About Us
We’re not a tour company. We’re not a travel agency. We’re the people you call when you want the trip people won’t stop talking about.
JPN Guides was built from the ground up by Michael Zislis, a bilingual storyteller, cultural connector, and on-the-ground fixer who’s lived and worked between Japan and the U.S. for over a decade.
Raised in the hospitality world, fluent in Japanese, and obsessed with unlocking experiences most tourists never touch, Michael and his team bring you more than just recommendations. We bring you results. Whether it’s that impossible-to-get sushi counter, a private meeting with a pottery master, or making your jetlagged arrival feel like a first-class victory lap... it’s all engineered with strategy, humor, and hustle.
We blend cultural fluency with logistical precision, mixing local insight, big-picture thinking, and relentless problem-solving to get you the kind of trip you’ll brag about at every dinner party for the next five years.
Big moments. Zero guesswork. Fully handled.
If you’re looking for cookie-cutter travel? Keep Googling.
If you’re looking for unforgettable? You’re in the right place.
The Real Story Behind Tourism in Japan.
Japan is on track to welcome over 40 million international visitors in 2025, with most arriving through Tokyo and Osaka (Japan’s two major international gateways.) These cities aren’t just unavoidable, they’re also undeniably exciting. From world-famous restaurants to iconic neighborhoods, there’s a reason people flock here. And we love showing you the best of them.
But here’s the thing…
The surge in visitors has put a serious strain on infrastructure in places like Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka. Meanwhile, incredible small towns across Japan (where the food’s just as mind-blowing, the views are unreal, and the cultural experiences are refreshingly authentic) are often overlooked.
How We're Helping
At JPN Guides, we know that most travelers will land in Tokyo or Osaka. That’s not just normal. It’s inevitable. These cities are cultural icons, culinary hotspots, and home to Japan’s busiest international airports.
We’re not here to talk you out of visiting them. We’re here to help you go beyond them.
Our mission is to enhance your trip, not restrict it. That means giving you a front-row seat to the best of the big cities while also opening the door to Japan’s lesser-known, deeply rewarding places (the small towns, mountain villages, and coastal pockets most tourists miss.)
For travelers who want experiences their friends haven’t already posted on Instagram, this is where it gets interesting.
Our Services Include:
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Real-time transit and logistics support
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Restaurant and cultural experience bookings (yes, even those impossible-to-get ones)
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On-demand help when things change last minute
The Bonus Win?
By exploring beyond the obvious, you’ll not only unlock the Japan most visitors never see but also help support small communities that really need it right now.
Your trip. Your pace. Your story. We just help you write a better one.
Our Team.
Think Hogan’s Heroes meets Tokyo Drift ...With less sabotage, more spreadsheets, and the occasional
matcha-fueled brainstorm. Click on any team member name to learn more.
Support Our Mission.
Not everyone books a custom trip with us, and that’s okay. But if you’ve found value here, if our blog helped you plan, if our tips saved you from a tourist trap, or if you just believe in smarter, more meaningful travel, this is your chance to support the mission.
Every shirt, every tote, every piece of gear from our shop helps make this project possible. It funds free educational content, language resources, and cultural deep-dives that help travelers like you experience Japan with more heart and less hassle. It spreads the word about what we’re doing, creating visibility on the streets, in airports, and online where it matters.
We design every item with intention. These are things you’ll actually use on your trip or enjoy back home. From packable essentials to things you’ll wear on the plane, this isn’t cheap souvenir shop stuff. It’s gear with purpose.
If you’re here to DIY your Japan trip and save money on planning services, we get it. Totally respect that. But if our content helped you at all, consider picking up something from the shop. It’s the easiest way to show support and help us keep building this for others like you.
We keep our prices low on purpose. This isn’t about margins. It’s about momentum.
If you believe in what we’re doing, this is your move.
