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
- （All day, traveling by guest's rental car）
- 09:30 Meet at Kawaguchiko Station
- 09:45～10:40 At Arakurayama Sengen Park
- 11:00～12:20 At Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum)
- 12:40～13:15 At Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
- 13:40～14:40 Lunch at Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch
- 15:00～15:30 At Narusawa Ice Cave
- 16:00 Dismissal at Tourist Base Kawaguchiko
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Yamanashi began at 09:30, when the guide met the guests at Kawaguchiko Station, and finished at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch at 13:40.
From there the group visited At Arakurayama Sengen Park at 09:45, At Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum) at 11:00, At Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine at 12:40 and At Narusawa Ice Cave at 15:00.
What Is a Private Mount Fuji Day Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Europe on a family trip. We had been in contact by email from the time of the initial booking, and since they had agreed for me to accompany them in their rental car as their guide, the itinerary proceeded smoothly.
Because we had discussed the places to visit in advance by email, we were able to keep almost exactly to schedule. Although it was the last day of the Golden Week holiday and Japanese visitors were noticeable at each destination, we did not experience any traffic congestion or waits for parking, so we were able to spend plenty of time at each stop.
English was not necessarily their strongest language, so there were some moments when communication was a little difficult, but they were a very pleasant group, and the tour proceeded in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
At Oshino Hakkai I offered them the local specialty kusa-mochi, and after lunch I bought them "Yukimi Daifuku" ice cream at a convenience store, which they enjoyed and found delicious. They also seemed to be very fond of the local dish hoto.
At the end, they thanked me many times and told me they were truly glad I had been their guide. Overall, I believe they were very satisfied.
Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Hi, I’m May, your guide in Tokyo. Welcome to Japan!
I have been grown up in Tokyo and working here for more than 45 years, so I’m sure I can share the best attraction of Tokyo with you, such as food, cultural and historic sites, sub-culture, shopping, and nightlife.
Besides the tour guide, I have been working for a travel agent for more than 30 years, I can advise you the travel plan of not only in Tokyo but all over Japan.
I had lots of guests from all over the world here in Tokyo, and most of them gave me great and wonderful review.
I’m sure I can meet all of your demand and expectations, and am ready to welcome you to Japan with the best “Omotenashi” mind, or hospitality.
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
Introduction to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide ‘May’ had emailed us several times…
Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
Introduction to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide ‘May’ had emailed us several times to work out exactly what we wanted to see in Tokyo. He was great, very funny and helpful. He even found us a vegan restaurant where we had lunch, you could tell he was a bit apprehensive himself as a self confessed carnivore but he tried it anyway. It was a great introduction to Tokyo.
Aug 31, 2026
Charlene_E
You get to experience…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
You get to experience moving…
Aug 31, 2026
Charlene_E
You get to experience…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
You get to experience moving around in Tokyo’s subway. We were explained to the shrines and temples.
Aug 31, 2026
labrinir2016
Excellent- best in class.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We booked a private tour…
Aug 31, 2026
labrinir2016
Excellent- best in class.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We booked a private tour with May for our second day in Tokyo, and it was easily one of the best decisions we made on our trip. Tokyo can feel overwhelming at first because there is so much to see and the city is enormous, but May made the entire day feel effortless, fun, and incredibly memorable.
We started at Tsukiji Outer Market and Honganji, then went to Asakusa, where we explored Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, and Asakusa Shrine and stopped for lunch. May did such a wonderful job explaining the history, traditions, and proper etiquette along the way. It made visiting these places so much more meaningful than simply walking through them on our own.
From there, we visited Meiji Jingu Shrine before ending the day in Shibuya, where we experienced the famous Scramble Crossing and Center-Gai. It was such a great mix of old and new Tokyo—from peaceful, traditional temples and shrines to some of the busiest and most energetic parts of the city.
One of the most valuable parts of the tour was having May teach us how to navigate Tokyo’s trains and subway system. It felt intimidating when we first arrived, but after spending the day with him, we felt so much more comfortable getting around on our own for the rest of the trip. That alone was invaluable.
What really sets May apart is how knowledgeable, thoughtful, and personable he is. He shared so much about Japanese culture, customs, history, and everyday life, and we loved being able to ask questions throughout the day. He also tailored the experience to us, gave us great recommendations for the rest of our trip, and knew exactly where to stop for the best photos.
May is an exceptional guide and such a genuinely lovely person to spend the day with. If you are visiting Tokyo, especially for the first time, I cannot recommend booking a tour with him enough. We saw so much, learned so much, and left feeling far more confident exploring Tokyo on our own. It was absolutely one of the highlights of our Japan trip. Five stars without hesitation!
Jul 16, 2026
fernandorM8865OM
Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Memorable day
We had a great time. Our guide Meiji…
Jul 16, 2026
fernandorM8865OM
Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Memorable day
We had a great time. Our guide Meiji “May” made our day memorable. Excellent sites and great food, May is very knowledgeable of the sites, has very good English and had very nice details during the tour. Ahh and he has all the nice spots for pictures identified. The restaurant he took us for lunch was excellent, we tried an amazing hoto udon.