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  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Daisen-in & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Daisen-in & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel near Karasuma Oike Station
    • 9:40 Daisen-in
    • 10:35 Kinkaku-ji
    • 11:50 Nijo Castle
    • 12:45 Disband at the Nijo Castle rest area

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Daisen-in, Kinkaku-ji, and Nijo Castle Today's guests were a group visiting from Europe. They had already visited Tokyo, Mount Fuji, and Hakone before this tour. It was an extremely hot day with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees, and although I repeatedly urged them to bring hats and drinks, they consistently declined to wear hats. They were surprised at how few people there were at Daisen-in, and we were able to enjoy the Zen temple garden at a leisurely pace. Afterwards we went to Kinkaku-ji, which was crowded with many tour groups, but it was so beautiful that they took many photos. Luckily, we were able to catch a cool bus smoothly and at just the right timing, and headed to Nijo Castle. At Nijo Castle, the timing was perfect and there were few visitors, so we could take our time, which was wonderful. Being allowed to enter the third room of the grand hall was especially impressive. Since it was so hot, we spent only a very short time in the garden and then concluded. Despite the heat, I believe the guests enjoyed themselves.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKarasuma Oike～Kitaoji260JPY
    Section 2BusKitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station)／Kyoto City Bus～Daitokuji-mae／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3BusDaitokuji-mae／Kyoto City Bus～Kinkakuji-michi／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi／Kyoto City Bus～Nijojo-mae／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total950JPY

    Tour Report by Kaeko

    Thank you very much for choosing JGA experience, and please allow me to briefly introduce myself. I’m Kaeko Tanigawa, your tour guide, and I have been showing tourists from abroad around mainly in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka areas. Every year I’ve guided my guests through those areas for over 80 times. I always try to do my best to help my guests explore and enjoy our unique and attractive locations, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive so many 5-star reviews from the guests I hosted. I’d like to help make your visit to Japan one of the most wonderful memories in your life. I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you very much.

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    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…

    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…

    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…

    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…

  • 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, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1000 Meet in front of Plat Tsukiji Tourist Information Center　Kabukiza Theatre　Ginza 4-chome Intersection
    • 1155 Asakusa　Kaminarimon Gate　Nakamise　Sensoji Temple　Asakusa Shrine
    • 1320 Tokyo Station　Maru Building Matsugui　Gyoko-dori Avenue　Tatsumi Yagura Turret
    • 1440 Harajuku　Meiji Shrine Visit　Takeshita Street
    • 1620 Shibuya　Hachiko Statue　Scramble Crossing
    • 1650 Shinjuku　3D Cat Display　Godzilla Head
    • 1700 Disband at the entrance of Kabukicho

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from North America, continuing on to the Kansai region after Tokyo. They contacted me the previous night, and instead of a hotel, we arranged to meet at a tourist information center in Tsukiji, where they were on a food tour. The planned start time of 1:00 PM was moved up to 11:00 AM. They had eaten plenty on the food tour, so they did not have meals in Asakusa or Harajuku. However, since today was an extremely hot day just after the end of the rainy season, each of them drank about five bottled drinks, such as Pocari Sweat. Thanks to this, the risk of heatstroke was avoided, but with the clear skies there was concern about sunburn, so I offered the sunscreen I had on hand. Perhaps because of the heat, places like Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street had relatively few people. Since they were worried about how to take the Shinkansen, we went via Tokyo Station. They had a pre-booked barcode, so I went to the ticket window to issue the tickets, but at the JR East window I was told, "That was issued by JR Central, so please go there." After walking from the Marunouchi side to the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station to reach the JR Central window, it turned out that this barcode did not need to be issued as a ticket but was simply to be scanned at the gate. Even for something this simple, JR East turned me away at the door. I wish there were a little more coordination between them. Since they would be traveling on their own from the next day, I gave them a Tokyo Travel Guide and explained other sightseeing spots and the rail map.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayGinza～Asakusa210JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Kanda (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 3TrainKanda (Tokyo)～Tokyo160JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijubashimae～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 5TrainHarajuku～Shibuya160JPY
    Section 6TrainShibuya～Shinjuku200JPY
    Total1,120JPY

    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.

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    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…

    May 18, 2026
    B
    Beth56646
    Great tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Ted and I agreed upon what we would see…

  • Hyogo in One Day: Nunobiki Herb Garden & Harborland

    Hyogo in One Day: Nunobiki Herb Garden & Harborland

    Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:10 Hotel
    • 11:30-12:40 Nunobiki Herb Garden
    • 13:20-14:15 Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
    • 14:40-16:00 Lunch (Mouriya Sannomiya Store)
    • 16:10-16:40 Nankinmachi (Chinatown)
    • 16:50-17:10 Harborland

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Kobe Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Herb Garden, Kobe Beef, and Harborland Body: The guests were a group visiting from North America. One member walked with a little difficulty, and another lent an arm for support throughout the day. They were a warm and close group who chatted with each other the whole time. At the herb garden, it was so hot that they could not stay outside for long, so they cooled off indoors at the souvenir shop and the "Healing Forest" area, which recreates a forest at night. In the Healing Forest, they relaxed while sitting down, and enjoyed the scent-based personality reading. After getting off the ropeway, we took a taxi to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, and thanks to the kindness of the driver, a reservation was made at the Mouriya Sannomiya branch. The guests enjoyed excellent Kobe beef at the Mouriya Sannomiya branch, and afterward we went by taxi to Nankinmachi, the Motomachi shopping arcade, and Harborland. At Harborland, they enjoyed the view from the Mosaic area. When it turned 5 o'clock, I asked whether they would like to head back to the station or stay a little longer at Harborland, and they said they wanted to stay and stroll around a bit more, so we ended the tour there.

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

    Tour Report by Harumi

    Hello, my name is Harumi, and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan. I have been actively involved in volunteer activities for many years, sharing my passion for Japanese culture and history. As a kimono dressing instructor, I can provide hands-on kimono experiences and guide tours. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling, making my tours ideal for those interested in this fascinating sport. I am also well-versed in Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (Jūdenken) and can introduce historical townscapes dating back to the Edo period. If you are interested, I would be happy to show you around the sake brewing process in the Nada region.

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    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…

    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…

    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…

    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.…