Private journeys across Japan, planned end to end.
We design and manage private travel across Japan, from hotels and trains to guides, restaurants, vehicles and everything in between.
One Tokyo-based team. One point of contact. A trip built around you.
The itinerary is a starting point.
We put a lot of work into your trip before you arrive. Reservations are made, transportation is coordinated and the things that can’t wait until the last minute are handled.
Once you’re here, we stay flexible.
Weather changes. Jet lag happens. Lunch goes long. You find somewhere you don’t want to leave.
So we adjust.
The structure is there. You shouldn’t have to feel it.
Having someone here who knows your trip.
Your hotel knows your hotel. A restaurant knows tonight’s reservation. Your guide knows today’s plan.
We know the whole journey.
What you enjoyed yesterday. Where you’re staying tomorrow. What’s already arranged, and what needs to change when the plan changes.
If something comes up, you don’t need to figure out who to call.
You message us.
We take it from there.
No two trips should look quite the same.
Different people make different trips.
A couple in their eighties shouldn’t travel through Japan the same way as a young couple on their honeymoon.
A photographer chasing winter light needs a different itinerary from someone coming to Japan largely for the food. A first-time visitor may want the icons. Someone returning for the fourth time may want almost none of them.
That’s why we don’t begin with one of our itineraries.
We begin with you.
Fifteen Days Across Tokyo, Kyoto and BeyondA sample fifteen-day journey linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Kamakura and Yokohama, balancing major sights with hands-on experiences and private transfers.
Planning a 40th Birthday Trip to Tokyo for Three FamiliesA sample seven-day Tokyo program for three families traveling together around one birthday, with private rooms, décor timed to arrival, and a free day in the middle of it.
How a Sixteen-Day Japan Itinerary Works When One Traveler Uses a WalkerA sample sixteen-day program across Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takayama and Kanazawa, built for a party of two in their eighties with different ideas about pace.
A Spring Journey Through KyushuA planned sixteen-day journey for two, linking Tokyo with Fukuoka, Aso, Takachiho, Kagoshima, Kyoto and Nara while building the route around two Shabbat stays.
Three Weeks of Photography Across JapanA 22-day route designed around winter wildlife, clear mountain mornings, quiet temple hours, changing weather, and the first light of spring.
Grandparents and Granddaughter Across JapanA ten-day journey planned around kosher meal arrangements, Shabbos, comfortable pacing, and the different rhythms of two grandparents and their granddaughter.
My husband and I have done a good deal of traveling and have had experience with many tour guides and I have to say, without question, Roy from Elite Tokyo Tours was the best. He far surpassed all of our expectations. What is unique about Roy is his sensitivity and relatedness and interest in understanding his clients and their needs and wants and then customizing the tour to accommodate them. As he was with us for most of our time in Japan, he was able to adjust and add to the itinerary as we wanted. He always went out of his way to try to meet our needs, as when I wanted to see a Noh performance. This was hard to find within our time frame and itinerary, but he and his team researched thoroughly and were able to find one. Khan, our guide in Tokyo was also very helpful and interested in maximizing our experience there. This was one of our best trips and we feel very fortunate that our friend referred us to Roy.
What an amazing experience with both Roy and Khanh. Two very intelligent and dedicated guides who spoke fluent English and Japanese. We were ported in comfortable luxury cars and ate at curated restaurants with views of amazing Japan. Cudos to Roy's very helpful team behind the scenes, researching and making reservations while we were on the move. This was a long-wished-for trip to Japan, mostly my wife's desire, and I must say I am completely satisfied and would recommend this company to anyone traveling to Japan.
Our cruise ended in Tokyo with mandatory disembarkation 7 hours before our flight home. Rather than sit at the airport for so long, we hired Roy to show us highlights of the city that were not on our earlier tours. With our luggage safely stored in his SUV, we were able to see cherry blossoms at their peak, and visit a shrine and anime area we had missed. Roy had a great idea to stop at a 400 year old garden (Happo-en) with bonsai trees and beautiful ponds and shaded views. He even helped us shop for our granddaughters before dropping us at the airport. His service was above and beyond, communication including booking and pickup was perfect. Overall, this pre-departure adventure was money well spent. It added to our special memories of Japan.
It started with showing friends around Japan.
Our founder, Roy, spent roughly 25 years in the United States before returning to Tokyo.
When friends and family came to visit, he found that what he enjoyed most wasn't simply taking them to the famous places. It was helping them understand the little things they were noticing along the way.
That still shapes how we travel with our clients today.
The right person for the day. One team behind the journey.
Sometimes a journey is best with the same familiar face from beginning to end. Other times, the right person is someone who knows Kyoto, Hakone or a particular craft exceptionally well.
We build the team around the trip, while Elite Tokyo Tours remains your point of contact throughout.
Private Tokyo tours, ready to book.
Book a private day in Tokyo, a layover tour or a day trip with clear pricing and online confirmation.
Come to Japan curious.
You don't need to have the trip figured out. Tell us when you're coming, who's traveling, what interests you and anything we should know about how you like to travel. We'll start there.
You will hear from us within 24 hours.
A member of our team will reply personally by email within 24 hours.
Practical notes, places and ideas from a team that's actually here.
Reading a Sake List Without GuessingA short crash course in nihonshu: what it is made from, what changes the taste, how region shapes...
Four Craft Towns Worth the DetourJapan's best craft buying happens outside Tokyo. Four towns for porcelain, gold leaf, joinery and knives, and how...
Where to Stay in Kyoto: Choose the Neighborhood Before You Choose the HotelChoose a Kyoto hotel by neighborhood first. Compare Higashiyama, central Nakagyo, Kyoto Station and the northwest by pace,...
Tokyo Shopping Areas: 5 Districts and Stores to VisitCompare five Tokyo shopping areas and find department stores and specialty shops for luxury, fashion, beauty, electronics, anime,...
Tokyo Sneaker Shopping: 5 Neighborhoods to ExploreExplore five Tokyo sneaker neighborhoods, from Harajuku and Shibuya flagships to Ueno specialists, easy Shinjuku stops, and Kichijoji...
Tokyo Anime and Manga Tour: A Fan's Planning GuideHow to turn favorite series, characters, games, and collectibles into a focused anime and manga day in Tokyo.
Traditional Japanese Crafts in Tokyo: 5 Areas to ShopExplore five Tokyo craft neighborhoods for ceramics, knives, washi, natural-dyed textiles, folk craft, workshops, and useful objects to...
Tokyo Record Shopping: A Practical Vinyl Day GuideA collector-first guide to planning a Tokyo vinyl day by genre, format, condition, and neighborhood.