Affiliate Disclosure

Tokyo Unseen is a hand-curated guide. Some of our outbound links are affiliate links. Here is exactly what that means and how we keep our editorial honest.

An affiliate link is a tracked URL. When you click through and make a purchase, booking, or sign-up, the merchant pays Tokyo Unseen a small commission. You pay the same price either way — the commission comes out of the merchant's margin, not your wallet.

Why we use them

Tokyo Unseen is an independent publication. Affiliate commissions help cover hosting, software, and the time the editor spends walking, eating, and double-checking spots. Without them, we'd need ads, paywalls, or sponsored placements — all of which compromise editorial independence in different ways.

Editorial independence

Affiliate relationships never decide what gets included. A spot is on Tokyo Unseen because Asakusa Boy thinks it's worth visiting, full stop. We do not accept payment in exchange for coverage. We do not run sponsored posts disguised as editorial. If a paid partnership ever appears on this site, it will be clearly marked as such at the top of the relevant page.

We also routinely recommend businesses that pay no commission at all (small independent shops, neighborhood kissaten, traditional kura, etc.) when they are the best option for the reader.

Programs we participate in

As of 2026, Tokyo Unseen has applied to or participates in the affiliate programs below. Not all are active yet — some are under review or pending approval.

How to tell whether a link is affiliate

We do not currently mark individual links as affiliate or non-affiliate. As a working assumption: treat any outbound link to a merchant, booking platform, e-commerce site, or mobile-service provider as potentially affiliate. Links to creators' Instagram accounts, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and other non-commercial reference sites are never affiliate.

FTC and Amazon Associates note

This disclosure is designed to satisfy the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidance on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255). If Tokyo Unseen ever joins Amazon Associates, the standard "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases" notice will be added here.

Who runs Tokyo Unseen

Tokyo Unseen is an independent project run by Asakusa Boy, a Tokyo-based editor and 15-year Asakusa resident. The site is not owned, sponsored, or controlled by any travel agency, hotel group, or tourism board.

Questions

Spot a missing disclosure, suspect a conflict, or want to discuss a partnership? [email protected] .

Last updated: 2026-06-24. This page is refreshed whenever programs are added, removed, or change status.