Category: Uncategorized

  • Nagoya / Aichi Full-day Private Custom Tour with National

    Nagoya / Aichi Full-day Private Custom Tour with National

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. Meet @ Hotel Lobby 9:00
    • 2. Move to Nagoya Castle and view the Honmaru Palace and the area around the castle tower 9:00-10:40・・Move to Nagoya Castle by subway
    • 3. Move to Tokugawaen and view Tokugawaen (Japanese garden) 10:40-11:40・・Move to Tokugawaen by taxi
    • 4. Lunch @ Hozentei within the Tokugawaen grounds 11:40-12:30
    • 5. Walk to the Tokugawa Art Museum and view the permanent exhibition and the special exhibition "The Toyotomi Brothers" 12:30-13:15
    • 6. Move to the Oasis 21 area and view the Oasis 21 shopping area 13:15-13:50・・Move to Oasis 21 by taxi
    • 7. Move to Osu and view the Osu Shopping Street and Osu Kannon 13:50-14:40・・Move to Osu by subway
    • 8. Move to Nagoya Station and disband at the entrance of the Hotel 14:40-15:00・・Move to Nagoya Station by subway

    What Can You See on a Private Nagoya Castle and Tokugawa Garden Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from North America. Before this tour, the guest had stayed in Osaka and visited Osaka Castle and Himeji Castle, so I could sense a strong interest in Japanese castles. For that reason, the guest was very pleased to visit Nagoya Castle and Tokugawaen, a garden located on the former site of a villa belonging to the Owari domain lords. At the Tokugawa Art Museum, a special exhibition related to the NHK historical drama "Toyotomi Brothers" was being held, and the guest viewed it with great interest. At Osu Kannon, the final stop of the tour, the guest received a goshuin stamp in a stamp book that had been brought along, which was a delight. The guest also enjoyed a lunch featuring seasonal ingredients at Hozentei within Tokugawaen, and I believe the guest was satisfied with the guided tour as a whole.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNagoya~Nagoya Castle240JPY
    Section 2SubwaySakae (Aichi Prefecture)~Kamimaezu210JPY
    Section 3SubwayOsu Kannon~Nagoya210JPY
    Total660JPY

    Hello, guests of JGA tours, I’m Takao (Todd) Miura, a national licensed guide of Japan.
    I have experiences as a professional guide over 5 years. The themes in which I’m well versed include castles, Japaneses landscape gardens, museums, festivals, and traditinal Japanese arts and crafts.
    Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture, where I live, have many attractive sites to visit. I would like to introduce you to the most popular sites and spots in this area.
    I really wish to have a very nice time with you as a guide of your tour in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

    Feb 16, 2026
    B9190RXcolleenm
    The Nagoya walking tour was great!
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    Todd was the perfect…

    Oct 2, 2025
    Jeffrey_B
    Nagoya with Todd Miura
    Viator review: Nagoya / Aichi Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    A great 4 hour…

    Sep 17, 2025
    sjhppy
    Todd Was A Fabulous Guide
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    I highly recommend Todd! He…

    Jul 22, 2025
    guelphturfgrassinstu
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    We enjoyed this tour with a knowledgeable guide. Todd shared…

  • Tokyo in One Day: eyoko & Ginza Mitsukoshi

    Tokyo in One Day: eyoko & Ginza Mitsukoshi

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Meet up @ Hotel Ginza Premier
    • 10:15 Asakusa (Kaminarimon, Asakusa Chuo-dori, Sensoji Temple, Okuyama, Hoppy Street, Shin-Nakamise)
    • 11:30 Ueno Park, Toshogu Shrine
    • 12:00 Ameyoko
    • 12:30 Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building Lunch @ Shin-Marunouchi Building Stand T
    • 13:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 14:45 Ginza Mitsukoshi
    • 15:00 Dismissal @ LOEWE Ginza 5-chome Store

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Eastern Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Oceania on their first trip to Japan. Their itinerary included Tokyo followed by Kyoto and Osaka, then a return to Tokyo where they stayed in Shinjuku, so today we toured the eastern side of Tokyo as outlined above. Since they came from a country with far more sheep than people, I suspected they might not be comfortable with crowds, and as expected, at Asakusa we avoided the Nakamise shopping street and headed straight to Senso-ji Temple. As Senso-ji was rebuilt after the war, I also showed them Ueno Toshogu Shrine and the five-story pagoda of Kaneiji Temple, which were not affected by the air raids. One of the guests was not fond of transportation and had found the flight to Tokyo difficult; the subway ride to Asakusa was only their second-ever train experience. Since Ameyoko was not crowded today, we walked to Okachimachi to minimize the time spent on the train. At the Imperial Palace, I gave my first extended historical explanation of the day. Today's guests were a different type from those I had encountered before, and I found it hard to gauge what interested them. Their English was also unfamiliar to me and harder to follow, so unusually, the conversation did not flow with an easy rhythm.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Ginza~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa~Ueno180JPY
    Section 3TrainOkachimachi~Tokyo160JPY
    Total560JPY

    Hello! My name is Hideki Maruyama. I was born in Osaka and raised in the Greater Tokyo area. I obtained my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter Certificate in February 2016.
    I spent 23 years working at a leading Japanese automotive company, including 7 years posted overseas. I then worked for a German premium automotive manufacturer for 13 years, followed by 6 years as an advisor to a British energy company. Through these roles at global corporations, I developed and refined key skills such as:
    1. Cross-cultural communication
    2. A deep understanding of business elites and affluent customers
    3. The ability to deliver impactful and impressive presentations in English
    In addition to my regular duties, I often served as an interpreter for top executives during meetings with foreign government officials. I also had opportunities to introduce aspects of Japan—such as our national character and consumer preferences—to leadership teams in both the German and British companies.
    As a tour guide, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding guests from a wide range of countries especially after the pandemic, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Turkey, Jordan, Kenya and Israel.
    When guiding, I always keep in mind to go beyond what guests can find on social media or ChatGPT. I believe my professional background allows me to offer unique insights, and I am encouraged when guests mention this in their reviews

    Jun 14, 2026
    tiffany_w
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Phenomenal experiance
    Hideki san was an amazing guide. He was incredibly knowledgable…

    Jun 13, 2026
    Joshua_A
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The Best Guide I Had in Japan
    Hideki was, without question, my…

    May 2, 2026
    Bruce G
    Our guide (Hideki san) was a master. It was a rainy day and he suggested a new plan in anticipation…

    Apr 30, 2026
    johnbD9596UO
    Lovely Private tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I had a great…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kinkakuji Temple Visit & Nijo Castle Visit

    Kyoto in One Day: Kinkakuji Temple Visit & Nijo Castle Visit

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Hotel Meet(@ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto)
    • 8:00-8:50 Transfer (Subway; Nijojo-mae→Karasuma Shijo, Hankyu Railway; Karasuma→Arashiyama)
    • 8:50-10:50 Arashiyama Walk & Visit (Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Garden [Sogenchi Pond, Hyakkaen], Bamboo Grove, Okochi Sanso Villa, Nonomiya Shrine)
    • 10:50-11:30 Transfer (Keifuku Railway; Arashiyama→Kitano-Hakubaicho, City Bus; Kitano-Hakubaicho→Kinkakuji-michi)
    • 11:30-12:20 Kinkakuji Temple Visit
    • 12:20-12:40 Transfer (Taxi; Kinkakuji→Nijo Castle)
    • 12:40-14:00 Nijo Castle Visit
    • 14:00 Tour End Said goodbye to the guests in front of Nijo Castle

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Including Arashiyama? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. It was their first time in Japan, and they had traveled from Tokyo to Kanazawa to Takayama, arriving in Kyoto the previous evening. I took them to Arashiyama (including Okochi Sanso Villa), Kinkakuji, and Nijo Castle. The weather was clear and sunny, almost hot, but it was perfect for sightseeing. All three sites were crowded, with Kinkakuji being especially busy. The guests said they enjoyed Nijo Castle, but they particularly liked Okochi Sanso Villa. I believe this was because Okochi Sanso Villa did not have as many visitors, allowing them to look around at a relaxed pace.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNijojo-mae~Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)220JPY
    Section 2TrainKarasuma~Arashiyama (Hankyu Line)240JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho / Kyoto Municipal Bus~Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto Municipal Bus230JPY
    Total940JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto: Daikaku-ji Temple & Ninna-ji Temple

    Kyoto: Daikaku-ji Temple & Ninna-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00. Hotel Forza Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi
    • 9:40-10:40. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 11:00-11:40 Daikaku-ji Temple
    • 12:00-12:40 Ryoan-ji Temple
    • 12:50-13:50 Ninna-ji Temple
    • 14:00-14:40 Lunch
    • 15:15

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Garden and Temple Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They chose this itinerary because they love gardens, and it was a pleasure to guide such calm and thoughtful travelers who shared many interesting things with me. At the Bamboo Grove Path, they enjoyed the atmosphere. At Tenryu-ji, the flowers had finished blooming, but they enjoyed seeing the irises. In the Hatto (Dharma Hall), they had many questions about the dragon painting on the ceiling. When I explained that dragons are often depicted in Japan because they are believed to spout water from their mouths, serving as protection against fire, they said this helped them understand why dragons are so common — since in the West dragons breathe fire. At Daikaku-ji, the driver kindly joined us and offered various explanations as well. After buying some souvenirs, we moved on to Ninna-ji, where we viewed the interior of the buildings and the spacious garden. I explained that the five-story pagoda is supported by a monkey on the first level, and we then went to Ryoan-ji, where I explained the dry landscape garden and features such as the tsukubai. We had a late lunch at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, which they were very pleased with. They said it was much more delicious than the conveyor-belt sushi in North America. Finally, we returned to the hotel and concluded the tour.

    Hello, my name is Harumi, and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan. I have been actively involved in volunteer activities for many years, sharing my passion for Japanese culture and history. As a kimono dressing instructor, I can provide hands-on kimono experiences and guide tours. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling, making my tours ideal for those interested in this fascinating sport. I am also well-versed in Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (Jūdenken) and can introduce historical townscapes dating back to the Edo period. If you are interested, I would be happy to show you around the sake brewing process in the Nada region.

    Jul 11, 2026
    Rahul_P
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Private Tour
    Highly recommended if looking for a comfortable tour…

    Jul 7, 2026
    782MarkS782
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Harumi and Kyoto
    This was amazing – truly memory making. Harumi is…

    Jun 25, 2026
    JenCBear
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great visit with a great guide Harumi
    Harumi was a fantastic guide…

    Jun 21, 2026
    Andrew_M
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Amazing guided experience
    Harumi is an amazing guide.…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani & Board bus @ Motohakone Port

    Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani & Board bus @ Motohakone Port

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet @ Hotel Indigo
    • 9:50 Cable car → Ropeway @ Gora Station
    • 10:15 Arrive at Owakudani
    • 11:30 Arrive at Koshiri
    • 12:00 Board pirate ship @ Togendai
    • 12:30 Lunch @ Uosho
    • 13:45 Hakone Shrine
    • 14:15 Yama no Hotel Garden
    • 15:30 Board bus @ Motohakone Port
    • 16 :00 Arrive at Gora Station → Disband

    What Is a Private Hakone Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Owakudani and Lake Ashi The guests were visitors from North America. They were intellectually curious and asked many questions about history, plants and animals, geography, and a wide range of other topics. While walking around Owakudani, the weather suddenly turned bad. The ropeway stopped operating, so we had to descend to Togendai by bus. As a result, the flow of tourists became concentrated, causing lost time waiting for the bus near the end of the tour, and we ended up going past the scheduled finishing time. Even so, I felt there were several moments that impressed the guests, such as the azalea garden at the mountain hotel and lunch at a local restaurant.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassGora~Motohakone6,400JPY
    Total6,400JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: @ Fushimi Inari Taisha & @ Kennin-ji Temple

    Kyoto in Half a Day: @ Fushimi Inari Taisha & @ Kennin-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Kyoto Station Central Gate
    • 10:10-10:55 @ Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:15-12:15 @ Gion
    • 12:15-13:15 @ Kennin-ji Temple
    • 13:20-14:00 @ Ninenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, Ishibei-koji
    • 14:00 Disband @ Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop

    When Guests from Europe Visit Kyoto: A Licensed Guide's Private Day Tour Report on Fushimi Inari, Gion, and Higashiyama The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They were based in Nara, and today they came to Kyoto by train from Nara and planned to return to Nara by train as well. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, the guests all offered prayers at the main hall. There was a very long line for the Omokaru-ishi stones because of school-trip students, so we skipped it and instead had them experience the Neagari-no-Matsu (the "rising roots" pine). In Gion, while I was giving an explanation in front of an okiya (a geisha house), three young girls who appeared to be trainees (shikomi) came out and were bowing to a senior geiko, and being able to witness this gave me a fresh opportunity to talk about the shikomi. We walked south down Hanamikoji and entered Kennin-ji temple directly. The scenery of Kennin-ji's garden seemed to match the typical image of Japan that the guests had imagined, and they took many photos of the dry landscape (karesansui) garden. After that, we walked east up Yasaka-dori, passing the Yasaka Pagoda, Ninenzaka, and Ishibei-koji, and continued on foot to the Higashiyama-Yasui bus stop, where I gave directions for the bus to central Kyoto before we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Gion-Shijo240JPY
    Total390JPY

    Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!

    My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.

    I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.

    I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
    I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.

    I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!

    May 19, 2026
    498stephenq
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    An enjoyable visit
    Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…

    Apr 11, 2026
    V5131MFjodieh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
    Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…

    Oct 14, 2025
    Scenic61154406959
    Great Historical Perspective
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…

    Sep 29, 2025
    Jea L
    Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kaz was an excellent tour…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Toyocho Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Toyocho Station & Shibuya Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting point: Hotel East 21 Tokyo
    • 10:10 Depart Toyocho Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
    • Nihombashi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 10:30 Arrive Ueno Station
    • Ueno Station Travel Concierge
    • 10:45 Depart Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 11:00 Arrive Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Nakamise Shopping Street
    • 11:40 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 12:00 Arrive Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 13:00 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 13:30 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Break: Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • 14:30 Depart Meiji-jingumae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 14:45 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • 15:15 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line)
    • Otemachi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
    • 16:00 Arrive Toyocho Station
    • 16:00 Dismissal: Toyocho Station

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. It was the first visit to Japan for everyone in the group. The group arrived at Haneda Airport the previous evening and took a taxi to the Hotel. The purpose of this visit was a 14-day stay in Japan. This evening they were scheduled to enjoy a traditional houseboat (yakatabune), and the following two days they planned to visit Disneyland. The previous night they had rested at the Hotel. The group mentioned, "We would like to explore the main areas of central Tokyo today and get a sense of the transportation system." It was a tour under clear skies, with weather warm enough to feel hot at times. Since the group wanted to obtain SUICA cards, we first went to the Ekitabi Concierge at Ueno Station. After that, we moved to Asakusa. Starting from the front of Kaminarimon Gate, I explained "Senso-ji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is for," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos at Kaminarimon and various other spots, and slowly strolled through the crowded Nakamise shopping street. The group had questions such as "What are the major religions in Japan?" "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?" and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people believe in?" There was also a question: "We see people in kimono within the temple grounds — why is that?" The group purchased a protective charm. From there, we moved to Tsukiji. As always, it was extremely crowded, and we strolled while pushing a stroller. I explained "the history of the fish market since the Edo period" and "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market." There were questions and comments such as "Do all Tokyo residents come here to buy fish?" and "It's crowded, but it does seem like there are a lot of tourists." The group wanted to try some food, and in the end they purchased and sampled strawberries, fried sweet potato, and grilled beef skewers. We then moved to Harajuku. Meiji Shrine was quite crowded with tourists. I explained "about Shinto," "about torii gates," "about Emperor Meiji," "why sake barrels are displayed," and "why wine barrels are displayed." There were questions such as "What kind of religion is Shinto?" and "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?" We took a short break at Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu, where one of the guests enjoyed a beer. We then moved to Shibuya. Looking out over Shibuya Scramble Square, there were questions such as "About how many people cross here?" and "Why did it become so famous?" Here too, we crossed the scramble crossing while pushing a stroller, and took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. There were comments and questions such as "We can't understand why the streets are so clean with no litter," "There are no trash cans on the streets — why is that?" and "Everyone is so quiet on the trains." I saw the group off at Tokyo Station on the Marunouchi Line, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainToyocho~Ueno210JPY
    Section 2TrainUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Section 3TrainAsakusa~Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 4TrainTsukiji~Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 5TrainMeiji-jingumae~Shibuya180JPY
    Section 6TrainShibuya~Toyocho260JPY
    Total1,250JPY

    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.

    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 in Half a Day: Asakusa & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:30 Asakusa
    • 12:00 Ginza (Mitsukoshi)
    • 12:50 Shibuya
    • 13:15 Meiji Shrine
    • 14:00 Disband @ Harajuku UNIQLO

    What's a 4-Hour Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Ginza, Shibuya, and Meiji Shrine The guests were visitors from Europe who had developed an interest in Japanese culture and food after reading books about Japan. In 4 hours, we visited Asakusa, Ginza, Shibuya, and Meiji Shrine. Although they were a little tired from jet lag, they walked throughout without taking a break. They were very impressed by the basement food floor of the department store in Ginza and said they would like to come back another day. They mentioned wanting to buy Pokémon cards as a souvenir, but since there was no time to visit the Pokémon Center, I sent them the website. After Meiji Shrine, I guided them to a clothing store in Harajuku before we said goodbye. As it was hot, they looked at hats and T-shirts.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayDaimon (Tokyo)~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa~Ginza210JPY
    Section 3SubwayGinza~Shibuya210JPY
    Section 4TrainShibuya~Harajuku160JPY
    Total800JPY

    Hello,
    I’m Rumi.Welcome to Japan!!
    I’m a government-licensed guide in the Tokyo area.
    I’m so excited to have a chance to show you my favorite places in Tokyo.
    Tokyo is a fantastic city with many aspects like history,culture and food.
    What interests you about Tokyo?
    What kind of Japanese food would you like to try?
    I’ll take you to various places according to your request.
    My favorite spot is Meiji Shrine.
    It’s so peaceful that I’m sure you like it.
    I really like to talk with foreigners about various topics.So, I love my job.
    I look forward to meeting and guiding you soon.

    Jun 29, 2026
    898clausw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really helpfull guide
    Extremely helpfull to have a friendly and competent guide…

    Jun 27, 2026
    sallypO7128PM
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo- family with older teens
    My family had an excellent…

    Jun 15, 2026
    Scott P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Terrific Tour and Guide
    We had an incredible day! Rumi was…

    Jun 12, 2026
    Tonya O
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Rumi is a great guide!
    Rumi was a wonderful guide. She…

  • Kagoshima Shore Excursion: Custom Car Tour

    Kagoshima Shore Excursion: Custom Car Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • Marine Port Kagoshima 9:45 – 10:10 Shiroyama Park & Observation Deck 11:00 – 11:10 Tsurumaru Castle Ruins 11:40 – 11:50 Terukuni Shrine 12:10 – 12:15 Xavier Park 12:30 – 12:35 Statue of Saigo Takamori 12:45 – 12:55 Fukufuku (lunch) 13:50 – 14:05 Tenmonkan (shopping) 15:30 – 16:00 Marine Port Kagoshima

    Title: What's a Private Kagoshima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsurumaru Castle and Local Cuisine Body: Although the departure was considerably delayed due to the guests' circumstances, the plan had been made with plenty of time to spare, so we were able to complete the itinerary as scheduled. The guests showed great interest in the history and weaknesses of Tsurumaru Castle, the Namamugi Incident and the conflict between the Satsuma Domain and Britain in the late Edo period, the subsequent cooperation leading toward the Meiji Restoration, and Saigo Takamori, listening very attentively to the explanations. Since some of the guests wished to have sashimi and others preferred vegetarian dishes, we enjoyed local ingredients and cuisine at a popular restaurant that could serve both tempura and sashimi. In addition to beer, the guests enjoyed a serving of sweet potato shochu neat, finishing it and remarking on how delicious it was.

    Experienced guide in Tokyo, Kanto, Kansai, Chugoku and Kyushu as lived in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Shiga, Wakayama, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka and Kumamoto. Can introduce local favorite restaurants and shops in these areas. Flexible and tailored itinerary is available with car transport transportation. Can escort outdoor activities such as fishing and hiking. Can provide private tours at Sake breweries in Fukuoka and Saga area with personal networks. Respect and adapt to diverse cultures and religions as worked with colleagues around the world for 38 years.

    Jun 7, 2026
    Kim_K
    Viator review: Kagoshima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Beautiful, insightful and memorable!
    We definitely had a beautiful, insightful and memorable…

  • Tokyo: Asakusa Station & Mitsukoshimae Station

    Tokyo: Asakusa Station & Mitsukoshimae Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting place: Onyado Nono Asakusa
    • 9:10 Asakusa Station
    • (Keisei Line)
    • Oshiage Station
    • (Keisei Oshiage Line)
    • Keisei Takasago Station
    • (Keisei Kanamachi Line)
    • 9:40 Arrive at Shibamata Station
    • Shibamata Shibamata Taishakuten
    • Yamamoto-tei
    • 10:30 Depart from Shibamata Station
    • (Keisei Kanamachi Line)
    • Keisei Takasago Station
    • (Keisei Oshiage Line)
    • Oshiage Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line)
    • Kinshicho Station
    • (JR Sobu Line)
    • 11:00 Arrive at Ryogoku Station
    • Ryogoku Edo-Tokyo Museum
    • 12:00 Depart from Ryogoku Station
    • (JR Sobu Line)
    • Akihabara Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 12:30 Nippori Station
    • Nippori Yanaka Ginza
    • 13:00 Depart from Sendagi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 13:10 Arrive at Nezu Station
    • Nezu Nezu Shrine
    • 13:45 Depart from Nezu Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Otemachi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
    • Nihombashi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 14:00 Arrive at Mitsukoshimae Station
    • Nihonbashi Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi
    • Coredo Nihonbashi
    • Nihonbashi Toyama-kan
    • 14:40 Depart from Mitsukoshimae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 15:00 Arrive at Asakusa Station
    • 15:00 Dismissal: Asakusa Station

    Title: What's a Private Off-the-Beaten-Path Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shibamata, Yanaka, and Nihonbashi The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. One of them was visiting Japan for the second time, while the other was visiting for the first time. The purpose of this trip was an approximately two-week stay in Japan. They had already traveled to Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Hida-Takayama, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, arriving in Tokyo the previous day. They would stay in Tokyo for only two days before flying home. The day before, they had strolled around the Senso-ji area. Their request was, "We'd like to go somewhere ordinary tourists don't go." The tour took place under clear skies, in weather that was almost hot. The meeting point was supposed to be Shibamata Station, but the previous evening I received a phone call asking me to pick them up at their hotel, so the meeting point was changed at short notice. We went from Asakusa to Shibamata. There were surprisingly many tourists, and we took a leisurely stroll along the approach. I explained "The history and current state of Taishakuten." I also explained "What is Buddhism?" and "The difference between Buddhism and Shinto." One of the guests mentioned having seen the "Tora-san" (Otoko wa Tsurai yo) films, so they were quite familiar with the background as well. We entered the temple and paid our respects. They commented, "Asakusa is too noisy for my taste. This place is calmer and feels much nicer." We also strolled through the "Yamamoto-tei" and along the "banks of the Edogawa River." Next we went to the "Edo-Tokyo Museum." As it was a Sunday, it was packed with many visitors. We made a full circuit of the museum amid the crowds, and they said, "Now I understand old Tokyo well." Near Ryogoku Station, we saw many sumo wrestlers, prompting questions such as "What is sumo?", "Is it popular?", and "How can I buy tickets?" We moved on to Nippori. I explained "The history and current state of the Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi areas." However, Yanaka Ginza was extremely crowded with international tourists. The comment was, "Compared to other parts of Tokyo, this is quiet and calm — this is exactly the kind of place I wanted to visit." At Nezu Shrine, we passed through the torii gates of the Inari shrine and paid our respects. The azaleas had already finished blooming. They said, "It's quiet, and I prefer this." We moved on to Nihonbashi. I explained "The history and current state of Edo and Nihonbashi." First I explained the "Kidai Shoran" scroll. After that, we strolled through Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Kiya honten, and others, and enjoyed a sake tasting at a Toyama specialty shop. They said, "It was wonderful to feel the atmosphere of the Edo period." As they were "a little tired," we took a short break at a coffee shop. There were comments and questions such as "Tokyo is so clean, with no litter on the streets," and "Everyone is so quiet on the trains." I saw them off at Asakusa Station, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainAsakusa~Shibamata380JPY
    Section 2TrainShibamata~Oshiage200JPY
    Section 3TrainOshiage~Kinshicho180JPY
    Section 4TrainKinshicho~Ryogoku160JPY
    Section 5TrainRyogoku~Nippori200JPY
    Section 6TrainSendagi~Nezu180JPY
    Section 7TrainNezu~Mitsukoshimae180JPY
    Section 8TrainMitsukoshimae~Asakusa180JPY
    Total1,660JPY

    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.

    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…

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    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
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    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…