VIP Portal
This isn’t a travel plan... it’s a full-access pass to Japan, guided personally by the founder of JPN Guides. The VIP Portal is for those who want more than luxury; it’s for travelers who want ease, access, and authenticity, without lifting a finger. When you choose VIP, Michael Zislis joins your journey in person. Handling everything from on-the-ground translation and logistics to guiding you through Michelin-star meals, cultural treasures, and hidden gems that most travelers will never find.
From the moment you land to the second you leave, your only job is to enjoy the ride... I'll handle the rest. This level of service is tailored for celebrities, entrepreneurs, and elite travelers who want a seamless, unforgettable experience curated with precision and hosted with heart. You’re not just visiting Japan. You’re unlocking it.
VIP Hosting Packages
Business Class
Designed for entrepreneurs and executives on the move, this VIP experience offers total logistical support with cultural fluency baked in. Navigating transit, translating during meetings, and curating restaurant moments that impress. From Tokyo boardrooms to Kyoto whiskey bars, you’ll move through Japan with efficiency, discretion, and confidence.
Family Flow
Traveling with kids should feel like an adventure. not a juggling act. I’ll handle the heavy lifting, from carrying strollers to running for konbini snacks and helping keep everyone engaged. Parents can relax knowing I’m on-hand to explain, support, and even step in for babysitting while you explore. It’s luxury travel, adapted for real family needs.
Couples & Small Groups
Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with close friends, this package gives you a fully hosted, deeply immersive experience. I’ll accompany you across Japan, translating at intimate meals, sharing cultural insights as we explore, and taking the stress out of transit and timing. It’s a smooth, story-rich journey. No guesswork, just great memories.
Guided. Connected. Effortless.
What sets this experience apart isn’t just the reservations, the ryokan, or the car with the driver... It’s me. When you book a JPN Guides VIP journey, you’re not just getting a luxury itinerary. You’re bringing along a bilingual cultural guide, logistics fixer, translator, and travel partner rolled into one.
Seamless Travel, No Guesswork.
From wheels up to wheels down, your journey is fully handled. Whether you want me to fly with you from the U.S. or meet you the moment you land in Japan, we’ll move how you move. You won’t need to navigate airport terminals, book trains, or wrestle with signage. Every connection (Shinkansen, private transfers, or even remote town access) is pre-coordinated. And because I hold a valid Japanese driver’s license, I can drive us anywhere. Mountain roads, coastal highways, or straight into countryside towns untouched by tourism. My role is to eliminate friction so completely, you forget travel was ever something to worry about.
Memorable Meals.
Dining at Japan’s finest restaurants can feel like stepping into an art museum... Beautiful, reverent, and just a little too quiet. If you don’t speak the language, it’s easy to admire the experience from a distance without ever truly participating. But with me at your side, that changes. I bridge the silence, introducing you to the chef, translating the nuances, and even striking up conversations with fellow diners. These aren’t just seats at a counter. They’re rare opportunities to connect with Japan’s top creatives, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures. I help you make the most of every moment, and maybe every relationship, too.
Cultural Context in Real Time.
As we explore Japan, you won’t just see temples, streets, or shrines... you’ll understand them. Our VIP experience includes real-time cultural narration shaped by years of study and lived experience.
I've completed extensive coursework in Japanese history, language, business ethics, and cross-cultural communication. But what sets this apart isn’t academic knowledge. It's interpretation. Everything I’ve learned has been filtered through a Western lens, making the stories relevant, accessible, and compelling for travelers from outside Japan.
This isn't a lecture... it’s a conversation. I weave history, modern context, social nuance, and humor into a style of storytelling that engages, entertains, and connects. Whether we’re walking through the back alleys of Kyoto or inside a centuries-old sake brewery, I don’t just describe what’s in front of you. I help you feel the weight of it.
Hospitality at Heart.
I grew up in hospitality. My dad runs boutique hotels in Los Angeles, and I learned early that true service means doing whatever needs to be done without hesitation or ego. That mindset defines how I host you in Japan. Need someone to run to the konbini for morning coffee and snacks? I’m already out the door. Want to try a freezing waterfall ritual but don’t want to go first? I’ll lead the way. I’ve waited in line at ramen spots with two-hour queues so my clients could explore nearby neighborhoods stress-free. I’ve carried strollers, managed luggage, watched kids, and stayed up late confirming last-minute changes. All so you don’t have to. My goal is simple: make your trip feel effortless, personal, and unforgettable on every level.
Let’s Create the Trip You’ll Talk About for the
Rest of Your Life.
Your journey doesn’t start when you land in Japan. It starts right here.
Whether it’s counter seats at Sukiyabashi Jiro, a late-night bowl at Tokyo's hottest ramen shop, or sipping sake next to a master blade-smith in Gifu, we design every moment around access and authenticity.
Tell us what moves you. We’ll shape a journey that blends unforgettable meals, cultural deep-dives, and the kind of ease only true on-the-ground guidance can offer.
Let's Chat
The prices listed reflect our most common VIP experiences, but every journey is unique. Your final quote may vary depending on your travel dates, itinerary complexity, group size, and level of personal hosting. Whether you’re planning something outside these categories (like a multi-family retreat, executive team trip, or solo culinary pilgrimage) We’re happy to tailor a plan that fits. Just tell us what you envision, and we’ll take it from there.