About
The Backstreet Guides
A Passion for Travel
Hajimemashite (nice to meet you)! We’ve been curating quality unique tours and experiences for visitors to Tokyo and Japan since 2011. We are a local team of Japanese travel professionals and enthusiasts here to share our experiences and advice with you. The most important thing for us is to give our clients a real sense of Japan and the people who call it their home.
who we are
The Two Founders
It all began in 2010 with a fateful meeting at a travel event in London! Two like-minded travel industry professionals shared stories of their world travel adventures. A friendship quickly grew and an idea for a Tokyo-based boutique travel company was discussed. In April 2011 The Backstreet Guides Tokyo was born. They continued to grow and build a dedicated team of Japan travel experts and local tour guides.
Owen Skinner & Rie Suenaga
Senior Tour Advisor
Hiroko
Konnichiwa, Hiro desu! I’m originally from Chiba, the next prefecture east of Tokyo.
For 5 years, I adventured abroad, living in the UK and Canada, before returning to my Japanese roots. Now, I’m passionate about sharing my love for my country, having previously developed my knowledge as a Tokyo tour guide. Whether you’re seeking the neon glow of cityscapes or the tranquillity of ancient temples, I’m here to help you.
Tour Advisor
Mina
Hello, my name is Mina. I am originally from Norway, but I’ve been living in Japan since 2018.
I still remember the excitement I felt on my first trip to Japan; it was an unforgettable experience that sparked my deep passion for this beautiful country. Now, I’m very excited to help others discover their own love for Japan via The Backstreet Guides. I’d love to help you plan your trip; let’s make your Japan adventure something special!
Responsible Travel
Why Tour With Us?
The boring answer would be that we are a class 2 Japanese government-licensed travel agency and a member of ANTA (All Nippon Travel Agents Association). We have received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 5 years straight. Many of our clients return to book with us again.
The more important answer is that we are LOCAL, independent and small enough to care about each of our clients individually. We carefully recruit and train local tour guides who will meet our guests’ expectations and often go beyond. We know every tour guide and itinerary we book for you. Our tour planners are always thinking about responsible travel. Only taking you to places where we believe you will have a positive impact.
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