Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Providing the answers to your questions about your Experience in Japan with us.
First steps to planning your trip with Wanotabi
What we enjoy most is getting to know you on a personal level to make the best recommendations.
You send us an inquiry and your own Japan Tour Designer will get back to you within 24h to arrange a phone consultation to better understand your preferences.
He will take the time to get to know you, helping narrow down the options and recommend places to go and people to meet that you might never have considered. Then he will start to create an itinerary from scratch, or modify one of our suggested itineraries.
When should I start planning?
Plan around a year ~ 6 months in advance, as hotel rates are often published about 11 months ahead of time.
Is it possible to make changes to the itineraries?
Just as every traveler is different, every trip we plan is different. Your travel experience will be built from the ground up by your Japan Tour Designer.
Those on our website are simply there to provide inspiration and we are happy to modify any of the tours, experiences, or to start from scratch and custom-design a new tour altogether.
How does the pricing on your website work?
The pricing you see on our website is based on two or more people sharing the cost of the trip – including hotels, drivers, guides, and experiences. This is just to give you a rough indication of price, and once you get in touch, we’ll quote you a more accurate costing based on your travel dates, group size, and ideal preferences.
We don’t charge any fees in order for us to quote custom-designed tours.
Firstly, this is because we’ve always believed that inspiration itself is priceless. We want to show you how we think and what we can do first – without any obligation. We’re confident you’ll love our work.
Can you plan short breaks?
We arrange trips of any length, but we generally believe trips of at least 4 to 5 nights allow us to deliver the value and creativity we pride ourselves on.
Can I only book the Exclusive Experiences?
You certainly can. However, we recommend booking our exclusive experiences as part of your complete trip with us to ensure availability and provide you with a seamless travel experience.
Will I be joining a group?
Your trip is entirely yours. We deliver a truly bespoke service with every moment personalized to your preferences. All our experiences are privately guided—you’ll never join a scheduled group tour.
What payment methods are accepted?
We gladly accept all major credit cards and highly recommend using one to ensure your travel investment is fully protected.
Is Wanotabi accredited by industry associations?
Yes, Wanotobi, part of Les Clefs Inc. is a registered member of ANTA (All Nippon Travel Agents Association)
How long does it take to receive a customized travel itinerary?
After your phone consultation, it takes about a week for us to complete a first draft proposal. After the draft is delivered, we ask that you review it and respond as soon as you can thoroughly review it to avoid losing any held experiences, hotels or private guides.