Category: Uncategorized

  • Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:20 Meet at Himeji Station North Exit
    • 11:45 Arrive at Himeji Castle, sightseeing
    • 14:20 Move to Kokoen Garden, stroll
    • 15:05 Disband in front of Kokoen Garden

    Title: What Is a Private Family Tour of Himeji Castle Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a family visiting from Europe. Some of the guests did not understand much English, so others translated the explanations for them, and they kindly said this was also good English practice, which was a nice moment. During the summer, an activity booklet about Himeji Castle was distributed to elementary school children, allowing them to explore the castle in a quiz format, so the guests were able to enjoy sightseeing without getting bored even in the heat. At Koko-en Garden, we all had a fun stroll, stepping across the stones in the pond and looking for carp. After the tour, the guests said they wanted to have conveyor-belt sushi for lunch, so I recommended a sushi restaurant near the station and we said goodbye in front of Koko-en Garden.

    Hello, I’m your tour guide, Rie Ito. Please call me Rie. I have been living in Himeji for 40 years. I would like to show you around our beautiful city. Himeji is very famous for its several sightseeing places. Especially, as the most recommended place, we boast Himeji Castle, the first World Heritage Site of Japan. When you see this message, please contact me through WhatsApp. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask me before the tour. I am sure you will enjoy this local city of Japan with me! I’m looking forward to seeing you. Thank you.

    Apr 25, 2026
    Alix_M
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Himeji castle
    Fantastic tour of the beautiful Himeji castle!…

    Oct 3, 2025
    P
    Peggy_M
    Rie is an excellent guide with a lot of knowledge to share
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed…

    Aug 6, 2025
    OMAR_A
    Excellente visite avec guide dynamique
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour avec une guide compétente et…

    Apr 30, 2025
    JandK14
    A perfect day in Himeji: We saw the cherry blossoms at their peak and had Rie as our guide!
    Tripadvisor review:…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meeting point: Luck You Kyoto
    • 11:40 Sightseeing ①: Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 13:15 Sightseeing ② and lunch: Nishiki Market
    • 14:30 Sightseeing ③: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00 Dismissal: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Private Kyoto Day Tour Report: What Is It Like With a Government-Licensed Guide in Summer? The guests were a family visiting Japan from North America. In the pre-tour communications, their wishes regarding which places they hoped to visit changed several times, and I had to revise the itinerary repeatedly right up until just before the tour date. In this case as well, replies to my first contact came not from the guests themselves but from a staff member at the travel agency, which left me with a frustrating sense of being unable to get to the heart of things. Because of this, there seemed to be a gap between the requests I had pictured based on what the agency staff told me and the guests' actual wishes. In the end, once August arrived I was able to communicate directly with the guests via a messaging app, their true intentions became clear, and I was able to finalize the itinerary described separately. Communicating through the agency staff was not entirely useless, but it seemed to complicate my preparation work as a guide and to waste time. On the day of the tour, when I met the guests and discussed the plan, one of the guests seemed very sharp and intelligent, and I imagined that a great deal of research had been done before coming to Japan. First, Kyoto that day was clear and very hot (as it is everywhere at this time of year), so we discussed how to travel between the sites and basically decided against using public transportation such as buses and subways, opting instead to travel by taxi (for the stretch between Nishiki Market and Fushimi Inari, which is close, we used the train as planned). I felt that this change in the means of transportation was extremely important in preventing the guests from becoming exhausted amid the ongoing intense heat. During the tour, I received many questions not only at each destination but also in the car while traveling, and I explained as much as I possibly could. I have always believed that "curious guests sharpen a guide," and these guests reminded me of that once again. The guests also listened eagerly, not wanting to miss a single word of my explanations, and overall I feel they were satisfied with the tour. The words "Next time we would like to come to see the cherry blossoms in spring or the autumn leaves in fall" seemed to show just that.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo~Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Total220JPY

    Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
    Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

    Apr 9, 2026
    Ron_W
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We saw so much in the…
    We saw so much in the…

    Mar 24, 2026
    zackn719
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
    We did our private tour with…

    Oct 20, 2025
    66speech
    Highlights of Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Shizuoka: Miho no Matsubara & Seikenji Temple

    Shizuoka: Miho no Matsubara & Seikenji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at Shimizu Port Hinode Pier
    • 8:50 Nihondaira Ropeway, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
    • 10:40 Nihondaira Tea Hall, Nihondaira Dream Terrace
    • 11:40 Miho no Matsubara
    • 12:40 Seikenji Temple
    • 13:30 Lunch at S-Pulse Dream Plaza
    • 15:00 Disband at S-Pulse Dream Plaza

    What Is a Private Car Tour of Shizuoka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nihondaira, Kunozan Toshogu, and Miho no Matsubara I proposed and arranged a private car in advance, which the guests booked. Because the guests arrived earlier than the meeting time, we were able to start the tour right on schedule. We made it in time for the 9:00 opening of the Nihondaira Ropeway station, so there were no major crowds, and the guests were able to visit Kunozan Toshogu Shrine at a relaxed pace. Unfortunately clouds had rolled in, so we could not see Mount Fuji from Nihondaira or Miho no Matsubara, but we made up for this with photographs and video (inside the Mihoshirube facility). Since the guests enjoyed the outdoors, they were delighted to stroll around Miho no Matsubara. Although I had scheduled lunch for a later time, the guests had a snack (ice cream) at Miho no Matsubara, so there seemed to be no problem. For lunch, the guests enjoyed sushi and sake that matched their preferences at Esupurusu Dream Plaza. After lunch, the guests offered to do some shopping and walk back to Shimizu Port on their own, so the private car was released upon arrival at Esupurusu Dream Plaza (13:30), which the guests agreed to with no refund of the difference. The weather raised concerns about heat stroke, but because the guests had booked a private car, and thanks to the driver's cooperation, we were able to move smoothly between the destinations and could immediately cool off in the car after sightseeing, which made the guests very satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherNihondaira~Kunozan Toshogu Shrine1,250JPY
    Total1,250JPY

    Hello, I’m Anne. I was born and raised in Shizuoka. As a student, I volunteered as an interpreter guide in Kyoto. I love traveling and even worked for a travel company in the past. I like learning different cultures, too. After graduating from a graduate school in Australia, I came back to Shizuoka and have been teaching at a high school and a university. I am also certified as a Japanese (language) teacher. Through my experiences living in different places and my interest in Japan, I realized again the charms of Japan and Shizuoka. This passion for sharing the attractions of Japan, especially Shizuoka, led me to become a national licensed guide interpreter in March 2024. Shizuoka is an attractive destination for its rich nature, fascinating history and culture, and delicious local foods. I would be delighted to help you discover more about Shizuoka and make your stay even more memorable!

    Sep 22, 2024
    Bertold_K
    Beautiful landscape
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Anne war eine freundliche und flexible Stadtführerrin.…

    Aug 30, 2024
    G
    Guy_P
    Great all around view of Shimizu!
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Anne was…

    Jun 17, 2024
    Travis_P
    Great tour
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    We had a great tour with Anne.…

    Jul 16, 2024
    Cosmopolitan227787
    Beautiful Shizuoka !
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    This tour was amazing. Anne our…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine & Senso-ji Temple

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine & Senso-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:45 Meet @ Hotel Tokyu
    • 10:00 Shibuya Scramble Crossing・Hachiko
    • 10:20 Meiji Shrine
    • 11:30 Imperial Palace
    • 12:20 Lunch @ Hakata Menbo Akanoren Marunouchi Branch
    • 13:30 Senso-ji Temple
    • 14:45 Disband @ Hotel Tokyu

    What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time, coming from North America. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to continue to Kyoto and Osaka. At Meiji Shrine, they seemed deeply impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with great interest to the historical explanation about the role of the current Emperor and the Meiji Restoration. For lunch, they enjoyed ramen. In Asakusa, they purchased chopsticks as souvenirs along Nakamise Street, and they showed interest in the explanation about the difference between shrines and temples. I responded according to the guests' wishes, so I believe they were satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShibuya~Harajuku150JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Nijubashimae600JPY
    Section 3TrainTokyo~Ueno170JPY
    Section 4SubwayUeno~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 5SubwayAsakusa~Shibuya0JPY
    Total920JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • Nihondaira Ropeway, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Nihondaira Yume Terrace, Suruga Craft Workshop Takumishuku, Okonomiyaki Dotonbori Lunch, Miho no Matsubara, S-Pulse Dream Plaza

    Title: What's a Private Charter-Taxi Day Tour of Shizuoka City Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. We toured around Shizuoka City using a jumbo taxi that the guests had chartered. In addition to the usual sightseeing spots — the Nihondaira Ropeway, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the Nihondaira Yume Terrace, and Miho no Matsubara — the guests enjoyed a chopstick-making experience at a craft workshop in Sunpu and an okonomiyaki teppanyaki experience at an okonomiyaki restaurant, and they were very pleased. Since it was the hot period of August, I made sure everyone stayed well hydrated to prevent heatstroke, and I paid careful attention so that no one would get burned or injured while handling the blades and soldering iron during the chopstick-making experience or the heat of the teppanyaki grill.

    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…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Hiroshima Station & Hiroshima Peace Park

    Hiroshima in One Day: Hiroshima Station & Hiroshima Peace Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hiroshima Station
    • 12:00 Miyajima 
    • 15:00 Hiroshima Peace Park
    • 17:00 Hiroshima Station

    Title: What Is a Private Miyajima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were from North America. We had an interesting conversation as one of the guests originally came from the Kerala region, and I shared that I had once enjoyed a boat trip in that area long ago. The ship at that time was a used Japanese cargo vessel that sailed leaning to the left throughout the voyage. When asked how many years ago that was, I said it was more than forty years ago, and I was told that the region had changed a great deal since then. At Daishoin Temple, deities associated with the guests' home region are also enshrined, and we discussed the characteristics of each. I also learned that, in that region, Buddhism is considered a branch of another religious tradition. It was also mentioned that Buddhism in Japan has been considerably reshaped in a Chinese style. Starting today, a newly built waste treatment facility has been installed near the port at Miyajimaguchi and just before the tourist information center on Miyajima. For reference, I have attached a photo.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi Station420JPY
    Section 2TrainMiyajimaguchi Station~Nishi-Hiroshima Station330JPY
    Section 3BusNishi-Hiroshima Station~Hiroshima Peace Park220JPY
    Section 4BusGenbaku Dome-mae~Hiroshima Station220JPY
    Total1,190JPY

    Originally, I’m a cycling guide doing cycling tours all over Japan.
    But, already done Hiroshima & Miyajima tour more than 400 times.
    I traveled many countries in my younger days. I traveled Europe, US, China, India, US, Mexico, Peru Australia, NZ, and so on.
    I decided to use this experience to become a guide.
    I’m afraid but no tipping required, because cycling guides are not allowed to have tipping in my association. And you do not need to pay for my lunch, because my lunch is prepared by our group.
    Please do not hesitate to ask me anything, I’ll change the plan according to your requests.
    Thank you for your understanding and please stay connected.

    Jun 1, 2026
    John_W
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    A top day with a top guide
    My wife…

    May 27, 2026
    Annabelle_C
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima in a day
    Yuji was a great communicator…

    May 12, 2026
    satishp656
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    HIROSHIMA HALF DAY TOUR
    Yuji is a warm, knowledgeble…

    May 10, 2026
    StephanieB6076
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Incredible Experience
    We had an incredible experience visiting Hiroshima…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:00 Meet at Hotel
    • 2. 09:40 Nijo Castle
    • 3. 12:00 Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 4. 12:15 Lunch Sushi Naritaya (Arashiyama Nagatsuji-dori)
    • 5. 13:00 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove + Nonomiya Shrine
    • 6. 13:00 Arashiyama Ogura Pond (Lotus Pond + Mikami Shrine)
    • 7. 14:10 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 8. 15:35 Dismissal Shijo Kawaramachi Bus Stop

    Title: Can You Do a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Covering Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe, both of whom are fond of Japanese history and culture, and this was their first visit to Japan. After the originally planned visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (and Nonomiya Shrine), we made a detour to Ogura Pond (and Mikami Pond), where the lotus flowers were in bloom. Since this stop was unexpected, they enjoyed the lotus flowers in full bloom all the more. Learning that the guests planned to visit Nara the next day, I advised them to stop by Fushimi Inari (which is open 24 hours) on their way back from Nara by JR, and they were delighted. Midway through the day, they decided to change their afternoon plan from visiting Nishiki Market and Gion to visiting Kinkaku-ji instead. They were extremely pleased not only with the Golden Pavilion itself but also with the borrowed-scenery garden in the background. Due to time constraints, we exchanged smiles and a handshake and said our goodbyes on the street at the Kawaramachi bus stop near the Hotel.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassShijo Kawaramachi~Nijojo-mae1,100JPY
    Section 2Free PassNijojo-mae~Uzumasa Tenjingawa0JPY
    Section 3Free PassUzumasa Tenjingawa~Arashiyama0JPY
    Section 4TrainArashiyama~Kitano Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 5Free PassKitano Hakubaicho~Kinkakuji-michi0JPY
    Section 6Free PassKinkakuji-michi~Shijo Kawaramachi0JPY
    Total1,350JPY

    Born, raised and married in Kyoto, I am Masaaki Tanaka started English-speaking licensed guide since 2008, guiding mostly those English-speaking inbound tourists in Kyoto, which is my home base, and in Osaka (where I woked so long time until my retirment) and Nara and in other Kansai areas incl. Kobe, Koyasan, etc. If allowed, I can say I am somewhat experinced in Japanese history (especially in its culture). When young, I lived and worked for some 11 years in the Middle East, which areas, accordingly, I am still quite familiar to . My hobby includes : seeing Noh Play and Kabuki, hearing Musics in general (Beethoven, Beatles, Jazz & Rock’n Rolls as well as Japanese classicals), seeing the paintings/artworks in general, playing the piano (all time at beginner’s level, though), playing the guitar and, when younger, I enjoyed skiing and business golf. Also, I am, since my childhoo, a great fan of Tigers in Japan’s pro-base ball. I love cats (keeping now an old female ‘Chee’ chan) , and certainly my wife Tokuko as well.

    Jul 30, 2026
    amydJ3030YT
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Private Kyoto tour with a licensed guide and separate driver…

    Mar 20, 2026
    moisessG5827VE
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Masaaki Tanaka was the best tour guide ever!
    Masaaki Tanaka was an…

    Jun 16, 2025
    896nataliex
    Amazing Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Masaaki, was an excellent tour guide and wealth of knowledge…

    Apr 23, 2025
    Simon S
    Enjoyable and informative
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Osaka with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    The service was friendly…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: @ Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & @ Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: @ Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & @ Dotonbori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Meet @ Hotel
    • 12:15 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 13:15 @ Namba Den Den Town
    • 14:00 @ Dotonbori
    • 14:30 @ Shinsaibashi Daimaru Department Store (Pokemon Cafe)
    • 15:30 Disband @ Shinsaibashi Daimaru Department Store

    What's a Private Family Day Tour of Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sumiyoshi Taisha, Den Den Town, and Pokémon Cafe The guests were a group visiting Osaka. At Sumiyoshi Taisha, the group looked around with great interest. They picked up the "Go-Dai-Riki" pebbles, which are popular at this well-known power spot, and also purchased amulet pouches. At Den Den Town in Namba, which some of the guests had been looking forward to, they were unable to find the items they were hoping for. However, at the Pokémon Cafe inside the Daimaru Department Store in Shinsaibashi, which had also been specifically requested, some of the guests explored very enthusiastically and purchased many goods. (One of the guests bought so much that they were asked to return some of it.) As originally planned, we parted ways at the Pokémon Cafe. Afterward, the guests planned to have dinner at an okonomiyaki restaurant that I had introduced during the day's tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNamba~Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine240JPY
    Section 2TrainSumiyoshi Taisha Shrine~Namba240JPY
    Total480JPY

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    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…

    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…

    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…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Hotel Shinsekai & Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: Hotel Shinsekai & Dotonbori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Shinsekai
    • 9:30 Osaka castle
    • 11:30 Kuromon market
    • 12:00 Dotonbori
    • 13:00 hotel

    What Is a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, and Dotonbori Today I guided a group visiting from North America. One of the guests climbed all the way to the top of the castle keep. At Miraiza, located next to Osaka Castle, the guests enjoyed throwing shuriken. After that, we visited Kuromon Market, Hozenji Temple, and Dotonbori before returning to the Hotel. The tour went smoothly and was enjoyable without any problems. Since it has been extremely hot lately, today I handed out cooling gel sheets to everyone. Many suits of armor were on display inside Osaka Castle today, and the guests found them very interesting.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainEbisucho~Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 2TrainTanimachi 4-chome~Nipponbashi190JPY
    Section 3TrainNamba~Dobutsuen-mae190JPY
    Total620JPY

    Bye bye smart phone!! Let’s enjoy Japan without bothering to check up your phone all the time with not AI but a local guide like me. Hi, my name is Mimmy. You may think this sounds like a kitten’s name.
    I use this nickname because it sounds cute and easy to remember. However,
    I actually look rounded, a middle aged woman more like a yellow character of M&Mchocolate, which reminds you of my name easily when you see me.
    I was born in Osaka, went to school in Kobe, went to work in Kyoto and married but still live in Osaka. I am a local, native Osakan. My 3 children are all grown up and live separately except one son. Now I live with one son and a husband in suburbs of the Osaka city.
    I like travelling, walking around the town and anything new.
    I got my guide license in 2017 and started guiding after that. I wasn’t able to work during Covid period but start guiding in 2022 again. I guide Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe and have experienced more than100 tours including bus tours.
    I would like to tell you about the itineraries I usually have in each area.
    In Osaka, we usually go to Osaka castle, Shinsekai and Dotonbori Namba area.
    I think most important part you should see is Dotonbori Namba in Osaka.
    This place is vibrant , energetic, full of 3D signs and different from any other place in Japan.
    In Kyoto, we cannot see all famous sightseeing spots in one day.
    It will be better to visit each area respectively. I recommend guests who come to Kyoto first time to visit East area, Kiyomizu Temple>Sannenzaka>Ninenzaka>Ishibeikouji>Yasaka shrine> Gion area. This area has an atmosphere of traditional old Kyoto. The most Kyoto like places which suit Kimono. You can rent Kimono in a lot of places around here.
    The second place I recommend you is West area: Golden temple and Arashiyama area where Bamboo forest , Tenryuji temple, mountains and a river. There are several nice gardens in this area. If you want to enjoy the nature quietly, you
    should come here when it is not crowded (Winter is the most quiet)
    In Nara which used to be a capital even older than Kyoto, we visit Todaiji Temple where a huge Buddha is sitting inside of one of the largest wooden hall and you can play with deer everywhere in Nara. Naramachi: a small town in this area is a local place where small interesting shops are.
    In Kobe, a port city, you can visit Japanese Sake breweries, Herb garden and the top of Mt.Rokko for viewing Kobe city. A small China town is there, too.

    Now I bet you want to leave home to explore somewhere else you do not know.
    Not only going to somewhere else, we can help you to do several experiences: making tea, making Japanese sweet, making Takoyaki(food), wearing Kimono, making food samples, attending a tea ceremony, throwing Shriken like Ninja, Using bow and arrow like Samurai, , , ,
    I am very happy indeed if I can help you find things impressive enough and have once in a life time experience during our tour.
    I am looking forward to sharing a good time with you.

    Mar 24, 2025
    Jennie_N
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  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.8:25 Meet up @Hotel Kyoto
    • 2.8:30 @Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 3.9:05 @Atago Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 4.9:40 @Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 5.10:30 @Saiho-ji Temple
    • 6.11:45 Lunch @Washoku Now Joy Nishioji Sanjo Branch
    • 7.13:05 @Nanzen-ji Temple
    • 8.14:10 Disband @Hotel Kyoto

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour Visiting Less-Crowded Sights Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a private tour in Kyoto for guests visiting from North America. Their request was to depart from their hotel in Arashiyama and visit sightseeing spots where relatively few tourists gather. For this reason, as soon as I was assigned as the guide, I recommended booking Saihoji Temple, a quiet spot in Arashiyama. The guests immediately made a reservation online for the 10:30 admission and let me know. For the other locations, I consulted with the driver and decided together. The guests requested that the tour end with a drop-off at the Hotel in Higashiyama. Therefore, I placed Nanzenji Temple, which has a beautiful garden and relatively few tourists, at the end of the itinerary. The driver kindly provided frozen towels as cold hand towels twice, which the guests were delighted with. The lunch spot was also recommended by the driver, and I made the reservation while the guests were inside Saihoji Temple. As I have mentioned before, at Saihoji Temple even a guide must pay a "worship offering" of 4,000 yen or more. So this time, I guided them to the temple gate and had the guests enter on their own. Before they went in, I explained that they would first quietly copy sutras, then view the garden, and that I would be waiting outside the gate after about 45 minutes had passed, and then they entered Saihoji Temple. The guests were pleased that both the lunch and the itinerary went exactly as they had wished. [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. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

    I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.

    Mar 31, 2026
    Michael A
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Perfectly customized tour
    Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…

    Mar 29, 2026
    judyl582
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shoko was great
    Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…

    Oct 8, 2025
    441gayh
    World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…

    Oct 3, 2025
    Judi H
    Introduction to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
    She…