Tour Leader (Insider - Tokyo or Kansai, Japan)

Tour Leader (Insider - Tokyo or Kansai, Japan)

Fully remote - based in Tokyo or Kansai region.

The intended start date for this position is 1st September 2026. As such, all applicants from the 30th July 2026, will be required to have either the legal right to unrestricted work in Japan or a valid Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa at the time of their application, please confirm your work permission in the application form below.

The role:

As an Insider, you’ll split your time between leading our small group tours traveling all around Japan, as well as hosting our Insider Day/Insider Evening products, preparing for and conducting unforgettable experiences for our clients on the ground. While you’ll be expected to follow guidelines, this is at times an exceptionally fast-paced and varied role, with no two days the same.

Strong Japanese ability and understanding of cultural nuances are a must to ensure that you are able to work closely with our suppliers and be the mediator between them and the clients.

You’ll have the opportunity to share your unique insight on a daily basis, engaging clients in informative discussions around Japanese history, culture, heritage and traditions, as well as sharing your experiences of modern day living in Japan.

We are looking for individuals who can be flexible enough to work 210 days per calendar year in conjunction with the demands of our tours and tailor-made clients’ schedules. This will require working consecutive evenings, on weekends, national holidays and perhaps even Christmas and over the New Year period. You may also be called upon to assist and support your colleagues in last-minute and urgent situations.

We also want you to be realistic about this role and come into it with your eyes open. This is not your holiday, and your role is to make sure that your clients enjoy theirs in a safe, enjoyable, smooth and memorable fashion. You will be spending a lot of time on the road and during peak season you could be asked to do back-to-back tours with minimal breaks in-between. It is a rewarding job, but a big commitment and hard work, and you should consider the impact this will have on your personal life.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead small group tours around Japan with an exceptional level of customer service
• Delivering ‘Insider Days’ (full-day, half-day and evening tours for clients on tailor-made holidays) with an exceptional level of customer service
• Once you gain confidence and demonstrate skill in your role, there could be opportunities to work with VIP clients and on privately escorted holidays
• Looking after clients’ health and safety through regular briefings and in practice on the ground and dealing with hazards and incidents in the appropriate manner
• Looking after clients’ dietary requirements
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with suppliers and partners
• Thorough preparation for tours
• Cultural talks, explanations, sharing of insights and experiences proactively with clients in creative and fun ways
• Balancing tour activities with led time and free time

What we are looking for from you:

• Naturally charismatic and engaging: a true people person, you enjoy widening your network and broadening your horizons, sharing knowledge and insights to take an active interest in the views of others.
• Highly presentable: you’re friendly and approachable whatever the weather, keeping a calm head under pressure to conduct yourself with the utmost professionalism at all times.
• Comfortable with responsibility: you accept that sometimes, difficult decisions in challenging environments will need to be made, and you're comfortable with owning these actions.
• Exceptionally well organised with a meticulous approach to details: research is a forte, and you set the bar high when it comes to having all the facts to hand.
• Proactive approach to wellbeing and resilience: you’ll understand when to put yourself first and will be resourceful about reaching out when required.

We recognize that job adverts are often a wish list, and no candidate can have equal experience in every required/desired skills, however if you think you would be a good fit for Inside Travel Group and this role, we would welcome an application from you!

What you get in return:

• Flexible holidays during off-peak season
• Volunteering leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Designated learning and development time
• Japanese Health Insurance, Employee’ Pension Scheme, Employment Insurance, and Labour Accident Compensation.
• Annual Health Check
• Annual discretionary company performance bonus
• Subsistence allowance during tours