Our Story
Guided tours and self guided independent tours anywhere in Japan: Save time! Have a better time! We specialize in designing trips customized to your needs. Contact us today for a free quote or telephone consultation. We also provide customized travel services (anywhere in Japan): 1. Airport transfers: sedan/van/bus & driver or Digital A to B transfer. 2. A to B digital transfers anywhere in Japan. 3. Special Japanese restaurant reservations & experiences (including bilingual smartphone directions for getting to the restaurant). 4. Advance purchase of train tickets, special venue tickets, sumo tickets, etc (tickets can be couriered to your hotel). Founder Ian Ropke Bio Highlights: I have been active in the Japan tourism hospitality industry, especially the private travel services sector, for nearly 30 years. I served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Kyoto Visitor's Guide from 1994-2009, and the Osaka Visitor's Guide, 1993-1997. I am the author of a Historical Dictionary of Osaka and Kyoto, published in 1999 by Scarecrow Press, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield. A Historical Dictionary of Osaka and Kyoto is cited as one of 7 reference sources for Kyoto and Osaka on Wikipedia, and, as a result, many other leading Japan culture/history websites, and in key libraries around the world (including the Library of Congress and the National Diet Library of Japan). I was also the co-owner of one of Kyoto’s first bed and breakfasts: B&B Juno (founded in 2002; sold in early 2014). I attended the University of Waterloo (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). I also have a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics (2007) from the University of Southern Queensland.