About Hitotoki
Founded in 2016, Hitotoki is a licensed Japan-based luxury travel agency (License No. 3-470) and destination management company specializing exclusively in tailor-made journeys across Japan for international travelers.
Since its founding, Hitotoki has designed over 1,000 bespoke itineraries, combining deep local knowledge, trusted relationships with hotels, ryokans, artisans, and cultural partners, and a highly personalized approach to every journey.
The company has received 7 consecutive World Travel Awards nominations (2019–2025), is a founding member of the Hospitality Industry Club of Japan (HICJ), and was selected by JNTO to represent Japan at ILTM Cannes 2025.
WHY TRAVELERS CHOOSE HITOTOKI
What makes Hitotoki different
What makes Hitotoki different is not only access to luxury hotels or private guides, but the way each itinerary is designed: with care, precision, and a strong sense of place.
We believe a luxury trip to Japan should feel seamless without ever feeling generic. That means balancing major highlights with quieter moments, choosing hotels for their character, service, and location, and shaping each day around the client's pace, interests, and comfort.
Who we are best suited for
Hitotoki is especially well suited to travelers planning a refined first or second trip to Japan, with a focus on private guiding, handpicked luxury hotels and ryokans, cultural depth, and smooth logistics throughout.
Our strongest itineraries often combine destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kanazawa, depending on the traveler's pace and interests.
How we design journeys
Every journey begins with a careful understanding of the client's travel style, priorities, and expectations. From there, we build a fully tailor-made itinerary that may include luxury hotels and ryokans, private English-speaking guides, selected transportation, special cultural encounters, and on-trip support.
We don't work from templates. Each proposal is developed from scratch to create a trip that feels personal, elegant, and easy to navigate.
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
REVIEWS FROM PAST GUESTS
Amazing trip to Japan
We didn't have to think about a single thing once we landed. The hotels were stunning, especially the ryokan in Hakone, and every restaurant felt like a place locals would actually go. At one point our train was delayed and the driver on the other end already knew before we did.
Léa L., France · August 2026Ten days in four cities
There's a new “luxury” of traveling and it's not necessarily doing the best and most expensive things, it's taking the guesswork and some of the decision-making out of every hour of every day, and I'm pleased to say that Hitotoki and their team were excellent at helping us with that.
Carina S., United States · January 202410 stars for Hitotoki
Alex and his team's attention to detail is superb and made for a seamless, luxurious honeymoon for my husband and I. All we ever had to do was show up and his team took over!
Anthony L., United States · November 2022
EXPERTISE
& INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY CLUB OF JAPAN
Hitotoki is a founding member of the Hospitality Industry Club of Japan (HICJ), a network of over 60 small and medium-sized travel companies working together to support the development of Japan's hospitality industry and promote more sustainable tourism.
HICJ aims to help modernize Japan's tourism industry while preserving omotenashi, the country's deeply rooted culture of hospitality.
JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION
Hitotoki was selected by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) to represent Japan at ILTM Cannes 2025, the world's leading invitation-only luxury travel exhibition.
ILTM brings together many of the world's leading travel designers and top-tier agencies, and this selection reflects Hitotoki's position within Japan's luxury travel space.
THE HITOTOKI TEAM
Our international team brings together deep expertise in hospitality, itinerary design, client care, and travel operations.
From the early planning stages to on-the-ground support in Japan, every member of the team is dedicated to making each trip feel seamless, thoughtful, and personal.
THE FOUNDER | ALEX DEBS
Born in France and a long-term resident of Japan, Alex spent years working in Tokyo-based travel agencies before founding Hitotoki in 2016.
Over time, he traveled extensively across the country, building trusted relationships with ryokans, hotels, artisans, and cultural partners, while developing the local knowledge that now shapes every Hitotoki itinerary.
Alex is fluent in English, Japanese, and French, and also has a strong knowledge of Arabic.
Kumejima
Head Office
Our Japan headquarters, where our team coordinates itinerary design, reservations, pre-arrival planning, and on-trip support.
160-53 Higa, Kumejima, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa 901-3108 Japan
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
GET IN TOUCH
Whether you are planning a tailor-made journey across Japan or simply exploring ideas, our team would be delighted to hear from you.
Not sure where to begin? Share a few details with us, and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your plans.