EYExplore Tokyo’s Seamless Photography Tours with WooCommerce Bookings

How EYExplore Tokyo Streamlined Photo Tour Reservations

Background

EYExplore Tokyo launched in September 2014 to fill a gap for English-speaking photographers visiting Japan. Founder Axel teamed up with Heath and Lukasz to offer guided street and rooftop photography sessions in Tokyo. Tours soon expanded to Kyoto and Osaka as word spread among tourists and local expats.

The Booking Challenge

When they first started, reservations came in via email and manual forms. That meant back-and-forth over dates, equipment rentals, and group availability. The team realized customers dropped off when they couldn’t see clear pricing or open slots in real time.

Implementing WooCommerce Bookings

Moving to a WordPress site powered by WooCommerce and the Bookings extension, EYExplore Tokyo created detailed bookable products for each tour. Customers now pick a date, view available times, add optional tripod rentals, and pay instantly. They integrated a Canvas theme to showcase large photos and used WP Simple Calendar so visitors can quickly scan upcoming tours.

Marketing and Outreach

To get the word out, the team relied on social media, blogging, travel-agent partnerships, and AffiliateWP for affiliate marketing. Clear tour descriptions—covering walk lengths, day or night shoots, equipment recommendations, and taught techniques—helped reduce confusion and increase conversion rates.

Results

In just one year, the Tokyo by Night tour became a customer favorite. Pro photographers now approach EYExplore Tokyo for tailor-made location scouting. The streamlined booking process cut administrative work by over 70%, letting the team focus on guiding tours and expanding to new cities.

Key Takeaways

By offering transparent information, real-time availability, and optional equipment add-ons, EYExplore Tokyo set a new standard for guided photo tours—all powered by WooCommerce Bookings.