Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Kinkaku-ji & Fushimi Inari Taisha

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Kinkaku-ji & Fushimi Inari Taisha

    Hello! My name is Umi. I was born and raised in Kyoto, and I still live here today.

    I have always loved traveling. When I visit another country, I enjoy learning about its history, culture, and way of life from local people. Talking with locals helps me understand a place much better than simply visiting famous sights. That’s why I became a tour guide.

    Through my tours, I hope to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Japan. In addition to its beauty and traditions, I am also happy to talk about modern life in Japan. My goal is for my guests to leave Japan with wonderful memories and a deeper appreciation of the country.

    I’m looking forward to meeting you!

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:30 Meet at the hotel lobby
    • 13:00 Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
    • 14:00 Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace)
    • 15:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 16:30 Kyoto Station (Tour Ends)

    What's a 4-Hour Private Kyoto Taxi Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari I guided a group visiting from North America. They came to Kyoto from Tokyo by bullet train and planned to return to Tokyo immediately after the tour, so with only one day in Kyoto, we used a taxi to efficiently cover Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari Taisha in four hours. As the weather had cleared after a typhoon, the temperature was lower than usual, making sightseeing relatively comfortable. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, there was a question about how the shrine is maintained given that there is no admission fee. I explained that it is supported through donations and mentioned that it would be helpful if they could make a purchase (donation) if possible, and they bought two ema plaques featuring the red torii gates as souvenirs. This was a short trip and they were returning home the next day, but they said, "Next time we'd like to travel more slowly. We'd like to visit Arashiyama as well." As for photos, I took pictures only of the guest who gave consent.

    Hello! My name is Umi. I was born and raised in Kyoto, and I still live here today.

    I have always loved traveling. When I visit another country, I enjoy learning about its history, culture, and way of life from local people. Talking with locals helps me understand a place much better than simply visiting famous sights. That’s why I became a tour guide.

    Through my tours, I hope to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Japan. In addition to its beauty and traditions, I am also happy to talk about modern life in Japan. My goal is for my guests to leave Japan with wonderful memories and a deeper appreciation of the country.

    I’m looking forward to meeting you!

    Jun 29, 2026
    U3009CHlaurad
    Kyoto 4 Hour walking Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Umi was a great tour guide, very…

    May 9, 2026
    Adventurer745194
    Lovely intro to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a lovely morning guided by Umi.…

    Apr 30, 2026
    jonathangG3501FZ
    4 hour private tour in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Umi was a lovely tour guide…

    Apr 27, 2026
    Jennifer_S
    Wonderful, thoughtful guide
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Umi was absolutely wonderful. She…

  • Nagasaki: Matsugae International Terminal

    Nagasaki: Matsugae International Terminal

    Hello, I’m Hiroshi Kuribayashi, but you can just call me Hiro. I’m thrilled to be your guide around my hometown, Sasebo City, and the neighboring areas, such as Nagasaki, Omura, Hirado, Arita, Imari, and more. I love showing guests around these beautiful places, including their nature, history, food, and more.

    Before I ventured into guiding, I worked as a businessman, handling international business affairs with various countries such as the U.S.A., U.K., Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Egypt, and more. Drawing from my business background, I offer interpretation services for business meetings and translation services for engineering and contractual documents. If there’s something specific you’d like assistance with, feel free to let me know.

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Matsugae International Terminal →9:45 Mount Inasa → 10:20 Peace Park → 10:50 Hypocenter Park → 11:10 Atomic Bomb Museum → 12;00 AMU Plaza Shopping Center → 14:30 Meganebashi Bridge → 14:50 Chinatown→ 15:00 Glover Garden → 16:00 Matsugae International Terminal

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Nagasaki Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the tour. They especially remarked that the view from the Inasayama Observatory, which I showed them first, was wonderful. After that, I guided them through Peace Park, the Hypocenter Park, and the Atomic Bomb Museum, where they observed the exhibits on the atomic bombing very attentively. The day was clear with strong sunshine, so at Peace Park and the Hypocenter Park I made sure to guide them into the shade as much as possible. For lunch we stopped by the AMU Plaza shopping center, but as it was the first day of the Obon holiday, the restaurant area was extremely crowded and it took more time than expected. For lunch they had Chinese cuisine, which they seemed to enjoy. Afterward, I guided them to Meganebashi Bridge, Chinatown, and Glover Garden, but since lunch had taken about an hour longer than planned, our stays there were somewhat shorter.

    Hello, I’m Hiroshi Kuribayashi, but you can just call me Hiro. I’m thrilled to be your guide around my hometown, Sasebo City, and the neighboring areas, such as Nagasaki, Omura, Hirado, Arita, Imari, and more. I love showing guests around these beautiful places, including their nature, history, food, and more.

    Before I ventured into guiding, I worked as a businessman, handling international business affairs with various countries such as the U.S.A., U.K., Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Egypt, and more. Drawing from my business background, I offer interpretation services for business meetings and translation services for engineering and contractual documents. If there’s something specific you’d like assistance with, feel free to let me know.

    Jun 15, 2026
    GGuy_M
    Viator review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Excellent guide with good knowledge
    Excellent guide with good knowledge…

    Mar 4, 2026
    S943KUrobertb
    The best of Nagasaki
    Tripadvisor review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Our tour guide Hiro, was just…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Ian_M
    Walking with Hiro
    Viator review: Nagasaki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our Guide, Hiro, was very knowledgeable and engaging. We…

    Sep 3, 2025
    BdaVisitor
    Nagasaki Full Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    We had a lovely day exploring…

  • Nagasaki Customized Half-Day Tour

    Nagasaki Customized Half-Day Tour

    Hello, I’m Hiroshi Kuribayashi, but you can just call me Hiro. I’m thrilled to be your guide around my hometown, Sasebo City, and the neighboring areas, such as Nagasaki, Omura, Hirado, Arita, Imari, and more. I love showing guests around these beautiful places, including their nature, history, food, and more.

    Before I ventured into guiding, I worked as a businessman, handling international business affairs with various countries such as the U.S.A., U.K., Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Egypt, and more. Drawing from my business background, I offer interpretation services for business meetings and translation services for engineering and contractual documents. If there’s something specific you’d like assistance with, feel free to let me know.

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Nagasaki Station Front → 9:20 Peace Park → 10:00 Hypocenter Park → 10:30 Atomic Bomb Museum → 12:00 Dejima → 13:00 Chinatown (dismissal)

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Nagasaki Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Peace Park and Dejima The guests were a group from Asia who appeared to be enjoying the tour. At their request, I guided them to Peace Park, the Hypocenter Park, the Atomic Bomb Museum, and Dejima. At Peace Park, they attentively viewed the Peace Statue, the remains of the Urakami Prison, the Fountain of Peace, and Urakami Cathedral, which is visible from Peace Park. At the Hypocenter Park, they listened with great interest to how the hypocenter was identified. At the Atomic Bomb Museum, they attentively viewed the exhibits depicting the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. At Dejima, they attentively viewed the reconstructed exhibits showing what Dejima looked like during the period of national isolation. For lunch, they wished to go to Chinatown, so I guided them there, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNagasaki Station Front~Peace Park150JPY
    Section 2TrainPeace Park~Dejima150JPY
    Section 3OtherDejima~Shinchi Chinatown110JPY
    Total410JPY

    Hello, I’m Hiroshi Kuribayashi, but you can just call me Hiro. I’m thrilled to be your guide around my hometown, Sasebo City, and the neighboring areas, such as Nagasaki, Omura, Hirado, Arita, Imari, and more. I love showing guests around these beautiful places, including their nature, history, food, and more.

    Before I ventured into guiding, I worked as a businessman, handling international business affairs with various countries such as the U.S.A., U.K., Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Egypt, and more. Drawing from my business background, I offer interpretation services for business meetings and translation services for engineering and contractual documents. If there’s something specific you’d like assistance with, feel free to let me know.

    Jun 15, 2026
    GGuy_M
    Viator review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Excellent guide with good knowledge
    Excellent guide with good knowledge…

    Mar 4, 2026
    S943KUrobertb
    The best of Nagasaki
    Tripadvisor review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Our tour guide Hiro, was just…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Ian_M
    Walking with Hiro
    Viator review: Nagasaki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our Guide, Hiro, was very knowledgeable and engaging. We…

    Sep 3, 2025
    BdaVisitor
    Nagasaki Full Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    We had a lovely day exploring…

  • Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
    I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
    I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!

    Tour Itinerary

    • 15:00 Meet the guest family who arrived from Kyoto 2 hours earlier at W Osaka Hotel, departure ➡ By subway, Osaka Castle (15:30~16:30 no entry to the castle tower) ➡ By JR Loop Line, Umeda Sky Building (17:00~17:50) ➡ By subway, Shinsaibashi ➡ On foot, Shinsaibashi to Dotonbori (18:20~19:00) ➡ Introduce a restaurant and finish (19:00)

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America. After Tokyo and Kyoto, Osaka was their final destination, and they had already mostly finished their shopping, including buying sneakers. It was not raining when we set out, but heavy rain was expected due to the influence of a typhoon, so I had them bring umbrellas from their hotel. The prediction proved correct, and it poured heavily along the way, but the temperature dropped and it became more comfortable, which was good for walking around. The tour ended near their hotel at Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. Since the guests wanted to have okonomiyaki for dinner, I introduced a restaurant to them, and the tour came to a close.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHommachi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2TrainOsakajokoen~Osaka180JPY
    Section 3SubwayUmeda (Subway)~Shinsaibashi240JPY
    Total610JPY

    Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
    I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
    I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!

    Jul 17, 2026
    TROY_R
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    This was a perfect tour…
    This was a perfect tour of…

    Sep 18, 2025
    L9831WKjenniferb
    4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely afternoon with English…

    Aug 15, 2025
    SuperGC68
    Great value
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Inspire64445626178
    Delightful day with Emi
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a delightful day with our guide…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 10:30 Meet at the hotel
    • ② 10:30 Decide today's destinations・About the history of Kyoto
    • ③ 11:15 Sanjusangendo
    • ④ 12:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • ⑤ 13:30 Nijo Castle
    • ⑥ 14:45 Return to the hotel and disband

    What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like for a Family from Europe? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe, and this was their first time in Japan. One of the guests was fluent in English, having spent a few years in North America in the past, while another was still young and not yet very comfortable with English. Today we explored the places the younger guest wanted to see, with interpretation provided by another member of the group. They were fine skipping lunch and wanted to see as much of Kyoto as possible. I was told the younger guest had a remarkable mind, being especially strong with numbers: once something was understood, it was memorized as figures and retained in the form of an image, so that anything learned could be repeated instantly. Even in a large, unfamiliar city like Tokyo, every subway line and route once used was remembered, and the group was able to move freely all around Tokyo over just a few days of their stay. The questions in Kyoto were still those of a young mind, with nothing especially surprising, but I did find myself speaking with some nervousness, wondering whether my explanations were landing well. This is a guest with a promising future. I said goodbye with encouragement to aim high in the future. Tomorrow they plan to buy anime figures in the Minami area of Osaka — still very much a young interest.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainInari~Kyoto150JPY
    Total150JPY

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

    Jul 29, 2026
    James_G
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide and very…
    Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    peterhR6472GA
    Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with Kazu…

    Jul 12, 2026
    cgalvez73
    Fantastic tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

    For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
    For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Tour Itinerary

    • 05:00 Meet at Toyosu Market
    • 05:10-05:30 Explanation of related information in advance, such as tuna catching methods, how the auction proceeds, collection methods, and the roles of wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers
    • 05:30-06:00 Watch the tuna auction
    • 06:00-07:00 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
    • 07:00-07:15 Move to Tsukiji
    • 07:15-08:00 Stroll around Tsukiji Inner Market
    • 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji

    Title: What Is a Private Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Market Tour Like in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Some of the guests enjoy fishing themselves and were very interested in Japanese fish markets. During the tuna auction, the guests became very excited and asked many enthusiastic questions throughout the visit, which quickly lifted the mood of the tour and made it a very enjoyable experience. After watching the auction, the group enjoyed a "tuna feast" at a sushi restaurant, savoring how the flavor changed with each cut of tuna and with the chef's preparation methods such as marinating and searing, and they were very satisfied. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, some of the guests showed interest in Japanese fruit and purchased seasonal peaches, saying they would enjoy them at the Hotel.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusToyosu Market/Toei Bus~Tsukiji 6-chome/Toei Bus210JPY
    Total210JPY

    Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

    For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
    For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Sep 25, 2026
    robert_s
    Fantastic experience!
    Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    We had a tour booked with Toru…

    Sep 24, 2026
    Pamela_S
    Ask for Toru!
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our travel date for this tour…

    Sep 13, 2026
    S4579HLmaxf
    An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    Outstanding experience at the…

    Sep 7, 2026
    Victor_G
    All the temples and…
    Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Kiyosumi Garden

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Kiyosumi Garden

    Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

    For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
    For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Tour Itinerary

    • 07:00 Meet up at the hotel
    • 07:30 Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market, breakfast
    • 09:30 Stroll through Kiyosumi Garden
    • 11:00 Watch the goma fire prayer ritual at Fukagawa Fudodo
    • 12:00 Experience kakuuchi (standing bar drinking) in Monzen-Nakacho
    • 13:00 Escort to Gaienmae Station and disband

    What's a Private Tsukiji and Fukagawa Cultural Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They had been looking forward to visiting Tsukiji Outer Market and had researched shops of interest in advance on YouTube and other sources. They had noted a restaurant famous for its motsu-nikomi (offal stew) rice bowl and gyudon (beef rice bowl), and they enjoyed a gyudon topped with a hot spring egg. In our email discussions beforehand, we had planned to visit Asakusa and Meiji Shrine, but since they had already visited both on the previous day's tour, we changed the plan and rerouted to Kiyosumi Garden and a goma (fire) prayer ritual at Fukagawa Fudo-do, allowing them to enjoy Japanese culture. They especially enjoyed the sutra chanting and Japanese taiko drumming during the goma prayer. As they enjoyed sake, they experienced kakuuchi (standing sake tasting) at Orihara Shoten on the street in front of the temple gate. Inside the shop, they mingled with local customers and enjoyed their sake with warm smiles.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGaienmae Station / Minato Ward, Tokyo~Tsukiji180JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji Market~Kiyosumi-Shirakawa220JPY
    Section 3TrainKiyosumi-Shirakawa~Monzen-Nakacho180JPY
    Section 4TrainMonzen-Nakacho~Gaienmae210JPY
    Total790JPY

    Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

    For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
    For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Sep 25, 2026
    robert_s
    Fantastic experience!
    Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    We had a tour booked with Toru…

    Sep 24, 2026
    Pamela_S
    Ask for Toru!
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our travel date for this tour…

    Sep 13, 2026
    S4579HLmaxf
    An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    Outstanding experience at the…

    Sep 7, 2026
    Victor_G
    All the temples and…
    Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Ginkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Ginkaku-ji Temple

    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.

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Meet
    • 9:30 Nijo Castle
    • 11:15 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:15 Lunch
    • 13:10 Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
    • 14:00 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:55 Tour ends, dismissal on-site

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, and they had been to Japan several times before. Thanks to a typhoon, the temperature was low and there was some light rain, but it did not cause much trouble. First thing in the morning we went to Nijo Castle, which was quite crowded as expected. Since it was the Obon holiday season, many domestic visitors were there as well. As some of the guests were still students, I guided them to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine for the sake of their future. They both prayed very earnestly. Some of the guests could read a little kanji. The group could make decisions quickly and efficiently, while others had a calm and relaxed disposition, making for a well-balanced group. The photo was taken at Kinkaku-ji Temple.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassKiyomizu-michi~Ginkakuji-michi1,100JPY
    Total1,100JPY

    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.

    Sep 28, 2026
    Miguel_E
    Amazing Service
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time with Kazuo.…

    Sep 27, 2026
    T
    TrailBlazer47194
    Kazuo Sumi is a great guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our guide Kazuo Sumi…

    Sep 1, 2026
    Steve6172014
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 7, 2026
    Pascale_Q
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Very good private tour of Kyoto with Kazuo
    We had…

  • Hiraizumi Customized Half-Day Tour

    Hiraizumi Customized Half-Day Tour

    Hello and welcome! If you’re an inbound guest, I’d like to extend a warm greeting to you. I hope you have a pleasant stay in our beautiful city. If there’s anything you need, feel free to ask – I’m here to assist! My name’s Toshiya Ozawa. Please call me Toshi. I have 25 years’ experience as National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter guiding in English. Presently, I live in Ohsyu-shi, Iwate-ken where the Major Baseball player Shohei Ohtani was born and bred. The followings are the places where I attended as a tour guide for your reference. [Guide experience] Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Japan’s largest lake Lake biwa and Azuchi-jyo Ruins in Shiga prefecture. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara:Horyu-ji, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple. Former Site of the Imperial Palace at Heijokyo, Todaiji Temple, along with Kasugataisha Shrine and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Koyasan (Shukubo Rengejo-in) shukubo literally means sleeping with the monks. Yagyu-no-sato (or the swordsman village of Yagyu), known as the home of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu (traditional style of swordsmanship), is located in Northeast of Nara-city with rich natural environment. In Kyoto: JR Kyoto Station, The Golden Pavilion, World Heritage Site Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle, Ryoan-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple. In Mie Prefecture: Ise Shrine, Wadakin (Japan’s one of the best wagyu-beef restaurant, Matsusaka-shi). In Shiga prefecture: Mother Lake Lake Biwa, Azuchi Castle ruins.
    In Tokyo: Meiji shrine, Odaiba, Imperial Palace, Takeshita Street in Harajyuku, Akihabara (the otaku mecca and has its own unique atmosphere), Asakusa Kannon (Bodhisattva of Mercy) Sensoji Temple, and Tokyo Tower.
    In Shizuoka Prefecture: Mt. Fuji.
    In Aichi prefecture: 1. Atsuta Shrine 2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology 3. Inuyama Castle (Inuyama-shi) 4. Ohsu Shopping District 5. Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa-shi) 6.Tagata Jinja Shrine’s Honen Festival 7. Toyota Automobile Museum (Nagakute-shi) 8. Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya (Yotsuya Senmaida) (Shinshiro-shi) 9. Asuke/Korankei (Toyota-shi Asuke-cho) 10. Chubu Centrair International Airport 11. Rest Stop (Highway Oasis Kariya, Donguri-no-sato Inabu)


    10 years’ experience in a trading operations position and 7 years’ experience as an Exporting Manager and 5 years’ experience as a Domestic Sales Representative: All of the experiences above included contacts with respective customers both externally and internally.
    I spent more than 2 years in the United States and Canada. Attended Kibbutz Hebrew class for six months in Israel.


    Aug1991– present MASPRO DENKOH Corporation, Aichi prefecture in Japan.
    Sales presentative/Exporting Manager “Export of TV reception and related equipment to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand”
    Negotiated prices and specifications with the makers “Drafting and arranging the needed documentations requested by custom houses”
    OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supply of CS antennas to SONY Corporation
    OEM supply of U.S. DirecTV Satellite Dish Antenna Dual LNB to Sony Corporation
    Attended the customers from overseas when they came to the head office
    Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O. (engaged in direct report to the company president)
    Import of invaluable western style paintings, Japanese potteries and porcelains
    Export of receiver and transmitter for Qualcomm Omni TRACS Ku-band satellite fleet tracking system in the U.S.
    Export of CATV Tap-off for Time Warner Cable in the U.S. OEM supply of ETC In-Vehicle Unit in Singapore to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
    Apr. 1989–March 1991, employed by ESPO Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Manager of secretarial section to the C.E.O
    Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O “Assisted M&A transactions”
    Formula 1 ESPO-LARROUSSE Team negotiation and interpreter. Was in charge of training new staff (26 university graduates )
    Supervised new graduate recruitment activities as a part of training new staff and successfully recruited 40 prospective employees
    Apr 1976 – March 1991 Nissait English School in Tokyo, Japan
    1989 Director of Nissait English School “Management of English schools in Tokyo and Saitama prefecture”
    Instructor: Taught English conversation more than 1000 students “Was in charge of training new instructors (12 vocational college graduates )”
    Supervised new student recruitment activities as a part of training new instructors and successfully recruited 420 students at ten different schools for 5 years
    Was in charge of International Exchange program
    Chaperoned and supervised 160 Japanese youth delegates for cultural immersion homestays in the U.S.A. and Canada.
    Education: In 1976, Completed the curriculum at a university, received a degree of B.A. in Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University, in Tokyo.


    Windows MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint


    Certified as a National Licensed English-Speaking Tour Guide in 2009 (License No. Aichi EN00307)
    Passed Grade 1 of the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency in 1989.

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at JR Hiraizumi Station 10:45〜11:20 Hiraizumi World Heritage Guidance Center 11:20〜11:40 Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi 11:40〜12:10 Motsuji Temple 12:10〜12:25 Kanjizaioin Ruins 12:25〜13:30 Lunch at "Yume-no-Kaze" 13:30〜14:55 Chusonji Temple 14:55 Disband at JR Hiraizumi Station

    What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hiraizumi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report After reconfirming the itinerary at Hiraizumi Station, on the way to the guidance center on foot, we passed the Yanagi-no-Gosho ruins, where I explained that this was the site of the Northern Fujiwara clan's government office in the 12th century, along with the reconstructed moat remains. At the guidance center, the guests viewed the history of Hiraizumi through projection mapping and studied the diorama exhibit with great interest. Afterward, we stopped by the Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi, but confirmed that a restroom break was not needed. For the next stop, Motsu-ji Temple, I changed the plan from walking to a taxi to accommodate fatigue within the group. At Motsu-ji Temple, I explained its founding by the priest Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), the statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the history of the main hall, and its construction by the Northern Fujiwara clan. One of the guests asked a very apt question — "What makes this place sacred?" — and I explained the religious background in English. The guests seemed to especially enjoy the Pure Land Garden. For lunch, we had mochi dishes at a local restaurant. One of the guests finished two servings of mochi and a pork offal dish, and the meal proceeded in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. After the meal, one of the guests mentioned that they had left their goshuin-cho (temple seal book) at Motsu-ji Temple. Since I was also aware that it had been entrusted to me, I felt responsible and offered to return to Motsu-ji Temple to retrieve it. I had the guests proceed ahead to Chuson-ji Temple and set a reunion point at the Sankozo museum. One of the guests strongly wished to walk to the entrance of Mount Kinkeisan, so after explaining safety considerations, I permitted a visit up to the entrance. I walked back to Motsu-ji Temple and recovered the goshuin-cho. I tried to arrange a taxi, but all companies were fully booked, so I walked to Chuson-ji Temple. The Tsukimizaka slope was extremely steep, and I sweated heavily in the intense heat before reaching Higashi-Monomi. I safely reunited with the guests at the Sankozo museum, and at the same time the rest of the group joined us. The guests had already finished viewing the Konjikido (Golden Hall) and described it as "Amazing." Due to time constraints, I skipped viewing the Konjikido myself. On the way back, we took a taxi to JR Hiraizumi Station and made the scheduled train in time. One of the guests said "Thank you," and the tour ended successfully.

    Hello and welcome! If you’re an inbound guest, I’d like to extend a warm greeting to you. I hope you have a pleasant stay in our beautiful city. If there’s anything you need, feel free to ask – I’m here to assist! My name’s Toshiya Ozawa. Please call me Toshi. I have 25 years’ experience as National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter guiding in English. Presently, I live in Ohsyu-shi, Iwate-ken where the Major Baseball player Shohei Ohtani was born and bred. The followings are the places where I attended as a tour guide for your reference. [Guide experience] Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Japan’s largest lake Lake biwa and Azuchi-jyo Ruins in Shiga prefecture. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara:Horyu-ji, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple. Former Site of the Imperial Palace at Heijokyo, Todaiji Temple, along with Kasugataisha Shrine and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Koyasan (Shukubo Rengejo-in) shukubo literally means sleeping with the monks. Yagyu-no-sato (or the swordsman village of Yagyu), known as the home of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu (traditional style of swordsmanship), is located in Northeast of Nara-city with rich natural environment. In Kyoto: JR Kyoto Station, The Golden Pavilion, World Heritage Site Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle, Ryoan-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple. In Mie Prefecture: Ise Shrine, Wadakin (Japan’s one of the best wagyu-beef restaurant, Matsusaka-shi). In Shiga prefecture: Mother Lake Lake Biwa, Azuchi Castle ruins.
    In Tokyo: Meiji shrine, Odaiba, Imperial Palace, Takeshita Street in Harajyuku, Akihabara (the otaku mecca and has its own unique atmosphere), Asakusa Kannon (Bodhisattva of Mercy) Sensoji Temple, and Tokyo Tower.
    In Shizuoka Prefecture: Mt. Fuji.
    In Aichi prefecture: 1. Atsuta Shrine 2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology 3. Inuyama Castle (Inuyama-shi) 4. Ohsu Shopping District 5. Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa-shi) 6.Tagata Jinja Shrine’s Honen Festival 7. Toyota Automobile Museum (Nagakute-shi) 8. Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya (Yotsuya Senmaida) (Shinshiro-shi) 9. Asuke/Korankei (Toyota-shi Asuke-cho) 10. Chubu Centrair International Airport 11. Rest Stop (Highway Oasis Kariya, Donguri-no-sato Inabu)


    10 years’ experience in a trading operations position and 7 years’ experience as an Exporting Manager and 5 years’ experience as a Domestic Sales Representative: All of the experiences above included contacts with respective customers both externally and internally.
    I spent more than 2 years in the United States and Canada. Attended Kibbutz Hebrew class for six months in Israel.


    Aug1991– present MASPRO DENKOH Corporation, Aichi prefecture in Japan.
    Sales presentative/Exporting Manager “Export of TV reception and related equipment to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand”
    Negotiated prices and specifications with the makers “Drafting and arranging the needed documentations requested by custom houses”
    OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supply of CS antennas to SONY Corporation
    OEM supply of U.S. DirecTV Satellite Dish Antenna Dual LNB to Sony Corporation
    Attended the customers from overseas when they came to the head office
    Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O. (engaged in direct report to the company president)
    Import of invaluable western style paintings, Japanese potteries and porcelains
    Export of receiver and transmitter for Qualcomm Omni TRACS Ku-band satellite fleet tracking system in the U.S.
    Export of CATV Tap-off for Time Warner Cable in the U.S. OEM supply of ETC In-Vehicle Unit in Singapore to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
    Apr. 1989–March 1991, employed by ESPO Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Manager of secretarial section to the C.E.O
    Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O “Assisted M&A transactions”
    Formula 1 ESPO-LARROUSSE Team negotiation and interpreter. Was in charge of training new staff (26 university graduates )
    Supervised new graduate recruitment activities as a part of training new staff and successfully recruited 40 prospective employees
    Apr 1976 – March 1991 Nissait English School in Tokyo, Japan
    1989 Director of Nissait English School “Management of English schools in Tokyo and Saitama prefecture”
    Instructor: Taught English conversation more than 1000 students “Was in charge of training new instructors (12 vocational college graduates )”
    Supervised new student recruitment activities as a part of training new instructors and successfully recruited 420 students at ten different schools for 5 years
    Was in charge of International Exchange program
    Chaperoned and supervised 160 Japanese youth delegates for cultural immersion homestays in the U.S.A. and Canada.
    Education: In 1976, Completed the curriculum at a university, received a degree of B.A. in Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University, in Tokyo.


    Windows MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint


    Certified as a National Licensed English-Speaking Tour Guide in 2009 (License No. Aichi EN00307)
    Passed Grade 1 of the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency in 1989.

    Apr 29, 2026
    447dags
    Tripadvisor review: Morioka Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Full service tour of Morioka
    Full service tour with Toshiya Ozawa, who…

    Apr 2, 2025
    Calder_L
    Best way to spend the afternoon in Morioka.
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    Toshisan was an amazing…

    Jun 14, 2024
    Pelle S
    Great insights on Morioka!
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    Toshi-san is a very knowledable guide with…

    May 30, 2024
    Juan Ignacio G
    Experiencia recomendable!
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    Toshi nos acompañó con mucho entusiasmo a recorrer…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo & Kinkakuji

    Kyoto in One Day: Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo & Kinkakuji

    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!

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo
    • 10:00 Fushimiinari by subway and JR train
    • 11:30 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
    • Sannenzaka by walking
    • Yasaka-no-to
    • Ninenzaka
    • Yasaka-no-to by walking
    • 14:30 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
    • 15:30 Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo by taxi
    • End of the tour

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A Tour Report Body: [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guides led a private one-day tour of Kyoto for a group visiting from North America. Since the guests said they would not have lunch, at Fushimi Inari we climbed up to Kumataka-sha shrine. At Kiyomizu-dera, the Sennichi Mairi ("thousand-day pilgrimage") was being held from August 9 to 16, so we were able to see the interior of the main hall. We also lined up at the Otowa Waterfall, and each of the guests received the water of their choice. The guests were not very interested in Kiyomizu ware, but they were very pleased with the fresh yatsuhashi samples at the confectionery shop. Since one of the guests said they liked Studio Ghibli, we only took photos at the Yasaka Pagoda and returned to Ninenzaka. With a typhoon approaching, I had been prepared for rain all day, but it only started coming down a little on the way back from Kinkaku-ji, and we hardly needed to use umbrellas at all.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShijo (Kyoto Municipal)~Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Total370JPY

    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!

    Sep 25, 2026
    Marvin_F
    Kazz is an outstanding…
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    Kazz is an outstanding experiencedand friendly…

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

    Aug 27, 2026
    M6034YWthomasm
    Worth it
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    The day went by so quickly, a…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
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    Awesome experience
    Tour guide Kazz was great. Very informative and showed…