If you’d like a Japan expert to help plan your trip to Japan – or to review and refine plans you’ve already made – Japan Travel Consulting (JTC) can help. We offer clear, practical advice via Zoom and follow-up email to help you plan a smooth, enjoyable trip to Japan.
About Japan Travel Consulting (JTC)
Japan Travel Consulting (JTC) is a team of Japan travel journalists, long-term Japan residents and travel consultants. JTC is operated by Chris Rowthorn, a 20-year resident of Kyoto and author of 19 Japan guidebooks for Lonely Planet, as well as the co-founder of the Inside Kyoto, Truly Tokyo and Inside Osaka websites.
Where Our Advice Comes From
Our recommendations are based on first-hand experience, not sponsored content or generic research.
Specifically, our advice draws on:
- Decades of living and traveling extensively throughout Japan,
- Professional guidebook research for Lonely Planet (on-the-ground fieldwork, not desk research),
- Continuous feedback from hundreds of consulting clients each year,
- Ongoing updates from local contacts, hotels, guides, and restaurants,
- Real-world problem-solving (missed trains, sold-out attractions, weather changes, timing issues).
In short: we focus on what actually works for real travelers, right now.
How It Works
- Initial Zoom Consultation (30 minutes)
We start with a Zoom call to discuss your plans, priorities, timing, and any questions or concerns you have. - Detailed Follow-Up Email (about 30 minutes of work)
After the call, we send a carefully written email summarizing our advice, including:- Clear recommendations,
- Corrections or refinements to your itinerary,
- Practical tips and warnings,
- Direct links to hotels, transport, and resources.
For most travelers, one session is enough to confidently plan their trip. Additional sessions can be added if needed.
What We Can Help You With
We can help you with the following:
- Reviewing or refining a draft itinerary,
- Designing a realistic day-by-day plan,
- Train routes, schedules, and seat strategies,
- Deciding whether a Japan Rail Pass or regional pass makes sense,
- IC cards (digital vs physical, where and how to get them),
- Hotel and ryokan recommendations in your price range,
- Finding great places to eat without wasting time,
- Avoiding common first-time mistakes
…and much more. But please note that we do not book or sell accommodation. Rather, we tell you the best ways to do that yourself at the lowest possible rates.
Rates
JTC charges US$190 per hour for our standard service (1 hour of consulting as explained above under How It Works). This includes:
- A 30-minute Zoom consultation,
- A detailed follow-up email that we spend 30 minutes writing.
In some cases, we also offer full trip planning. Please let us know if you are interested in full trip planning (rates below).
Full Trip Planning
In some cases, we can also offer full trip planning, in which we write a full itinerary for you. We charge as follows for full trip planning:
- A ¥15,000 deposit (approx. US$133 / €113) is required to begin.
- This covers the first hour of consulting.
- Additional time is billed in two-hour increments.
- Full time breakdowns are provided – no surprises.
As a guideline, planning a typical one-week trip to Japan takes about 7 hours, though this varies widely depending on complexity.
Please Note
JTC is not a travel agent. JTC does not sell or book travel, hotels or transport. Rather, JTC gives you the information you need to book the best hotels, ryokan, transport options and guides etc at the best rates.
How To Book a Consultation
Please send an email to [email protected] and tell us as much about your trip as possible, including dates and budget. You’ll then be matched up with a travel expert to provide you with the planning you need.
Please note we are only able to respond to genuine enquiries seeking to hire our travel experts.
Payment
Payment is via PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account to make a payment).
Where Are These Places Located?
- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- HOTELS – Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- PACKING LIST – View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- FLIGHTS – Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you’re visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it’s worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
