Apr 23, 2026
Julia_B
Viator review: Hakodate 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wow!
This was a wonderful tour. Yumi was punctual, polite, knowledgeable and attentive. The hike up to Mt. Hakodate was beautiful and educational. We were able to see a lot of the flowers that were in bloom. The view from the top is breathtaking.

The cherry blossoms at the fort were beautiful. We were blessed with great weather and peak blooms. We were in awe.

Then Yumi led us to a traditional lunch at the market.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable, peaceful, easy paced tour that all four of us thoroughly enjoyed.

July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!

Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.

We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.

Thank you, Toru-san!

Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.

May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.

Jul 11, 2026
Rahul_P
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Private Tour
Highly recommended if looking for a comfortable tour of kyoto. Our guide and driver were amazing. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained everything with great details as we toured around.

Jul 7, 2026
782MarkS782
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Harumi and Kyoto
This was amazing – truly memory making. Harumi is an incredible guide – she personalised our tour according to our interests, we laughed, we learned and she created memories – Thank you (one of the best).

Jun 25, 2026
JenCBear
Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great visit with a great guide Harumi
Harumi was a fantastic guide – very friendly and very knowledgeable. Even weeks before the tour, her communication was outstanding, asking me what we would be interested in seeing, ages and interests of the members in our party, and laying out a thoughtful and perfect itinerary for our day. Her knowledge made our visit to Himeji Castle way more interesting and engaging than if we had just gone by ourselves. We would definitely book again!

Jun 21, 2026
Andrew_M
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Amazing guided experience
Harumi is an amazing guide. Knows everything about the sites she takes you to. She is excellent with kids and even brought them oregami and treats. The heat was a bit oppressive and we were so glad we paid for the driver with a large and clean air conditioned van. Harumi, the guide, was a true professional. She devised a very good itinerary and was also flexible when the kids were hungry, etc. Would highly recommend.

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 time we had. Nori explained the history of all places we visited. He
was so passionate about everything, we were very lucky to have him as tour guide.

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 Kamon-San, and he was a great guide to show off the sites and features of Nara! He got their early, and had a detailed and interesting schedule planned for us, including several of the local shrines and temples, allowing us to also enjoy the deer throughout our tour.

He also took us to a nice local restaurant where we were able to enjoy some of the best soba and catsu curry we had all trip! Kamon-san’s insights and trivia were definitely one of the top highlights from our entire trip to Japan! We would strongly recommend not just Nara but this guided tour to anyone who wants to appreciate more than just the deer!

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 his knowledge of Kyoto history and culture. Well paced tour, covered Imperial Palace, temples, shrines, Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama. Helpful with navigating rail system. Very worth while. Nori earns highest rating possible.

Oct 16, 2025
Michael_H
Thoroughly enjoyed the…
Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Thoroughly enjoyed the day out with our guide Nori. Without him we would have been
literally lost & seen nowhere near the amount of sites. Nori guidance was top notch.

Jul 2, 2026
jamespmccormick
Tripadvisor review: The Best Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Great Tokyo tour with Bruce!
We booked a 6 hour Tokyo tour with Bruce Sugano and had a great experience! Bruce’s English is very good and he was flexible with us setting and changing the itinerary when we saw things we wanted to experience. We took the tour on our 2nd day in Japan and It was helpful to introduce us to the culture and help us gain an understanding of the city and some of its important sites. At the end of our tour, Bruce took us to one of his favorite sushi restaurants and introduced us to Japanese sushi! I would definitely recommend this tour!

Jun 12, 2026
716suzannab
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing experience
Bruce was an amazing guide. He taught us some essential Japanese that we have been using ever since. We visited a wide range of locations in Tokyo and our guide gave us lots of information and history. We would recommend this tour.
Suzanna and Nicholas

May 27, 2026
beaufordtjustice
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour of Tokyo with Bruce!
My son and I had a great tour of Tokyo with Bruce Sangano. We gave him several places we would like to visit and he turned those into our itinerary for the day. We learned a lot about Japanese culture, Shinto and Buddhism and many customs, etc. Near the end of our tour, he booked a great sushi restaurant that is more likely known to locals than tourist. It was wonderful. We would highly recommend Bruce for future tours of Tokyo!

May 24, 2026
A2151KImelissab
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Day out in Tokyo
I enjoyed a solo guided tour of Tokyo with Bruce who met me at my hotel and spent some time collaborating to create a bespoke itinery for the day to match my interests and his local knowledge of the kind of places I would not have thought to go to on my first visit to Japan.
We visited the old neighbourhood of Yanaka and walked along Snake Road where I met a shiba dog out for his Sunday morning walk & saw the Nezu shrine and its extrordinary topiary azalea gardens . Then we set off by metro to exprerience the buzz of Harajuku Street shopping district and visit a ridiculously cute hedgehog cafe. I experienced the iconic Shibuya Crossing and learned the story behind the famous mural by artist Taro Okomoto in the station. After all this we arrived mid afternoon at the Tokyo fish markets in Tsukiju where we enjoyed a late lunch at a local sushi bar- the best sushi I have ever tried- a highlight being zuke (tuna infused with yuzu). Our final stop was the local shrine near the market to honour the fish and the seaweed before heading back to my hotel. Along the way we had many interesting conversations about history, politics and art. It was a terrifc day. Highly recommended.

Jul 25, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
We spent half a day with Kaeko Tanigawa taking us to Daitoku-ji and Kinkaku-ji temples and Nijo castle in Kyoto. She is very nice, customer-oriented and knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history.
To be highly recommended!

Jul 24, 2026
J6711TVnancyb
Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create a tour that worked for our family with two young children. It was a very hot day, but the air conditioned van was perfect. We loved making ramen together, feeding monkeys, and seeing a few top sites of Kyoto.

Jul 13, 2026
elizabethtW414DU
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Private Tour
Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start to finish, and my husband and I had the best time with her during our honeymoon in Kyoto in April! She reached out well before our trip to get to know our interests and carefully planned an itinerary that was perfectly tailored to us—even helping us choose the perfect lunch spot.
Throughout the tour, Kaeko was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and personable. She shared so much history and local insight while making the day feel relaxed and fun. What really stood out was that her expertise extended far beyond our 6-hour tour. She provided countless recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and hidden gems that made the rest of our time in Kyoto even more memorable.
If you’re looking for a personalized, thoughtful, and unforgettable experience in Kyoto, I can’t recommend Kaeko highly enough. She was one of the highlights of our entire trip!

Jul 12, 2026
johnkE8649IH
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto with Kaeko Tanigawa. She was so knowledgeable and we never felt rushed. She made some excellent recommendations for restaurants and other things to do around town. Highly recommend if you have a chance to book with her!

Jul 30, 2026
BrianBurnette
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great Memories
We really enjoyed this tour. Leo, our guide, was very knowledgeable regarding the culture and history of each site we visited. And for lunch he found a delicious authentic Ramen counter restaurant. It was a really nice day with great memories.

Jul 24, 2026
893cydneyh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Best Tour Guide
We had an incredible 6-hour tour with Leo, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Tokyo! We were visiting Japan to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, and Leo made the day even more special from start to finish. From the moment he picked us up at our hotel until he dropped us off, everything was seamless, thoughtful, and perfectly planned.

Our first stop was a beautiful temple, where Leo explained the traditional hand-washing ritual before entering. We also tossed a coin to make a wish, and learning the meaning behind these customs made the experience so much more meaningful.

Afterward, Leo took us to an amazing sushi restaurant called Kura, where we had a delicious meal. We also visited the famous Shibuya Crossing, explored the Pokémon Center, and picked up some wonderful souvenirs. Traveling around Tokyo by train with Leo was an experience in itself—he made navigating the city so easy while teaching us so much about Japan, its history, traditions, and culture.

One of the sweetest surprises was that Leo gifted my daughter and me beautiful traditional Japanese fans to celebrate her birthday. It was such a thoughtful gesture that meant so much to us and is something we’ll always remember.

Leo was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, kind, and personable. He answered every question I had and shared fascinating insights throughout the day that we never would have learned on our own. His passion for Japan shines through in everything he does, and he made sure both my daughter and I had an unforgettable experience.

If you’re visiting Tokyo and looking for a guide who is professional, friendly, and genuinely cares about making your experience special, I cannot recommend Leo enough. We will absolutely recommend him to our friends and family, and the next time we’re in Japan, we won’t hesitate to book another tour with him. Thank you, Leo, for making my daughter’s birthday trip so memorable!

May 25, 2026
llindgren0604
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A seamless experience
Leo was a great tour guide. We got to do and see all of the major Hakone sites. It was a
perfect day.

May 21, 2026
lyndapI1304ZZ
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking guide in Hakone
Unfortunately the weather restricted some of our options, but Leo adapted the tour and we
had a fantastic time.

Jul 27, 2026
Onno_P2000
Tripadvisor review: Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Very interesting and joyful day trip with Taka
We had a very nice day with our guide Taka, he is very organized and customer focused. He contacted us upfront to assist with our travel to Nikko etc. During the visit he knew exactly the nice spots and how to avoid the crowds. Furthermore he is very knowledgeable and good fun, it was not only interesting but we had a lot of fun with Taka as well.
The lunch he recommended was spot on: a quiet traditional Yuba restaurant, close to Main Shrine. Thank you Taka!

Jun 30, 2026
Rolando_A
Viator review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A fantastic day!
We had an amazing day. Our guide was Taka. He was fantastic! We loved all the temples
and shrines. We are glad we did this tour! Highly recommend. Beautiful places.

Jun 25, 2026
N8851CTrebeccaf
Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We cannot recommend Taka highly enough. A former Honda engineer, Taka brings the same precision and attention to detail to guiding. He knew where to stand for the best views, which lines to avoid, where to find the best local treats near the station. Not a single moment of the day felt wasted. Some highlights of the Toshogu Shrine area: he showed us the famous sleeping cat above the gate and then revealed the sparrows carved on the reverse side and explained the symbolism connecting the two. He pointed out the gods of thunder and wind, the imagined elephants painted by an artist who had never seen one, and the see no evil monkeys; each has a story that transformed them from beautiful carvings into a narrative. What we loved most was his invitation to ask questions. He clearly delights in questions no one has ever asked before. He also shared some of secrets of the area and we promised not to tell them. He made reservations for lunch at a traditional tatami restaurant near the shrine; yuba was one of the best meals of our trip. Taka knew exactly where to take us. If you are visiting Nikko, book Taka.

Jun 21, 2026
kevin L
Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing personal tour where you get to choose or have a recommended tour
Amazing experience, our tour guide taka was very informative and considerate. We communicated weeks ahead of time plan tours along with reserving restaurants. He also helped me and guided me on how to get to Nikko from Tokyo. He also gave me recommendations based on what I was looking for and ensured I made it back in time

Jul 26, 2026
Kevin_B
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Highly recommend this tour for first time visit to Tokyo. Our guide Atsushi took great care to acclimate us with navigating through busy train stations efficiently with a group of eight family members. Along the way and at each site he explained various cultural practices and associated histories that made the tour very immersive and enjoyable. We will highly recommend Atsushi and Viator to our family and friends for future tours.

Jun 22, 2026
Ashish_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Best Tour for a Short Visit
Atsushi-san was an incredibly well-researched and friendly tour guide. His knowledge allowed us to explore and get to the historical significance of the various locations we visited. His explanations were simple but comprehensive. The six hours flew by and included some off-the-beaten opportunities including coffee at a very austere but memorable location near the fish market. I would highly recommend him as well as this tour for anyone with limited time in Tokyo wanting see as much as possible

May 27, 2026
jackie m
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking tour of Tokyo
Our guide was really interesting and had an amazing knowledge of culture and attractions!
We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon walk! We also navigated through the Shinjuku station
which was no walk in the park! Thank you to Atsushi!

Apr 9, 2026
Lindsey_W
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide, Atsushi, was…
Our guide, Atsushi, was great! He met us at our hotel in Hakone and took us clockwise to tour all the sites. He was informative and taught us a lot. Our group was two adults and a 14 year old. We saw Mt Fuji from the rope way, but unfortunately the pirate ship was canceled because of high wind. We would absolutely use Atsushi again for this tour, or any other tour he provides.

Jun 7, 2026
Kim_K
Viator review: Kagoshima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Beautiful, insightful and memorable!
We definitely had a beautiful, insightful and memorable day in Kagoshima. Kaz, our private guide, had excellent English and shared so much insight to the area from the volcano to Sochu!

We highly recommend this day tour. Our big bonus was the eruption that morning which made us appreciate the active personality of Sakurajima!