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Self-Guided Support Application Form

Cycling Tour Guide Hiring Process

1. Submit the Tally Form
Start by filling out our Tally application form so we can learn more about you.
2. Evaluation Steps
Applications are reviewed at each stage of the process. Candidates may be selected to proceed, or it may be determined that the role is not the right fit.
>Application Screening
We will carefully review your application form to assess your experience, skills, and alignment with the role.
>Video Call with Rindō BTJ (3-Step)
If you pass the application screening, we’ll schedule a video call to get to know you better, hear your story, and see if you're a good fit.
>Trial Tour Invitation
If the call goes well, we’ll invite you to join one of our tours as part of a trial. This is a real-world opportunity to experience guiding at Rindō and for us to see how you interact with our guests and team.
3. Final Decision:
After the trial tour, we’ll make our final decision. If successful, you’ll officially join the Rindō BTJ team!
IMPORTANT: Only fully completed Tally forms will be reviewed
頑張ってね!

Full Name

Whatsapp or Line Number

Email

Please indicate the months you are available to work in 2026:

Please indicate the months you are available to work in 2026:

Please indicate if there are any weeks / specific dates you are unable to work in the upcoming spring season (March-early June, 2026)

Where are you currently living and what is your time zone?

How long have you lived in Japan? Where have you lived?

What is your current visa status in Japan?

When is your current visa expiration date?

Are you currently able to legally drive in Japan? Select one.

Please briefly describe your experience driving in Japan. Select all that apply:

Please briefly describe your experience driving in Japan. Select all that apply:

Is English your first language?

Please indicate your Japanese language proficiency:

Do you have any experience cycling? If so, how much? If you ride often, how much do you typically ride in a week? Include a link to your strava (RWGPS, etc) account if you have one.

Note: This role does not require advanced cycling fitness, but familiarity with bikes and cyclists is important.

Please indicate your current comfort with bike mechanics & maintenance. What work can you comfortably do? (Select all that apply)

Please indicate your current comfort with bike mechanics & maintenance. What work can you comfortably do? (Select all that apply)

Do you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies?

Important Note: 

Our company is located in Kiryu, Gunma. We do not cover transportation costs for guides traveling to Kiryu; however, for every two tours per season that guides work, they may receive a ¥15,000 bonus to help offset travel expenses.

Why do we offer a flat bonus instead of reimbursing travel costs?
 Our guides are based throughout Japan, and to keep compensation fair and equitable, we provide the same bonus to all guides rather than using the standard travel reimbursement model common in Japanese companies. In most cases, this flat bonus results in higher overall compensation than traditional travel reimbursements.

Review and Acknowledgment

Please confirm and check that you have read and agree to the following
- I understand that Rindo | Bike Tour Japan has a strict no smoking policy while staff is (1) around guests (2) on company property or (3) using a company car.
- I understand that I will need to download and use (1) Whatsapp (2) Google Maps (3) Google Sheets and (4) RidewithGPS on my personal smart phone in order to perform my job.
- I understand that this is a physically demanding job. I am physically able to: (1) lift 20–30 kg luggage (2) load a ~12 kg e-bike onto a car roof (overhead lift)
- I understand this job involves early starts, long days, and occasional unexpected schedule changes due to weather, guests, or logistics.
- I understand this job involves being on call while guests are riding, including responding to messages or calls promptly during the day. I am comfortable being reachable and responsive while on duty.
- I understand I may have to make time-sensitive decisions on my own when supporting guests remotely, and am comfortable communicating those decisions clearly to both guests and the team.
- I understand this role will require staying overnight in rural or remote areas for several consecutive days while supporting guests.
- I understand that I will need to cover my own transportation costs to get to the Rindo warehouse in Kiryu, Gunma and confirm that I am willing to travel to Kiryu 1-3 times per season depending on my tour schedule.
Review and Acknowledgment

Are you interested in working with us across multiple seasons if it’s a good mutual fit?

Please provide 1-3 professional references (former managers, co-workers,etc). Please note their name, phone, email, name of business, and their business relationship to you.

Please share anything else you would like us to know about you:

How did you hear about us?

Video Upload:

Please include a short video introducing yourself in both English and Japanese.

Things to introduce: Your name, nationality, where you live, current work, cycling experience, etc.

Please read through each scenario and take a video answering the following questions. The video length should not be longer than 4-5 minutes total for all 3 questions. Please try and answer as if you were currently working on a Rindo tour. We’re interested in your thought process and communication style, not a “perfect” answer.

Scenario One: You’re helping set up guests on the first day of their self-guided tour and checking them in at their ryokan. When you show a guest to their room, they ask if it has an ensuite shower. You explain that it does not, and that they will need to use the shared onsen facilities. The guest immediately becomes upset and says this was not explained to them in advance. They insist they will not stay in a room without a private shower.

Question: How would you respond to this guest in the moment, and what steps (if any) would you take to resolve the situation?

Scenario Two: You’re on call supporting two different groups of self-guided guests who are riding to the same remote ryokan from different starting points. At 3:00 pm, you check their locations and notice that both groups are progressing slowly and may not arrive before dark. You message both groups to warn them about their pace, but don’t receive a reply.

Shortly after 4:30 pm (sunset), you receive messages from each group:

Group A is now lost and far off-route but wants to continue riding despite it getting dark.
Group B is still on route but moving very slowly and says they are afraid to continue riding in the dark.

It will take you approximately 45 minutes by car to reach either group. If both groups continue riding, they should reach the ryokan in about an hour, but it will be dark when they arrive.

Question: What steps would you take next, and what factors would be most important in making your decision?

Scenario Three: You’re on call with another remote support staff member who is answering guest questions on WhatsApp. You notice that several of their responses contain incorrect information. When you send them a message privately about this, they insist their answers are correct and suggest you’re mistaken. Your supervisor is not working that day, but you’re concerned that this misinformation could negatively affect the guests’ experience and feel you should take action quickly.

Question: How would you handle this situation?