This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet up and depart at Kochi New Port
- 9:30 Arrive at Noichi Zoological Park
- 11:40 Depart Noichi Zoological Park
- 12:15 Arrive at Hirome Market, lunch
- 13:10 Depart Hirome Market
- 13:30 Arrive at Makino Botanical Garden
- 15:15 Depart Makino Botanical Garden
- 15:30 Arrive at Kochi New Port, disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Noichi Zoological Park at 9:30, Hirome Market, lunch at 12:15, Hirome Market at 13:10, Makino Botanical Garden at 13:30 and Kochi New Port, disband at 15:30.
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Kochi Like from a Cruise Ship? A Licensed Guide's Report
The tour was originally planned for a larger group, but due to fatigue from sightseeing during consecutive days of extreme heat, only some of the guests joined. Since the guests said, "We've seen enough temples and castles. We had planned to go to a zoo in Kyoto but ran out of time, so we'd like to visit a zoo," we spent the morning at Noichi Zoo. We viewed Kochi Castle from the car and had lunch at Hirome Market. In the afternoon we visited the Makino Botanical Garden. After seeing everything, I asked, "We still have time before all aboard, so what would you like to do next?" and they replied, "We've enjoyed ourselves enough, so we'll head back to the ship," so we finished a little early. As the guests love animals and plants above all, they told me, "This was the best day of our whole trip!" They were also deeply moved by the seared bonito sushi at lunch, saying, "I've never had anything like this! It's wonderfully delicious!" I was delighted that they were able to fully enjoy Kochi.
This private day tour was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures.
Click here for more details: （Deactivate）Kochi Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Hello everyone, I am Saori Nishida.
I was born in Hokkaido, but risen up in Tokyo, and live in Ehime prefecture.
I met my husband in Australia. Our honeymoon was traveling around Japan by hitchhiking, It can be said that I am a natural born traveler like you.
Uwajima city where I live is famous for Japan’s top produce and shipping volume of citrus and pearl. And we are also proud of the quality and quantity of fish farming in our city.
There is one of the 12 existing castle towers. Those castle towers are originally constructed more than 400 years ago. Our city is located on the route of pilgrimage to visit 88 temples on Shikoku island where our prefecture is.
I run a guesthouse with my family : we have small daughters. I think I can pass on the happiness of doing what I like to my children and the younger generation in the community.
My favorite things are sake brewery, temples and shrines, art museum, castles, water activities, and karaoke. I am sure I will get along with one of you.
I always drink coffee in the morning and beer at night. This is how I stay healthy.
My first tour was in 2023. Since then, I have been guiding approximately 300 guests each year on average, spending around 90 days annually taking them to various places across Shikoku as well as to Okayama, Hiroshima, Wakayama, Kyoto, Kyushu, and other regions.
As a licensed English-speaking tour guide, I have worked with a wide range of clients, from individuals to large groups. I can accommodate everything from short tours lasting half a day to extended tours of around two weeks.
Whether it’s a shore excursion from a cruise ship, a Shikoku round-trip tour, guiding for the Shikoku Pilgrimage, or a cycling tour, I lead each experience with energy, humor, and lots of fun!
Shikoku, where I live, is a hidden gem where Japan’s original landscapes and traditional culture still remain deeply preserved. It is also home to the Seto Inland Sea, a region that has gained global attention as a sanctuary of contemporary art. Shikoku is where the 1,200-year-old pilgrimage route, the Shikoku Henro, continues to be walked even today. Here, the old and the new coexist in perfect harmony. I promise to show you a fascinating side of Japan that you’ve never seen before. Let’s travel together!
Sep 30, 2025
Eveline_E
If this tour is available for your date I would grab immediately!
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide…
Sep 30, 2025
Eveline_E
If this tour is available for your date I would grab immediately!
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Saori was amazing. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Especially when we went to the market, there is no way that we would have been able to navigate without having someone with her expertise telling us where to buy the food, the local must eats, and being receptive to multiple people’s needs. The driver was always available and we never had to wait long at any of our locations for him to be there probably. It was a very comfortable vehicle. I would highly recommend this to anybody who needs to find a port excursion. They were there promptly. They got us back to the ship on time without any delay. We were able to change our itinerary as the day progressed based on the people on the excursion with us since some of them didn’t want to do some of the stops. Communication with a tour company was excellent. I was able to get confirmation immediately as well as driver information as soon as it became available. I would highly recommend.