Think of me as your local Japanese friend in your pocket.
The problem is that free resources give you 10,000 options. We give you a plan.
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Japan Like a Local
WHAT MAKES us DIFFERENT
Every itinerary, every pin on the map, & every cultural tip: curated by a local.
Hidden gems, not tourist traps
Every location is personally vetted and curated. Our travel itineraries and guide are put together by a local, ensuring that you receive authentic and insider-approved recommendations.
Confidence and peace of mind
Navigate Japan confidently, simplify transportation, and bridge cultural barriers for a stress-free journey.
Authentic experiences (local approved)
We prioritize authenticity, guiding you to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path places that capture the essence of Japanese culture and tradition.
ABOUT US
Explore Japan like a Local.
Many Japan travel guides were written after one or two trips. Ours wasn't. Jérôme is Japanese. He's spent years photographing, eating, and living his way through every corner of the country, including the places that don't make it onto any list. Elona came to Japan as an outsider and fell completely in love. She's also the person who knows what it feels like to land in Tokyo with full of plans and no idea where to actually start. Together we built the app we both wished existed. One that gives you the confidence of a local without needing to spend years earning it. Everything in Japan Like a Local has been walked, eaten, photographed, and lived.
Planning Japan is notoriously hard. We've done the hard part so you show up excited, not stressed.
DISCOVER
Different corners of Japan, waiting to be explored.
Choose from a list of curated itineraries, each one structured so that every day flows logically through one area of the city with no wasted hours on transit between distant spots.
EXPERIENCE
The context that changes your experience.
What type of accommodation should you book? Which season is right for your trip? What do you do at an onsen if you have tattoos? How does the IC card system work? The Guide covers everything that lies between the lines of a standard itinerary, like cultural nuances, practical details, and local knowledge that turn a good trip into a great one.
thousands of travelers trust japan like a local
What travelers are saying
I used your guide for our honeymoon. It made it so easy to not only plan our honeymoon, but a great intro to the culture, what to expect, how to get around/book things in advance, etc. and we had such a great time!
Planning a trip to Japan can feel really overwhelming, but this app made everything feel so much more manageable. We've actually been to Japan twice and used it both times. It truly felt like a one-stop shop, and we experienced so many amazing parts we would have otherwise missed entirely.