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.

Tour Itinerary

  • Takayama Station 1210→1220 Hondamachi→1245 Standby Hida-tei Hanaogi 1300→(Customer's taxi use)→1330 Kami-Sannomachi (Lunch time・Sake brewery tour) 1430→1530 Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall 1600→1630 Hida Kokubunji Temple 1650→(Customer's taxi use)→1700 Hida-tei Hanaogi (End at location)

Can You Do a Private Walking Tour of Takayama Focused on Sake Breweries? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America. On the day of the tour, they arrived dramatically in Takayama by helicopter from Hakone. After a brief planning discussion, it quickly became clear that what they were most looking forward to in Takayama was visiting the sake breweries, so I guided them to a favorite brewery on Kamisannomachi (Harada Sake Brewery), where they greatly enjoyed the sake tasting, offered as all-you-can-drink for 500 yen (including the purchase of a tasting cup). After that, in addition to souvenir shopping along the old streets, we strolled through the quiet Shimoninomachi area, and visited the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall and Hida Kokubunji Temple. Along the way, I answered their questions about Takayama and daily life in Japan, and also provided information about a recommended place for dinner featuring Hida beef.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1BusTakayama Nohi Bus Center/Nohi Bus~Matsumotomachi/Nohi Bus210JPY
Section 2BusMatsumotomachi/Nohi Bus~Takayama Nohi Bus Center/Nohi Bus210JPY
Total420JPY

Since I completely retired from my position at a railway company and started being involved in the tour guide interpreter business, I have experienced almost all types of guiding through FIT, Long Group Tours, Cruises (Shore Excursions), Incentive Tours, Special Interest Tours (Railway Travel, Pilgrimages), Familiarization Tours (Sales Promotion Tours) etc.
However, I noticed that I am not fully satisfied to only be a general guide who just manages a tour itinerary provided by tour agents/clients.
High-end guests have sometimes requested me to answer some enquiries that are actually challenging to answer for Japanese nationals. However, I appreciated those because they provided such a challenge and I felt that they wanted to understand my sense of beauty/values as a guide concerning a new culture for them.
Every time I host my guest I do my best to prepare the most appropriate information based on three travel elements (appetite, logistics, accommodation). Nevertheless, I decided to aim for higher guiding skills after I was motivated by senior guides whose guiding strategies and gestures were particularly impressive.

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