The amount of walking depends on how much you want to explore but generally speaking, we will cover between 8 to 10 kilometres / 5 to 6.5 miles on foot. The tour is conducted at a leisurely pace and is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness. We spend the entire tour in Nagano City walking on paved city streets and I can adjust the route to suit your energy level.

This tour is available all year round. In spring - from mid-March to May – the weather is mild to warm before rainy season begins in June and into July. Mid-July and into early September are summer in which time the weather will be hot and humid. The weather then starts to cool from mid-September and through October and November is very pleasant but with the chance of cold snaps. In winter – December until early March – the weather is cold and dry, with a high chance of snow. Be prepared for temperatures of 0°C / 32°F or below. Please dress appropriately for the season and always wear good walking shoes / boots.

It is worth noting that the Japanese summer – typically from mid-July until early September – can be challenging. Temperatures may reach around 40°C / 104°F and the humidity is high, making the temperatures feel higher than it actually is. If you are not used to these conditions, please be aware to dress in light, breathable clothing and make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen (if you burn easily), water and sunglasses. It may sound old fashioned, but I also recommend a parasol as they make a huge difference in keeping you out of the sun and cool.

This tour does not include use of any transport. The standard meetup and end point is Nagano Station, from where we walk to all included destinations.

No. This is a private tour and as such, the only guests on the tour will be those who book with your group.

The cost of the tour includes my service as your guide through the city, at Zenko-ji and for sake tasting at Yoshinoya. While there will be plenty of chances to purchase food and drinks along the way, including lunch should you wish to do so, the cost of any food, snacks or drinks is not included in the tour price. As a guide, experience has taught me that guests prefer the flexibility of choosing when, where and what they eat and drink. For that reason, nothing is prearranged and there is no obligation to go to any suggested venue i.e. I have no commission or prearranged deals with any place I recommend during the tour. As a result, I ask that guests pay directly for any food and drinks they choose to purchase.

On the day of your tour, I will recommend restaurants to you and allow you to choose what best suits your tastes. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from around the temple. If you have an specific requests or a restaurant in mind, please let me know prior to the tour. The cost of lunch depends on where you choose to eat and what you choose to order but is generally between JPY1000 to JPY3000 per person.

This is a private tour meaning that there will be no other people joining on the day, other than those who book with your group. That equates to the tour being priced higher than a comparable group tour, which are typically cheaper due to the increased number of guests. If my prices are higher than those of some other guides for private tours, I believe the cost is justified by the quality of the experience I provide for my guests. As a foreign resident of Japan, I have a good understanding of what international visitors value in a tour experience and how to engage them in an informative, fun and informal manner.

I use Stripe to collect tour payments from guests. Upon agreement of a tour, I will send you a link to complete payment using Stripe. You do not need a Stripe account yourself to complete payment. Payment can be completed using any credit credit.

I am an independent operator and for that reason, I ask that guests complete full payment at least 7 days before the tour date. If you are booking within 7 days of the tour date, I ask that you complete the full payment immediately. I respectfully ask this of my guests so that I can arrange my work schedule in advance.

As an independent operator, my cancellation policy reflects the fact that if a tour is cancelled at short notice, I may lose all ability to earn income on that day. For that reason, should you need to cancel anytime up to 48 hours in advance of the tour start time, I will issue you with a full refund.* Should you need to cancel within 48 hours of the start time, I will issue you with a refund of 70% of the total payment.* No refund will be issued for guests who do not show up / fail to notify me prior to the start of the tour.Please note, for multiple day tours I may apply a slightly different cancellation policy due to the risk of losing income for multiple days. I would of course discuss this with you and seek your agreement prior to payment.

*service fees applied by Stripe and relevant banks are - typically between 3-4% of the overall transaction fee - will still be applied to refunds, meaning that should I issue you with a full or partial refund, the service fee will still apply and not be returned to you. Please understand that this is outside of my control and that I do not receive any part of the applicable service fees.