Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. With so many options—and so much conflicting information online—it’s easy to feel stuck. We help you cut through the noise, avoid costly mistakes, and design a trip that actually fits your interests, pace, and style.
Both Chris and his business partner Koko do this consulting. We usually start with a video or phone call and continue via email.
We typically help with:
- Accommodation recommendations
- Transport logistics (best routes, how to reserve etc)
- Route planning, including off-the-beaten track and deeper Japan
- Daily activities and experiences, including geisha experiences
- Advice for when guides can be useful and how to explore without a guide
- Private experiences not listed on our public site
- Practicality details (IC cards, money, wifi, luggage shipping)
- Daytrips possible from cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto
- Recommending good local restaurants to meet your preferences
We don’t usually produce full day-by-day itineraries or make bookings—but we give you everything you need to do this efficiently and at the best rates.
Our consulting service is mostly done by phone/video calling and occasionally followed by emails with links, recommendations and answers to follow-up questions. We charge ¥27,000 (about US$174, CA$246/€165/£138) per hour. Our minimum consulting time is 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, we calculate the charge by 5-minute increments. We normally charge for one hour in advance by PayPal. If we spend only 30 minutes for a consultation (for example, a quick Zoom call with no email follow-up), we will refund any remaining balance. We’ll also keep you informed of the time spent on your consultation, so you’ll always know exactly what you’re paying for.
To start the process, email:
chris@chrisrowthorn.com
When you email, please tell us as much as possible about what kind of trip you have in mind. If you already have a tentative itinerary, please include it with your email.
京都府知事 旅行業登録 地域 – 906号
