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
- 10:30 Pick up at hotel
- 10:30-12:30 Move to Osaka Castle and stay there.
- 13:00-14:00 Kuromon Market
- 14:00-14:30 Dotombori
- Around 14:30 End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Osaka Castle and stay there. at 10:30, Kuromon Market at 13:00 and Dotombori at 14:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nagahoribashi to Tanimachi 4-chome by subway (190JPY); Tanimachi 4-chome to Nippombashi by subway (190JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 380JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Kuromon Market and Osaka Castle Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide had been informed that some of the guests followed a gluten-free diet. I had thought they would be able to eat sushi at Kuromon Market (soy sauce sometimes contains wheat, but I had confirmed that this small amount was acceptable), but it turned out raw items were also not possible for them. So they tried samples of wagyu beef, sweet potato chips, strawberries, dango, and other Japanese sweets. Since that did not fill them up, we returned to the sushi corner at the back of a fish shop we had seen earlier and chose non-raw sushi such as rolled sushi, egg, conger eel, and inari sushi. These were inexpensive, so I also bought one for myself, gave the guests the ones they could eat, and took the ones they could not. One of the guests seemed able to eat anything. It was rewarding to explain items like kanpyo in English, though in the end the kanpyo was left uneaten, so I happily took it (laughs). At Osaka Castle, the guests enjoyed the history, and after Dotonbori, since they love shopping, I recommended Shinsaibashi-suji and also Amerikamura. I marked places on the map from the tourist information center, wrote down the location of their accommodation, handed it to them, and we parted ways after telling them to check the rest on Google Maps.
Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Nagahoribashi～Tanimachi 4-chome | 190JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Tanimachi 4-chome～Nippombashi | 190JPY |
| Total | 380JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Osaka Castle and stay there., Kuromon Market and Dotombori.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 380JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Yuki is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Osaka itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hi! I’m an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. I’m also a national guide as well. I’d like to expand my guide area to help tourists.
The town of Osaka offers a different atmosphere than Tokyo. I like both exciting Osaka and nature-filled Wakayama Prefecture.
If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, you can go to Koyasan for one day, or even for a day trip, so I recommend sightseeing at Koyasan.
If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the nature of Koyasan will relax you.
I will introduce you to the unique culture, history and must-see sights.
Jun 23, 2026
Shelley_E
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Shelley_E
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There is much to do in Osaka so carefully choose 3 or 4 sights to visit. Yuki was a great tour
guide and she communicated with us before the tour to find out what we wanted to see
and do. She was knowledgeable about the city and its history.
May 28, 2026
Duncan_R
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The tour was both very informative and…
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Duncan_R
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A Great Tour of Kyoto
The tour was both very informative and incredibly picturesque, while also serving as some good exercise. The guide was pleasant throughout and easy to understand so the experience was a lot of fun overall. We would recommend the tour to anyone looking to see the sights of Kyoto through the lens of someone with a deep understanding of Japanese culture.
May 28, 2026
ignaciosilenzi
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Amazing day in Koyasan with Miyuki
Miyuki was an amazing guide. She was very attentive and shared all the historical details
and information we needed to know. Thank you, Miyuki, for such a beautiful family day in
Koyasan.
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189mirjamf
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Grandioser Einblick in eine fremde Kultur
Sehr nette und…
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189mirjamf
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Grandioser Einblick in eine fremde Kultur
Sehr nette und informative Führung. Inklusive vorheriger Organisation von leckeren
Bento-Boxes!
「異文化についての素晴らしい洞察（体験）でした。」
とても親切で、情報豊富な案内でした。さらに、事前に美味しいお弁当まで手配してくれました！