Feeling overwhelmed by transport, hotels or planning your itinerary? Book a one-to-one consultation and get personalised advice to help you plan the trip that’s right for you.
Just one call could save you time, money and stress.
Is This For You?
The answer is yes if….
✓ It’s your first trip to Japan
✓ You’re overwhelmed by all the information online
✓ You’re not sure where to visit or stay
✓ You don’t know which rail passes or transport options you need
✓ You’re worried about making expensive mistakes
✓ You’d like someone to sense-check your itinerary before you book
What’s Available
We have 30-minute or 60-minute slots available.
Book 30 Minutes for easier queries: Maybe you have a couple of simple questions, are just confused about one thing like the Disney parks or the train system, or, if have already planned your itinerary and just want me to check it works okay.
Book 60 minutes for more in-depth analysis: Maybe you don’t know where to start or, know where you want to go but now how to schedule it all. Or, if you’re just totally confused and want to clear everything up in one call.
Click below to go to our booking page and calendar. Please don’t book an appointment less than 72 hours ahead. I need time to think about things for you.
What We’ll Cover
During your consultation, we can discuss anything you’d like, including:
- Planning a realistic itinerary
- Choosing what areas to stay in
- Whether to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or beyond
- Finding and navigating less touristy areas
- Transport between cities
- Rail passes and IC cards
- Tokyo Disney Resort or Universal Studios Japan planning
- Simple questions like how to set up your Suica
- What you need to book in advance
Every consultation is tailored to you.
What You’ll Leave With
After our call, you’ll have:
✓ A clearer itinerary
✓ Confidence in your transport plans
✓ Recommendations based on your travel style
✓ Practical next steps
✓ Less stress and more excitement
What I Don’t Do
✗ I won’t tell you there’s only one “right” itinerary.
✗ I won’t rush you through a checklist.
✗ I won’t recommend places just because they’re popular.
✗ I don’t book travel, hotels or act as a travel agent.
✗ I don’t talk about things I haven’t done personally, so I don’t cover snow or skiing holidays; I don’t deal with Hokkaido or Okinawa (yet), and while I can cover general family travel, I can’t give specific advice about travelling with babies or toddlers.
✗ I can’t give advice on visas, immigration, legal advice or advice on importing a specific medicine into Japan (although I can explain the process on that.)
Why Book With Me?
Hi, I’m Helen
I created Japlanease because I know how overwhelming planning a first trip to Japan can feel. There’s heaps to do, not enough time to do it all in – and it can be a bit tricky to navigate some bookings (Japanese websites can be very confusing!).
However, through planning multiple trips for myself and helping people via this website and my Facebook groups, I’ve helped thousands of travellers understand Japan’s transport system, master Tokyo Disney and USJ, choose where to stay and build itineraries that actually work.
And I can help you too. My consultations aren’t scripted – I answer the questions you have about your trip.
What Others Say
Here are some of the comments from people I’ve already helped…
“I had a last-minute trip to Japan to plan, and I usually find travel planning really stressful and overwhelming. Booking a call with Helen was honestly one of the best decisions I made.
She gave me so much useful advice, from the best areas to stay in and unique things to do, to practical tips and local insights that made such a difference. I came away from the call feeling excited instead of overwhelmed, and it saved me hours of research.
I couldn’t recommend Helen more highly. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, definitely book a call with her. She’s an absolute wealth of knowledge.” Danielle, Sydney, Australia
“I just had my “Personalised Planning” call with Helen, and I must say – it was absolutely fantastic and worth every cent. Helen has so much knowledge and answered all of my questions PLUS had time to answer even more !! I got some really great practical advice specific to our family of 5. Helen gave me suggestions on where to stay, what to do and how to travel smart given the predicted heat and humidity in July. Seriously – it’s worth the time and small investment to get advice from someone who has actually been to the places we want to go… Thanks so much, Helen !!” Michael, Adelaide, Australia
“My son and I met with Helen for a one-hour consultation. We were very overwhelmed before we spoke, and the meeting was extremely helpful in planning a reasonable itinerary, how to travel to each place by train and that we could manage our plan in two weeks. Helen was also full of suggestions for times to visit certain places and some out-of-the-way locations we wouldn’t have thought of. Her excitement and knowledge of Japan is obvious, and the hour went by in a flash. I would highly recommend meeting with her; we found it extremely helpful!” Nancy, Eastern USA
How it Works
It couldn’t be easier…..
1. Book a time
Choose a convenient slot using our booking page.
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2. Tell me about your trip
Complete a short questionnaire so I understand your plans before we meet.
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3. Meet on Zoom
We’ll spend 30 or 60 minutes planning your trip together.
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4. You Walk Away Looking Forward to Your Trip
And knowing exactly what to do next.
Book Here
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have booked my flights?
No. You can book at any stage of planning.
Can you help with Tokyo Disney or USJ?
Absolutely. I have been to both more than once – and I own more Disney ears than a grown adult should!
Can you book hotels or trains for me?
No. I provide personalised advice and general recommendations for hotels, but you make the bookings yourself.
Do you review AI itineraries?
Yes. It’s one of the most important things I do. AI has never been to Japan, and it often makes mistakes. Having a human check it over is one of the best things you can do with an AI itinerary.
How do I pay?
There is a secure, encrypted payment portal on my booking page.
Can you do the call today?
No. All bookings need to be made with at least 72 hours’ notice, so I can think about your trip and give the best advice.
Also, note there is a 24-hour cancellation policy for all calls.
Will I receive notes afterwards?
It depends on our discussion, but I usually follow up with a list of important points and links to articles or websites that can help you with your planning.
The time I need isn’t listed?
Please drop me a line at helen@japlanease.com, and I’ll see if we can work something out. Please remember, though, that I am based in Sydney, Australia, so my working hours might be different from yours.