Salam, and konnichiwa. I'm Momo.
For 26 years, Japan was just… my normal. I caught the last train home. I trusted strangers to return my lost wallet — and they always did. I planned weekends around the cherry blossom forecast, ate konbini onigiri at 2am, and never once thought any of it was special.
Then I moved to Dubai. And my friends here — from the UAE, Saudi, Oman — kept asking about home. When I talked about Japan, their eyes lit up. But every conversation ended the same way: "I'd love to go… but what would I eat? Where would I pray? How do I even book that?"
One day a friend said: "If you were coming with us, we'd book tomorrow."
That sentence became this site. I can't fly with everyone — but I can write down everything a Japanese friend would tell you, for free. The visa steps. The halal restaurants worth crossing town for. The ryokan with private baths that never show up on booking sites.
In Japan we call it omotenashi. In the Gulf you call it karam. I grew up with one and live surrounded by the other — and they are the same heart: a guest is an honor.
What I do
I plan every trip myself, for families and couples who want Japan without the stress:
- A trip designed around your dates, your pace and your family
- Bookings made in Japanese, including ryokan and restaurants that only take reservations by phone
- Halal food and prayer times built into your days
- WhatsApp support while you are in Japan
I am not a tour guide. If you would like a guide with you, I arrange a local guide for you.
Free guides, or a trip planned for you
The free guides on this site are always here for anyone who wants to plan on their own. If you would rather leave the whole trip to us, I will plan it with you.
See how I plan your trip Private Japan tours
Questions? My WhatsApp is open — or email me at contact@yabantravel.com. I answer personally, on Gulf time.
Say salam on WhatsApp