Category: Uncategorized

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Hakone-Yumoto & Stay at Amazake-jaya

    Kanagawa in One Day: Hakone-Yumoto & Stay at Amazake-jaya

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Hakone-Yumoto Station
    • 10:11 – 10:49 Hakone-Yumoto → Gora (Transport: Hakone Tozan Line)
    • 11:08 – 11:19 Gora → Sounzan (Transport: Hakone Cable Car)
    • 11:30 – 11:45 Sounzan → Owakudani (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
    • 11:45 – 12:15 Stay at Owakudani (photos, buying black eggs, etc.)
    • 12:15 – 12:45 Owakudani → Togendai (Transport: Hakone Ropeway)
    • 13:15 – 13:40 Togendai → Hakonemachi Port (Transport: Hakone Pirate Ship)
    • 13:45 – 14:10 Lunch @ Cafe Komon & Yosegi Uchihara
    • 14:10 – 14:30 Cafe Komon → Motohakone Port (Transport: on foot, via Old Tokaido cedar avenue)
    • 14:30 – 14:40 Motohakone Port → Hakone Shrine (Transport: on foot)
    • 14:40 – 15:15 Visit Hakone Shrine
    • 15:15 – 15:30 Hakone Shrine → Motohakone Port (Transport: on foot)
    • 15:35 – 15:40 Motohakone Port → Amazake-jaya (Transport: Hakone Tozan Bus)
    • 15:40 – 16:10 Stay at Amazake-jaya (amazake & mochi)
    • 16:10 – 16:40 Amazake-jaya → Hakone-Yumoto
    • 17:00 Disband @ Hakone-Yumoto Station

    Title: What Is a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Hakone Like on a Cloudy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America, all around the same age as me, and the day was a private one-day tour of Hakone from Tokyo. The weather was unfortunately poor from the morning, cloudy with occasional drizzle, and the view from the terrace at Sounzan was almost completely white with nothing visible, while at Owakudani there was no sign of Mount Fuji either. Even in such weather, the group enjoyed pleasant conversation throughout and seemed to enjoy the black eggs. However, by the time we disembarked from the pirate ship at Hakonemachi Port, a little sunlight began to break through, and by the time we reached the port, the summit had recovered enough to peek out through the gaps in the clouds. Perhaps this was a group with good daily conduct. After lunch at a lakeside cafe, we stopped by the neighboring marquetry (yosegi zaiku) shop, which I always visit when there is time. I always hope guests can experience Hakone's traditional crafts and feel the appeal of Japan at the same time, and on this day too they purchased some small items. After that, we walked along the old Tokaido cedar avenue toward Motohakone and Hakone Shrine. We then also stopped at the Amazake Chaya teahouse. This route allows one to truly feel the character of Hakone, and in the end the guests thanked me, saying they were "so glad they came to Hakone."

    Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHakone-Yumoto～Gora460JPY
    Section 2TrainGora～Sounzan430JPY
    Section 3TrainSounzan～Owakudani1,500JPY
    Section 4FerryTogendai～Hakonemachi Port1,200JPY
    Section 5BusMotohakone Port～Amazake-jaya320JPY
    Section 6BusAmazake-jaya～Hakone-Yumoto710JPY
    Total4,620JPY

    Tour Report by Hide

    I registered as a national guide in February 2015 and began working as an interpreter guide in 2019. I have been guiding throughout Tokyo (I was born and raised in Setagaya and went to elementary and junior high school in Aoyama, Minato-ku. I am familiar with sightseeing spots and gourmet food in this area, including Shibuya), and I now live in Kanagawa (Yokohama where I have lived more than 30 years, and Kamakura, Odawara, Hakone)
    I worked for the Japanese branch of an American advertising company for over 30 years and, thus, have deep knowledge of marketing and branding.
    My hobbies are travel (domestic and international) and bicycling (I have participated in the Tour de Okinawa citizens’ race every year since 2017. I ride approx. 7,000 kilometers a year). When traveling in Japan, I enjoy traditional crafts, local products, food, and sake from each region. I am also active in a band as a third hobby, performing live once a year for ten years.
    As a guide, I mainly guide small groups (about 4-5 people), where I can communicate more closely and politely with them, rather than large groups.
    My activity aims to deepen the understanding of Japanese traditional culture and the Japanese people among foreign visitors and to make a small contribution to making Japan the number one country to revisit in their hearts.

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    May 31, 2026
    Carol_S
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great way to start a trip
    Hidecki reached out a couple of…

    May 7, 2026
    Alain_V
    Viator review: Yokohama 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Belle visite
    Merci beaucoup à notre guide Ideaki qui nous a permis…

    Apr 16, 2026
    Julia_S
    Viator review: Kamakura Private Tour from Yokohama with Guide and Vehicle
    Excellent Guide made for an Excellent Tour
    We enjoyed our…

    Mar 25, 2026
    Jeff_M
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Short tour of a huge city
    Hideiki obviously wanted to give us…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji jingu shrine & Sushi restaurant

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji jingu shrine & Sushi restaurant

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 meet at hotel
    • 8:30 Meiji jingu shrine
    • 9:30 Yoyogi park
    • 10:30 Takeshita street
    • 11:15 Shibuya Crossing
    • Shibuya area
    • 12:00 Sushi restaurant
    • 14:00 Finish

    # What's a Private Day of Tokyo Sightseeing Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, and Sushi A guest visiting Japan came on a trip whose main purpose was to climb to the summit of Mount Fuji, and used a free day for sightseeing in Tokyo. The top priority was visiting the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. The guest was very active and adventurous, having reached the summit of Everest, done skydiving and scuba diving, and even performed a stunt standing on the wing of a propeller plane while it rolled. Since the guest simply wanted to be taken anywhere, we first went to Meiji Shrine, where the guest was greatly surprised by its vastness, nature, and tranquility, and was deeply moved when I explained the essence of Shinto. It was also fortunate that, being early morning, it was unusually free of crowds. From there we walked around Yoyogi Park, which had been requested from the start, took a peek at Takeshita Street, and headed to Shibuya. After crossing the Scramble Crossing, we went up to the rooftop of the Magnet building to take photos of the intersection below, which left the guest very satisfied. Afterward, since the guest had not yet eaten sushi in Japan and asked to be taken somewhere good, I quickly searched on my smartphone and we went to a nearby high-end sushi restaurant. The guest seemed to enjoy it very much, spending two pleasant hours there before we finished.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTokyo～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Shibuya180JPY
    Total390JPY

    Tour Report by michi

    I obtained the License of English-speaking national guide by Japanese government in Japan in 2014.
    Recently, I have been guiding inbound tourists all over Japan for over 100 days every year.
    With my passionate tour guide, I am confident that you will be very satisfied and enjoy your tour. I want to convey not only the goodness of Japan and the Japanese people, but also their kindness, diligence, demeanor, and other things that will remain in their hearts. Also, I am always aiming to improve my guiding skills and knowledge, so I am working on training and self-improvement in all genres. I am always calm, friendly, and passionate on any type of tour.

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  • Tokyo in One Day: 1040 Sensoji Temple & Shibuya Scramble Square

    Tokyo in One Day: 1040 Sensoji Temple & Shibuya Scramble Square

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Start work at hotel
    • 10:00-1040 Sensoji Temple sightseeing, shopping
    • 10:40-11:10 Akihabara sightseeing
    • 11:30-13:00. Tsukiji Outer Market, lunch
    • 13:30-14:20. Meiji Shrine visit
    • 14:30-14:50. Shibuya Scramble Square
    • 14:50-15:20. Drop off at hotel

    Title: What Is a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour With Multiple Stops Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan. A message arrived at midnight before we were to meet, requesting a drop-off at the hotel. Since I had already planned the itinerary assuming the group would part ways at the final destination, this was a sudden request, but I decided to accommodate it, which made the latter half of the day quite tight on time. In the end, the itinerary included five stops, so when a drop-off is required, it would be better to consolidate the plan to around three stops. It was a little unfortunate, as I could have adjusted the schedule had I known in advance.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku-gyoemmae～Asakusa252JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa～Suehirocho178JPY
    Section 3TrainSuehirocho～Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 4TrainTsukiji～Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Section 5TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Section 6TrainShibuya～Shinjuku-gyoemmae178JPY
    Total1,141JPY

    Tour Report by Kappa

    Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
    Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!

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    Jul 30, 2025
    Michael_R
    Customized Hakone tour
    Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour…

    May 18, 2025
    Leigh_M
    Kappa, our guide met us…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa, our guide met us at the…

    May 4, 2025
    panderhigs
    Kappa A+ Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…

    May 4, 2025
    O9621SBscottp
    Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I were treated…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Departure: Suidobashi Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Departure: Suidobashi Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting place: Hotel Niwa Tokyo
    • 9:10 Departure: Suidobashi Station
    • (JR Sobu Line)
    • Akihabara Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 9.:30 Arrive at Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Tsukiji Uogashi
    • Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 10:00 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 10:30 Arrive at Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Nakamise Shopping Street
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • 11:30 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 12:00 Arrive at Ginza Station
    • Ginza Ginza Mitsukoshi
    • Shiseido Gallery
    • Ginza Six
    • 12:45 Depart Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 13:15 Arrive at Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • 13:30 Disband: Shibuya Station

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, Ginza, and Shibuya The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. It was their first trip to Japan. They had arrived at Haneda Airport the previous evening, transferring between trains to reach their Hotel. In the evening, they had enjoyed a Sumida River cruise. They planned to stay in Japan for a total of two weeks. After three days in central Tokyo, they intended to take a cycling tour in Nikko, then travel to Toyama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto, before returning to Tokyo and heading home. We managed to avoid the rain, though the tour took place in fairly hot and humid weather. From Suidobashi Station, we first headed to Tsukiji. I explained the difference between the Tsukiji Outer Market and the Toyosu Market. I received questions such as, "Is it always this crowded? Is this the usual situation?" and "Do people in Tokyo all come here to buy fish?" From there, we moved on to Asakusa. I explained "Senso-ji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto," as well as "omikuji fortunes" and "omamori charms." I received questions such as, "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?" and "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" One of the guests mentioned having visited Vietnam and noted that there were also many temples there. After that, we moved to Ginza. Since the guests were interested in art galleries, we visited Mitsukoshi, Ginza Six, the Shiseido Gallery, and several other painting galleries. From there, we moved to Shibuya. We crossed the Scramble Crossing and took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue. I received the question, "Why do so many people gather here at the Scramble Crossing?" There were also comments such as, "The city is so clean, with no litter on the streets," "There are no trash cans in the city," "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant," and "The subway is quiet, clean, and reassuring." We parted ways at Shibuya Station.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSuidobashi Station～Akihabara Station146JPY
    Section 2SubwayAkihabara Station～Tsukiji Station178JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji Station～Asakusa Station209JPY
    Section 4SubwayAsakusa Station～Ginza Station209JPY
    Section 5SubwayGinza Station～Shibuya Station209JPY
    Total951JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

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    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • １．14:30　Meet up @ MIMARU TOKYO HATCHOBORI
    • ２．14:45　@ Nihonbashi
    • ３．15:15　@ Asakusa (Nakamise Street, Okuyama Omairimachi, West Approach)
    • ４．16:30　@ Akihabara
    • ５．17:30　@ Yanaka Ginza
    • ６．18:40　@ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue, FUKURAS)
    • ７．19:40　Disband @ Tsukiji Tamazushi

    Title: What's a Family-Friendly Private Food Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, Yanaka, and Shibuya The guests were a group visiting from Asia. After spending a few days in another part of Asia, they arrived in Tokyo in the morning. The guests wanted a tour focused above all on things the younger members of the group would enjoy, so I proposed an itinerary tailored to that. A licensed guide from [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) led this private one-day tour of Tokyo. To start with some street food, we began the tour along Nakamise Street in Asakusa and the surrounding shopping arcades. Beginning with the popular cheese-filled croquette, the guests tried a variety of items such as takoyaki, curry bread, dango, and melon bread, and enjoyed them all. They were very curious about the three-colored dango they had found online, but when they actually tasted it, perhaps because the flavor was mild, they preferred the mitarashi dango and the black sesame paste dango. At the Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara, the guests, who love Pokémon, got very excited. One of the guests laughed and said, "This is a paradise for children." The guests found their own satisfaction in seeing the group enjoy themselves, but when we walked through Yanaka Ginza, they themselves seemed to genuinely love the atmosphere of the neighborhood. However, one of the guests grew tired toward the latter half of the tour and was carried and given piggyback rides in turn. So we skipped the originally planned Harajuku (Takeshita Street) and headed to Shibuya for dinner. The guests requested a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant that the group could enjoy, and I guided them there, but there was a long line of tourists. In the end, I introduced a sushi restaurant they could enter without waiting, and we parted ways. They planned to visit Disneyland the next day, and I believe it was a first day fully enjoying their trip.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line, Nihonbashi Station～Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukuba Express Line, Asakusa Station～Akihabara Station210JPY
    Section 3TrainJR Yamanote Line, Akihabara Station～Nippori Station167JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Sendagi Station～Ginza Line, Shibuya Station0JPY
    Total977JPY

    Tour Report by Noripy

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

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    Jul 3, 2026
    Jody D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
    Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…

    Jun 3, 2026
    Sara B
    Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…

  • Osaka in One Day: Osaka Port Cruise Ship Terminal & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Osaka in One Day: Osaka Port Cruise Ship Terminal & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Osaka Port Cruise Ship Terminal
    • 9:40~9:55 Travel from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station by Shinkansen
    • 10:30~11:40 Nijo Castle
    • 12:20~13:20 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:00~15:20 Gion – Lunch
    • 16:13~16:30 Travel from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen, see you off at the Shin-Osaka taxi stand and disband

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour from Osaka Cruise Port to Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America whom I met at the Osaka Port cruise ship terminal before heading to Kyoto. Unfortunately, it rained heavily during the day and the footing was unstable, so sightseeing took longer than expected, but we used taxis for most of our movements. One of the guests had lived in Japan for three years about forty years ago and spoke Japanese fluently, and having visited Kyoto before, enjoyed the nostalgic changes and atmosphere of the city. At Nijo Castle, the guests admired the Karamon Gate, the architecture of the Ninomaru Palace, the carved transoms, and the painted sliding doors. While talking about the process by which Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the country, and about "Shogun," which is currently popular in North America, the guests said they would buy a book and read it after returning home. At Kinkaku-ji, although the view was slightly hazy from the rain, the guests were moved by the scenery of Kyoko-chi Pond, the Golden Pavilion, and Mount Kinugasa, and took many photographs. They also remarked that, thanks to recent restoration work, the pavilion was even more brilliant and beautiful than it had been forty years ago.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShin-Osaka～Kyoto1,450JPY
    Section 2SubwayKyoto～Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 3TrainKyoto～Shin-Osaka1,450JPY
    Total3,160JPY

    Tour Report by shige

    Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
    Shige.

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    May 23, 2026
    Sarajean_s
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
    Shige was a…

    May 21, 2026
    828vickeyb
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
    Shige was an excellent…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking Tour with Shige
    Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Marcus_C
    Osaka tour 2025
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…

  • Gifu in Half a Day: Old townscape

    Gifu in Half a Day: Old townscape

    Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Pick up at Hotel
    • 10:15 Take a taxi from Takayama Station to Miyagawa Morning Market
    • 11:30 Old townscape
    • 12:00 Sake tasting at Harada Sake Brewery
    • 12:40 Takayama Jinya
    • 13:30 Japanese tea tasting at Matsuno Tea Shop
    • 14:00 Drop off at lunch location and finish

    Title: What Is a Private Takayama Walking Tour Like for Guests Who Need a Slower Pace? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting together. One of them moved with some difficulty and needed to rest often, but kept going patiently, finding a chair to sit on and then continuing to walk again. The group seemed to enjoy the sake tasting and the Japanese tea tasting very much. Since there are no chairs to rest on inside the Takayama Jinya, I arranged a wheelchair so they could tour it comfortably. I have received a request to guide the same guests again tomorrow, so I look forward to once again showing them around at their own pace.

    Click here for more details: Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Tour Report by Annie

    My name is Akane Ito from Takayama city.
    I started a tour guiding from 2013.
    I was guiding almost 1000 people.
    I love this job. And I love people who visit in my town. I will take a you to local place where my favorite places . I’m good about communication with the guest and always cheerful. I will take you to Local Sake brewery for tasting sake, Morning Market, Historical places (Takayama Jinya, Takayama festival float museum and Old private houses area) ands my favorite places. If you are interesting about me, please feel free to contact me.

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    Oct 11, 2025
    Traveler27625367943
    Outstanding, enjoyable tour!
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Annie (Akane) was a wonderful guide…knowledgeable, engaging, fun,…

    Aug 30, 2024
    Leonie_B
    Interesting and informative
    Viator review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Annie is a delightful person and great guide.…

    Jun 29, 2024
    MarydeS
    Lovely morning tour.
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our morning tour around the old centre of…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:00 Meeting Ginza Creston
    • 2. 8:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 3. 9:30 Shibuya
    • 4. 10:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 5. 12:00 Lunch (Yukikage Asakusa Main Store)
    • 6. 12:30 Asakusa
    • 7. 14:00 Dismissal Tokyo Cruise Asakusa Pier

    What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had arrived in Japan the day before and were scheduled to travel onward the next day, so this single day was their only full day of sightseeing in Japan. Because of this, they had planned an active itinerary covering many sightseeing spots. On the day they arrived, they had visited Tokyo Tower and Shinjuku Golden Gai on their own, and on the tour day they went to Tsukiji Market near the Hotel before our 8:00 meeting time. The tour focused mainly on traditional places. Since the guests wanted to minimize travel time, we used the train only for the trip from Meiji Shrine to Shibuya, and traveled everywhere else by taxi. At each sightseeing point they enjoyed taking photos, and in addition to the sights themselves, they asked many questions about Japanese culture and daily life. At the end, they were going to take a cruise from Asakusa to Odaiba (they had arranged the tickets themselves), so I guided them to the boarding area and we parted ways. During our email exchanges about the tour itinerary, they sent me their overall Tokyo schedule, including parts outside the tour. The content was quite efficient, covering many sightseeing points, so I had assumed it was created with the help of a travel agency. However, when I asked on the tour day, they told me they had made it themselves using ChatGPT. I was a little surprised, and at the same time it made me wonder whether guides might become unnecessary as AI advances, including in areas like automatic translation.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Total146JPY

    Tour Report by Haru

    Hello, I’m Haruhiko Yokota, a certified tour guide based in Tokyo and a top-ranked guide registered with JGA Inc. Please feel free to call me Haru.
    I’ve been living in Tokyo for about 30 years and conducted close to 200 tours between 2023 and 2025. I’m very familiar with most major sightseeing spots in and around Tokyo, ranging from traditional temples and shrines to modern attractions. I also enjoy traveling throughout Japan, which has given me extensive knowledge of popular destinations across the country.
    I’m happy to customize your tour to match your interests and preferences. If you have any requests or questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to make your tour both enjoyable and memorable!

    Request Booking

    Jul 13, 2026
    529gregj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Haru is an excellent guide in Tokyo
    Haru (Haruhiko…

    Jul 12, 2026
    Felice R
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Touring gardens in Tokyo with the perfect guide , Haru…

    Jul 9, 2026
    mariee530
    An incredible walking tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This tour was beyond expectations!…

    Jun 30, 2026
    simonegN55VE
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fabulous walking tour with Haru
    Haru was fabulous! We booked the tour…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Asakusa

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Asakusa

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Shinjuku
    • 9:40　＠Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 11:30　＠East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
    • 12:45　＠Asakusa
    • 14:00　End at Asakusa

    What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa The guests were visitors from North America. Through email correspondence beforehand, we had already decided to visit Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. On the morning of the tour we confirmed the order, planning to finish in Asakusa and then let the guests continue on their own. The guests had been very much looking forward to the food walk in Tsukiji, so they skipped breakfast before we met. They ordered grilled crab, beef with sea urchin, and fatty tuna sushi. As the photos show, they looked very happy. We spent about two hours here, so I was prepared to extend the tour by an hour. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, they seemed to especially enjoy the Japanese garden. In Asakusa I introduced various shops, including those along Kappabashi Street, and it seemed they planned to enjoy shopping and sweets on their own after the tour. I was blessed with wonderful guests and had a very enjoyable time guiding them.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTochomae～Tsukiji Market280JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji～Otemachi180JPY
    Section 3TrainOtemachi～Asakusa180JPY
    Total640JPY

    Tour Report by tack

    I have ten years guiding experience in Tokyo area. Historical spot such as Imperial palace, Japanese gardens, Buddhist temples,Shinto shrines and Fish market are my familiar tourism places.Usually I take my guest to these spot using public transportation and walk around there. Also I manage a hiking tour to Tama erea (west part of Tokyo) such as Mt.Takao, Okutama gorge, you will find that Tokyo has rich nature too. I would like to guide small group of 4 poeple max. because I want to talk to each one sufficiently. Just FYI, I had lived in the US and have engineering background. Let me guide you!

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    Oct 9, 2024
    lilgoldie
    Private Tour With Tack!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tack was an excellent tour guide. He helped…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Tochomae Station & Asakusa Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Tochomae Station & Asakusa Station

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:20 Tochomae Station
    • 10:30 Yoyogi Station
    • 10:35 Harajuku Station
    • Meiji Shrine
    • 11:50 Meiji-jingumae Station
    • 11:55 Shibuya Station
    • Scramble Crossing, Onigiri Gonbei
    • 12:30 Shibuya Station
    • 13:10 Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Tourist Center, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple
    • 14:00 Dismissal @ Hoppy Street

    Title: What Is a 4-Hour Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and Asakusa The guests were visitors from North America who had been longtime friends for many years. They wanted to learn about Japanese history and culture, so at Meiji Shrine I explained the meanings of Shinto and Buddhism and their respective roles in Japanese daily life, and they were delighted, saying they understood it very well. Since they were planning to visit Kanazawa on a later day, I also helped them purchase Shinkansen tickets. On this 4-hour tour there was no time set aside for lunch, but we shared some recommended onigiri together in the underground shopping area of Shibuya. In Asakusa, they mentioned they preferred beer to matcha, so I recommended Hoppy Street before we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTochomae Station～Yoyogi Station180JPY
    Section 2TrainYoyogi Station～Harajuku Station150JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae Station～Shibuya Station180JPY
    Section 4SubwayShibuya Station～Asakusa Station260JPY
    Total770JPY

    Tour Report by Lily

    Hi there! Thank you so much for hitting my page!
    I’m Yuriko, but please call me Lily!
    I’m a qualified guide and interpreter, proud to be awarded as one of the finalists of Japan guide awards 2025.

    I have conducted over 100 tours a year since March 2024, with more than 90% of my clients awarding a five-star rating.

    I love Japanese food(eating and cooking!), cultures such as traditional arts and crafts, and so much more! I’ve always explored places seeking new things and love to share them with you.

    I was born and raised in Tokyo(for over 40 years!) but used to live in the U.S. for a couple of years as a child.
    I am proud to be able to introduce the charms of Japan from multiple perspectives based on my experience of interacting with people from many different nationalities.

    I am happy to tailor an original plan or to arrange your bucket list advancing it to a better option.
    The following is my contact information:
    lilyjapanguide@gmail.com

    I’m looking forward to guiding and sharing the excitement of Japan!!

    Request Booking

    Sep 17, 2025
    785hongc
    Wonderful 6 hour Tokyo tour with Lily in September
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a…

    Sep 16, 2025
    H
    Hong_C
    A wonderful day tour of Tokyo in September
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Best relaxed educational…

    Jul 18, 2025
    Venture26940872209
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lilly was an excellent guide .. lots of communication before the visit…

    Jul 1, 2025
    michaellG938KC
    Lily is the best. Highly recommended
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lily is an amazing guide and…