Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Station & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Station & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Ginza > Buy Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket and start
    • 9:20 Tokyo Station
    • 9:40 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 11:10 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 13:00 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 14:30 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck
    • 15:35 Disband at Ginza

    **Title:** What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The weather was excellent, and the tour proceeded comfortably. After meeting at the Hotel, we started by purchasing a 24-hour Tokyo Metro pass at Ginza Station. From Tokyo Station, we headed to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace while talking about Edo Castle. In the gardens, we had a lively conversation about plants such as camellias and cherry blossoms. In Asakusa, the guests showed interest in many things and asked a lot of questions. At Shinjuku Gyoen, aside from a few early-blooming cherry trees, most of the blossoms had not yet opened, but the guests enjoyed the Japanese garden. At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory, Mount Fuji was not visible due to the haze, but the guests were interested in how large a city Tokyo is and how much greenery it has. We parted ways just outside Ginza Station. A tip was received.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassGinza~Tokyo700JPY
    Section 2Free PassTakebashi~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3Free PassAsakusa~Shinjuku-gyoemmae0JPY
    Section 4Free PassShinjuku-gyoemmae~Nishi-shinjuku0JPY
    Section 5Free PassNishi-shinjuku~Ginza0JPY
    Total700JPY

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace / Nijubashi Bridge & Ginza

    Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace / Nijubashi Bridge & Ginza

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at the hotel
    • 11:00 Imperial Palace / Nijubashi Bridge
    • 11:40 Nezu Shrine
    • 12:30 Lunch at a soba restaurant in Yanaka
    • 13:50 Asakusa / Sensoji Temple
    • 15:00 Kappabashi
    • 16:20 Ginza
    • 16:40 Tour ends in Ginza

    What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Tour Including Nezu Shrine and Yanaka? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They had spent the early part of the year traveling around various parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania, and were staying in Tokyo after completing a cruise. They planned to continue to Hakone and Kyoto afterward, and to head to their next destination in Asia. Their trip was a grand journey to celebrate a retirement. In addition to the main sights of Tokyo, they especially wished to visit Nezu Shrine and Yanaka, and hoped to try a local soba restaurant there, so the tour was arranged to match these requests. Since they wanted to learn about Japanese culture and history, I explained in particular the history from Edo to modern Tokyo, and at Nezu Shrine I also explained how Shinto and Buddhism have influenced Japanese culture, which seemed to make a deep impression on them. Finally, they wished to see a more modern side of the city and requested Ginza, so we went there, and after introducing some of the main shops, we concluded the tour.

    Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

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

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

    Jul 26, 2026
    Kevin_B
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Highly recommend this tour for first time…

    Jun 22, 2026
    Ashish_L
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Best Tour for a Short Visit
    Atsushi-san was an incredibly well-researched and…

    May 27, 2026
    jackie m
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Our guide was really interesting and had…

    Apr 9, 2026
    Lindsey_W
    Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Atsushi, was…
    Our guide, Atsushi, was great! He met…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Umeda Sky building & Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: Umeda Sky building & Dotonbori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 14:00 Hotel Vischio Osaka Meeting
    • 14:15. Umeda Sky building
    • 15:20 Bonsai shop inside Umeda Kitte
    • 16:00 Osaka Castle
    • 17:20 Dotonbori
    • 18;00 Umeda Dismissal

    Title: What's a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Bonsai Shops, and Sweets Body: The guests were visitors from Oceania. They had requested visits to a bonsai shop and a sweets shop in advance, so I added these to the itinerary, and the tour proceeded almost exactly as planned. They had just arrived in Japan and were planning to stay for some time. They enjoyed the views from the Sky Building and Osaka Castle. Their knowledge of bonsai was deeper than my own, and I learned that bonsai has been growing in popularity in Oceania, where there are apparently shops dedicated to it as well. They also had a great fondness for sweets, so I let them know that department store basement floors in Japan offer a wide variety of sweets to purchase. They asked me to recommend a place for a delicious dinner, so I took them to an okonomiyaki restaurant near their hotel and said goodbye there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOsaka~Osaka Castle Park180JPY
    Section 2TrainTanimachi 4-chome~Namba (Subway)240JPY
    Section 3SubwayNamba (Subway)~Umeda (Subway)240JPY
    Total660JPY

    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 in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Tofuku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Tofuku-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Meet at Hyatt Regency Kyoto
    • 09:50 to 10:30 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 10:50 to 11:20 Gion
    • 12:00 to 12:40 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 13:00 to 13:40 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 14:00 to 14:40 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00 to 15:30 Tofuku-ji Temple
    • Dismissal at Tofuku-ji Temple

    What Is a 6-Hour Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were visitors from North America. Their home area is a region with many IC-related companies, a place I had visited many times in my earlier working days, so we enjoyed talking about that region together. However, since the guests had come to sightsee in Kyoto, I also made sure to share plenty of explanations about each place we visited. The guests both walked quite quickly, so we were able to visit as many as six locations in six hours. There was no time to see them back to their hotel, so we parted ways at Tofukuji Temple.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHigashiyama-Shichijo/Kyoto City Bus~Gojozaka/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2BusKiyomizu-michi/Kyoto City Bus~Gion/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3BusGion/Kyoto City Bus~Ginkaku-ji-michi/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusGinkaku-ji-michi/Kyoto City Bus~Karasuma-Imadegawa (Imadegawa Subway Station)/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5SubwayImadegawa~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 6TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 7TrainInari~Tofukuji150JPY
    Total1,480JPY

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

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

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha & Kuromon Market

    Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha & Kuromon Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet @ The Ritz Carlton Osaka
    • 09:45 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha
    • 11:15 @ Kuromon Market
    • 12:15 Dismissal @ Namba

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Osaka Walking Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sumiyoshi Taisha and Kuromon Market The guests were visitors from North America, and the tour proceeded smoothly. At Sumiyoshi Taisha, the guests offered prayers, picked up the small pebbles from the popular "Go-Dai-Riki" spot, and purchased the accompanying amulet pouches. They also spotted a cherry blossom that had exceptionally (?) bloomed beside the torii gate of Sumiyoshi Taisha, which pleased them greatly. Afterwards, at Kuromon Market, they enjoyed authentic "Kobe beef" and gave wonderful comments about it. At a long-established pickle shop, they also enjoyed some samples and purchased souvenirs. I presented them with a handmade drawstring pouch, which they were delighted to receive. After visiting these two spots, the final planned stop was Dotonbori, but since they had visited there the previous evening and wished to enjoy shopping at Takashimaya in Namba, we parted ways with about one hour remaining.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNishi-Umeda~Namba (Subway)240JPY
    Section 2TrainNamba (Nankai Line)~Sumiyoshi Taisha240JPY
    Section 3TrainSumiyoshi Taisha~Namba (Nankai Line)240JPY
    Total720JPY

    Dear my guests,

    This is (Mr.) Yama, greeting from Kobe, Japan.
    I would like to warmly welcome you to Japan this time. I am from the city of Kobe, which is of course, well-known for very tasty Kobe Beef . You can taste
    real genuine Kobe Beef here. Kobe is also called “Home of Japanese Sake” with lots of Sake breweries, and I recommend you would visit those breweries
    if you have any interest in Japanese Sake as well as one aspect of Japanese cultures. Of course, you can have tastings of various kinds of Sake there.

    Whenever during the tour, I always try to make it safe, pleasant and comfortable for all of the guests, which is my first priority. I am very much confident
    that you can have a pleasant and unforgettable experience in Japan. Just tell me about your preference; what you would like to like to see, have, know
    and eat and so on. Particularly, I hold the license for cooking qualified by the government here and maybe, I can reply you for questions related to the
    foods here. In this respect, I strongly recommend you would try not only famous Japanese cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura or Suki-yaki but some
    Japanese traditional local foods, like Tako-yaki, Okonomi-yaki and Kushkatsu. They are sometimes called the soul foods of Japan. Here is the brief
    explanation for these three foods.

    1) Tako-yaki
    Tako-yaki is a snack filled with pieces of octopus in a batter of flour , egg and soup stock. You can call them octopus dumplings or balls. “Tako” means
    octopus and “yaki” means grilled or broiled.
    2) Okonomi-yaki
    This word Okonomi-yaki means “cook just as you like” and you can use whatever you like as toppings, such as beef, pork, shrimp, squid and octopus.
    Okonomi-yaki is round shape and just like pancakes or pizza in shape mainly made from egg, flour and water.
    3) Kushi-katsu
    Kushi-katsu is skewered cutlet or deep-fried foods on a stick. “Kushi” means skewer and “katsu” means cutlet. Various kinds of foods are used for
    ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, octopus and lots of kinds of vegetables.

    Actually, the western Japan including Osaka, Kobe and Himeji is called as “Home of such local soul foods”. You should give it a try and I am sure
    that you like them very much.

    I sincerely hope that I can be your tour guide this time in Kobe, Osaka and Himeji. If my guests said to me after the tour, “I have had a very good
    and pleasant time with you today. I hope I can come here again and name you as our guide”, which is my great pleasure. Moreover, I would be
    great honored if they say “I like Japan now thanks to you”.

    Looking forward to meeting you soon here.
    Doomo Arigato Gozaimasu!
    Yama

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    Jul 20, 2026
    Eric_W
    Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    Castle journey worth your time!
    Our tour with…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Diane_B
    Viator review: Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Yama was amazing!!
    Our tour guide…

    Jul 4, 2026
    Navigator661725
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful time!
    We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was…

  • Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 09:15 Meet in front of Kyoto Imperial Palace Seishomon Gate
    • ② 09:20 Explanation of the itinerary and the history of Kyoto and the Imperial Family at the rest area inside Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • ③ 10:30 Daitoku-ji Temple (Obai-in) ~ Daitoku-ji Temple grounds
    • ④ 12:00 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • ⑤ 12:45 Honen-in Temple
    • ⑥ 13:10 Philosopher's Path
    • ⑦ 13:35 Lunch break
    • ⑧ 14:30 Nanzen-ji Temple grounds ~ Suirokaku Aqueduct
    • ⑨ 15:00 Konchi-in Temple (Tosho-gu Shrine)
    • ⑩ 16:10 Gion (Shinbashi・Shirakawa)
    • ⑪ 16:40 Pontocho ~ Stroll through Nishiki Market (food walking)
    • ⑫ 17:15 Disband at Nishiki Market

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time, coming from Europe. They spent a few days in Tokyo, then enjoyed some days of skiing in Niseko, Hokkaido, before heading straight to Kyoto. On this occasion, I happened to guide them around Kyoto for two consecutive days. Hokkaido's snow has recently become quite famous among tourists as "JAPOW" for its excellent quality, so I asked them about it, and they were delighted to say that the snow quality had indeed been superb. The guests had a great deal of stamina and walked quickly — perhaps unsurprising for people who ski. I walk fast myself, but these guests were even faster. They listened to my explanations, asked questions, and looked intently at everything, without ever seeming rushed. Even so, despite it being an 8-hour tour, we visited an astonishing number of places. And at each spot I gave thorough explanations, yet we still covered so much ground that even I was surprised. At first the atmosphere was a little shy and awkward, but gradually they warmed up and grew more comfortable, and from the latter half of the tour they were smiling to the max and we enjoyed traveling together. For the final hour, we walked around Pontocho, Teramachi, Shinkyogoku, and Nishiki Market, discussing various recommendations for their dinner that evening as we strolled. When we parted, they thanked me warmly, and we said goodbye with a promise to meet again the next day.

    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)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 08:00 Hotel Meeting
    • ② 08:40 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • ③ 10:00 Sanjusangendo
    • ④ 11:15 Ninenzaka・Sannenzaka
    • ⑤ 12:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • ⑥ 13:15 Nijo Castle
    • ⑦ 14:00 Disband in front of Nijo Castle

    What Is a Private 2-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari and More Continuing from the previous day, I began Day 2 of a private Kyoto tour with guests from Europe. Since this was the second day, I skipped the basic explanation of Kyoto's history that I usually give and headed straight to Fushimi Inari Taisha by taxi. From early in the morning, we were all very friendly with one another. I don't usually do week-long domestic tours, but I imagined that doing so would surely allow a guide to become very close with the guests. The guests naturally spoke fluent British English, and when the conversation became a little complex, there were times I had to ask them to repeat themselves. I heard many valuable stories, and I hoped this trip would serve as a good rest for them. When I asked where and what they had eaten the previous night, they said that after we parted at Nishiki Market, they wandered a bit around the Sanjo area before returning to the Hotel, and being far too tired, they went straight to sleep without even having dinner. I said that anyone would be exhausted after traveling from a ski resort in Niseko, Hokkaido, and then walking around Kyoto so much the very next day, and they laughed. Even so, today we visited five places in six hours, so I think they were quite active. Since I had explained a great deal the day before, today's visits included not only new content but also a good amount of review from the previous day, which I believe helped deepen their understanding. There were moments when explanations connected together and the guests exclaimed, "Ah, so that's how it is!" After the tour, I received a message saying they had safely boarded the Shinkansen to Tokyo, that they would stay in Tokyo for a few days before returning home, and a word of thanks.

    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)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Takeshita Street & Shibuya

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Takeshita Street & Shibuya

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting up
    • 9:30-110:50 the Imperial East Garden
    • 11:20-11:40 Takeshita Street
    • 11:50-12:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 12:40-13:10 Shibuya

    What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. One of the guests loved Japanese anime, games, and manga, including "Jujutsu Kaisen," and was quite knowledgeable about Japanese culture. Another of the guests was very friendly and seemed genuinely delighted to be in Japan, looking forward to trying various foods. Another of the guests was very pleasant and had an interest in history, listening very attentively to my guiding about the history of Tokyo, Edo Castle, the Imperial Palace, and Meiji Shrine. The guests also enjoyed Takeshita Street and mentioned they would like to return there later. In Shibuya, we viewed the Shibuya crossing from the direction of the Inokashira Line station, then visited the Hachiko statue, crossed the scramble crossing, and I shared information about Parco and ramen shops, before the tour came to an end.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNagatacho~Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 2TrainOtemachi (Tokyo)~Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya Ward, Tokyo210JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Shibuya160JPY
    Total550JPY

    Hi,
    Thank you for contacting the Japan Guide Association to request a licensed guide for your upcoming visit to Japan. My name is Motoko Tanaka. I’m so happy to be assigned to you.
    Let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it is nice to hear that you are excited about your visit to this wonderful city. There is much to be excited about here in Tokyo. I have really enjoyed guiding in Tokyo and the surrounding areas for more than 10 years.
    I live with my husband and a dog named Alice. She was a rescue dog and I adopted her about 4 years ago. Now she is a very precious family member. I have two daughters, the elder one has a child and the younger has a aroma shop in a town near Mr. Fuji. I sometimes visit there with Alice.
    I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to create a special day.
    Regards,
    Motoko

    Apr 25, 2026
    catvila
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Primeira vez em Tóquio
    A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos…

    Apr 22, 2026
    72breannaj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
    We had an amazing…

    Apr 17, 2026
    denisemD3032GY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide (Tokyo/Kawagoe dep)
    Tokyo walking tour
    Our guide Motoko was so polite &…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Dennis_M
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Very nice and very…
    Very nice and very…

  • Tokyo: Monday Apart Premium Akihabara & Meiji Jingu

    Tokyo: Monday Apart Premium Akihabara & Meiji Jingu

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Monday Apart Premium Akihabara
    • Walking Akihabara Electric Town
    • 10:30 Akihabara Station to Yoyogi Park
    • 11:15 Yoyogi Park
    • 12:10 Meiji Jingu
    • 13:10 Lunch at Kyushu Jangara Ramen
    • 14:00 Takashita-dori, Omotesando and Cat street. To Shibuya
    • 16:00Miyashita Park, Shibuya Crossing , Tokyu Plaza and PRCO
    • 17:30 The tour ends at PARCO.

    What Is a Private Family Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Akihabara, Yoyogi Park, and Cat Street The guests were a group from Europe. They had planned their first trip to Japan in 2022, but had to cancel it at the last minute due to the pandemic. This time, their dream finally came true. They bought takoyaki and doughnuts in Akihabara and enjoyed eating them happily in Yoyogi Park. They also loved the Kyushu Jangara ramen, and everyone finished their bowls completely. They were pleased with the sake tasting on Cat Street and the Iyoshi Cola as well. At the end, at PARCO, the group regained their energy and were delighted. They thanked me warmly, saying it was a wonderfully enjoyable tour with thoughtful attention to detail.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAkihabara~Yoyogi Park370JPY
    Total370JPY

    My name is Kris,
    Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.

    After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.

    I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.

    I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.

    Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.

    Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.

    I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

    See you in Japan!

    Kris

    May 10, 2026
    Matt_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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    We were so lucky to have Kris-San…

    Apr 29, 2026
    Rebecca_M
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    Excellent tour
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    jacquir581
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    We love Kris
    Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…

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  • Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 10:00 Tour starts from the hotel
    • AM 10:15 Take the hotel shuttle bus to Kanazawa Station, then take the bus to Hashiba-cho
    • AM 10:45 – 11:45 Higashi Chaya District, visit Shima
    • Move by bus to Kenrokuen-shita
    • PM 12:15- 13:00 Visit Kenrokuen Garden
    • PM 13:00-13:40 Visit Kanazawa Castle Park, Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya, Hashizumemon Tsuzuki Yagura
    • Move on foot to Nagamachi Samurai District
    • Coffee break at Starbucks on the way, tour ends PM 14:20

    What Can You See on a 4-Hour Private Kanazawa Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. Since the guests wished to use the hotel-arranged shuttle bus to Kanazawa Station (departing every 30 minutes), there were about 20 minutes before the 10:15 departure, so we relaxed and chatted in the hotel lobby. Following the request of a local tour company to cover Higashi Chaya District, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, and the Nagamachi Samurai District within a limited time of 4 hours, I managed to fit everything into the schedule by introducing recommended spots in the Chaya District and Nagamachi. This time, however, the guests wished to take a café break on the way to Nagamachi, so I introduced the recommended places to visit in Nagamachi there and concluded the tour. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the tour itself.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKanazawa Station/Hokuriku Railroad Bus~Hashiba-cho/Hokuriku Railroad Bus220JPY
    Section 2BusHashiba-cho/Hokuriku Railroad Bus~Kenrokuen-shita・Kanazawa Castle/Hokuriku Railroad Bus220JPY
    Total440JPY

    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。