Booking Flow

▼ For tours listed on this website 

1. Make a reservation
   Click “Make a reservation” button at the bottom of each tour page.
   Select the vehicle from the pull-down menu, enter the necessary information, and submit the form.
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2. Confirm availability
   We book a vehicle and a guide for you, and send you an email with a link for credit card payment.
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3. Payment
   Please make your payment by credit card through Flywire or using another payment method provided by us.
   Payment must be made at least one month prior to the tour date.
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4. Booking complete
   After confirming your payment, we will inform you of the meeting place and other tour details.
   We look forward to seeing you on the day of the tour!

▽ For tours NOT listed on our website 
 (if you would like to change the itinerary or make a custom-made tour)

1. Inquiry
   Click the “Contact us” button at the bottom of this page.
   Enter the details of your request and send it to us.
   (Please give us as much detail as possible, including the date and time of the tour, the number of guests, and the places you would like to visit.)
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2. Quotation
   We will email you an itinerary and quotation.
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3. Reservation
   Once we agree on the itinerary and quote, we will book a vehicle and a guide for you.
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4. Payment
   Please make your payment by credit card through Flywire.
   Payment must be made at least one month prior to the tour date.
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5. Complete
   After confirming your payment, we will inform you of the meeting place and other tour details.
   We look forward to seeing you on the day of the tour!

FAQs

Before Reservation

What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made in writing, by e-mailing info@localtravelpartners.com
Between 10 days and 8 days before the tour:80% of the price refund.
Between 7 days and 2 days before the tour:70% of the price refund.
1 day before the date of the tour:50% of the price refund.
Within 24 hours of the departure time of the tour, after departure:no refund.

For cruise ship guests, if your ship is unable to call at Shimizu Port due to bad weather or other circumstances beyond your control, we will provide a full refund.

What language is your tour delivered in?
Our tours are available in English and French.

Who will be my guide and driver?
We are committed to providing high-quality private tours with qualified and experienced professionals.
For our English-language tours, all of our guides are government-certified tour guides.
For French-language tours, we have two native French-speaking guides from France.
Transportation is provided by professional taxi or bus drivers from licensed transportation companies.
Rather than having one person serve as both your guide and driver, our tours are generally operated with a professional guide and a professional driver, each focusing on their own role. This allows us to provide a safe, comfortable, and high-quality tour experience.

Do you offer tours with English-speaking drivers?
We previously offered tours with English-speaking drivers.
However, we now mainly provide private tours with a dedicated professional guide and driver. We believe this allows us to provide a more informative, flexible, and enjoyable experience for our guests.

How will I recognize our tour guide?
Your guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point holding a welcome sign with your name on it.
We will provide you with a contact number before the tour, so you can reach us by phone or WhatsApp if you have any difficulty finding your guide.

What if I am running late for my tour?
As all of our tours are private tours, your guide will wait for you if you are slightly delayed.
If you expect to be late or have difficulty finding the meeting point, please contact us by phone or WhatsApp using the contact number provided to you before the tour.
Please note that a late start may result in a shorter tour, especially for cruise ship guests who must return to the ship by a specific time.

How far in advance should I book my tour?
We recommend booking your tour as early as possible, especially if you are visiting Shimizu on a cruise ship.
On cruise ship days, we often receive many tour requests for the same date, and the availability of English-speaking guides and vehicles is limited.
For this reason, popular dates may become fully booked well in advance. We recommend booking several months in advance whenever possible.

Can I participate in your tours if I have walking difficulties or require a wheelchair? Some of our tours can accommodate guests with walking difficulties or wheelchair users, but not all destinations are suitable for guests with limited mobility.
For example, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine has many stone steps and no wheelchair-accessible route, so it may be difficult for guests with walking difficulties and is not suitable for wheelchair users.
As all of our tours are private, we can adjust the itinerary where possible and suggest more accessible alternatives.
Please contact us before booking and let us know about any mobility limitations or wheelchair requirements.
Please note that guests should be able to manage their wheelchair themselves or travel with someone who can assist them, as our guides are not able to provide wheelchair assistance.

Do you arrange tours , transportation, and hotels outside of the Shizuoka area?
Our main area of expertise is Shizuoka Prefecture, where we have strong local knowledge and connections.
However, depending on the nature of the request, we may also be able to assist with travel arrangements in other parts of Japan on a case-by-case basis.
Please feel free to contact us with your requirements.

Do you offer shared tours?
No. All of our tours are private tours exclusively for your group.
You will not share a vehicle or tour with other guests.

Can I pay a deposit and pay the remaining balance on the day of the tour?
No. We do not require a deposit, but full payment must be made in advance.
Especially on cruise ship days, we may be handling many private tour groups at the same time, so we are unable to collect or process payments on the day of the tour.
We appreciate your understanding.

Can the itinerary be changed if Mt. Fuji is not visible?
Mt. Fuji visibility depends entirely on weather conditions and is beyond our control. Unfortunately, we are unable to make major last-minute changes to the itinerary simply because Mt. Fuji is not visible.
However, some adjustments may be possible within the originally planned tour area, depending on the circumstances on the day.
Please discuss any possible adjustments with our manager or your guide on the day of the tour.

Can we end our shore excursion at S-Pulse Dream Plaza near Shimizu Port, have lunch there, and walk back to the ship?
Yes. We receive this request from many of our cruise ship guests and are happy to arrange it.　S-Pulse Dream Plaza is located very close to the cruise port, approximately a 5-minute walk from the ship.
You can enjoy lunch or spend some time there after the tour and then walk back to the ship at your own pace.
We often recommend this option, as it gives you more flexibility at the end of your tour.

Can you make a reservation at a high-end restaurant for our shore excursion, such as a restaurant serving kaiseki cuisine?
Unfortunately, we do not make advance restaurant reservations for cruise ship guests. Cruise ships may occasionally skip the port due to bad weather or strong winds, and arrival times may also change at short notice.
Because of these uncertainties, we are unable to arrange restaurant reservations that require a fixed time or may involve cancellation charges.
We appreciate your understanding.

After reservation

• Do I need to print my voucher? 
  No, you do not need to print your voucher.
  Our guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point with a sign displaying your name.

• Should I tip my guide?
  Tipping is not required in Japan.
  However, if you enjoyed your tour and would like to show your appreciation, you are welcome to give your guide a tip. It is entirely up to you.

• What payment methods do you accept? 

  ・Credit card payment through Flywire
  ・Bank transfer through Flywire
  ・Credit card payment through our other secure payment system

  Full payment is required no later than one month before the tour. If you book within one month of the tour date, we will provide you with a payment deadline when we confirm your booking.

• What should I bring on my tour?

  If you are arriving on a cruise ship, please bring any identification or documents required by your cruise line when going ashore.

  For all guests, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes.
  If you are visiting during the summer months (June to September), we also recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen, and a bottle of water, as it can be very hot and humid.

  Contact us