Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.10:00 Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokanji Meet up⇒Departure
    • 2.10:30 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 3.12:00 Nijo Castle
    • 4.13:30 Lunch
    • 5.14:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 6.15:20 Ryoan-ji Temple
    • 7.16:00 Kyoto City Hall
    • 8.16:40 Teramachi Street Dismissal

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji The guests seemed to enjoy themselves throughout the day. At each destination, they repeatedly said "Cool!" and also enjoyed some shopping in between. While we were visiting Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji, the guests appeared to be interested in rock gardens, so I mentioned that "if we could see Kinkaku-ji in about 30 minutes, we would also have time to visit Ryoan-ji, which is famous for its rock garden." They agreed, so I added Ryoan-ji to the itinerary and guided them there as well. When we arrived at Teramachi, we could have parted ways on the spot, but I took them to a few shops that visitors from abroad tend to find interesting. This caused us to go over time slightly, but since it was within one hour, I did not charge any overtime fee. The guests wished to do some shopping, and since their hotel was located at the edge of Teramachi, I introduced some shops within Teramachi that they might find appealing. That evening I received a message saying, "Thank you for the store recommendation, thank you so much, we had a very good time today."

    Hello, my name is Toshiko Kanoh, and my nick name is Tracy in English and Jiana in Chinese. I love Japanese culture, history and art, and I feel appreciated that I can assist your Japanese tour as your guide. I want to take you not only to the very famous spots but also to the very attractive places where only the local people knows. I work as a tour guide in spring and fall, but usually I support the university students as the counselor, as I want to contribute myself to the next generation. Added. I am interested in linguistics, so I have studied English, Chinese, Burmese and Italian, and I love cooking and eating. In Japan, you can enjoy various kind of food, very delicious and fair price.I am eagerly waiting for your visit to Japan. See you soon,!!!

    May 28, 2024
    michaelaR5896EU
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Tracy was fantastic! We visited…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet up @The Okura Tokyo
    • 2. 9:45 @Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park, cafe break)
    • 3. 11:30 @Tokyo Station (Yaesu Exit, inside the station building, station square)
    • 4. 12:20 @Lunch @Suju Dining (inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building)
    • 5. 14:30 @Imperial Palace Plaza, Nijubashi Bridge
    • 6. 15:00 Disband @Toranomon Hills Station

    What's a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Oceania and had planned this trip with great care, doing thorough research beforehand. While visiting Tokyo Station, we stopped by the ticket office (Midori-no-Madoguchi), where I helped arrange Shinkansen reservations for their travels to regional areas. After the recent revision of JR Pass pricing, the guests felt that, considering the frequency of use and overall convenience for this trip, the JR Pass did not offer much benefit. In particular, since certain types of Shinkansen services cannot be used with the pass, efficient travel would have been restricted. In any case, having arrived in Japan the previous night, the guests seemed relieved to have completed the arrangements for their upcoming trips to regional destinations such as Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji, and Naoshima. For lunch, they enjoyed a relaxed Japanese meal inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building. They seemed very pleased with the healthy cuisine. During our walk and over the meal, they also shared stories about their family, and our conversation flowed pleasantly. We had originally planned to visit Meiji Shrine after seeing the Imperial Palace, but as the guests became tired, they decided to return to their accommodation, and I saw them off at the subway station near the Hotel.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassSubway Ginza Line Toranomon Station~Subway Ginza Line Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassSubway Ginza Line Asakusa Station~Subway Ginza Line Nihombashi Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassSubway Chiyoda Line Nijubashimae Station~Subway Ginza Line Toranomon Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: The Westin Miyako Kyoto & Heianjingu

    Kyoto in One Day: The Westin Miyako Kyoto & Heianjingu

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 The Westin Miyako Kyoto
    • 10:30 Gion by subway
    • Hanamikoji by walking
    • Kenninji (800) by walking
    • Yasaka-no-to by walking
    • Ninenzaka by walking
    • 12:30 Yasakajinja by walking
    • 13:00 Imperial Palace by bus
    • 14:00 Konkaikomyoji by bus
    • 15:30 Heianjingu
    • 16:00 End of the tour

    What Can You See on a Private Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Gion, the Imperial Palace, and Konkaikomyoji The guests were visitors from Europe. Although there was not much reaction at first, after I proposed a general itinerary, they requested a walk around Gion, the Imperial Palace, and the Konkaikomyoji area, so I reworked the itinerary accordingly. They took many photos at each location. Since they also wanted to see the graves related to the Aizu domain, I guided them to the graves of Matsudaira Katamori and Aizu no Kotetsu as well. This time the itinerary was not a typical one, but I was able to enjoy various things together with the guests. As they had told me from the start that they would not have lunch, I got a little hungry.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKeage~Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 2TrainSanjo~Gion-Shijo170JPY
    Section 3BusGion~Karasuma Imadegawa230JPY
    Section 4TrainKarasuma Imadegawa~Okazaki-michi230JPY
    Total850JPY

    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!

    Jul 14, 2026
    T6871WWricharde
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…

    Jun 5, 2026
    mateoe216
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Would book again
    The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…

    May 27, 2026
    Leah_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely recommend!
    I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…

    May 26, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
    Kazz was an excellent guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 12:30 Meet in front of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
    • 2. 12:35 @Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park)
    • 3. 13: 40 @Tokyo Station (Yaesu Exit, inside the station building, station front plaza)
    • 4. 14:30 @Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge
    • 5. 15:00 @Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • 6. 16:30 @Kiyosumi Garden
    • 7. 17:30 @Tokyo Skytree (entrance) and Solamachi
    • 8. 18:10 Disband at a cafe in Solamachi

    What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Kiyosumi Garden The guest, currently living in Asia, arrived in Japan the night before but did not experience any difficulty from jet lag. It seemed the guest had gathered a lot of information about Japan from friends and colleagues. The guest had a particularly strong interest in food, enjoying strawberry daifuku and skewered strawberry candy along the Nakamise shopping street at Sensoji Temple, as well as Skytree-shaped churros at Solamachi. At Meiji Shrine we had to move a little quickly, but afterward we managed to make it just in time before the last admission at Kiyosumi Garden, where the guest took many photos. The guest seemed very satisfied with the beautiful scenery.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassSubway Ginza Line Asakusa Station~Subway Ginza Line Nihombashi Station600JPY
    Section 2TrainSubway Chiyoda Line Nijubashimae Station~Subway Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 3TrainSubway Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station~Subway Hanzomon Line Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station0JPY
    Section 4TrainSubway Hanzomon Line Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station~Subway Hanzomon Line Oshiage Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour

    Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meet at the hotel
    •      Mount Misen by ropeway, shrine, main approach
    • 17:00 Disband in front of Hotel

    What Is a Private Miyajima and Mount Misen Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The tour was originally scheduled to start at 12:30, but because the guests arrived at Miyajima from Hiroshima Station later than expected, we began at 1:00 p.m. At the guests' request, we decided to go up to Mount Misen by ropeway. Even though it was a Saturday, the wait for the ropeway going up was less than 30 minutes, but there were many people waiting for the ride down, so I, the guide, lined up in the queue while the guests continued sightseeing. The guests were very pleased that we were able to save waiting time. As the guests were visiting Miyajima between meetings in Tokyo, their stay was short and there was not enough time to visit the museum. They expressed a wish to visit Hiroshima again next time they have more time, in order to see the museum and the Peace Park.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo in One Day: Toranomon Hills Station & Ginza Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Toranomon Hills Station & Ginza Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meeting place: The Okura Tokyo
    • 9:40 Depart Toranomon Hills Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 10:00 Arrive at Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 10:45 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    •   Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 11:30 Arrive at Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street
    • 12:30 Depart Asakusa
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    •   Nihombashi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
    • 13:00 Arrive at Otemachi Station
    • Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • Nijubashi Bridge
    • Shin-Marunouchi Building
    • 14:00 Depart Tokyo Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    •   Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 14:20 Arrive at Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Lunch: Tsukiji Sushisei Tsukiji Shinkan
    • 15:20 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 15:30 Arrive at Ginza Station
    • Ginza Ginza Mitsukoshi
    • Don Quijote and others
    • 16:30 Depart Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 16:40 Arrive at Toranomon Hills Station
    • 17:00 Disband: The Okura Tokyo

    What's a Ladies' Shopping and Lunch Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Ginza The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were all attendees of an international conference being held at a hotel in Tokyo, and this city tour was part of a ladies' program. The other members of their party were attending the conference all day. Although attendees at the conference came from various countries around the world, the participants in this tour were all visitors from North America. It was their first visit to Japan. The initial booking had been for a larger number, but the final group was smaller by the time of departure. The tour was coordinated by a staff member of the conference organizer's office. At the start of the tour, there was a request to be flexible and accommodate the participants' wishes regardless of the originally planned itinerary. As a result, the route ended up being significantly different from the original plan. After the tour started, the guests requested that, since they had already visited the major spots the previous day on a pop-up bus, today they would like a tour focused on shopping and lunch. It was a sunny day, warm enough to feel almost hot. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, after walking around the market once, there was a request to set aside free time for everyone to explore on their own, so I arranged 45 minutes of free time. The guests seemed to enjoy eating sashimi and sweets while standing. Some purchased matcha and knives as souvenirs. In Asakusa as well, there was a request to enjoy shopping rather than sightseeing, since they had visited on the bus tour the day before, so I arranged one hour of free time. The guests reportedly purchased items such as yukata, cosmetics, and folding fans. There were questions such as "When was Sensoji Temple built?" "Are all Japanese people Buddhist?" "What other religions are believed besides Buddhism?" and "How many Christians are there?" At the Imperial Palace, we walked around the East Gardens. There was a question about why a castle site became the Imperial Palace. There were also questions such as "Does the Emperor really live inside here?" "Does the Emperor hold political influence?" and "Was the Imperial Palace also damaged during the war?" One of the guests wished to buy a rugby shirt at a shop in Marunouchi as a souvenir, so we made a brief stop at a building nearby. There was a request to eat sushi for lunch, so we went to a sushi restaurant in Tsukiji. Some of the guests enjoyed sushi with beer or wine. Afterward, there was a request to shop in Ginza, so we went to Ginza. Here too I arranged one hour of free time. In addition to major department stores and well-known shops, the guests seemed to purchase souvenirs at a discount store and a casual clothing store as well. The guests commented, "Unlike cities in other countries, the streets are clean," "I was impressed by how quietly and politely everyone lines up at the boarding areas in the subway," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant." I saw everyone off to their hotel, where we parted ways. As a precaution, I reported the completion of the tour to the coordinator in charge.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainToranomon Hills~Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji Station~Asakusa Station209JPY
    Section 3TrainAsakusa Station~Otemachi Station178JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo Station~Tsukiji Station178JPY
    Section 5TrainTsukiji Station~Ginza Station178JPY
    Section 6TrainGinza Station~Toranomon Hills Station178JPY
    Total1,099JPY

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…

  • Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:30 Meet at JR Nara Station
    • 2. 11:00 Nara Park
    • 3. 11:30 Yoshikien Garden
    • 4. 12:00 Hikawa Shrine
    • 5. 12:30 Okumura Corporation
    • 6. 13:00 Nandaimon Gate
    • 7. 13:30 Takeout Lunch (Kakinoha Sushi)
    • 6. 14:30 Foot of Mount Wakakusa
    • 7. 16:00 Great Buddha Hall
    • 8. 17:00 Dismissal @ JR Nara Station

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Nara Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. We met at Nara Station at the scheduled time of 10:30 and walked to Nara Park, where they enjoyed feeding the deer. Afterward, at the request of one of the guests, we strolled through Yoshikien Garden and visited the adjacent Himuro Shrine, where one of the guests drew a "great blessing" fortune from the ice omikuji and was delighted. After Himuro Shrine, we visited Okumura-gumi for an earthquake simulation and to learn about seismic isolation structures, which is meaningful in an earthquake-prone country like Japan, and then moved on to Todaiji Temple. We saved the Great Buddha Hall, which was crowded with school excursion students, for later, and enjoyed conversation over a lunch of persimmon leaf sushi. After that, since the weather was excellent, I recommended climbing Mount Wakakusa, and we walked up the mountainside together. It was a steep climb, but the view from there was superb, and the guests were able to fully enjoy the beauty of nature. After descending Mount Wakakusa, I guided them through the Great Buddha Hall and explained the differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Japan's unique syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, and ways of living derived from Buddhism, all of which they listened to attentively. Once the tour of Todaiji Temple concluded and the guiding time came to an end, we walked from there to Nara Station, where I saw them off.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusIn front of Todaiji Great Buddha Hall~Foot of Mount Wakakusa100JPY
    Total100JPY

    After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
    As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
    And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
    With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

    Apr 26, 2026
    39ferdinandr
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional and entertaining
    Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

    Apr 9, 2026
    X1429XKclaudiam
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sehr zu empfehlen
    Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

    Jun 28, 2025
    WilliamAlfonso_R
    Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi was…

    May 30, 2025
    Z
    ZevP5
    Best Tour Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…

  • Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Private Car Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Private Car Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Hotel meet-up→ 10:25 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine→11:55 Kinkaku-ji Temple→ 13:10 Short break (lunch)→14:25 Nijo Castle→15:45 Gion area→17:20 Arrive at hotel

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They were all very quiet, and there was almost no conversation in the vehicle during the round trip. I believe this was because they were often looking at their smartphones, but it was truly quiet. Even the driver was surprised. However, at each site we visited, they listened to my explanations very seriously and responded well. Since they did some shopping at each destination, we gradually fell behind schedule. As a result, we could not spend much time in Gion, so I focused my guiding on the most important points. They also did some shopping in Gion. The photo was taken at Kinkaku-ji Temple.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherHotel New Otani (Osaka)~Hotel New Otani (Osaka)0JPY
    Total0JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 12:45 Meet at Kyoto Shinkansen platform
    • 2. 13:00 Lunch @ Le Temp
    • 3. 15:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 4. 16:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 5. 17:30 Kyoto Craft Center
    • 6. 18:15 Dismissal @ Hotel

    Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Tour Visiting Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests for today were a group visiting from North America. I met the group on the Shinkansen platform, first loaded their luggage into a taxi, and we traveled by taxi to the hotel. The group was very friendly, and by the time we shared a meal together at the hotel restaurant, we had become so comfortable with one another that we were exchanging jokes back and forth. After a relaxed halal meal, we began our sightseeing in Kyoto. One of the guests had requested a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, but we first headed to Kinkaku-ji, where I introduced the pavilion built by the shogun Yoshimitsu, later becoming the temple Rokuon-ji, and the Shariden reliquary hall. While telling the story of how it was once destroyed by arson committed by a disciple monk, I had them enjoy the beautiful garden. After Kinkaku-ji, we moved on to Fushimi Inari Taisha, where the guests viewed the vermilion-glowing shrine and the thousands of torii gates, experienced a power spot (the Omokaru-ishi stone), and then made their way back down. One of the guests asked me to guide them somewhere they could look for souvenirs symbolic of Japanese culture, so I took the group to the Kyoto Craft Center, which they were delighted with, after which we moved to the hotel and parted ways in front of the hotel.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKyoto Station Shinkansen~Kyoto Station Shinkansen140JPY
    Total140JPY

    After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
    As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
    And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
    With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

    Apr 26, 2026
    39ferdinandr
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional and entertaining
    Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

    Apr 9, 2026
    X1429XKclaudiam
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sehr zu empfehlen
    Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

    Jun 28, 2025
    WilliamAlfonso_R
    Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi was…

    May 30, 2025
    Z
    ZevP5
    Best Tour Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…

  • Hyogo in One Day: Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden

    Hyogo in One Day: Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:50 Meet at Himeji Station
    • 10:30 Himeji Castle
    • 12:50 Kokoen Garden
    • 13:40 Himeji Station, lunch
    • 14:30 Board the Sanyo Electric Railway
    • 15:00 Nadagiku Sake Brewery, tour and shopping
    • 14:20 Himeji Station, disband

    What Is a 6-Hour Private Tour with a Sake Brewery Visit Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests requested a 6-hour tour, so to help them enjoy as much as possible, I also suggested a visit to a sake brewery. They were very keen to go, so I planned the whole itinerary around it. Inside the castle, one of the guests asked many questions and showed a deep interest. As they wished to have udon for lunch, I introduced a restaurant, which they seemed to enjoy very much. At the sake brewery, they toured the old storehouses, enjoyed tasting, and made many purchases. We had lively conversations on many topics, and the guests were delighted, saying they had a wonderful time.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHimeji Station~Tegara Station340JPY
    Total340JPY

    Hello, I am a tour guide, Chiyuki. If I write my name in Japanese, it means one thousand happiness. Please call me Chiyuki. I am looking forward to seeing you.
    I have been guiding many visitors from all parts of the world since I became a tour guide.
    I hope Japan can attract many people with beautiful scenery, culture, historical buildings, food and so on. What are you interested in?
    And I couldn’t be happier if I can help you to create memories of a wonderful trip.
    I will make my best effort to satisfy my guests. See you soon. Thank you very much. Chiyuki

    Jul 9, 2026
    727tessv
    We had the best time in Kobe
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our guide Chiyuki was…

    Jun 21, 2026
    M9524SIphilippel
    Tripadvisor review: Exploring Nada Sake Breweries Kobe Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sake tour in Kobe
    Chiyuki is one of the…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Pinoy V
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very interesting and informative.
    Chiyuki kept us informed on our itinerary…

    Jun 11, 2026
    Sharon G
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!!
    After getting off to a rocky start our…