Before Your Tokyo Private Tour

Everything you need to know between booking and your tour day—what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect.

Full Guide

Complete Prep Checklist

A detailed walkthrough covering everything from Tokyo's temperature swings to the exact cash amounts you'll need. The preparation that matters most isn't your shoes or cash—it's understanding that tour day is yours to shape.

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Getting Ready

Expect 12,000–18,000 steps on mixed terrain — temple gravel, subway stairs, and Shibuya crossings. Bring ¥15,000–20,000 in cash, a light crossbody bag, and layers for Tokyo's 10–15°C daily temperature swings.

What to Expect on Tour Day

From your hotel lobby pickup to the final goodbye—here's how your tour day actually unfolds, step by step.

What to Wear & Bring

The complete packing guide: shoes that handle Tokyo concrete, layers for 15°C swings, and the one bag that changes everything.

How to Customize Your Tour

Your tour adapts to you—not a fixed script. Learn how to shape the experience during pre-tour consultation and on the day itself.

Practical Concerns

Rain doesn't cancel tours — it often improves them with thinner crowds and atmospheric temples. Shoes matter most: cushioned soles for hard concrete, slip-on style for the 3–5 temple entries where you'll remove them.

How Much Walking?

Tokyo tours cover 12,000-18,000 steps on hard concrete, subway stairs, and gravel temple paths. Here's what that actually feels like.

What If It Rains?

Rain doesn't cancel tours—it often improves them. Fewer crowds, atmospheric temples, and abundant indoor alternatives.

Accessibility Options

Tokyo's accessibility isn't about infrastructure—it's about knowing which routes avoid hidden barriers. Guides can adapt for any limitation.

Booking & Etiquette

Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby 10 minutes early, with a pre-tour consultation 24–48 hours after booking to share your interests and pace. Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund — modifications are straightforward anytime.

How to Book

The booking process from inquiry to confirmation—what happens when, what information you'll need, and how the pre-tour consultation works.

Tipping Your Guide

The complete guide to tipping in Japan: what guides actually expect, the envelope method, and the exact phrase that works.

Policies & Guarantees

Cancellation flexibility, modification options, and what's guaranteed. The policies that give you confidence when plans change.

Understanding the Experience

You can slow down, skip things, sit at a café, or change the plan entirely if something catches your eye. The preparation that matters most isn't packing lists — it's understanding that tour day is yours to shape.

What It's Like Touring with a Guide

Real guest experiences: what private tour days feel like, how guide relationships develop, and what makes the format work.

Language Barriers & How Guides Help

Beyond translation: how guides navigate cultural context, unspoken rules, and the social situations where language matters most.