Category: Uncategorized

  • Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:34 Meet up @ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo
    • 2. 10:05 Shiroi Koibito Park
    • 3. 12:55 Historical Village of Hokkaido
    • 4. 14:20 Lunch @Shin-Sapporo Catepri
    • 5. 15:55 Mount Moiwa (Ropeway)
    • 6. 16:15 Disband @Mount Moiwa

    Can You Do a Private Sapporo Day Tour Including Shiroi Koibito Park, Mount Moiwa, and the Historical Village of Hokkaido? A Licensed Guide's Report Based on the guests' requests, the itinerary included three destinations that require considerable travel time — Shiroi Koibito Park, Mount Moiwa, and the Historical Village of Hokkaido — so it was expected from the outset that the tour would exceed six hours. Since the rain that had continued since morning would not let up, I decided to make Mount Moiwa the final destination while watching the weather. Even past noon, the visibility from the summit of Mount Moiwa did not seem to clear up much, so I suggested the Sapporo Beer Museum (one of the destinations the guests had wished to visit) as an alternative. However, the desire to visit Mount Moiwa was strong, so although it meant going considerably over time, I decided to guide them there. By the time we reached the summit of Mount Moiwa, the rain had stopped and visibility had improved somewhat, and I suggested that if we waited about two hours, they could see the night view. At Mount Moiwa, I gave advice on how to return to the Hotel, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayMiyanosawa Station~Shin-Sapporo Station520JPY
    Total520JPY

    I was born and raised in Hokkaido and have been a resident of Sapporo for over 30 years. I have been actively involved in guiding tourists around the scenic spots of Hokkaido, primarily focusing on Sapporo. Even before becoming a licensed interpreter guide, I engaged in volunteer activities to assist and guide foreigners, providing me with valuable opportunities to delve into the rich culture and history of Hokkaido.
    Hokkaido is renowned for its exceptional culinary scene, and I am well-versed in gourmet information. I believe I can offer an excellent experience by guiding individuals through the highly acclaimed food experiences that Hokkaido has to offer.

    Apr 22, 2026
    Agent PT A
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Super Sapporo in April with Tom.
    Tom was kind…

    Feb 10, 2026
    Alan_C
    Very enjoyable and well…
    Viator review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Very enjoyable and well worth it. Our…

    Sep 24, 2025
    saratW9816BN
    Tour up to the Moiwa mountain and lots more
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We’ve had…

    Sep 2, 2025
    roxannerW1499FK
    Great experience!
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful city tour with Tom in…

  • Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • Hinode Pier, Shiraito Falls, Shizuoka Prefecture World Heritage Center, Omiya Yokocho Yakisoba Lunch, Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, Shizuoka City Hiroshige Museum of Art, Miyukitei, Hinode Pier

    What Is a Private Chartered Taxi Tour Around Mt. Fuji and Shiraito Falls Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Although the tour was originally planned as a group tour, it became a tour for a group of guests visiting from Oceania and Europe. Some members of the original group had to cancel because they became unwell in Asia before arriving in Japan. We traveled by a jumbo taxi that the guests had chartered. Mount Fuji was covered by thick clouds and could not be seen, but the guests were able to enjoy beautiful footage of Mount Fuji on the second floor of the World Heritage Center. Shiraito Falls was magnificent, with a large volume of water. Since the guests wished to have a tea experience, I had made a reservation at a tea house, but as it was not a day for the matcha experience, they enjoyed a sencha experience instead. I guided them through the tea room and the garden.

    My name is Terry Hirao, Shizuoka’s local tour guide. You can call me Terry, as in Teriyaki. I love Japan and Japanese culture and can show you the best of Japan, its history, breathtaking beauty, delicious foods, Japanese Tea. Shizoka is located in the middle of Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, two largest metropolitan cities and famous for Mt. Fuji, Japanese Tea and a lot more. The most popular destinations in Shizuoka are Nihon Daira Plateau, Kunozan Toshogu Shrines (National Treasure), Miho Pine Tree Grove (World Cultural Heritage). I hope I can help you enjoy your trip!!

    Nov 6, 2024
    andrew h
    Very knowledgeable tour guide of the area
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Very…

    Oct 21, 2024
    Adventurer_from_Cda
    We had a great time – we enjoyed having Terry H as our guide for Shizuoka/Shimizu! Thank you!
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu…

    Sep 16, 2024
    Jane_R
    Great experience on this Mt Fuji private tour
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Terry…

    Aug 21, 2024
    Go02797182361
    Too cloudy for Mt Fuji but still a great tour with Terry
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private…

  • Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet up @ Osaka Port
    • 9:10 Osaka Castle Park ~ Osaka Castle
    • 11:00 Dotonbori: Ukiyo Koji, Hozenji Temple, Ebisu Bridge
    • 12:00 Disband @ Dotonbori

    What Is a Half-Day Private Osaka Tour for Cruise Passengers Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They were on a 12-day cruise stopping at ports in Japan and part of Asia, and since the ship was scheduled to depart for Hiroshima in the afternoon, this was a half-day tour. The group seemed very interested in Osaka Castle, including its exterior, exhibits, and historical background. Afterwards I took them to Dotonbori, where they were delighted by the continuous display of flashy signs, saying "This is what we wanted to see!" According to the plan, I was supposed to take them to Tempozan Marketplace, but since they wanted to have a meal there and then head back, we wrapped up the tour a little earlier than scheduled.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOsaka Port~Tanimachi 4-chome290JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Nipponbashi190JPY
    Total480JPY

    Thanks for joining our tour. I’m Hiro Nakagawa, assigned to be your guide for this tour. I was eligible as a National Licensed Tour Guide in 2017. I have guided many tourists from overseas since then. Japan is a beautiful country with full of various attractions. Please enjoy your time in this country to the fullest. I will help you with that. What are you interested in this country? I will introduce this country’s long history, traditional culture, beautiful seasonal highlights, and delicious food to you. Please let me know your preferences. If it’s other than which I mentioned, I’m preparing it for you as much as possible. Let’s enjoy the trip together!

    Jul 13, 2025
    H2enjoy
    Wonderful Day Trip to Mt. Koya from the Osaka Cruise Terminal
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure)…

    Jun 20, 2025
    zoranm709
    Kyoto great tour experience.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was…

    Jun 18, 2025
    Adventurer310309
    Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife…

    May 26, 2025
    SK G
    Excellent tour
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kyoto & Gion area

    Kyoto in One Day: Kyoto & Gion area

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:15 Meet @ JR Kyoto Station 7-Eleven
    • 10:30-10:35 Kyoto→Inari JR 150 yen
    • 10:40-11:40 Fushimi Inari Taisha sightseeing
    • 11:53-12:19 Inari→Saga-Arashiyama JR 240 yen
    • 12:40-13:30 Lunch @ Gyatei
    • 13:40-14:30 Kimono Forest, Tenryu-ji, and Bamboo Grove Path sightseeing
    • 14:40-14:45 Saga-Arashiyama→Enmachi JR 190 yen
    • 14:52-15:00 Nishinokyo-Enmachi→Kinkaku-ji-michi Bus 230 yen
    • 15:10-15:50 Kinkaku-ji sightseeing
    • 15:55-16:15 Travel by taxi
    • 16:20-16:55 Gion area sightseeing (Kagai Museum, etc.)
    • 17:00 Disband @ north side of Hanamikoji (put customers in a taxi)

    What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour by Cruise Ship Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. Since they arrived by cruise ship, we met at Kyoto Station and headed straight to Fushimi Inari Shrine. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. For lunch, we went to a restaurant, where the guests enjoyed each dish while checking the English menu one by one. After lunch, we visited the Kimono Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple, and the bamboo grove. We then made our way to Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. The guests wanted to stroll around the Gion area, so we took a taxi to Hanamikoji Street, where we walked through the streets and visited the geisha district museum. The guests listened with great interest to explanations about the differences between shrines and temples, the relationship between the emperor and the shogun, and stories about geiko and maiko.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama~Enmachi190JPY
    Section 4BusNishinokyo-Enmachi~Kinkaku-ji-michi230JPY
    Total810JPY

    Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.

    I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.

    There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.

    I look forward to attending you in Japan.

    Best regards,

    Andy Murao

    Jul 13, 2026
    webstere2025
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent
    Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…

    Jun 21, 2026
    Catherine_D
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in Osaka
    Andy was great . On time and patience…

    Jun 6, 2026
    eyeessess
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour!
    Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…

    Jun 5, 2026
    Janice_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 9hr Private Tour (Kobe Dep. ) with Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Kyoto
    It was a good tour…

  • Osaka in One Day: Tenryu-ji Temple & Gion

    Osaka in One Day: Tenryu-ji Temple & Gion

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet up Osaka Port
    • 10;15 to 10:30 Arashiyama
    • 10:40 to 11:30 Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 11:30 to 12:00 Sagano Bamboo Grove
    • 12:45 to 13:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:00 to 14:45 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 15:15 to 15:45 Gion
    • 17:00 Dismissal Subway Hommachi Station

    What Happens If a Guest Loses Their Phone on a Private Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report Today, a guest experienced the trouble of losing their phone at Kinkaku-ji. After finishing the visit to Kinkaku-ji, we discovered the phone was missing while taking a taxi on the way to Ginkaku-ji. We returned to Kinkaku-ji and searched the places where it might have been lost. It appeared to have been dropped in the restroom. It had been turned in to the lost-and-found section and was safely returned. I am grateful to the person who turned it in. Today's group arrived by cruise ship, and there was a request to add friends they had met on board to this tour, but I politely declined.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOsaka Metro Osakako Station~Osaka Metro Umeda Station290JPY
    Section 2TrainHankyu Railway Umeda Station~Hankyu Railway Arashiyama Station410JPY
    Section 3TrainJR Saga-Arashiyama Station~JR Emmachi Station190JPY
    Section 4BusCity Bus Nishinokyo Emmachi~City Bus Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5TrainKeihan Railway Gion-Shijo~Keihan Railway Yodoyabashi430JPY
    Section 6SubwayOsaka Metro Yodoyabashi Station~Osaka Metro Hommachi Station220JPY
    Total1,770JPY

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car

    Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • Meet at Iwaki Station – View the nuclear power plant and former difficult-to-return zones from National Route 6 – Memorial Museum – Ukedo Elementary School – Ukedo Fishing Port – Ohirayama Cemetery – Roadside Station Namie – Stroll around Futaba Station – TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center – Iwaki Station

    What Is a Private Tour of Fukushima's Futaba and Namie Areas Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were interested in topics related to the nuclear power plant. At the TEPCO Decommissioning Archive Center, a staff member gave an enthusiastic explanation, and I felt it might have been worth spending a little more time there. Our stay was about 40 minutes. The guests also seemed interested in visiting the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. They very much enjoyed strolling around the area near Futaba Station. I live in Minamisoma City, which is one of the 12 municipalities that were placed under evacuation orders. The guests listened with great interest to accounts of my own evacuation experience. The driver was also a very kind person.

    ‘ve been a guide for 9 years. I’d like to show you around Hamadori, Fukushima prefecture. Fukushima Prefecture is divided into 3 regions, Aizu, Nakadori and Hamadori. Aizu is a historical city, Nakadori is the center of the economy, and Hamadori is on the Pacific coast and is the site of the Fukushima Daiichi and second Nuclear Power Plants in Fukushima prefecture. In winter, it snows a lot in Aizu, but it hardly snows in Hamadori , and there are many sunny days. You can ski in Aizu in winter and enjoy surfing in Hamadori in the evening on the same day. But it’s a little far. I live in Hamadori, Minamisoma city. In Hamadori, I would especially like to recommend fresh fish and friendly people. It faces the Pacific Ocean, so you can enjoy fresh fish. Especially, right-eyed flounders, flounders and arctic surf clam called Joban-mono are delicious. In Soma City, puffer fish and other fish have been caught recently, and it has become possible to enjoy puffer fish dishes in restaurant. Of course, sushi is the best. The local people are very kind and say hello to you when you meet them for the first time. And Hamadori was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. But the national government, prefectures, local governments, volunteers and local residents are making progress in the reconstruction. In the disaster-stricken areas, you can see, hear and feel what happened in 2011, what is happening now and what is going to happen in the future. There are the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster museum, the Tomioka Archive Museum, Robot Test Field a hydrogen plant, new style agriculture , and other earthquake-related facilities. If you like it, you can also enjoy traditional festivals such as the Soma Nomaoi festival and Futaba Daruma Festival. You can also enjoy wearing armor. I will show you around Hamadori.

  • Osaka in One Day: Arashiyama & Ninja experience at the Samurai Museum

    Osaka in One Day: Arashiyama & Ninja experience at the Samurai Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet the guests at Osaka Port Terminal (I was informed at the Meet that one of the guests suddenly could not join the tour due to back pain)
    • 9:30-10:50  Travel (by reserved car from Osaka Airport → Arashiyama)
    • 10:50-11:30 Stroll around Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryu-ji Temple, Sogenchi Garden, Bamboo Grove)
    • 11:30-11:50 Travel (by reserved car from Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji Temple)
    • 11:50-12:20 Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:20-12:30 Travel (by reserved car from Kinkaku-ji Temple → Restaurant Miyabi (Kitaenmachi))
    • 12:30-13:00 Lunch (Miyabi, Okonomiyaki)
    • 13:00-13:10 Travel (by reserved car from restaurant → Japanese Culture Experience An Kyoto)
    • 13:10-14:40 Wagashi making experience & Matcha experience
    • 14:40-14:50 Travel (by reserved car from An Kyoto → Samurai Ninja Experience Museum)
    • 15:00-16:00 Ninja experience at the Samurai Museum
    • 16:10-17:15 Travel (by reserved car from Samurai Ninja Museum → Osaka Port Terminal)
    • 17:20 Farewell

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour from Osaka Port Like for Cruise Ship Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report At the meeting point at the Osaka Port terminal, I received word that one member of the group could not join due to back pain, so the final participants were the guests visiting from Oceania. The guests had arrived at Osaka Port by cruise ship and had booked a Kyoto tour. In our correspondence beforehand, they had expressed a wish to experience Japanese culture, so in the morning we did general sightseeing at Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and in the afternoon we did a wagashi (Japanese sweets) making session and a matcha experience, as well as a ninja experience at a samurai and ninja museum. The matcha experience did not feel very authentic and seemed a little underwhelming. During the ninja experience, the throwing of shuriken was enjoyed, and shuriken were purchased as a souvenir. Because it was the middle day of a three-day weekend, the roads were more congested than expected, so our arrival at Arashiyama was delayed by about 20 minutes, and I had to shorten the time for walking around Arashiyama and visiting Kinkaku-ji. (I felt a little apologetic for rushing the guests.) On the way back, the driver raised the matter of requesting payment for the car fare upon arrival, so I confirmed the contract details with the guests and reviewed the details of this case myself. Just to be safe, I contacted the emergency contact line of [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) and confirmed that the arrangement matched the contract. I explained to the guests that this was a matter of communication between agents, but I may have caused them some discomfort. I apologized sincerely, but I believe this is something that should never happen. It was fortunate that this trouble could be resolved before arrival.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherOsaka Port Terminal~Arashiyama0JPY
    Section 2OtherArashiyama~Kinkaku-ji Temple0JPY
    Section 3OtherKinkaku-ji Temple~Restaurant Miyabi (Kitaenmachi)0JPY
    Section 4OtherRestaurant Miyabi (Kitaenmachi)~An Kyoto (Gojo)0JPY
    Section 5OtherAn Kyoto~Samurai Ninja Museum0JPY
    Section 6OtherSamurai Ninja Museum~Osaka Port Terminal0JPY
    Total0JPY

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

    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…

    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!…

    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.…

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Nippori Yanaka Cemetery & Nezu Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Nippori Yanaka Cemetery & Nezu Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet up @Livery AzabuJuban
    • 10:30 Nippori Yanaka Cemetery
    • 11:00 Tea Ceremony
    • 12:50 Lunch @soba Azegami
    • 13:30 Puppet show@Shoukichi
    • 13:45 Former Yasuda Residence
    • 14:30 Nezu Shrine
    • 15:50 End  @Azabu-Juban

    Title: What Is a Private Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi (Yanesen) Walking Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe on their third trip to Japan, exploring Tokyo in heat that exceeded 35 degrees Celsius. Since they wanted to see everyday Japan rather than typical tourist spots, I guided them around the Yanesen area (Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi). At Yanaka Cemetery, we talked about Japanese burial customs and the Tokugawa shoguns. At a tea house, they enjoyed a tea ceremony served in authentic tea bowls, and one of the guests kindly explained various things about the tea bowls. Despite the blazing sun, they enjoyed the houses and traditional Tsuiji-bei plaster walls in Yanaka's narrow alleys, and we had a lively conversation about Japanese housing. We had lunch at a soba restaurant in Yanaka Ginza and shopped at a Japanese tea store. At a finger puppet shop, they laughed heartily at the puppet show. As walking in the extreme heat looked difficult, we took a taxi to the former Yasuda Residence. We were lucky, as it is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They admired the traditional Japanese house and were impressed by its fine decorations. We then took a taxi again to Nezu Shrine. It was the first day of the autumn festival, so they fully enjoyed a Japanese festival, watching floats and portable shrines pulled by children and eating shaved ice at the food stalls. Since the heat was intense for guests from Europe, I arranged as many indoor activities as possible and used taxis for getting around.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainAzabu-Juban~Nippori360JPY
    Section 2TrainNezu~Azabu-Juban210JPY
    Total570JPY

    Hi,
    Thank you for contacting the Japan Guide Association to request a licensed guide for your upcoming visit to Japan. My name is Motoko Tanaka. I’m so happy to be assigned to you.
    Let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it is nice to hear that you are excited about your visit to this wonderful city. There is much to be excited about here in Tokyo. I have really enjoyed guiding in Tokyo and the surrounding areas for more than 10 years.
    I live with my husband and a dog named Alice. She was a rescue dog and I adopted her about 4 years ago. Now she is a very precious family member. I have two daughters, the elder one has a child and the younger has a aroma shop in a town near Mr. Fuji. I sometimes visit there with Alice.
    I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to create a special day.
    Regards,
    Motoko

    Apr 25, 2026
    catvila
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Primeira vez em Tóquio
    A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos…

    Apr 22, 2026
    72breannaj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
    We had an amazing…

    Apr 17, 2026
    denisemD3032GY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide (Tokyo/Kawagoe dep)
    Tokyo walking tour
    Our guide Motoko was so polite &…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Dennis_M
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Very nice and very…
    Very nice and very…

  • Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 07:30 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 2. 08:40 @ Miyajima Daishoin Senjokaku
    • 3. 09:40 Cafe @ Sarasvati
    • 4. 10:00 @ Senjokaku Omotesando
    • 5. 11:45 @ Peace Park Peace Memorial Museum
    • 6. 13:45 Lunch @ Aohige
    • 7. 14:20 @ Hiroshima Castle

    Title: What Is a Private Miyajima and Hiroshima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report An early morning meeting time and a cloudy forecast gave me hope for a comfortable tour, but it turned out to be quite hot and humid. The guests were a group who enjoyed walking, but they clearly felt the heat, so I made sure to take frequent hydration breaks. Since the lunch reservation was somewhat late, the guests enjoyed snacks and shopping along the main approach street of Miyajima, and with the extra time before lunch they also enjoyed browsing a 100-yen shop. I had been a little concerned about dietary needs, but the guests seemed to enjoy the meal well enough, which I was glad about. At the end, I saw the group into a taxi at Hiroshima Castle to conclude the tour. They were very kind guests who were considerate of my own journey home.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNishi-Hiroshima~Miyajimaguchi330JPY
    Section 2OtherMiyajima~Peace Park1,100JPY
    Total1,430JPY

    Hi, I’m Kahori, a nationally licensed tour guide, and delighted to show people around this area. For the past almost 10 years, I have mainly guided foreign medical professionals around Hiroshima City and Miyajima, gaining a deep understanding of the effects of radiation and the support for A-bomb survivors.
    Hiroshima is a city of rivers and the sea. Along the rivers Cherry trees line, and the calm Seto Inland Sea, dotted with islands, creates a stunning landscape. Also, the sea has many islands called “art islands” which have fantastic arts relating to the art festival “Setouchi Triennale”. In addition to our two World Heritage Sites, this area is rich in attractive resources. I hope many of you will come and experience this fascinating land. Personally, I am very passionate about modern art and enjoy sports like stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on our rivers.
    I look forward to meeting you, interacting with you, and also, learning from you!

    Oct 6, 2025
    DJ C
    We visited the atomic bomb museum, Hiroshima castle, a beautiful garden, and shrines and Torrey Gate.
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima /…

    Sep 23, 2025
    lorrainel669
    Awesome Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The tour was fantastic. It covered everything…

    Jul 26, 2025
    T
    Tracy_P
    Outstanding Tour of Hiroshima with Kahori…
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our tour of…

    Jun 28, 2025
    Fernando A
    We knew the best of Hiroshima in 8 hrs
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Railway Museum

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Railway Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet up @Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo
    • Travel On foot
    • 9:15~10:00 Nijo Castle
    • Travel Taxi
    • 10:30~11:10 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 11:10~11:40 Okochi Sanso Villa
    • Travel Taxi
    • 12:20~13:00 Kyoto Railway Museum
    • 13:00 Disband@Kyoto Railway Museum

    Title: What Can You Do on a Private Kyoto Tour with Young Children? A Licensed Guide's Report The group had originally planned to join with another group, but as some of the other guests were unwell, only the group led by the main contact took part. Although the booking was made quite close to the tour date, it took a while to receive a reply about the meeting point, which was a little nerve-wracking. Fortunately, with the help of [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), we managed to sort it out. As for the destinations, during our prior exchanges the guests mentioned that they did not want to walk much because they were traveling with children and asked if there was somewhere suitable. I recommended Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji, and the plan became to visit Nijo Castle first, then Kinkaku-ji, and decide the rest on the day. The guests seemed quite interested in life in Japan and asked me many questions along the way. At Nijo Castle, unfortunately it was difficult to explain things in detail because one of the young ones kept wandering about. We had planned to go to Kinkaku-ji next, but since they were traveling with a stroller, I thought the stairs after viewing the pavilion would be difficult, so I suggested going somewhere else. They said they wanted to visit the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, so I asked whether it would be all right to walk the same path back and forth without passing through Kameyama Park, and they said that was fine, so we headed there. As the guests were carrying a stroller, they preferred to travel by taxi, so we went by taxi. When we arrived at Okochi Sanso, they wanted to go inside, so even though it was my first time there, I joined them. As one of the children had just fallen asleep, I strolled around with part of the group. Okochi Sanso had an air-conditioned rest area where you can have a free drink, so some of the group rested there. Partway through, one of the guests said it was too large, so we turned back and left Okochi Sanso. It seemed the guests had their own list of places they were interested in, and they asked for my opinion on where to go next. Looking for somewhere the children would not get bored and where they would not have to walk much, we decided on the Kyoto Railway Museum. It was my first visit since taking my own family there when it opened. Various trains were on display, and they enjoyed seeing an early Shinkansen car, a 500 series Shinkansen car, and Plarail models. During this time, they mentioned they would spend the whole next day in Kyoto and travel to Osaka the day after, so I explained as much as I could about the areas on their list. After that, since there was little more for me to do by staying on, they said I could leave around 13:00, so I took my leave. The photos were taken at the Railway Museum. I do not think the Railway Museum anticipated many international visitors when it first opened, so its English explanations are sparse. The guests pointed this out as well. In Kyoto, children can get tired of visiting only temples and shrines. There are places children enjoy, such as zoos, but in summer I think the indoor Railway Museum is preferable. I hope the operating body understands this point and puts a little more effort into creating English explanations.

    I am a 53-year-old woman, living in Kyoto for nearly 40 years. I got the license in 2001. Since then, I worked as an interpreter or a translator in several companies, secretary at universities, and now work for a company on weekdays at the international dept.I do guiding job only weekend now. I started full swing guiding career after COVID-19 pandemic. I have gotten good review from many of my guests. I love my hometown, Kyoto which has a lot of interesting and historical sites to see. Particularly, I am native to Arashiyama which is famous for bamboo forest. So, I know a lot of places where you can relax yourself around this area. Other than that, Kyoto has many attractive sites which surely interest you.Also, I like meeting many people from different cultural background. I am very happy if I learn about your culture as well. Let’s enjoy exploring around Kyoto!

    May 18, 2026
    WENDY_W
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