plastic waste by acting at three levels:

• Design: Avoiding single-use amenities in accommodations where possible and choosing partners aligned with our sustainability standards.
• Guidelines: Encouraging travelers to bring reusable bottles and refill whenever safe water systems are available.
• Operations: Working with local partners to reduce disposable packaging and avoid unnecessary printed materials.

With the V Social Foundation, we support local organizations in developing viable social enterprises built on participatory community structures: businesses that become effective, long-term vehicles for improving living conditions. At the same time, they contribute to broader goals: preserving cultural heritage, protecting the environment, empowering women, and creating opportunities for young people. To achieve this, we work hands-on and locally anchored, not from a distance. Our support is coordinated by regional coordinators who deeply understand both the local context and the expectations of international travelers. This allows us to strategically strengthen community-based tourism initiatives and use tourism as a real driver of local development.

We focus on building capacities, not dependencies. Our priority is to strengthen skills, governance, and entrepreneurship so communities gain autonomy and long-term independence. At the same time, every project we support must solve a concrete problem or deliver a tangible improvement for the community.

Through regular visits with our travel groups, we stay in constant dialogue with our partner communities. This direct feedback loop helps us quickly identify gaps, respond to emerging needs, and improve together.

And where it makes sense, we measure what matters: traveler satisfaction, real income generation within the project, and meaningful participation of the local population. Find more information on the transparency page of V Social Foundation.

The impact of the Forest Guardians initiative is measured through territorial governance, ecological recovery, and community continuity. Secure land ownership keeps the forest under community control and protects it from extractive activities such as mining or industrial logging. An Indigenous Guard regularly patrols the territory to prevent illegal logging and hunting, documenting activities and reinforcing collective responsibility. Ecological progress is supported through a forest enrichment plan that reintroduces native species important for wildlife and canopy recovery, strengthening biodiversity over time. We also track implementation of the community’s Forest Management and Annual Operational Plan (POA), documenting conservation and capacity-building activities. Involving younger members in monitoring and restoration ensures that knowledge and stewardship continue across generations, supporting long-term environmental sustainability.

Remote work requires intentional structure and human connection. At Ventura, we support mental wellbeing through weekly 1:1s, peer feedback, annual HR check-ins, and regular satisfaction surveys to stay close to our team’s needs. We provide a home office budget for essential equipment and encourage healthy work habits. Clear roles, documented processes, and open communication help reduce stress in a remote environment. Connection also matters: we meet quarterly as a full company, host monthly FFF (Fun, Fair, Focus) activities, and gather once a year in person. We believe wellbeing is built through trust, clarity, flexibility, and continuous improvement.

Long-distance travel creates emissions, and for many of our destinations, flying is necessary to reach remote regions. We do not present this reality as climate-neutral, nor do we rely on simplistic claims. Instead, our approach is guided by three principles: consistently measuring our impact, reducing emissions through thoughtful trip design wherever possible, and taking responsibility for the emissions that remain.

While we recognize the environmental cost of long distance travel, we also believe in the power of tourism. Travel can foster mutual understanding, stregthen conservation efforts, preserve cultures and improve livelihoods. For this reason, we are committed to designing and offering journeys that are as responsible and thoughtfully crafted as possible.

Ventura selects service providers based on quality, reliability, and alignment with our sustainability values. We prioritise partners who deliver high service standards, operate safely and ethically, minimise environmental impact, provide fair working conditions, and support local communities. By combining operational excellence with environmental, social, and governance standards, we ensure our partnerships reflect our commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.

At Ventura Travel, we are committed to sustainable tourism and take several active steps to prevent mass tourism and overtourism:

• Small group tours: We limit the size of our travel groups to a maximum of 12 participants. This ensures minimal impact on destinations, fosters authentic experiences, and helps avoid overwhelming local communities and attractions.
• Support for local communities: Our tours are designed in cooperation with local partners. We prioritize locally-owned accommodations, guides, and experiences, ensuring tourism benefits local economies and spreads visitors beyond crowded hotspots.
• Alternative destinations & flexible scheduling: We encourage travel to less-visited destinations and promote off-season trips. When visiting popular sites, we also try to schedule our visits at different times of the day to avoid peak crowds and reduce our impact.
• Education and awareness: We educate our travellers on responsible tourism practices, cultural sensitivity, and environmental protection. We actively encourage travellers to follow their guides’ recommendations and to respect local rules at hotspots, ensuring we help preserve these destinations for the future.
• Advocacy and innovation: Ventura Travel participates in industry initiatives and is currently working towards TourCert certification, demonstrating our commitment to continuously improving our sustainability practices and advocating for responsible tourism industry-wide.

TourCert is an independent international certification for responsible tourism companies. It verifies that a company does not just claim sustainability, but systematically manages and improves its environmental, social, and economic impacts. Certification is based on external audits and internationally recognized sustainability standards. In practical terms, TourCert requires us to:

• Implement a structured sustainability management system
• Measure and reduce environmental impacts (e.g. emissions, waste, resource use)
• Ensure fair labor conditions and responsible supplier standards
• Monitor human rights and community impacts
• Define measurable sustainability goals and improvement plans
• Report transparently and undergo regular independent audits

It is not a one-time label. We must demonstrate continuous improvement and documented progress. We could lose the certification if we:

• Fail to comply with required social or environmental standards
• Do not implement agreed improvement measures
• Provide inaccurate or misleading information
• Fail an external audit or refuse transparency

In short, TourCert holds us accountable. Certification only remains valid if we continuously meet the standards and show measurable progress.

At Ventura Travel, we are committed to promoting only ethical and responsible tourism experiences. We categorically do not sell or promote any experiences that exploit animals or harm their welfare. Specifically, we draw a clear line against:

• Activities involving captive wildlife for entertainment or human interaction: We do not offer elephant riding, taking selfies with captive wild animals (such as tigers, lions, dolphins), swimming with captive dolphins, visits to circuses, or animal shows.
• Any activity that causes stress, harm, or changes natural animal behavior: This includes walking with lions, holding wild animals for photos, or participating in any form of animal exploitation.
• Unethical animal sanctuaries or attractions: We do not support or visit facilities that cannot prove genuine conservation or rescue intentions and that allow inappropriate physical contact with wildlife.

Our Approach: We only promote wildlife experiences that are respectful, non-intrusive, and beneficial to conservation and local communities. Our tours focus on observing animals in their natural habitats, guided by knowledgeable, ethical experts who prioritize both wildlife and ecosystem health. We constantly review our products and work with partners who share our values. If any experience is found to be unethical, it is removed from our offerings immediately.

Ihre Sicherheit ist für uns von größter Bedeutung. Da Sie ohne einen Reiseleiter oder einen Vertreter unseres Unternehmens unterwegs sind, müssen Sie in Notfällen die örtlichen Dienste direkt verständigen. Bitte beachten Sie daher vor Ihrer Reise mit uns die folgenden Hinweise:

• Halten Sie eine Liste mit möglichen Notrufnummern am Zielort bereit (z. B. örtliche Krankenhäuser, Konsulat oder Botschaft).

• Tragen Sie immer unsere Notrufnummer bei sich (die Sie in Ihren Reiseunterlagen finden).

• Nehmen Sie außerdem die Notrufnummer Ihrer Reisekrankenversicherung mit.

• Vergewissern Sie sich schließlich, dass Sie die Checkliste für das Reisegepäck, die Sie zusammen mit Ihren Reiseunterlagen erhalten haben, gelesen und verstanden haben (z. B. genügend Medikamente mitnehmen, Tipps für die Reiseapotheke, eine Kopie Ihres Reisepasses usw.).

Durch Langstreckenflüge und das Landprogramm entstehen bei dieser Reise [XX] t CO₂e. [XXXX] erfasst und überwacht den Fußabdruck seiner Reisen regelmäßig und reduziert Emissionen konsequent durch nachhaltiges Reisedesign: keine unnötigen Flüge, weniger Zubringer, Integration von Bahn und öffentlichem Verkehr sowie die Förderung längerer Aufenthalte für ein ausgewogeneres Verhältnis von Distanz und Auswirkung.

Von 2018 bis 2024 haben wir Klimaschutzprojekte in Höhe der verursachten Emissionen unterstützt. Aufgrund der Grenzen klassischer Kompensation setzen wir heute auf aktiven Umweltschutz über unser eigenes Regenwaldprojekt Forest Guardians.

Weitere Informationen zu unserer Klima- und Umweltverantwortung: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact