At your request we will take you to look around free of charge!
We are ready to show you our favorite places, share our favorite food, attend special events and introduce you to the daily lives of ordinary Japanese people in Shizuoka.
Our volunteer guides speak English, are full of energy and heart-warming hospitality, and have the cultural insights that will make your trip to Shizuoka and Japan a memorable and rewarding experience.
If you wish to have a tour with a volunteer guide, book now. We look forward to meeting you in Shizuoka soon!
Request A Guide
Please read and agree to the following SFG Guide Services Policies before booking a free guide.
SFG Guide Services Policies, Terms and Conditions
Acceptance of the following policies, terms and conditions is required for participation in the Shizuoka Free Guide program.
1. About SHIZUOKA FREE GUIDE
- SHIZUOKA FREE GUIDE, hereafter referred to as SFG, is a purely volunteer group formed to encourage understanding of Japanese culture and people and to promote cross-cultural friendship.
2. Guides
- Members of SFG and SFG guides are volunteers who provide guide services out of their own goodwill. SFG makes no claims or guarantees as to the qualifications or experience of its guides.
- SFG guides will be wearing or carrying a Guide ID card which displays the SHIZUOKA FREE GUIDE logo, the guide’s name, and a valid date.
- Any and all persons who request and/or utilize the services of SFG will be referred to as “guest(s)” hereafter.
- Typically, SFG offers one (1) guide per group of guests. There are no predetermined routes of destinations. SFG guides will do their best to suggest custom itineraries based upon the needs of each group of guests. SFG reserves the right to refuse requests or itineraries that SFG deems unreasonable for any reason. SFG guides are unable to reserve events, tickets or otherwise act in as intermediary booking agents.
- You can request a guide up to three months in advance.
3. Expenses
While SFG guide services are free of charge, guests are responsible for the following expenses:
- TRAVEL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE GUIDE while conducting a tour for the guests. These include any and all public transportation fees incurred after meeting the guest at the appointed meeting place. Guests are not responsible for costs incurred by the guide while traveling to or from the meeting place both before and after the tour period. However, guests must pay any costs incurred when the guide is asked to pick up guest(s) at any airport.
- ADMISSION FEES to museums, temples, events etc. incurred by the guide while providing guide services.
- MEALS eaten by the guide while providing his or her services to the guest(s).
- EXPENSES for any additional guides. The guest(s) will be responsible for any of the expenses outlined in this section for all guides provided to them by SFG. Typically, only one (1) guide is provided per group of guests. However, for groups larger than four (4) persons, additional guides may be sent.
4. Inappropriate Conduct
SFG and its guides reserve the right to terminate guide services at any point during the tour if the guest(s) exhibit any of the following behavior:
- UNSAFE or ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.
- INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR or advances. This includes sexual behavior initiated by the guest(s) toward the guide, occurring among the guest(s) and or that initiated by the guest(s) toward persons outside of the tour group.
- INTOXICATION AND ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE
- REFUSING to cover expenses incurred by the guide as outlined in the above section on expenses.
- ANY CONDUCT, BEHAVIOR, OR ACTION that the guide feels is inappropriate or offensive or reflects poorly upon his or her self or SFG.
5. Statement of Limited Liabilit
- SFG and its guides are not responsible for any illnesses, injuries, thefts, losses, or any resulting damages incurred by the guest(s) while using SFG services. The guest(s) accept(s) full responsibility for any damages, injuries, or losses that he/she/they may incur while using SFG services.
6. Right to Refuse Service, Conflicts of Interest
SFG can refuse to offer its services and/or terminate its services to the guest(s) at any point for the following reasons:
- The guest(s) provide(s) false information through the application form when requesting a guide and/or e-mail exchanges with SFG or the guide(s).
- The guest(s) attempt(s) to profit or gain monetarily from SFG services or operate(s) a business which attempts to profit or gain from SFG services.
- The guest(s) paid for or received a referral to SFG services by a for-profit entity such as a travel agency.
- The guest(s) request(s) to engage in “sexual tourism” in any form or fashion. This includes but is not limited to requests to visit brothels, sexual goods shops, adult book stores and other similar venues which SFG deems inappropriate for its guide services.
- The guide(s) may cancel appointments with due notice if unavoidable reasons or extreme circumstances (e.g., extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, etc.) occur.
7. Sudden Cancellation by Guest(s)
- SFG reserves the right to refuse service to guest(s) who have previously cancelled guide appointments without due notice. This excludes cases in which cancellation was for unavoidable reasons or extreme circumstances.
8. Process for Being Appointed a Guide
Guest(s) agree to adhere to the following process when requesting a guide from SFG.
- 1. Guest applies for a guide at the relevant form on the website (http://www.shizuokafreeguide.org)
- 2. Guest receives an acceptance e-mail from SFG.
- 3. A Guide is appointed to the guest and contacts the guest via e-mail directly.
- 4. If the guest does not receive an e-mail from a guide up to within two (2) days prior to his or her requested tour date, it means that no guide could be found. No further correspondence from SFG to the guest will be issued.
9. Cases in Which SFG May be Unable to Provide a Guide
In the following cases, SFG may be unable to provide a guide to the guest(s):
- There are too many applicants and or a shortage of available guides.
- A guide cannot be found who is able to meet the guest’s request (e.g., starting a tour from 5 a.m., climbing Mount Fuji with a guide, etc.).
- Guest fails to submit his or her request at least two (2) weeks prior to the requested tour date.
10. Acceptance of Policies, Terms and Conditions of SHIZUOKA FREE GUIDE (SFG)
- Click here for the Outline of Our System.
- I, the guest, by clicking “Agree” in the form below do hereby state my absolute acceptance of the policies, terms and conditions of SHIZUOKA FREE GUIDE (SFG) as outlined in this agreement
- Before booking, you need to read and agree to the SFG Privacy Policy.
- If you click "Agree", you can go on booking.
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