TokudAw FAQs

The common image of a travel agency is selling packaged tours. 

TokudAw is different in the way that we propose customized tours according to the guests interests and preferences using private car.

We are also inclusive and have excellent track record in the following tours:

-Multi-generational families (including families with kids needing car seats)

-Accessible travel using wheelchair

-Neurodivergent travel

-Educational travel for STEAM-based organizations

We support travel across multiple cities for guests who take cruises in Japan and would like to arrange a pick up and activites in each port of call.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. It expands traditional STEM education by deliberately incorporating the arts and humanities (design, culture, history, visual arts, and ethical inquiry). Rather than viewing technical disciplines in isolation, STEAM uses creative thinking and human-centered design to solve complex real-world problems.

Unlike many travel companies, we are STEAM-focused because our founder is a working scientist and academic and supported by a team of industry professionals.

We are passionate about sharing the wonders embedded into Japanese culture with visitors so that travels and sightseeing aren’t just a photo opportunity, and are instead more meaningful. We frames educational tours, executive trips, and cultural journeys as immersive, experiential learning.

• Japan as a Living Laboratory: Japan represents an intersection of cutting-edge innovation and heritage craftsmanship. TokudAw utilizes the country's landscape to explore how high-tech automation, robotics, bullet-train engineering, and biomedical research coexist with architecture, gastronomy, and centuries-old artisan traditions.

• Inquiry-Driven Travel: TokudAw's itineraries focus on how and why things work—from the materials science behind swordmaking and ceramics to sustainable urban planning and modern Japanese corporate management.

• Interdisciplinary Learning: By integrating the "A" (Arts and culture) into technical subjects, TokudAw enables students, professionals, and families to see how cultural context, aesthetics (monozukuri), and technical discipline shape Japanese society.

TokudAw’s academic rigor and cross-cultural perspective stem directly from its co-founder and Managing Director, Dr. Wanping Aw.

• Scientific Background: A nutritional scientist with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, Dr. Aw has served as a scientific educator and researcher affiliated with institutions such as Keio University. Her academic foundation brings scientific precision, data-backed planning, and curiosity-driven inquiry to educational curriculum design.

• Prestigious Fellowships: Her research credentials include recognition as a MEXT Scholar (Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) and a JSPS Fellow (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)—honors reserved for researchers contributing to high-level academic exchange in Japan.

• A 17-Year Dual Perspective: Originally from Singapore and living in Japan for 17 years, she navigates both worlds fluently. She understands the unwritten cultural codes, social nuances, and business etiquette of Japanese society while maintaining the objective clarity and communication style of an international outsider.

• Global Cultural Bridge: Dr. Aw created TokudAw to translate local access into meaningful global connections. Under her leadership, the company opens doors to Japanese universities, laboratories, craft studios, and corporate boardrooms, turning visits into deep dialogues between Japan and the global community.

The name of the company is pretty unique – TokudAw. What does it mean?

It is the name of the 2 founders of the company - Tokuda Kazuhisa (a Japanese) and Wanping Aw (originally from Singapore, but long term resident of Japan). 

Hope the combination of our family names can be a symbol of Japan and non-Japanese collaborating with each other.

Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. But we offer tours all across Japan for example Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Okinawa, Nagano, Hokkaido and Tohoku.

Every private tour is fully customizable to your family’s preferred pace. If a guest uses a walking stick, requires frequent rest breaks, or prefers to avoid uphill climbs and long distances, our guides adjust the itinerary in real time so you can enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.

To provide the depth of care and quality our guests deserve, we only offer full-day private charters (8-hour or 10-hour options) rather than half-day services.

Here is why we design our journeys this way:

• Curating Mindful, Unhurried Journeys: Meaningful travel takes time. A half-day schedule inevitably leads to clock-watching and rushed transitions, which is especially stressful for senior travelers or guests using walking aids. An 8-hour or 10-hour charter gives your family the luxury of time: we can incorporate spontaneous rest stops, leisurely lunches, and a gentle walking pace without worrying about running out of hours.

• Our Commitment to Sanpo Yoshi (Good for All Three Sides): Rooted in traditional Japanese merchant philosophy, Sanpo Yoshi means every action must benefit the buyer, the seller, and the community. By dedicating our drivers and English-speaking guides to one single group per day, we ensure they are never splitting their focus, rushing across the city for a second booking, or fatigued.

• The Result: Our team is well-rested, fully present, and empowered to give you their undivided attention and care, resulting in a deeply satisfying, safe, and memorable experience for your entire family.

Even though our charters are booked as 8 or 10 hours, the pacing remains 100% yours. If your family prefers a relaxed itinerary with fewer sites, extended dining, scenic low-walking drives, or an earlier return to the hotel, your dedicated team adapts completely to your comfort.

Yes. Your private vehicle and if you choose to hire an English-speaking guide will pick you up directly from your hotel lobby and return you at the end of the day.

• Our drivers and guides are happy to offer gentle hands-on boarding and disembarking support.

• We select vehicle drop-off and pickup locations as close to site entrances as municipal traffic regulations allow to keep walking to an absolute minimum.

Yes. Your licensed English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout the entire experience—guiding you inside museums, explaining historical exhibits, managing ticket lines, and assisting with seating, elevators, and pacing.

Yes. We strictly vet our lunch spots based on your comfort and mobility needs. We reserve venues featuring:

• Western-style standard tables and chairs (no traditional floor seating / tatami or low stools)

• Step-free or elevator access

• Relaxed, quiet dining environments suited for a leisurely meal

• Restaurants that can accommodate to your dietary restrictions

• Welcoming of children (for guests with children)

• In our itinerary planning services, we will provide options for you to choose, before we proceed to help with reservation

We can arrange reservations for authentic local cuisine (such as Osaka-style seasonal kaiseki (fancy-mulit-course meals), tempura, or teppanyaki) tailored to any dietary requirements.

Our Chartered Vehicle services are built on our premium private transport standards:

• Licensed Commercial Vehicle & Vetted Driver: A modern, insured green-plated (commercial) van paired with an experienced, personally vetted driver trained in long-distance driving and safety standards.

• All Journey Expenses Included:

  • Fuel and highway expressway tolls

  • Parking fees at all scheduled stops

  • Driver meal allowances and taxes

  • No hidden fees or cash payments required on the day.

• Complimentary Child Safety Seats: Up to 3 car seats (infant, toddler, or booster) provided free of charge upon request.

• Bespoke Itinerary Planning: Tailored route design that balances driving times, scenic highlights, and unhurried rest stops around your family’s priorities.

• Dedicated Remote Tour Manager: An attentive operations manager monitoring your journey in real time behind the scenes, ensuring smooth logistics, weather/traffic monitoring, and instant support.

• Guaranteed Fulfillment: Your booking, vehicle, and driver are contractually secured. We never cancel or reprice confirmed bookings due to peak seasonal demand.

Optional English-Speaking Guide (The "Tour" Experience)

If you wish to elevate your charter into a fully guided educational tour, a English-speaking guide can accompany your journey:

• Fee: 100,500 JPY + 10% tax (110,550 JPY) for a 10-hour day.

• What the Guide Provides:

  • Accompaniment inside castles, museums, shrines, and artisan workshops

  • Rich historical, cultural, and STEAM-focused context

  • Translation assistance, local dining recommendations, and on-the-ground coordination

• The guide is entirely optional—you are welcome to enjoy the convenience of the private charter and explore each destination at your own leisure.

What Is Not Included (Payable Separately)

To give you maximum flexibility over your daily choices, the following are not included in the base charter quote:

• Guest meals and beverages

• Personal admission tickets to attractions, cable cars, or boat cruises (these can be paid on-site or pre-arranged upon request)

We deliberately do not offer combined "driver-guide" services. Instead, we keep the roles of professional driver and expert guide distinct.

This approach is rooted in our core philosophy of Sanpo Yoshi (things that are good for the service provider, the buyer and society as a whole) and our deep respect for specialized craft:

• Honoring Each Professional’s Craft: We believe mastery deserves respect. Driving on Japan’s intricate expressways and mountain passes requires complete concentration, technical skill, and navigational precision. Guiding requires dedicated attention to storytelling, historical context, cultural translation, and hospitality. By keeping these roles separate, both your driver and your guide can excel at what they do best without compromise.

• Uncompromising Safety: Your family’s comfort and well-being come first. A driver who is focused 100% on the road ensures the safest, smoothest ride possible, without the distraction of presenting commentary while navigating traffic.

• Seamless Door-to-Door Logistics: At major cultural sites, castles, and historic districts in Japan, parking lots are often situated far from the main entrance, and queues can take up to an hour. With a dedicated driver, you are dropped off right at the closest entrance and picked up curbside the moment you finish—eliminating unnecessary walking or waiting.

• Attentive On-Foot Accompaniment: A driver must remain with the vehicle, meaning they cannot accompany you into temple halls, castle keeps, museums, or artisan workshops. A dedicated guide walks beside you every step of the way, handling admission tickets, translating interactions, and bringing the history of Japan to life.

Finding a cheaper option seems tempting, but it’s worth noting that a TokudAw trip revolves exclusively around you. All our trips are a bespoke, premium travel experience which includes a dedicated driver, a hyper-personalized itinerary, off-the-beaten-track experiences, 24/7 concierge support, the list goes on…

We're a team that's genuinely passionate about Japan and travel. We love sharing the best of this country, making sure every part of your trip gives you a true, unforgettable experience of Japan’s culture and charm.