Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Ryoan-ji Temple

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Ryoan-ji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meeting point: Nijo Castle, in front of the main gate
    • 09:05 Sightseeing ①: Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace ~ Gardens)
    • 10:15 Sightseeing ②: Kyoto Gyoen National Garden & Imperial Palace
    • 11:20 Sightseeing ③: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
    • 12:20 Sightseeing ④: Ryoan-ji Temple
    • 13:00　Dismissal: Bus stop (in front of Ryoan-ji)

    【集合場所：Hotel】 # What Is a 4-Hour Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, Nijo Castle, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace The guests on this tour were visitors to Japan from North America. They had recently completed their studies, and both were early in their careers. For these reasons, they described their trip to Japan as a meaningful and happy occasion. During our preliminary correspondence, the guests requested a full four locations within the 4-hour tour — Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, Nijo Castle, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. As a guide, I was impressed by how well-focused their choices were: Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji as classic expressions of Japanese beauty, and Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace as sites that illustrate the relationship between samurai governance and the Emperor. However, I had the impression that covering all four locations by public transportation might be quite challenging, so I secured their agreement in advance that we might need to use a taxi for some of the travel. The other concern was, of course, the weather, but that was something we could only leave to chance. On the day of the tour, the guests were full of energy, and their travel and transfers by public transportation went extremely smoothly. The tour proceeded exactly according to the itinerary — and in some cases even slightly ahead of schedule. There was no need at all to use a taxi to make up for lost time. As for the weather, there was only a light drizzle that was not enough to get wet, and there was no need to use umbrellas. The high humidity was as usual, but with cloudy skies and no strong sunlight, it was a relatively comfortable summer tour of Kyoto. The guests remarked that it was "much more comfortable than the heat of Tokyo." Both guests had a strong interest in Japanese culture and history, and they asked many questions at each site, which made for a very rewarding guiding experience. This was their first visit to Japan, but when I spoke about the charms of each of the four seasons at the various sites, they said they would love to visit again in a different season.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNijojo-mae～Imadegawa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayImadegawa～Kitaoji220JPY
    Section 3BusKitaoji Bus Terminal～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Total670JPY

    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 13:00　Meet up @ ANA InterContinental Tokyo
    • 2. 13:45　@ Meiji Shrine
    • 3. 14:45　@ Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • 4. 16:00　@ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue, FUKURAS)
    • 5. 17:00　Disband @ Shibuya FUKURAS Restaurant District

    Title: What Is a First-Day Tokyo Orientation Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. One member of the group had visited Japan several times before, but only for work, so they had never experienced Japan as tourists. During their stay of about three weeks in Japan, they had set aside seven days for Tokyo. For today's tour, which was their first day, they wished to have an orientation to learn how to use public transportation. I explained the shortest route from the Hotel to the subway, the types of discount tickets and how to buy them, station numbers, exit numbers, and how to use the destination-and-exit reference charts. They were impressed by how easy the signs were to read, including how to check the direction of travel of the trains. Some of the guests enjoyed shopping at a shop selling soccer uniforms in Harajuku and at a candy shop on Takeshita Street. Everyone in the group was delighted when they saw the café in Shibuya FUKURAS where you can communicate with a robot. Partly due to jet lag, the tour lasted four hours, but toward the end the group appeared tired, so instead of the originally planned finish in Ginza, we changed the plan and they decided to relax in Shibuya before returning to the Hotel. After Tokyo, they planned to travel to Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and the following four days were still undecided. They asked me for a recommendation, saying they wanted to visit somewhere rural. Since they had originally hoped to visit Jigokudani Monkey Park, I agreed with that idea.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassSubway Ginza Line, Akasaka-mitsuke Station～Subway Chiyoda Line, Meiji-jingumae600JPY
    Section 2Free PassSubway Fukutoshin Line, Meiji-jingumae Station～Subway Fukutoshin Line, Shibuya Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Tour Report by Noripy

    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!

    Request Booking

    Sep 10, 2026
    Sonal_G
    Noripy is just the best
    Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Noripy is such a…

    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Himeji Station North Exit
    • 10:30 Himeji Castle sightseeing
    • 13:10 Arrive at Koko-en Garden
    • 14:00 Disband in front of Koko-en Garden

    What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They were students attending the same university, and they seemed very interested in Japan, having Japanese friends and reading books about the country. Since I had been in contact with the guests from the time they stayed in Himeji the day before the tour, when they consulted me about dinner, we chatted comfortably about all sorts of topics throughout and enjoyed touring Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden. The guests also shared many stories, such as ghost stories from their region and the similarities with Japanese castles, and every one of the stories was fascinating.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Rie

    Hello, I’m your tour guide, Rie Ito. Please call me Rie. I have been living in Himeji for 40 years. I would like to show you around our beautiful city. Himeji is very famous for its several sightseeing places. Especially, as the most recommended place, we boast Himeji Castle, the first World Heritage Site of Japan. When you see this message, please contact me through WhatsApp. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask me before the tour. I am sure you will enjoy this local city of Japan with me! I’m looking forward to seeing you. Thank you.

    Request Booking

    Apr 25, 2026
    Alix_M
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Himeji castle
    Fantastic tour of the beautiful Himeji castle!…

    Oct 3, 2025
    P
    Peggy_M
    Rie is an excellent guide with a lot of knowledge to share
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed…

    Aug 6, 2025
    OMAR_A
    Excellente visite avec guide dynamique
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour avec une guide compétente et…

    Apr 30, 2025
    JandK14
    A perfect day in Himeji: We saw the cherry blossoms at their peak and had Rie as our guide!
    Tripadvisor review:…

  • Shizuoka: Miho no Matsubara & Sunpu Castle Park

    Shizuoka: Miho no Matsubara & Sunpu Castle Park

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Departure from Shimizu Port
    • 9:20 Sightseeing at Miho no Matsubara
    • 10:50 Sightseeing at Nihondaira Yume Terrace
    • 11:50 Sightseeing at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
    • 13:50 Sightseeing at Sunpu Castle Park
    • 15:30 Dismissal at Shimizu Port

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Miho no Matsubara and Nihondaira in Shizuoka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report It was still the late rainy season, with heavy downpours hitting various parts of Japan, so the weather was a concern. On the day itself, although heavy rain fell in the early morning, it stopped by the time the tour began, allowing us to start without any trouble. On the way to Miho no Matsubara, we were able to see Mount Fuji in its full form, which is very rare for this time of year. The guests were very excited and delighted. According to the taxi driver, the early morning rain may have pushed the clouds aside, allowing us to glimpse Mount Fuji for a brief moment. Afterward it became covered by thick clouds, so being able to see Mount Fuji even for an instant was a stroke of luck. As it was a public holiday, there was a very long line at the Nihondaira Ropeway with a considerable wait. On top of that, the high humidity and temperature drained our energy, which was challenging. Nevertheless, the guests were able to experience nature as well as traditional culture, and seemed very satisfied.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Ikuyo

    I have been a guide over ten years. I always make my utmost efforts to make tours enjoyable and memorable for the guests. I always enjoy traveling myself. I have received warm hospitality through my life domestically and internationally. I would like my guests to feel the same hospitality. I would like to entertain tourists from abroad by showing around and explaining about not only the places but also Japanese culture in a friendly way.
    I have been an English teacher all my life. I challenged to get the guide license and am enjoying guiding ever since.
    I especially guide around Mt.Fuji area. Every time I do guiding around Mt.Fuji, I am impressed by the beauty and its overwhelming power. I want my guests to encounter this beautiful and yet powerful mountain of Mt.Fuji.

    Request Booking

    May 4, 2026
    Jackim2009
    Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Our Day in Shizuoka
    We had a wonderful day in…

    Oct 9, 2025
    Katie_F
    We had a wonderful day…
    Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    We had a wonderful day…

    Jul 13, 2025
    H2enjoy
    Cruise Visit to Shimizu Area and Day Tour Visiting Miho no Matsubara
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private…

    May 21, 2025
    Traveler33207354848
    Tea, tour and Mount Fuji
    Tripadvisor review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Ikuyo customized our tour exactly…

  • Shizuoka: Nihondaira Yume Terrace

    Shizuoka: Nihondaira Yume Terrace

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at Shimizu Port Hinode Wharf
    • 11:00 Hike from the base of Kunozan to Toshogu Shrine, 20-minute climb of 1159 steps, tour of Toshogu Shrine
    • 12:00 Nihondaira Yume Terrace
    • 12:20 Hotel Garden
    • 13:10 Meal at Hotel
    • 14:40 Chopstick-making experience at Suruga Kobo Takumi Juku
    • 16:30 End at Hinode Wharf

    What Is a Private Family Day Tour of Shizuoka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kunozan Toshogu and Nihondaira The guests were a family visiting from North America. The group traveled by a taxi they had hired. The weather was fine, so the group decided to climb the 1,159 stone steps up to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine on foot. They enjoyed the hike, working up a good sweat along the way. At the Nihondaira Yume Terrace, Mount Fuji was mostly hidden by clouds, but the top of its shoulder could be seen a little. The meal at The Terrace of the Nihondaira Hotel was very satisfying thanks to the wonderful view. At the Takumi-juku workshop, the group experienced making chopsticks. They spent more than an hour completing their own original chopsticks, which they could also take home as a souvenir, and they were very pleased. The chopstick material can be chosen from cherry, walnut, or maple. They chose cherry.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by TerryHirao

    My name is Terry Hirao, Shizuoka’s local tour guide. You can call me Terry, as in Teriyaki. I love Japan and Japanese culture and can show you the best of Japan, its history, breathtaking beauty, delicious foods, Japanese Tea. Shizoka is located in the middle of Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, two largest metropolitan cities and famous for Mt. Fuji, Japanese Tea and a lot more. The most popular destinations in Shizuoka are Nihon Daira Plateau, Kunozan Toshogu Shrines (National Treasure), Miho Pine Tree Grove (World Cultural Heritage). I hope I can help you enjoy your trip!!

    Request Booking

    Nov 6, 2024
    andrew h
    Very knowledgeable tour guide of the area
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Very…

    Oct 21, 2024
    Adventurer_from_Cda
    We had a great time – we enjoyed having Terry H as our guide for Shizuoka/Shimizu! Thank you!
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu…

    Sep 16, 2024
    Jane_R
    Great experience on this Mt Fuji private tour
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Terry…

    Aug 21, 2024
    Go02797182361
    Too cloudy for Mt Fuji but still a great tour with Terry
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private…

  • Osaka in One Day: Kuromon Market & Shinsaibashi

    Osaka in One Day: Kuromon Market & Shinsaibashi

    Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Hotel Osaka Namba (Hotel changed from the original)
    • 10:30 @ Kuromon Market
    • 11:45 @ Namba, Den Den Town
    • 12:30 @ Namba, Doguyasuji
    • 13:45 @ Dotonbori
    • 14:30 @ Shinsaibashi
    • 14:45 Disband @ Daimaru Department Store Shinsaibashi Branch

    What Is a Private Osaka Cultural and Local Food Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan, and for this tour they expressed a particular wish to experience Japanese culture and local food. Throughout the tour, the guests asked many questions about Japanese culture, customs, and food, and listened attentively to my explanations. At Kuromon Market, they sampled tempura, black bean tea, dried fruit, and pickles, and purchased many souvenirs. At the request of some of the guests, I guided them to Nipponbashi's "Denden Town," popular for Japanese anime and figures, as well as the "Pokémon" and "One Piece" goods sections at the Daimaru department store in Shinsaibashi, which they greatly enjoyed. At Doguyasuji, they also purchased many souvenirs at a shop selling remarkably realistic food samples. Since they wanted a light meal, I took them to a standing udon shop in Namba, where they were surprised at how unusual it was, as well as how tasty and inexpensive. At Dotonbori, everyone enjoyed the popular soft-serve ice cream made by a Turkish performer and were very satisfied. Before we even started, the guests mentioned they were tired from the previous day and wished to finish by around 15:00, so the tour ended early.

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

    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
    Viator review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    Jul 20, 2026
    Eric_W
    Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    Castle journey worth your time!
    Our tour with…

  • 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

    • 0900 Hotel (2 min from JR Keiyo Line Shiomi Station) meet up
    • 1020 Musashi-Koganei Station ~ Bus to Koganei Park West Exit, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
    • 　　　Lunch with Musashino udon inside the park
    • 1320 Kichijoji, shopping at Chara Park and Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory
    • 1435 Shinjuku Station, help purchasing Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto, 3D Cat Display, Godzilla Road
    • 1500 Explain the way back and disband

    Title: What's a Private Tokyo Tour Combining Ghibli, Anime, and Historic Sites Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. In our initial communication, the main interests were manga, anime, studios, and games, but many of these were not located within central Tokyo, and many admission fees were not included in "what to expect," which made planning difficult. After some discussion, we settled on visiting the Suginami Animation Museum, and otherwise focusing on quieter places to learn about Japanese history and culture. I set up a course covering Nezu Shrine, the Nikolai Cathedral in Ochanomizu, Yushima Seido, Kanda Myojin, and the Hakuhinkan in Ginza. However, the night before, since they had already visited shrines and temples that day, they said they very much wanted to do the course I had first suggested — "seeing Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum." This was included in the materials I submitted to [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), and part of this museum has been incorporated into many of the displays at the Ghibli Warehouse in Ghibli Park. I explained everything while comparing it with scenes from the films they knew. Ghibli rarely makes definitive statements about many of its subjects, but since director Hayao Miyazaki was heavily influenced by buildings from the Taisho to early Showa periods, this place is a kind of sacred site. They were so delighted here that we ended up spending more time than expected, so we skipped the Suginami Animation Museum. Instead, I took one of the guests shopping for goods at Kiddy Land Kichijoji (Chara Park). By this point we had almost run out of time, so we bought tickets at Shinjuku Station, then saw the 3D cat and the Godzilla head before finishing the tour.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShiomi ~ Tokyo～Musashi-Koganei571JPY
    Section 2BusMusashi-Koganei～Koganei Park West Exit180JPY
    Section 3BusKoganei Park West Exit～Musashi-Koganei180JPY
    Section 4TrainMusashi-Koganei～Kichijoji178JPY
    Section 5TrainKichijoji～Shinjuku230JPY
    Total1,339JPY

    Tour Report by Ted

    I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
    After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

    My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
    My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
    – Senso ji Temple
    – Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
    – Tokyo Skytree
    – Ueno Park
    – Nezu Shrine
    – Imperial Palace outer park
    – Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    – Ginza
    – Odaiba
    – Hama Rikyu Garden
    – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
    – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
    – Roppongi
    – Meiji Shrine
    – Harajuku & Takeshita Street
    – Shibuya
    – and Any of your interest.

    I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
    Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
    Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

    I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

    Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
    Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

    A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

    In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

    Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
    These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
    Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
    Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
    The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
    Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

    Request Booking

    Sep 24, 2026
    Leslie_R
    Good tour on first day
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Ted, our guide was…

    Jul 2, 2026
    Susan M
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Family fun in Tokyo.
    A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…

    Jun 26, 2026
    ann r
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Educational with kind, generous guide
    My teenage sons and I learned…

    Jun 14, 2026
    141yunb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
    We…

  • Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

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

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:30 Meet up @ Hiroshima Station
    • 2. 10:00 @ Shukkeien Garden
    • 3. 11:00 @ Peace Memorial Museum @ Peace Park
    • 4. 12:00 Lunch @ Benbee
    • 5. 12:50 @ Ground Zero @ Rest House
    • 6. 14:15 @ Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine, Daisho-in Temple, Hayashi's Grilled Oysters
    • 7. 17:10 Disband @ Hiroshima Station

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The forecast had called for heavy rainfall from the previous day, so I was quite worried, but it turned out to be only light rain. At Daishoin Temple, we happened to encounter a group of mountain ascetics who kindly blew their conch-shell horns for us, and a member of a local revitalization team dressed as a samurai warrior gave us a detailed explanation about swords. All in all, it seemed to be a lucky day. After Shukkeien Garden, at Peace Memorial Park we visited both the museum and the memorial hall, and I felt we were able to see everything efficiently. For lunch the guests enjoyed okonomiyaki, and since they also wanted to try oysters on Miyajima, they had raw oysters and fried oysters, which they were delighted to find delicious. The guests were staying in Hiroshima that night, but we returned to Hiroshima Station to collect their luggage before parting ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherPeace Park～Miyajima1,100JPY
    Section 2FerryMiyajima～Miyajimaguchi200JPY
    Section 3TrainMiyajimaguchi～Hiroshima Station420JPY
    Total1,720JPY

    Tour Report by Kahori

    Hi, I’m Kahori, a nationally licensed tour guide, and delighted to show people around this area. For the past almost 10 years, I have mainly guided foreign medical professionals around Hiroshima City and Miyajima, gaining a deep understanding of the effects of radiation and the support for A-bomb survivors.
    Hiroshima is a city of rivers and the sea. Along the rivers Cherry trees line, and the calm Seto Inland Sea, dotted with islands, creates a stunning landscape. Also, the sea has many islands called “art islands” which have fantastic arts relating to the art festival “Setouchi Triennale”. In addition to our two World Heritage Sites, this area is rich in attractive resources. I hope many of you will come and experience this fascinating land. Personally, I am very passionate about modern art and enjoy sports like stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on our rivers.
    I look forward to meeting you, interacting with you, and also, learning from you!

    Request Booking

    Oct 6, 2025
    DJ C
    We visited the atomic bomb museum, Hiroshima castle, a beautiful garden, and shrines and Torrey Gate.
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima /…

    Sep 23, 2025
    lorrainel669
    Awesome Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The tour was fantastic. It covered everything…

    Jul 26, 2025
    T
    Tracy_P
    Outstanding Tour of Hiroshima with Kahori…
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our tour of…

    Jun 28, 2025
    Fernando A
    We knew the best of Hiroshima in 8 hrs
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Ginkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Ginkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Hotel Kyoto
    • 09:15 – 10:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 10:40 – 11:00 Sagano Bamboo Grove
    • 11:00 – 12:00 Okochi Sanso Villa
    • 12:45 – 13:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:00 – 14:45 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 15:30 – 16:00 Yasaka Pagoda, Sannenzaka
    • 16:15 Dismissal　 City Bus Higashiyama Shichijo Bus Stop

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today I guided the guests on a private one-day tour of Kyoto's popular sightseeing spots. I put in extra effort to make sure they had an enjoyable day in Kyoto. As we had already run over on time, I explained the key points of our final stop, Kiyomizu-dera, in front of the Nio-mon Gate, and then saw the guests off at the bus stop nearest their hotel. They plan to visit Kiyomizu-dera on their own the next day. In the final stage of the tour, we encountered a large-scale demonstration on Kawaramachi-dori and Shijo-dori, which significantly delayed the buses, but I believe the guests were still able to have an enjoyable day.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKyoto City Bus Higashiyama Shichijo～Kyoto City Bus Gion Shichijo230JPY
    Section 2TrainKeihan Railway Shichijo Keihan～Keihan Railway Fushimi Inari170JPY
    Section 3TrainJR Inari Station～JR Saga-Arashiyama Station240JPY
    Section 4TrainJR Saga-Arashiyama Station～JR Emmachi190JPY
    Section 5BusKyoto City Bus Nishinokyo Emmachi～Kyoto City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi230JPY
    Section 6BusKyoto City Bus Kinkaku-ji-michi～Kyoto City Bus Ginkaku-ji-michi230JPY
    Section 7BusKyoto City Bus Ginkaku-ji-michi～Kyoto City Bus Shijo Kawaramachi230JPY
    Section 8BusKyoto City Bus Gion～Kyoto City Bus Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Total1,750JPY

    Tour Report by Haru

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Request Booking

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya Scramble Crossing / Hachiko & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya Scramble Crossing / Hachiko & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00　Meet up @ Hotel
    • 9:00　Shibuya Scramble Crossing / Hachiko
    • 9:30　Meiji Shrine
    • 10:50　Imperial Palace
    • 11:50　Lunch @ Uotsuki (Tsukiji)
    • 12:40　Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 13:50　Sensoji Temple
    • 14:30　Dismissal @ Hotel

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America visiting Japan for the first time. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to travel to Kyoto and Osaka. At Meiji Shrine, they seemed deeply impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere. One of the guests had brought a goshuin stamp book and was delighted to receive stamps at both Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji Temple. Along Nakamise Street at Senso-ji Temple, the guests looked with great interest at the souvenir shops, and one of them purchased a stuffed dog toy. Since I responded exactly as the guests wished, I believe they were satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAsakusa～Shibuya600JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Nijubashimae0JPY
    Section 4SubwayHibiya～Tsukiji0JPY
    Section 5SubwayTsukiji～Asakusa0JPY
    Total750JPY

    Tour Report by Seizo

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

    Request Booking

    Sep 27, 2026
    jonaJ5014ZK
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Seizo was a tremendously fabulous…

    Sep 11, 2026
    M7402TTsharonp
    Higly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…

    Sep 8, 2026
    OnAir57127583503
    Amazing Experience with Kamakura Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our…

    Sep 4, 2026
    B2319ZKjoseo
    Pleasant stroll through HISTORY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We had a great time learning about…