Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • Ebisu (9:00) → Shinjuku Gyoen (9:35-10:35) → Harajuku (Meiji Shrine) (10:52-11:54) → Tsukiji (Lunch) (12:21-13:21) → Asakusa (13:48-14:49) → Ebisu (16:00)

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Cherry Blossom Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The tour proceeded in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere, and the guests were delightful to be with. Although I had mentioned it in advance, the guests had not purchased a transportation card, had not installed a smartphone app, and only had US-equivalent foreign currency in cash. Fortunately, there was a currency exchange machine in Harajuku where they were able to exchange their money into Japanese yen. Until then, I had covered the costs on their behalf. Since credit cards could not be used at the station, I felt I should have explained Japan's transportation system to them earlier. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the weather improved, so although the tour ran longer than planned, the guests kindly agreed to complete the entire itinerary and seemed very satisfied, which was wonderful. At the end, I forgot to hand them the review card.

    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…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: various monuments in Peace & Hiroshima Station

    Hiroshima in One Day: various monuments in Peace & Hiroshima Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet and greet at Hiroshima Station
    • 11:10 By taxi to a restaurant in Hiroshima City
    • 12:30 After lunch, to the Peace Memorial Museum
    • 14:00 Visit various monuments in Peace Park
    • 15:10 To Miyajima via the World Heritage Sea Route
    • 15:55 Arrive at Miyajima
    • Visit Itsukushima Shrine and historical buildings
    • 18:40 Depart Miyajima by JR Ferry
    • 18:50 Arrive at Miyajimaguchi
    • 19:03 Depart Miyajimaguchi by JR
    • 19:30 Arrive at Hiroshima Station

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. As they seemed relatively unaccustomed to traveling, I checked their return tickets when we met and found that they had not reserved seats for their return journey, so we arranged to extend the departure time and adjusted our schedule by about 30 minutes at each stage. That day, the museum had planned entry restrictions in the afternoon to avoid congestion, which I was worried about, but we made it just in time and were able to complete the visit in the way the guests had hoped. Although the visit to Miyajima took place in the evening, I believe the guests enjoyed visiting during the peak of the cherry blossom season.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMiyajimaguchi~Hiroshima Station420JPY
    Section 2JGA Pre-Approved FeePeace Park~Miyajima Port1,200JPY
    Total1,620JPY

    Welcome to Hiroshima.
    My name is Hiroshi Tsuji, a licensed guide based in Hiroshima and Miyajima. My family has been connected to Miyajima for more than 300 years, and I am pleased to share the history, culture, and daily life of this unique island with visitors from around the world. Please feel free to call me Hiroshi.
    With a background in outdoor sports—including rock climbing, scuba diving, and long-distance triathlons—I have completed several Ironman races abroad. I studied in Kyoto and later worked in management at a publicly listed company, which allowed me to live in many different regions of Japan and develop a deeper understanding of the country’s diverse culture and history.
    In Hiroshima, I guide guests through the Peace Memorial Park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome, and share perspectives on the history of Hiroshima and modern Japan.
    In Miyajima, I introduce Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen, the island’s beautiful scenery, and its local cuisine. As someone whose family has been connected to Miyajima for generations, I also enjoy sharing local insights and experiences that offer a more personal connection to the island’s culture and way of life.
    I look forward to welcoming you to Hiroshima and Miyajima.
    Hiroshi

    Jul 31, 2026
    Helene R
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Experienced guide Hiroshi
    Hiroshi was a great experienced…

    Jul 26, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Miyajima Half-Day customized tour with licensed local guide (Hiroshi)
    We went…

    Jul 17, 2026
    oswaldom406
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour, Fantastic guide!
    We had an absolutely wonderful…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Jennifer L
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Perfect day in Miyajima and Hiroshima
    Hiroshi is…

  • Tokyo: Outer Market

    Tokyo: Outer Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet the guests at their hotel (MONday Premium Ueno). Head to the Tsukiji Outer Market by subway.
    • 11:00 Arrive at the Outer Market
    • 11:50 Head to Iriya by subway, then walk to Kappabashi (from the Kinryu Elementary School side).
    • Tour around about 10 knife shops until around 14:20.
    • 14:30 Decided to buy the knife (santoku) seen at a shop called Jikko, and returned to the same shop.
    • 14:45 Finished shopping.
    • 15:25 Since one of the two guests, a woman, said she had not yet seen Sensoji Temple (the man had been there during his previous visit to Japan), took them to Sensoji Temple via Kaminarimon Gate and parted ways.

    Title: What Is a Private Tsukiji and Kappabashi Knife-Shopping Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests looked around Tsukiji Outer Market with great interest, though they did not buy any food. They purchased a set of small packets containing dashi powder (a pack of 30). At Kappabashi, the search for a kitchen knife took us to about ten shops, and at each one the guests were shown several knives and asked questions enthusiastically. (As a guide, I was surprised that each shop had non-Japanese staff members.) We covered nearly both sides of Kappabashi, and once the guests found a knife they liked, they seemed very satisfied. The guests appeared very pleased with the purchase.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayIriya (Tokyo)~Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji~Iriya (Tokyo)210JPY
    Total420JPY

    I have worked as a diplomat for 48 years until last year(2024), so I think I am good at explaining anything about Japan in English. Though I’m a novice as tour guide, l promise that I will make detailed and thorough preparations for guiding you and to make your trip smooth and enjoyable. I myself like to experience various means of transportation and interested in local culture, history and food. You may be a bit concerned about my age(71 years old), but I am quite fit for work. Just to prove this I wish to say that I played 5 rounds of golf this summer month of August, 2025.

    Apr 16, 2026
    127dougg
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enjoyable to have a day being toured about with no…

    Oct 25, 2025
    Julia_G
    Tokyo gardens and museums.
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi is an excellent guide. He crafted a…

    Oct 14, 2025
    M
    Manohar_S
    Superb must see
    Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very scenic and beautiful trip… Mr Toshi…

    Oct 7, 2025
    Robert_H
    Lots of walking. We are…
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
    Lots of walking. We are…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen & Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:45 Meet at Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo-Otemachi
    • 9:15 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 10:35 Meiji Shrine
    • 12:10 Asakusa (Skytree photos), after visiting buy snacks at 7-Eleven and eat
    • 13:50 From the Imperial Palace Sakashita Gate (the tour inside the Imperial Palace was quite crowded) to Inui Gate, then East Gardens
    • 15:10 Disband at Ote Gate

    Title: What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The weather was mostly cloudy but there was no rain, so the tour proceeded smoothly. We entered Shinjuku Gyoen before 10:00, the time before which a reservation is required, and were able to view it at a leisurely pace. The guests enjoyed the cherry blossoms, camellias, and the Japanese garden, and took many photos. At Meiji Shrine, perhaps because it was an auspicious day, there were many weddings and shrine visits for newborns, and the guests enjoyed taking photos. Asakusa was very crowded, but the guests enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes and more. It was an open day for the Imperial Palace's cherry blossom avenue, and since we had time to spare, we headed toward Sakashita Gate, though we had to wait in line for a while. After that, we also toured the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and finished at Otemon Gate at the exit. A tip was received.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKanda (Tokyo)~Sendagaya210JPY
    Section 2Free PassShinjuku-sanchome~Meiji-jingumae700JPY
    Section 3Free PassMeiji-jingumae~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 4Free PassAsakusa~Nijubashimae0JPY
    Total910JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: hypocenter & Shukkeien Garden

    Hiroshima in One Day: hypocenter & Shukkeien Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 07:30 Meet in front of Hiroshima Station Starbucks
    • 07:41 Move to the hypocenter
    • 08:00 Visit the hypocenter, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    • 09:45 Move to Motoyasubashi Pier
    • 10:10 Move to Miyajima Port
    • 10:55 Miyajima sightseeing
    • 14:10 Move to Miyajimaguchi Port
    • 14:30 Move to Kamiyacho
    • 15:25 Move to Hiroshima Castle
    • 15:36 Visit Hiroshima Castle
    • 16:00 Move to Shukkeien Garden
    • 16:10 Disperse in front of Shukkeien Garden

    Title: What Is a Private Miyajima and Hiroshima Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. The representative showed wonderful leadership, and all the members were bright and impressive people. The Hiroden streetcar we boarded to return from Miyajimaguchi to Hiroshima was unexpectedly crowded, almost like rush hour, even though we boarded at the very first stop. This was a first for me too, and I was truly surprised. The guests had arrived in Hiroshima the day before and had gone ahead to Shukkeien Garden in heavy rain. Since the weather was now fine, they said they wanted to visit again, so after seeing Hiroshima Castle, I accompanied them to Shukkeien Garden once more.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherHiroshima Station~Kamiyacho-nishi240JPY
    Section 2JGA Pre-Approved FeeMotoyasubashi Pier~Miyajima Port1,200JPY
    Section 3OtherMiyajimaguchi Station~Kamiyacho-nishi Station240JPY
    Total1,680JPY

    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…

  • Nara in One Day: Great Buddha Hall & JR Nara

    Nara in One Day: Great Buddha Hall & JR Nara

    Tour Itinerary

    • Planned to start around 12:30 or 13:00. However, in reality
    • Guest arrived after 14:00 → Taxi →
    • 14:30 Great Buddha Hall → Nandaimon Gate → Taxi →
    • 15:30 Kintetsu Nara → Taxi
    • 16:20 JR Nara → 16:38 Yamatoji Line →
    • 16:49 JR Horyuji: Said goodbye on the train → Train stopped due to fire along the line
    • Exchanged messages on WhatsApp until around 19:00

    タイトル: What's a Private Nara Tour Like When Guests Arrive Late by Shinkansen? A Licensed Guide's Report 本文: This was a tour full of unusual circumstances. The original plan was to start at 13:00. Through the pre-tour correspondence, it gradually became clear that the guests would leave Tokyo in the morning, arrive in Kyoto by Shinkansen, transfer to Nara for the tour, and afterward head to a hotel near Shin-Osaka. They said they might arrive in Nara earlier, but that it would not be certain until the day itself. In the end, I was able to meet the guests in Nara at 14:00. When I asked why the Shinkansen could only be arranged for such a time, they explained that they had arrived at Haneda from North America that morning and taken the Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama. They had probably not been able to make a reservation in advance due to the flight schedule. From around 9:00 that morning, I was kept busy by a flurry of exchanges over a messaging app. The tour start was delayed by another 30 minutes or so while the guests put their luggage in coin lockers and exchanged money. On top of that, since one of the guests was not feeling well, the Nara tour ended up covering only the Great Buddha Hall, the Nandaimon Gate, the deer, and a few scattered cherry blossoms. Rather than the Nara guiding itself, the "guiding until reaching Nara" and the "guiding after the tour ended" were the more demanding parts. I saw the guests onto the direct rapid train from Nara Station to Shin-Osaka (I rode along with them partway), and about an hour after I returned home, I received a message on the messaging app saying, "The train has stopped. It's already been about an hour!" There was a fairly large fire beside the tracks, and both the Yamatoji Line and the Osaka Higashi Line had suspended operations. I had parted ways with the guests before 5:00, but the trains apparently did not resume until around 8:20 in the evening. I truly hope they managed to reach their hotel safely!

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNara~Horyuji240JPY
    Total240JPY

    Hello! Thank you for choosing Nara! I bet you’ll love Nara. I specialize in Nara because Nara is the unique place where in one day you can cover the history and religions of Japan from the ancient times to the post war era while enjoying rambling in the UNESCO World Heritage park, having communication with lovely deer, surrounded with the beautiful nature.
    I grew up in Nara, went university in Kyoto, enjoyed teaching at high schools and a university in Osaka. The three former capitals of Japan are home to me.
    After retiring from teaching I began guiding so that I can meet various people from various corners of the world with a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each time I guide, I find it hugely rewarding because I learn a lot from my guests sharing the history, culture and all that I know about Nara, Kyoto and Osaka.
    I used to be a marathon runner, mountain climber and skier though I am not much of them anymore.
    What I especially recommend is to stay in Nara a couple of days and enjoy communicating with friendly deer while visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nara in early morning, temples and shrines at night are well worth experiencing.

    May 16, 2026
    I3520JTcristinat
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nara with family
    Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and…

    May 3, 2026
    Maria_J
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyable day in Nara
    We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi…

    Apr 11, 2026
    64sandig
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
    ????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day…

    Mar 30, 2026
    dpadillachavez
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
    Great day at Nara!
    Best tour on Nara, Junichi…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Tawaramachi Station & Ginza Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Tawaramachi Station & Ginza Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting place: Monday Apartment Premium Asakusa
    • 10:20 Depart Tawaramachi Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Akasaka-mitsuke Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    • 10:50 Shinjuku Station
    • Shinjuku Station Travel Concierge
    • Kabukicho
    • Omoide Yokocho
    • 11:00 Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station
    • (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
    • 11:10 Arrive Tochomae Station
    • Tochomae Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory
    • 11:45 Depart Tochomae Station
    • (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
    • 12:00 Nishi-shinjuku Station
    • 12:00 Shinjuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 12:10 Arrive Harajuku Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • Takeshita Street
    • 13:00 Depart Meiji-jingumae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 13:10 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • 13:30 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 14:00 Arrive Ginza Station
    • 14:00 Disband: Ginza Station

    Title: What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ginza The guests were a group visiting from Europe. It was everyone's first visit to Japan. The group arrived at Haneda the previous morning via a connecting route and took a taxi to their Hotel. The previous day, they had explored Asakusa. This visit was part of an 18-day trip to Japan. After spending four days in Tokyo, they planned to travel to Hakone, Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Hiroshima before returning home from Kansai Airport. They were also planning a day trip to Nikko two days later. Today, the group expressed a wish to see cherry blossoms. The tour took place under alternating sunny and cloudy skies, in fairly warm weather. We first headed to Shinjuku. Since the group very much wanted to buy a "Welcome Suica Card," we first visited the Ekitabi Concierge at Shinjuku Station. After this, we went to Shinjuku Kabukicho. We walked around to see the "3D Cat Billboard," the "Godzilla Head," and "Omoide Yokocho," and then visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory. We made a full loop of the observatory, and the group remarked, "We can see how vast a city Tokyo is. It's far larger than London." After this, we moved on to Harajuku. Meiji Shrine was full of visitors. I explained about Shinto, the torii gate, Emperor Meiji, and why sake barrels and wine barrels are displayed. There were questions such as "What kind of religion is Shinto?" and "How does Buddhism differ from Shinto?" We came across a wedding procession, which the group photographed enthusiastically. The day happened to fall on an auspicious day, and many weddings were scheduled to take place. We took a break at "Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu." We also strolled through the very crowded Takeshita Street. We then moved to Shibuya. We actually crossed the Scramble Crossing. There were questions such as "How many people gather here at the busiest times?" and "Why did it become so famous?" We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue and walked through Shibuya Center Gai. After this, the group asked to be taken to Ginza. Along the way, there were comments and questions such as "The level of crowding is completely different in the back streets just off the tourist spots," "Is it not allowed to talk on the trains?" "Tokyo is so clean throughout the city, with no litter on the ground," "Which public restrooms are clean?" and "There are no trash bins on the streets. Why is that?" I saw the group off at Ginza Station, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTawaramachi (Tokyo)~Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro)260JPY
    Section 2TrainShinjuku-nishiguchi~Tochomae180JPY
    Section 3TrainTochomae~Shinjuku-nishiguchi180JPY
    Section 4TrainShinjuku~Harajuku160JPY
    Section 5TrainMeiji-jingumae~Shibuya180JPY
    Section 6TrainShibuya~Ginza210JPY
    Total1,170JPY

    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.

    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…

  • Miyagi in Half a Day: Zuihoden & Sendai Castle Ruins

    Miyagi in Half a Day: Zuihoden & Sendai Castle Ruins

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:15 Meet @ Sendai Station ~ 11:20 @ FamilyMart in front of Sendai Station (cash withdrawal)
    • 11:45 @ Board Loople Sendai
    • 12:10 @ Zuihoden
    • 13:20 @ Sendai Castle Ruins
    • 14:10 Lunch @ Gyutan Rikyu Chuo-dori Store
    • 14:47 Board the Senseki Line from Aobadori Station
    • Around 15:10 disband (disband on the train)

    Title: What Is a Private Sendai and Matsushima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This tour was assigned just two days in advance. With the date approaching, I was almost ready to decide the destinations only after meeting the guest. When boarding the Shinkansen from the Tokyo area, the guest apparently panicked upon not being able to find the ticket, and messaged me: "I got on the Shinkansen arriving at 11:06. I'll be a little late." I replied through a messaging app not to worry. Being a Saturday, the station was terribly crowded. The guest had trouble finding a locker to store luggage, so we actually met at 11:15. Since the Matsushima sightseeing boat we would take after the tour is operated by a cash-only company, the guest wanted to stop at a convenience store to withdraw cash, so we stopped at a convenience store in front of the station. There was also a long line in front of the Loople Sendai bus. I had assumed that the 15-minute intervals on weekends would be fine, but it turned out to be like a rush-hour commuter train. Since the guest's requests were Zuihoden and Sendai Castle Ruins, the Loople was the only option. The guest seemed interested in history and had studied Japanese history quite a lot. The guest had visited Osaka before Sendai and asked about the relationship between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Date Masamune. We also talked about how old Japanese history continues to influence society today and the reasons behind that. Although it wasn't too far to Sendai Castle Ruins, the Loople bus has a small body, so we couldn't sit. The guest seemed fine with it. From Sendai Castle Ruins, I had planned to take the Loople again back to the front of Sendai Station, but the guest said, "We'll run out of lunch time. Wouldn't it be faster to take the subway from the next stop, Aobayama Station?" This was exactly what I had hoped, so I asked, "It'll cost an extra 250 yen, is that okay?" The guest agreed, and we returned comfortably to the front of Sendai Station. The guest apparently wanted beef tongue for lunch. I am not fond of beef, so I planned to just watch, but since Rikyu also serves seafood, I was relieved that I wouldn't just be watching during lunch. After the tour, the guest wanted to go to Matsushima and take the last boat for a Matsushima cruise, so I recommended the Nioumaru, which runs until 4 p.m. However, the 15:07 train would arrive at Matsushima Kaigan at 15:47, making the 16:00 boat difficult, so I suggested taking an earlier train. I said I would ride partway too, so it would be fine, and we boarded the 14:47 train. When the guest said, "Let's run if we won't make it!", I dashed without hesitation and we made the train. When I said, "Sorry for rushing you," the guest laughed and said, "This is a good memory too." Until I got off at my nearest station, we talked about various recommendations for Matsushima and more. (Since it would be 5 p.m. after getting off the boat, sightseeing would be limited.) The guest was eager, asking about various Japanese expressions and more. I hope the guest enjoys Matsushima.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAobayama~Sendai (Subway)250JPY
    Section 2TrainAobadori~Tagajo260JPY
    Total510JPY

    Hello! I’m Riko, your local guide. During the week, I work at a local university, but on weekends, I love to guide visitors like you. This year(2024) marks my 6th year as a guide, and I’m thrilled to continue sharing the beauty of Japan with you.
    I’m a certified Sake Navigator, so I have a wealth of knowledge about Japanese sake. Additionally, I’m well-versed in the gourmet scene of Sendai, Shiogama, and Matsushima, allowing me to tailor your tour to your culinary preferences!
    I look forward to creating a memorable tour experience for you, full of fun and lasting memories of Japan. Thanks for choosing me as your guide!

    May 10, 2026
    Nate_K
    Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fun Day in the bay!
    Be ready to walk briskly…

    Apr 30, 2026
    Tanakainmaui
    Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Riko-san is the best guide!
    I originally booked with TripAdvisor,…

    Mar 31, 2026
    NHDBuilder
    Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    GO WITH “RIKO” FROM JAPAN GUIDE AGENCY
    This is our…

    Oct 3, 2025
    P
    Peggy_M
    This was a great tour with Riko
    Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Riko was…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet @ Hotel Kyoto
    • 11:40-12:30 Nijo Castle
    • 13:00 Disband @ Hotel Kyoto

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? A Nijo Castle Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. This was a tour that came in suddenly two days before, and since it was a first-time booking where contact had not been possible, I asked [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) for help, and they advised me to make contact via a messaging app. When I contacted the number listed at the time of assignment, it turned out to be the travel agency's number, but they quickly shared a direct messaging contact, so the matter was resolved without trouble. There had been requests to visit Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, Kodaiji, and Kiyomizudera, but since the travel between Kinkakuji and Kodaiji takes about an hour, I explained that it would not fit within four hours, and they said, "We will go on our own from Kinkakuji onward, so that is fine." On the day, although we were able to meet at 11:00, the group said they were going to get coffee and did not come out for about 20 minutes. From that point, some of the guests already seemed a little tired. The group had proposed from the start to go to Nijo Castle on foot, so I asked, "You seem tired, are you sure you are all right?" and they said they were fine, so we decided to walk to Nijo Castle. Since some of the guests did not appear to understand English, I was very mindful that speaking too much to the others might make them bored. I have studied a little Spanish, and I thought that if I could speak more fluently, I could handle situations like this better. Inside the grounds as well, the group was occupied with looking after the younger members, so I felt I should not intrude and decided to keep my explanations to a minimum. After going around the Ninomaru Palace, some of the guests said they wanted to use the restroom, so without seeing the garden, we went to the outside toilets. When they came out, they said, "Since some of us are tired, we would like to leave part of the group at the Hotel and continue the tour with just some of us." I asked, "Will it be all right to leave them by themselves?" and they said, "There are cameras, so it will be fine," so we decided to walk back to the Hotel again. On the way, they said they wanted to shop at a convenience store, so they bought rice balls and snacks. It seemed they tried a monaka ice cream sandwich for the first time and liked it very much. They said that although a similar snack exists back home, the Japanese Pocky tasted better. Then, when we arrived at the Hotel, the group said, "After all, it is better to stay together, so we would like to end the tour here," and we said our goodbyes. The guests remembered that I had asked at the start of the tour to take a photo, and kindly sent me the photo I had taken via the messaging app. The photo was taken in front of the gate of Nijo Castle.

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Jingu Shrine & Sakura Street in Ueno Park

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Jingu Shrine & Sakura Street in Ueno Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at Hotel Tokyo
    • 8:50 3DCat, Godzilla Head
    • 9:20 Help guests purchase Welcome Suica at Eki Tabi Concierge Shinjuku (Shin-Minami)
    • 9:50 Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 10:20 Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • 11:10 Takeshita Street. Purchase strawberry candy at Strawberry Fetish. Purchase rainbow cotton candy at Totti Candy Factory.
    • 11:50 Try on shoes at Onitsuka Tiger Omotesando Yellow Concept Store
    • 12:50 Asakusa Nakamise Street
    • 13:20 Light lunch at Asakusa KADOMASU
    • 13:50 Senso-ji Temple
    • 14:30 Stroll along "Sakura Street" in Ueno Park
    • 15:35 Disband at the lobby of "Hotel Tokyo"

    Title: What's a Private Cherry Blossom Tour of Ueno Park in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests, a group visiting from North America, had arrived in Japan and planned to stay in Tokyo before continuing by shinkansen toward Shin-Osaka to explore Kyoto and Osaka before returning home. In an email beforehand, they had requested that Ueno Park's cherry blossoms be included, so I managed to work it into the schedule and we were able to visit successfully. As it happened to be a weekend at peak bloom, Ueno Park was incredibly crowded. While walking and admiring the cherry blossoms, some of the guests and I briefly got separated in the surging crowds, but we were able to reunite without any problem. After that, I was able to guide them back to their hotel without getting lost, which was a relief. One of the guests works as a travel advisor, and the thought that I might be observed with a professional eye made me a little more nervous than usual, but they seemed to enjoy the experience, which put me at ease.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Shibuya200JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya~Harajuku160JPY
    Section 3TrainMeiji-jingumae~Asakusa260JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa~Ueno180JPY
    Section 5TrainUeno~Shinjuku260JPY
    Total1,060JPY

    Hello (Konnichiwa). My name is Masanori SUGANO. Most of my friends call me Bruce, so you can call me Bruce. It would be my pleasure to act as a guide for you as I have been a guide for over twenty years. I curate my tours to suit your quest for knowledge and make you laugh with Dad jokes as an ice breaker. I can add some of my experiences as seasoning since I’m a seasoned guide. I always gain a new perspective through my guests’ eyes, and that’s why I am passionate about my job.
    You can create your own itinerary, and when we meet, you can let me know what things you want to see. I am very flexible and can go off the beaten track on your request.
    Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to meeting you.
    Thank you (Arigatou-gozaimasu).

    Jul 2, 2026
    jamespmccormick
    Tripadvisor review: The Best Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Great Tokyo tour with Bruce!
    We booked a 6 hour…

    Jun 12, 2026
    716suzannab
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing experience
    Bruce was an amazing guide. He taught us some essential…

    May 27, 2026
    beaufordtjustice
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Tokyo with Bruce!
    My son and I had a…

    May 24, 2026
    A2151KImelissab
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Day out in Tokyo
    I enjoyed a solo guided tour of Tokyo…