Jul 17, 2026
TROY_R
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
This was a perfect tour…
This was a perfect tour of Osaka! Our guide Emi built a tailored itinerary that exactly met our needs and we visited amazing sites we would’ve never known about thanks to her. Throughout the tour, Emi was so kind, knowledgable, positive, and flexible – we enjoyed every second and are so grateful she was the person that showed us beautiful Osaka. Strongly recommend Emi and this tour if you’re planning a trip to Osaka!

Sep 18, 2025
L9831WKjenniferb
4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely afternoon with English speaking Emiko Yamanaka. Very informative and knowledgeable about the history of the city. Visited the Torii shrine, sadly the other shrine had just closed, and walked through the Gion district. Emi also provided us with a map that she had made with the must see places, including which subway line and how many stops to take! Very useful for the next day trip. Would highly recommend Emi as your tour guide

Aug 15, 2025
SuperGC68
Great value
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide who took us around in Kyoto. It was a well balanced walking tour through historical sites, famous streets/neighbourhoods and local markets. We travelled very efficiently with a combination of taxis, trains and buses. Our guide Emi was very well prepared, with high flexibility, kindness and curiosity. She was a great value to the tour. I highly recommend this two day tour to visit Kyoto in a very efficient way.

Jul 4, 2025
Inspire64445626178
Delightful day with Emi
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a delightful day with our guide Emi. She designed a day around all the main spots that we wanted to visit at a comfortable pace. We learned a lot from her! And we couldn’t have done all that we did that day without her deep knowledge and experience. My niece said that it was the best day of our vacation! Thank you Emi for guiding us and sharing your knowledge with us! I would highly recommend this tour with Emi.

Jul 19, 2026
Wander35832177180
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Kyoto temple tour
Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a great way to see some of the city’s most famous sights. The itinerary was well organized, starting with a convenient hotel pickup before visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walking through the thousands of red torii gates was a memorable experience, and our guide shared interesting background about the shrine that added helpful context.

We then explored the Kiyomizu area, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, and Yasaka Koshindo Temple. The route offered a nice mix of historic landmarks, traditional streets, and scenic viewpoints. There was enough time at each stop to take photos and enjoy the surroundings without feeling rushed.

What really made this tour special was our guide’s knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. He provided interesting cultural insights, recommended local foods and hidden photo spots, and made sure everyone in the group was comfortable throughout the day.

Jul 16, 2026
Abby_M
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour. Highly recommend
Michi our guide was excellent! Great communication before the tour and laid out an entire day for us. Was very accommodating and understood when the heat got to us and needed to take a break. He was very knowledgeable and gave us great pieces of information about the beautiful city of Kyoto. Would highly recommend the tour and Michi!!

Jul 13, 2026
Javier P
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kyoto gems
Michi was incredibly courteous and informative. He had a great plan for our tour and everything went smoothly. He talked about the history of the city, industry, and culture and kept our daughters engaged. Highly recommended!

Jul 13, 2026
Beth_D
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent Tour and Guide
Michi was an excellent tour guide! He was very knowledgeable about the history of all the sites we visited, was able to answer all of core questions, and knew where to find cold water when we were all thirsty! We really enjoyed our whole 4 hour tour.

Jul 23, 2026
svendulrikr
Tripadvisor review: Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Best of Nara
Amazing trip to Nara with the most friendly, pleasant and experienced guide, Sam.
Sam explained the history and background of the many sight of Nara.
Showed us many small places that we would not have found on our own.
Highly recommended

Jul 10, 2026
valerianos862
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Private tour of Tokyo.
Our guide Sam is very knowledgeable, professional and caring. He gave tour experience of a lifetime.

Jun 20, 2026
Sarah B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We learned how to ride the trains and we went to multiple shrines and temples around Tokyo. Sam was great! We enjoyed it
Sam was great. He gave us a super introduction to Tokyo!

Apr 14, 2026
MDMallory
Tripadvisor review: Yokohama and Kamakura 6hr Private Trip Government-Licensed Guide
The Natural Beauty of Kamakura
Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable about the are and guided us to several temples using public transportation. We stopped for a traditional Japanese lunch and saw some of the specialty wood carvings from the area. Our guide enjoyed the beauty of nature and his enthusiasm helped us to pay attention to the natural beauty as well.

Jul 21, 2026
G848SWmaribelm
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo sights was great!
The tour experience with Sam was awesome! He is knowledgeable and accommodating. We would recommend this tour.

Jul 16, 2026
Cezary P
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour of Tokyo!
Sam, was outstanding! Showed us how and what to look for. Explained the IC cards, subway and way around them. Took us to all places we asked for and explained all about them. Excellent tour! Highly recommend!

Jul 9, 2026
Michael_C
Tokyo tour
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour with a wonderful guide – Sam. Sam was professional and personable and helped us tailor the experience y including a tour of the fish market and lunch at his favorite sushi restaurant. Tour was great – good pace and Sam is extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer all our questions- overall a 5 star experience!!

Jun 18, 2026
David_W
Viator review: Tokyo Tsukiji Food & Culture 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Fish Market Tour
Great tour. Got to see both markets (old
and new). Great food options are available at both market locations

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 to accommodate our interests, and is very helpful and knowledgeable. Since the day was very hot (95°F / 35°C) we favored activities that were more shaded or cool, including a walk on a cedar-lined section of the old Tokaido path.

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 train station and took us all over Kamakura. We saw shrines, the big Buddha, gardens, and the Oceanside! Kappa shared a lot of history about Kamakura, and it was nice to have this background when we were exploring these incredible sites! Highly recommend!

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 and thoughtful itinerary for us over
the course of 6 hours. We saw SO much in such a short time and would definitely
recommend her!

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 to a wonderful walking tour of Tokyo with Kappa. Kappa was very accommodating in designing a tour specifically tailored to our interests. Kappa is a wealth of knowledge regarding the city history, temples and shrine, and Japanese art history. She is a lovely person too. I highly recommend Kappa if you want to learn about Tokyo

Jul 25, 2026
Hdixjdixj
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
We were taken care of by Yama-San. We had an amazing time and probably ate the best Tuna ever in our lives. Yama-san really knew where to take us and also gave us some historical backgrounds in general. We can only recommend this Tour as a 5 Star tour. All the places he took us too where amazing and the food so super delicious.

Jul 20, 2026
Eric_W
Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
Castle journey worth your time!
Our tour with Mr. Yamashita was absolutely wonderful from start to finish! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and engaging and he shared so much fascinating history and information throughout the tour. His passion for Himeji Castle and the gardens really showed and he made the experience both educational and fun while taking the time to answer all of our questions. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mr. Yamashita and would highly recommend his tour to anyone looking for a memorable and informative experience.

Jul 13, 2026
Diane_B
Viator review: Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our tour guide Yama was amazing!!
Our tour guide Yama was simply fantastic – knowledgeable, friendly, and provided impeccable service. Many weeks before our tour, Yama reached out to help us plan and customize our itinerary with him. He was easy to find at our agreed upon meeting location and seamlessly coordinated our transportation around Kobe. We had wonderful visits to Mt Rokko via the cable car, Nunobiki Herb Gardens (Shin-Kobe, using the ropeway), Kitano Ijinkan Street, and the Sannomiya area. At the end of the tour, we felt as if we were saying goodbye to a dear friend. I cannot recommend him highly enough!

Jul 4, 2026
Navigator661725
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful time!
We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was filled with interesting facts, and he also took us a few areas that were not as full of tourists. He seemed to enjoy his work which made it really fun for us. Absolutely a kind and knowledgeable guide, I would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Osaka for the first time….

May 23, 2026
Cecile_V
Viator review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
A great and manageable hike with Kiyoko!
This is a perfect 5 mile-hike for those who only can spend one day on the Kumano Kodo. Our guide was Kiyoko, and we chose to walk from Hosshinmon Oji to Hongu Taisha. Kiyoko was friendly and knowledgeable, and provided many explanations about the history of places we walked through and of the Oji shrines and monuments we passed on the way. The forest is magnificent. She made this hiking trip truly special with her kindness and her experience. Thank you Kiyoko!

Apr 20, 2026
rosesinthorns
Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
The best way to experience the Kumano Kudo in one day
I booked a private tour of the Kumano Kudo trail due to having a short time (1 full day), wanting to avoid coordinating local bus schedules, and wanting to learn from a local person who also speaks English. Kiyoko was absolutely invaluable! She was organized, flexible, knowledgeable, and kind. She coordinated all of the transportation and points of interest while continually lending us a locals perspective and knowledge of these beautiful, historic places. 100% worth the money and I think truly the best way to experience the Kumano Kudo trail if you have a short time.

Mar 26, 2026
22luisandr_sm
Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle
Amazing experience in Kumano kodo
Kiyoko was amazing. We are very greatful for everything she did and prepared for us. She got in touch well in advance to make sure she could design an itinerary that was suited to our needs and desires, and boy! She did an outstanding job! We saw and experienced everything we wanted.
And about Kumano Kodo, well it is just breathtaking. We’ll come back to explore more of what it has to offer.

Apr 4, 2025
robrP6297MQ
Beautiful Tour with detailed Tour Guide!!
Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle
We had a great tour guide who helped in so many ways in preparation before the trip,
during the trip, and afterwards! Kiyoko was great and we would 100% book her again!!

Mar 21, 2025
J
Jet815326
Maximized our short visit to Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We only had a few hours to see Kyoto so we needed a local expert to maximize our visit.
Makiko did a fabulous job. She arranged a wheelchair at the station and then took us to Toji
Temple and Niko Castle

Dec 29, 2024
Y8716YMkathyb
Highly recommend this tour!
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Makiko was a fantastic guide and really taught us a lot about Kyoto and Japanese culture.
Our driver was wonderful as well and having the driver made it possible for us to maximize
our time with Makiko. I would highly recommend this!!

Nov 14, 2024
TrailBlazer145790
Kyoto Introduction
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Makiko was very knowledgeable about Kyoto’s shrines and temples, guiding us to notable example of each- Fushimi Inari shrine and the Sanjusangen-do Hall. We had a love walk through the Gion district too.
After a simple and perfectly delicious ramen lunch, we arrived at Yuuhisai Koudoukan, a very old school converted to a cultural center near the Imperial Palace. We enjoyed a limited and juried exhibit of Japanese confections prepared by competing chefs. That was followed by a casual tea ceremony. This final experience was something we’d have never found on our own.

Overall, Makiko is a very able guide, sensitive to our comfort and needs in the moment, effortlessly helping us to navigate the subways as well. We also discovered we had a mutual connection to Olympia WA and the college there. Beautiful introduction to Kyoto.

Oct 18, 2024
Z2198GLjohannah
Wonderful experience
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Both Makiko (our guide) and our driver were incredibly kind, knowledgeable and thoughtful.
It was a wonderful experience which was tailored to our interests and requests. I would very
much recommend. Thank you

Sep 24, 2025
Paige_M
Lovely and Educational Tour of Hiroshima
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide for this tour was Tomoyo- to say she was wonderful is an understatement! She picked us up right at the train station and helped us navigate all that Hiroshima has to offer- providing education on World War II, while also showing us how beautiful the city is in its own right. We really enjoyed the Peace Museum and Hiroshima Castle. Highly recommend!

May 8, 2025
Smatty68
Tomoyo was a star guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We really enjoyed our one day tour of Hiroshima. Tomoyo, our guide, was very sensitive to
our needs and requirements. She went out of her way to make sure we had a really
interesting day. She has a great sense of humour and we enjoyed her company.

Apr 29, 2025
Josh_H
Amazing experience and very grateful for my tour guide Tomoyo
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
I honestly had an amazing time. I am so grateful for my guide, Tomoyo. I travelled alone
and despite us finishing the exhibits early, Tomoyo had amazing additional options at the
ready. I highly recommend going on this experience. You will absolutely not regret it.

Apr 29, 2025
Chloe_O
The best day in Japan with Tomoyo!
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Tomoyo was the best tour guide ever! We had a brilliant day travelling around Miya Jima and Hiroshima. Her knowledge of the history of each place and the cultural traditions is amazing. We had such a lovely time it was one if the best days of our whole Japan trip! Everything was seamless from start to finish. Thank you so much Tomoyo!

Jun 28, 2026
A
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
AmyfromPlano
Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached out immediately to make sure that we had a customized tour of what we wanted to see and do in Nara. The level of details in his emails was incredible! Not only did Shuji plan a great tour but he also went above and beyond by explaining the Japan rail system, the public transportation cards (Suica, Pasmo, etc.) and even told us exactly what trains, times and gates to exit so that our meetup was seamless. Been on a lot of tours around the world and have never had this level of communication. Once we started our tour, Shuji was articulate, knowledgeable and so much fun! Nara is amazing and Shuji made it so much better – please request him!

Jun 22, 2026
yeseniag981
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Osaka Tour
Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and made sure we were able to see everything that we wanted while in Osaka. He even took my 5 year old into consideration and took us to the Pokémon store since he is a Pokémon fan. I would definitely recommend him as a tour guide.