Category: Uncategorized

  • Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:45 Pick up at JR Nikko Station
    • ~8:20 Explanation of the day's itinerary + purchase of sightseeing bus pass at Tobu Nikko Station (the counter does not open until 8:20)
    • 8:50 Shinkyo ➡ 9:10 Otabisho ➡ 9:20~9:50 Sanbutsudo, Gomado, Sorinto ➡ 10:00~11:30 Toshogu ➡ 11:41~12:20 Bus travel (to Chuzenji Onsen) ➡ 12:20~12:50 Lunch ➡ 13:00~13:30 Kegon Falls ➡ 13:35~14:10 Bus travel (to Hotel History Museum) ➡ 14:10~14:40 Hotel History Museum ➡ 14:40~14:55 Walking (to Taiyuin) ➡ 14:55~15:35 Taiyuin ➡ 15:35~15:55 Futarasan Shrine ➡ 15:55~16:15 Walking (to Miyamae Dango) ➡ 16:15~16:35 Break @ Miyamae Dango ➡ 16:35~16:50 Walking (to JR Nikko Station) ➡ Depart for Utsunomiya on the 17:19 train

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Nikko and Okunikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a guided tour that ran two hours longer than planned. The guests had a strong interest in Japanese history and religion, and they found the topic of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism especially fascinating. When we parted, they asked whether I could recommend a book explaining how this syncretism came about and the historical background behind it. Since I could not think of one immediately, I plan to contact the guests later with a recommendation. They were also interested in Buddhism itself, and we had a lively conversation about how it traveled from India to Japan, passing through various countries and being influenced and transformed along the way. This trip combined the city of Nikko, home to two shrines and one temple, with Okunikko, and although it must have been quite demanding, the guests moved energetically throughout. For lunch, I had intended to introduce a restaurant that prepares fresh soba by hand every morning, but it was unexpectedly closed, so I was unable to offer that delicious meal and felt sorry about it. On the way back, the guests enjoyed a set of matcha and dango at Miyamae Dango, and one of them said, "This is the most delicious dango I have ever had. Matcha back home tends to be powdery, but this is delicious — it's a completely different thing." I hope that helped recover the situation a little. In Okunikko it was raining heavily, and since the guests only had raincoats and no umbrella, I shared my umbrella with one of them. As a guide, I deeply reflected that I should carry more than one umbrella.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTobu Nikko Station～Chuzenji Onsen2,300JPY
    Total2,300JPY

    Tour Report by Ichi

    I am more than happy to take you to attractive tourism resources scattered in Nikko. I will prepare for your trip enough to satisfy your requests and provide you with the memorable tour. When I was a company employee, I lived abroad for 5 years in Los Angeles, 11 and a half years in Washington D.C. and 2 and half years in Brussels. Despite 19 year long stay abroad, I remain charmed by Japanese things, such as culture, custom, spirit, martial art etc. I am glad if I can be of help you understand Japan as well as Nikko through my guide. I am interested in Japanese martial arts: I own the third grade in Japanese archery, known as Kyudo and I have passed a certification examination (1st grade) for Sumo wrestling conducted by the Japanese Sumo Promoting Association.

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    May 22, 2026
    michaeliI2370UG
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nikko with Ichiro Amazing!
    Ichiro was an awesome tour guide and made…

    May 15, 2026
    Laurent S
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    excellent
    Ichi was very patient, indulgent, super nice, always had an…

    May 12, 2026
    H4725BUbarbarab
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Ichi memorable tour
    Ichi made our trip to Nikko very memorable. He…

    Apr 5, 2026
    EmilioP6
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Great day with Ichi
    Our day in Nikko with Ichi was…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Dotonbori

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet up @ Osaka Station
    • 11:15 Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
    • 12:00 Osaka Castle
    • 13:30 Kuromon Market
    • 14:00 LUNCH @ Kuromon Market
    • 15:30 Dotonbori
    • 16:00 Disband @ Osaka Station

    What Is a Private One-Day Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group of guests visiting from North America. At the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, there was a special exhibition themed on the Tenjin Festival at the time, which was very interesting, and the guests enjoyed the fireworks displayed on screen within the facility. After that, since the guests had purchased an Enjoy Eco Card, we were able to skip the long line at Osaka Castle. However, the guests did not seem particularly interested in going all the way up to the 8th floor inside, so we finished by taking some lovely photos outside. At Kuromon Market, the guests enjoyed a variety of things little by little, including seafood senbei (squid and other seafood pressed into a cracker shape over 30 cm in size), tempura, and sweet potato slice chips. Then we took a lunch break at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant inside the market (the dishes are delivered by conveyor but do not actually rotate). It was cool inside, the atmosphere was calm, the tablet could switch to an English menu, there were plenty of payment options, and clean restrooms were available. I think it is an ideal place for a group to sit down and eat comfortably in the Kuromon area. Note: even a guest who did not like fish was able to enjoy dishes such as udon. Finally, we walked along Dotonbori, took photos in front of the Glico sign, then returned toward Osaka and parted ways in front of the JR ticket gates. I hope this one-day trip to Osaka became a wonderful memory.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Umeda～Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome190JPY
    Section 2SubwayTenjimbashisuji 6-chome～Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 3SubwayTanimachi 4-chome～Nippombashi190JPY
    Section 4SubwayNamba～Umeda240JPY
    Total860JPY

    Tour Report by Yuko

    Dear guests,

    I’m Yuko, your guide. I’m happy to guide you!

    I have lived in Osaka since I was born(almost 50 years), so I’m a Osaka master!!
    Osaka has a long history, so of course, we have some historical places, but the best thing of all is …… food!!
    I can take you not only to the castle, shrines, temples, but also to the nice restaurants or food stands where you can enjoy Osaka’s local foods

    And, Kyoto, I don’t need to say anything, but it’s the most famous place in Japan where you can know Japanese culture. Of course, I can show you around Kyoto. I have guided the guests in Kyoto many times, so you also enjoy Kyoto tour with me!

    Let’s enjoy the tour with me and have an unforgettable memory!

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    May 9, 2025
    373gauravm
    Day well spent in Osaka
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yuko San is one of the best…

    Apr 21, 2025
    marianacJ7585VZ
    Fun, convenient, friendly guide around Osaka
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yuko was great at guiding us…

    Apr 4, 2025
    K8311RNlaurak
    Great sightseeing experience
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoku was a wonderful guide showing us osaka castle…

    Apr 3, 2025
    andrewfM955FU
    Amazing Guide
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The tour was a great way to see some of…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: @Osaka Castle & @Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: @Osaka Castle & @Dotonbori

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka
    • 10:45 @Osaka Castle
    • 13:00 @Shitennoji Temple
    • 13:45 @Dotonbori
    • 14:45 Disband @Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Shitennoji, and Dotonbori The guests were visitors from Oceania. They were both very good walkers, which allowed us to move around smoothly. At Osaka Castle they explored with great interest and care, asking many questions. Because of this, we ran short on time, so the final stop at Dotonbori ended up being a rather rushed visit. The guests seemed very fond of Japan, making very positive comments about the country, which made guiding them a pleasure. I also enjoyed hearing interesting stories about their home region in Oceania and the various countries they had visited in the past, which made the day very rewarding as a guide. At Shitennoji, the "Daishi-e" (the monthly memorial day for Kobo Daishi) was being held today, so the temple grounds were lively with many street stalls. Also, while the usual admission fee is 300 yen, it was free of charge today.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOsaka～Morinomiya170JPY
    Section 2TrainMorinomiya～Tennoji170JPY
    Section 3SubwayShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka～Nipponbashi190JPY
    Total530JPY

    Tour Report by Yama

    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

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Nara in One Day: Kasuga-taisha Shrine & 30 Yoshikien Garden

    Nara in One Day: Kasuga-taisha Shrine & 30 Yoshikien Garden

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:40 (Start of Tour) JR Nara Station
    • 10:00-30 Kofukuji Temple Playing with deer along the Kasuga-taisha Shrine approach, etc.
    • 11:30-12:10 Kasuga-taisha Shrine
    • 　　（We saw a large group of elementary school students entering the National Treasure Museum, so we gave up on it for the time being and revisited it on the way back）
    • 12:15-40 Mizuya Chaya　lunch
    • 12:50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill: former katana sword manufacturer's shop
    • 13:10-40 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall
    • 14:00 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
    • 14:20-50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
    • 15:00 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
    • 15:10-30 Yoshikien Garden
    • 15:40-16:00 Kofukuji National Treasure Museum
    • 16:10 In front of the Deer Supporters Club　(End of Tour)

    Title: Can You Do a Private Day Trip from Nagoya to Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report Through our correspondence beforehand, it turned out that on the morning of the tour the guests would actually be traveling all the way from Nagoya. I judged that the original condition of "meeting at 9:00 at JR Nara Station" would be impossible, so I prepared a detailed timetable for the route from Nagoya to Nara and explained that it would be better to push the meeting time back, and we changed the time accordingly. Because of this exchange, it already felt like we were old acquaintances by the time we first met in person. And thanks to delaying the meeting, the torrential rain that had triggered warnings from the previous night had almost completely stopped by our meeting time of 9:40, which was truly lucky. I already knew from our prior correspondence that the guests would not eat rice, but I bought some kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf sushi) at my own expense (without giving any room to refuse) and encouraged them to try it, and they smiled and ate at least the mackerel on top, saying it was good (the leaves and rice became a souvenir for the deer). It turned out that the reason for the unusual "Nagoya to Nara tour" was related to the guests' circumstances. During the tour there were long phone calls to attend to, but once those were finished, I believe the guests truly enjoyed themselves. It is sad that the world is becoming more and more workaholic.

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

    Tour Report by Junichi

    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.

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    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…

  • Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.08:00 Meet up @ Hotel Ginza Premier
    • 2.08:20@Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 3.10:00@Asakusa
    • 4.11:30@Kappabashi Kitchen Town
    • 5.12:00 Disband @ Kappabashi Kitchen Town

    What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour of Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Kappabashi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of friends traveling together, having graduated from the same university. They had just arrived the night before. They enjoyed the variety of ingredients and the lively atmosphere at Tsukiji. They said the black cod marinated in Saikyo miso was extremely delicious as they ate it. Since it was just a short walk from their accommodation, they said they would come back again. The rain started coming down quite heavily, but at Asakusa they drew omikuji fortunes, and at Kappabashi everyone seemed particularly interested in the kitchen knives, examining them with great attention. They wanted to walk around Kappabashi on their own, so I explained how to get back and we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTsukiji～Asakusa209JPY
    Total209JPY

    Tour Report by FUMIKO

    Hello, I am Fumiko, an English-speaking Tourist Guide. I have been guiding foreign visitors science 2016. Please let me know your bucket lists whiles you are staying in Japan and what you are interested in. I will make the best plan for you. This is an once in a lifetime experience for you. As for myself, I love traveling, meeting people, eating local food, drinking, history, and art. I am learning Ikebana, traditional Japanese-style flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. I also love sports, especially tennis. I like children, so I can teach them some origami, folding paper. I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Japan.

    Request Booking

    Jul 27, 2026
    zyarisa
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko tour good vibes only
    Mrs. fumiko was very…

    Jul 23, 2026
    734mortenp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Nice tour of Tokyo
    Don’t visit Tokyo without a guide! You’ll…

    Jul 10, 2026
    Jessica_A
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko was wonderful. …
    Fumiko was wonderful. You can…

    Jun 28, 2026
    alistairn2016
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fumiko is a great tour guide – informative, friendly and very well…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya & Takeshita Street

    Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya & Takeshita Street

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon
    • 11:00　Imperial Palace Outer Garden & East Garden
    • 12:30　Asakusa & Lunch at Marugoto Vegan
    • 14:30　Shibuya
    • 15:30　Takeshita Street
    • 16:30　Disband at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon

    What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, the irises were in full bloom, and they remarked that the Japanese garden was beautiful as well. In Asakusa, they were surprised by the large crowds, but both of them drew a "Good Fortune" omikuji and were delighted. In Shibuya, they went into a capsule toy shop and bought several items, as a warm-up before their planned visit to the famous Akihabara the next day. On Takeshita Street, one of the guests purchased sunglasses and some souvenirs.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKamiyacho～Nijubashimae900JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi～Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Shibuya0JPY
    Section 4SubwayShibuya～Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 5SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Kamiyacho0JPY
    Total900JPY

    Tour Report by Steve

    Hello, Welcome to Japan! I would like to guide your journey in Japan which will be wonderful and fantastic.
    I was born at Tokyo, have lived 60 years. There are many traditional and modern spots in Tokyo , You can enjoy and feel the contrast between them,
    Please let me know which spots you are interested in, or would you like me to recommend popular spots?
    Japanese food tastes great too. I am also a Sake Sommelier, Sake is Japanese alcohol made from rice with a refined and mild taste.
    Sake tasting would be a fun for you.

    I am sharing self introduction and scenery in Japan(incl outside of Tokyo) by my web site & Instagram,
    Please look at, when you have a time.
    https://stevejpntour.wixsite.com/japan-tour
    Instagram :steve.jpguide
    Thank you very much and looking forward to seeing you ! Steve

    Request Booking

    Jun 11, 2026
    Melissa_M
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    All the hits in in six short hours in Tokyo
    Lots of…

    Jun 7, 2026
    lornew449
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    4 hour tour in Tokyo with Steve!
    Steve was a great tour…

    May 20, 2026
    KateGolo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful Tour of Tokyo
    We had a wonderful tour of Tokyo, and…

    May 19, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    I very interesting tour and also the shopping street.
    Steve was an…

  • Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:20 Meet up @THE LIVELY Tokyo Azabu-Juban
    • 2. 09:35 Travel: subway, train
    • 3. 10:45 Stay @Tobu Railway Kawagoe Station
    • 4. 11:10 Travel: bus, walking
    • 5. 11:30 Stay @Kawagoe Castle Nakanomon Moat Ruins
    • 6. 11:40 Stay @Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten
    • 7. 12:35 Lunch @Kanmi Sabo Kasuga
    • 8. 13:00 Stay @Candy Alley, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
    • 9. 13:35 Travel: bus
    • 10. 14:00 Travel: train, subway
    • 11. 15:05 Disband @Tokyo Metro Korakuen Station

    What Is a Private Half-Day Tour of Kawagoe Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The day before the tour, I received a message through the front desk of the guests' accommodation letting me know that it would be difficult for them to get to Kawagoe Station on their own, so I decided to pick them up at their hotel on the day. Because of this, we met about an hour earlier than originally planned. This additional hour of guiding was paid to me directly by the guests. Since it was a short tour of about four net hours, I limited the number of spots we visited. If it had been a six-hour tour, I would have taken them to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine after visiting the Honmaru Goten of Kawagoe Castle, but since they preferred to prioritize their meal, I guided them straight to lunch. The restaurant I chose this time is a personal favorite of mine, and they seemed very satisfied with the unusual sweet potato somen. As they had requested to return to the hotel by around 14:30 if possible, we left Ichibangai (the main old-town street) at about 13:30, and at Korakuen Station on the Tokyo Metro I explained how to get back to Azabu-juban Station, and we parted ways there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKawagoe Station～Fuda no Tsuji210JPY
    Section 2BusNakacho～Kawagoe Station210JPY
    Total420JPY

    Tour Report by Sam

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    G848SWmaribelm
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo sights was great!
    The tour experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Cezary P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour of Tokyo!
    Sam, was outstanding! Showed…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Michael_C
    Tokyo tour
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a wonderful guide -…

    Jun 18, 2026
    David_W
    Viator review: Tokyo Tsukiji Food & Culture 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Fish Market Tour
    Great tour. Got to see…

  • Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour

    Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour

    Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 11:00 Meet up @Renge Join
    • 2. 11:20 @Kongobuji Temple
    • 3. 12:50 @Danjo Garan
    • 4. 13:30 @Okunoin
    • 5. 17:00 Disband @Mount Koya

    Title: What Is a Private Guided Tour of Koyasan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests included Koyasan as one of the first destinations they decided on for their Japan trip. When I explained that the 21st is the monthly memorial day of Kobo Daishi Kukai, it turned out that there was a special event at Kongobuji Temple where visitors could try on monks' robes, which made for a fun experience. The guests were delighted by the special event held inside a building that is normally off-limits. After enjoying the sound of the bell at the bell tower in the Danjo Garan complex, we headed to Okunoin. Since this was the main highlight for the guests, we proceeded slowly at their own pace. After helping them purchase train tickets at Koyasan Station for their trip to Osaka on the 22nd, we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMount Koya～Isshinguchi270JPY
    Section 2TrainSenjuinbashi～Okunoin-guchi160JPY
    Section 3TrainOkunoin-mae～Mount Koya510JPY
    Total940JPY

    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
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    Great tour
    We had a great tour with…

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    Dianna-fam
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    Wonderful Tour, Wonderful Guide!
    My teenage boys and I…

    Jul 1, 2026
    Christian_L
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    Kyoto visite with Yuka : Wow !
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  • Ishikawa in One Day: Higashichaya district & Ninja temple (Myoryuji)

    Ishikawa in One Day: Higashichaya district & Ninja temple (Myoryuji)

    Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Kagabi Yuzen
    • 9:30 Higashichaya district
    • 10:30 Omicho market
    • 11:00 Nagamachi samurai house district
    • 12:30 Lunch (Your preferences are noted)
    • 14:00 Ninja temple (Myoryuji)
    • 15:00 End of the full day tour

    Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Tour of Kanazawa Like? A Government-Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan. While sightseeing together, we had lively conversations about Japanese culture and history along the way. Below is a review from the guests. Review content: June 2024 Great guide in Kanazawa Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide The guide was a great guide and patiently answered all my questions. He showed us the most interesting places in Kanazawa. Recommend him highly! Thank you very much for the courteous guiding. This full-day private tour of Kanazawa was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is a winner of the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusOmicho Market～Korinbo630JPY
    Section 2BusKorinbo～Nomachi630JPY
    Total1,260JPY

    Tour Report by Fujio

    I was born and have spent most of my life in Kanazawa.
    When I was a university student in Kyoto, I occasionally worked part time as an English speaking guide for English speaking tourists.
    I have guided foreign tourists in Japan especially in my hometown for over 13 years soon after my retirement.
    I joined Kanazawa Good-will Guide Network in 2000 and had been its coordinator for six years from 2002, currently being its senior adviser.

    In 2012, I established with a few co-founders Licensed Interpreter-guide Net Kanazawa (LINK), currently being its adviser.
    I am very familiar with historical, cultural and industrial backgrounds of Kanazawa and its surrounding regions.
    Tour Guide Services:
    Sightseeing tours with explanation of historical and cultural backgrounds of Ishikawa prefecture including Kanazawa city, Noto peninsula, and the surrounding prefectures such as Gifu (with Takayama city and Shirakawago village), Toyama (with Gokayama village) and Fukui (with Eiheiji Zen Temple) are available at the option of the tourists.


    Full-day tour (7~8h)
    Higashi Chaya (Geisha) District including gold-leaf shops -> Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park -> 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
    -> Nagamachi Samurai District -> Omicho Market

    Half -day tour (4~5h)
    Higashi Chaya (Geisha) District including a gold-leaf shop -> Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park -> Nagamachi Samurai District
    Other popular spots are also available at the tourist’s option: Myoryuji (Ninja) Temple, D. T. Suzuki Museum, Oyama Shrine, Kaga Yuzen Traditional Industrial Center, Nishida Family Garden (Gyokusen-en), Kazuemachi Chaya (Geisha) District, Ohi Pottery Museum, Kutani Porcelain Kiln, etc.


    1. Noto peninsula (Wajima Morning market, Wajima Lacquerware Center, Sojiji Zen Temple, Ganmon and Chirihama Beach Driveway), etc.

    2. Takayama city (samurai town), Shirakawago village (world heritage) and/or Gokayama village (world heritage)

    < Home-visit (2 hours) >
    Why not visit a local home in Kanazawa to enjoy talking with the host family over tea and to learn the distinctive Japanese lifestyle at first hand, where you might experience one or two kinds of traditional culture out of tea ceremony, flower arrangement, kimono dressing, calligraphy, paper folding, etc.
    Number of visitors per host family is two to five and a larger group of more than six visitors is divided into sub-groups.

    Thank you.

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    Jun 18, 2024
    Y4083EQgillians
    Great guide in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Fujio was a great guide and patiently…

  • Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    June, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 　Meet at Hotel　9:15 Hiroden Kanayamacho→Kamiyacho　9:30 Ground Zero・Atomic Bomb Dome・Peace Park　11:30 Taxi Peace Park→JR Nishi-Hiroshima Station
    • 12:30 Miyajima・Great Torii Gate・Itsukushima Shrine 14:00 Lunch　14:30 Momijidani　15:30 Miyajima Pier　16:00 Dismiss at Miyajimaguchi Hiroden Station

    What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Peace Memorial Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America. The day before, in June, they had visited the Peace Memorial Museum on their own, spending two hours there. Because of this, I guided them for two hours around the monuments other than the museum. I introduced the hypocenter, the A-bombed Jizo statue, the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Memorial for Mobilized Students, the Children's Peace Monument with its thousand paper cranes, the Peace Bell, the Memorial Mound, A-bombed gravestones, the summit commemorative tree planting, the Cenotaph, the National Peace Memorial Hall, the summit materials exhibit, and A-bombed trees. In Miyajima, in addition to the shrine, we strolled through part of the deep green Momijidani (Maple Valley), which they enjoyed very much. In the Peace Park, some of the guests interpreted my explanations in a simpler way and explained various things to the others in the group. One of the guests had already seen the film "Oppenheimer," and the rest of the group said they wanted to watch it after returning home. Having previously spent time in Japan years ago, the guests had come back wanting to show Japan to the rest of the group.

    Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKanayamacho Tram Stop～Kamiyacho Tram Stop220JPY
    Section 2TrainNishi-Hiroshima Station～Miyajimaguchi Station330JPY
    Total550JPY

    Tour Report by Shin

    I have been an English and Italian guide for 10 years in Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okayama, Kurashiki, Iwakuni, Himeji, Osaka, Kochi and Sanin. I used to work for the Japanese trading house in Milan Italy for 9 years, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam for 2 years and Kobe /Osaka for 25 years. I was engaged in the textile and apparel division covering European and Asian market. Moreover, I worked for a food company who produce special sauce for okonomiyaki, famous local food. After retiring, I live in Hiroshima, my hometown, working as a tourist guide mainly, sometimes as an Italian interpreter for A-bomb survivor testimonies and translation. I guide you about history, culture, architecture, art, industry, economy and so on according to your interests and wishes. My hobby is oil painting of the scenery of the Inland Sea of Seto, the first national park of Japan and visiting art museum. I am interested in impressionists and works during renaissance.

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    Mar 21, 2025
    Carol B
    Peaceful Tour with Kind Local
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
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    Dec 10, 2024
    Catherine_U
    Great Half Day with Shin!
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    William W
    11/10 Great Guide
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    Our guide, Mr. Itaki, is…

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    Shiv_K
    We had a lovely visit of…
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    We had a…