Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Jingu Shrine & Akihabara

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Jingu Shrine & Akihabara

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet up @ The Prince Park Tower Tokyo
    • 09:50 Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • 11:30 Imperial Palace
    • 12:30 Lunch @ Tsukiji Sushisei Shinkan
    • 13:20 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 14:30 Akihabara
    • 15:00 Disband @ Akihabara

    What Is a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Tsukiji, and Akihabara The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to visit Lake Kawaguchi and Kyoto. At Meiji Shrine, they listened with great interest to the explanation of the differences between shrines and temples, and seemed impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere. At the Imperial Palace, they were intrigued by the historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo Shogunate. In Tsukiji, they enjoyed a sushi lunch. In Akihabara, they showed interest in the anime shops. As I accommodated the guests' requests, I believe they were satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShibakoen~Meguro220JPY
    Section 2TrainMeguro~Harajuku200JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Nijubashimae210JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijubashimae~Tsukiji180JPY
    Section 5SubwayTsukiji~Akihabara180JPY
    Total990JPY

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

    Jul 10, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful Tour of Kamakura
    Seizo Kamiuto was out…

    Jun 9, 2026
    stacy_grana
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with an experienced guide
    Our guide, Seizo, was amazing.…

    Jun 6, 2026
    U9351HJjakes
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Seizo Kamiuto was great and super knowledgeable. He had a…

    May 20, 2026
    HugoJ670
    Tripadvisor review: Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Tokio in de zon
    Seizo Kaminto is een uitstekende…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Togetsukyo Bridge & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto in One Day: Togetsukyo Bridge & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the Airbnb
    • 10:00 Tenryu-ji Temple Garden ~ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove ~ Kameyama Park ~ Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 11:10 Lunch at Arashiyama Seishuan
    • 12:00 Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 13:25 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 14:25 Gion Tatsumi Bridge ~ Hanamikoji Street
    • 15:00 Disband in front of Hanamikoji Street

    Title: What Is a Slow-Paced Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like for Families? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's tour was originally planned for a group of guests visiting from Oceania, but as one member of the group was feeling a little tired, the tour proceeded with the rest of the group. Since some of the guests could only walk short distances at a slow pace, I made a point of choosing uncrowded trains where everyone could sit and take things slowly throughout the tour. (I had heard that on a previous Tokyo tour, the guide had walked quite fast, which made it hard for them to keep up.) We first headed to Arashiyama by taking an uncrowded city bus and then the Randen tram departing from Shijo-Omiya, seated comfortably the whole way. We took our time exploring the Tenryu-ji Temple garden, the bamboo grove, and the Togetsukyo Bridge, and then enjoyed a relaxed early lunch in the tatami-mat space at Seishuan in Arashiyama. After that, we traveled to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, seated the entire way on the Randen tram, the subway, and the Keihan Line. It was not too crowded there either, and the guests enjoyed it. We then headed to the Gion district, where we were able to visit all of the places they had hoped to see, and they were very pleased. I believe they had a wonderful time.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusShichijo Omiya・Kyoto Aquarium Mae/Kyoto City Bus~Shijo Omiya/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2TrainShijo Omiya~Arashiyama (Keifuku Line)250JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Randen Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 4SubwayUzumasa Tenjingawa~Sanjo Keihan260JPY
    Section 5TrainSanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)~Fushimi Inari240JPY
    Section 6TrainFushimi Inari~Gion Shijo240JPY
    Total1,470JPY

    Thank you very much for choosing JGA experience, and please allow me to briefly introduce myself. I’m Kaeko Tanigawa, your tour guide, and I have been showing tourists from abroad around mainly in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka areas. Every year I’ve guided my guests through those areas for over 80 times. I always try to do my best to help my guests explore and enjoy our unique and attractive locations, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive so many 5-star reviews from the guests I hosted. I’d like to help make your visit to Japan one of the most wonderful memories in your life. I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you very much.

    Jul 25, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
    We spent half a day…

    Jul 24, 2026
    J6711TVnancyb
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
    Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create…

    Jul 13, 2026
    elizabethtW414DU
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Private Tour
    Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start…

    Jul 12, 2026
    johnkE8649IH
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
    We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.9:00 Meeting @ Hotel Century Southern Tower
    • 2.9:30 @ Meiji Shrine
    • 3.10:50 @ Asakusa
    • 4.12:00 @ Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 5.12:20 Lunch @ Tsukiji Uogashi Food Court
    • 6.13:00 Dismissal @ Tsukiji Outer Market

    What's a Private Tokyo Tour by Taxi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Tsukiji The guests were visitors from North America, who had already traveled around Japan by cruise. Since they preferred to move by taxi as much as possible, we traveled entirely by taxi throughout the day. At Meiji Shrine, the guests were amazed that such a beautiful and peaceful place could exist in the middle of the city. In Asakusa, we first took in a panoramic view of the whole area from the observation deck of the information center, and then explored Senso-ji Temple. The guests remarked that the rickshaws, tourists wearing kimono, and the temple buildings were wonderful. Although there was some concern that Asakusa would be crowded due to the Sanja Matsuri festival, which was to run for three days starting that day, we were able to sightsee in the morning without too much congestion. At Nakamise, the guests purchased a kimono. At the Tsukiji outer market, we had ramen at Tsukiji Uogashi, which the guests enjoyed very much, saying it was delicious. As they love ice cream, they had some after the meal, browsed the shops a little, and then we saw them into a taxi to end the tour. The weather was fine, and I believe the guests enjoyed themselves.

    Hello, I am Fumiko, an English-speaking Tourist Guide. I have been guiding foreign visitors science 2016. Please let me know your bucket lists whiles you are staying in Japan and what you are interested in. I will make the best plan for you. This is an once in a lifetime experience for you. As for myself, I love traveling, meeting people, eating local food, drinking, history, and art. I am learning Ikebana, traditional Japanese-style flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. I also love sports, especially tennis. I like children, so I can teach them some origami, folding paper. I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Japan.

    Jul 27, 2026
    zyarisa
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko tour good vibes only
    Mrs. fumiko was very…

    Jul 23, 2026
    734mortenp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Nice tour of Tokyo
    Don’t visit Tokyo without a guide! You’ll…

    Jul 10, 2026
    Jessica_A
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko was wonderful. …
    Fumiko was wonderful. You can…

    Jun 28, 2026
    alistairn2016
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fumiko is a great tour guide – informative, friendly and very well…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani Stroll & Hakone Shrine

    Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani Stroll & Hakone Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:45 Meet @ Hakone-Yumoto Station
    • 10:50 Cable Car → Ropeway @ Gora Station
    • 11:25 Owakudani Stroll
    • 12:45 Lunch at Togendai
    • 13:55 Board Pirate Ship @ Togendai
    • 14:20 Arrive at Hakone Port
    • 14:45 Visit Hakone Shrine
    • 15:30 Board Bus @ Moto-Hakone Port
    • 16:00 Arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station → Disband

    What Is a Private One-Day Hakone Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from Europe traveling solo, who had long dreamed of coming to Japan, and throughout the day it was clear how much they loved the country. Perhaps because it was a Friday, everything from the mountain railway to the ropeway stayed crowded, which was unusual for a weekday. Many of the eateries around the Togendai area were closed, but we finally found one where we could get a table. It was a shame that clouds covered the sky and we were never able to see Mount Fuji, but the guest dedicated an ema votive tablet at the shrine and thoroughly enjoyed strolling around each of the spots we visited.

    Hello! I’m Ryosuke—please call me Leo.
    I’d love to help you create great memories in Japan, especially around Tokyo and my hometown, Hiroshima.

    I once traveled 44,000 km by bicycle across four continents (every continent except Australia!). There’s a chance I might even have passed through your hometown. Through that journey, I learned not only how wonderful travel can be, but also the things travelers should watch out for.

    With that experience, I’m sure I can help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
    Let’s have a great time exploring Japan together!

    Jul 30, 2026
    BrianBurnette
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great Memories
    We really enjoyed this tour. Leo, our…

    Jul 24, 2026
    893cydneyh
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best Tour Guide
    We had an incredible 6-hour tour…

    May 25, 2026
    llindgren0604
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A seamless experience
    Leo was a great tour guide. We got…

    May 21, 2026
    lyndapI1304ZZ
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking guide in Hakone
    Unfortunately the weather restricted some of our…

  • Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet with the client at Hotel Osaka
    • To Osaka Castle by subway. To Umeda Sky Building by JR.
    • To Shitennoji by subway
    • To Kuromon Market by subway.
    • Walk to Sennichimae, Hozenji, and Dotonbori.
    • Since we didn't have lunch, we had a kushikatsu dinner at Hozenji.
    • 19:00 Disband at Shinsaibashi.

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, and Dotonbori I met the guests at 11:00 and asked where they would like to go, but they said they would leave it up to me, so we first headed to Osaka Castle. Beforehand, I gave a brief explanation of Japanese history, the emperor, samurai, shogun, and mythology. At Osaka Castle, I explained about Japanese castles and Osaka Castle itself. The guests enjoyed it, though we did not go inside. We took the JR to the Umeda Sky Building, where the guests enjoyed the architecture and the views of Osaka. By subway, we went to Shitennoji Temple. I explained the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, as well as the role of the five-storied pagoda. By subway, we went to Kuromon Market, then walked to Dotonbori. The guests enjoyed the lively entertainment district of Osaka. They also thoroughly enjoyed kushikatsu for dinner.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHommachi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2TrainOsakajokoen~Osaka180JPY
    Section 3TrainUmeda (Subway)~Tennoji290JPY
    Section 4TrainShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka~Nippombashi (Osaka)190JPY
    Total850JPY

    My name is Akira.
    I am a national licensed tour guide in English.
    I have been a tour guide in 9 years.
    I am specialized in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji castle and Hiroshima.
    When you have a plan to visit those area, please contact me.
    Kyoto and Nara are old town from 8th century, so you will learn Japanese culture and tradition there .
    Nara is our first capital from710 for about 70 years and Kyoto was the capital from 794 for abut more than 1200years.
    So there are a lot ofold buildings are remained and specially in Kyoto there are 17 Unesco heritage site.
    You will enjoy Japan with me and be satisfied with my guiding .
    I am looking forward to seeing you in Japan.

  • Kyoto: Hotel Kyoto & Seiryuuden

    Kyoto: Hotel Kyoto & Seiryuuden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Hotel Kyoto
    • 10:00 Otagi Nenbutsuji
    • 10:45 Gioji
    • 11:30 Bamboo Grove
    • 11:40 Tenryuji Garden by walking
    • Arashiyama
    • Lunch (Washoku Joy Nishioji Sanjo Branch)
    • 13:30 Kinkakuji (500)
    • 14:50 Seiryuuden
    • 15:30 Hotel Kyoto
    • End of the tour

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour of the West Side and Higashiyama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today I guided the same guests as yesterday, this time taking them to the western side of Kyoto. I was surprised to find that the admission fee for Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple had risen from 500 yen to 1,000 yen at some point. Recently, in addition to Wednesdays, it seems the temple is now also closed on Saturdays, so this is something to keep in mind when planning. The bamboo grove was still in the season when the leaves are changing, so it looked rather sparse overall, and sunlight was streaming down onto the bamboo grove path. For lunch, to avoid the crowds, I took them to a local family restaurant, which they were pleased with. Since they did not take many photos or do any shopping, we ended up with some extra time, so at the end I guided them to the observation deck at Seiryuden atop Higashiyama, where they enjoyed a wonderful view.

    I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

    Jul 14, 2026
    T6871WWricharde
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…

    Jun 5, 2026
    mateoe216
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Would book again
    The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…

    May 27, 2026
    Leah_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely recommend!
    I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…

    May 26, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
    Kazz was an excellent guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • Hotel
    • Sensoji Temple
    • Tokyo Skytree
    • Tokyo National Museum
    • Hamarikyu Gardens
    • Kanda Myojin Shrine

    What Can You See on a Private One-Day Guided Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The group came to Japan to fulfill a long-held dream of visiting the country. They had already enjoyed Nara, Kyoto, and Hakone on vehicle-accompanied tours arranged with rest in mind. Tokyo was originally planned as a two-day vehicle-accompanied tour, but they decided that more rest was needed and cancelled the second day. Since Tokyo would be guided for just this one day, the guests listened very attentively to the explanations and asked many questions. With the driver's helpful advice and tremendous cooperation, we were able to see more places and enjoy them more fully than originally planned. At Sensoji Temple, just before the Sanja Festival, we were able to see the festival floats with traditional music. At Nakamise, the guests happily purchased small paper lanterns and tiny toys. At the Skytree, online ticket purchase did not go smoothly, so we gave up on the observation deck, but in exchange the guests greatly enjoyed the Tokyo National Museum. They were very pleased with the scenery at Hamarikyu Gardens, and all of the guests enjoyed matcha together at the teahouse on the central island. After that, while viewing the Imperial Palace, Masakado Mound, Nikolai Cathedral, and Yushima Seido from the car window, we headed to Kanda Myojin Shrine, where the driver kindly allowed us a short walk around the grounds. Finally, we passed in front of the Tokyo Station building and returned to the Hotel.

    Hello!
    I’m Maddie, an English-speaking tour guide.
    As a guide, I have been attending bus tours, Tokyo walk-around tours, and also, sumo wrestling tournaments tours.
    I have lived in Tokyo for nearly 30 years and have enjoyed walking around this city, full of wonder, mixture of nature and artificial structures. I am happy to share my experience with you.
    My hobbies are reading books including Manga, watching films including Anime. I like to watch various sorts of sports. I like to visit museums. And I am a tea ceremony practitioner, so I am quite familiar with green tea (matcha) and Japanese sweets.
    I am looking forward to seeing you!

    Jun 4, 2026
    vadk2026
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo2026
    We had an excellent 6-hour walking tour around Tokyo with Maddie.…

    May 30, 2026
    Heather_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Perfect intro to Japan!
    We had a 4 hour private tour on…

    May 29, 2026
    jasonbO4660LV
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Afternoon in west Tokyo
    Maddie was an excellent, knowledgeable guide who maintained…

    May 8, 2026
    sebastianzO2366GR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great
    We had a good time walking with Maddie through Tokio. She…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Himeji Station
    • 11:30 Himeji Castle (Main Keep, Nishinomaru)
    • 14:40 Koko-en Garden
    • 15:30 Disband at Himeji Station

    What Is a Private Castle Tour in Japan Like for International Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report This was the guests' first trip to Japan. Coming from Europe, they were deeply impressed by the beauty of Japanese wooden architecture, which differs from the castles in their home region, and they enjoyed comparing the two. They asked many questions, making for a very rich and substantial tour. The guests shared an interesting story about having once studied at the same university at the same time as a notable figure and even sitting at the same table. They shared many fascinating stories, and it turned into a very enjoyable tour.

    Hello, I am a tour guide, Chiyuki. If I write my name in Japanese, it means one thousand happiness. Please call me Chiyuki. I am looking forward to seeing you.
    I have been guiding many visitors from all parts of the world since I became a tour guide.
    I hope Japan can attract many people with beautiful scenery, culture, historical buildings, food and so on. What are you interested in?
    And I couldn’t be happier if I can help you to create memories of a wonderful trip.
    I will make my best effort to satisfy my guests. See you soon. Thank you very much. Chiyuki

    Jul 9, 2026
    727tessv
    We had the best time in Kobe
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our guide Chiyuki was…

    Jun 21, 2026
    M9524SIphilippel
    Tripadvisor review: Exploring Nada Sake Breweries Kobe Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sake tour in Kobe
    Chiyuki is one of the…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Pinoy V
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very interesting and informative.
    Chiyuki kept us informed on our itinerary…

    Jun 11, 2026
    Sharon G
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!!
    After getting off to a rocky start our…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0900 Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi Meet-up
    • 0930 Tsukiji Market
    • 1040 Akihabara
    • 1150 Meiji Shrine
    • 1240 Gonpachi Lunch
    • 1330 Takeshita Street・Omotesando・Cat Street
    • 1500 Disband at Shibuya Crossing

    What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? Tsukiji, Akihabara, and Cat Street — A Guide's Report The guests were a very friendly group visiting from Oceania. At Tsukiji Market, they enjoyed skewered eel, tamagoyaki, and sashimi, and being fond of cats, they bought cat-designed chopstick rests and thoroughly enjoyed strolling around. In Akihabara, I guided them to several representative shops, and they were very impressed and plan to return another day to shop at a more leisurely pace. They loved their lunch at a restaurant and were very satisfied after tasting Dassai sake. On Cat Street, they were delighted to experience Japanese culture through a sake tasting and Iyoshi Cola. They thanked me warmly, saying it had been a very fulfilling tour, and gave me a very generous token of appreciation.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)~Tsukiji180JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji~Akihabara180JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara~Harajuku210JPY
    Total570JPY

    My name is Kris,
    Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.

    After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.

    I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.

    I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.

    Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.

    Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.

    I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

    See you in Japan!

    Kris

    May 10, 2026
    Matt_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
    We were so lucky to have Kris-San…

    Apr 29, 2026
    Rebecca_M
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour
    We had such a wonderful…

    Apr 21, 2026
    jacquir581
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We love Kris
    Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…

    Apr 2, 2026
    Frank_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A great day in Tokyo
    Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris.…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: @ Egret Himeji Rooftop & @ Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: @ Egret Himeji Rooftop & @ Koko-en Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Meet @ JR Himeji Station
    • 09:45 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 10:00 @ Himeji Castle
    • 12:30 @ Koko-en Garden
    • 13:15 Disband @ Miyuki-dori Shopping Street

    Title: What Is a Private Himeji Castle Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America, and one of them had previously visited Japan and showed a strong interest in the country. They mentioned that simple conversation and reading katakana were no problem, and they asked many detailed and insightful questions throughout the tour. One of the guests appeared to enjoy photography and was frequently taking pictures. Today we were blessed with beautiful clear weather, and the guests were very pleased with the full view of Himeji Castle, especially the panoramic view from the rooftop of Egret Himeji. They also listened very attentively to my explanations inside the castle grounds. After finishing our visits to each spot, the guests wished to have lunch before returning to their hotel in Kyoto, so we parted ways about 15 minutes early. I guided them to a specialty restaurant near the castle that I had provided information about in advance.

    Dear my guests,

    This is (Mr.) Yama, greeting from Kobe, Japan.
    I would like to warmly welcome you to Japan this time. I am from the city of Kobe, which is of course, well-known for very tasty Kobe Beef . You can taste
    real genuine Kobe Beef here. Kobe is also called “Home of Japanese Sake” with lots of Sake breweries, and I recommend you would visit those breweries
    if you have any interest in Japanese Sake as well as one aspect of Japanese cultures. Of course, you can have tastings of various kinds of Sake there.

    Whenever during the tour, I always try to make it safe, pleasant and comfortable for all of the guests, which is my first priority. I am very much confident
    that you can have a pleasant and unforgettable experience in Japan. Just tell me about your preference; what you would like to like to see, have, know
    and eat and so on. Particularly, I hold the license for cooking qualified by the government here and maybe, I can reply you for questions related to the
    foods here. In this respect, I strongly recommend you would try not only famous Japanese cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura or Suki-yaki but some
    Japanese traditional local foods, like Tako-yaki, Okonomi-yaki and Kushkatsu. They are sometimes called the soul foods of Japan. Here is the brief
    explanation for these three foods.

    1) Tako-yaki
    Tako-yaki is a snack filled with pieces of octopus in a batter of flour , egg and soup stock. You can call them octopus dumplings or balls. “Tako” means
    octopus and “yaki” means grilled or broiled.
    2) Okonomi-yaki
    This word Okonomi-yaki means “cook just as you like” and you can use whatever you like as toppings, such as beef, pork, shrimp, squid and octopus.
    Okonomi-yaki is round shape and just like pancakes or pizza in shape mainly made from egg, flour and water.
    3) Kushi-katsu
    Kushi-katsu is skewered cutlet or deep-fried foods on a stick. “Kushi” means skewer and “katsu” means cutlet. Various kinds of foods are used for
    ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, octopus and lots of kinds of vegetables.

    Actually, the western Japan including Osaka, Kobe and Himeji is called as “Home of such local soul foods”. You should give it a try and I am sure
    that you like them very much.

    I sincerely hope that I can be your tour guide this time in Kobe, Osaka and Himeji. If my guests said to me after the tour, “I have had a very good
    and pleasant time with you today. I hope I can come here again and name you as our guide”, which is my great pleasure. Moreover, I would be
    great honored if they say “I like Japan now thanks to you”.

    Looking forward to meeting you soon here.
    Doomo Arigato Gozaimasu!
    Yama

    Jul 25, 2026
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