What Is a Private Fuji and Kawaguchiko Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Asia who had been to Japan many times and appeared to travel all around the world. On a previous visit to the Mount Fuji area, a typhoon had made it impossible to see the mountain at all, but this time Mount Fuji was visible throughout the entire day, and the weeping cherry blossoms at the Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba village were beautiful, so the guests were very pleased. At Kawaguchiko Station, I helped arrange the bus to the Gotemba outlet for the following day, guided them to the boarding area, and confirmed the details of their train tickets for the return to Tokyo. It had been about a year since I last had the pleasure of guiding them.
Hello. My name is Chinami and I introduce my self as Cindy.
I was born and grow up in the foot of Mt Fuji called Yamanashi prefecture.
Yamanashi is surrounded in mountains, including top three highest mountains in Japan.
The prefecture is also famous for fruits, such as peaches and grapes. Therefore there are many wineries as well.
I tell guests not only the nature about Mt Fuji , but also Mt Fuji worship since this is the reason Mt Fuji was designated as a world cultural heritage sight 2013.
I majored in geography in university. So, I love travelling . And I like to talk with people, walking, and eating in each area.
I like hiking, too. I try to hike whenever I have time.
I study English by myself in Japan and have wanted to use English here in Japan.
Now that I am so happy I got a national government license as a tour guide. Since then I take many guests mainly in Mt Fuji area.
I also guide big groups travelling by cruise ship as a sea excursion at Shimizu in Shizuoka.
I sometimes take my guests Hakone by sight seeing bus as well as independent travelers by public transportations.
I hope I see you near future in Japan and have a wonder full time together.
Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Nezu Shrine, Yanaka, and Asakusa
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America, arriving the previous day and staying in Tokyo for a few days before a cruise. Since one of the guests had an interest in history, I also guided them to Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace, which had not been part of the original plan. There I explained the transition from Edo Castle to the Imperial Palace and the story of the surrender broadcast. As one of the guests loved plants and greenery, the East Gardens became a favorite spot and they took many photographs. At Nezu Shrine, the azaleas were only about 60 percent in bloom, and the azalea garden had a very long line, so viewing and photographing the azaleas from the outside was more than enough. In the Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi area, the guests kept discovering charming little shops, going inside to buy items such as bags and kokeshi dolls. In Asakusa, we avoided the crowds of Nakamise by taking the back streets on the west side of Nakamise to enjoy an authentic Tokyo atmosphere, checking out several shops there as well. After visiting Senso-ji Temple, one of the guests mentioned wanting to stay and shop for souvenirs, as there were ten grandchildren to buy for, and since about six hours had already passed, we ended the tour at Nakamise.
Hello! My name is Hideki Maruyama. I was born in Osaka and raised in the Greater Tokyo area. I obtained my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter Certificate in February 2016.
I spent 23 years working at a leading Japanese automotive company, including 7 years posted overseas. I then worked for a German premium automotive manufacturer for 13 years, followed by 6 years as an advisor to a British energy company. Through these roles at global corporations, I developed and refined key skills such as:
1. Cross-cultural communication
2. A deep understanding of business elites and affluent customers
3. The ability to deliver impactful and impressive presentations in English
In addition to my regular duties, I often served as an interpreter for top executives during meetings with foreign government officials. I also had opportunities to introduce aspects of Japan—such as our national character and consumer preferences—to leadership teams in both the German and British companies.
As a tour guide, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding guests from a wide range of countries especially after the pandemic, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Turkey, Jordan, Kenya and Israel.
When guiding, I always keep in mind to go beyond what guests can find on social media or ChatGPT. I believe my professional background allows me to offer unique insights, and I am encouraged when guests mention this in their reviews
Jun 14, 2026
tiffany_w
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Phenomenal experiance
Hideki san was an amazing guide. He was incredibly knowledgable…
Jun 14, 2026
tiffany_w
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Phenomenal experiance
Hideki san was an amazing guide. He was incredibly knowledgable and easy to understand. While planning our time together he helped me understand the various areas things I wanted to see were in. He designed a great tour for us. We had a delicious fresh seafood lunch, and yummy Japanese treat. He even helped me interpret with shopkeepers and my fortunes from the temples. I cannot recommend him enough!
★★★★★
Jun 13, 2026
Joshua_A
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
The Best Guide I Had in Japan
Hideki was, without question, my…
Jun 13, 2026
Joshua_A
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
The Best Guide I Had in Japan
Hideki was, without question, my favorite guide during my month-long trip in Japan.
He is an amazing, kind, and genuinely thoughtful gentleman. Before guiding, he had a successful career at a major conglomerate in Tokyo, with experience in business development and marketing, and you can immediately tell that he brings a level of professionalism, perspective, and depth that goes far beyond a standard tour.
What makes Hideki special is that he does this because he truly enjoys it. He told me, “You can use ChatGPT to get all the history, but it’s my job to explain what it can’t.” That perfectly sums up the experience. He did not just point things out or recite facts. He added context, judgment, personality, and a real human understanding of Japan that you simply would not get from a guidebook or online search.
The morning of our tour, I told him I wanted to completely change the plan. Not only did he accept it, he took it as a challenge and immediately sprung into action. A few hours later, I was completely off the beaten path in a place that would never show up in travel guides or magazines. We ate locally, and it ended up being the best lunch I had in Tokyo. We walked around, bantered, explored, and had an amazing time.
Being with Hideki felt less like being on a tour and more like spending the day with an old friend or a fun uncle who happens to know Tokyo incredibly well. His knowledge, friendliness, calm demeanor, and willingness to go above and beyond made the day unforgettable.
I could not recommend Hideki more highly. If you book with him, you are lucky to have his time. Treat him well.
★★★★★
May 2, 2026
Bruce G
Our guide (Hideki san) was a master. It was a rainy day and he suggested a new plan in anticipation…
May 2, 2026
Bruce G
Our guide (Hideki san) was a master. It was a rainy day and he suggested a new plan in anticipation that worked well.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Using the subway and minimizing time in the rain we saw many of the most important sites and experienced a variety of interesting and fun neighborhood cultures. We had lunch at a local gem for a fun meal of tempura and rice. Some of the sites were spectacular, all were worthwhile. Time and money well spent.
★★★★★
Apr 30, 2026
johnbD9596UO
Lovely Private tour of Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a great…
Apr 30, 2026
johnbD9596UO
Lovely Private tour of Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a great time being shown around the sights of Tokyo by our guide Hideki, walking and travelling on the transport network. We were able to learn about some of the history and culture of Japan. The whole day was thoroughly enjoyable and was a great experience. We can highly recommend the private tour with Hideki who was very knowledgeable and helpful and can tailor the tour to meet your interests.
Title: What's a Half-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe. They had already traveled to Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Kanazawa before arriving in Tokyo. Since this was a half-day tour, we visited the classic spots of Asakusa, Shibuya, and Meiji Shrine, stopping along the way at the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza. As expected, they were amazed by the basement food floor. In Shibuya, they mentioned they wanted to see Hachiko because they had been moved by the Hachiko movie, but since there was a long line, we took photos from the side. I told them that there is a statue of the professor and Hachiko at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tokyo, and showed them photos as well. Since they were fond of animals, after Meiji Shrine I introduced them to an animal cafe on Takeshita Street before we said goodbye.
Hello,
I’m Rumi.Welcome to Japan!!
I’m a government-licensed guide in the Tokyo area.
I’m so excited to have a chance to show you my favorite places in Tokyo.
Tokyo is a fantastic city with many aspects like history,culture and food.
What interests you about Tokyo?
What kind of Japanese food would you like to try?
I’ll take you to various places according to your request.
My favorite spot is Meiji Shrine.
It’s so peaceful that I’m sure you like it.
I really like to talk with foreigners about various topics.So, I love my job.
I look forward to meeting and guiding you soon.
Sep 29, 2026
Darrin_T
Tokyo Tour with Rumi
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Local tour guide Rumi took…
Sep 29, 2026
Darrin_T
Tokyo Tour with Rumi
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Local tour guide Rumi took us on an efficient and enjoyable afternoon tour. Very much enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend the tour
★★★★★
Sep 29, 2026
anettesoegaardn
Rumi Hosoya is a very good tour-guide.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Our guide was Rumi…
Sep 29, 2026
anettesoegaardn
Rumi Hosoya is a very good tour-guide.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Our guide was Rumi Hosoya, and it was a real pleasure. She introduced us to Japaneese culture and was a very skilled guide, indeed.
★★★★★
Sep 25, 2026
Frances_K
Rumi was a wonderful…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Rumi was a wonderful guide that provided…
Sep 25, 2026
Frances_K
Rumi was a wonderful…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Rumi was a wonderful guide that provided a comprehensive overview and tour of the highlights of Tokyo, navigating the complex subway system with ease. It was a long day but well worth it!
★★★★★
Sep 19, 2026
K6328IFcarolinel
Tokyo highlights
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Had a great day
Rumi was very…
Sep 19, 2026
K6328IFcarolinel
Tokyo highlights
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Had a great day
Rumi was very knowledgeable and took us to major tourist attractions like Meiji Shrine Senso ji temple as well as Gina shopping district. She helped us navigate the confusing train and subway system
10:00 Meet at The Machiya Ebisuya, ➡ To Kyoto Station by subway (SKYWAY and rooftop) ➡ To Fushimi Inari Taisha by JR (11:20~12:00) ➡ To Kyoto Station by JR ➡ Animate on the 6th floor of AVANTY (12:30~13:00) ➡ To Arashiyama by JR ➡ To the restaurant on foot ➡ To Monkey Park on foot (14:00~15:00) ➡ To Daimaru Department Store by Randen and Hankyu train (15:50~16:00) ➡ Introduce nearby shops etc., end of work, disband (16:10)
Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like for Anime Fans? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe. One of them had become interested in Japan after learning about Shinto, while another was a great fan of Japanese manga and anime and hoped to one day live in Japan and work in the anime industry. Since there was an anime goods shop near Kyoto Station, where we changed, we stopped by, and one of the guests was delighted to find a favorite character. They said they would like to visit again the next morning before heading to Tokyo. When asked whether the Japanese macaques at Arashiyama Monkey Park and those at Jigokudani Monkey Park were the same, I checked and explained that they were indeed the same species of Japanese macaque. For lunch, the guests happily enjoyed chilled zaru soba, which they had first learned about through anime.
Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!
Jul 17, 2026
TROY_R
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
This was a perfect tour…
This was a perfect tour of…
Jul 17, 2026
TROY_R
Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
This was a perfect tour…
This was a perfect tour of Osaka! Our guide Emi built a tailored itinerary that exactly met our needs and we visited amazing sites we would’ve never known about thanks to her. Throughout the tour, Emi was so kind, knowledgable, positive, and flexible – we enjoyed every second and are so grateful she was the person that showed us beautiful Osaka. Strongly recommend Emi and this tour if you’re planning a trip to Osaka!
★★★★★
Sep 18, 2025
L9831WKjenniferb
4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely afternoon with English…
Sep 18, 2025
L9831WKjenniferb
4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely afternoon with English speaking Emiko Yamanaka. Very informative and knowledgeable about the history of the city. Visited the Torii shrine, sadly the other shrine had just closed, and walked through the Gion district. Emi also provided us with a map that she had made with the must see places, including which subway line and how many stops to take! Very useful for the next day trip. Would highly recommend Emi as your tour guide
★★★★★
Aug 15, 2025
SuperGC68
Great value
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…
Aug 15, 2025
SuperGC68
Great value
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide who took us around in Kyoto. It was a well balanced walking tour through historical sites, famous streets/neighbourhoods and local markets. We travelled very efficiently with a combination of taxis, trains and buses. Our guide Emi was very well prepared, with high flexibility, kindness and curiosity. She was a great value to the tour. I highly recommend this two day tour to visit Kyoto in a very efficient way.
★★★★★
Jul 4, 2025
Inspire64445626178
Delightful day with Emi
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a delightful day with our guide…
Jul 4, 2025
Inspire64445626178
Delightful day with Emi
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a delightful day with our guide Emi. She designed a day around all the main spots that we wanted to visit at a comfortable pace. We learned a lot from her! And we couldn’t have done all that we did that day without her deep knowledge and experience. My niece said that it was the best day of our vacation! Thank you Emi for guiding us and sharing your knowledge with us! I would highly recommend this tour with Emi.
Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, and Kiyomizu-dera
The guests were visitors from North America. At their own suggestion we used taxis instead of public transportation. They seemed to want to take photos of each other in quiet spots, but they had imagined the Arashiyama bamboo grove as a much larger forest, and with so many people around, they were a little disappointed. At Fushimi Inari Shrine, they wanted to hike up and take photos in a quieter area, so we climbed close to the summit. Watching for good timing, they took turns photographing each other. At Kiyomizu-dera, one of the guests lifted the 96-kilogram iron staff and drew applause from the surrounding tourists. They got along well and, as is common among today's young travelers, were more interested in photos and food than in historical sites. They mentioned that they would return to Fushimi Inari early the next morning to climb all the way to the summit.
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…
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 fantastic job. He met us at our hotel and suggested several places to visit. He navigated us to each spot, providing history and information about each location. Our time spent with him was enjoyable and I would recommend this tour to anyone!
★★★★★
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…
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 brought enthusiasm and excitement to our tour. My
family had a wonderful time.
★★★★★
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…
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 excellent guide. His communication with us before our trip was outstanding. I sent him a very long list of things we were interested in, and he carefully helped us understand what was in each area and what we could realistically accomplish in a day.
Naoki even navigated a couple of bus rides for us—which turned out to be a lot of fun! He is highly knowledgeable while still making everything engaging, which made him perfect for first-time visitors to Japan.
We had a lovely day and were able to see many of the things we were most interested in, thanks to Naoki’s thoughtful guidance. He clearly put a great deal of effort into planning our day.
We highly recommend Naoki if you are looking for an easygoing guide who puts genuine care into tailoring your experience to your interests.
★★★★★
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…
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 highlights of osaka castle and
even got us in by skipping lines
8:00 Meet at the 1st fl lobby in Hotel Toranomon Hills
8:45 1 TSUKIJI Outer Market
9:45 2 ZOJO-JI/TOKYO TOWER
10:45 3 THE IMPERIAL PALACE & the Tokyo Station
12:15 4 MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
13:00 5 TAKESHITA STREET
14:15 See off at Shibuya
The guests were visitors from North America. They had a very warm and pleasant atmosphere. Despite emailing the OTA email address provided through the [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) platform both on the day of the booking and three days before the tour date (the default approach I follow as standard), there was no response. When I sent a message via messaging app one day before, I received a reply. They approved the proposed itinerary just before the tour, and on the day itself we started smoothly and I was able to guide them through the planned itinerary under the finest spring weather for sightseeing.
Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.
Who am I?
I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.
What can I be expected?
I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.
What do I love?
Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.
How do I spend my spare time?
I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.
Sep 21, 2026
judygU2038FZ
A wonderful time in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had such a…
Sep 21, 2026
judygU2038FZ
A wonderful time in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had such a wonderful experience exploring Tokyo with our guide, Masa. From the moment we met him, he was an absolute gentleman—warm, kind, knowledgeable and incredibly easy to spend time with.
Masa made our day in Tokyo feel relaxed, personal and genuinely enjoyable. His knowledge of the city, its culture and hidden gems added so much to our experience, and it felt more like exploring Tokyo with a wonderful local friend than simply being on a tour.
He was attentive, patient and thoughtful throughout the entire day, and his lovely nature made the experience even more memorable.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Masa and would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to experience Tokyo in a special and authentic way. An absolute gentleman and truly a joy to explore this incredible city with. Thank you, Masa! 🇯🇵❤️
★★★★★
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour was individually crafted to the sites and activities that we wanted to see. We really enjoyed that we used public transportation. He had great insight and was very helpful. I highly recommend.
★★★★★
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even…
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even it was full day rainy and a bad day for walking. Masa san was a
great guide, he was very helpful and guided us very nicely.
★★★★★
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6…
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6 hour tour of Tokyo with a Government Guide for our first day, to help us ‘acclimatise’ to Tokyo….learn the trains/metro, get tips and ideas etc, plus obviously visit a few highlights. Masa our guide was brilliant, contacting us in advance to find out what we would like to see, then he produced a detailed itinerary for us to review (it was spot on). He kept in touch leading up to the day and led us through a great day. The tour (& Masa) exceeded our expectations
9:30 Board the bus → head to the Peace Memorial Museum
9:45 Enter the museum
11:30 Monument tour on a walking tour
12:10 Enter Okonomiyaki Restaurant Mitchan for lunch
13:00 Purchase origami and move to the Rest House
At the cafe inside the Rest House, demonstrate how to make paper cranes
13:30 After providing information about the museum in the basement of the Rest House, the tour ends
What Is a Private Hiroshima Peace Memorial Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report
I guided a group visiting from Oceania on a private tour of Hiroshima.
It rained all day. While the guests were traveling by Shinkansen from Osaka, I received a request asking me to bring umbrellas if I had any, so I brought three extra umbrellas from home and met them at Hiroshima Station.
According to the original itinerary, we were supposed to get off the bus in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome, tour the monuments, and then enter the museum. However, because of the rain, I explained that we would change the plan and visit the museum first, and we boarded a bus from Hiroshima Station. The guests were very cheerful and lively, and I was asked many questions about my own life and work during the bus ride. I pointed out the scenery visible from the bus and we got off in front of the museum before entering.
When I asked whether the children had studied about Hiroshima at school, I learned that this topic is covered in high school, so only the eldest among them had studied it beforehand. The museum was quite crowded even at 10:00 a.m., but some of the guests read the explanations very carefully and spent a great deal of time viewing the exhibits. Although we changed the plan because of the rain, since this was a group that spent so much time in the museum, entering the museum first turned out to be the right decision.
Also, while touring the museum, I gave the explanations of the Memorial Cenotaph and the Peace Flame that can be seen from the connecting corridor while still indoors, so we could keep the time spent walking outside as short as possible. I think that worked out well too. For the Children's Peace Monument as well, I gave the explanation indoors so there would be no need to explain it outside. One of the guests seemed to have studied the story of Sadako, who was the model for the Children's Peace Monument, and was very interested in the paper cranes. I was told that a friend at school folds them very well, but that they themselves could not fold them so skillfully and wanted to learn how.
We then made a quick tour of the monuments in the rain: the Memorial Cenotaph → the Peace Flame → the Children's Peace Monument → Aioi Bridge → the Atomic Bomb Dome → the memorial for mobilized students → the hypocenter, before heading to the okonomiyaki restaurant I had reserved.
Trying okonomiyaki had been such an anticipated part of the trip that it was requested in advance. After a series of questions about the ingredients, how it is made, and whether they make it at home, the guests eagerly took photos of it being cooked at the restaurant. It seems a friend living in Yokohama had recommended that they be sure to eat okonomiyaki in Hiroshima.
According to the original plan, we were to visit Shukkeien Garden after the okonomiyaki and part ways there, but again we changed the plan because of the rain. We bought origami paper and I offered to teach them how to fold cranes. We went back to the park in the rain and headed to the rest house. On the second-floor café, we folded paper cranes together, and after I shared information about the museum in the basement, the tour ended. It was a memorable tour, as the three children looked so happily at the paper cranes they had folded themselves and carefully put them away in their bags.
Hello,I’m Yoshiko.
Hiroshima is my home town, I love this city. I believe that Hiroshima is one of the best tourists’ destinations in Japan. In this place surrounded by natural beauty combined with abundant greenery and water flowing of rivers, you could have valuable opportunities for thinking the world peace and for reflecting on Japanese traditional culture that has been nurtured throughout Japan’s long history. I’m happy if you could enjoy your tour at my favorite city of Hiroshiima with me. I will introduce the charm and significance of Hiroshima, focusing on its two World Heritage Sites: the Atomic Bomb Dome and the beautiful Myajima island and Itsukushima shrine built over the sea.
Mar 22, 2025
montesano17
One of a kind experience in Hiroshima
Tripadvisor review: Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Yoshiko exceeded our every…
Mar 22, 2025
montesano17
One of a kind experience in Hiroshima
Tripadvisor review: Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Yoshiko exceeded our every expectation on this tour. Starting from the amount of time she took going through multiple iterations of our itinerary to make sure it was perfect, and then hand guiding us through travel arrangements when we were there, she went above and beyond. Her knowledge gave us additional perspective that we never would have had on our own, and her persistence coming up with a perfect plan allowed us to experience everything we wanted to do in Hiroshima even with a time crunch. To top it all off, she was extremely friendly and personable, and a joy to be around. I would highly recommend her to anyone going to Hiroshima.
10:45 Taxi to Yokohama Chinatown, visit Kanteibyo Temple and Masobyo Temple
12:00 Lunch at Red Brick Warehouse
13:00 Disband at Red Brick Warehouse
What Is a Yokohama Port Shore Excursion Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sankeien Garden and Chinatown
This was a Yokohama port shore excursion for guests visiting from North America. At Sankeien Garden, the guests enjoyed the seasonal flowers and fresh greenery while attentively touring the traditional Japanese-style houses and their construction. In Yokohama Chinatown, the guests wished to focus on sightseeing rather than dining, so I explained the differences between the Guan Yu Temple, the Mazu Temple, and Japanese temples and shrines. Afterward, the guests wanted to ride the subway, so we boarded it, and they were impressed by the cleanliness of the stations and the trains. At the Red Brick Warehouse, they had lunch, and since they wished to do some shopping and take a stroll before heading back, we parted ways there.
Hello, I’m Yukie Tachibana, national licensed tour guide living in Yokohama with my family. Please call me Yuki. I have been working as a tour guide for 5years mainly around Tokyo, Kanagawa, for example, Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama and Kawasaki. I have had an experience of attending a lot of foreign visitors from all over the world in both private and group tours for sightseeing and business in one to multi-days. I’m able to arrange the tour for you, so please feel free to ask me your favorite plan in Japan as to spot, food and some activities. I like to see Buddhist statues in temples so I’d like to introduce our history and culture. Also because I like Japanese animation and character, and animals, I can take you to some shops for the animation and animal cafes that are so popular among tourists. Looking forward to seeing you soon and share wonderful time in Japan! Thank you.
May 1, 2026
444CraigH
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Tokyo in a day from Yokohama
We had a great…
May 1, 2026
444CraigH
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Tokyo in a day from Yokohama
We had a great experience on May 1 with our guide Yukie Tachibana. She was very friendly
and provided excellent service and history of the sites we visited in Tokyo. She was great at
navigating the city using the train system.
★★★★★
Apr 16, 2026
Adele P
Tripadvisor review: Yokohama 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Yokohama!
We had a lovely day in Yokohama with Yukie…
Apr 16, 2026
Adele P
Tripadvisor review: Yokohama 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Yokohama!
We had a lovely day in Yokohama with Yukie Tachibana today! Sankeirn Garden, Chinatown
and Red Brick Warehouse were
★★★★★
Oct 17, 2025
LeslieS1560
Intro to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yuki was awesome. She reached out right after we…
Oct 17, 2025
LeslieS1560
Intro to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yuki was awesome. She reached out right after we made our reservation, inquired about our interests and provided a customized itinerary. She guided us to six different venues using public transportation over the course of six hours and was very professional, flexible and informative. I highly recommend her services especially for first time visitors.
★★★★★
Jun 27, 2025
L
L3151LVdavidl
Amazing Kamakura Tour with Yukie
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing tour with…
Jun 27, 2025
L
L3151LVdavidl
Amazing Kamakura Tour with Yukie
Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing tour with Yukie, the best guide ever. We saw all the great sights in
Kamakura and ended with a fantastic lunch. Loved it so much and would definitely
recommend!
9:00 Meet at Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto Oike Fuyacho
9:20~10:20 Nijo Castle
11:00~11:45 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
12:10~12:50 Sanjusangendo
13:15 Drop off at Keihan Sanjo, end
What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari, and Sanjusangendo
The guests were visiting from Oceania, having arrived in Kyoto the previous day via Tokyo. At Nijo Castle, they admired the decorative Karamon Gate, and inside the Ninomaru Palace they were impressed by the wall paintings and the transom carvings. We had an engaging discussion about the relationship between the Tokugawa shogun and the Emperor, as well as the events leading to the return of political power to the Emperor at the end of the Edo period. They were especially captivated by the scene of the shogun and feudal lords meeting in the Grand Hall. They took many photos in the Ninomaru Garden and the Seiryu-en Garden. The Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms had already fallen, but a few trees of other varieties were in full bloom, which the guests enjoyed. At the main hall of Fushimi Inari, they made a wish and offered prayers, and were moved by walking through the thousands of vermilion torii gates. At Sanjusangendo, they were deeply impressed by the 1,001 statues of Kannon and the 28 guardian deities, and they offered incense and prayed before the principal image. Afterwards, I saw them off at Keihan Sanjo Station, which concluded the tour.
Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Shige.
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a…
May 23, 2026
Sarajean_s
Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
Shige was a wonderful guide. He helped us navigate the public transit system and provided
keen insight into Japanese cultural practices and the role of religion in modern day
Japan.10/10
★★★★★
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent…
May 21, 2026
828vickeyb
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
Shige was an excellent tour guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and patient. He kept our tour
moving, but also make sure we rested when needed and we stayed hydrated.
★★★★★
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…
Apr 12, 2026
Mariana_M
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking Tour with Shige
Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion during our time in Osaka. He explained everything clearly and made the experience both informative and enjoyable. He was very accommodating, always attentive to our needs, and incredibly polite and respectful. His subtle and thoughtful approach made us feel comfortable throughout the entire tour. Highly recommended!
★★★★★
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…
Jul 4, 2025
Marcus_C
Osaka tour 2025
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting information about the places we visited. He was also very friendly and approachable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The length of the tour was just right for us—especially on such a hot day—and we still managed to find time to take some great photos.
13:40 Sightseeing ③: Visit "Omi Merchant, Nishikawa Family Residence"
14:30 Travel to Hikone City
15:10 Sightseeing ④: Visit "Hikone Castle Museum"
16:00 Travel to Kyoto / Hotel
18:00 Arrive at hotel, guided tour ends, disperse
Title: What Is a Private Lake Biwa Day Tour from Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
This Lake Biwa tour was for a group visiting Japan from Europe. For this assignment, I was never able to make direct contact with the guests, which made advance preparation extremely difficult.
The assignment was confirmed last August, but the booking came not from the guests themselves but from a local travel agency. Immediately after the assignment (last August), I sent my initial message, but the contact details only included the travel agency's address, so I believe it reached only the agency and not the guests. Even into April this year, I received no reply to my initial message, so without any information about the guests' desired destinations, interests, dietary needs, or walking ability, I had no way to prepare an itinerary. On April 8, I asked [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to help prompt communication with the guests. Finally, the following day (April 9), a reply from the travel agency reached me. In summary, it stated that such inquiries were unnecessary and that I should simply carry out the sample itinerary shown on a booking platform, and that although the guests' personal phone number had been provided, I should avoid calling in advance and contact them only on the day of the tour. From these responses, I felt that the agency did not understand the aim of carefully building an itinerary based on the guests' own conditions and requests so that they could enjoy a comfortable tour.
However, by this point there was less than a week until the tour date, so I had no choice but to create an itinerary based on the information available at that time and past guiding experience. In the end, without any confirmation from the guests themselves, I finalized the plan as follows: Otsu City (Mii-dera Temple, Lake Biwa Canal, lunch) → Omihachiman (viewing the Omi merchant townscape) → Hikone (visiting Hikone Castle), and the day arrived.
On the day, the weather around the destinations in Shiga Prefecture was unfortunately poor, with light rain in the morning and heavy rain in the afternoon. In the morning I arrived at a hotel near Kyoto Station and met the guests. After brief greetings and confirming the itinerary, we set off right away by private car. The driver was very experienced and knowledgeable about sightseeing around Lake Biwa, offering various pieces of advice that were a great help. Fortunately, at the first destination of Otsu City it was not yet raining, so we were able to stroll through the spacious grounds of Mii-dera Temple without umbrellas and view the interiors of several halls, giving the guests a real sense of the world of Buddhism. However, it was here that I first learned that one of the guests had undergone joint replacement surgery on the ankle and hip a few years ago, could not walk for long periods, and had difficulty going up and down long staircases. This ended up having a major impact on the rest of the itinerary.
After visiting Mii-dera, we had lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant, and around the time we moved on to the Lake Biwa Canal, the rain I had been worried about began falling in earnest. From then on, we did all our sightseeing under steady rain with umbrellas, adjusting the itinerary as we went. By the time we moved from Otsu to Omihachiman, the rain was growing heavier, so we cancelled the stroll through the Omi merchant residence district and instead visited the Nishikawa Family Residence, an Important Cultural Property that also serves as a museum. As for the final visit to Hikone Castle, the main attraction was climbing up to the castle keep, but due to one guest's difficulty walking, we gave up on climbing the keep. Instead, I spent time carefully explaining and guiding them through the museum near the entrance. On the way back, since some traffic congestion was expected, we left Hikone a little earlier than planned and arrived at the hotel in Kyoto exactly at the scheduled time of 6:00 p.m.
Even though I was never able to obtain detailed information about the guests in advance, and the tour ended in a downpour, we managed to complete it safely while making significant changes to the itinerary. The guests may have been left with some degree of dissatisfaction, but with the driver's help I tried to do my best in each situation. In any case, this was a case that made me keenly feel the danger and risk of communicating only through the travel agency. I would like to ask [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to take this tour as a lesson and consider any necessary improvements and measures.
Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
Aug 10, 2026
Paul_H
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kind and knowledgeable guide – highly recommended
Nori communicated…
Aug 10, 2026
Paul_H
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kind and knowledgeable guide – highly recommended
Nori communicated with us before our trip and took great care to plan our personalized itinerary. He took us to some beautiful Temples and as a retired educator, shared his great knowledge about Japan’s history and all the places we visited. He paced our tour to our comfort level. I would strongly recommend a private tour when you have limited time to tour Kyoto. It was a wonderful way to see this beautiful city.
★★★★★
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the…
Apr 9, 2026
Ron_W
Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We saw so much in the…
We saw so much in the time we had. Nori explained the history of all places we visited. He
was so passionate about everything, we were very lucky to have him as tour guide.
★★★★★
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with…
Mar 24, 2026
zackn719
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
We did our private tour with Kamon-San, and he was a great guide to show off the sites and features of Nara! He got their early, and had a detailed and interesting schedule planned for us, including several of the local shrines and temples, allowing us to also enjoy the deer throughout our tour.
He also took us to a nice local restaurant where we were able to enjoy some of the best soba and catsu curry we had all trip! Kamon-san’s insights and trivia were definitely one of the top highlights from our entire trip to Japan! We would strongly recommend not just Nara but this guided tour to anyone who wants to appreciate more than just the deer!
★★★★★
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…
Oct 20, 2025
66speech
Highlights of Kyoto.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with his knowledge of Kyoto history and culture. Well paced tour, covered Imperial Palace, temples, shrines, Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama. Helpful with navigating rail system. Very worth while. Nori earns highest rating possible.
