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Everything you need to know
Service Areas & Regions
Where We Go
- The Cities: We provide private walking tours in Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo.
- Day Trips: We can coordinate trips to Ise Jingu/Toba (Mie), Takayama/Shirakawago (Gifu), and Magome/Tsumago (Nagano). These require at least one month of notice to arrange.
- A Note on Tokyo: In Tokyo, we focus on city-center tours only.
- Where We Don’t Go: To keep our tours high-quality and local, we do not operate in the broader Kanto or Fuji regions, including Mount Fuji, Hakone, or Kawaguchiko.
- Not sure? If you need to know if a specific location is included, just contact us and we'll let you know directly.
Transportation Policy & Airport Transfers
An Active Experience: We are a walking tour company and occasionally use Japan’s trains and buses to explore. This is truly the best way to see the cities like a local.
- Taxis: We don't pre-book taxis in advance, but they are always an option during the tour if you’d like a break from walking or want to save a little time. Your guide can easily grab one for you as needed.
- Airport & Hotel Transfers: We focus exclusively on our guided tours. We do not provide pickup, drop-off, or transfer services to and from hotels or airports in Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya.
- Private Vans: While we primarily offer walking tours, we may be able to coordinate a private van through our local partners for those who prefer not to use public transit. Please note that this is not a guaranteed service or option.
- Van Booking & Fees: Availability depends entirely on our partners' schedules and is not always possible. Because pricing is set by outside companies and changes by city and season, we will provide a specific cost estimate once we confirm their current rates for your dates.
Essential Booking Info & FAQs | Nippon Navigators
Read our booking requirements before contacting us. We clarify group size limits, transportation costs, and service areas to ensure we are the right fit for your group.
We currently lead tours in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Nagoya. If you are looking to explore a nearby area, just ask—we may be able to help depending on our guides' availability and our service area.
We offer two distinct experiences: structured tours and customizable guide services. Our tours follow professional itineraries designed to show you the best of each city. For those seeking a personalized route, our guide services allow you to build an itinerary with our local guides. While both options provide an expert experience, guide services offer the most flexibility.
Our tours are priced at a flat fee per group. This makes our services more cost-effective as your group size increases.
To ensure a high-quality experience, tours are generally capped at 6 guests. For family groups, we can often accommodate up to 8 people for an additional fee.(For family groups we may be able to go to a max of 8 people for an extra fee)
The tour price only covers your guide’s time and expertise. It does not include meals, local transit, or any entrance fees for temples and museums. Please keep in mind that you will also need to cover these same costs—entrance fees, transit, and lunch—for your guide during the tour.
No. All of our tours are 100% private. Your guide is dedicated exclusively to your group for the duration of the day.
Tipping is not common in Japan and is entirely at your discretion. Our guides focus on providing professional service regardless of tips, though they will graciously accept one if you feel the experience was exceptional and want to show some appreciation for their hard work.
Absolutely! We offer tours throughout Chubu and Kansai, including popular destinations like Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. But that's not all! We also cover hidden gems like Takayama, Shirakawago, Ise Jingu, and Toba. While we offer unparalleled experiences in Chubu and Kansai, we regrettably do not operate tours in the Kanto area, including popular spots like Fuji, Hikone, and Kawaguchiko or to the city of Nara and its surrounding area. Let us know where you'd like to explore, and we'll be happy to find the perfect tour for you!
We focus exclusively on our guided walking tours. Due to Japanese licensing restrictions and transportation laws regulating tour guides, we do not book accommodations or provide airport and hotel transfer services.
While our standard routes explore sites on foot and use Japan's efficient public transportation to move between districts, we offer flexible options. If you prefer private transport, we may be able to arrange a van and driver through our partner companies for an additional fee. This service is subject to availability and requires advance notice to secure. Please let us know at the time of inquiry if you would like us to try to coordinate this for your group.
We usually meet you in your hotel lobby to keep things simple, provided it's within our central service areas. We can also end the tour at a spot of your choice or escort you back to your hotel. Please keep in mind that the travel time back to your hotel is part of your total tour time. We’ll confirm the exact meeting point and timing while we plan your day together.
It depends on the tour type. Our Preplanned Tours follow a set route designed to fit the day perfectly. We can slow down or speed up based on your pace, but if you choose to linger at one spot, you may miss out on later locations.
Our Custom Tours are built around your specific interests, but once the itinerary is agreed upon, it becomes our set route for the day. Just like our preplanned tours, any changes to slow down will mean adjusting what else we can see before the tour ends.
Please keep in mind that the total tour time includes all travel between sites and the time it takes to escort you back to your hotel or meeting point at the end of the day.
Sorry, we offer our tours in English only.
Outside of the tour fee, we recommend each person has about ¥7,000 to ¥10,000 in cash for the day. This ensures you can comfortably cover your own lunch, transit, and entry fees, as well as those same costs for your guide.
Estimated costs per person:
Lunch: ¥1,000 to ¥2,000.
Local Transit: ¥800 to ¥1,500.
Entry Fees: ¥500 to ¥1,500 (most temples and shrines).Having this amount in cash makes the day much smoother, as many smaller temples and local transport options don't always take cards.
Why Choose Nippon Navigators?
Custom Itineraries: We don’t do "cookie-cutter" trips. Every plan is built from scratch for your group, so the route actually matches your interests.
Route & Timing: We handle the directions and the clock during the tour. We manage the move between locations so you can focus on the sights.
Focus on Small Groups: Our tours are designed for the pace of couples, families, and friends. We keep it personal, rather than a large group tour.
Right-Sized Tours: Our 4 and 6-hour tours are built to fit the time perfectly, ensuring the day flows well for you.
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Disclaimer
Scope of Service Nippon Navigators offers professional private guiding and tour services, including customizable itineraries tailored to your preferences for an unforgettable 日本旅行 experience. Please note that we are not a licensed travel agency. While we can provide recommendations for restaurants, attractions, or accommodations, it is the sole responsibility of the guest to secure reservations, purchase tickets, or manage bookings for these third-party establishments.
Limitation of Liability Nippon Navigators and its guides shall not be held liable for:
Cancellations, closures, or restricted access to any attractions or venues.
Delays, missed connections, or cancellations related to flights, cruises, or public and private transportation.
Loss, theft, or damage to personal property during the tour.
Health and Safety Guests assume all risks related to personal safety and well-being. Nippon Navigators is not liable for any injury, illness, or medical expenses incurred during or after the tour. It is the responsibility of the guest to ensure they are physically capable of completing the walking portions of the itinerary.
Travel Insurance We strongly recommend that all guests purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and unforeseen delays. By booking our private tours, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
NIPPON NAVIGATORS Email:
info@nipponnavigators.com | NipponTourGuides@gmail.com
Our Service Cities:
Tokyo | Nagoya | Kyoto | Osaka | Nara
Service Note:
To ensure local expertise, our services are strictly city-based. While we provide tours within Tokyo, we do not travel to the wider Kanto or Fuji regions (including Mt. Fuji, Hakone, or Kawaguchiko). Our operations focus on the city centers of Tokyo, Nagoya, and the Kansai region.
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