About Us
Japan Travel Pros is a team of local experts providing human-led Japan trip planning. With decades of on-the-ground experience, we share authentic, practical knowledge to help you experience the best of Japan - without the overwhelm. Find out how and why we’re here to serve you.
Japan Travel Pros: Our Credo
We believe great travel is not about checking boxes. It is about understanding a place, its people, its culture and its day to day life.
We’re all about helping people travel Japan with eyes open, expectations grounded, and excitement & wonder galore.
We do not earn commissions, chase clicks or give cookie-cutter answers. As independent Japan travel strategists, we coach, guide, educate, inform & curate customized itineraries. We are your human-led alternative to automated planning or crowdsourced confusion.
Our role is not to sell Japan. It is to help you make sense of it.
We tell you what’s worth your time, what’s worth going well out of your way for… and we do not sugarcoat the rest.
We would rather have you travel wisely than travel blindly.
Because in the end, we are not simply helping you plan a trip. We are helping you experience Japan.
Showcasing the Best of Japan
First and foremost, we’re travelers at heart. Blessed to be able to travel across Japan, we’ve seen so much of what this culture has to offer. We provide custom itinerary planning, from the snowscapes of Hokkaido to the subtropical islands of Okinawa, and through the iconic metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka. By sharing our insider knowledge, we empower your self-guided tours across all regions of Japan. Launching and building Japan Travel Pros has been our way of showing the best of what Japan has to offer, and helping international visitors experience it.
As Japan grows as a destination, Japan Travel Pros grows in our capacity to support, educate and guide our clients along your journeys in Japan. We love sharing insider knowledge, secrets, tips and tricks with folks who are visiting. And we are proud to be a part of your travels here. Yokoso! Welcome to Japan!
Your Japan Travel Pros Crew
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Aki
Raised in Japan’s Kansai region, Aki loves to travel. She has lived overseas, and has spent much of her career in international commerce & hospitality. Aki loves showing people the best of Japan and co-founded Japan Travel Pros for that reason.
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Ari
Based in Kobe, Japan, Ari has combined his lifelong love of travel with a drive to help others experience Japan more deeply. As co-founder of Japan Travel Pros, he focuses on ensuring that clients go home with the best memories possible.
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Mayu
Mayu brings 10 years of front-line experience in Japanese travel & service . An avid travel enthusiast, Mayu has journeyed extensively around Japan and internationally as well. She loves to explore new places to see and eat — and will be happy to show you how!
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Naoko
Naoko owns a small farm near Mount Fuji, enjoying bucolic life and picturesque views every day! Having previously lived and traveled in the US and elsewhere, Naoko enjoys helping international travelers experience the best of Japan.
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Experience Our Expertise
Get a FREE Expert Video Review of your plan.
The best way to see how we work is to let us review your draft. Send us your itinerary and our team in Japan will record a free 5-minute video audit to show you exactly where your route can be optimized.
YES, REVIEW MY PLAN FOR FREEWhat People Are Saying
Overwhelmed by too many Japan options?
Get expert, customized guidance from Japan-based travel advisors.
• Smooth out logistics & routing issues
• Clarify priorities & tradeoffs
• Plan with confidence
Japan Travel Pros: At a Glance
Based In: Based in Kansai Area (Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto)
Our Team: Human-led, local experts living on the ground
Experience: 10+ years of local residency & travel strategy
Specialization: Custom itineraries, route optimization & logistics
Core Value: Transparency & authenticity over "viral" tourist traps
Trust: Direct, honest guidance focused on your priorities
Latest from the Japan Travel Blog
Our Contact Details in Japan
Japan Travel Pros
Hyogo-ken, Kobe-shi, Chuo-ku, Isobe-dori 2-2-10 One Knot Trades Kobe Building Room 1006 〒651-0084 Japan
〒651-0084 兵庫県神戸市中央区磯辺通2丁目2-10 one knot trades 神戸ビル 1006号室
Phone: +81 050 6864-4894
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Japan Travel Pros
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Our range of Japan travel services cover:
Tailored, unique itinerary planning & creation
Japan travel consulting
Advice on accommodations (hotels, inns, etc.)
Help with domestic transport booking (train tickets & passes, flights in Japan, car rentals, etc.)
Sourcing local experiences & activities
We are an independent consultancy. We do not book hotels, tours or transportation. You retain full control and ownership of all your travel arrangements. We do not make commission, nor do we use affiliate links for profit; our interest is solely in serving your best interest.
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We'd love to! Japan Travel Pros excels at putting together customized holidays and experiences. No matter if your interests cover traditional Japanese culture & history, modern technology, outdoor adventures, culinary experiences or a mix of everything, we can design your dream Japan holiday!
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We recommend starting your planning process at least 6-8 months in advance, especially if you're traveling to Japan during peak seasons (cherry blossom season or autumn). This allows ample time to secure the best accommodations and make reservations for popular experiences. However, we work with clients on a variety of timelines.
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We offer consulting sessions, at $79 for a 25-minute itinerary review, or $129 for a Japan travel strategy session. (prices are in USD)
We also offer a full itinerary planning package, which includes multiple zoom calls, in-depth planning and collaboration, and a detailed itinerary delivered to you (PDF, browser & app versions). Prices for the full itinerary planning package start at $995 (USD). The quote for the itinerary planning service is based on the amount of time it will take for us to research, curate, plan and create your Japan travel itinerary.
Booking a session is the smoothest way to get answers. But maybe you’re not ready yet? If not, how about letting us know a little bit about your plans with us first, to see if we're the right fit for your trip?
Still in the early stages of planning?
No obligation. Just a human reality check on your itinerary.
In an age of Google Maps, social media and AI travel planning, perhaps the real hidden gems of Japan aren't hidden from the world at all, they're simply hidden from your radar.