You can’t wait to visit Japan, but don’t need an expert to plan the trip for you.

All you want is a knowledgeable specialist to bounce some ideas off: a person who will help make sure you’re on the right track, and give you personalized insights you wouldn’t find through an algorithm.

If you don’t already have a friend in Japan whose taste and judgment you trust, our consulting service was made for you — after all, even if you prefer to plan your own Japan trip, there’s nothing like getting thoughtful input from an expert who knows the country inside and out.

Why Consult with Us?

  • Research can be fun, but you’ve gone down one too many rabbit holes.
  • We’ll help make sure you avoid common Japan travel mistakes that even experienced travelers make.
  • Even the best websites are not great at providing truly personalized advice (at least for now, AI can’t compete with humans when it comes to meaningful travel insight).

Expert Consulting for Your Japan Trip

Over the years, millions of people from around the world have used the free tips and resources featured in our Japan travel blog to enhance their Japan adventures. We love helping travelers experience Japan in a more meaningful way, and for some people our website provides just the right amount of guidance.

We also work with travelers, our wonderful clients, who hire us to design and coordinate unique bespoke trips around Japan. Condé Nast Traveler magazine has named us a Top Travel Specialist for Japan, noting that we “offer travelers a fresh, creative approach to Japan.”

But maybe you’re somewhere in the middle: you don’t need an expert to plan the trip for you, but do want some guidance, and would love to speak with an actual expert who specializes in planning unique and interesting trips throughout Japan.

Sample Topics

During your consulting call, we can focus on one or more of the following topics, depending on your needs and interests.

Destinations

Choosing which places to visit (and which to skip) is one of the most integral aspects of planning a trip and, with so many amazing destinations, it’s particularly fun yet challenging when it comes to Japan.

We can provide honest, unfiltered advice on which destinations are really worthwhile (and which are overrated or have become touristy). We’re also always happy to suggest off-the-beaten-path gems.

Hotels and Ryokans

As Japan travel specialists, a key part of our job is experiencing hotels and ryokans throughout the country.

We can tell you about the pros and cons of different properties (we know Japan’s hotels and ryokans inside and out), advise on room types (sometimes splurging on an upgrade is worth it, and sometimes it’s not), and help you get the best overall value and experience.

While our specialty is luxury travel, we can also advise on clean and well-located options for more budget-conscious travelers, along with guidance on how to book hotels and ryokans (it’s not always intuitive for foreign travelers).

Immersive Experiences

Should you hire a private guide? Is sumo worth seeing? Is a tea ceremony interesting or cheesy?

Many well-known experiences in Japan are truly worthwhile, while others don’t live up to the hype. We can help you determine which types of experiences will be most meaningful for you, based on your priorities (what’s right for another traveler may not be right for you).

Naturally, we can also suggest experiences you may not have heard of or considered. Please note that for a variety of reasons, we cannot typically provide specific recommendations for private guides as part of our consulting service.

Planning Logistics

If you’re like us, coordinating logistics is part of the fun, but it’s not always easy in a country you’ve never visited (and Japan poses its own particular challenges).

We can help you experience more of Japan with less stress. This can include insights on how best to get from place to place — bullet train? chauffeur? rental car? domestic flight? — to making sure you’re in the right destinations on the right days (avoiding unexpected closures or other inconveniences).

Since booking transport in Japan from abroad can be a hassle, we’ll also be happy to suggest ways to arrange your in-country transport.

Book Your Consultation

We offer trip consultation on a very limited basis.

If you have received the scheduling link, please book your call and we will follow up with a request for the consultation fee of $250.

Please note that our consulting service is limited to providing advice and guidance during the call, and does not include pre- or post-call services or arrangements.

We look forward to helping you get the most out of your trip to Japan!