Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Daitokuji Hoshun-in Bonsai Garden & Gion

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Daitokuji Hoshun-in Bonsai Garden & Gion

    Tour Itinerary

    • 14:30 Meet at the hotel
    • 15:40 Daitokuji Hoshun-in Bonsai Garden
    • 17:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 18:30 Gion
    • 19:00 Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park
    • 20 :00 See off to the hotel

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour with Bonsai and Fushimi Inari Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Africa. When I asked why they had chosen to come to Japan, they said they wanted to experience a different culture. They expressed a wish to see bonsai, so I searched online and took them to the bonsai garden at Hoshun-in, which they seemed to enjoy very much. They also requested Fushimi Inari Shrine, so we visited there as well. Since two destinations alone felt a little limited, we went slightly over the scheduled time, but I was able to show them the illuminated evening cherry blossoms at Gion, Yasaka Shrine, and Maruyama Park, before seeing them off at their hotel. This private tour was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides serving all 47 prefectures.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus~Daitokuji-mae230JPY
    Section 2OtherDaitokuji-mae~Demachiyanagi Station / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3OtherDemachiyanagi Station~Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine300JPY
    Section 4OtherFushimi Inari Taisha Shrine~Gion-Shijo240JPY
    Total1,000JPY

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

    Apr 4, 2026
    Amaninder_B
    Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Had a nice tour, enjoyed…
    Had a nice tour, enjoyed our time…

  • Tokyo: Komagome via Nishi-Nippori to Nezu

    Tokyo: Komagome via Nishi-Nippori to Nezu

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Hotel, take Yamanote Line to Komagome
    • 10:10~11:00 @Cherry blossom viewing at Rikugien Garden
    • 11:00 From Komagome via Nishi-Nippori to Nezu
    • 11:20~12:00 @Nezu Shrine
    • 12:10 Lunch @Horai Shunhanten Sendagi Branch
    • 13:00 Walk toward Yanaka area
    • 13:20~13:50 @Stroll around Yanaka Ginza
    • 14:00 Take Yamanote Line from Nippori to Ueno
    • 14:15 @Cherry blossom viewing at Ueno Park
    • 15:00 Take Yamanote Line to Shinjuku
    • 15:30 Disband @Hotel

    Title: What's a Private Spring Cherry Blossom Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were very cheerful and got along well, chatting happily and enjoying the tour throughout the day. They viewed the cherry blossoms at Rikugien Garden with great interest and listened attentively to explanations about Shinto at Nezu Shrine. For lunch, since it was a day when many shops were closed, we went into an ordinary local Chinese restaurant in Sendagi, which they seemed to enjoy very much. (I have recently come to feel that many guests are happy even when we don't necessarily take them to a Japanese restaurant.) At the end, I took them to Ueno Park, but they appeared quite tired and showed a little impatience, asking things like how much farther it was to the station. However, I had them sit and take a less crowded Yamanote Line to Shinjuku, and by the time we were heading back they had settled down. Overall, I believe they were satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Komagome210JPY
    Section 2TrainKomagome~Nezu340JPY
    Section 3TrainNippori~Ueno150JPY
    Section 4TrainUeno~Shinjuku260JPY
    Total960JPY

    Hi, I’m May, your guide in Tokyo. Welcome to Japan!
    I have been grown up in Tokyo and working here for more than 45 years, so I’m sure I can share the best attraction of Tokyo with you, such as food, cultural and historic sites, sub-culture, shopping, and nightlife.
    Besides the tour guide, I have been working for a travel agent for more than 30 years, I can advise you the travel plan of not only in Tokyo but all over Japan.
    I had lots of guests from all over the world here in Tokyo, and most of them gave me great and wonderful review.
    I’m sure I can meet all of your demand and expectations, and am ready to welcome you to Japan with the best “Omotenashi” mind, or hospitality.

    Jul 16, 2026
    fernandorM8865OM
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    Memorable day
    We had a great time. Our guide Meiji…

    Jul 11, 2026
    912courtneyp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great family guide
    May was a great tour guide.…

    Jun 27, 2026
    LPMarchica
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    10/10 Recommend
    We had an incredible time exploring Tokyo with our guide,…

    Jun 11, 2026
    Alisha_W
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    May was an enthusiastic…
    May was an enthusiastic and well informed guide.…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Hondori

    Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Hondori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 Meet at Hotel, transfer to Hiroshima Station
    • 08:30 Transfer to Miyajima
    • 09:30 Miyajima sightseeing
    • 12:25 Transfer to Miyajimaguchi
    • 12:40 Transfer to Kamiyacho
    • 13:30 Visit the hypocenter, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    • 15:30 Visit Hondori
    • 16:00 Disband at Hondori

    What Is a Private Guided Tour of Miyajima and Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests visited Japan from North America and greatly enjoyed Miyajima before moving on to Hiroshima. The guests seemed to be very kind-hearted, and during the visit to the Peace Memorial Museum, they appeared shocked by the exhibits. They came out early and needed some time to recover their composure. They told me that in some regions of North America, there have been health effects on communities due to the impact of nuclear testing. When I suggested, "Let's explore the lively Hiroshima of today," the guests refreshed their mood by changing their hairstyle and clothes, and I guided them along Hondori Street. Since the guests loved stationery and wanted to browse at a leisurely pace, we parted ways at a long-established, renowned stationery shop in Hiroshima.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKamiyacho-nishi~Hiroshima Station240JPY
    Section 2OtherHiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi420JPY
    Section 3OtherMiyajimaguchi Station~Genbaku Dome-mae240JPY
    Total900JPY

    Hi, nice to meet you! I am Emmy. I am so honored and happy to be your guide.
    I had been teaching at a local university in Hiroshima. After I got retired in March 2023, I started guiding. I was born and raised in Hiroshima. I love communicating with people all over the world more than anything, so I have been involved in home visit, homestay, volunteer guide for people from foreign countries.
    I always hope that our guests will take away lots of positive energy from Hiroshima, a city that was resilient and revived like a phoenix, in spite of its sad history.
    While realizing customers’ wishes, I will introduce you the beauty of Hiroshima, Miyajima and so on, which are tranquil and peaceful places with a unique charm that cannot be found in big cities.
    I am happy to answer any questions about things Japanese.
    I look forward to meeting you in person soon!!

    Jul 3, 2026
    715rachnak
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Such a great experience in Hiroshima and Miyajima!
    We…

    Jul 2, 2026
    Janine_P
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Worth the money!
    From the moment we booked our…

    May 7, 2026
    Diane_F
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful tour and guide
    Our tour guide Emmy was…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Curious613511
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    We did a 4 hour walking tour through Hiroshima where…

  • Tokyo Japanese Gardens Private Tour

    Tokyo Japanese Gardens Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • Kaminari Ryokan (9:30) → Kaminakazato (Kyu-Furukawa Gardens 10:00~10:50) → 15-minute walk
    • Rikugien Garden (11:05~11:35) → Komagome (12:00-12:22) Shinjuku Gyoen (12:30~13:20)
    • → Tsukiji Lunch (13:40~14:40) → Asakusa (15:25)

    Title: What's a Private Tokyo Japanese Garden and Cherry Blossom Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a Japanese garden tour that started at a Hotel and continued to Kyu-Furukawa Gardens and the daimyo garden of Rikugien, where I explained the features of traditional Japanese gardens. Since it happened to be cherry blossom season, I thought Shinjuku Gyoen, with its large number and variety of cherry trees, would still have some trees in full bloom, so we went there. As I had hoped, many of the trees were at their peak, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed it. At Rikugien, they savored sencha green tea and cherry blossom manju while admiring the garden, and at Tsukiji they were delighted to be able to eat sushi at the counter without waiting. They finished everything. Kyu-Furukawa Gardens and Rikugien are quiet, calming traditional gardens, and I talked about features such as the heart-shaped pond, artificial hills, stone lanterns, the 15-tiered memorial pagoda, dry landscape gardens, and borrowed scenery. Shinjuku Gyoen has a long history, but it has a lively and cheerful atmosphere, with many people spreading out lunch boxes beneath the cherry blossoms, so I think the guests came to understand the Japanese custom of cherry blossom viewing.

    Hello,Mr.A,
    Thank you for choosing our tour. I would like you to enjoy your tour as much as possible.
    If you have any ideas to see or to eat in your mind, please tell me.
    If not, I will suggest traditional Japanese culture like Meiji-shrine, Tokyo Tower, Asakusa and beautiful traditional Japanese gardens like Rikugien and Hakone. If you want to try to eat typical Japanese food, I will introduce the Japanese restaurants. I woulld like to make an itinerary, including your request.
    Please enjoy Japanese traditional and leading-edge culture or beautiful nature
    I’m looking forward to seeing you.
    Best regards, Yoriko Ishibashi

    Apr 5, 2026
    887maisyw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Good overview of Tokyo gardens
    Great experience. On our first…

    Apr 3, 2026
    Karen_P
    Viator review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Gardens are everywhere in Tokyo.
    You will see a variety…

    Mar 28, 2025
    AColoradian
    Great Day in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We are all active so we chose the…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji & Fushimi Inari

    Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji & Fushimi Inari

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Meet at Mimaru Suite Shijo
    • Lunch at Shijo Karasuma
    • By Kyoto City Subway and bus
    • 13:45 Kinkaku-ji
    • 15:00 Cherry blossom viewing at Demachiyanagi Kamogawa Delta
    • Keihan Demachiyanagi ⇨ Fushimi Inari
    • 16:00 Fushimi Inari
    • To save time, take a taxi to Gojozaka
    • 18:00 End at Kiyomizu-dera

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour During Cherry Blossom Season? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group who arrived at Kyoto Station at noon. Since they had not eaten breakfast or lunch, I first took them to a restaurant for lunch. As it was the final weekend of the cherry blossom season and crowds were expected, we traveled on less crowded trains and routes. The bus also ran along the Kamo River, so the guests were able to enjoy the cherry blossoms along the way. I believe they enjoyed every stop, including Kinkaku-ji, the Kamo River Delta, Fushimi Inari, and Kiyomizu-dera. However, because our start was delayed, we used a taxi from Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu-dera to save time. Due to the congestion, the taxi could not go all the way up, so we were dropped off at the bottom of Gojo-zaka. When we arrived at Kiyomizu-dera, the 6:00 p.m. bell was ringing and the evening illumination was just beginning, bringing the tour to a close.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShijo (Kyoto Municipal)~Kitaoji260JPY
    Section 2TrainKitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) / Kyoto City Bus~Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3BusKinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus~Demachiyanagi-ekimae / Kyoto City Bus460JPY
    Section 4TrainDemachiyanagi~Fushimi Inari300JPY
    Total1,250JPY

    Hello! I am Kayoko Sakakibara. Just call me Cherry.
    I was born in Osaka and have lived in Kyoto for 30 years. I brought up three sons who are all 20’s.
    I like visiting temples, shrines and museums. I also like cooking and reading manga. I have been a guide for many years in the temple called Daitokuji that is the center of Japanese Culture.
    As a resident of Kyoto City, I’d like to assist people visiting Kyoto to enjoy good food, Japanese culture, history , small streets, and hidden gems.
    If you don’t feel like visiting crowded places, I can show you less crowded but beautiful places.

    Mar 23, 2026
    Dana_H
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing time in Kyoto with Cherry
    We had an amazing time…

  • Kyoto: Togetsukyo Bridge & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto: Togetsukyo Bridge & Nijo Castle

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet up @Four Seasons Kyoto
    • 8:30-9:30 Togetsukyo Bridge→Kameyama Park→Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 9:50‐10:20 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 10:30‐12:00 Nijo Castle
    • 12:00 Disband @Nijo Castle

    What Is a Private Taxi Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle The guests were a group visiting from North America. The itinerary had been arranged in advance with a local agency. When we met at the meeting point, the guests had a friendly and relaxed manner, though I was a little surprised by one who arrived dressed strikingly in sunglasses and a leather jacket. As discussed beforehand, we traveled by taxi for the entire itinerary. The guests talked with each other throughout, which made it difficult to find moments to add explanations. Kinkaku-ji in particular finished earlier than usual, which surprised even me. One of the guests spoke little, but another would talk at length whenever I asked even a small question, so it was quite challenging to find a good moment to add commentary. Our last stop was Nijo Castle, and since we were a little ahead of schedule, we decided to walk through the main citadel as well. One of the guests seemed especially interested in the Taisei Hokan (the return of political power to the Emperor), and I received questions about the reasons behind it and how the shogun was treated afterward. At the end, one of the guests wanted to try mitarashi dango from a street stall, so they bought some and we sat down to eat. I had thought each person would eat a full skewer, but the guests each had only a couple of pieces and offered the remaining two skewers to me, saying they only wanted a little taste. Not wanting them to go to waste, I gladly enjoyed them. After this, they planned to have lunch by sampling various things at Nishiki Market, and mentioned they had a reservation for Kobe beef for dinner. On the way back, we hailed a taxi in front of Nijo Castle, told the driver their destination, and said our goodbyes. After this, they planned to move on to Osaka, and since there was no direct flight to their next destination, they mentioned that stopping over on the way home would take about the same amount of time, so they intended to make a stopover before returning.

    I am a 53-year-old woman, living in Kyoto for nearly 40 years. I got the license in 2001. Since then, I worked as an interpreter or a translator in several companies, secretary at universities, and now work for a company on weekdays at the international dept.I do guiding job only weekend now. I started full swing guiding career after COVID-19 pandemic. I have gotten good review from many of my guests. I love my hometown, Kyoto which has a lot of interesting and historical sites to see. Particularly, I am native to Arashiyama which is famous for bamboo forest. So, I know a lot of places where you can relax yourself around this area. Other than that, Kyoto has many attractive sites which surely interest you.Also, I like meeting many people from different cultural background. I am very happy if I learn about your culture as well. Let’s enjoy exploring around Kyoto!

    May 18, 2026
    WENDY_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent day out
    The trip was really well planned and organised, it…

    Sep 21, 2025
    joshsJ915FC
    Super tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really wonderful tour of markets and geisha district.…

    Jun 16, 2025
    Chanyl C
    Highly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My husband and I really enjoyed the Kyoto tour.…

    May 18, 2025
    Steve J
    A relaxing, enjoyable visit to Arashiyama.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Satori was very kind and…

  • Yamanashi: Arakurayama Sengen Park on foot

    Yamanashi: Arakurayama Sengen Park on foot

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at Fujikawaguchiko Station
    • Fujikawaguchiko Station 11:01 – Shimoyoshida Station 11:14 (Fujisan Limited Express)
    • 11:14-12:30 Sightseeing at Arakurayama Sengen Park on foot (1 hour 15 minutes)
    • 12:30-13:55 Shimoyoshida Station – Gekkoji, strolling along Fujisan Michi on foot (1 hour 20 minutes)
    • (Includes stopping by Omuro Sengen Shrine and lunch)
    • 13:55-14:10 Gekkoji – Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine (taxi)
    • 14:10-15:00 Sightseeing at Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine (50 minutes)
    • 15:00-15:20 Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Shrine – Fujisan Station, strolling through the Oshi town on foot
    • 14:20-15:40 Fujisan Station – Lake Kawaguchi sightseeing boat dock (taxi)
    • 16:00-16:20 Boarding the Lake Kawaguchi sightseeing boat Appare (20 minutes)
    • 16:20-16:30 On foot to Kawaguchiko Station, disband

    Title: What Is a Private Fuji Five Lakes Day Tour Like in Cherry Blossom Season? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting during the Easter holidays. Mount Fuji was clearly visible all day and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, which delighted them greatly. – At Arakurayama Sengen Park, they enjoyed the combination of the five-story pagoda, Mount Fuji, and the cherry blossoms, and took many photographs. – We strolled along Honcho-dori (the "Fujisan Street"), the main street of Fujiyoshida, from Shimoyoshida to Gekkoji Temple, stopping along the way at Omuro Sengen Shrine, where we saw cherry blossoms and horses used for yabusame (horseback archery). The guests mentioned that they practice horseback riding, so they were very pleased to encounter the horses. – We discovered that meals could be enjoyed on the rooftop of the Marusaku Tanabe clothing store, so we had lunch there. They were also delighted by the view of Mount Fuji from the rooftop. – At Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, they were especially captivated by the grounds set among the cedar groves. They were also interested to learn that it serves as a starting point for climbing Mount Fuji. – On the Lake Kawaguchi sightseeing boat, Mount Fuji was very clearly visible and they enjoyed the panoramic view. All of them thoroughly enjoyed the day. They said, "It was a wonderful day. It was perfect," which made it a very rewarding day for me as well.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKawaguchiko~Shimoyoshida310JPY
    Section 2OtherKawaguchiko Station~Shimoyoshida Station200JPY
    Total510JPY

    Dear my guests,

    Hi. My name is Yumi, a national licensed English-speaking guide living in Yamanashi, home of Mt. Fuji.

    Since started guiding in 2005, I have guided tours in my local area, Yamanashi and its vicinities, as well as tours visiting many places across Japan.

    I would like to show you hidden gems off the beaten track and cultural treasures. The view of Mt. Fuji and lakes at the foot of the mountain is magnificent. I will make your visit to the Fuji Five Lakes Area as enjoyable and memorable as possible.

    Looking forward to meeting you. Let’s have a great day.

    Best regards,
    Yumi

    May 23, 2026
    Horace_Shao
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Area Private Tour with Licensed Guide(Kawaguchiko area Dep)
    Tour with knowledge of Japanese culture and…

    May 6, 2026
    ShaliniS_G
    Viator review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Area Private Tour with Licensed Guide(Kawaguchiko area Dep)
    Mt Fuji Area Experience
    We had a…

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

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

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Himeji Station
    • 11:40 Himeji Castle, Special Exhibition
    • 15:00 Koko-en Garden
    • 16:30 Himeji Station

    The guests were visitors from North America. They were all friendly and easygoing, and the conversation was lively, making for a warm and cheerful tour. As it was their first time in Japan, they asked many sharp and insightful questions. They listened intently and showed a deep understanding. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and there were many people enjoying hanami, and the guests found Japan's cherry blossom viewing culture very interesting. Although there was a limit on the number of people allowed inside the castle, we were able to climb all the way up to the top floor of the castle keep, which they were very pleased with. After the tour, the guests said they wanted to eat oysters, so I recommended a restaurant to them.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kennin-ji Temple & Gion

    Kyoto in One Day: Kennin-ji Temple & Gion

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Hotel Meet (The Celestine Kyoto Gion)
    • 12:00-12:10 Travel (walk; hotel → Kennin-ji Temple)
    • 12:10-13:15 Kennin-ji Temple visit
    • 13:15-14:00 Travel (Keihan Railway; Gion-Shijo → Keihan-Sanjo, Subway; Sanjo-Keihan → Nijojo-mae)
    • 14:00-15:20 Nijo Castle visit
    • 15:20-16:00 Travel (City Bus; Nijojo-mae → Kinkakuji-michi)
    • 16:00-17:00 Kinkaku-ji Temple visit
    • 17:00-17:50 Travel (City Bus; Kinkakuji-mae → Keihan-Shijo-mae)
    • 17:50-18:00 Gion (Gion Shirakawa) visit
    • 18:00 Tour ends   We said goodbye in front of a Gion restaurant (Chibo).

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Gion The guests were a group visiting from Europe. It was their first time in Kyoto. I took them to Kenninji Temple, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and finally Gion (Gion Shirakawa), where we said goodbye. The weather was perfect spring warmth, and cherry blossoms still remained in many places. Since it was a Sunday during the sightseeing season, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and Gion in particular were extremely crowded. Kenninji Temple, located in front of the hotel, was not so crowded, so we were able to visit at a relaxed pace. One of the guests seemed to be a photography enthusiast and spent a long time taking pictures everywhere. Especially at the last stop, Gion Shirakawa, they took many photos in front of the cherry blossoms at night. I sometimes worried about whether my English was getting through, but the guests commented that although it was very crowded, Kinkaku-ji was wonderful. After the tour ended, I took them to an okonomiyaki restaurant and said goodbye.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo~Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)180JPY
    Section 2SubwaySanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)~Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 3BusNijojo-mae/Kyoto City Bus~Kinkakuji-michi/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi/Kyoto City Bus~Gion-Shijo230JPY
    Total860JPY

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

    Jul 19, 2026
    Wander35832177180
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Kyoto temple tour
    Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Abby_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Javier P
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Beth_D
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Tour and Guide
    Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…

  • Tokyo in One Day: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace & Odaiba

    Tokyo in One Day: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace & Odaiba

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 9:30 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
    • 11:00 Chidorigafuchi
    • 12:00 Harajuku
    • 14:30 Odaiba
    • 15:00 Tour ends at Odaiba

    What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like During Cherry Blossom Season? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Oceania. They had requested specific destinations in advance, but since it was one of the last chances to see the rows of cherry blossom trees, part of the course was changed to add Chidorigafuchi. Due to the previous day's rain and strong winds it was nearly the final opportunity, but they were able to see the magnificent rows of cherry blossoms and were deeply moved. In Harajuku, they enjoyed a uniquely Japanese animal café at the Harajuku Hedgehog Café, which had been reserved in advance, and they were also pleased to eat "okonomiyaki" as they had requested. At the end, we stopped by Odaiba before heading to TeamLab, and they mentioned they wanted to stop by again on the way back to see the fountain show.

    Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

    I have been working for business with American companies for many years. I have many experiences guiding customers from around the world in Japan and taking Japanese customers to the USA and Europe.

    I now have a national license as a guiding interpreter, and I want to introduce the unique gigantic city of Tokyo and the traditional Japanese culture, which is not shown in the guidebooks, to people worldwide who are interested in it. In addition, I want to introduce various Japanese foods you can enjoy only in Japan.
    Unique experiences such as the Sumo Training Viewing and Tea Ceremony are optionally available.
    Depending on your preference and itinerary, I can guide you in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone so that you can enjoy your time in Japan.

    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…

    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…

    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…

    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…