Tour Guide (Seasonal)

What to Expect

Long days, unexpected challenges, and rewarding connections with guests from all over the world. You’ll spend most of your time outdoors, guiding riders through the Japanese countryside, maintaining bikes and equipment, and sharing your knowledge of Japan and its culture. This role is hands-on, physical, and people-focused.

Your Mission 

Give every guest a 5+ star cycling experience in Japan by guiding them safely and confidently, connecting them with the culture and stories of the places they ride through, while working closely with a team of fellow A-player guides.

What Success Looks Like

• Guide confidently and safely. Come prepared, know the day's route and stops, manage different rider abilities, and help every guest complete the day's ride safely.
• Create a 5+ star guest experience. Bring a genuine service mindset, build connections with guests, and look for ways to make their experience exceptional both on and off the bike.
• Bring Japan to life. Know the key stories behind the places we visit, share your knowledge of Japanese culture, and take initiative to find answers when you don't know them.
• Be someone the team can rely on. Communicate well, understand the day's logistics, complete your responsibilities without constant direction, and step in to help the team when needed.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Strong cycling ability: Comfortable riding 70–100 km with 1,200–2,000+ meters of elevation per day for multiple consecutive days. Tours are typically 8 days long, and guides should be comfortable riding at least 3–4 days during a tour
• Bike mechanics: Confident with basic bike maintenance, including changing tires/tubes, adjusting derailleurs and shifters, and replacing brake pads
• Driving in Japan: Holds a valid Japanese driver’s license and is comfortable driving up to 2–3 hours at a time (occasionally totaling 4–6 hours on long days)
• Language skills:
  • Fluent in English (all guests are English-speaking)
    
  • Basic Japanese ability (able to check guests into hotels, assist with restaurant ordering, and communicate with local traffic or construction staff if needed)
• Physical fitness: Able to lift 20–30 kg of luggage and load/unload a ~15 kg e-bike onto a car roof (requires lifting the e-bike overhead)

This Role May Not Be a Good Fit If...

• You love cycling but don't enjoy service work. Being a strong cyclist isn't enough—the job is about the guests' ride, not your own.
• You need a predictable, recurring schedule. Tour locations, responsibilities, schedules, and logistics change frequently.
• You prefer clear instructions for every task. Guides need to problem-solve independently and recognize what needs to be done without constant direction.
• You want to experience the tour like a guest. The rides, meals, ryokans, and cultural experiences are part of the job—but you're there to create that experience for someone else.
• You need to switch "off" at a set time each day. You're still representing the company during meals, transfers, cultural stops, and other parts of the tour outside the ride itself.

Season & Availability

We operate two main cycling seasons each year—spring and fall—with a several-month off-season in between. We prioritize guides who can commit to multiple tours each season and return for future seasons.

• Spring season: Mid-March to early June (typically 4–8 guided tours)
  
• Fall season: September to early December (typically 6–10 guided tours)

Training & Support

New guides receive pre-tour training and work alongside experienced guides and a Lead Guide on their first tours. We don't expect you to know our systems from day one, but we do expect you to come prepared, ask questions, and learn quickly.

Why Be A Rindo Guide?

You'll ride some of our favorite roads in rural Japan, work alongside a small team of experienced guides, and build genuine connections with cyclists from around the world. It's demanding work, but for the right person, it's an opportunity to combine cycling, service, travel, and Japan in a way few jobs offer.

Compensation

We believe in rewarding guides who keep showing up and growing with the team. The more tours you complete, the higher your daily rate becomes. Experience matters out on the road, and our pay structure is designed to recognize that. 

Below is a breakdown of how your daily tour pay increases as you complete more tours with us.

For every two tours completed in a single season, guides are eligible for a ¥15,000 bonus as an added reward for their time, commitment, and support. 

Tour Accommodations: Rindo covers the cost of all accommodations during tours, including prep and drive days. If a guide requests a room change for personal reasons, any additional accommodation costs will be the guide’s responsibility.

Guide Meal Compensation: Guides receive a food allowance of ¥1,000 per day for breakfast and ¥1,000 per day for lunch, and ¥2,000 per day for dinner. This applies to all prep, drive, and tour days.