• Hotel accommodations
• Train fare between cities
• Airport and train station transfers
• English-speaking tour guide
• Private car service and driver
• Service charges and government taxes
• Breakfasts and lunches
• Group dinner on the final night
• Entrance fees

• International Airfare tickets

• Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary.

• Visa fees

• Personal Expenses: Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the Items

• Meals: Dinners for the first 5 nights.

• Money transfer fees (for those not paying in USD) for the price of your tour package. We can suggest to you the best transfer method with minimal fees around $15-30.

• Gratuities: tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc. Gratuity is not mandatory

• Hot spring tax, City tax (applicable, charges may vary; requested to be paid at hotel front desk)

Yes, I can help find flights but I am not a travel agent

Yes! Flexible payment plans are available, making it easier to secure your place today while paying for your adventure over time. We'll go over all of the options during your Discovery Call.

I'd rather be honest with you now than surprise you later, so here's the whole picture before you pay a dime.

When you book with me, you're not just saving a seat. Our hotels, guides, and dive shops need to be paid months ahead, and once I've paid them for your spot, that money is gone. And if you're sharing a room, your cancellation could leave your roommate covering your half. I'm not willing to put that on her.

Every trip is also built from scratch with its own local partners. The dive shop in one country isn't the guide in the next, so money paid for one trip can't carry over to another.

Here's how it works:

• Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of [30% of your trip cost, or $1,140 on a $3,800 trip] is due when you book. It holds your spot and lets me start locking everything in for you.

• Final payment: Your remaining balance is due 90 days before we leave. If it isn't paid by then, your spot may be released.

• Cancellations and changes: All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. That means no refunds, no credits, and no moving your payments to a future trip.

• Travel insurance: Required for every traveler. It's what protects you when life happens, whether that's a sick kid, a family emergency, or something none of us saw coming. Credit card coverage usually isn't enough, so I'll point you to a plan that is.

I know that's firm. It's firm because it keeps things fair for everyone on the trip, including you.

You're trusting me with your money and your time, and I don't take that lightly.

• If I cancel: You get a full refund of everything you've paid, deposit included, or you can move it to a future trip. Your choice. This could happen if we don't reach the minimum group size, or if weather, a safety advisory, or something else outside my control makes it unsafe to go.

• If the dates change: I'll tell you as soon as I know. If the new dates don't work for you, you can take a full refund instead. No pressure and no hard feelings.

• What I can't cover: Non-refundable flights or anything else you booked on your own. That's exactly what your travel insurance is for.

Depends on the country you are from.

 If you're a U.S. citizen (or from most Western countries — Canada, UK, Australia, EU), you can visit Japan for tourism, visiting family, or certain unpaid business for up to 90 days without a visa. You just need: deeparrival

• A passport valid for the duration of your stay

• Registration on the Visit Japan Web portal to get your immigration and customs QR codes heymondo

• A confirmed onward or return ticket heymondo

Note Japan did raise visa fees in 2026, but that only affects travelers who actually need to apply for a visa — most short-stay tourists from visa-exempt countries like the U.S. pay nothing and apply for nothing.

If you're staying longer than 90 days, planning to work/study, or you're from a country that isn't visa-exempt (e.g., China, Vietnam, the Philippines, several CIS countries), you'd need to apply in advance.

Vaccines
There are no mandatory vaccines to enter Japan. It's just generally good practice to be up to date on routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, etc.), and some travelers get Japanese encephalitis or hepatitis A/B depending on where and how they're traveling (rural areas, long stays, etc.) — but none of that is required for entry.

Also worth knowing:

• Travel/medical insurance isn't legally required but is strongly recommended given how expensive healthcare can be there.

• Which country's passport are you traveling with? That'll tell me if any of this differs for you.

You're exactly who these journeys are designed for.

I'll guide you through every step, from preparing for your trip and answering your questions before departure to supporting you throughout our time in Japan. You don't need to be an experienced traveler. You just need a valid passport and a willingness to say yes to the adventure.

Japan has a way of exceeding expectations.

From peaceful temples and vibrant cities to incredible food and warm hospitality, every day offers something new to discover. And because your journey is thoughtfully curated, you'll experience both the iconic highlights and the authentic moments that make people fall in love with Japan.

Yes! We welcome all female & female identifying travelers over the age of 18. Whether you are traveling as a mother daughter duo or solo.

Yes. No fine print surprises here.

• Booking agreement: Before you pay, you'll review and sign an agreement that spells out what's included, your payment schedule, the cancellation terms above, and the travel insurance requirement.

• Liability waiver: Some of what we do, like scuba diving, comes with real risk, so you'll sign a waiver too.

• Activity waivers: For certain activities, the local operator will ask you to sign their own waiver as well.