Tour Director
About this role
FREELANCE TOUR DIRECTOR Japan
Job type: Part-time (freelance), Temporary
Job overview:
We are now looking for Freelance Tour Directors to join our Tour Directors pool in the Kyoto Regional Office.
This is a freelance seasonal position, and work will be offered and compensated for on a tour-by-tour basis. We are now looking for Freelance Tour Directors to lead tours primarily in March, April, June and July in Japan to work with EF Educational Tours, EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break Tours:
EF Educational Tours (eftours.com): provides educational group travel to students from the USA and Canada all over the world
EF Go Ahead Tours (goaheadtours.com): offers guided group tours for adults to 175 destinations worldwide
EF Ultimate Break Tours (efultimatebreak.com): designed for travelers in their 20s and 30s seeking social, guided group travel experiences
As a Freelance Tour Director, you will lead tours of 7 to 31 days in length, with the majority being around 12 days, based through Japan (with some extending to South Korea). You will work alongside EF to create memorable experiences. From the day the group arrives until the moment of their departure, you will stay with the group, becoming their reference point and being responsible for the day-to-day tour organization.
Main objectives for this role:
· Ensure a smooth tour flow
· Work with EF to create memorable experiences
· Engage with the travelers
· Collaborate with EF to provide specific support to travelers when necessary
Please note that EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our travelers. All successful applications will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and character reference check.
Next steps
Following a successful initial application, you will be invited to a Video/Phone interview, followed by a group interview. Selected candidates must attend a 3-day in-Person introduction to EF before leading their first tour.
If you think you are a good fit for this role, fill out the following Application Form.
Still not sure if this job is right for you? Check out this video to see what it means to be a Tour Director with EF:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW7bv1dWGfk
We look forward to hearing from you!
About EF Education First:
Founded in 1965, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that shares a common mission of opening the world through education, offering language, academic, cultural exchange and education travel programs.
Some companies are in the business of technology.
Others are in the business of finance, sports, or soft drinks.
At EF, we’re in a different kind of business.
One that’s a little less tangible, and a lot more important. We’re in the business of understanding.
For 60 years we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and culturally rich travel experiences with the power to change how people think, feel and act. The programs we deliver open the world to students and travellers in ways that challenge biases, overcome barriers, and pave the way for a more understanding world. You’ll find us working across more than 50 countries, with offices in some of the world’s greatest cities—each one filled with smart, driven people who push each other to be better every day. And yes, we have technology, we have finance, we even have sports with our own professional cycling team. But it’s what we do with it—building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world that makes all the difference.
Company at a glance
Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education.
Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.
For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.
You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.
Forbes 2025/2024 World’s Best Employers | Time100 Most Influential Companies 2026 | Fast Company 2025 Next Big Things In Tech | 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact
A notice on recruitment scams
We are aware that recruitment scams are increasingly common worldwide and affect job seekers across many organizations. These may appear on various messaging platforms, e.g., text messaging, WhatsApp, etc. To support your safety, we recommend that you do not respond to such unsolicited offers of employment. If you believe you are the victim of any fraudulent activity, we advise you to contact your appropriate authorities. Only submit your application to jobs through our official job board, jobs.ef.com. We never ask our applicants to pay a fee for any service whatsoever.
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