Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:00 Meeting Coffee House Café (near Oyado Hachi)
    • 2. 8:40 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 3. 10:40 Sannenzaka・Ninenzaka・Ishibei-koji
    • 4. 11:30 Maruyama Park・Yasaka Shrine
    • 5. 12:10 Chion-in Temple (Sanmon Gate, Miedo Hall, Seishido Hall, Hojo Garden, etc.）
    • 6. 13:40 Shoren-in Temple
    • 7. 14:30 Lunch (Hatsune Sushi)
    • 8. 15:15 Dismissal (Oyado Hachi)

    **Title:** What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, making their long-awaited first trip to Japan. The tour was arranged to coincide with a birthday celebration. As background to their visit, the guests had a strong interest in Japan as "a country at the forefront of advanced technology while also possessing a unique and ancient history and culture." Throughout the tour, they enjoyed asking questions such as why torii gates are painted red, why the fox is a symbol of Inari shrines, and how Buddhism and Shinto coexist. However, under the intense summer heat, and after energetically climbing the very steep approach to Chion-in Temple, the guests expressed a wish to take a shower after lunch, so we went directly to the hotel by taxi. In front of the hotel entrance, the guests repeatedly commented on how fulfilling and satisfying the day's tour had been, and we parted with smiles and a handshake (15:15). (As round-trip taxis were used, no claim for guide transportation expenses is necessary.)

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

    Tour Report by Masa

    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.

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    Sep 16, 2026
    Getaway43892457305
    Fantastic two days tour in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had exceptional…

    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…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meeting point: JR Kyoto Station, Shinkansen Central Gate
    • 11:30 Sightseeing ①: Nijo Castle
    • 12:30 Sightseeing ②: Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 13:30 Sightseeing ③: Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:40 Sightseeing ④: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00 Dismissal: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Title: Can You Visit Kyoto's Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari in a 4-Hour Private Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, currently traveling in Japan. Early that morning they had taken the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, and they planned to return to Tokyo in the evening, so they had chosen a "4-hour course (10:30–14:30)" (the meeting time was later changed to 11:00). In our advance communication about the itinerary, the guests wrote, "We are not interested in shopping. We would like to learn a lot about the history and culture of Kyoto," so their purpose for sightseeing in Kyoto was extremely clear. I therefore proposed "Nijo Castle → Kyoto Imperial Palace Park and Palace → lunch → Kinkaku-ji," but the guests replied, "We would really love to see Fushimi Inari as well — is that possible?" I explained, "As I proposed, a maximum of three places is the limit for a 4-hour course. If you really want to go to Fushimi Inari, we would have to either cancel Kinkaku-ji or move lunch to after the tour ends." In the end, they agreed with my proposal. On the day, the guests appeared at the agreed central exit of the Shinkansen station about ten minutes earlier than scheduled, and we reconfirmed the itinerary. There, the guests still seemed unable to give up on Fushimi Inari, pressing me with, "Isn't there any way to make it work?" I responded, "If you skip lunch during the tour time and have it after the tour, I can manage to guide you to Fushimi Inari — would that be all right?" To this the guests replied, "Of course that's fine. Thank you for being so flexible." The thought crossed my mind, "In this continuing heat, water is always available, but will everyone be okay on an empty stomach (myself included)?" but since the guests seemed energetic, I decided to change the itinerary as requested. Once the tour began, the guests moved very smoothly and were very cooperative with time management. As for transportation, we used the subway, city buses, and JR trains — almost all air-conditioned environments — so we could travel very comfortably. When the walking time to stations and stops is not too long, I was reminded that public transportation truly has its advantages in the heat. As I had understood from our advance communication, the guests had a strong interest in Japanese culture and history, listened closely to my explanations, and asked many questions. At times, I added quizzes such as, "Why is the fox the symbol of Fushimi Inari?" and we were able to enjoy the tour. It was guiding once again in intense heat, but I was able to have an enjoyable tour with a close and curious group.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto～Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijojo-mae～Imadegawa220JPY
    Section 3SubwayImadegawa～Kitaoji220JPY
    Section 4BusKitaoji Bus Center～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5TrainEnmachi～Inari200JPY
    Total1,130JPY

    Tour Report by Nori

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

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    Aug 10, 2026
    Paul_H
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kind and knowledgeable guide – highly recommended
    Nori communicated…

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • PM14:00 Meet at Hotel
    • PM14:30 Fushimi Inari
    • PM16:00 Kiyomizu-dera
    • PM19:30 Disband at Dotonbori

    What Is a Private Kyoto-to-Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. While talking about the highlights of the Kansai region during our Kyoto sightseeing, they said they wanted to have dinner in Osaka that evening. Since I am from Osaka, I decided to go with them. We had planned to visit Gion after Kiyomizu-dera Temple, but we were caught in a sudden downpour. We took shelter for about 30 minutes, but as it showed no sign of stopping, we skipped Gion and, soaking wet, headed from Kawaramachi to Osaka. When I took them to Dotonbori, an event was being held and the guests were astonished by the huge crowd. Walking around under the blazing sun, getting caught in a sudden downpour, and an unplanned trip to Osaka — it was quite a demanding day, but I am sure the guests forgot their fatigue and enjoyed the night in Osaka.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari～Tofukuji150JPY
    Section 3BusTofukuji～Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKiyomizu-michi～Shijo Kawaramachi230JPY
    Total760JPY

    Tour Report by Naoki

    I am Naoki Nakatani. I live in Osaka.
    I started tour guide from 2023 after 40 years
    work experience in Japanese manufacturing company. I am currently teaching Japanese as volunteer staff to foreign residents who live in my community. I have 11 and half years work experience in overseas office and I had interacted with people of foreign countries for a long time enjoying business and friendship with them. My guide experience is still short but I will provide my best service to the guests. I am in a position to prepare the itinerary if guests request and to send any information for the guest to make plan before visit to Japan.

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    Jul 11, 2026
    Trevor_F
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    4 hour Private Tour
    Naomi was our guide and did a…

    Jun 6, 2026
    May_O
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful time in Kyoto
    We had a terrific time with Naoki. He…

    May 1, 2026
    Sanfrancisco820
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
    Naoki is an…

    Mar 28, 2026
    Tanya_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great guide
    Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best…

  • Kanagawa: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine & Hokokuji Temple

    Kanagawa: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine & Hokokuji Temple

    Kamakura Zen Temples & Gardens Tour with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet @Hotel, board hired car
    • 9:45 @Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
    • 10:45 @Hasedera Temple
    • 11:30 @Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
    • 12:15 Lunch @Minemoto Main Store
    • 13:15 @Komachi Street
    • 13:40 @Kakuonji Temple, with matcha
    • 14:10 @Hokokuji Temple
    • 15:00 Disband @Hotel

    What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Kamakura? A Licensed Guide's Report At the request of one of the guests, who wished to show Kamakura—a town visited over 30 years ago—to the group, [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guided them to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hasedera Temple, and the Great Buddha of Kamakura. In addition to explaining the difference between shrines and temples, I described the Japanese history of the Kamakura shogunate period, which the guests greatly enjoyed. They were impressed by the straight Wakamiya-oji avenue and the view of Yuigahama Beach from Hasedera Temple, but it seemed that the figure of the Great Buddha left the strongest impression. After lunch at a soba restaurant on Wakamiya-oji avenue, we took a short walk along Komachi-dori Street. Since the morning had been spent at busy, crowded spots, in the afternoon I guided the guests to the quieter Kakuonji Temple and Hokokuji Temple. After being overwhelmed by Kakuonji Temple, associated with Hojo Yoshitoki, they enjoyed matcha in the bamboo grove of Hokokuji Temple. Although it was a short time, they were very pleased to explore the temples and shrines of Kamakura, each with its own distinct atmosphere.

    Click here for more details: Kamakura Zen Temples & Gardens Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Seky

    Hi friends, I’m Seky, a tour guide in Tokyo, but I cover all over Japan, namely from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I have lived overseas for more than 15 years in total, such as US, UK, Singapore and others, and enjoyed local culture there. Back in Japan, I wish I could help travelers to Japan enjoy Japanese culture, and this is why I became a tour guide.
    In Tokyo, my favorite places are Shibuya, Harajuku, Asakusa, and if you are interested in fish market, I’d love to take you to the world largest Tuna auction and/or if you are sports lovers, I’ll go to ball games (baseball) too.

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    May 8, 2025
    J
    jeanne_c
    Sell was very…
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sell was very knowledgeable and willing to talk…

    Mar 2, 2025
    Joe_F
    Excellent Custom Tokyo Tour
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour, customized to my interests, Edo period…

    Mar 1, 2025
    R2911ISjoef
    Excellent Custom Tours, Great Guides, Reasonable Prices.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a friendly…

    Oct 27, 2024
    Jennifer_G
    Great day touring Tokyo !
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 7 persons)
    We had…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Hotel – 13:00 Asakusa Sensoji Temple – 14:00 Lunch – 16:00 Akihabara – 18:30 Disband at Shinkiba 2-chome

    # What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, and Go-Karting The guests were a group from North America visiting Japan for the first time. Since they were on a Japan tour of about ten days, we started by having them purchase a one-day subway pass and a PASMO card. Upon arriving in Asakusa, the tour began with a sushi lunch at the suggestion of one of the guests. In addition to regular sushi, they enjoyed nigiri of Kobe beef and large fresh oysters from Miyagi Prefecture. After exploring Asakusa, including Senso-ji Temple, we headed to Akihabara. We first stopped at a large electronics store that stood out for its enormous building, set a time, and everyone shopped individually. Since there was a go-kart reservation in the evening, everyone gathered on time, and we went to the kart station in Shinkiba, where the tour concluded.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayGinza～Asakusa209JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa～Akihabara210JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara～Shinkiba356JPY
    Section 4BusShinkiba～Shinkiba 2-chome210JPY
    Total985JPY

    Tour Report by Michio

    Welcome to Japan. My name is Michio, your tour guide in Tokyo and Japan. I was born and grown up in Tokyo, and still living in western suburb of Tokyo with my wife, except for 10 years outside of Japan travelling and living in 60 countries. So I might have visited your country and still remember a few words.
    Japan has unique history, nature and culture, and there are plenty of secrets and wonders behind them such as food culture, Zen and Ninja.
    So please explore and discover the hidden and most beautiful part of Japan together. Let’s experience!

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    Oct 25, 2025
    Carla_G
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking…
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking tour was fantastic! Michio…

    Oct 24, 2025
    410trishab
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 — Outstanding Tour with Michio and Nobuhiko!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from…

    Oct 11, 2025
    GoPlaces52694049181
    We enjoyed our time in Tokyo with Michio our tour guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    PiscesV
    Sushi for breakfast at 630am? Yes please!!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 9:00 Meet @ Haneda Airport Terminal 3, 2F Arrival Lobby, in front of the currency exchange
    • 2) 10:10 Meiji Shrine
    • 3) 11:30 Lunch @ TEPPANYAKI 10 SHIBUYA (Shibuya Scramble Square 12F, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
    • 4) 12:30 Shibuya Crossing
    • 5) 13:30 Yanaka Shopping Street
    • 6) 14:50 Sensoji Temple Kaminarimon Gate
    • 7) 15:00 Dismiss @ Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street (1-36-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo)

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour from Haneda Airport Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided the guests from North America, who were on their way home after traveling elsewhere in Asia. The meeting point was set in front of the currency exchange on the 2nd floor arrival lobby of Terminal 3 at Haneda Airport (HND). In the WhatsApp messaging beforehand, the guests had not indicated any requests, so I confirmed their preferred itinerary when we met on the day. However, since they had no clear preferences, I recommended Meiji Shrine as the first destination, which they agreed to, and we decided to determine later destinations after checking their wishes. As a result, we were unable to purchase a 24-hour Tokyo Metro pass. One of the guests had visited Japan ten years earlier but seemed to remember no destinations other than Shinjuku. Just after the tour began, one of the guests said they were hungry because they had not eaten the in-flight meal. I had them buy takeout at the Tully's cafe in the 2nd floor arrival lobby, and they ate it on the train while we traveled. At Meiji Shrine and everywhere we went, the guests were very enthusiastic about taking photos, and we also took convenience store breaks (they seemed troubled by the high humidity). When we arrived in Shibuya, I guided the guests to a restaurant before it got crowded. While waiting, I thought ahead about the remaining itinerary and figured that, including the Shibuya crossing, we could realistically cover only about three more spots. I showed the crossing quickly, gave up on the Imperial Palace, and decided to guide them through Yanaka and Asakusa. After a second convenience store break, we went to Yanaka Ginza shopping street. The Suwa Shrine annual festival mikoshi procession happened to take place starting at 2:00, so the guests experienced the excitement of a portable shrine festival. After a third convenience store break, we headed to Asakusa. One guest's smartphone battery was running low, so I lent them my personal mobile battery, but it did not recover sufficiently. I arranged for battery charging at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center and guided them to Kaminarimon Gate. Since the guests planned to take a taxi to the airport, we ran out of time at the Nakamise shopping street and parted ways there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKeikyu Line Express Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station～JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station510JPY
    Section 2SubwayTokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Kita-sando Station～Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Shibuya Station180JPY
    Section 3SubwayTokyo Metro Hanzomon Line Shibuya Station～Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Sendagi Station260JPY
    Section 4TrainJR Yamanote Line Nippori Station～JR Yamanote Line Ueno Station150JPY
    Section 5SubwayTokyo Metro Ginza Line Ueno Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station180JPY
    Total1,280JPY

    Tour Report by Tachi

    Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!

    Request Booking

    Sep 6, 2026
    Paullyb
    Highly professional and relaxed tour exceeding our expectations
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tachi…

    Jun 19, 2026
    Daniel_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    10/10 would do again!
    Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and…

    May 24, 2026
    Meander63637687943
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour guide Tachi is the best!
    A most enjoyable and…

    May 19, 2026
    Jai_K
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    I would definitely…
    I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • Hotel (8:00) – Asakusa (Tourist Center, Sensoji Temple, Denbouin-dori) – Akihabara (Denki Kaikan, Starbucks at Atre) – Tokyo Station Ichibangai (Pokemon Store on Character Street) – Shibuya (Crossing, Parco 6F CYBERSPACE SHIBUYA, lunch at Kugetsudo) –
    • Shibuya Dismissal (14:00)

    What Is a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, and Shibuya The group joined me in the morning without any trouble. It was extremely hot and humid, so I kept an eye on how everyone was doing and did not push too hard. I had initially thought of visiting about three shops in Akihabara, but since the guests seemed tired, having arrived in Japan only the day before, we visited the electronics building and then took a break at a coffee shop in the mall before heading to Tokyo Station. At the Pokémon shop, some of the guests suddenly lit up with excitement and became energetic again. For lunch there had been a request for ramen, but when I looked into it, it was hard to find a restaurant that could take a reservation with table seating. I finally managed to find one near a shopping complex, which was one of our destinations, and we used it there. The guests wanted to spend some time shopping in Shibuya, so when the scheduled time came (14:00), we parted ways on a street in Shibuya. Incidentally, since we visited Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at around 9:00 in the morning, it was not yet too crowded and we were able to take many photos.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSangenjaya Station～Asakusa440JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa～Akihabara180JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara～Tokyo150JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo～Shibuya210JPY
    Total980JPY

    Tour Report by Sammy

    Name is Sakai Katsuomi, a national certificated interpreter & tour guide. I usually go by Summy. I would like to assist you in making your visit to Japan a wonderful treasure of life.I not only offer tours to famous tourist spots throught Japan but also provide guidance on experiencing traditional Japanese culture. If you interested in Japanese martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo, or if you are visiting Japan to train in these disciplines, I can assist you with making apointments at dojyos, interpretating during practice sessions, filming videos and accompany you on your sightseeing adventures in Japan.
    Of course, I can definitely assist you with regular sightseeing. This includes visiting historical and cultural sites, exploring Japanese pop culture and subculture hotospots,and even arranging anime- related activities and character-themed shopping for children. I can customize the initerary according to yourpreferences and requests.

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    Sep 25, 2026
    mogestrip
    Amazing tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Sammy is an exceptional tour guide-lots…

    Sep 8, 2026
    sonyasW9476NJ
    Insider intro to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Sam was a fantastic guide!…

    Sep 3, 2026
    Safari63080984627
    Half day Family tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We did a fantastic tour…

    Jul 13, 2026
    elizabethtW414DU
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Sammy was absolutely amazing from start to…

  • Tochigi in One Day: Kegon Falls & Toshogu

    Tochigi in One Day: Kegon Falls & Toshogu

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at JR Nikko Station
    • 9:40 Purchase bus free pass and Toshogu admission tickets at Tobu Nikko Station
    • 9:55 Travel by bus to Chuzenji Onsen
    • 10:50 Kegon Falls
    • 11:30 Cruise around Lake Chuzenji by sightseeing boat
    • 12:40 Travel by bus to the shrine and temple district
    • 13:20 Lunch (at Yamabiko on Nishi-Sando)
    • 14:15 Stop by Futarasan Shrine
    • 14:30 Toshogu
    • 15:45 Tour Rinnoji Temple and Shinkyo Bridge on foot
    • 16:05 Travel by bus to Tobu Nikko Station
    • 16:15 Tour ends

    What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Nikko? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. The guide was confirmed only two days before, and although I had asked them to choose their preferred destinations in advance, this was not decided beforehand, so we discussed it on the day and settled on a course covering the Lake Chuzenji sightseeing boat, Kegon Falls, Toshogu Shrine, and a walk through the shrine and temple district. Nikko had been experiencing evening showers day after day, but fortunately it was only cloudy with occasional light showers, so we were able to visit everything as planned. The guests enjoyed the natural scenery as well as the history and the solemn, magnificent architecture of the shrines and temples. I had not known this until now since it is not widely advertised, but a bus free pass and a Toshogu Shrine admission ticket can be purchased at Tobu Nikko Station, so I tried using them this time. The bus pass saved a few hundred yen on this course, and having the Toshogu admission ticket in advance meant no time was lost purchasing it on site, which was very convenient. I will make sure to use these for future tours starting from Tobu Nikko Station as well.

    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
    Section 2OtherFuna-no-eki Chuzenji～Funa-no-eki Chuzenji1,680JPY
    Section 3Free PassChuzenji Onsen～Nishi-Sando Entrance0JPY
    Section 4Free PassShinkyo Bridge～Tobu Nikko Station0JPY
    Total3,980JPY

    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo & Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo & Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

    Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Meet up @ JR Sannomiya Station
    • 13:00 @ Mt. Rokko
    • 15:15 @ Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Kobo
    • 16:15 @ Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
    • 17:45 Disband @ JR Maiko Station

    Title: What Can You See on a 6-Hour Private Tour from Kobe to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a solo traveler visiting Japan to attend a conference in Kyoto. The tour was originally booked as a 4-hour tour but was changed to a 6-hour tour at the guide's suggestion, and everything proceeded smoothly. At the summit of Mount Rokko, the guest was amazed by the magnificent scenery and by the air, which felt very refreshing thanks to a temperature said to be 2–3 degrees lower (perceived) than in the city. At the shop, the guest happily sampled the special ice cream and cider from Rokko Farm and seemed very satisfied. At Hamafukutsuru Sake Brewery, the guest enjoyed tasting a wide variety of sake, had a friendly conversation with a staff member (a former master brewer), and purchased sake cups and other items as souvenirs. At the final stop, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the guest was again deeply moved by the grand scenery. At the shop, the guest bought a famous octopus plush toy and took a commemorative photo with the staff. We parted ways at the nearest JR Maiko Station, but the guest purchased quite a lot of sweet buns at a bakery near the station recommended by the guide, and then bought jam, honey, and olive oil at a nearby supermarket. On the way back to Osaka, the guest wished to stop off in Kobe or Sannomiya if possible to try "Kobe beef," so I recommended two restaurants.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSannomiya～Rokko200JPY
    Section 2OtherRokko Cable Shita～Rokko Cable Sanjo1,500JPY
    Section 3TrainSumiyoshi～Maiko410JPY
    Total2,110JPY

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
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    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
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    Great experience
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    Castle journey worth your time!
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  • Kyoto: Nara Park and Todaiji Temple & Kintetsu Nara Station

    Kyoto: Nara Park and Todaiji Temple & Kintetsu Nara Station

    Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    August, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:00 Hotel – After meeting, head to Nara (via Kintetsu)
    • 8:30 Nara Park and Todaiji Temple
    • 10:00 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 11:00 Return to Kintetsu Nara Station, lunch in the area
    • 11:45 Stroll around Naramachi
    • 13:45 Kintetsu Nara Station
    • 15:00 Hotel – Dismissal

    Can You Do a Private Day Trip from Kyoto to Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. On the day of the tour, we met at a hotel near Kyoto Station at 7:00 in the morning and arrived at Todaiji Temple by 8:30. As expected at that hour, there were few people in Nara Park and at Todaiji Temple, so we were able to leisurely enjoy playing with the deer and take our time exploring the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji and Nigatsudo Hall. After that, we were able to complete the walk to Kasuga Taisha Shrine before it got very hot, which I was glad about. During our stroll through Naramachi, one of the guests bought some pottery as a gift, and others purchased sweets and sake. Even though they had visited a sake brewery in Fushimi the previous day, they enjoyed a sake tasting at a brewery. Since it became very hot in the afternoon, it was good that we spent a long time indoors. The guests also seemed generally satisfied with each of the shops I guided them to.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Kintetsu Nara1,520JPY
    Section 2BusKintetsu Nara～In front of Todaiji Great Buddha Hall500JPY
    Total2,020JPY

    Tour Report by Yoshi

    I am Yoshi, a Nara Local Government Licensed Guide Interpreter and also, a National Government Licensed Interepreter.
    Let’s go out! The Kansai region was the center of Japan for a long time. It was from the 4th century to 19th century. Thus the Kansai region is rich in scenic and historic interest. Why don’t we see, feel, and find so many attractions in Nara Kyoto and Osaka. I was born and raised in Nara. Also I have been to Osaka and Kyoto for working, shopping and dining. I can show you not only major tourist spots but also shops and delicious food that only locals know. I am looking forward to sharing wonderful moments with you!

    Request Booking

    May 29, 2025
    Dana_K
    Get ready to climb and explore
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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    Aug 16, 2024
    Dylan_N
    Yoshi was a great tour guide
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    Jun 9, 2024
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