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Join TOMOGO!

Share your love for Japan.

Show travelers the Japan you live in. Set your own days, guide small private groups, and get paid for knowing your neighborhood.

*Earn from ¥3,000 an hour

This is TOMOGO!

TOMOGO! is a Japanese day-tour company built on a simple idea: the best guide to a neighborhood is someone who lives in it. Tours are private, capped small, and follow no fixed route.

The Local Expert decides where the day goes. We handle the booking, the payment and the support.

Three travelers walking a covered shopping street in Japan with a Local Expert

What makes TOMOGO! different?

More than just guiding.You get the app, the bookings and a team behind you — and the day is still yours to run.

  • Flexible Schedule

    You open the days you want and close the ones you don't. No minimum hours, and no penalty for a quiet month.

  • Rewarding Pay

    You're paid by the hour, with opportunities to earn more as you become certified!

  • Enjoy Your City

    Guiding sends you back to places you stopped noticing — the standing bar under the tracks, the shrine on your commute.

How it Works

Three steps from here to your first tour. The seminar is free, the app is free, and no one asks you to pay for training.

  1. Step One

    Send the form.

    Tell us where you live, which languages you speak, and the part of your city you would want to show someone.

    The TOMOGO! app home screen
  2. Step Two

    Seminar and setup.

    Come to a free seminar and meet the team. Then download the app and open your first available days. Training is on us.

    The TOMOGO! app home screen
  3. Step Three

    Guide and get paid.

    Travelers book you from your profile. You show them your Japan, they pay through the app, and Stripe pays out weekly once tours are confirmed.

    The TOMOGO! app home screen

You're a Perfect Fit if...

    • You can work in Japan
    • You speak fluent English
    • You have a Japanese Bank Account
    • You have a free weekday
    • You would rather be outside
A TOMOGO! Local Expert sitting in a kissaten

I'm an easygoing and curious person who loves a good chat, and I'm always happy to share some fun bits of history and culture along the way!

Meet our
Local Experts

Some moved to Japan, some grew up down the street. What they have in common is that they live in the neighborhoods they guide.

Born and raised in Tokyo, I love sharing the city's unique charm and hidden gems through authentic local experiences.

A TOMOGO! Local Expert at a shrine in Tokyo

Ready to Guide with Us?

Become a Local Expert with TOMOGO!

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know as a Local Expert.

Earn ¥3,000 per hour to start, with rates of up to ¥5,000 per hour for experienced or certified guides.