What Is a Private Hiroshima Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Peace Memorial and Shukkeien Garden The guests were a group from Europe. Until the day before, a flower festival had been held around the Peace Memorial Park, so after arriving at the hotel, they had taken a stroll through the area. At the Peace Memorial Museum, they looked at the striking photographs and footage, as well as the diaries and letters of the atomic bomb survivors, and they appeared deeply saddened. The okonomiyaki lunch at "Minato Shotengai Hagakure" on the 10th floor of the Sogo department store was well received as delicious. At Shukkeien Garden, they happily watched various kinds of carp swimming in the pond. Finally, we enjoyed some matcha together, and I asked the guests about their work back home. They said that their work involving mining and support duties was demanding but rewarding. They plan to stay in Hiroshima again the next day and head to Osaka the day after.

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Tour Report by Hiro

Hi, My name is Hiroko. Please call me Hiro. So far, I’ve done total 65 tours and had 331 customers, having all the good 61 reviews.

I usually guide around Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima island. Visiting Shukkeien Garden (Asano park), Hiroshima castle and Hiroshima Prefectual Art Museum will be also fun!

If you’d like to visit the eastern part of Hiroshima like Onomichi and Tomonoura, it’s also a good choice!

It’s really a mild climate here in Hiroshima becuase Seto Inland Sea is here.
Hiroshima is famous for the oysters, lemon sweets and Okonomiyaki!!
Okonomiyaki is Hirosima’s specialty pancake which formation is like the lasagna with special sauce on top!

Well, I’d like to share some enjoyable time with you here in Hiroshima.
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!!

Title: What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. All of them were visiting Japan for the first time. Although originally from a different region, they now live in the same town in North America. They came to Tokyo as the final destination of a Pacific cruise, having departed from North America and traveled through Oceania, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Okinawa before arriving in Tokyo the previous day. They stayed in Tokyo for one day and planned to fly home from Haneda the following day. The guests wished to take a quick look at Tokyo's famous highlights in a single day. They also mentioned that they had been looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms, and that unfortunately they had not been able to see Mount Fuji even once from the ship. Since the guests preferred to move at their own pace, the tour proceeded very slowly. It was a tour under clear skies. First, we headed to Asakusa. In the vehicle, I explained the history and significance of Tokyo. We started in front of the Kaminarimon Gate. I explained the history of Sensoji Temple and the transition from Edo to Tokyo, the purpose of the five-story pagoda, what Buddhism is, and the differences between Buddhism and Shinto. We took commemorative photos at the Kaminarimon Gate, in front of the five-story pagoda, and at various other spots. The temple grounds were very crowded (full of visitors from overseas), and we strolled slowly along the Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?", "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", and "How many Christians?". There was also a question asking why so many people wearing kimono could be seen on the temple grounds, and whether they were all Japanese. At the Nitenmon Gate, we boarded a microbus and moved to Tsukiji. The market area was very crowded. I explained the history of the fish market dating back to the Edo period, and the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market. There were questions and comments such as "Do all Tokyo residents come here to buy fish?" and "It's crowded, but it does seem like there are a lot of tourists." Everyone wanted to try matcha ice cream, and all of them bought some and enjoyed it. From here, we moved to the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. From the bus stop, we walked through the plaza to the area in front of the Nijubashi Bridge. (Some of the guests said they did not want to walk and waited in the bus.) I explained the history of Japan from Edo to the Meiji era, the Meiji Restoration, why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace, the history and current state of the Imperial family, and the history of the Dai-ichi Life Building. There were questions and comments such as "Does the current Emperor of Japan hold political power?" and "Who will be the next Emperor?". We took a short break at a coffee shop near the parking area. Here again, many of the guests enjoyed matcha ice cream. We moved to Harajuku. Meiji Shrine was full of visitors. I explained about Shinto, the torii gate, Emperor Meiji, why sake barrels are displayed, and why wine barrels are displayed. There were questions such as "What kind of religion is Shinto?" and "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?". We encountered a family celebrating Shichi-Go-San and took photos. We also took a short break at Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu. We moved to Shibuya and actually crossed the famous scramble crossing. There were questions such as "How many people cross here?" and "Why did it become so famous?". Everyone crossed the very crowded scramble crossing together and were very excited, saying "Even though it's crowded, somehow it's fun." We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. There were comments and questions such as "Tokyo is so clean, with no litter on the streets," "There are no trash cans on the streets—why?", and "There are vending machines everywhere." Finally, I saw the guests off at the entrance of the Hotel, and we parted ways.

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Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

The guests were visitors from Oceania. Since there was concern about long-distance travel and walking, we traveled by bullet train both ways. We visited Nijo Castle, the Arashiyama area, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. I explained the transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji Restoration, the modernization before and after the war, the Muromachi shogunate, the class system, and the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, and the guests listened with great interest. We were blessed with very fine weather, and since we used a taxi partway through, we were able to get around without any trouble. Toward the end, we moved up the scheduled bullet train time and returned to Kobe.

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Tour Report by AndyMurao

Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.

I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.

There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.

I look forward to attending you in Japan.

Best regards,

Andy Murao

Title: Can You See Kyoto in One Day from a Cruise Ship in Kobe? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. They were cruise ship passengers who wished to sightsee in Kyoto and Osaka, but they were very disappointed that their ship would only dock in Kobe for a single day. Because of this, they hoped to visit the above sightseeing spots in Kyoto all within one day. As it was a national holiday during a long weekend, the roads were congested everywhere. At Fushimi Inari Taisha in particular, a festival was being held, and the cars were unable to move for quite some time. Fortunately, the guests were able to walk at a good pace, so we were able to complete the tour as planned. I was very glad about that.

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Tour Report by Haru

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

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

Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

What Is a Private Yamanote Line Loop Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private tour circling almost the entire Yamanote Line in Tokyo for guests visiting from Europe. This was a two-day advance assignment with the meeting point undecided, so I am very grateful to [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/) for their support on this occasion. By email the guests requested, "We are not interested in shrines and temples; we would like to be shown around the city streets," which is why the destinations above were chosen (I later learned at our meeting that this was because they had already been to Kyoto). Still, this was my first tour that so completely excluded shrines and temples. The guests spoke quietly to each other in a reserved tone, there were few moments of laughter, and there were not many questions, so to be honest it was a challenging tour to guide. Since the guests walk quickly, we were able to visit many places, but at times one of them would say things like "Let's come back here again," "Let's try making a reservation even if it's a long shot," or "I'll recommend this to friends," so today it might be more accurate to say I gave directions rather than guided. They recorded each place we visited on Google and checked the names of the shops, so I think it also served as advance research for coming back on their own from tomorrow onward. In Akihabara, for a friend who collects Pokémon cards, they took a photo of a card worth two million yen and sent it right away. They did not show much interest in maid cafés, but they seemed to like the figure and anime goods shops and the shops in Yanaka overall, and said they would like to come back. Because they keep a Ragdoll at home, they love cats. Both of them waited until 3:00 p.m. to film the 3D cat, and then at the pet shop they walked straight past the dogs and stared intently at the cats (it is rare to meet people with so little interest in dogs). On Takeshita Street they went up to the cat café on the third floor and watched from outside. When we stopped by the rooftop garden of Harakado in Harajuku, they were also filming videos the whole time. Interestingly, they had not taken any photos of themselves until then, but seemingly having taken a liking to the place, they tried taking a commemorative photo for the first time. At our final stop in Shibuya, while I was explaining the way back to the Hotel, I filmed the Shibuya crossing from the second floor of Mark City, and when I explained the Ichiran ramen we passed on the way to the Pokémon Center, they decided to have dinner there, and we parted ways at Parco. At the farewell, one of the guests smiled for the first time and said "thank you," which left a strong impression on me. Everywhere was extremely crowded today and I was quite tired, but the guests were in great spirits throughout the day.

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Tour Report by Danda

Nice to meet you. I am delighted to introduce myself. My nickname is Danda. I live in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, but I was brought up in Kanazawa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. My favorite things are bonsai and hiking. Also, I have been a big fun of history and sumo since my childhood. As for the guide, I have enjoyed making communication with foreign visitors since 2019. I have taken more than 30 private groups to not only major scenic spots but also their favorite places such as tea ceremony, maid cafe, sumo tournament, bonsai village, fire ritual and so on. I can arrange the original tour based on your requests and curiosity. It will be only for you. I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.

What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. Everyone walked quickly, sometimes so fast that I nearly got left behind. At each site they seemed eager to move on quickly, so at one point I asked whether they had plans after the tour, but they said they did not. Thanks to this pace, however, we were able to proceed smoothly and finish nearly on schedule. There were moments when the group tended to split up and move separately, which made giving guidance at each site a little difficult. One of the guests was very diligent, always reading the pamphlets at each site carefully. Another guest was responsive but did not seem very interested in history. Some of the guests had a strong accent, and there were times when communication took a bit of effort. For example, the word for lotus, usually pronounced "lotus" in English, sounded more like "laytus" to me. Despite some difficulty in communication, we managed to finish the tour without any trouble. The photo was taken at the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, Kyoto.

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Tour Report by KAZU

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.

What's a One-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and Meiji Shrine The guests were visitors from North America. Both were visiting Japan for the first time. They had arrived in Japan the day before and planned to stay for about two weeks, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other places. I guided them around Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and Meiji Shrine. They enjoyed taking photos at each location. They listened attentively to my explanations and asked many questions about Japanese culture and history. Although it was a public holiday, thanks to the early hour Asakusa was not very crowded, and we were blessed with good weather, allowing us to get around comfortably. Their first language was Spanish, so the guests spoke Spanish among themselves. After the tour, they had a reservation at a restaurant in Yoyogi, so I explained how to get to the restaurant from JR Harajuku Station and concluded the tour.

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Tour Report by Haru

Hello, I’m Haruhiko Yokota, a certified tour guide based in Tokyo and a top-ranked guide registered with JGA Inc. Please feel free to call me Haru.
I’ve been living in Tokyo for about 30 years and conducted close to 200 tours between 2023 and 2025. I’m very familiar with most major sightseeing spots in and around Tokyo, ranging from traditional temples and shrines to modern attractions. I also enjoy traveling throughout Japan, which has given me extensive knowledge of popular destinations across the country.
I’m happy to customize your tour to match your interests and preferences. If you have any requests or questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to make your tour both enjoyable and memorable!

What's a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. The tour was originally planned for a larger group, but some of the guests remained at the hotel that day. Since walking and taking the subway from the meeting point to the next destination would have taken about the same amount of time, I asked their preference, and they chose to walk. While guiding them around Ginza and chatting along the way, I learned that one of the guests loved cars, so I spontaneously took the group to a nearby Nissan showroom, and they were delighted, which was wonderful. Also, during a meal at Tsukiji, I talked about the characteristics of sashimi knives and other Japanese cooking tools, which seemed to spark their interest. Afterward, some of the guests listened very attentively to the shop staff at a store selling knives and cooking utensils and purchased a number of items. In the latter half of the tour, since it was the day before they returned home after a trip, some of the guests seemed quite tired, so I guided them at a slightly slower pace. They were moved by the azaleas at Rikugien Garden and enjoyed the everyday atmosphere of Japan at Yanaka Ginza, and they told me they were glad they had come, which made me happy as well.

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Tour Report by Yui

Hello, my name is Yui, and I am a licensed tour guide interpreter.

I mainly guide visitors in and around Tokyo, where you can experience both the excitement of modern city life and the charm of traditional culture. Japan is a country where history and the present exist side by side, and this unique balance makes every visit full of discoveries. I believe there is always something that will capture your heart, whether it is food, fashion, history, or daily life in Tokyo.

Since I also work as a Japanese language teacher, I can help you learn a few simple phrases during the tour if you are interested. Using Japanese to greet or chat with locals will surely make your trip even more enjoyable and memorable.

I hope you will take home wonderful memories, and I sincerely wish you enjoy your stay in Japan.

Title: What's a Private Guided Day Tour of Otaru Like from Sapporo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Asia. Although I am a guide based in Otaru, the guests were staying at a hotel in Sapporo, so we arranged to meet at Sapporo Station and take the train together to Otaru. When I asked about their interests, they said they were not interested in shopping but were very keen on history and culture, so we decided to start at the Otaru Museum. They asked me many questions about Otaru and Hokkaido, which made guiding truly rewarding. This is exactly what makes being a guide so fulfilling. We also visited Sumiyoshi Shrine and the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, which were not originally on the plan, because they asked to go when we happened to pass by. Dozens of times they asked me to explain what the museum exhibits and signs said. We walked quite a lot, but the guests showed no signs of fatigue and were very pleased with today's tour.

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Tour Report by Akira

Hello, my name is Akira Matsumoto, a national government-licensed guide in Hakodate and Sapporo. I’m a retired public school science teacher and have been working as a professional tour guide for more than five years. (Before retirement, I used to work as a volunteer guide mainly in Hakodate for more than 10 years) So I know every corner of Hakodate and its history, culture, and food.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I got into the graduate school of Hokkaido University, and in Japan’s modern history.
So I am well-versed in Japanese history, Hokkaido’s local history, and the Ainu aborigine people’s culture.
I can offer you an informative and enjoyable tour with a polite and hospitable atmosphere.
I like to interact and communicate with foreign people and introduce my guests to Japan’s beautiful scenery, wonderful culture,
and best food. I assure you that I will welcome you with my best hospitality and make every effort to make your tour a good memory.

Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto History and Kimono Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Before the tour, I discussed the meeting point and destinations with the travel agency. The guests were coming from Yokohama by Shinkansen, and I was asked to wait on the Shinkansen platform. As for destinations, they wanted to experience Kyoto's history anywhere suitable, and finally wished to stop by a kimono shop, so I planned Kyoto Imperial Palace → Nijo Castle → kimono shop, and asked the agency to purchase the Nijo Castle tickets in advance. Picking up guests on the Shinkansen platform was a first for me, and when the guests did not come off from the car number I had been told, I started to panic. Then the guests spotted me from the platform of a car slightly ahead and came over. That was a relief. Assuming the destinations were already understood, I took them to the subway station and we boarded the train bound for Kokusaikaikan. As we talked, I noticed they had written down the places they wanted to visit on a piece of paper, listing "Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion." I wondered whether I should have chosen these kinds of places as destinations. Since the Nijo Castle ticket had already been purchased, that could not be helped, but I proposed visiting Yasaka Shrine and Gion, which they had wished for, instead of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and changed course toward Nijojo-mae. At times like this, IC cards are very convenient. Since the guests were of advanced age, I made a point of using elevators as much as possible and walking slowly. Also, since there would not be enough time to go all the way to the main keep, I explained that we would visit only the Ninomaru Palace and its gardens. However, it turned out that they had mistakenly believed the tour included the admission fee, and it became clear that the tickets had not been purchased in advance, so they purchased tickets at the entrance as usual. (I believe the travel agency had also contacted them, but one of the guests said they had become confused because there was too much information. Given their age, such things can happen.) The Nijo Castle tour proceeded pleasantly. One of the guests had a sense of humor, and when I explained the nightingale floors, they walked on tiptoe. When the Ninomaru Palace tour finished, one of the guests said they wanted to use the restroom. Passing in front of the kitchen, I guided them to the restroom. During that time, I showed the other guest to a rest area to sit and wait. I also went to the restroom during that time, and when I returned, they said, "If we cannot walk around while drinking coffee, we would like to take a coffee break here," so we moved to the café space. They were delighted, saying that they had come to Kyoto in a rush that morning without even time for coffee, and could finally relax. One of the guests wanted to buy souvenirs, and while I chatted with the other guest and waited, that guest stood up saying, "I should not let too much money be spent," so I accompanied them. Then we returned to the Ninomaru Garden once more and left Nijo Castle. As we left Nijo Castle, they asked me to recommend restaurants around Kyoto Station, so I decided to see them to Kyoto Station and end the tour there. We walked from Minamiza toward Hanamikoji. Next we moved to Gion. When explaining kabuki, there happened to be a poster of a performer's onnagata (female role) beside a poster of an event featuring that performer as a man, so I talked about how beautiful onnagata roles can be. Then we strolled along Hanamikoji. I explained the tea houses and such, entered the grounds of the Kaburenjo theater, gave them a leaflet for the Gion Geiko Museum, walked around the Yasaka Nyokoba, and entered Yasaka Shrine through the west gate. They were interested in the fact that, besides the main hall, there were small auxiliary shrines. After they prayed at the main hall, we headed to the bus stop from the south gate. Arriving at Kyoto Station, I decided to guide them to restaurants while also showing them the Shinkansen entrance. When I guided them to the central gate, the line was extremely long, so I decided to guide them to the Hachijo gate. I explained that there were restaurants along the Hachijo gate, and we said our goodbyes. In the end, in a Western style, I hugged the guests as we parted. I hope they were able to have their lunch safely and boarded the Shinkansen. The photo was taken at the south gate of Yasaka Shrine.

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Tour Report by Satoko

I am a 54-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!