MT&C Recommendations
Things we recommend to every traveler
Services and organizations we trust enough to send our own clients to. We hand-pick these — no paid placements.
Featured Partner Bureaus
Our partners on the ground in Japan
Licensed local travel bureaus we work with directly — trusted operators who know their region street by street.
Kyushu Gokoro
Kyushu Region · Based in Fukuoka
Our featured partner bureau for Kyushu, led by our business partner Ide — a licensed tour operator (Registration No. 69, Fukuoka Prefecture) specializing in deep, traditional, and fun itineraries across all seven Kyushu prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. From inbound tour arrangement to theme tourism — food, wellness, history, family, and more.
GuideMe Japan Inc.
Kansai to Kanto · Inbound Total Solution
A comprehensive inbound travel partner connecting Japan with the world — walking, bus, and custom tours from Kansai to Kanto (selected as a Tripadvisor Top 20 Tour in Asia), VIP concierge services for hotels, flights, private jets, and exclusive dining, plus MUTEKI Theatre in Kansai: maiko performances, sushi making, sake tasting, and other cultural experiences.
Our newest partners
- Kyushu GokoroPartner Travel Bureau · Fukuoka — all seven Kyushu prefecturesVisit site
- GuideMe Japan Inc.Tours, VIP Concierge & Cultural Experiences · Kansai to KantoVisit site
- Akebono Tokyo DrivePrivate Chauffeured Tours · Tokyo & surroundingsVisit site
- AsukuNavi OsakaLocal Food Guide Books · OsakaVisit site
Free Tour Guide Agencies
See Japan with a local — for free
Japan has a wonderful tradition of volunteer guide organizations: locals who show visitors around simply because they love where they live. Tours are free — you typically just cover your guide's transport and lunch. They pair beautifully with an MT&C itinerary.
Tokyo Free Guide
Tokyo
Volunteer guides show you Tokyo their way — free, personalized tours built around your interests. You simply cover your guide's transport and meal during the tour.
Visit siteVisit Kansai
Osaka · Kyoto · Nara · Kobe
Free volunteer guide tours across the Kansai region — a friendly local to walk you through Japan's historic heartland.
Visit siteKamakura Welcome Guide
Kamakura
Local volunteers lead free tours of Kamakura's temples, shrines, and the Great Buddha — one of the best day trips from Tokyo.
Visit siteShizuoka Free Guide
Shizuoka · Mt. Fuji area
English-speaking volunteer guides for Shizuoka — tea country, coastal towns, and some of the best Mt. Fuji views in Japan.
Visit siteGuruWalk
Nationwide
Free (tip-what-you-like) walking tours in cities across Japan and the world — browse routes, pick a guide, and book in minutes.
Visit siteAsukuNavi Osaka
Osaka · Kyoto · Nara
Local food guides for Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara — eat like a local with their neighborhood picks and guide book.
Visit siteAkebono Tokyo Drive
Tokyo · Hakone · Fuji Speedway
Self-drive JDM car tours behind an experienced lead guide — Tokyo night car-culture spots, Hakone mountain roads, and real track time at Fuji Speedway. Fully legal, fully insured, priced per car.
Visit site