Category: Uncategorized

  • Hiroshima in Half a Day: Miyajima

    Hiroshima in Half a Day: Miyajima

    Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00　Gather at the Hotel
    • 9:31　Take the high-speed boat to Miyajima
    • 10:00　Arrive at Miyajima
    • 　　　　Shrine　Omotesando
    • 12:25　After sightseeing in Miyajima, head to Miyajimaguchi
    • 12:35　Arrive at Miyajimaguchi
    • 14:04　From Miyajimaguchi to Hiroshima Station
    • 14:20　Disband at Shin-Inokuchi Station

    Can You Do a Private Miyajima Day Tour Before Catching a Flight from Hiroshima? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private tour for a group of guests visiting from North America. Since the group was flying to Tokyo later that day, they needed to arrive at Hiroshima Station by 2:00 PM. The original plan was to leave the luggage at the hotel and make a round trip to Miyajima by high-speed boat, but that would have left only about one hour on Miyajima, which is not enough time to sightsee properly. So I suggested bringing the luggage along to Miyajima and returning to Hiroshima Station by JR on the way back. Since it was uncertain whether the lockers on Miyajima would be available, I let the guests know that, in the worst case, they should be prepared to sightsee while carrying their luggage. Fortunately, we were able to store the luggage in a locker on Miyajima, so the guests were able to fully enjoy the island. I explained the Miyajima torii gate using photos, and since they had also visited the Peace Park the day before, I explained the contents of the museum using photos as well. They were very pleased. I explained that a local specialty of Miyajima is anago-don (grilled conger eel rice bowl), and one of the guests showed great interest, so I introduced Uenoya near Miyajimaguchi, which is famous for its anago-don, and they ordered anago-don to take away.

    Click here for more details: Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1FerryPrince Hotel～Miyajima1,050JPY
    Total1,050JPY

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

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    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…

  • Kobe Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kobe Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kobe Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:00 Meet up @ Kobe Port Terminal
    • 2. 09:40 @ Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
    • 3. 10:50 @ Sumadera Temple
    • 4. 12:30 Lunch @ Mount Rokko (653Cafe)
    • 5. 14:20 @ Meriken Park
    • 6. 15:00 Disband @ In front of Nankinmachi Chouan Gate

    Title: What Is a Private Kobe Shore Excursion Like from the Port Terminal? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. We met in the lobby of the Kobe Port Terminal and toured the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Sumadera Temple, Mount Rokko, and Meriken Park, ending the tour in front of Nankinmachi (Chinatown). The guests had originally requested a visit to the sake breweries in Nada, but when I asked the group about their preferences in the vehicle, someone expressed a wish to go shopping. The guests had also initially requested to extend the tour time, but when I explained that extending the vehicle time would incur an additional charge, their feelings seemed to change. As a result, we canceled the sake brewery visit after Mount Rokko and decided to go to Meriken Park, which is close to the Motomachi shopping arcade. After strolling through Meriken Park, when we got off in front of Nankinmachi, the guests said they wanted to end the tour right away. Because of this, I told them where the shuttle bus stop for the Kobe Port Terminal was located, and we parted ways. The guests were pleased with the tour itself. However, because it ended so suddenly, I forgot to hand the guests a review card. I am sending photos for your reference. My apologies.

    Click here for more details: Kobe Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Norio

    Hello, my name is Norio Oki, a Government-Certified Tour Guide in Japan.
    I specialize in guiding visitors through the beautiful and historic regions of Himeji and Kobe.

    My expertise includes Japanese history, traditional culture, castles, and sake. I enjoy sharing not only facts, but also the stories and spirit behind each place.

    In Himeji, I offer guided tours of Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden, Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, and Nadagiku Sake Brewery.
    In Kobe, I guide guests through the Nada Sake Breweries area, Mt. Rokko, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden, Harborland, Meriken Park, the Kitano District, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and the lively Motomachi Shopping Street.

    Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or local experiences, I will create a personalized tour tailored to your interests.

    If you’re planning to visit Himeji or Kobe, I would be delighted to be your guide.
    I look forward to meeting you soon!

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    Jul 7, 2026
    77guye
    The best way to experience Himeji Castle
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    What a great way to…

    May 30, 2026
    karenpG5549XU
    Loved our tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour with Norio, would highly…

    May 28, 2026
    TrailBlazer741528
    Kobe Variety.
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our delightful guide, Norio, was knowledgeable and a master at…

    May 23, 2026
    sarahpR5911DJ
    Himeji castle with Norio
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We learnt lots about Himeji castle and it…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:32 Meet up @JR Kyoto Station Shinkansen Platform
    • 2. 10:00 @Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 3. 11:30 @Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove・Tenryu-ji Temple)
    • 4. 12:45 Lunch @Gontaro
    • 5. 13:45 @Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 6. 14:20 @Nijo Castle
    • 7. 15:25 Disband @Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour from Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were arriving in Kyoto from Tokyo, so I arranged to meet them on the platform to make sure we could connect reliably. The tour start time was moved up by one hour, but the driver kindly agreed to the change. The guests wished to see as many places as possible, but since they had arrived in Kyoto on an early morning service, we decided to sit down and enjoy a relaxed lunch. I was relieved that they very much enjoyed the dashi broth at the restaurant. After they agreed that we would need to move a little quickly, we also visited Nijo Castle. Thanks to my explanations, they were told they could enjoy the "SHOGUN" series they were currently watching even more, and despite the quick pace, they were delighted with Nijo Castle.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKyoto～Kyoto140JPY
    Total140JPY

    Tour Report by YUKA

    Hi! My name is YUKA. I’ve got the government license in 2018 and joined a half year traning to do the guide. But a half year later I started my carreer, Covid came. I should have given up guiding. During the Covid, I’ve read many books and made my own materials to explain Japanese culture, history, etc. I love guiding because the guests expand my horizon all the time and let me know their own country and culture, etc. It is really important for us all to know each other and respect each other to make this world peace. Thank you for coming to Japan! Let’s enjoy Japan together!

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    Jul 25, 2026
    Ann W
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    One of the highlights of my trip, perfect for solo…

    Jul 14, 2026
    Elizabeth W
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Great tour
    We had a great tour with…

    Jul 11, 2026
    Dianna-fam
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Wonderful Tour, Wonderful Guide!
    My teenage boys and I…

    Jul 1, 2026
    Christian_L
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto visite with Yuka : Wow !
    Wow ! Yuka was…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet at Kyoto Station　8:30 Fushimi Inari　　10:20 Kinkaku-ji　11:40 Lunch　　13:00 Yasaka Pagoda　Sannenzaka　　13:30 Kiyomizu-dera 　14:00 Tour ends

    What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Some of the guests were visiting Japan for the first time, while others had been to Japan before. Because most of the group did not understand much English, one member of the group interpreted my guidance for the others. Partly for this reason, the tour took more time than expected. In addition, the group only had two Suica cards, so cash always had to be prepared for the others and tickets purchased from the vending machines, which meant it took time before boarding the trains at the station. Some of the guests were already worn out by the heat in the morning. The temperature was similar to their home region, but the humidity seemed quite different. Even so, one of the guests had plenty of stamina and walked quickly alongside me, while another in the group tired easily and became quite exhausted on the climb up to Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera. As we were also running short on time, once the visit to Kiyomizu-dera was finished, the group suggested ending the tour there so they could take their time shopping and walking on their own. Unfortunately, this meant we ended the tour without being able to go to Gion. In the photos the guests are smiling and cheerful, but otherwise they seemed rather subdued. Today Kyoto was especially hot at 34 degrees, and with rain on consecutive days the humidity was also high, so most of the group became tired. The photo was taken at a sushi restaurant near JR Nijo Station. I think a Spanish-speaking guide would have been a better fit. [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.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari～Enmachi200JPY
    Section 3BusEnmachi～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi～Enmachi230JPY
    Section 5TrainEnmachi～Nijo150JPY
    Section 6SubwayNijo～Higashiyama260JPY
    Section 7BusHigashiyama-sanjo～Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Total1,450JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

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    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • Around 9:45　Meet at JR Kyoto Station
    • (By taxi) Shisen-do
    • (On foot) Stop by Ark Kyoto Sakyo Branch (antique shop) along the way
    • Shopping at Second Street Kyoto Shirakawa-dori Branch
    • Lunch at Tenkaippin Head Store
    • (By taxi) Shimogamo Shrine
    • (By train) Edion Kyoto Kawaramachi
    • (On foot) Nishiki Market　(On foot) Subway Shijo Station　(By train) Subway Kyoto Station　where the guide gets off midway　Dismissal

    Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Tour by Taxi? A Licensed Guide's Report Because the day was hot and the guests wanted to save as much time as possible, they requested to travel by taxi. I chose Shisen-do because I had previously heard from the guests that they preferred quieter spots over crowded ones, so I looked for a place where they could feel at least a little cooler. The guests relaxed a great deal on the tatami and in the garden. There was a small moment where the temple staff gave a reminder at the area for removing shoes, however. I recommended Second Street because I had heard that one of the guests liked secondhand clothing shops, and we also visited an antique shop we happened to spot while strolling around. The ramen was very well received. At Shimogamo, I translated the water fortune (mizu-mikuji), and some of the guests tried it, which got everyone excited. On the way to Demachiyanagi Station, one of the guests showed interest in gachapon capsule machines, so I recommended a nearby electronics store to cool off, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. At Nishiki Market, they were mostly just looking around since they were full, but they showed interest in wagyu and ate some grilled skewers. Finally, we took the subway. I told the guests that my own nearest station was Kujo, and I got off partway at Kyoto Station, where we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKeihan Demachiyanagi～Keihan Gion-Shijo230JPY
    Section 2SubwayShijo～Kyoto220JPY
    Total450JPY

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

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  • Tokyo in One Day: Hotel Ginza Takaracho & Asakusa & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo in One Day: Hotel Ginza Takaracho & Asakusa & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Hotel Ginza Takaracho
    • 13:30 Asakusa & Sensoji Temple
    • 14:00 Asakusa & Don Quijote (shopping)
    • 15:00 Okachimachi & Takeya (shopping)
    • 17:00 Hotel Ginza Takaracho
    • (Ended earlier than planned at the guest's request, as they were very tired and wanted to return to the hotel)

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa and Okachimachi Shopping The guests were a group visiting from Asia. They had arrived in Tokyo on an overnight flight that morning, and had spent the morning before the tour walking around the Ginza area near their accommodation, as check-in was not yet available. When we met, I handed over a draft itinerary (Asakusa → Sumida River cruise → Odaiba → Meiji Shrine → Shibuya) and confirmed their wishes. They said they first wanted to go to Asakusa and then shop around the Ueno-Okachimachi area, so we set off by subway. After visiting Senso-ji Temple, they mentioned they also wanted to see a Don Quijote store, so I guided them there, but they could not find much of what they were looking for, so we moved on to Takeya in Okachimachi. There they purchased many items, including a suitcase, cosmetics, and snacks. The original plan was to visit Meiji Shrine and Shibuya after shopping, but due to the intense heat and tiredness from the overnight flight, and with a Mount Fuji sightseeing trip planned for the next day, they wished to return to the accommodation and relax. We took connecting subway lines together to the Hotel, where they checked in, and the tour ended around 17:00. It seemed they enjoyed their main goal of shopping, but the heat was extremely severe and they became very tired. English conversation was difficult for the group, so I mainly communicated with the one member who spoke English best.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTakaracho～Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Shin-Okachimachi170JPY
    Section 3SubwayOkachimachi～Takaracho290JPY
    Total680JPY

    Tour Report by SAM

    Hello! I am Osamu Kitagawa , National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter(English). Please call me SAM.
    I love Japanese culture, history, and visiting historical places, scenic spots, and fashionable spots as well. I can guide you all over Japan as I have ever visited all prefectures in Japan. I have a global experience in international banking business including residing in Hong Kong and Jakarta. So I’m able to have daily conversations in Indonesian language, too. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!

    Certification
    Certified Travel Services Manager
    Authorized Tour Conductor
    Kyoto Expert Certification

    Request Booking

    Jul 23, 2026
    svendulrikr
    Tripadvisor review: Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
    Best of Nara
    Amazing trip to Nara with the most…

    Jul 10, 2026
    valerianos862
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Private tour of Tokyo.
    Our guide Sam is very…

    Jun 20, 2026
    Sarah B
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We learned how to ride the trains and we went to…

    Apr 14, 2026
    MDMallory
    Tripadvisor review: Yokohama and Kamakura 6hr Private Trip Government-Licensed Guide
    The Natural Beauty of Kamakura
    Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable…

  • Tochigi in One Day: Board bus ~11:20 & JR Nikko Station

    Tochigi in One Day: Board bus ~11:20 & JR Nikko Station

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:25 Meet up @ JR Nikko Station
    • 10:32　Board bus ~11:20
    • 11:30　Kegon Falls ~11:45
    • 11:55　Lake Chuzenji
    • 12:15　Lunch @ Soba Koraku
    • 13:15　Board bus ~13:45
    • 13:46　Shinkyo Bridge
    • 14:00　Rinnoji Temple Sanbutsudo
    • 14:40　Toshogu Shrine
    • 15:45　Board bus
    • 15:55　JR Nikko Station
    • 16:05　Help purchase return train tickets, then disband

    Title: What Is a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Nikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America. Their main purpose in Japan was visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort, and they were staying in the Maihama area throughout their trip. On one of the days between enjoying Disneyland, they took a one-day trip to Nikko. They enjoyed Nikko together with youthful enthusiasm. Through email exchanges beforehand, the guests had said they definitely wanted to visit Kegon Falls, so we went there by bus. They also enjoyed the green mountains and the steep winding roads along the way. Lunch had originally been planned near Toshogu Shrine, but to let the guests enjoy Lake Chuzenji more, we ate at a soba restaurant by the lakeside. Since they liked noodles, they shared dishes such as curry udon and sesame dipping soba. They had some trouble using chopsticks, so they carefully wound the noodles around their chopsticks with their fingers, which was charming to watch. I explained that in Japan it is normal to slurp noodles and that they were welcome to make noise, but since they were not used to it, a small slurp was about the best they could manage. They walked energetically, but by evening the steep steps at Toshogu Shrine seemed a bit tough, so we did not go to the inner shrine. There was also not enough time before the return train, so we did not see the Crying Dragon, but as they were pleasantly tired after a full day of walking, I believe they were fully satisfied.

    Click here for more details: Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusJR Nikko Station～Chuzenji Onsen1,250JPY
    Section 2BusChuzenji Onsen～Shinkyo Bridge1,200JPY
    Section 3BusShinkyo Bridge～JR Nikko Station220JPY
    Total2,670JPY

    Tour Report by Yumi

    Hello! My name is Yumi. The Nikko area, Nasu area, in Tochigi Prefecture, and Aizu and Shirakawa area in Fukushima prefecture, where I will be guiding you, are not only surrounded by beautiful nature in all four seasons but are also full of historical attractions. Nikko, in particular, is a great place to learn about the culture and history that has shaped Japan to this day. In order for you to truly enjoy your day, I am flexible to your wishes and will prepare your day to be a great day. Because I am a local guide, you will surely see some sights that are not in the guidebooks. Is local food one of your favorite parts of your trip? I am also a sushi-making instructor for foreigners, so food is one of my specialties. I am also a certified sake navigator. Why don’t you come and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with me?

    Request Booking

    Jul 1, 2026
    laine164
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!
    We had a wonderful time exploring Nikko.
    Our friendly…

    Apr 7, 2026
    V2097LInickd
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Guide Yumi Highlights Nikko on walking tour
    Our 16,000 step tour…

    Apr 4, 2026
    O4367MVkarenv
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fantastic day in Nikko
    We had a fantastic day with Yumi. She…

    Nov 10, 2025
    Salutory
    A fascinating tour with a friendly and knowledgeable guide
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Yumi…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Ropeway & Bus

    Kanagawa in One Day: Ropeway & Bus

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 11:15: – 11:50 Move to Motohakone Port by bus (Deyama → Motohakone Port)
    • 11:50 – 13:10 Sightseeing at Hakone Shrine and the Motohakone townscape
    • 13:25 – 13:50 Pirate ship (Motohakone Port → Togendai)
    • 13:50 – 14:10 Ropeway (Togendai → Owakudani)
    • 14:10 – 15:00 Sightseeing at Owakudani, lunch
    • 15:10 – 15:55 Ropeway, cable car, Hakone Tozan Railway (Owakudani → Hakone Open-Air Museum Station)
    • 16:00 – 17:00 Visit the Open-Air Museum
    • 17:10 – 17:13 Hakone Tozan Railway (Open-Air Museum → Kowakudani)
    • 17:14 – 17:30 Bus (Kowakudani → Deyama)

    What Is a Private One-Day Hakone Tour Like by Bus? A Licensed Guide's Report The day before the tour, the guests asked about the cost of arranging a car, as one of them had injured a foot. I had the office of [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) check on this, but since the request came the day before, I let them know that arrangements could not be made in time. Fortunately, on the day of the tour the foot pain had eased, so we carried out the tour as planned using the bus. Following an itinerary tailored to the guests' wishes, we visited Hakone Shrine, the sightseeing cruise ship, the ropeway, Owakudani, the cable car, the mountain railway, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum. The weather was cloudy, but there was no fog, so the views of Lake Ashi and Owakudani were clear, and Mount Fuji occasionally appeared between the clouds, which delighted the guests. By making it a full loop course, the guests were also very pleased to be able to ride so many different modes of transportation.

    Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusDeyama～Motohakone Port990JPY
    Section 2OtherMotohakone Port～Togendai1,200JPY
    Section 3OtherMotohakone Port～Togendai Port800JPY
    Section 4OtherTogendai～Owakudani0JPY
    Section 5OtherOwakudani～Sounzan0JPY
    Section 6TrainSounzan～Open-Air Museum590JPY
    Section 7TrainOpen-Air Museum～Kowakudani Station160JPY
    Section 8BusKowakudani Station～Deyama470JPY
    Total4,210JPY

    Tour Report by Hit

    My name is Hit Suzuki. I am a male National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter for English tours. I have been living in Tokyo for more than 30 years and worked at a company in the Shinjuku area, which is the western core active area of downtown Tokyo, for more than 20 years. Therefore, I am very familiar with Tokyo City. I am happy to guide you to wherever you want to visit, eat, and experience in Tokyo. In addition to Tokyo, I am also very familiar with Hakone and Nikko, which are wonderful excursion areas from Tokyo where you can enjoy beautiful scenery and Japanese history. If you are interested, I would be glad to guide you in those areas as well.

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    Aug 1, 2025
    A
    Alessandro_G
    Our guide was called Hit…
    Viator review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide was called Hit Suzuki…

    Oct 21, 2024
    619yukik
    日光プライベートツアー6時間
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    ガイド鈴木さまのおかげで素晴らしい日光観光になりました。
    もともと予定していたゴールデンルートがありましたが、天気の兼ね合いと私たちがハイキングしたいという要望に応えてくださり、直前にも関わらず臨機応変に対応してくださいました。豊富な知識と私たちの要望に応えてくださったお陰でとても充実した1日になりました。大大大満足です。本当にありがとうございました。

    Oct 16, 2024
    Erica_E
    Awesome tour! Definitely recommend
    Viator review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an awesome time on our private…

    Oct 13, 2024
    H2475JJdavids
    A wonderful day in Nikko
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hit was a fantastic guide. He was…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • Hotel pick up
    • To Kinkakuji by bus
    • To Nijyoujyou by bus
    • To Imperial palace by subway

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. I had asked in advance about the places they wished to visit, and we carried out the tour almost exactly as planned. They were surprised that in Japan, whether for buses or temple admissions, cash only is often the norm. Since they planned to spend three more nights sightseeing in Kyoto and then continue in Tokyo, they expressed a wish for a card, so I helped all of them purchase ICOCA cards at a subway station. After visiting Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle, we went to the Imperial Palace, where I gave an overview before having them join the English-language guided group starting at 14:00 (about one hour). By that point, four hours had passed (10:00–14:00), so my portion of the tour concluded there. It was an enjoyable tour.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKawaramachi Gojo～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 2BusKinkakuji-michi～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 3SubwayNijojo-mae～Imadegawa220JPY
    Total680JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

    Hi, every one. How have you been? I am JGA tour guide Kazu. It is my great pleasure that I can introduce myself here. I am already more than 70 years old, but I believe I am still young both mentally and physically. I like walking with my customers very much. I am from Tokyo, but now

    I live in Kyoto traditional city and an old capital of Japan. I had worked at electric manufacturing company for more than 40 years. While I was working at that company, fortunately I had a lot of chances to visit many foreign countries.

    I lived in Singapore, Malaysia, Poland and Mexico. Also I visited America, Britain, and other countries. Basically I used English to proceed my job there, however I always tried to speak local languages as much as possible. Through staying other countries, I found that there were great differences of the culture or the way of thinking between those countries and Japan. I though I had a valuable experience. After I retired from the company 5 years ago, I began to work as a tour guide although I got the National English tour guide license 7 years ago. Besides English I speak Spanish but I don’t have Spanish tour guide license yet. I belong to the comany JGA and worked around 10 days a month. So far I accompanied with mu customers more than 100 groups. All of my tour was good and lucky as I was always favored with gentle and kind customers.

    My hobby is playing the guitar, dancing and learning foreign languages. I sometimes join the concert by playing the guitar, and it is fun for me. Though I like dancing, I can not dance well. I only enjoy dancing here in Japan.

    About the tour in Japan, I usually take my tourists to the famous spots in Kyoto like Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu dera, Fushimi inari, Gion area,Nishiki market and Arashiyama area. In Arashiyama area we often visit Bamboo forest,Nonomiya shrine,Togetsukyou bridge and Kimono forest. I will cope with my customers demands as much as possible so that I try to visit any places up to your requests.

    I welcome a lot for your coming to Japan. and if possible I would like to help you to visit various kind of spots in Japan especially in Kyoto. JGA is very flexible company so that I have a confidence that you will be satisfied with our attitude and hospitality. I am glad that many of my customers told that it was so nice to travel around Japan. We will and I will expect you come down to Japan any time and we are ready to help your memorable trip in Japan. I can not wait!

    Request Booking

    Sep 26, 2025
    kaylah199
    Amazing tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kazu was extraordinary! He planned a wonderful day for…

    Jul 30, 2024
    Venture826497
    Great time in Kyoto!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My daughter and I had an amazing time…

    Jul 8, 2024
    233vickies
    6 hour Kyoto tour with Kazu
    Tripadvisor review: Private Kyoto Tour with Government-Licensed Guide and Vehicle (Max 7 persons)
    We had…

    Jun 21, 2024
    Hoc_N
    A fascinating experience in Kyoto we won’t forget
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The most memorable parts…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Strolling around Gion & Monkey Park

    Kyoto in One Day: Strolling around Gion & Monkey Park

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:45 Hotel pick-up (by taxi)
    • 　9:10 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 10: 20 Sannenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda
    • 11:00 Strolling around Gion
    • 11:20 Transfer from Gion-Shijo Station to Sanjo Station, switch to taxi
    • 12:00 Arrive at restaurant, lunch (Japanese cuisine Joy) Walk to Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 13:00 Kinkaku-ji Temple (by taxi toward Arashiyama)
    • 14:20 Monkey Park
    • 　Extension requested
    • 15:10 Tenryu-ji Temple ~ Bamboo Grove
    • 17:00 Finish at the Kyoto Station subway boarding area

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like Visiting Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama? A Licensed Guide's Report During the tour, the guests wished to visit the Monkey Park, so the tour was extended until 5:00 pm. Before the tour, the guests had requested to visit Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari all in one day. Since covering all of these in six hours would be difficult, I suggested that the guests visit Fushimi Inari on their own. On the day, in the Arashiyama area, in addition to the bamboo grove, the guests also wished to visit the Monkey Park, so we decided to extend the tour. The guests were visiting from North America. One of the guests had a very serious allergy (with cross-contamination risk), so we had to be very careful about meals. In the end, the guests ate a packed lunch they had brought (only rice and some special meat), which the restaurant kindly allowed. (I mentioned it to the restaurant, and while they said it was not permitted as a rule, they were busy and seemed to overlook it.) Since the guests wished to visit many places in one day, they had agreed to use taxis from the outset. As it was a hot and humid day, this was a great help. Fortunately, we were able to use a five-seater taxi twice. Some of the guests had deep interest in Japanese culture and asked many questions. The guests seemed to enjoy the Monkey Park the most.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKeihan Train (Gion-Shijo Station)～(Sanjo Station)170JPY
    Section 2TrainSaga-Arashiyama Station～Kyoto Station240JPY
    Total410JPY

    Tour Report by Anne

    Hello, I am Atsuko Hori. My nickname is “Anne” because I’m a big fan of ” Anne of Green Gables”. I am cheerful, talkative and punctual. I’ve been doing guiding more than ten years mainly in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. I am especially familiar with ” Geisha Districts”, where traditional Japanese dancers live. I graduated from the university of Education in Nara. I love kids. Actually I have three grandchildren. I like history, architecture and local foods. My motto is giving the best hospitality to my guests. I think we will have a good time during the tour. Would you like to join my tour?

    Request Booking

    Sep 13, 2024
    connormA415PD
    Memorable Tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Anne was lovely & very…

    Jul 3, 2024
    Cosmopolitan691874
    Private Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our family had an amazing time with Anne in…

    May 31, 2024
    Clare_A
    Once in a lifetime experience
    Viator review: Kyoto Gion Tour Maiko or Geisha Dinner Included
    Great tour with Ann who was…