Atmospheric photograph from Japan

JapanTripCraft

Japan, planned by people who actually know it.

Custom day-by-day itineraries built with vetted local curators, not generic AI lists.

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Lanterns at a traditional izakaya alley in Japan

Local knowledge

Your itinerary is built by a curator who lives and works in Japan, not assembled from a generic database. They know which ramen shop is worth the queue and which temple is overrun by coaches by 10 a.m.

Architectural detail of a Japanese temple

Verified everything

Every recommendation is cross-checked for current opening hours, prices, seasonal closures, and reservation requirements before it reaches you. No outdated listings.

Tokyo street at dusk

Built around you

We ask about your pace, dietary needs, interests, and travel style before we write a single line. The result fits the trip you actually want, not a template.

“The best of Japan isn’t on page one of Google.”

The curators

The people who build your trip

Every day is written by a local who lives where you are going, and we bring their work together into one plan, so you have a single trip and a single point of contact.

Manami

Kyoto & Kansai

Manami grew up in Tokushima and spent four years living in Kyoto, plus eight in Osaka and two in Tokyo. She has traveled to 43 of Japan's 47 prefectures. She builds thoughtful, locally rooted days that weave together culture, food, nature, and real chances to connect with local people, rather than just ticking off famous spots. She is especially good with families, first-time visitors, and returning travelers who want something more authentic and less touristy.

Lilith

Tokyo

Lilith is based in Tokyo and has lived in Japan for nearly a decade. Her favorite itineraries combine local food, history, and relaxed walks through neighborhoods that many first-time visitors overlook. She loves helping travelers experience the side of Japan that feels less like checking off landmarks and more like spending a day with a local friend.

Yoko

Tokyo & Yokohama

Yoko is a writer and researcher, born and raised in Yokohama, who has also lived in Tokyo and knows both cities well. She loves exploring neighborhoods, cafes, and local culture, and it shows in her plans: quieter, well-researched days that get you into the parts of a city most visitors miss.

Miki

Kyoto, dietary specialist

Originally from Osaka and based in Kyoto, Miki has explored the city since her student days and has a background in food studies. She specializes in itineraries for travelers with dietary needs, including vegan and vegetarian, and knows exactly how to plan delicious days around them, down to the hidden fish stock that catches most people.

We add curators region by region, only where someone local can genuinely go deep, so our coverage grows slowly and honestly rather than claiming all of Japan at once.

What you receive

A real itinerary, not a listicle.

Each day is structured with morning, afternoon, and evening slots, with walk times, transport notes, backup options if something is closed, and context that helps you actually understand where you are.

To show the kind of day we build, here is a real sample written by Manami, one of our Kyoto curators: a slow, plant-based day in Kyoto.

See a real sample day

Sample itinerary

A Slow Day in Kyoto

Written by Manami

  1. 08:30Veg Out
  2. 10:00Nanzen-ji Temple and Suirokaku
  3. 11:30Murin-an Garden
  4. 13:00Nanzen-ji Junsei
The full day continues through dinner on the sample page.

The process

How it works

Tell us about your trip

Fill out a short intake form: dates, travel style, dietary needs, interests, and any must-haves or hard nos. Takes about five minutes.

We build it with a local curator

We match your trip to a vetted curator based in Japan. They research, write, and QC every day of your itinerary. Then we review it before it leaves our hands.

You get your plan in 5 days

Your complete, day-by-day itinerary arrives within five business days. One round of revisions included.

Free guide

Eating vegetarian in Japan without accidentally eating fish

A practical guide to navigating Japanese menus, hidden dashi, and restaurants that actually cater to plant-based diets. Free, no strings.

Frequently asked

Questions