Frequently Asked Questions

Every tour is private, so the group is the people you book with. You are never put together with strangers. One person is fine; solo travellers are very welcome.

Up to about ten or twelve guests works comfortably. If your party is larger, tell us. Mihiro guides the tours himself. On busy dates, or for groups beyond ten or twelve, he may bring in a guide he works with and briefs himself. We tell you who will guide you in the quote.

Yes. Weekends and public holidays are our busiest dates, so get in touch early: two to three weeks ahead is a good guide, and longer for cherry blossom and autumn.

A few museums and workshops close on certain holidays. If one of those matters to you, we will say so when we send the itinerary and suggest an alternative.

Two to three weeks ahead is a good guide, and longer during cherry blossom season and autumn.

Because every tour is private, what fills up is the guide’s calendar rather than seats. Last-minute dates are sometimes possible, so ask anyway, but the earlier you write, the more choice of dates you have.

Send us an enquiry with your dates, how many of you there are, and what you would like to see. We reply within 24 hours. Once we know who is coming, we send the plan for the day and the price together with a secure payment link.

You can keep changing the day after paying, up to the day before. If a change alters the price, we send a link for the difference or refund it.

In the form, pick a preferred date from the calendar, or tick the box and tell us the period if nothing is fixed yet. The day itself is built for you.

Payment is made in advance. We send the plan and the price with a secure payment link, and your booking is confirmed once payment is complete. You can keep changing the day after paying, up to the day before. If a change alters the price, we send a link for the difference or refund it.

You are never asked to pay before you know the shape of the day and what it costs.

Yes, you can absolutely make a booking on behalf of someone else. Just be sure to enter the correct guest details, including their name and contact information, so we can reach them if needed.

If you’re booking for a group, please make sure everyone is aware of the meeting point and tour details.

There is no fixed itinerary to change. Every tour we run is private and built from what you want to see, so we start from your interests rather than from a set route.

Tell us your dates, who is coming and how much walking you are happy with, and we will put a plan together and send it over.

Yes. Each day is its own guided day, in Tokyo or Yokohama or as a day trip by train to Kamakura, Hakone or Mt. Fuji, so you can book us for several days in a row.

Send us your dates and we will suggest what to do on each day.

Two to three weeks is comfortable. That gives us time to work out the route, check opening days and book anything that needs reserving.

Shorter notice is worth asking about. We will tell you straight away whether we can do it well.

After a tour with us you receive a coupon code, valid for three years.

Just mention the code when you send your next enquiry and we will apply it to the quote. If you never received one, message us on WhatsApp and we will look it up.

One price covers your whole group, up to the number of guests shown:

• Tokyo on foot: Tokyo or Yokohama, same rate for either. 6 hours. From US$550 for up to 4 guests, then US$100 for each guest after that.
• Day trip by train: Kamakura, Hakone or Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko). About 9 to 10 hours. From US$890 for up to 4 guests, then US$100 for each guest after that. Your guide’s own fares and admission are included.

The exact figure depends on the itinerary, so we confirm it in the quote we send you.

Per group, up to a point. A walking day is US$550 whether there are two of you or four, and a day trip by train is US$890, so the more of you there are, the less it costs each. From the fifth guest on it is US$100 per extra guest.

Children count towards that number like anyone else, and there is no separate child price. On busy dates, or for groups beyond ten or twelve, Mihiro may bring in a guide he works with and briefs himself. We tell you who will guide you in the quote.

Your private guide for the day, and the planning that goes into the itinerary before it.

Train fares are not included. Each of you pays your own fare with an IC card such as Suica, and your guide shows you how. On a day trip, your guide keeps the day moving around the train and bus times. Each of you buys your own tickets, and we point you to the official booking pages. Your guide’s own fares and admission are included.

Meals, entrance fees and tickets are not included either. You pay for them as you go, and we set out what to expect item by item in the quote before you commit to anything.

Major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Payment is taken online through a secure link we send you with the plan and the price.

No. The tour itself is paid in advance by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Do bring some cash for the day itself, though. Many small shops, local restaurants and bars still take cash only.

Not at the moment. The tour is paid in full through the secure link we send with the plan and the price.

Mihiro Ono, the founder of Japan Trails, was born and raised in Japan, and he plans every day with you before he meets you.

Mihiro guides the tours himself. On busy dates, or for groups beyond ten or twelve, he may bring in a guide he works with and briefs himself. We tell you who will guide you in the quote.

Our tours are in English. Mihiro speaks English and Japanese, and we cannot promise a guide in other languages.

If you have specific language needs, contact us in advance and we will tell you honestly what we can do.

Yes, and gladly. Every tour is private, so there is no one else to work around.

Tell us your idea when you enquire (the moment, the place, the timing) and we will work the day around it and keep it quiet from whoever it is for.

Yes. Tell us in advance who it is for and what they would enjoy, and we will build it into the day.

Strollers are welcome. The tour is private, so the pace and the route are yours and we can plan around lifts and step-free routes.

Pets depend on the venues we visit. Tell us in advance and we will build the day around places that will have them.

Yes. The tour is private, so the meals are planned around you rather than around a set menu.

Tell us when you enquire and we will choose restaurants that cook vegetarian or vegan food properly, rather than ones that leave the meat out.

Tell us when you enquire and we will build the route around it.

Halal restaurants are straightforward enough to find in Tokyo. Kosher options in Japan are very limited, so we will be honest with you about what is realistic before you book.

Tell us the allergy when you enquire, before you book.

We check with the restaurants in advance rather than on the day, and your guide will explain it again in Japanese when you sit down. If somewhere cannot handle it safely, we go elsewhere.

It depends on where you want to go. Because the tour is private, we can build the route around that rather than the other way round.

Tell us what you need when you enquire: step-free stations, shorter distances, somewhere to sit along the way. We will tell you honestly what works and what does not.

Tell us in advance and we will plan for it. A private tour sets its own pace, so there is no group to keep up with and we can stop whenever you need to.

For hearing support, let us know what helps (writing things down, facing you when speaking, quieter venues) and we will brief the guide before the day.

Yes, and it is one of the things guests use us for most. Kabuki seats, teamLab, the Skytree, a sumo tournament, a restaurant that only takes bookings by telephone in Japanese: a lot of it is difficult or impossible to arrange from outside Japan.

The first two bookings come with your tour. After that it is US$30 for each one, which covers the time it takes to hold the date, make the booking and send you the confirmation.

Tell us what you want when you enquire and we will say what is realistic for your dates before you commit to anything.

For trains, flights and hotels, please book these yourselves. We are happy to tell you which ones to choose and how to book them.

You do, at face value. We add 6% when we pay in advance on your behalf, which covers the card and currency charges we are billed for doing it. It is not a margin. It is what the transfer costs us.

Tickets are paid for before we buy them, not after the tour. Most of what we book (theatre seats, timed entry, a table held on a deposit) cannot be refunded once it is bought, so we do not put it on a card until it is settled.

The booking fee itself is different. That goes on your tour invoice and is settled with the rest of the tour.

If you cancel afterwards, tickets already bought cannot be refunded to you, because they were not refunded to us. We will always tell you which items are in that position before we buy anything.

Yes, both. We lend our own pram and folding wheelchair, and your guide brings it on the day. If yours stayed at home, or if walking all day is not realistic for someone in your party, say so when you enquire.

We then build the route around it: lifts, step-free ways round, somewhere to sit.

They go into the plan rather than being squeezed around it. Tell us the ages and the usual rhythm of your day and we work the stops around it.

We also pick restaurants that have high chairs and small plates, rather than finding out at the door that they do not.

We put them in a locker or hold them for you, so nobody drags a suitcase round Asakusa.

This comes up most on the first and last day, before check-in or after check-out. Tell us which it is and we plan for it.

A walking day in Tokyo or Yokohama runs for 6 hours. A day trip by train to Kamakura, Hakone or Mt. Fuji takes about 9 to 10 hours, from leaving Tokyo to getting back.

Start time is yours to choose. If you want a shorter or a longer day, say so when you enquire.

Tokyo and Yokohama, as walking days on foot and by train. We also go with you by train on day trips to Kamakura, Hakone and Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko).

We can meet you at your hotel or anywhere convenient in Tokyo, Kanagawa or Saitama. If somewhere else in Japan is on your mind, ask. We will tell you whether we can do it properly.

We can meet at your hotel or a convenient spot in Tokyo, Kanagawa or Saitama, whichever is easiest for you.

From there we go on foot and by train. Each of you pays your own fare with an IC card such as Suica, and your guide shows you how.

On a day trip, your guide meets you at your hotel in central Tokyo or at Shinjuku or Tokyo Station, and the day ends back at the station.

The exact place and time are confirmed by email before the day, along with your guide’s contact number.

If you think you might be late, please make sure to contact us as soon as possible.

You can reach us at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +81-80-6986-7446. We will do our best to assist you, but please note that tours usually start on time and we may not be able to wait in some cases.

Your guide will be holding a sign that says “Japan Trails”.

Please look out for the sign at the meeting point. If you have trouble finding the guide, feel free to contact us.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes, as most tours involve a fair amount of walking.

Depending on the season, you may also want to bring a hat, sunscreen, or an umbrella. A small bag or backpack is also useful for carrying personal items.

Tours run rain or shine, so dress for the day.

If the weather turns, we adjust the itinerary rather than cancel, swapping outdoor spots for markets, temples with covered walkways or local cafés. Your guide always has a backup plan.

In severe weather such as a typhoon we may cancel for safety. If we do, you receive a full refund.

On a day trip, we cannot promise a clear view of Mt. Fuji, and the day goes ahead whatever the cloud. If we cancel, we cover the rail company’s refund fee on your own train tickets, and we tell you when to book them.

Yes, you are free to leave the tour early if necessary.

Just let the guide know before you go, so we can make sure everything is safe and properly handled. Please note that partial refunds are not available for early departures.

Yes, we recommend bringing some cash with you during the tour. While Japan is increasingly card-friendly, many small shops, local restaurants, and bars still accept cash only.

Having cash on hand will make your experience smoother, especially for food, drinks, or souvenirs.

Yes, if we cancel the tour due to severe weather conditions, you will receive a full refund.

Your safety is our top priority. We will notify you as soon as possible if the weather makes it unsafe to proceed with the tour.

Please contact us as soon as you know. We would much rather move the date than cancel it, and if the guide is free we will reschedule.

If moving the date is not possible, the standard cancellation schedule applies. See What is your cancellation policy?

Yes. The price is for the group, so there is no separate child price. Children count towards the group in the same way as adults.

Tell us their ages when you enquire and we will set the pace and the route to match: shorter walks, somewhere to run around, and food they will eat.

No. Infants and toddlers are not counted towards the number of guests included in the price, so bringing a baby does not push you into the “extra guest” rate.

Tell us their age when you enquire and we will confirm the exact price in the quote, before you commit to anything. Do tell us in advance, so we can plan for a pram and for places to stop and rest.

Yes. Tell us in advance and we will plan the route around lifts and step-free ways round, rather than leaving you to find them on the day.

Some older streets and stations still mean stairs. Your guide will know which ones, and take you a different way.

On a city tour, on foot and by train, which is how the city is best seen, and how your guide will show you to use it. On a day trip, your guide rides the train out of Tokyo with you.

In Tokyo, each of you pays your own fare with an IC card such as Suica, and your guide shows you how. On a day trip, each of you buys your own tickets, and we point you to the official booking pages.

If a lot of walking does not suit you, tell us when you enquire and we will plan the day around shorter distances.

All of our tours are private, so one policy applies to every booking. Cancellation fees are counted from the tour date.

• 31 days or more before the tour: free of charge (excluding costs already incurred on your behalf, such as entry or theatre tickets already bought for you)
• 30 to 3 days before the tour: 20% of the guide fee
• 2 days to 1 day before the tour: 50% of the guide fee
• On the day of the tour, or no-show without notice: 100% of the guide fee

Dates are counted in Japan time. If we are the ones who cancel, you receive a full refund.

If we need to cancel the tour for any reason, you will receive a full refund.

We will notify you as early as possible and do our best to assist with alternative options if available.

A cancellation on the day of the tour incurs a 100% cancellation fee (Japan time). No-shows without notice are also non-refundable.

See What is your cancellation policy? for the full schedule.

No, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund if you miss the tour without prior notice.

Please make sure to arrive at the meeting point on time. If you anticipate being late, contact us as soon as possible at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +81-80-6986-7446. We’ll do our best to assist you, but missed tours are considered non-refundable.

Yes, 31 days or more before the tour, less any tickets already bought for you.

After that a cancellation fee applies:

• 30 to 3 days before the tour: 20% of the guide fee
• 2 days to 1 day before the tour: 50% of the guide fee
• On the day of the tour, or no-show without notice: 100% of the guide fee

You also receive a full refund whenever we cancel the tour, for example for severe weather. If you are unsure where you stand, write to us at [email protected].

Yes, it may be possible to reschedule your tour depending on availability.

Please contact us as soon as possible through the Contact Us form, by email at [email protected], or via WhatsApp at +81-80-6986-7446. We’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

There is no strict deadline to request a reschedule.

However, we recommend contacting us as early as possible so we can check availability and make the necessary arrangements for you.

As many times as you need, as long as the date you want is free. If you later cancel, the cancellation fee is counted from your new tour date.

Mihiro’s calendar fills up on weekends and in peak seasons, so the earlier you ask, the more choice you have.

If the tour is cancelled by our company for any reason, you will receive a full refund.

We will notify you as early as possible and assist with alternative options if available.

Yes, if your original tour is cancelled or unavailable, we can offer alternative dates or suggest substitute tours whenever possible.

Please contact us with your preferred schedule, and we’ll do our best to arrange an option that works for you.

We understand that unexpected situations can occur, but our standard cancellation policy still applies in cases of medical emergencies or flight cancellations.

Please contact us as soon as possible and provide details. While we cannot guarantee exceptions, we will do our best to assist you within the policy guidelines.

If you are unable to enter Japan due to border restrictions, our standard cancellation policy will still apply.

We recommend checking the latest travel regulations before booking. If you have concerns about your situation, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to assist within the policy guidelines.

Gladly. We work with travel agencies, tour operators and other partners who care about the same things we do.

Write to us through the contact form or at [email protected], and tell us what you have in mind: private tours for your clients, custom itineraries, or something else.

Thank you for your interest! At the moment, we do not offer an affiliate program. However, we’re always exploring new ways to collaborate with partners. If you have an idea or proposal, feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to hear from you.

Yes, we would love to hear from local businesses. If you run a service, restaurant, bar or cultural venue that you think would suit our guests, get in touch.

Write to us through the contact form or at [email protected] with a short introduction.