his travel and tour

Since the 1980s, HIS has been dedicated to providing excellent service within the travel field. The company's experience and expansive history allows us to keep channeling those experiences into better service for our clients.

Although HIS has started off as a Japanese travel agency, there are now over 200 branches worldwide. With 131 branches in Japan and about 157 in other countries, HIS is available throughout the world!

Our agents are well-versed in Japan travel, with many having either lived or visited for extended amounts of time in the country. Each agent is a Japan travel professional who can advise, build, and book the best options based on your needs.

HIS provides a wide range of travel services from Japan tours including both package tours and optional tours such as event tickets and experiences. Other helpful add-ons such as portable WiFi rentals, JR Passes, and travel insurances are also available.

JapanCierge

Personalized luxury concierge service, beyond japan, go beyond japan and discover more.

HIS International Tours has long been a presence in the travel field. Starting off as a travel agency in Japan, HIS has expanded globally to over 500 branches worldwide. With many services to offer, HIS believes in the importance of a well-rounded company. HIS also has opened up its own division of hotels, as well as amusement parks in Japan. Devoted to ensuring that your travel needs are met, HIS is committed to providing excellent service with high standards in all of our services.

Company Overview

Corporate history, his group corporate report 2020.

Corporate Philosophy

To contribute to the advancement of world peace and mutual understanding by increasing the knowledge of people around the world through tourism, and thereby overcoming the differences of nationality, race, culture and religion.

We currently have over 500 branches worldwide, with our far reach, we hope to continue providing excellent travel services throughout the world. It is also HIS' hopes to contiually expand and be more accessible throughout the United States. Below are the branches we currently have in the US and the services available at each branch.

Why HIS as your travel supplier

HIS is a seasoned travel agency that can create the perfect Japan vacation suited to your clients’ needs! With over 30 years in the travel field in the US alone, HIS knows the importance of flexibility, keeping up to date with the latest travel news, and providing quality service for you and your clients. Explore our B2B page to discover some of the services we can provide for you and your clients, and contact [email protected] for any inquiries and bookings!

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No.1 Travel Agent with more than 500 branches in Japan

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Looking for an activity during your japan visit? Leave it to hisgo! We provide regional sight-seeing tours, World Heritage, Cruises, Multilingual guides and much more! Additionally, talk to our trip consultant through chat  before and during your travel

World Heritage-Devine beauty of Iconic Heritage Mountain

Devine beauty of Iconic Heritage Mountain Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain, is 3776 meters high. It’s located in between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures and can be seen from the nearby prefectures on a clear day. Its breathtaking beauty all year around is what attract thousands of visitors every year. Climbing up Mt. Fuji is challenging but the view you see from the top will be unforgettable. If you are not into hiking, take a train or bus to Mt. Fuji's fifth station and prepare to immerse yourself into the wonderful nature!

World Heritage-Picturesque floating shrine in Island of God

Miyajima is a small island less than an hour by car from center Hiroshima, is regarded as Japan’s best three scenic spot. This little island welcomes millions of visitors each year. Miyajima iconic giant torii gate (O-torii) seems to float on the water. There are several temples and temples in the area, together with a scenic walking trails which will allow you to experience Japan to the fullest.

No.1 Travel Agent with more than 200 branches worldwide

Snow Hokkaido

Sense the rich nature

Pop Culture Tokyo

Enjoy the forefront culture.

Entertainment Nagoya

Enjoy the complex resort rich in nature.

Traditional Kyoto

The world most attractive city for tourism.

Traditional & Nature Nara

Nominated as a World Heritage Site for ancient city.

Fruits pick up Okayama

Enjoy the seasonal taste

History Hiroshima

Miyajima, Atomic Bomb Dome

Entertainment Nagasaki

Visit the famous tourist attraction, Huis Ten Bosh

Nature Fukuoka

Feel the Magnificent nature

Nature Okinawa

Okinawa for Japan`s best beach resort.

Japan's World Heritage Site cherished all over the world. World Heritage

Enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

The center of gourmet food Japan gourmet

Experience exquisite cuisine in the gourmet battleground of Fukuoka.

Glamorous lights are the charm Night Tour

Enjoy the lights in many gorgeous colors.

Experience encountering things remote from daily life Cruise

Find out our exclusive cruise tours with unlimited food and beverages.

So many popular activities! Sightseeing

To people who like to travel efficiency

Enjoy superb view Super view

You can see Majestic scenery

Cool Japan Entertainment

COOL! KAWAII! CRAZY!

Experience japanese culture Cultural Experience

Experience the ambience of Japanese culture.

Spend an affluent time in nature Outdoor

Enjoy scenery of each season

Things to do in Japan. It's shopping! Shopping

From the latest trends to electrical appliances, we have so many selection

About Our staff Multi Language assistant

Only at H.I.S.! Diverse of Nationalities If you find difficulties in communication our multilingual staff is here to listen you and support you with a comprehensive amount of information.

Chat with our Staff Free chat consultation

Having trouble planning your japan trip? Don't know which place is the best or what route is the best- We have the answer for you.Let us make it easier to plan your japan trip

Private Guided tour services

H.I.S provides private guided tour services. Our licensed guides have in-depth knowledge about cities in Japan. You can rely on them to make your travel the memorable one! Now we would like to introduce you our tours in many famous cities, Tokyo, Tsukiji , Kamakura , Nikko , Fuji - Hakone, and Lake Kawaguchiko. Not only those cities, we are more than happy to arrange private tours in other cities as you wish.

What is HAnavi : Save your Time and Money

51 cities and 115 routes + 3000 hotels around Japan Joint collaboration project of H.I.S. and All Nippon Airways (ANA) to offer more diverse services for cheapest rate of Hotels and domestic flights. ANA flies to 51 cities and 115 routes of domestic flight in Japan that bound to your dream destination and pick your favorite accommodation among our hotels.

Tourist Information Center by H.I.S.

Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara Tourist Information Center is an information center operated by H.I.S., a travel agency. Our philosophy is to continue providing useful information to our customers. Guided tours, hotels and optional tours are also available for reservation in our information centers.

Tokyo Tourist Information Staffs blog

Sharing Japan's exotic culture, introducing hot spots and Japan's travel tips. Our goal is to become the bridge in bringing our world closer together. Don't know what to do or where to go, check out our blog. New blog updating daily!! Let Japan Hot Now guide your travels in Japan.

Touch Tokyo-Experience the ambience of Japanese culture.

All the cool information about Tokyo is in this app! You can search for information quickly. You can find various amount of the information about Shinjuku, Harajuku, Omotesando, Asakusa, Ueno and Odaiba, which are four of the most popular japanese sightseeing cities for Thai. Let's enjoy Japan with this cool application!

Real trend & travel guide “What’s Japan Hot Now!”

Know the latest trends for a more enriching trip. Japan Hot Now, featuring information on Japan's latest fashions and lifestyles. Let Japan Hot Now guide your travels in Japan!

H.I.S. Coupon

"HIS coupon" is, zoo, aquarium, theme parks, ski resorts, museums, hot springs, car rental, optional tours, airport restaurants, good-time sale timed coupons limited number of such shopping.

Mt.Fuji Tour|Tour Informaiton & Booking

Enjoy cherry blossoms, illuminations and & Strawberry picking

Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Tour from Tokyo

Mt. Fuji, Oishi Park & Seasonal Fruits Picking

The Zekkei Fireworks at Mt. Fuji Tickets 2024

Mt. Fuji View and free time at Gotemba Outlets

Snow Experience at Mt.Fuji, Hakone Pirate Ship

Recommend Mt.Fuji Tour

Mt.Fuji Seasonal Bus Tours

Mt.Fuji Sightseeing Bus Tours

Mt.Fuji Free Tours

Discover Mt.Fuji Spot

H.i.s recommend mt.fuji tour.

This tour will take you to the Mt Fuji area, which has earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage site. You can enjoy the beautiful and famous scenery of the mountain. The tour also visits Hakone, an old and historically important town. There you can enjoy a ride on the famous Komagatake Ropeway, from where you have a spectacular view of the area. Furthermore, a cruise over the Lake Ashi is included, so you can enjoy the scenery not only from a high position, but also from the water.

Return by Motorcoach

• Adult(age 12+) : 13,980 JPY
• Child(4-11) : 6,990 JPY

Return by Shinkansen

• Adult(age 12+) : 16,980 JPY
• Child(4-11) : 8,490 JPY

Create even more special memories with these time-limited offers

Enjoy cherry blossoms, illuminations and all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

• Feel the spring breeze. Enjoy cherry blossoms!
• Admire Kanto's three great illuminations!
• Picking strawberries - all you can eat!
• From 15,000 JPY

• Half an hour to pick and enjoy as much fruit as you like
• Ride on the Fujisan Panorama Ropeway to admire Mt. Fuji!
• Drive to the 5th Mt. Fuji Station, located over 2300m!
• From 10,980 JPY

• E-ticket for The Zekkei Fireworks at Mt. Fuji
• On April 20, 2024 (Saturday), this dream fireworks display.
• Variety of plans for spending time at the foot of Mt. Fuji!
• From 25,000 JPY

Explore the Mountain and surrounding region

Snow Experience at Mt.Fuji, Hakone Pirate Ship & Gotemba Premium Outlet

• Ride the Hakone Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi.
• Enjoy an all-you-can-eat BBQ lunch at Gotemba's BBQ.
• Snow experience at Mt. Fuji!.
• From : 12,980 JPY

Classic Shizuoka 1 Day Private Tour with Mt.Fuji Viewing

• Visit Kunozan Toshogu, Nihondaira, Miho no Matsubara!
• Includes Nihondaira Ropeway round trip!
• Extra option is available!

Mt. Fuji View and 2hours+ free time at Gotemba Premium Outlets

• One of the cheapest Mt. Fuji 1 day tours on the market.
• Enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji from the Chūreito Pagoda.
• Shopping time at the Gotemba Premium Outlets
• From 7,000 JPY

Mt.Fuji Free & Easy Tours

Hakone Art Museums and the Old Hakone Highway Trekking

On this tour, visit some of the highlights of this area including the Amazake Teahouse, the ruins of the highways historical barrier station.

• Standard Plan 38,500 JPY

Fuji-Q Highland E-tickets

The Fuji-Q 1 Day Pass (includes Fuji-Q and Thomas land) will get you all day access to Fuji-Q Highland and unlimited access to rides.

• Adult(age 18+) : 4,500 JPY
• Child(12-17) : 4,200 JPY
• Toddler(6-11) : 3,700 JPY

Hakone Mt.Fuji View Trip Filled with Japanese Art and History

Comfortable travel to Hakone by taking the Romance Car Train. You will visit Hakone's tourist attractions via mountain railroad, cable car, ropeway, cruise ship, and bus.

• Adult(age 12+) : 39,600 JPY
• Child(4-11) : 39,600 JPY

Discover Mt.Fuji View Spot

Hakone ashi lake.

Hakone is known as a sightseeing and hot spring area with good access from Tokyo. It is a popular tourist spot where you can see Mt.Fuji in every season, and there are many art galleries and museums, so it is a place where you can enjoy traveling all year round.

Recommended Tour Of Hakone Ashi lake

Kawaguchi lake.

Kawaguchi Lake has the longest shoreline among the lakes located around Mt. Fuji. "Diamond Fuji" which Mt.Fuji is reflected upside down on the surface of Lake Kawaguchi, is too beautiful, and is famous as a superb view shooting spot of Mt. Fuji.

Recommended Tour Of Kawaguchi Lake

Oshino hakkai.

Oshino Hakkai is eight ponds with Mt. Fuji as the water source. Here has a beautiful old village scene & crystal-clear ponds with Mt. Fuji in the background. Oshino Hakkai is highly regarded from all over the world as a place where you can learn about the philosophy and history of Mt.Fuji worship.

2Days Spectacular Views of Mt. Fuji with Summer Fruits Picking

Indonesia | Jakarta

NEWS UPDATE

• 28/Maret/24 - Nikmati harga promo dari Garuda Indonesia hanya di promo H.I.S. Tours & Travel Promo Histeria Garuda Indonesia Raya Double Deals promo berlaku hingga 7 April 2024
• 25/Maret/24 - Kini H.I.S. Tours & Travel Hadir di Tokopedia, Sewa Wifi dan Pesan Tiket Jadi lebih mudah.
• 10/Maret/24 - Promo HISteria Periode International & Domestic Maret 2024 Dapatkan penawaran spesial untuk tiket domestik dan internasional
• 29/Feb/24 - Promo HISteria 29 Februari - 03 Maret 2024 Dapatkan penawaran spesial untuk penerbangan dari Jakarta ke berbagai destinasi hanya di Promo Histeria 29 Februari - 03 Maret 2024.
• 29/Feb/24 -JR Hokuriku Arch Pass Special Promo, Jelajahi Jepang dan dapatkan penawaran spesial JR Hokuriku Arch Pass Travel Period: ~ 31 May 2024

Promo HISteria International & Domestic Garuda Indonesia Raya Double Deals

Ada harga spesial tiket return menuju destinasi impianmu mulai dari 1,5 Jt-an saja untuk penerbangan Internasional dan Domestik hanya di promo H.I.S. Travel Histeria Garuda Indonesia Raya Double Deals ~07 April 2024 Pesan Tiketmu dan

MENGAPA BOOKING DI HIS ?

Bantuan Staff Lokal

Kami memiliki staff lokal yang sangat berpengalaman yang siap melayani keperluan perjalanan Anda dari rekomendasi perjalanan, informasi destinasi, hingga reservasi.

Kemudahan Perjalanan

Kami menyediakan berbagai macam paket tour, optional tour, tiket pesawat, hotel, theme park, transportasi, serta pengurusan visa untuk mendukung kemudahan perjalanan Anda.

Aman dan Terpercaya

HIS merupakan salah satu agen travel terbaik di Jepang yang melayani lebih dari 30 tahun dan tersebar di 63 negara. Semua transaksi di HIS dijamin aman.

PAKET PILIHAN

BEAUTY OF JAPAN WITH YOKOHAMA

SNOW WALL ALPINE ROUTE FROM NAGOYA

2 DAY TOUR ALPINE ROUTE WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR NATURE EXPERIENCE

DISCOVER TATEYAMA KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE (FROM OSAKA)

METODE PEMBAYARAN

Kami menerima pembayaran menggunakan metode VISA / MasterCard, Bank Transfer, dan yang lainnya.

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7D6N Hokuriku Shinkansen

Free and easy.

5D4N Hoshino Resorts OMO3 Sapporo

7D6N Hoshino Resorts Tomamu

5D4N Sendai (Tohoku)

7D6N Sakura Tohoku

7D6N Central Japan Heritage

7D6N Central Japan Izu Area

7D6N Spring Hokkaido

7D6N Sakura Hokkaido

7D6N Eastern Hokkaido

Our best sellers.

7D6N Tohoku

5D4N Okinawa

7D6N Twin City (Tokyo & Osaka)

[Adult] JR East Tohoku Area 5 Days

[Adult] JR East Nagano, Niigata Area

5D4N Sapporo (Hokkaido)

[Adult] JR NATIONWIDE (ORDINARY) (7 Days)

Jr east & west.

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Kyushu Splendid Sakura Tour 2024

Savor spring’s beautiful cherry blossoms in kyushu, dive into a colorful landscape dyed pink vibrant kyushu waits for you.

Always wanted to stand under Japan’s famous cherry blossoms? Our Kyushu Splendid Sakura Tour is the perfect opportunity to see this beautiful season in full bloom!

Newly redesigned and updated for spring 2024, our fully-guided itinerary will take you across Japan’s southernmost island, journeying to difficult-to-access regions like Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture and Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki Prefecture. You’ll get to savor all-you-can-eat specialty varieties of Kyushu’s juicy, renowned strawberries, plus plenty of time to soak away your stress in a multitude of soothing hot springs (six onsen in nine nights!), and even try Ibusuki’s famous “Sand Bath” experience!

Walk through ancient temples and gardens splashed with color, try your hand at making your very own sushi, enjoy your fill of local gourmet cuisine each and every day, and much more! See Kyushu in its most beautiful season with our Splendid Sakura Tour!

Destination Highlights

Fukuoka – Yufuin – Beppu – Mt. Aso – Takachiho Gorge – Kagoshima – Mt. Sakurajima – Chiran – Ibusuki – Kirishima Onsen – Kumamoto – and more!

Tour Includes

9 nights comfortable accommodations – 23 deluxe meals – Onsen (Hot Springs) – WiFi router – HNL Airport Lounge – Unique activities & experiences – and much more!

Full Package $4,690 (Adult) / Land Package $3,590 (Adult)

Tour Details

9 NIGHTS / 10 DAYS IN JAPAN

For an in-depth look at the many activities and destinations you’ll visit, see our written itinerary here: Kyushu Sakura Tour Itinerary (PDF)

Or check out the short summary below!

Itinerary Summary

Download Tour Flyer (PDF)

Download tour itinerary (pdf).

Japan Rail Pass Experience

The railway in Japan is internationally known for it's 20,000 km length servicing the whole country, its punctuality and speed.

Japan Rail Pass

Be amazed by innovative transportation. Whether you want to visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or more - the JR Pass will get you there.

Japan is a beautiful country with so many cities, sights and experiences. For travellers looking to visit, The Japan Rail Pass (or JR Pass) is the most convenient way to travel throughout all of Japan. It is valid for travel on major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group, particularly their bullet trains. This famous railway system is internationally known for its punctuality and speed. If you plan to do a lot of travel while visiting Japan, such as city-to-city travel, the JR Pass is cost-effective and will save you time.

Depending on your needs, there are other pass types that are limited to regional use. If you plan to only travel within a specific area, there are Regional Japan Rail Passes that may suit your needs better. Similar to the Japan Rail Pass, the Regional Pass allows the same travel benefits, but only within a specific area.

This pass will allow you to travel throughout all of Japan. There are two different types of JR Passes, the Standard Car and Green Car. These determine the class of service. Passes are available for 7, 14, and 21 consecutive day passes, providing nearly unlimited use of JR transportation services.

Purchase a voucher through us, and exchange it for your rail pass at a supporting JR station. The time limit for exchanging your voucher for a rail pass is three months from the date the voucher was issued.

Please note that Japanese passport holders cannot use this pass. Be sure to enter Japan with a non-Japanese passport and obtain a “temporary visitor” stamp in order to exchange your voucher.

The Regional Pass has some specific restriction (ex. The JR EAST PASS is not valid for JR buses)

Select from available dates

Legend: standard car , green car, jr hokkaido pass.

Explore the area of Hokkaido, Japan which includes destinations like Sapporo, Hakodate and Nemuro. With this pass, you can ride all JR Hokkaido trains and buses. Passes are available for 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days. There is also a 4-day flex pass that lets you freely choose 4 days to ride the trains out of a 10-day period.

Legend: Standard Car

Jr east pass.

Enjoy unlimited rail travel all over Eastern Japan, including Tokyo, Aomori and Niigata. Passes are available for a 4-day flex pass that lets you freely choose 4 days to ride the trains out of a 14-day period.

Flexible 5 Days Tohoku Area

Flexible 5 days nagano,niigata area, jr central pass.

Travel throughout Central Japan including places like Nagoya, Takayama and Kumano. Passes are available for 5 consecutive days.

5 Days Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass

5 days alpine-takayama-matsumoto area tourist pass, 5 day ise-kumano-wakayama area tourist pass, jr west pass.

Experience everything beautiful Western Japan has to offer. Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima are some of the most popular destinations here. Passes are available San'in Okayama Area Pass for 4 consecutive days, Kansai WIDE Area Pass for 5 consecutive days and Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass for 7 consecutive days.

4 Days San'in Okayama Area Pass

5 days kansai wide area pass, 7 days kansai hokuriku pass, jr kyushu pass.

Explore the region of Kyushu with this pass. Destinations include Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Passes are available for 3, 5 consecutive days.

3 Days All Kyushu Area Pass

5 days all kyushu area pass.

We also handle other passes, so please call us

JR Shikoku Pass

Visit popular places in the Shikoku region such as Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima. Passes are available for 3 to 5 or 7 consecutive days.

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Tony finau remembers his first time playing with scottie scheffler on the pga tour, when he shot a quiet 59, share this article.

Tony Finau was grouped with Adam Scott and eventual champion Scottie Scheffler for the first two rounds of the 2022 Masters, and after the first 36 holes at Augusta National Golf Club he knew that Scheffler would be rocking the green jacket come Sunday.

The two have gotten to know each other well over the last few years as members on the PGA Tour and teammates on both the U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams, and ahead of this week’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, the defending champion Finau was asked what impresses him most about the world No. 1. Finau spoke about Scheffler’s talents on the course and his positive reputation off of it, but the best part of the answer was a story he told about the first time the pair played together.

“The first time I played with Scottie, I didn’t really know who he was because he was a rookie on the PGA Tour and I played with him at TPC Boston,” said Finau, remembering the 2020 Northern Trust. “We’re playing together and after nine holes I think he shoots like 7 under or whatever. I’m not really paying attention, kind of focused on my own game. We got to No. 17 and he makes another birdie. I look over to my caddie and I’m like, ‘Man, this guy’s got to be 8 or 9 under,’ and my caddie’s like, ‘How about 11?’”

“So anyways, he birdies the last hole to shoot 59,” laughed Finau. “I knew he was a good player. But anyways, that was the first time I played with Scottie, he shot a 59 at TPC Boston and I knew he was special from that moment on.”

Imagine being so locked into your own round that you don’t even realize your playing partner is on track for a sub-60 day. Only Scheffler could shoot a quiet, efficient 59.

Finau will start his title defense at 1:53 p.m. ET on Thursday alongside reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Si Woo Kim.

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How Jason Gould 'Reclaimed' His Voice Through Writing Music and Why He Won't Go on Tour (Exclusive)

"I have to be true to myself," the singer-songwriter, who recently released his 'Sacred Days' EP, tells PEOPLE

Liz McNeil is an Editor at Large at PEOPLE, where she's worked for over 30 years.

Courtesy Jason Gould | credit: Gene Reed

Despite being born to one of the most legendary vocalists of all time, Jason Gould — the only son of Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould — had to find the confidence to sing on his own.

Speaking to PEOPLE for this week's issue, Gould, 57, opened up about how he learned to "reclaim" a part of himself that he once shied away from in order to pursue his career as a singer-songwriter.

"I sort of reclaimed my voice — and not just as a singer, but as a human being," reveals Gould, who recently released his Sacred Days EP on March 22.

He explains that various therapeutic, spiritual programs helped him tap into his creative talents.

"I've always been a seeker, and I've been on my own spiritual journey, which included meditation and prayer," the "World Gone Crazy" singer says, adding that he's also "been in therapy" and "gone to 12-step meetings." "I learned a lot in those programs about reclaiming those parts of ourselves. Particularly, as children, maybe we pushed away or forgot about."

After embracing the concept of "reclaiming your hobbies," Gould picked up pottery — and then, naturally, he turned to music.

Bei/Shutterstock 

The singer/actor explains that he felt as though he had to reject music as a child because of his mother's success. "I was very afraid of exploring that part of myself," he recalls, admitting that the eight-time Grammy winner wasn't even aware of his pipes until he shared his first recording, "How Deep Is the Ocean," with her in 2012.

Realizing that he wanted to "work through" that part of himself, he took a songwriting workshop, met other songwriters and started making music himself. "It just unfolded so organically," Gould says.

"To be able to express that part of myself was my goal really," adds the star, who went on to release his self-titled debut EP in 2012, a full-length album, Dangerous Man , in 2017, the Dark Grey Skies EP in 2021 and various singles, in addition to his latest release.

Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

Despite focusing more on music in recent years, Gould describes himself as an "oddball" because he feels a "need to create," but not to perform.

He shares that he didn't feel like hitting the road after the release of Dangerous Man , and doesn't now either. "I made a record with Quincy Jones , but I didn't go out and tour the world with it," he says of the 2017 project. "Most people would think, 'Why not? Why? That's what you should do,' but it didn't feel right for me."

The recording artist reveals that he simply doesn't get a "thrill" from performing. "I've heard people say, 'Oh, I feel the most alive when I'm on stage.' I'm not that guy," he explains.

"At the end of the day, I have to be true to myself and honor what feels right for me, because, otherwise, it wouldn't bring me pleasure," the "Laws of Desire" singer says. "And if it's not going to be pleasurable for me, then I don't think it would be good to experience or watch."

Dave J Hogan/Getty

Still, Gould revels in memories of the times that he's gotten on stage with Streisand, whom he joined on her 2012 worldwide tour to sing a joint performance of "How Deep is the Ocean" in front of tens of thousands of fans every night.

He explains that he enjoyed the experience simply because he was doing it for his mother. "It wasn't about me. I was just showing up to be of service and be the vessel of this music, and be there with her and have that moment with her," the recording artist shares. "It was a very private moment — it just happened to be in front of 18,000 people."

Although Gould says he used to feel "anxiety" when releasing a solo project, he no longer feels "insecure" about what he creates. Rather, he describes it as "an accomplishment."

Like the journey he's taken to feel even more confident as an artist, the musician says that, above all, he hopes fans feel "a moment of peace" in listening to his work.

For more from Jason Gould, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

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Blinken adds Israel stop to latest Mideast tour as tensions rise over Gaza war

J EDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israelis' war with Hamas began in October, as relations between the two countries have soured dramatically in recent weeks.

The visit comes amid a flurry of calls, planned trips by U.S. and Israeli officials and public airings of severe disagreements over the state of the conflict — notably Israeli plans to mount a major military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and what will happen to Gaza after the war ends.

The State Department said the Israel stop would cap Blinken’s latest Mideast tour that started in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and will continue in Egypt on Thursday. The top U.S. diplomat will be in Tel Aviv on Friday after talks with Arab leaders and foreign ministers in Jeddah and Cairo focused on the war in Gaza.

“In Israel, Secretary Blinken will discuss with the leadership of the government of Israel the ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all hostages,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. “He will discuss the need to ensure the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, in a way that protects the civilian population, does not hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and advances Israel’s overall security.”

Tensions between the U.S. and Israel over the prosecution of the Gaza war have been mounting for months over rising civilian casualties. And they have intensified as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will ignore President Joe Biden's warnings not to start a large-scale ground operation in Rafah without credible plans to protect innocent Palestinians who have sought refuge there.

Biden, facing a tough re-election campaign ahead of November's presidential election, is under growing domestic pressure to rein in Israel's military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. Opposition to the war in the United States, Arab nations and much of the rest of the world has shaped the evolution of Blinken's frequent trips to the region since October.

His first two visits were largely focused on re-affirming U.S. support for Israel in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attacks, but as civilian Palestinian casualties began to multiply and humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorated, his emphasis shifted to boosting humanitarian assistance and protecting innocents.

Since late last year, Blinken has also used his visits to stress the importance of Arab support for “day after” plans for Gaza and trying to coax Israeli leaders into accepting a status for the Palestinians that could help ensure Israel's long-term security.

As that shift has taken place, though, the situation in Gaza has gotten worse and relations between the U.S. and Israel have nosedived. Public disagreements between Biden and Netanyahu have become more frequent and more intense.

In a phone call with Biden on Monday, their first in more than a month, Netanyahu agreed to send a high-level delegation to Washington to discuss plans for the proposed Rafah operation, and the Pentagon said Tuesday that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would visit the U.S. capital next week.

In his talks in Jeddah, Cairo and Tel Aviv, Blinken is expected to focus on attempts to negotiate a cease-fire and hostage release deal, increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza by land, air and sea and plan for the territory's post-conflict future.

In the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The prospect of normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is seen as a potential point of leverage in pushing the Israelis on easing civilian suffering in Gaza.

Blinken and Prince Faisal “discussed the urgent need to protect all civilians in Gaza and immediately increase humanitarian assistance to those in need,” the State Department said, adding that “resolving the conflict” and “preparing for the post-conflict phase” remain a top priority.

Blinken also “emphasized the United States’ commitment to achieving sustained peace through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel," the department said in a statement.

But the Saudis have made clear that normalization won't happen unless it is accompanied by a clear commitment from Israel to accept an independent Palestinian state by a date certain. Netanyahu and many members of his far-right government are opposed to a Palestinian state.

In Cairo on Thursday, Blinken will see Egyptian officials as well as meet with a six-member Arab committee that includes foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority, according to an Egyptian diplomat.

This group has been charged with exploring ways to revamp, reform and revitalize the Palestinian Authority for a possible governance role in Gaza once the war is over. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has committed to reforms and replaced some of its top leadership.

Blinken's discussions are also expected to touch on the cease-fire negotiations that have taken on new urgency as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire.

Qatari officials, whose country is the main interlocutor with Hamas, said this week they were “cautiously optimistic” after talks with Israel’s intelligence chief in Doha. But, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday that an Israeli ground operation in Rafah would set back any talks.

At least 31,819 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. A United Nations food agency warned that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza .

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza that triggered the war, and and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

Zach Bryan doesn’t need country radio. He just needs your heartstrings.

The singer got famous on youtube. do his songs still travel in a concert arena.

At a sold-out concert in late March, with a resale ticket more than $1,000, Zach Bryan sang: “They’ll never understand that boy and his kind. All they comprehend …”

He paused, and the roughly 20,300 fans — drinking $17 hard seltzers and wearing $45 tour T-shirts in D.C.’s Capital One Arena — screamed in unison: “... IS A F---ING DOLLAR SIGN! ”

Bryan originally released this song, “Heading South,” on YouTube in 2019, a few days after his bare-bones debut album “DeAnn,” which was recorded in an Airbnb he converted into a makeshift studio by propping mattresses on the walls. The video is amateurish, lit poorly and shot from below Bryan’s knees at his sweaty face. He has red eye in it. And it has been viewed nearly 28 million times.

At the time, Bryan was in his sixth year as an active-duty member of the Navy, which honorably discharged him in 2021. Now, the 27-year-old is upending the country-music industry by finding his audience on social media, not the radio.

Country is the last genre still largely governed by terrestrial radio, even in the streaming era. What gets played on FM stations is what gets popular, and those airwaves are tightly guarded by station programmers who expect artists to play the game — which often involves kissing the ring on radio tours.

Bryan doesn’t do radio tours. He doesn’t do many interviews. He disparages the country machine.

And so country radio didn’t play his songs — not until he became famous, which is the inverse of how it normally goes.

Historically, artists require heavy airplay on country radio stations before they could sell out stadiums. That maxim was upended last year, according to Johnny Chiang, a SiriusXM vice president of music programming who previously spent 20 years programing terrestrial country radio.

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In 2023, Bryan became the first country artist to sell out stadiums without the radio push, according to Chiang.

Instead, he reached his fans through Twitter (now X), TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Bryan is “the genre’s first-ever viral-birthed, social-media country star,” says Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos, who runs the website Saving Country Music. A social media following led to a record deal with a major label, Warner.

Coroneos thinks country radio’s stronghold on the industry is overstated but agrees that Bryan represents a seismic inversion for the industry.

“Radio is no longer the kingmaker,” he says, and Bryan is proof.

Outsiders and interlopers — from Waylon Jennings to Sturgill Simpson — have always challenged the Nashville machine. And what indie rocker doesn’t have a country-tinged record nowadays? (Please welcome Beyoncé and her cowboy hat to the stage.)

And those are the folks I tend to listen to.

For many music lovers (like me) who loathe the slick pop country that is played endlessly on country stations, Zach Bryan feels different. Something genuine, at least through the bookshelf speakers at my home.

But what about in a giant arena?

I first heard Bryan’s music not while perched on the bed of an F-150, sipping Wild Turkey under the Alabama stars, but through the screen on my Peloton stationary bicycle during a ride sound-tracked by his songs.

I was immediately hooked. Bryan reminded me of traditional country — gently strummed, with catchy-but-crushing songs that storify tough topics such as addiction and dementia. His live, full-band versions of the same songs absolutely rock. He’s Bruce Springsteen via Merle Haggard — or is it the other way around?

Dennis Morton, the instructor who taught the Peloton class, told me he chose Bryan because he doesn’t sound like modern country music, which has “become a little bit homogenous,” Morton says. “He’s barely any more country than Tom Petty.”

Bryan’s songs have country-cliché titles — “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Quittin’ Time,” “Highway Boys” — but they don’t fall prey to country’s worst instincts (think empty imagery of cold beer on summer nights, and pairs of jeans that fit just right).

His homespun production, his raspy voice, his heartfelt storytelling, his DIY roots: It all feels authentic. Sometimes his guitar is out of tune, even on his albums. His fingers make mistakes. This all somehow adds to his appeal.

“He has a really gritty, authentic, heart-wrenching sound,” Chiang says.

Bryan positions himself as anti-establishment, even though it isn’t 100-percent true.

His live album, recorded at the Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver, is titled “All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster” — but tickets to Monday’s show in D.C. were sold through Ticketmaster. He wore a shirt that read “RIP MAINSTREAM MEDIA” onstage at the Capital One Arena — after his team gave me a ticket to receive coverage.

“They want to control you,” Bryan said on Joe Rogan’s podcast, though he didn’t say who “they” is. “That’s how I feel with everything sometimes. That’s why I get so frustrated with people. Because everything I do, everyone has an opinion.” Welcome to being an artist in the public eye, my dude.

In 2022, Bryan tweeted that he “will never want to be considered at the CMAs” because “establishments will always be weird.” He promised to hold a concert outside the Country Music Awards next year, in the way that Simpson once busked outside the show.

Bryan was nominated for a CMA in 2023 and attended the ceremony. He accepted a Grammy in 2024. He can sing all he wants against the system, but he’s now working inside it.

A t his D.C. show, no one fretted over his authenticity, or wondered if Bryan is some messiah who will tear down country music’s gatekeepers. Attendees were likely not thinking about country radio. Most of them probably don’t even own a radio. They were just drinking, and screaming, and singing. Yee-haw.

The delicacy of Bryan’s lyrics, and the intimacy of his songs, was stripped away at a live show and replaced by the tumult of communal experience. Rabid fans drowned his phrasings by shouting every lyric and squealing at every chord change. The concert experience was the tonal opposite of the small Southern towns he sings about.

The stage was shaped like a giant cross. It had a microphone set up at the end of each point, so he could address different sections of the crowd, which wrapped around the arena. Between songs, he repeatedly mentioned that he didn’t understand the music business when he was starting out.

The young crowd was outfitted with cowboy hats, denim, SEC school logos, denim, sunglasses dangling on Croakies (despite it being nighttime, and despite us being inside of an arena), sundresses, knee-high boots and denim. More than one fan vomited in the men’s bathroom before Bryan’s set began.

I felt like I was back at LSU, my alma mater.

With a propulsive band behind him and the spotlight on him, Bryan’s songs felt musically fleshier but thematically emptier.

It’s hard to feel like he’s fighting the establishment when his face is projected on a screen that must be 50 feet wide. It’s difficult to consider him an underdog in a room full of fans wearing $80 hoodies bearing his likeness. It’s tricky to sing-scold people who only care about money in an arena sponsored by Capital One.

But when he ended his concert by inviting the crowd to sing along, over and over again — “Baptize me in a bottle of Beam, and put Johnny on the vinyl!” — I couldn’t help myself.

I know it makes no sense to hate pop country and want to sing this at the top of my lungs. I know my culture and nostalgia as a Southerner are being exploited. I know he is wearing a T-shirt decrying my profession.

But for a moment, I didn’t care. Sometimes, the music is enough.

I bowed down, and I let the holy water roll over me.

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Q&A: James Taylor on his 2024 U.S. tour, the possibility of new music and his legacy

FILE - James Taylor performs at the 7th annual Love Rocks NYC concert in New York on March 9, 2023. Taylor kicks off his North American tour on May 29 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — He’s gone to Carolina in his mind and on tour for much of 2024.

Not long after his 76th birthday, James Taylor & His All-Star Band will take their show on the road in the United States, hitting 24 cities for 31 shows in five months.

Over Zoom from his studio in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells The Associated Press “It’s been September since the last time I’ve been out.” That, he says, is “a long time for me.”

The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl on May 29 and ends at Wolf Trap Filene Center in Vienna, Virginia, on Sept. 15.

The tour hits Salt Lake City; Morrison, Colorado; Kansas City, Missouri; St. Louis; Highland Park, Illinois; Noblesville, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Thackerville, Oklahoma; Clarkston, Michigan; Darien Center, New York; Syracuse, New York; Bethel Woods, New York; Bangor, Maine; Gilford, New Hampshire; Lenox, Massachusetts; Philadelphia; Wantagh, New York; Saratoga Springs, New York; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and Boston.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: Before the continental U.S. tour, you’re headed to Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. What keeps it interesting?

TAYLOR: The audience, always. The event itself has never failed to supply the motivation and the energy that is required. You know, it’s very compelling to go a great distance and to find a crowd of people that have bought tickets to come see me and the band play again.

Over time, it’s something you learn to do, to keep your strength up, keep your health... also, I don’t do more than a couple of shows in a row without a day off. I’ll do more than that if I’m in one town, but generally speaking, we pace ourselves now.

AP: That’s good advice.

TAYLOR: I definitely burned myself out a few times.

AP: You’re performing at Tanglewood, in your home state of Massachusetts, 50 years since you first performed there. What significance does it hold?

TAYLOR: I was trying to figure out whether or not it was 50 years or 50 shows that I’ve been playing at Tanglewood, and it turns out it’s both. 1974 was the first time I played there. It averages out to one a year, although at one point we skipped a whole decade.

We had an episode where one of my crew members, in a fit of pique, drove a truck across the Tanglewood lawn and made a mess of it. He was told he had to get the truck off the lawn because it had been raining and it was making an imprint on it. As we were breaking down after the show, he was driving out there to unload the mixing board and stuff. But he put it in reverse, stomped the accelerator and tore a great trough, a great furrow in the Tanglewood lawn. And they never asked me back. It was only when (my wife) Kim came along and resurrected my reputation that I was allowed to come back.

It’s been a great privilege... It’s turned out to be a great thing for me, to play Tanglewood every year.

AP: Does an anniversary like that — 50 years — allow you to reflect on your career?

TAYLOR: This is the time of life when you feel like you ought to get in touch with a lawyer and make a will. You see, the older generation, the people that were your friends and mentors, sort of checking out one by one . It is a time when you feel as though things are being summed up a little bit and you start thinking about, the whole thing as a totality. You know, a line from one of my songs, “Copperline,” is “I’m only living ‘til the end of the week,” and I think that really does describe me.

But, you know, it is a period of time when you look back and see the whole thing, it’s important not to internalize that idea of being a big deal. It’s important to focus on what it is that you do — and that thing as a craft that allows you to have your place in the world.

AP: What has that allowed you to learn?

TAYLOR: As time goes by, I think it’s wrong for people to judge other people and even to evaluate them, and yet it’s something we constantly do, and we can’t avoid it. But we should mitigate it by knowing that when we judge someone, we’ve got it wrong. They know who they are, and not we. But, of course, in a million ways, all day long, we evaluate ourselves and other people and it’s complicated. It’s not up to me determine what my ultimate position in popular culture turns out to be 50 years from now.

AP: That’s a value judgment, too.

TAYLOR: I see people selling the rights to their catalogs. That baby boom generation musical expression, which happened between ’62 and 1980, that sort of 20 years of amazing activity that happened, I was in the center of it and actually got my start in London with the Beatles . So, I had a real sense of this generational phenomenon that the music that I was part of, was a big feature in the landscape and we were communicating to each other. We invented a kind of music there. It was predicted by rhythm and blues and folk music. And those two resurgences sort of fueled it and supplied it. It was big.

You see those people now, being in my sort of age group generally, selling the rights to their catalogs and sort of evaluating what their life’s output was worth. You know, David Bowie ’s went for like 250 million. I think (Bob) Dylan ... got like 300 million... (Bruce) Springsteen is said to have gotten more than that, like half a billion or something. It’s sort of like monopoly money.

AP: What do you hope people take away from your live show, and are you working on a new album?

TAYLOR: I feel like I’ve got another one in me — sounds like an egg — but I’m writing a little bit.

And as to what I hope people take away from live performances, I hope they take away a sense of connection. You know, live music — the thing that I’m so attached to about it, why I can’t let it go — is that there’s something (that) happens when people come together for a couple of hours for two or three hours and have a sort of collective experience.

It’s indescribable. You prepare for it, but when it happens, it’s spontaneous and, in a way, unique. I love it when that happens, and it does most nights.

AP: Give us a call if you consider selling your catalog.

TAYLOR: If someone comes sniffing around, I’ll get in touch.