Small-group Japan journeys
for the US market.
Wander Wide is a US-based boutique Japan travel advisory founded by Heather Koll, a Speech-Language Pathologist of 16 years with 22 years of experience traveling, living, teaching English in, and studying Japan (since 2004). We design and operate small-group journeys for US travelers — solo travelers, couples, families, and interest-matched groups — with a maximum of ten travelers per departure. This document is intended for prospective DMC and ground operator partners. It outlines our product portfolio, target market, operational model, and what we are seeking from a ground partner.
About Wander Wide
Wander Wide operates as a travel advisory and tour design business serving the US market. We are not a booking platform or an OTA — we design high-touch, fully customized Japan journeys and handle the client relationship from inquiry through return. We are seeking a DMC partner to provide ground services, accommodation, and logistical support in Japan.
Our differentiation in the market is twofold: expert design (22 years of Japan experience, SLP-informed itinerary planning, sensory-aware logistics) and group model (small, interest-matched groups of up to 10 travelers, no single supplement, Wander Days built into every journey).
Five core itineraries.
Below are our five signature journeys with the ground services we would require from a DMC partner. All quotes should be provided per person at 10 passengers and 6 passengers. Please indicate which cost elements are fixed vs. variable.
Flavors of Japan
- Osaka — 9 nights hotel (mid-range to premium, Dotonbori/Namba area preferred)
- Kobe day trip — rail transfer Osaka–Kobe–Osaka
- Fushimi Inari day trip — rail transfer Osaka–Fushimi–Osaka
- Kuromon Ichiba Market — entrance and suggested self-guided tasting route
- Nada sake district — transportation and sake tasting entry x group
- Teppanyaki Kobe beef dinner — private group reservation
- Artisan fermentation producer visits (miso, soy, sake, mirin) — entry x group
- Suggested activities: Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Tsuruhashi market, Osaka Castle grounds
- Daily breakfast at hotel
Zen Restoration
- Tokyo — 4 nights hotel (Otemachi or Ginza area preferred)
- Kyoto — 3 nights luxury ryokan with onsen (Higashiyama area preferred)
- Tokyo — 2 nights hotel (return stay, Ginza area)
- Shinkansen Tokyo–Kyoto (reserved seating x group)
- Shinkansen Kyoto–Tokyo (reserved seating x group)
- Ryoan-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle — entry x group
- Tenryu-ji Zen garden — entry x group
- Tea ceremony experience, Kyoto — booked x group
- Suggested activities: Meiji Shrine, Yanaka district, Philosopher's Path, Arashiyama bamboo grove, Fushimi Inari, Gion evening walk, Hamarikyu Garden, Ginza
- Daily breakfast at all properties
Family Odyssey
- Tokyo — 8 nights hotel (Shinjuku or Shibuya area preferred, family-friendly property)
- Nara day trip — coach transfer Tokyo–Nara–Tokyo (or shinkansen — please quote both)
- Asakusa rickshaw experience — booked x group
- teamLab Planets — entry x group
- Hamarikyu Garden — entry x group
- Suggested activities: Senso-ji temple, Nakamise shopping street, Ueno Park, Odaiba waterfront, Tsukiji Outer Market, Sumida River walk, Shibuya crossing, Harajuku
- Daily breakfast at hotel
History & Heritage
- Tokyo — 2 nights hotel (Marunouchi or Ueno area preferred)
- Kyoto — 2 nights luxury ryokan (Higashiyama area preferred)
- Hiroshima — 2 nights hotel
- Miyajima — 1 night hotel (waterfront preferred)
- Shinkansen Tokyo–Kyoto (reserved seating x group)
- Shinkansen Kyoto–Hiroshima (reserved seating x group)
- Miyajima ferry — Hiroshima–Miyajima–Hiroshima
- Dedicated history-focused guide — Tokyo and Kyoto days (guided is core to this journey)
- Edo-Tokyo Museum — entry x group
- Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji — entry x group
- Tenryu-ji Zen garden — entry x group
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum — entry x group
- Suggested activities: Yanaka district, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove, Peace Memorial Park, Itsukushima Shrine, Mt. Misen
- Daily breakfast at all properties
Japow & Hops
- Niseko — 4 nights ski-in/ski-out or slope-adjacent hotel with onsen
- Sapporo — 3 nights hotel (central, Susukino area preferred)
- Tokyo — 2 nights hotel (Ginza area)
- Airport transfer New Chitose–Niseko (coach x group)
- Niseko–Otaru transfer — coach
- Otaru–Sapporo transfer — coach or rail
- Domestic flight New Chitose–Tokyo (ticketing assistance)
- Niseko United ski lift pass — 2 days x group
- Ski and snowboard equipment rental x group (full kit)
- Otaru craft beer tasting — booked x group
- Otaru glass blowing workshop — booked x group
- Sapporo Beer Museum — entry x group
- Jingisukan dinner, Sapporo — private group reservation
- Suggested activities: Niseko onsen, Otaru canal, Susukino night market, Sapporo Snow Festival (February only), Maruyama Park
- Daily breakfast at all properties
Custom journeys on request.
In addition to our five signature journeys, Wander Wide designs fully bespoke itineraries for groups with specific interests, travel styles, or needs. These are quoted on a per-inquiry basis and may combine elements across regions. We would require a DMC partner capable of quoting custom itineraries with reasonable turnaround (ideally 5–7 business days for an initial quote).
Bespoke requests typically come from multigenerational families, special interest groups (food, history, wellness, photography), and travelers with accessibility or sensory considerations — an area where our SLP background gives us a genuine design advantage.
The 9+1 program.
Wander Wide operates a 9+1 host program in which a group organizer who brings nine paying guests travels on land at no cost. This model is built into our retail pricing and has no impact on DMC quotations — we will always quote and book for the full group size (10 travelers). The cost offset for the host traveler is absorbed within our margin.
From a DMC perspective, all 9+1 departures should be treated as standard groups of 10. No special handling is required.
What we're looking for.
We are seeking a DMC partner who can provide the following:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Net rate quotes | Per person at 10 pax and 6 pax for all five signature itineraries |
| Cost breakdown | Hard costs vs. flexible costs clearly identified per line item |
| Quote turnaround | 5–7 business days for signature journeys, 7–10 for custom |
| Seasonal pricing | Peak season (cherry blossom, autumn foliage, ski season) flagged separately |
| English-speaking guides | Required for History & Heritage; available upon request for other journeys — please quote both with and without where applicable |
| Accessibility awareness | Ability to flag cobblestone, stairs, crowd levels, sensory considerations |
| Communication | Dedicated point of contact, email preferred, English-language correspondence |
| Lead time | Minimum 90 days preferred for group departures |
Get in touch.
To discuss a partnership, request a full itinerary document, or submit a quote, please reach out directly.