Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 10:30 Meeting at Ippodo Kyoto Main Store. Enjoy matcha before moving
    • Move by bus to Kiyomizu-michi
    • AM 11:30-PM14:00 From Yasaka Pagoda to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Matcha at GOKAGO along the way. Tour of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • Move by bus & train to Fushimi Inari
    • PM 14:30 Tour ends at Fushimi Inari

    What's a Private Family Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari The guests were a group visiting from North America. At the guests' request, we met at a specialty tea shop in Kyoto, but since they wanted to enjoy matcha there, the tour started a little later than scheduled. Along Sannenzaka, the guests stopped at various shops and enjoyed shopping, and along Kiyomizuzaka they also wanted matcha at a popular tea shop. Because of the queue, we split into one part of the group who toured Kiyomizu-dera first and another who waited in line to enjoy matcha, planning to meet up again at Kiyomizu-dera. In the end, we saw them off at Fushimi Inari, and although the tour ran over time, everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKawaramachi Marutamachi/Kyoto City Bus~Kiyomizu-michi/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2BusKiyomizu-michi/Kyoto City Bus~Tofukuji/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3TrainTofukuji~Inari150JPY
    Total610JPY

    Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
    I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
    Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
    Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
    ” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!

    Jul 25, 2026
    Ann W
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Incredible tour, one of the highlights of my…

    Jul 18, 2026
    Geert73
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A Well-Organized and Informative Tour of Kanazawa
    We, a…

    Jul 15, 2026
    G5010ZVmelodys
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Local Food & Tea Culture Tour with Licensed Guide
    Number one guide for personalised touring of Kanazawa
    Our…

    Jul 11, 2026
    rikkes490
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Rigtig god guidet tur
    Rigtig god oplevelse og gode forklaringer

    とても良いガイドツアーでした。
    とても良い体験でした。説明も分かりやすく、とても良かったです。

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Hotel Jingugaien & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Hotel Jingugaien & Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Hotel Jingugaien
    • 12:40 Nijubashi Bridge, Statue of Kusunoki Masashige
    • 14:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 15:00 Harajuku, Omotesando
    • 16:00 Dismissal @ Sendagaya Station

    What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street I guided the guests, who were visiting from North America. They were quite fashionable and had a striking presence. At the Nijubashi Bridge, they filmed a video for social media and listened with great interest to the history I shared. Next to the statue of Kusunoki Masashige, they enjoyed some matcha ice cream. At Meiji Shrine, they received a good-luck charm. Since one of the guests had not expected to walk so much and seemed tired, we took a break at Mori no Terrace. On Takeshita Street, they shopped at a hundred-yen store for an electric fan and snacks for their Disney visit the next day, and they found and tried some strawberry-muscat candy. Afterward, I asked whether they would like to walk along Omotesando or head back to their accommodation, and they chose to return, so I saw them off at the nearest station to conclude the tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKokuritsu-Kyogijo~Sakuradamon290JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijubashimae~Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Sendagaya160JPY
    Total660JPY

    Hello!! I’m Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
    I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
    My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
    I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
    Please let me know what interests you.
    I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
    Looking forward to meeting you!!

    Jul 21, 2026
    Z222TCshannonr
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
    Our wonderful guide,…

    Jul 9, 2026
    cronima2
    Perfectly guided day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing day with…

    Jul 3, 2026
    johnoD792VT
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely Guide!
    Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on…

    Jul 3, 2026
    71nidhim
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Park Hyatt Kyoto & Tenryuji North Gate

    Kyoto in One Day: Park Hyatt Kyoto & Tenryuji North Gate

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 Park Hyatt Kyoto
    • 08:40 Fushimiinari by taxi
    • 09:30 Kyomizudera by taxi
    • Sanenzaka
    • Yasaka-no-to
    • 12:50 Gioji by taxi
    • Danrinji by walking
    • Ogura Pond by walking
    • 13:20 Bamboo Path by walking
    • 14:00Tenryuji North Gate
    • End of the tour

    What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of four visiting from North America. They were not particularly interested in history, and seemed to enjoy buying drinks at food stalls and various shops and taking photos. Rather than moving briskly from place to place, they preferred a relaxed style of walking and shopping, and picked up small items along the way. Since they wanted to avoid crowds, they decided to skip Kinkaku-ji and visit Gio-ji instead, so after Kiyomizu-dera we went to Gio-ji. They also wanted to visit the neighboring temple, so we went there as well; although we had heard the lotus flowers were in bloom, they were not blooming when we arrived. We were running slightly behind schedule, but since I wanted to show them lotus flowers, we went to Ogura Pond and finished at the north gate of Tenryu-ji after passing through the bamboo grove. As the guests wanted to continue sightseeing on their own after the tour, I recommended the garden at Tenryu-ji. Regarding lunch, when I confirmed the itinerary first thing in the morning and asked whether they wanted to have it during or after the tour, they said they would have lunch after the tour ended, so we skipped it.

    I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

    Jul 14, 2026
    T6871WWricharde
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…

    Jun 5, 2026
    mateoe216
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Would book again
    The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…

    May 27, 2026
    Leah_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely recommend!
    I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…

    May 26, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
    Kazz was an excellent guide…

  • Osaka in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Nijo Castle

    Osaka in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Nijo Castle

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet at Shin-Imamiya Station
    • 8:00-9:10 Travel (JR; Shin-Imamiya→Inari)
    • 9:10-10:20 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 10:20-10:45 Travel (Keihan Line; Fushimi Inari→Keihan Sanjo, Subway; Sanjo Keihan→Nijojo-mae)
    • 10:45-12:00 Visit Nijo Castle
    • 12:00-12:45 Travel (Subway; Nijojo-mae→Uzumasa Tenjingawa, Keifuku Line; Randen Tenjingawa→Arashiyama)
    • 12:45-13:40 Lunch (Kazurano @ Arashiyama)
    • 13:40-14:40 Stroll around Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge, Kameyama Park, Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine)
    • 14:40-15:10 Travel (Keifuku Line; Arashiyama→Randen Tenjingawa, Subway; Uzumasa Tenjingawa→Karasuma Oike)
    • 15:10-15:30 Kichen Knife (Kanetaka Hamono Store)・・・Shopping for kitchen knives
    • 15:30-15:45 Travel (Subway; Karasuma Oike→Kyoto Station)
    • 15:45-16:00 Shopping at a specialty tea store (Fukujuen Store)
    • 16:00 Tour ended. Said goodbye to the guests at Kyoto Station.

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour from Osaka to Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Shopping The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were friends from their student days, and it was everyone's first time in Japan. To save time, we arranged to meet at Shin-Imamiya Station, the nearest station. I took them to Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle, and Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge, the bamboo grove, and Nonomiya Shrine). Originally, we had planned to visit Nishiki Market after Arashiyama, but the guests requested to shop for kitchen knives and matcha, so we made a last-minute change and took them to a kitchen knife store, Kanetaka Hamono. Everyone made many purchases there. After that, I took them to a specialty Uji tea shop (Fukujuen) at Kyoto Station, where they also bought a great deal. The first half of the tour featured historical sights such as Fushimi Inari and Nijo Castle, and after lunch the guests enjoyed the beautiful nature and bamboo grove of Arashiyama, finishing the day with shopping. They were especially delighted to have purchased kitchen knives.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShin-Imamiya~Inari960JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Sanjo (Kyoto)240JPY
    Section 3SubwaySanjo (Kyoto)~Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijojo-mae~Uzumasa Tenjingawa260JPY
    Section 5TrainRanden Tenjingawa~Arashiyama (Keifuku Line)250JPY
    Section 6TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Randen Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 7SubwayUzumasa Tenjingawa~Karasuma Oike260JPY
    Section 8SubwayKarasuma Oike~Kyoto220JPY
    Total2,660JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto: Mimaru Suites Kyoto Central & Kasuga Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Mimaru Suites Kyoto Central & Kasuga Taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:15. Mimaru Suites Kyoto Central
    • 10:10-11:10. Todai-ji Temple
    • 11:30-12:20 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 12:30-14:00 Lunch
    • 14:10-14:30 Nakatanidou mochi pounding, Sarusawa Pond
    • 15::15 Hotel Osaka

    What Is a Private Day Tour from Osaka to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. They were very much looking forward to seeing the deer in Nara. We started the tour a little earlier and arrived in Nara just after 10:00, beginning our visit at Todaiji Temple. There were already deer around, and after seeing the Nandaimon Gate, the guests purchased deer crackers. In the car I had explained how to interact with the deer and advised them to be careful, but the deer outside the Nandaimon Gate were quite ill-mannered, and the moment the crackers were bought, many deer surrounded the guests, with some even tugging at clothing. One of the guests became frightened and started crying. I managed to calm the situation, and once inside the Daibutsuden we bought a deer hat as a souvenir, which cheered everyone up, much to my relief. At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, they watched the deer bow, took photos with them, and were able to touch them. As a guide, I felt truly relieved. We had a yakiniku lunch near Kintetsu Nara Station and watched the mochi pounding at Nakatanidou. Since we still had time, we had planned to visit the mechanical puppet display, but it was closed that day. When I consulted the guests, they asked to head to their hotel in Osaka, so although it was quite early, we arrived at the Hotel and ended the tour there.

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

    Jul 11, 2026
    Rahul_P
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Private Tour
    Highly recommended if looking for a comfortable tour…

    Jul 7, 2026
    782MarkS782
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Harumi and Kyoto
    This was amazing – truly memory making. Harumi is…

    Jun 25, 2026
    JenCBear
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great visit with a great guide Harumi
    Harumi was a fantastic guide…

    Jun 21, 2026
    Andrew_M
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Amazing guided experience
    Harumi is an amazing guide.…

  • Kyoto: Honen-in Temple & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Honen-in Temple & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Gion Elite Terrace
    • 10:20 Honen-in Temple
    • 11:00 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:00 Tonkatsu Katsukura Ginkaku-ji Branch
    • 13:20 Nijo Castle
    • 15:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 16:00 Disband at Gion Elite Terrace

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Honen-in, Ginkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi Inari Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. Honen-in was almost empty, giving them the temple practically to themselves, and I believe the group thoroughly enjoyed taking photographs there. Ginkaku-ji was also less crowded than usual, so the guests were able to take their time appreciating its beautiful Japanese garden. They were also very pleased with lunch at a tonkatsu restaurant near Ginkaku-ji. At Nijo Castle, the school excursion season had settled down, so it was less crowded and we were able to tour it at a relaxed pace. Fushimi Inari Taisha was relatively busy, but I believe the guests enjoyed it very much.

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

    Jul 25, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
    We spent half a day…

    Jul 24, 2026
    J6711TVnancyb
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
    Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create…

    Jul 13, 2026
    elizabethtW414DU
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Private Tour
    Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start…

    Jul 12, 2026
    johnkE8649IH
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
    We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Yanaka Ginza

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Yanaka Ginza

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ MIMARU TOKYO STATION EAST
    • 10:45 Yanaka Ginza
    • 11:50 Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho, 3D Cat Screen, Godzilla Head)
    • 12:45 Lunch @ Tsukiji Sushisei Isetan Kaikan Store
    • 13:45 Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Hachiko
    • 14:05 Disband @ Shibuya

    Title: What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Yanaka, Shinjuku, and Shibuya The guests were a group from Europe visiting Japan for the first time. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to travel to Kiso, Takayama, Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Amami Oshima. At Yanaka Ginza, some of the guests showed great interest and purchased souvenirs at several shops. In Shinjuku, some of the guests were very interested in the 3D cat screen and the Godzilla head. In Shibuya, the guests listened with interest to the story of the loyal dog Hachiko and took many photos of the lively scramble crossing. Since the guests said they could return to their hotel on their own after shopping in Shibuya, we parted ways there. For this tour, the guests had made requests about the places they wanted to visit in advance through a local travel agency, and since I accommodated those requests as specified, I believe they were satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHatchobori (Tokyo)~Ueno180JPY
    Section 2TrainUeno~Nippori150JPY
    Section 3TrainNippori~Shinjuku260JPY
    Section 4SubwayShinjuku-sanchome~Shibuya180JPY
    Total770JPY

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

    Jul 10, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful Tour of Kamakura
    Seizo Kamiuto was out…

    Jun 9, 2026
    stacy_grana
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with an experienced guide
    Our guide, Seizo, was amazing.…

    Jun 6, 2026
    U9351HJjakes
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Seizo Kamiuto was great and super knowledgeable. He had a…

    May 20, 2026
    HugoJ670
    Tripadvisor review: Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Tokio in de zon
    Seizo Kaminto is een uitstekende…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Namba Dismissal

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Namba Dismissal

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Fairfield Marriott Namba
    • 11:40 Osaka Castle
    • 13:00 Kuromon Market
    • 13:40 Shinsekai
    • 14:20 Station One
    • 15:00 Namba Dismissal

    Title: What's a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market, and Shinsekai The guests were visiting from North America. They were cheerful and easygoing. Fortunately the sunshine was not too harsh, though one of the guests had a bad knee and decided against climbing to the top of the main keep at Osaka Castle. At Kuromon Market they enjoyed some grilled crab and took a short rest. In Shinsekai, which has a strong local flavor, they took photos with great interest. Since they did not climb to the top of the keep at Osaka Castle, I took them to the sky terrace of the Station One building in Yodoyabashi, the business center of Osaka, where they could enjoy a panoramic view of the city. It was my first time bringing guests there, and they were very satisfied. As it is also free of charge, I would like to make it one of the candidate spots to bring guests in the future. Afterward, I accompanied them to the nearest station to their hotel and said goodbye.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNamba (Subway)~Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Nipponbashi (Osaka)190JPY
    Section 3SubwayNipponbashi (Osaka)~Ebisucho190JPY
    Section 4SubwayDobutsuen-mae~Yodoyabashi240JPY
    Section 5SubwayYodoyabashi~Namba (Subway)190JPY
    Total1,050JPY

    I am Naoki Nakatani. I live in Osaka.
    I started tour guide from 2023 after 40 years
    work experience in Japanese manufacturing company. I am currently teaching Japanese as volunteer staff to foreign residents who live in my community. I have 11 and half years work experience in overseas office and I had interacted with people of foreign countries for a long time enjoying business and friendship with them. My guide experience is still short but I will provide my best service to the guests. I am in a position to prepare the itinerary if guests request and to send any information for the guest to make plan before visit to Japan.

    Jul 11, 2026
    Trevor_F
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    4 hour Private Tour
    Naomi was our guide and did a…

    Jun 6, 2026
    May_O
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful time in Kyoto
    We had a terrific time with Naoki. He…

    May 1, 2026
    Sanfrancisco820
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
    Naoki is an…

    Mar 28, 2026
    Tanya_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great guide
    Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 09:00 Meet at Hotel Kyoto Shinmachi Bettei Kyoto
    • ② 09:05 Explanation of today's itinerary and about Kyoto's history
    • ③ 09:30 Departure
    • ④ 10:00 Daitoku-ji Temple, Obai-in Temple & Daitoku-ji Temple grounds
    • ⑤ 11:45 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • ⑥ 12:45 Lunch (Sanjo)
    • ⑦ 13:30 Stroll through Nishiki Market
    • ⑧ 14:30 Sanjusangen-do Temple
    • ⑨ 15:00 Disband in front of Sanjusangen-do Temple

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like After Osaka and Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Originally the group was expected to be larger, but it ended up being smaller on the day. I always let guests know in advance that I will be wearing a red cap as a marker when we meet first thing in the morning, but today, as soon as we met, the first thing they did was give me a local baseball cap as a present. Perhaps it means I should wear it every time from now on, ha ha. They traveled from Tokyo to Osaka and Nara, and today it was Kyoto. After that, they planned to stop over in Asia before returning home. In Tokyo they enjoyed the dazzle of the big city in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, and elsewhere; in Osaka they did a food tour; and in Nara they experienced the atmosphere of the ancient capital. And so, they said, in Kyoto they wanted to learn about Japanese history, and to experience things like gardens and other sources of Japanese culture. One of the guests took the lead and asked question after question, but I felt that more of the questions were about daily life in present-day Japanese society. I started to explain what Zen is at a Zen temple, but they did not seem very interested in religion and did not listen much. On the other hand, they seemed to enjoy topics such as the northeastern "demon gate" (kimon) derived from Onmyodo, the story of Jizo Bodhisattva, kaiseki cuisine, and obanzai home-style cooking. I was stumped by the question of when the shoji paper at a Zen temple is replaced. I looked it up afterward and gave them an answer. I was also a bit stumped, at every historic site, by the question of why we can know things from several hundred to a thousand years ago in such detail. Perhaps in a country with a relatively short history, there is not the same academic world of analyzing old documents, or excavation surveys and restoration. Overall, the sense was that they wanted to know about the daily life of modern Japanese people and the history that lies at its source. After visiting Sanjusangendo, we parted ways; they said they specifically wanted to return to their hotel by city bus, so we said goodbye at a nearby bus stop.

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

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

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

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

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
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  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Gion area

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Gion area

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Hotel meet-up
    • 9:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 10:30 Nijo Castle
    • 12:00 Gion area
    • 12:30 Chion-in Temple tour ends

    What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided the guests, who were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. They were very interested in history, asked many questions, and listened attentively to my explanations. Since they had already joined tours in Osaka and Nara, I proceeded with the tour by adding to what they already knew. At Nijo Castle, I gave explanations related to the connection with Europe. In the Gion area, the guests did not seem particularly interested in geisha. When I mentioned the story of the Sanmon gate at Chion-in Temple, they became interested, so I guided them there, and we concluded the tour at that spot.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShichijo~Fushimi Inari180JPY
    Section 2TrainInari~Nijojo-mae380JPY
    Section 3SubwayNijojo-mae~Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Total780JPY

    Hello, my name is Mizuho Yoshikawa. Please call me Mizu and my name means rice and water in Japanese.
    I’ve been a tour guide more than 200 times since the spring of 2023 in Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama and Kochi. My tour is always original and new, depending on the guest’s preferences, encounters, seasons and weather.
    In Kyoto, one of my tours is to climb Mt. Kurama. It is about 1 hour from the city of Kyoto by train, it is a very quiet and beautiful mountain.
    In Osaka, which is called the kitchen of Japan, I am also in charge of food tour.
    In Nara, in addition to the Great Budda Hall, I guide guests to the temple with a really great view and Japanese wine, sake tasting.
    Every city has a unique charming point.
    The motto of my guiding is ” Ichigo Ichie” Once in a lifetime or seize the day. I learn this concept that the moment will never be the same again through tea ceremonies.
    I like a tea ceremony that is part of the traditional Japanese culture and embodies the spirit of “omotenashi” or hospitality. Through the tea ceremony, we can feel the spirit of “omotenashi” that has been passed down to us from ancient times.
    And I like to travel abroad and domestically, and I have been to 13 overseas countries and most of the prefectures in Japan. Traveling always gives me a new perspective, which is exciting and thrilling. Nowadays, we can learn a lot from the Internet, but traveling teaches us that it is important to have direct experience. When I travel, I feel that my five senses are infinitely expanded, and through my tour, I help all guests to have the same feeling in Japan.
    I was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is next to Tokyo Prefecture in eastern Japan. When I was little, I could see Mount Fuji from my backyard. There was also a rice field nearby, and I grew up listening to the croaking of frogs. Listening to the frogs and seeing the mountains made me feel very calm.
    I moved to the city of Kobe, one of the Kansai areas in western Japan, which includes Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and so on. I’m not from the Kansai area of western Japan, but I think that makes me sensitive to the differences between that area and the Kanto area, Tokyo, where I grew up.
    Speaking of Kobe, you might be thinking of Kobe beef. Of course you do. There are also other sake breweries in Nada in Kobe. You can also go from Kobe city to Himeji Castle, also known as the White Egret Castle, which was the first in Japan to be listed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
    Let’s meet and enjoy Japan together!

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