About Japan Guide Stars

We connect travelers
with the real Japan

Founded by local experts who believe the best travel stories happen beyond the guidebook.

Our Story

Born from a passion
for authentic experiences

Japan Guide Stars was created by local residents who saw a gap between what mass tourism offered and what Japan truly is. Too many visitors left having seen only the surface — the same crowded spots, the same rushed itineraries.

We set out to change that. By partnering with passionate local guides — historians, chefs, artisans, and lifelong residents — we create tours that reveal the layers of Japanese culture that most visitors never see.

Every tour is a carefully crafted experience: small groups, deep knowledge, and genuine human connection. That's not marketing — it's what our 4,700+ five-star reviews reflect.

Local guide leading a small group tour in Kyoto

Track Record

Numbers that speak for themselves

5.0 TripAdvisor Rating Perfect score across 8,149+ reviews
10,000+ Happy Guests From over 50 countries worldwide
25+ Curated Tours Across Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Hakone
10+ Years of Experience Guiding visitors since our founding

What Makes Us Different

More than a tour company

Small Groups, Big Moments

Maximum 8 guests per tour. Your guide knows your name, not your ticket number.

Licensed Local Experts

Every guide is a certified professional with deep roots in the community they serve.

Flexible & Unhurried

No rigid scripts. If a hidden alley catches your eye, we explore it together.

Bilingual Support

English-speaking guides with native Japanese fluency for authentic local interactions.

Proven Quality

8,149+ five-star reviews on TripAdvisor — our guests are our best ambassadors.

Door-to-Door Convenience

Hotel pickup available for most tours. We handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience.

Corporate Information

Company Profile

Company Name Contents Like LLC (Contents Like 合同会社)
Trade Name Japan Guide Stars
Representative Tachinami Hidenori
Head Office 3-4-9 Akatsuka Shinmachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 175-0093, Japan
Branch Office Shinjuku Daikan Plaza City 1-210, 7-19-22 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Phone 080-4169-1595
Travel Registration Tokyo Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 2-8877
Affiliation Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)

Ready to see the Japan
the guidebooks miss?

Browse our curated tours and find your perfect experience.