Private guide Briefings
Before every tour, our private guides like to share a little background, so that the shrines, castle towns and everyday customs you'll see make sense from the moment you arrive. These are those briefings: short, illustrated, a little bit funny, and written for curious travelers, not historians.
Briefing · History · 15 min
16,000 Years of Japan
Three waves of people, nearly 700 years of samurai rule, a legend about Jesus in Aomori and the fastest modernization in history, all in three ages.
Read the briefing →COMING SOON
Briefing · Culture · 10 min
Decoding Japanese Mindsets
Why "that might be a little difficult" means no, why everyone arrives ten minutes early, and the five ideas that explain everyday life in Japan.
Coming next from our guides
- Shrines vs. temples: how to tell them apart in 10 seconds
- Onsen etiquette without the embarrassment
- How to order at a Japanese restaurant (and what not to tip)
How to use these briefings
Before you flyRead one on the plane. Fifteen minutes is about one in-flight meal.
On tourAsk your guide about anything that caught your eye. Every briefing is just the opening chapter.
After you're homeShare them with friends who are planning their own trip to Japan.
Ready to hear the rest of the story?
Our private guides tailor every tour to your interests, your pace and your schedule.
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