General Questions
How do I sign up for a tour?
Please call during our office hours or email us at any time. Please provide us with your first and last name, address, phone number, and email address if you have one. If you are traveling with other customers signed up or signing up for the tour, please let us know.
Line 1: (808)536-8618
Line 2: (808)538-7854
Can I sign-up for tours more than a year in advance?
Yes, contact us, and we will add you to the tour list.
What is the maximum number of customers on a tour?
We soft-cap our tours at 35, but the 12-row buses can seat up to 44 customers (excluding the jump seats and back row for TTS and YTI staff). If the tour is full, we can add you to the waitlist. When a tour list becomes full early on, we will notify everyone on the list to confirm their participation. If there are any openings, we will contact you as soon as possible. If we have enough customer interest, and it is far enough in advance, we may set up an encore tour.
Do you require a deposit for your tours?
Yes, we do require a deposit for our tours. Your deposit will be deducted from your tour cost at the time of payment. We do not require a deposit if you pay for the tour outright or book your airfare. **This deposit is non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour if you want to switch tours.**
We do not require a deposit if you are signing up for a tour without an itinerary posted. Once the itinerary is uploaded, we will contact everyone who signed up for the tour.
When do I have to pay for the land portion of the tour? When is the earliest I can pay for the land portion of the tour?
The payment deadline for the tour is 70 days before departure. You can pay for the land portion of a tour as soon as the total price is posted on the website. **Prices listed on the website are based on the 100 YEN to 1 USD rate so please contact us for the current pricing based on the weekly yen rate. This rate is based on our financial institution's exchange rate and processing fees for sending payment to Japan.**
Can I pay for the tour in yen?
Yes, but you will have to take payment up to Japan to pay the Yokohama Travel guide directly. We will provide you with a yen invoice sheet to take with you.
Do we tip in Japan?
There is no tipping culture in Japan. Instead of currency tips, our tour guides like to bring omiyage from Hawaii for staff at the hotels and locations we visit. Examples: Macadamia Nut Chocolate, Keychains, Calendars, etc.
Are there accessible hotel rooms available?
Accessible hotel room availability will depend on the hotel and what rooms are available at the time. Please call our offices for more information.
Can I bring a wheelchair or mobility device?
Yes, it is free to bring medical and mobility devices on the airplane (it will not count as a luggage piece) and on tour. We can store your mobility device under the bus and retrieve it for you as you disembark.
What is duty-free? What qualifies as duty-free?
Duty-free is tax free shopping available to non-residents of Japan. For general goods, the total purchased must be at least 5,000 yen. For consumables, the total purchased amount must be over 5,000 yen, but under 500,000 yen. The products will be sealed, and must remain sealed until you leave Japan. They can not be consumed during your stay.
Do we have to fill out any paperwork for entry into Japan or on our return to the US?
We will fill out the Customs and Immigration forms for you. The only thing we require is that you answer the Yes or No questions on the form, and sign on the bottom signature line.
US customs does not require any paperwork upon your return. However, the customs agent will ask you questions about what you are bringing back to the US. Here are some examples of the questions customs agents may ask:
What kind of goods are you bringing back into the US (e.g. seafood, clothes, skincare)?
Did you bring back any meat or animal products?
Have you brought back any plants or live animals?
Are you bringing back any alcohol?
Are you bringing back any purchased goods that total over $800 USD in value?
What items are prohibited to bring back to the US?
Here is a full list of what is prohibited: CPB Website Link. In general please be sure to not bring back: fresh fruits & vegetables (dried or pickled are ok), meat products (seafood is ok), and seeds.
**Warning! Bringing back prohibited items is at your own risk.**
How much alcohol can I bring back to the US?
One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:
You are at least 21 years old.
It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale.
It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.
Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT. Hawaii allows you to bring back additional alcohol as long as you pay the aforementioned fees.
Do you offer group travel insurance?
After the COVID-19 pandemic, we are no longer offering group travel insurance. However, we can help you book travel insurance and get you a quote. We recommend TravelGuard (AIG). We would need your date of birth and total trip cost to get you a quote. This total includes the land price of the tour, the airfare, and any other additional costs if you are extending your stay in Japan. If you have not yet made your land or air payments, we can give you an estimate. Please feel free to call or email our office if you have any questions or would like to get a quote.
What are your policies and procedures in regards to COVID-19 and illness on tour?
We highly recommend that all of our travelers wear masks in crowded areas (especially at the airport and on the plane). If possible, we recommend that you bring your own COVID-19 test kits. If you are feeling sick, please let our staff know as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your illness, we can assist you in seeing a medical professional. Your guide can assist you in booking an additional stay at the current hotel, and we recommend resting for at least five days. We can also assist you in changing your flights if necessary. You may rejoin the group after the 5-day period but must wear a mask at all times in public.
**If you have travel insurance, it is important to get your illness documented by a medical professional. This will help you when seeking compensation for trip interruptions due to illness.**
What are your policies and procedures if I get injured or hospitalized on tour?
What is your refund policy?
Deposits are nonrefundable. Land payments are refundable with a fee of $250 (the deposit) if cancelling 90 days prior to departure. For cancellations within the 90 days period please refer to the image below.
