Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 05:00 Meet in front of the main gate of Toyosu Market
    • 05:00-05:30 Explanation of related information in advance, such as tuna catching methods, how the auction proceeds, collection methods, and the roles of wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers
    • 05:30-06:00 Watch the tuna auction
    • 06:00-07:00 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
    • 07:00-07:15 Move to Tsukiji
    • 07:15-08:00 Stroll around Tsukiji Inner Market
    • 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji

    Title: What Is a Private Toyosu Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Market Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report 1. The Tour and the Guests' Reactions The guests were visitors from Oceania. Before coming to Tokyo, they had enjoyed hot springs and skiing in Rusutsu, Hokkaido, and greeted me with warm smiles as they shared this. On this day, the tuna auction hall had a much larger number of fresh tuna than usual, and the amount of frozen tuna was also above average, so the wholesalers competed eagerly in the bidding, allowing the guests to enjoy a very lively auction. We played a game of spotting the hand signals of the intermediate wholesalers to figure out who was bidding the highest price, which was a lot of fun. After the auction, both guests ordered a "tuna feast" at a sushi restaurant and greatly enjoyed the differences in flavor by cut, as well as the differences created by preparation methods such as searing, rolls, and marinating. When I made a dog-shaped origami chopstick rest out of a chopstick wrapper right in front of them, the conversation turned to the beloved dog they had left at home, and we had a lively chat about our respective dogs. They carefully tucked the dog and crane origami into their passport to take home, which made me, as the one who made them, very happy. At Tsukiji, since they were full from the sushi at Toyosu, they first wished to explore the market itself. As they were interested in tableware and cooking utensils, I guided them to a tableware wholesaler and a Japanese knife shop. "Buying now would just be extra luggage, so I'll shop leisurely after the tour," they said, dropping pins on Google Maps so they wouldn't forget the locations. During a visit to an intermediate wholesaler's shop, the guests showed great interest in the wide variety and low prices of the shrimp, so with the guests' consent, I purchased four sashimi-grade shrimp and negotiated with the shop to allow us to take a few photos, which delighted the guests. (They were extremely delicious shrimp called "Saudi Star," and I happily enjoyed them with my family at home afterward.) 2. Other Impressions, Notes, and Requests They were a calm and gentle group, and talking with them made me smile too. As we reached the final week of February, the number of visitors coming to watch has increased more than ever. Because of this, competing for good viewing spots is becoming an issue. Some tours even had guides running with their guests, but I believe in prioritizing safety while helping the guests enjoy themselves.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusToyosu Market/Toei Bus~Tsukiji 6-chome/Toei Bus210JPY
    Total210JPY

    Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

    For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
    For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
    https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    July 2, 2026
    David S
    Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Incredible experience at the Markets!
    Toru…

    Jun 6, 2026
    meltemg957
    Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

    Jun 4, 2026
    bluejerky1
    Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…

    May 29, 2026
    Eva P
    Fabulous experience with Toru!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Toru was…

  • Tokyo: Toyosu Market & Tsukiji Outer Market

    Tokyo: Toyosu Market & Tsukiji Outer Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 5:00 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 5:20 @ Toyosu Market
    • 7:00 @ Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 8:00 Disband @ Tsukiji

    Title: What's a Private Tour of Toyosu Market and Tsukiji Outer Market Like in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided guests visiting Japan for the first time from North America around Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market. The guests were very interested in watching the tuna auction at Toyosu Market. Although it was a cold morning with a bit of drizzle, they were delighted to see the lively atmosphere of the many shops lined up at the Tsukiji Outer Market. When they said they wanted some coffee, I introduced them to Yonemoto Coffee, a spot associated with John Lennon.

    Hi friends, I’m Seky, a tour guide in Tokyo, but I cover all over Japan, namely from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I have lived overseas for more than 15 years in total, such as US, UK, Singapore and others, and enjoyed local culture there. Back in Japan, I wish I could help travelers to Japan enjoy Japanese culture, and this is why I became a tour guide.
    In Tokyo, my favorite places are Shibuya, Harajuku, Asakusa, and if you are interested in fish market, I’d love to take you to the world largest Tuna auction and/or if you are sports lovers, I’ll go to ball games (baseball) too.

    May 8, 2025
    J
    jeanne_c
    Sell was very…
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sell was very knowledgeable and willing to talk…

    Mar 2, 2025
    Joe_F
    Excellent Custom Tokyo Tour
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour, customized to my interests, Edo period…

    Mar 1, 2025
    R2911ISjoef
    Excellent Custom Tours, Great Guides, Reasonable Prices.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a friendly…

    Oct 27, 2024
    Jennifer_G
    Great day touring Tokyo !
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 7 persons)
    We had…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimiinari by Subway and JR train & Hilton Kyoto

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimiinari by Subway and JR train & Hilton Kyoto

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Hilton Kyoto, 416 Shimomaruyacho Nakagyo Ward
    • 12:00 Fushimiinari by Subway and JR train
    • 13:45 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
    • Sannenzaka by walking
    • Yasaka-no-to by walking
    • Gion area by walking
    • 16:20 Kinkakuji (500) by taxi
    • 17:22 Bamboo path by taxi
    • 18:20 Hilton Kyoto
    •   End of the tour

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests came from North America, visiting Kyoto after touring Tokyo and Hakone. They mentioned that they had neither a transportation IC card such as SUICA nor any cash, so I decided to cover any cash payments needed during the tour and settle up at the end. We ended up spending quite a lot of time at the shops around Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Since it would have felt awkward to cut a destination just because of time, especially after they had come all the way to Kyoto, we continued on to the final stop, the bamboo grove, by which time it had grown dark. At the end I had intended to settle the amounts I had covered back at their hotel, but they had no means of withdrawing cash, so we settled up by having the hotel front desk exchange dollars. Their reactions were somewhat reserved overall, but I took plenty of photos for them, so I believe they enjoyed the day.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSanjo (Kyoto)~Fushimiinari240JPY
    Total240JPY

    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…

  • Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 10:00 Meet at Kintetsu Nara Station
    • ② 10:05 Itinerary explanation
    • ③ 10:15 Naramachi (Nigiwai no Ie, Koshindo, etc.)
    • ④ 12:00 Gangoji Temple
    • ⑤ 13:45 Lunch
    • ⑥ 15:00 Todaiji Temple
    • ⑦ 16:20 Disband at Kintetsu Nara Station

    What's a Private Guided Tour of Nara and Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, traveling from Tokyo to Kamakura, Kyoto, and Nara, with a plan to head to Hiroshima the next day. They mentioned they would return from Hiroshima to Tokyo to take part in the Tokyo International Marathon and complete the full 42 km. They had run marathons in more than a dozen places around the world and had finally won the lottery for the Tokyo Marathon this time. The guests were cheerful and wonderful listeners. Starting from Japanese roots, we covered the history of Nara, the stories of ancient clans, the history of relocating the capital, the difference between emperors and shoguns, why Tokugawa Yoshinobu returned political power, Buddhism and Shinto, the difference between visiting a temple and visiting a shrine, Pure Land Buddhism and its schools, the difference between Pure Land and Zen, feng shui, Nyorai and Bosatsu, Jizo Bosatsu, Onmyodo, what Zen is, wabi-sabi, Hina dolls, Obon, ikebana, and stone lanterns. They were all classic questions, but before I knew it I was talking through every one of them, and related questions kept coming one after another. Over lunch, the conversation moved from kaiseki cuisine to the gut microbiome and Blue Zones, and while eating persimmon-leaf sushi we talked about Japan as a country of longevity. They were truly attentive listeners. As usual, I taught them "ookini," and they were delighted, trying it out everywhere. When they asked whether "doumo ookini" was a correct way to use it, I said it sounded a bit odd and that they did not need to add "doumo," and they laughed heartily again, saying "I see!" — that was the kind of lively mood we had. They were genuinely cheerful and thoroughly enjoying their trip. It made me think that this is truly how travel should be. I heard they run a short-term rental business, and today a message arrived from a customer, which was giving them some trouble. We had actually planned to visit Kasuga Taisha as well, but the conversation went on and on, and in the end we could not make it there, which I felt sorry about. Still, I said, "My head is completely empty now," and we all laughed together as we parted ways. They said they abstain from alcohol the day before a marathon, so right about now they must be somewhere in Hiroshima happily gulping down the beer they love.

    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: AKIHABARA & TOKYO STATION

    Tokyo in Half a Day: AKIHABARA & TOKYO STATION

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 meet at 18F Lobby in THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA
    • 10:30 1 AKIHABARA
    • 11:15 2 KAPPABASHI
    • 12:00 3 THE IMPERIAL PALACE
    • 12:45 4 TOKYO STATION
    • 13:00 See off at Maru-biru
    • The rain continued, and the guest expressed a wish to finish early and return to the hotel.
    • All transportation was arranged by the guest via Uber.
    • Also, due to the bad weather, the guest did not take a single photo.

    Title: What Happens on a Rainy-Day Private Tour in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Akihabara and Shibuya Although the guests had agreed to the proposed itinerary in advance, after the briefing at the hotel where I met them on the day, they requested a change to an itinerary less affected by the rain. We reached a consensus around Akihabara and Shibuya, but there were further adjustments along the way, resulting in the tour route described above. Despite my pointing out the hotel's loanable umbrellas when we departed, some of the guests did not bring one, and as a result got quite wet with only a hooded jacket, leading to the decision to return to the hotel early. No photos were taken during the itinerary, so I have attached an image of the hotel taken before the meeting.

    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 spear 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.

    I look forward to meeting you soon.
    Thank you.

    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…

    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…

    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 26, 2026
    Chica717
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing private tour with Masa!
    We had the absolute pleasure of spending…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:15 Meet at Kyoto Station 10:00 Board the bus at Arashiyama Nonomiya 10:25 Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple 11:00 Stroll around Sagano 11:40 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  12:50 Lunch (Sushi)
    • 13:35 Kinkaku-ji Temple  15:00 Fushimi Inari 15:50 Tour ends at Fushimi Inari

    What Does a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour of Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They were all bright and cheerful. To match the bus schedule for Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, I moved up the meeting time at Kyoto Station by 15 minutes. As usual, the bus was full of foreign visitors, and most of them got off at the Otagi-dera-mae stop. In front of the many Buddhist statues, they happily took photos. From April, the admission fee for Otagi Nenbutsu-ji will be raised to 1,000 yen, with free entry for those aged 10 and under. Even so, I thought foreign visitors would still come. After that, we walked to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Everyone was a strong walker and had no trouble at all, and they even did some shopping along the way. By the time we reached the lunch spot after the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, we were about 20 minutes behind schedule. After that, the travel from Kinkaku-ji to Fushimi Inari took a little more time than expected, and we ended up going past the planned finishing time of 15:15. The photo was taken at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2BusNonomiya/Kyoto Bus~Atagodera-mae/Kyoto Bus230JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama~Enmachi180JPY
    Section 4BusEnmachi~Kinkakuji-michi/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5OtherKinkakuji-michi~Enmachi230JPY
    Section 6TrainEnmachi~Inari200JPY
    Total1,310JPY

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • PM 12:10 Tour starts in front of the Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center
    • Travel by bus to Hashiba-cho
    • PM 12:40 -13:40 Stroll through Higashi Chaya District, visit Shima and Kanpaku Sakuda (gold leaf)
    • Travel by bus to Kenrokuen
    • PM 14:00- 14:45 Visit Kenrokuen
    • PM 14:45-15:45 Visit Kanazawa Castle Park – Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya, Hashizumemon Tsuzuki Yagura
    • Travel on foot to the Nagamachi Samurai District area, where the tour ends PM 16:00

    Title: Can You See Kanazawa in 4 Hours on a Cruise Ship Stop? A Licensed Guide's Private Tour Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. They had previously visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and other parts of Japan, but this was their first time on the Sea of Japan side, traveling on a cruise ship that called at Kanazawa Port for the first time this year. Because of the cruise ship's shuttle bus schedule, the tour started about 10 minutes late. Since they wished to see as many sightseeing spots as possible within a short four-hour window, I recommended a taxi, but as they preferred to keep costs lower, we used public buses instead. In the end, they explored the Nagamachi samurai district area on their own, but I believe they were able to fully enjoy the charms of Kanazawa.

    Transportation cost per person

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

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at hotel  11:30 Nijo Castle  12:45 Fushimi Inari  13:30 Short break (lunch) 14:30 Sanjusangendo 16:00 Drop off at hotel and end tour

    # What Is a Private Family Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo, and Fushimi Inari The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. It rained steadily from the morning, which was unfortunate weather. One of the guests mainly translated my explanations into their own language for the others. Some of the guests seemed to understand most of it, though it was difficult for others. Some of the guests liked soccer, and lunch was lively with talk about Japanese players (Ueda, Watanabe) who belong to soccer clubs in their region. One of the guests also knew Shinji Ono, who had played there in the past, and showed me a photo from when he recently visited. One of the guests was going to take part in the Tokyo Marathon the following week, and the rest of the group would act as support. Nijo Castle and Sanjusangendo were good because you can go inside, but Fushimi Inari was outdoors, which made sightseeing a bit difficult. Even so, everyone managed to try the "Omokaru-ishi" (the wishing stone), which was nice. As I also noted in the actual tour time section, after Sanjusangendo they requested to return to the hotel once before heading out for dinner. I saw them off at the hotel and ended the tour about one hour early. The photo was taken in the garden of Sanjusangendo.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall~Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijojo-mae~Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 3OtherSanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)~Fushimi Inari240JPY
    Section 4OtherFushimi Inari~Tofukuji180JPY
    Section 5BusTofukuji~Higashiyama Shichijo / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 6TrainShichijo~Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)180JPY
    Total1,270JPY

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Grand Hyatt Tokyo
    • 9:25 Went to the front of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, but it was closed today. Called a car at the Hotel but waited a little, departed at 9:50
    • 10:10 Asakusa (Skytree photo)
    • 11:40 Meiji Shrine
    • 12:45 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 14:10 Disband at Grand Hyatt Tokyo

    What Is a Private Car Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The weather was very nice and warm, and traffic was light, so the car tour proceeded smoothly. The first planned stop was the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and although I thought I had confirmed the opening days, when we arrived at the gate it was closed, so we lost some time. The next stop was Asakusa, which effectively became the first place we visited. At Asakusa, the guests first bought some snacks and enjoyed them. The next stop was Meiji Shrine, but here some of the guests found walking difficult and stayed to rest at a rest area with another member of the group. At Shinjuku Gyoen, part of the group used a wheelchair to get around, but the garden was so crowded that they could not even buy drinks, and since they wanted to return to the hotel early to have a meal, I saw them off at the hotel a bit earlier than planned, ending the tour.

    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
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    I3699SBjonathanw
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  • Kyoto Early Morning Customized Tour

    Kyoto Early Morning Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 08:00 Tour starts from the hotel
    • Travel by train to Sagano Arashiyama
    • AM 08:40- 10:00 Bamboo grove tour, Tenryu-ji Temple garden tour
    • Travel by train and bus to Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • AM 10:40-PM 11:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple tour
    • Travel by bus and train to Shijo
    • PM 12:10 Tour ends at Nishiki Market

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like in Early Spring? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. In Tokyo they had attended a wedding of an acquaintance, but they mentioned having had some difficulty navigating the public transportation. I asked about the places in Kyoto that they had planned to visit on their own, and I made a point of showing them how to get to as many of those places as possible during the tour. The weather was fine, and plum blossoms were beginning to open here and there. The cherry blossoms had not yet bloomed, but the guests enjoyed the early spring atmosphere of Kyoto. At the end of the tour, I took them to Nishiki Market, and before we finished I made sure to advise them that some shops there set high, tourist-oriented prices.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShijo (Kyoto Municipal)~Nijo220JPY
    Section 2TrainNijo~Saga-Arashiyama200JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho / Kyoto City Bus~Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus~Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 6SubwayKitaoji~Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)260JPY
    Total1,390JPY

    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
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    Incredible tour, one of the highlights of my…

    Jul 18, 2026
    Geert73
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
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    G5010ZVmelodys
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    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。