Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: @ Nihonbashi & @ Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: @ Nihonbashi & @ Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet up @ Hotel Sunroute Ginza
    • 9:30 @ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Imperial Palace Outer Garden)
    • 10:00 @ Tokyo Station (station plaza, station building, underground Character Street, Yaesu Exit)
    • 10:30 @ Nihonbashi
    • 11:00 @ Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, cafe break @ Kaminari Issa, Sumida Park)
    • 12:30 @ Omotesando, Harajuku (Harakado, Omokado)
    • 13:00 Lunch @ Harakado
    • 14:00 @ Meiji Shrine
    • 15:30 Disband @ Ginza

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Nihonbashi The guests were a group who have been living in Europe for some time and were visiting Japan for the first time. They travel widely around the world, but this was their first trip here. Arriving in Japan yesterday morning via the Middle East, they had already explored Shibuya and Ginza, so we skipped those areas today. Since the weather forecast predicted extreme heat, I adjusted the original route and, before heading to Asakusa, we first visited the Imperial Palace via Sakuradamon, which is close to their hotel. They were deeply moved by the beauty of Nijubashi Bridge. Access near the main gate of the Imperial Palace was unusually restricted, and when I checked with a security officer, I learned this was because an ambassador's attestation ceremony was approaching. Afterward, as we walked toward Tokyo Station while I shared stories about Japanese history, the guests took many photographs. By chance, we arrived at the Tokyo Station plaza at three minutes to ten, just in time to witness the vehicle departing for the attestation ceremony — it was the ambassador of the Netherlands. It was not a horse-drawn carriage, but it was still a rare and memorable experience. We also happened to arrive at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya department store right at opening time and were greeted with the traditional "irasshaimase" welcome call. In this way, today's tour went remarkably smoothly — the whole group even managed to get seats together on the subway — and we happily stumbled upon several exciting events one after another. Despite the heat, everyone was able to enjoy the day without feeling too tired, and the guests were very pleased. For lunch, we ate at a new facility called Harakado, and they were delighted and surprised at how delicious and reasonably priced the sushi was.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassSubway Yurakucho Line, Ginza-itchome Station~Subway Yurakucho Line, Sakuradamon Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassSubway Ginza Line, Nihonbashi Station~Subway Ginza Line, Asakusa Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassSubway Ginza Line, Asakusa Station~Subway Ginza Line, Omotesando Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassSubway Chiyoda Line, Meiji-jingumae Station~Subway Ginza Line, Ginza Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

    Jul 3, 2026
    Jody D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
    Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…

    Jun 3, 2026
    Sara B
    Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…

  • Kanagawa: Pirate ship to Hakonemachi & Stay at Owakudani

    Kanagawa: Pirate ship to Hakonemachi & Stay at Owakudani

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30. Meet at hotel
    • 08:45-10:00. Bus from hotel, visit and stay at Wetland Botanical Garden
    • 10:10-10:30 . Bus from Wetland Botanical Garden to Togendai
    • 10:45-11:10. Pirate ship to Hakonemachi
    • 11:20-12:40 Shopping in Hakonemachi
    • 12:40-13:50. Bus from Hakonemachi, visit Hakone Shrine
    • 13:50-14:20 Lunch at cafe
    • 14:40-15:05. Pirate ship to Togendai
    • 15:10-16:10. Stay at Owakudani
    • 16:15-16:40. Bus from Togendai to hotel, then disband

    Can You Do a Private Hakone Day Tour with a Licensed Guide? A Tour Report The guests were visitors from Europe who had done their own research before joining the tour, so it was helpful to hear their requests in advance. They enjoyed strolling through the wetland botanical garden, and since they had wished for sake as a souvenir, I guided them around Hakone town. They purchased five bottles of sake (which I thought must have been heavy), and because they preferred a relaxed itinerary, we planned to spend plenty of time on the sightseeing pirate ship. Although it was cloudy during the rainy season, they were able to see Mount Fuji (only the top part) along the way, which made them very happy.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassSenkyoro~Senkyoro5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
    Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!

    Jul 30, 2025
    Michael_R
    Customized Hakone tour
    Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour…

    May 18, 2025
    Leigh_M
    Kappa, our guide met us…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa, our guide met us at the…

    May 4, 2025
    panderhigs
    Kappa A+ Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…

    May 4, 2025
    O9621SBscottp
    Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I were treated…

  • Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:40 Hakone Prince Meet, during the tour start meeting, the customer asked that they wanted to buy tickets for the Odawara-Kyoto section on the Shinkansen departing at 6:56 tomorrow, but since online booking is only available from 11:00 onwards, they wanted to buy them at the station. Identifying the issues as securing the tickets and securing a taxi, I explained to the customer. Before today's tour, I proceeded to address these matters in advance, requesting the hotel to arrange an early morning taxi (fortunately the arrangement was made). Next, took the hotel shuttle bus to Odawara Station, and after securing the tickets, returned to Hakone by taxi, then after the ropeway, took another taxi to the hotel, arranged the luggage shipment, and again by taxi stopped by Moto-Hakone to make a dinner 🍴 reservation, then
    • via Maruyama Bussan, Hakone Checkpoint, and the old road cedar avenue, returned to the reserved restaurant and dispersed at 17:00

    What Is a Private Hakone Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Owakudani and the Old Cedar Avenue As noted in the route, this became a completely unplanned itinerary, but by first addressing the guests' pending concerns and following up with the original sightseeing afterward, each issue was resolved step by step, which increased the guests' sense of reassurance and allowed them to enjoy the tour. Since the guests were interested in nature walks and experiencing history in Hakone, we focused on the volcanic natural beauty of Owakudani and the historic cedar avenue along the old highway, and I also introduced historical crafts at a local shop, where the guests purchased items such as a hanging scroll with marquetry artwork. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the cedar avenue, saying it was exactly the kind of nature-filled Japanese scenery they had hoped to see. After dinner at a restaurant, I introduced the hotel shuttle bus at 18:30, which the guests understood and accepted. Some of the guests moved separately with another group.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherSounzan~Togendai0JPY
    Total0JPY

    I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
    I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
    I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
    First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
    Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
    Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
    For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
    Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
    dummy

    Jun 30, 2026
    G2432BLtimothyc
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
    6 hour tour of Hakone
    we had a great experience with…

    Jun 25, 2026
    T7734IPbrandons
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in hakone
    Niro was perfect for us. He was…

    Jun 8, 2026
    JasonB6980
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hiro-san knows Hakone!
    Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Tourist31988989961
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
    Great Day and Tour
    Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…

  • Hiroshima: the museum by bus

    Hiroshima: the museum by bus

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:50 Meet at Hiroshima Station
    • 9:15 Go to the museum by bus
    • 9:40 Arrive at the museum
    •    Museum tour
    • 13:00 After the tour, guide to Kuraya okonomiyaki and disband

    Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Guided Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from North America. The group visited the memorial museum, where one of the guests read the explanatory panels very attentively, so there were times when I waited for them to finish viewing the exhibits. I have guided many visitors before, but most tend to look somewhat bored in memorial museums, so it was rare to meet someone so engaged. According to the group, this person has a strong interest in history and always reads explanatory texts carefully wherever they go, while also being active in sports and balancing both study and athletics. Since the group had a connection to South Asian heritage, I took them to the location with the statue of Gandhi, which they were very pleased to see. As the group planned to visit Miyajima after lunch, I also explained the transportation to Miyajima and the history of the island.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHiroshima Station~Museum220JPY
    Total220JPY

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

    Sep 25, 2025
    pedropM3071GD
    Amazing day trip
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    This was an amazing experience to…

    Jul 25, 2025
    ourtravelingt
    Great personalized tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our tour was fabulous and our…

    Jul 13, 2025
    katherinepE2305IO
    Hiroshima Tour 4hr Walking
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an amazing guide. He…

    Jul 7, 2025
    Preston_H
    Great tour guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an incredible guide who…

  • Osaka in One Day: JR Saga Arashiyama Sta. & Osakako Station

    Osaka in One Day: JR Saga Arashiyama Sta. & Osakako Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:30 pick you up in front of the port of Osaka
    • 9:30 JR Saga Arashiyama Sta.
    • 9:40 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    • 10:10Tenryuji Temple (Zen Temple)
    • 10:45 (leave)
    • 12:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 12:38 JR Inari Sta.
    • 14:15 Osakako Station

    Title: Can You Do a Private Kyoto Cruise-Port Day Trip with a Stroller? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests began the tour as a group traveling with young children, using one stroller. Although the pre-tour email had indicated a return time of 14:30, the guests requested to be back at the ship by 14:15. Originally I had prepared a standard time schedule, but because a stroller was in use, we needed to use the elevator at every station. As a result, we fell behind schedule and were 20 minutes late when we left Tenryu-ji Temple. After consulting with the guests, we decided to cut Gion from the itinerary. Since it was 33 degrees and hot outside and the guests wanted to avoid walking outdoors as much as possible, we traveled to Fushimi Inari Taisha via the Randen tram, then the subway, and then JR. Checking the schedule, we needed to depart from Inari Station by 12:38, so we only had about 40 minutes at Fushimi Inari Taisha. We walked partway along the Senbon Torii and then turned back to catch the 12:38 train, arriving safely at Osaka Port at 14:10.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOsaka Port~Bentencho240JPY
    Section 2TrainBentencho~Saga Arashiyama990JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama~Randen Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 4SubwayUzumasa Tenjingawa~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 5TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 6TrainInari~Bentencho990JPY
    Section 7SubwayBentencho~Osaka Port240JPY
    Total3,120JPY

    Hello, I’m HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as a famous shogun who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
    I was born in Kobe, worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce you Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama.
    In Kyoto, I can guide you Nijojo Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Tempe (Golden Pavilion), Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
    In Osaka, I’ll show you Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky biilding. We have locall foods such as Kushikatau, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
    In Kobe, I’ll take you to former foreign residential area, Sannomiya Shopping Street, Chinese Market, and Arima Onsen.
    In Nara, I’ll guide you Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, and Yakushiji Temple.
    In Wakayama, I take you to Koyasan, the center of Esoteric Buddhism.
    I enjoy guiding foreign tourists.
    I can show you Japanese history, especially samurai period, and Shinto and Buddhism.
    I’ve been looking forward to guiding you !!

    Jun 1, 2026
    Stephan_F
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great overview of the…
    Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with…

    May 28, 2025
    terrym866
    Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with…

    Oct 17, 2024
    katiya2017
    Walking visit in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
    We booked a full day walking…

    Sep 29, 2024
    Roy_M
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a very good private tour with…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 13:00 Meet up Hotel
    • 2. 13:50 Nijo Castle
    • 3. 15:40 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 4. 16:50 Nishiki Market
    • 5. 18:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 6. 19:10 Disband Keihan Sanjo Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nishiki Market and Fushimi Inari The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. The group had a strong interest in Japanese history, culture, and food culture, and made this visit possible during a summer break. They asked some genuine questions, such as the difference between ninja and samurai, and whether one can be both a Buddhist and a Shinto follower. Describing themselves as enthusiastic food lovers with a strong interest in culinary experiences, the group greatly enjoyed yakitori, tempura of pike conger and shrimp, satsuma-age, and other street food at Nishiki Market. In the end, since it was a time of day with little chance of encountering geiko or maiko, instead of strolling through Gion, we took the Keihan Railway shuttle from Shijo-Keihan to sightsee at Fushimi Inari. Afterward, as the group wanted to take a shower first, we moved to Keihan Sanjo, the station nearest to the hotel, and due to time constraints, we exchanged smiles and handshakes with everyone on the street and said our goodbyes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKeage~Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 2BusNijojo-mae~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 3BusKinkakuji-michi~Kitaoji Bus Terminal230JPY
    Section 4SubwayKitaoji~Shijo260JPY
    Section 5TrainGion-Shijo~Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 6TrainFushimi Inari~Sanjo220JPY
    Total1,420JPY

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shiomi Station & Hatchobori Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Shiomi Station & Hatchobori Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meeting place: Hotel
    • 9:40 Depart Shiomi Station
    • (JR Keiyo Line)
    • Hatchobori Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 10:10 Arrive Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Nakamise-dori Shopping Street
    • 11:00 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 11:20 Arrive Suehirocho Station
    • Akihabara Akihabara Electric Town
    • 12:30 Depart Akihabara Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Hibiya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 13:00 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Break: Cafe Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • Takeshita Street
    • Cat Street
    • 14:00 Depart Harajuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 14:10 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • Shibuya Center Gai
    • 15:20 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    •   Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Kasumigaseki Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 16:00 Arrive Hatchobori Station
    • 16:00 Disband: Hatchobori Station

    What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, all visiting Japan for the first time. Some of the guests practiced karate at a dojo back home, were knowledgeable about Japanese history, and could speak a little Japanese. They said, "We had always wanted to come to Japan but couldn't because of the COVID-19 situation. This time it finally came true." The night before, they had arrived at Narita Airport via a connecting flight and taken the Narita Express to their accommodation. They planned to stay in Japan for a total of two weeks. After spending a few more days in Tokyo, they intended to travel around Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara before returning to Tokyo and heading home. They commented, "There aren't many restaurants around our hotel. We should have stayed at a hotel closer to the city center." The tour took place under rainy weather. Despite the rain, Asakusa was crowded with people. There were questions such as "When was this temple built?", "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?", and "Are there people who believe in religions other than Buddhism?" I explained the history of Senso-ji Temple, and there were also questions such as "What kind of teachings does Buddhism have?" One of the guests drew an omikuji fortune and was delighted to pull "Daikichi" (great blessing). They obtained a goshuin stamp at Yogo-do Hall. After this, we moved to the Akihabara electronics district. As they were all big fans of Japanese anime, they bought a large amount of character goods and figures. They said, "We'd like to come back here again tomorrow." At Meiji Shrine, there were questions such as "What are the torii gates for?", "Do Japanese people follow Buddhism or Shinto?", and "How are Buddhism and Shinto different?" There were also questions about the Japanese Imperial Family and "Why did the Meiji Restoration happen?" In the rain, we took a break at the "Cafe Terrace Meiji Jingu" and bought ice cream. After that, we strolled along Takeshita Street and Cat Street. We then moved to Shibuya and crossed the Scramble Crossing. There was a question: "Why is it so crowded here?" There were also comments such as "The whole city is clean and beautiful," "It's quiet inside the subway and no one is making noise, although it's too complicated and hard to understand," and "The public toilets are clean and pleasant. It's also nice that they're free." I saw them off at Hatchobori Station, where the tour ended.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainDepart Shiomi Station~Hatchobori Station167JPY
    Section 2SubwayHatchobori Station~Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa Station~Suehirocho Station0JPY
    Section 4SubwayAkihabara Station~Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 5TrainHarajuku Station~Shibuya Station146JPY
    Section 6SubwayShibuya Station~Hatchobori Station0JPY
    Total913JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto: Himuro-jinja Shrine & Ukimido

    Kyoto: Himuro-jinja Shrine & Ukimido

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:50 The Blossom Kyoto (Start of Tour → Scheduled End 16:50)
    • 9:00 Gojo Station (Kyoto City Subway)
    • 9:06 Express Train for Kintetsu-Nara leaves
    • 9:57 Kintesu-Nara Station (Kintetsu Railway)
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 10:10-40 Kofukuji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 11:10 Himuro-jinja Shrine
    • 11:15 Yoshikien Garden
    • walk for 10 minutes
    • 11:45 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 12:00 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 12:30 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 12:40 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall
    • walk for 10 minutes
    • 13:20 Mizuya-chaya (Udon lunch)
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 13:40 Kasuga-taisha Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage)
    • walk for 5 minutes
    • 14:20 Ukimido
    • 15:00 Nara-machi (Old Quarters of the town): sake tasting etc.
    • walk for 10 minutes
    • 16:00 back at Kintetsu-Nara Station (End of Tour)

    What Is a Private Nara Day Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report During this period of extreme summer heat, I really should have avoided packing too much into the itinerary and instead worked in some air-conditioned museums at appropriate intervals. Among the Kofuku-ji National Treasure Museum, the Nara National Museum, the Todai-ji Museum, and the Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Museum, it would have been wise to include at least two of them. If the goal is simply to cool down, the Kasugano Forum, which is free, might also be a good option. Since the group was reduced to fewer guests than originally planned, we could have used a taxi to escape the heat, but perhaps the heat had dulled my thinking, because that idea did not even occur to me — something to reflect on! The heat in the Naramachi area at the end seems to have delivered the final blow to the guests' heat fatigue.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGojo (Kyoto City Subway)~Kintetsu-Nara1,020JPY
    Total1,020JPY

    Hello! Thank you for choosing Nara! I bet you’ll love Nara. I specialize in Nara because Nara is the unique place where in one day you can cover the history and religions of Japan from the ancient times to the post war era while enjoying rambling in the UNESCO World Heritage park, having communication with lovely deer, surrounded with the beautiful nature.
    I grew up in Nara, went university in Kyoto, enjoyed teaching at high schools and a university in Osaka. The three former capitals of Japan are home to me.
    After retiring from teaching I began guiding so that I can meet various people from various corners of the world with a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each time I guide, I find it hugely rewarding because I learn a lot from my guests sharing the history, culture and all that I know about Nara, Kyoto and Osaka.
    I used to be a marathon runner, mountain climber and skier though I am not much of them anymore.
    What I especially recommend is to stay in Nara a couple of days and enjoy communicating with friendly deer while visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nara in early morning, temples and shrines at night are well worth experiencing.

    May 16, 2026
    I3520JTcristinat
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nara with family
    Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and…

    May 3, 2026
    Maria_J
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyable day in Nara
    We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi…

    Apr 11, 2026
    64sandig
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
    ????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day…

    Mar 30, 2026
    dpadillachavez
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
    Great day at Nara!
    Best tour on Nara, Junichi…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1100 Depart from Matsumoto Ryokan
    • 1130 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 1230 Nanzen-ji Temple
    • 1415 Disband at Kyoto Station underground mall

    What's a Private One-Day Tour of Kyoto's Fushimi Inari and Nanzenji Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The morning start was changed from 10:00 to 11:00 due to a guest not feeling well. It was a very hot day with strong sunshine, so I made sure we walked slowly. Fushimi Inari Taisha was not very crowded, and there was no line for the "Omokaru-ishi" stones, so we were able to try them right away. At Nanzenji, the breeze through the leaves of the trees felt wonderful, and we were able to relax at the temple gate and sit in front of the dry landscape garden. At the guests' request, they wished to end the tour at the originally planned finishing time of 14:00, so I guided them to the underground dining area of Kyoto Station near their hotel, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto Station~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Sanjo220JPY
    Section 3SubwaySanjo Keihan~Keage220JPY
    Section 4SubwayKeage~Kyoto260JPY
    Total850JPY

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

    Oct 10, 2025
    alijohn48
    Just what we were looking for
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Tomy was…

    Aug 8, 2025
    Katherine_G
    Fantastic day touring Kyoto with private tour guide & driver!
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max…

    Jul 22, 2025
    98patrickn
    early morning tour of Kyoto with guide Tomy
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We did an early…

    Jul 20, 2025
    Mark_S
    Great day in Kyoto
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a great…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Shimbashi Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Shimbashi Station & Shibuya Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting point: The B Ginza
    • 10:10 Depart Shimbashi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 10:30 Arrive Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Tsukiji Uogashi
    • Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 11:30 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Kasumigaseki Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 12:00 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Takeshita Street
    • Cat Street
    • 13:00 Depart Meiji-jingumae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 13:10 Arrive Omotesando Station
    • Omotesando Omotesando
    • 13:50 Depart Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 14:00 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • Shibuya Center Street
    • 14:20 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 14:40 Arrive Shimbashi Station
    • 14:40 Dismissal: Shimbashi Station

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, most of them coming to Japan for the first time. They had arrived at Kansai Airport ten days earlier, and after traveling through Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima, they arrived in Tokyo yesterday. They planned to stay in Tokyo only briefly before returning home from Narita Airport. They mentioned, "The weather has been cold in our home country this year, so we had no idea Japan would be this hot." They also said they were planning a day trip to Mount Fuji the next day. It was a tour under rainy skies. First, we headed to Tsukiji. I explained the difference between "Tsukiji Market and Toyosu Market." One of the guests said, "Then, the day after tomorrow, we will go and see Toyosu Market." At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they eagerly looked around here and there and purchased some "bean snacks." They also sampled "grilled beef skewers." They asked questions such as, "Why are there so many people?" "There are so many kinds of fish." "Why do they sell not only fish but also meat and vegetables?" and "Do people in Tokyo all come here to buy fish?" After that, we moved to Meiji Shrine. At Meiji Shrine, they asked questions such as, "What is the purpose of the torii gate?" "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?" "What kind of religion is Shinto?" and "Do Japanese people believe in Buddhism or Shinto?" I also explained the nature and history of the Japanese Imperial family. One of the guests expressed a wish to walk along Omotesando, so we strolled leisurely along Omotesando. After that, we moved to Shibuya. At the Scramble Crossing, one of the guests commented, "Why are there so many people here?" We took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. They made comments such as, "The city is clean and quiet everywhere. There is no litter on the ground," "No one talks loudly on the trains," and "There are truly a lot of subway trains." I saw them off at Shimbashi Station, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShimbashi Station~Tsukiji Station600JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji Station~Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae Station~Omotesando Station0JPY
    Section 4SubwayOmotesando Station~Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 5SubwayShibuya Station~Shimbashi StationShimbashi Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    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…