About Julian
The Japan most
travelers miss.
Escape the crowds and step into the serene, lesser-known side of Japan. Our small-group tours take you on peaceful journeys through breathtaking landscapes — tea fields, waterfalls, quiet forests, and mountain views — all far from the tourist trail.
1,612
Personal spots mapped
10+
Years exploring
6
Max guests per tour
0
Tourist buses
Julian's story
I moved to Japan over a decade ago, drawn to something I couldn't quite name. What I found was a country with two faces — one for tourists, one for everyone else.
The tourist face is beautiful. But the other face — the one you find by getting lost in the wrong direction from a small station, by following a gravel path into cedar forest, by stopping at a roadside stall run by a woman who has never seen a travel guide — that face is extraordinary.
Over ten years, I mapped 1,612 of those places. Every spot is one I've stood in. Inaka Excursions exists to share them.
This is not sightseeing. It's about slowing down, sharing unforgettable moments, and seeing Japan through a local lens — the Japan most travelers miss.
What we believe
Slow over fast
We stop when something catches your eye. A moss-covered stone. A scent from a kitchen window. The schedule exists only to be ignored.
Specific over general
Not 'Japanese nature.' Tea fields at 6am when the mist hasn't lifted. A waterfall that takes 40 minutes of walking to reach.
Real over curated
The old woman who runs the soba shop has been making noodles for 40 years. We always stop there. That is the tour.
Common questions
What does "private" mean?
The tour is just you and Julian. No strangers. No group departures. The route adapts to what you want to see.
How far from Tokyo?
Most tours start with a 45–90 minute train ride from central Tokyo. You spend the day somewhere most residents have never been.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Julian handles everything — ordering, directions, conversations with locals. You just look around.
Can I customise the route?
Yes. Before the tour, we discuss what you want to experience. The 1,612 spots in our database exist for exactly this reason.
Ready to go