Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 9:30 Meet up @ Hotel Metropolitan Edmont (10-8, Iidabashi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
    • 2) 10:10 Akasaka Palace State Guest House
    • 3) 11:10 UNIQLO Ginza Store
    • 4) 11:50 Tsukiji Market
    • 5) 13:30 Shibuya Crossing
    • 6) 14:10 Meiji Shrine
    • 7) 14:40 Harajuku <Takeshita Street → adidas Harajuku Store → THE NORTH FACE Harajuku Store>
    • 8) 16:10 Disband @ Tozai Line Iidabashi Station Exit A5

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, and this was their second time in Japan. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led this private Tokyo tour, and there were three days between the assignment being confirmed and the tour, which allowed for a candid exchange via a messaging app to gather useful information (a preference for slow walking due to an earlier ankle injury, and an interest in street food). On the way through Japan, they were stopping in Tokyo, and the next day they already had a bouldering experience and a sumo-themed restaurant booked in the city. At the national treasure Akasaka Palace (the guidelines were confirmed in advance and mutually understood with the guests), they went through a bag inspection and thoroughly enjoyed taking photos in the permitted areas. The main purpose of this visit was shopping. On the way to Tsukiji Market, we first stopped for shopping at the UNIQLO Ginza store. At Tsukiji, the guests fully enjoyed wagyu skewers, grilled eel skewers, and sushi. At Shibuya Crossing, they wished only to take photos from an upper floor of Shibuya Mark City after getting off the Ginza Line. They could not hide their surprise at the heat and, even more so, the high humidity. At Meiji Shrine, as requested, we skipped the formal worship and kept it to a short photo stop, and the guests enjoyed browsing at the souvenir shops while seeking some relief from the heat. On Takeshita Street, they got a banana smoothie to go. One of the guests is skilled enough in competitive bouldering to compete at national events and happily hopped between the adidas and THE NORTH FACE stores in Harajuku, enjoying the shopping. At one of the THE NORTH FACE buildings, a staff member guided them to a free photo exhibition on the fifth floor about Japan's most grueling mountain race, the Trans Japan Alps Race. They shared information about competitive bouldering and more, giving me a glimpse into a different world. At the end, we parted ways safely at the station nearest the Hotel. I explained how to use the subway, and I only hope it will come in handy for them the following days.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Namboku Line Iidabashi Station～Tokyo Metro Namboku Line Yotsuya Station900JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Yotsuya Station～Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Ginza Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Ginza Station～Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassToei Subway Tsukijishijo Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station～Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 6Free PassTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station～Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Iidabashi Station0JPY
    Total900JPY

    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!

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    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…

  • Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:15 Hyatt Regency Meet. Take the first cable car to Sounzan. Ropeway to Owakudani. Sample black eggs. Take the ropeway to Togendai. 10:10 Pirate ship. Disembark at Hakonemachi Port. After visiting Maruyama Bussan and Hakone Checkpoint, have lunch at Toriten Ichiya. Take the bus to Motohakone Port. Hakone Shrine and the red torii gate. Return to Motohakone Port. After consulting with the customers, put them in a taxi to the hotel. Disperse at Motohakone. End 14:30

    Title: What's a Private Hakone Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors to Japan? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America on their first trip to Japan. They mentioned that the climate back home feels much like Japan's current weather all year round, so they were comfortable with it. Because they wanted to absorb Japanese culture, they listened with great interest to talks about kanji and religion. Everyone enjoyed it when I wrote their names in katakana. At a shop near the old checkpoint, there were replica Japanese swords, and while they were curiously looking at them, the shop owner generously let them hold one and take photos. At Hakone Shrine, each of them practiced the proper way to worship. Although they were used to the climate, the humidity was quite high, and since one of the guests started to feel a bit worn out, we avoided the crowded bus and, after discussing it together, they returned from Moto-Hakone by taxi.

    Click here for more details: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassOdawara Station～Odawara Station5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    Tour Report by Hiro

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

    Request Booking

    Aug 24, 2026
    Deb_K
    Viator review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Well organised tour
    Hiro is obviously an experienced guide.…

    Aug 6, 2026
    Marcus_J
    Viator review: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing day with…
    Had an amazing day with Hiro.…

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

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

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Peace Memorial Museum & Omote-sando street

    Hiroshima in One Day: Peace Memorial Museum & Omote-sando street

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

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:45 Meet at Hiroshima Station
    • 9:20 Peace Memorial Museum
    • 10:30 Peace Memorial Park
    • 12:20 Lunch at Hanako
    • 13:20 Miyajima
    • 14:10 Omote-sando street
    • 16:10 End the tour at Hiroshima Station

    Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Asia. Although their home region is also hot, they usually stay indoors during the day, so they were surprised by the heat here. I had explained in advance about expenses during the tour, but they had assumed that transportation costs were included. I explained again which expenses would be necessary, and then we started the tour. On the bus to the museum, I explained about the atomic-bombed structures we passed. At Miyajimaguchi, one of the guests lost a ticket, so I explained the situation and we were allowed through the gate. For lunch, I recommended okonomiyaki, and they said they would like to make it at home too. On Miyajima, one of the guests became worn out from the heat, so they rested along the main approach. In the meantime, I guided the rest of the group to the torii gate, and showed them Itsukushima Shrine and the five-story pagoda from the outside. When we met again, they had recovered. I suggested some free time along the main approach and we met again later at the ferry terminal. As measures against the heat, I introduced frozen bottled drinks, body sheets, and similar items. They were also looking for a self-heating station bento, so I introduced a shop in Osaka. Changing the Shinkansen tickets could not be done on the official JR site, and since we could not figure out how to do it, I ended up seating them in the non-reserved cars and concluded the tour, as they wanted to return to the hotel and rest as soon as possible. Starting July, the automatic ticket purchase machines at the Peace Memorial Museum will begin operating. At first they will accept cash only, and later they are expected to support various payment methods. As before, admission will be divided depending on whether visitors have purchased tickets online or not. Since online ticket purchasing began, the crowding inside the museum has been severe, and measures to address this are urgently needed. When there was a line of about 20 to 30 minutes, I could use that time to talk about the actual scale of the atomic bombing, so guests actually gave better reactions in the past.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHiroshima～Peace Park-mae220JPY
    Section 2TrainAtomic Bomb Dome-mae～Yokogawa220JPY
    Section 3TrainYokogawa～Miyajimaguchi330JPY
    Section 4TrainMiyajimaguchi～Hiroshima420JPY
    Section 5OtherHiroshima～Hiroshima150JPY
    Total1,340JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    Hi. I’m Michi. I’m a national licensed tour guide in English.
    I want to introduce many faces and charms of Japan and make your stay in Japan more fascinating and satisfying.

    I was born and raised in Hiroshima. My first tour in English was as a volunteer guide for the visitors to my school when I was a junior high school student. It gave me a great opportunity to study about the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
    I spent my life in Hiroshima except for 6 years; 1 year in the UK as a student and 5 years working in Singapore and Malaysia. During this period I enjoyed meeting and talking with people from different cultural backgrounds.
    These experiences encouraged me to be a licensed tour guide.

    In Hiroshima, there are two famous World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.
    I have experienced many tours of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum & Park since I was a junior high school student. I would like to introduce you to the a-bomb legacies that are still existing in the city and the stories under the mushroom cloud.
    I also would like to share time with you on a historic island, Miyajima. There is one of the most famous Shinto shrines, the Itsukushima Shrine. We can share an enjoyable time by exploring a sacred atmosphere, tradition, nature, food, etc.

    I am also an official ‘A-bomb legacy successor’ designated by the City of Hiroshima. An A-bomb Legacy Successor is a memory keeper of the A-bomb survivors. To ensure that the A-bomb survivors’ experiences and desires for peace are faithfully inherited and shared with as many people as possible, the City has started a three-year training program for official ‘A-bomb Legacy Successors. ‘

    Let me support your stay in Japan and I look forward to showing you the best of Japan!
    Hope to see you soon!

    Request Booking

    Jan 2, 2025
    georgeweller
    Excellent tour by a very knowledgeable guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Michi-San was an…

    Nov 8, 2024
    Andrew M
    Awesome experience! Michi was the best guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Awesome…

    Nov 8, 2024
    Andrew_M
    Awesome day! Michi was an amazing guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Awesome day!…

    Sep 16, 2024
    alexandermM7944BB
    Day tour with Michi
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Michi, our guide, was amazing!…

  • Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour

    Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour

    Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Board the bus bound for Hida Folk Village　11:10 Hida Folk Village　12:54 Board the bus bound for Takayama Station　13:15 Kokubunji Temple　13:30 Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine　14:30 Old Townscape　15:00 Dismissal

    What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hida Folk Village and Takayama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were bright and charming. Since the start time was relatively late, we skipped the morning market and went straight to Hida Folk Village. It was cloudy, but the temperature and humidity were high, so I frequently suggested staying hydrated, taking breaks, and using the restrooms. The guests had clear preferences, which made guiding them easy. By good fortune, there was a wind chime festival at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and Tanabata festival decorations at Hida Folk Village, so the guests were able to enjoy scenery full of atmosphere, which was truly wonderful. Although the weather forecast was cloudy with a 0% chance of rain, we were caught in a sudden shower. The guests seemed to enjoy even that touch of atmosphere, which was a relief.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusTakayama Station～Hida Folk Village100JPY
    Section 2BusHida Folk Village～Takayama Station100JPY
    Total200JPY

    Tour Report by Mitsu

    I was born, raised, and still live in Takayama, and I am a licensed National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter.

    My guiding philosophy is to create unforgettable memories through warm, cheerful, and engaging experiences. I enjoy sharing not only the highlights of the region, but also the history, culture, and stories that make each place unique.

    I studied International Relations at a national university and have built a diverse career in the tourism industry, including hotels, travel agencies, and the local tourism association. Today, I primarily guide luxury travelers, as well as private and group tours, offering authentic cultural experiences, visits with local artisans, and in-depth insights into Japanese traditions.

    I also practice Japanese calligraphy, the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony, Sencha (Baisa-ryu), and kimono dressing, allowing me to incorporate traditional Japanese culture into my tours.

    I mainly guide in Takayama, Okuhida, Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, Kanazawa, and Kamikochi. I look forward to helping make your visit to Japan a truly memorable experience.

    Request Booking

    Sep 26, 2024
    L9503LEstephenr
    Amazing experience and best guide ever ✨️
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We did the tour…

    Aug 29, 2024
    Stay19758434714
    Takayama tour with Mitsu!
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Local Cuisine, Food & Sake Cultural Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mitsu was an amazing…

    Aug 24, 2024
    Joy L
    Mitsu introduces us to the heritage of Takayama
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Local Cuisine, Food & Sake Cultural Tour with Government-Licensed…

    Aug 13, 2024
    sall450
    Mitsu the BEST tourist guide in Takayama
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Local Cuisine, Food & Sake Cultural Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mitsu…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimiinari by Keihan train & Kyoto Station

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimiinari by Keihan train & Kyoto Station

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Higashiyama, 1 Chome-45 Honmachi,
    • 11:00 Fushimiinari (0) by Keihan train
    • 12:00 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
    • Sannenzaka by walking
    • Yasaka-no-to (400) by walking
    • 14:00 Gioji (300) by taxi
    • lunch （Senou）
    • 15:00 Bamboo path by walking
    • 15:10 Tenryuji by walking
    • 15:50 Arabica
    • 16:30 JR Sagaarashiyama
    • 17:00 Kyoto Station
    • End of the tour

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Pagoda, and Arashiyama The guests came from North America and were visiting Japan for the first time. Their itinerary was to arrive in Tokyo first, then travel to Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka, and back to Tokyo, but it seemed they had done almost no research beforehand. They mentioned that the previous day they had joined a night tour in Gion. After Kiyomizu-dera, we went to the Yasaka Pagoda. Although this overlapped a little with their Gion night tour the day before, on weekends you can go up to the second floor of the pagoda, so they were able to have a valuable experience, which was great. Walking down Yasaka-dori, there is the flagship store of Arabica (a coffee shop), and when they looked it up, they found that there were several branches in North America as well. Since we had some time in the latter half of the tour, we went to the Arabica in Arashiyama. They loved the latte and were very happy. They said they would try their local Arabica when they returned home, and were delighted. When they said they had no plans for the evening, I recommended an izakaya in Teramachi, and also suggested a place where you can drink an original Kyoto gin. When they asked where they should go once they got to Osaka, I introduced them to kushikatsu in Shinsekai, takoyaki, the Dotonbori Glico sign, Osaka Castle, and the Umeda Sky Building. I had been worried because I could not reach them at all until we actually met on the day, but they seemed to treat that as perfectly normal.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKiyomizu-Gojo～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 2TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Kyoto240JPY
    Total460JPY

    Tour Report by Kazz

    I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

    Request Booking

    Sep 25, 2026
    Marvin_F
    Kazz is an outstanding…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…

    Sep 21, 2026
    Laura_K
    Day in Kyoto with Kazz
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazz was an amazing…

    Aug 27, 2026
    M6034YWthomasm
    Worth it
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    The day went by so quickly, a…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Awesome experience
    Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…

  • Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Arashiyama

    Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Arashiyama

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Meeting point: The Thousand Kyoto
    • 08:50 Sightseeing ①: Nijo Castle
    • 09:50 Sightseeing ②: Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 10:50 Sightseeing ③: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
    • 12:00 Lunch: Arashiyama "Steakhouse Boruta"
    • 13:00 Sightseeing ④: Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple)
    • 14:15 Dismissal: The Thousand Kyoto

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour with a Car Like? A Licensed Guide's Report from Nijo Castle to Arashiyama The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe. The person had built a career in the mining industry across various parts of the world, and all prior communication had to go through another individual who described themselves as a personal assistant (the registered contact information belonged to that individual rather than to the guests themselves). Since they had no particular requests regarding the itinerary and replied that they would leave it to the guide, and because a private car was available for smooth transportation, I arranged four destinations: (1) Nijo Castle, (2) the Kyoto Imperial Palace, (3) Kinkaku-ji, and (4) Arashiyama. For lunch, I initially suggested Japanese cuisine, but since the guests expressed a wish for Kuroge Wagyu beef steak, I chose a steakhouse in Arashiyama. The day was extremely hot. While the car provided some relief from the heat during transfers, sightseeing in places without shade meant being exposed to intense sunlight. However, Nijo Castle, which centers on indoor viewing, as well as the Bamboo Grove path in Arashiyama and the grounds of Tenryu-ji, which are surrounded by trees, offered shade and were relatively comfortable. I truly felt the difficulty of touring Kyoto under the blazing summer sun. That said, the guests had a strong interest in Japanese culture and history and asked many questions, which made it a very rewarding tour to guide. Looking back on the tour, I feel there were two challenges. The first, which I could not have known from the prior communication, was that one of the guests had undergone ankle surgery and found it difficult to walk for long periods. When I asked whether there was any pain, the reply was that everything was fine, so I made a point of walking as slowly as possible while keeping an eye on the situation. At Arashiyama, with the guests' consent, we skipped the Togetsukyo Bridge and instead visited only the Bamboo Grove path and Tenryu-ji. The second challenge, which is related to the first, was that all the advance communication and coordination was conducted only through an intermediary, and I was never able to communicate directly with the guests themselves until the very end. Fortunately, the itinerary was completed without any problems, but the matter of the ankle was something I only learned about after meeting in person. This experience reaffirmed for me the importance of being able to communicate directly with the guests themselves. That is all.

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

    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.

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Ishikawa in One Day: Nomura Family Samurai Residence Ruins

    Ishikawa in One Day: Nomura Family Samurai Residence Ruins

    Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00　Meet at Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
    • 11:25　Nomura Family Samurai Residence Ruins
    • 12:00　Oyama Shrine・Gyokusen'inmaru Garden
    • 12:20　Kanazawa Castle
    • 13:30　Lunch
    • 14:45　Kenrokuen Garden
    • 15:30　Kaga Honda Museum
    • 16:40　Higashi Chaya District (Shima)
    • 17:00　Disperse at Higashi Chaya District

    What Is a Private Kanazawa Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Samurai Culture and Japanese Swords The guests were a group visiting from North America. I had heard beforehand that they were interested in samurai traditions and how Japanese swords are made. After viewing the Nomura Family Samurai House, lunch was originally scheduled for 12:00, but since the guests had just eaten before leaving the hotel, they asked to move lunch to around 14:00, so I changed the lunch time. At Oyama Shrine, the guests took an interest in the ema votive plaques and other items, and after seeing the beautiful Gyokusen'inmaru Garden, we visited the Hishi Yagura turret at Kanazawa Castle. As fatigue set in from the heat, we headed to lunch. After enjoying sushi and a seafood rice bowl for lunch, we visited Kenrokuen Garden, and at the Kaga Honda Museum I explained the types of swords and how they are made, using photos I had brought with me. I guided them through the Shima teahouse in the Higashi Chaya District, and we parted ways there. I believe the guests enjoyed every location this time. However, since lunch had been reserved in advance for 12:00 but the guests requested 14:00, the route ended up doubling back and forth, which created a little inefficiency. From next time, I would like to be able to handle lunch and similar arrangements more flexibly.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKenrokuen-shita～Korinbo210JPY
    Section 2BusKorinbo～Kenrokuen-shita210JPY
    Section 3BusDewamachi～Hashibacho210JPY
    Total630JPY

    Tour Report by Sho

    I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. I have also guided foreign people around Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture as an international activity of an English circle. I was a volunteer interpreter at the training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

    Hokuriku region has a lot of sightseeing spots as follows, beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, traditional crafts like Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Takaoka copperware, and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism such as Kurobe dam and industrial tourism.

    I also work as a translator. I translated the Japanese firefly squid tourism pamphlet into English in 2020.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoten-sasaki/

    Request Booking

    May 26, 2026
    C4211GUbrittanym
    Tripadvisor review: Toyama 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Great time in Toyama!
    Nice tour, guide was very nice and…

    May 14, 2026
    190kariml
    Great tour in Kanazawa with Sho
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time…

    Jul 24, 2025
    Wander60650705961
    Delightful experience um Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had the pleasure of taking a…

    Jul 2, 2025
    nuttineeyav
    Walking day in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The old town was very nice to…

  • Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet up @Hilton Osaka
    • 2. 10:40 @Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 3. 12:00 @Kinkaku-ji
    • 4. 12:50 @Soccer Shop Kamo
    • 5. 13:20 @Samurai Museum
    • 6. 15:00 @Kiyomizu-dera
    • 7. 15:30 @Yasaka Pagoda
    • 8. 17:00 Disband @Hilton Osaka

    Title: What Is a Flexible Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera The guests had originally requested Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama, and Kinkaku-ji, but at the meeting the plan changed significantly to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji, a samurai museum, Kiyomizu-dera, and the Yasaka Pagoda. On the train from Fushimi Inari Taisha to Kinkaku-ji, the guests mentioned they wanted to buy a Kyoto Sanga uniform, so we also stopped by a soccer shop. They purchased a uniform and Mizuno soccer shoes, and the group seemed very satisfied. At the samurai museum, the guide was not allowed to enter, but the guests said they enjoyed it very much. The requests kept changing, which was quite challenging, but by responding flexibly I was able to make the tour satisfying. I made sure to carefully listen to the guests' wishes, and at the end they told me it had been "really wonderful," which was a relief.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainYodoyabashi～Fushimi Inari420JPY
    Section 2TrainInari～Enmachi200JPY
    Section 3BusEnmachi～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4TrainKyoto Kawaramachi～Osaka Umeda410JPY
    Total1,260JPY

    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!

    Request Booking

    Sep 29, 2026
    duncans746
    Yuka was great
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Yuka was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable,…

    Sep 23, 2026
    navinderp2024
    Great day in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 9, 2026
    piperl686
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Honeymoon Tour in Kyoto
    We were so impressed by…

    Aug 5, 2026
    Anita_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great day of sightseeing in Kyoto
    Yuka was a…

  • 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. 9:20 Meet up @JR Kyoto Station Shinkansen platform
    • 2. 9:45 @Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Kanpo Shrine
    • 3. 11:30 Lunch @Nishio
    • 4. 13:00 @Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 5. 14:00 @Yasaka Shrine, Gion
    • 6. 15:30 Disband @JR Kyoto Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Guided Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests mentioned that they were feeling a bit under the weather due to the heat and fatigue. Since they also said they were not feeling well, there was some concern about whether the tour could proceed, but we managed to guide them to all the places they wished to visit until the very end. For lunch, we enjoyed noodles at a restaurant in Nishio recommended by the driver, and the lunch overlooking a beautiful Japanese garden was especially appreciated by one of the guests. Until then, the mood had been quite low, and there was a lot of worry about what might please the guests, but the lunchtime seemed to be the most enjoyable part. Managing the time carefully so as not to miss the bullet train back, we arrived at Kyoto Station as scheduled. The guests were very pleased.

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

    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!

    Request Booking

    Sep 29, 2026
    duncans746
    Yuka was great
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Yuka was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable,…

    Sep 23, 2026
    navinderp2024
    Great day in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 9, 2026
    piperl686
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Honeymoon Tour in Kyoto
    We were so impressed by…

    Aug 5, 2026
    Anita_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great day of sightseeing in Kyoto
    Yuka was a…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:40 Meet up @ The Knot Tokyo Shinjuku
    • 2. 09:50 Travel: Subway (Toei → Tokyo Metro)
    • 3. 10:40 Stay @ Asakusa
    • 4. 11:50 Travel: Subway
    • 5. 12:20 Stay @ Tsukiji
    • 6. 13:00 Lunch @ Tsukiji Sushisei Shinkan
    • 7. 13:55 Travel: Subway
    • 8. 14:05 Disband @ Tokyo Metro Ginza Station

    Title: What's a Private Full-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Tsukiji, and Ginza The meeting point was at a hotel where the lobby is always crowded, so I was a little concerned, but the guests arrived 20 minutes early, which made everything that followed much easier. Since the guests said they would leave all the sightseeing spots up to me, I decided to guide them to Asakusa first to avoid the crowds. I had planned to decide whether the next spot would be Meiji Shrine or Tsukiji while talking with them directly, but when I learned that some of the guests loved seafood, I chose Tsukiji. This decision worked out very well. The sushi restaurant I selected for lunch was well received, but at a specialty knife shop where I often guide guests, the guests purchased as many as three knives. It came through clearly that they enjoyed Tsukiji, which made me very happy. On the way to Asakusa, I transferred to the Ginza Line from Ueno-Okachimachi Station to Ueno-Hirokoji Station so that we could travel underground as much as possible. At the end, I explained how to get back to the hotel from Ginza Station before we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayToei Subway Tochomae Station～Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station330JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa Station～Tsukiji Station210JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji Station～Ginza Station180JPY
    Total720JPY

    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.

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    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…