Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

Hotel (Hotel) → Subway Susukino Station → Transfer at Odori Station → Get off at Maruyama Koen Station → Board JR Bus → Get off at Hokkaido Jingu Mae →
Worship at Hokkaido Jingu → Stop by the dango tea house at the exit → Stroll through the shrine forest → Arrive at Subway Maruyama Koen Station → Board the Tozai Line → Get off at Miyanosawa Station → Walk → Enter Shiroi Koibito Park Ishiya Seika → View the chocolate antique box exhibit → Tour the production line (main products) → Walk → Board at Subway Miyanosawa Station → Get off at Odori Station → Walk → Stroll through the front garden of the former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick) → Walk → Arrive at Sapporo Clock Tower (exterior / photo taking) → Disband at Kita 1-jo Street

Title: What Is a Private Winter Day Tour of Sapporo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The start time was originally set for 10:00, but since ending at 16:00 would be close to sunset, I contacted the guests and moved the schedule one hour earlier. The weather was cloudy, with a temperature of 3–4°C. The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were very cheerful and friendly. They mentioned that in their home region there are only rainy and dry seasons with virtually no snowfall, and while some snow can be seen in the higher mountainous areas, they had never touched it before. Some of the guests enjoyed making and throwing snowballs and lying down in the fresh snow (about 20 cm deep). I had planned to guide them to the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, but this was not possible because the buses were not running during the New Year holidays. They were captivated by the red brick former Hokkaido Government Office building, the snow-covered front garden, the size of the trees, and the "yukitsuri" rope supports on the pine trees. When introducing the former Government Office and the Clock Tower, I explained the past and present of Ainu life, their relationship with the settlers and pioneers, and the presence of the foreign advisors employed at the time.

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Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Subway	Susukino～Hokkaido Jingu / JR Hokkaido Bus	490JPY
Section 2	Subway	Maruyama Koen～Miyanosawa	250JPY
Section 3	Subway	Miyanosawa～Odori	290JPY
Total			1,030JPY

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Feb 7, 2025
Stay38335184325
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Kanagawa in One Day: Moto-Hakone Port

Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

December, 2025

Tour Itinerary

9:30　Meet the guests at Hakone-Yumoto Station (guests arrive from Shinjuku on the Romancecar arriving at 9:22)
9:50　Bus (Hakone-Yumoto → Moto-Hakone Port)
10:00　Depart Moto-Hakone Port (to Hakone Shrine)
10:30　Arrive at Hakone Shrine (and stroll around the shrine)
10:50　Depart Hakone Shrine (to the old Tokaido road)
11:10　Arrive at the old road (stroll along the road)
11:30　Lunch (at a nearby bakery shop)
12:20　End of lunch
12:30　Participate in a marquetry (yosegi zaiku) hands-on course (at Maruyama Bussan)
13:40　End of the course (walk to Moto-Hakone Port)
13:50　Board the pirate ship (at Moto-Hakone Port)
14:20　Disembark the pirate ship (at Togendai)
15:20　Board the ropeway (at Togendai)
15:40　Get off the ropeway (at Owakudani)
15:50　Board the ropeway (at Owakudani)
16:00　Get off the ropeway (at Sounzan)
16:05　Board the cable car (at Sounzan)
16:15　Get off the cable car (at Gora)
16:23　Board the Hakone Tozan Railway (at Gora)
17:07　Get off the Hakone Tozan Railway (at Hakone-Yumoto)

What Is a Private One-Day Hakone Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report ① The guests had requested many places they wished to visit, so it was challenging to plan an efficient route. In addition to the course we actually covered above, there was also a request to visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum, but since that was simply not feasible, I clearly explained this when I met the guests in the morning. (However, even during the tour, they repeatedly expressed their wish to visit that museum.) ② Since the guests had made an advance reservation for a marquetry (yosegi-zaiku) hands-on workshop at 13:00, I worked backward from that time to plan the route. On the other hand, if the workshop started at 13:00, they would not be able to catch the 13:50 pirate ship (I had confirmed in advance that the workshop takes about one hour), so I negotiated with the local operator to have the workshop start at 12:30. (Since the next pirate ship departed at 15:00, which would have made our return to Hakone-Yumoto even later, I paced the tour to hurry along as appropriate.) ③ I experienced firsthand what people call "overtourism." The area was packed with foreign tourists during the year-end and New Year holidays, and the ropeway from Togendai had a line of nearly 30 minutes, during which I had a hard time keeping the guests reassured. ④ [Request] Having guided Hakone twice before, I feel that six hours is not enough to cover Hakone thoroughly. Therefore, I think it might be worth considering setting the working hours for Hakone at eight hours and increasing the guide fee accordingly to an amount such as 25,000 yen. Alternatively, is it acceptable to coldly tell guests midway through the itinerary, "Our time is up here," and part ways? As a guide with limited experience, I considered that unreasonable, so I stayed with the guests until they changed their Romancecar tickets at Hakone-Yumoto Station.

Click here for more details: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Free Pass	Hakone-Yumoto～Hakone-Yumoto	6,000JPY
Total			6,000JPY

Tour Report by Asushi

Hi my name is A-sushi. Welcome to Japan!
I’ve been working in the telecom, and international cooperation fields for more than 35 years in Japan and overseas including 3 Southeast Asian countries and Morocco. I became a licensed tour guide last year after returning back from Morocco.
Japan is full of yummy food and interesting culture, about which I’d like to show you around. I am looking forward to seeing you soon!

Bonjour, je m’appelle A-sushi. Bienvenue au Japon !
J’ai travaillé dans le domaine des télécommunications et de la coopération internationale pendant plus de 35 ans, au Japon et à l’étranger, notamment dans trois pays d’Asie du Sud-Est et au Maroc. Je suis devenu guide touristique agréé l’année dernière après mon retour du Maroc.
Le Japon regorge de plats délicieux et de cultures intéressantes, que j’aimerais vous faire découvrir. J’ai hâte de vous voir bientôt !

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August, 2026

Tokyo in One Day: Start Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods & Asakusa

Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

10:00 Meet at Hotel
10:50 Start Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods tour
11:20 Kaisei High School
12:00 Yanaka Ginza
13:00 Hanazono Inari Shrine
13:15 End Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods tour
13:30 Lunch at Yoshi Sushi
14:10 Ameyoko insect food vending machine
14:40 Akihabara (Hareruya, Fukufuku Trading Cards, at home cafe)
15:30 Asakusa
16:15 Disband

What Is a Private New Year Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods Walking Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided the group on a New Year visit. During our email exchanges, since they were visiting during the New Year season, I suggested the "Yanaka Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage," and they were very keen. Although I had done it many times myself, it was my first time taking guests, and they enjoyed it more than I expected, so I was glad I suggested it. Like a stamp rally, it became more fun as the stamps accumulated, and they were moved when a temple staff member said "Congratulations" as they received a stamp, and it was heartwarming to see them offer the same greeting themselves. Thinking it would be a shame if the precious sheet got creased on the way home, I had purchased a cylindrical certificate case in advance at a 100-yen shop, and when I handed it over, they were delighted, saying, "When we get home, we'll frame it and display it." Since their work is related to film, I made sure they remembered the last deity, Benzaiten. Along the way, since Kaisei High School was on our route, I introduced it, and they said, "It's a wonderful building, like a university," and asked, "By the way, what are the tuition fees?" When I answered "About one million yen per year," they said, "That's cheap. A top high school in North America costs 100,000 dollars a year." A moment later I thought I must have misheard, but it really was equivalent to about fifteen million yen, which surprised me. After that, at their request, we walked around Yanaka Ginza and Ueno Park. For lunch, they had requested a sushi restaurant in Ameyoko, so I took them to a sushi place. They love both sea urchin and raw shrimp, and while eating we chatted happily about how each of us had met our respective partners (the guests through a dating app popular in Japan too, and myself on a graduation trip). Afterwards, when I suggested dessert and we arrived at an insect-food vending machine, they said "Interesting," took photos, and carefully checked what each item was. Since I had realized along the way that they were interested in Pokémon, in Akihabara they looked at Pokémon cards and bought the cheapest set as a souvenir for a relative. The maid café felt a little iffy to them, but they seemed to accept it, saying, "It's kind of like Hooters." Finally, we visited Asakusa and finished. This time too I nearly forgot to take photos, but I managed by having the guests take one, so it was just safe. They were very friendly, easy to talk to, and approachable, so we were able to spend a very enjoyable day together. As this was my first guiding of 2026, I feel relieved in a way that it bodes well for the year. I look forward to working with everyone at [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) throughout this year.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Train	Ebisu～Tabata	210JPY
Section 2	Train	Ueno～Akihabara	150JPY
Section 3	Train	Akihabara～Ueno	150JPY
Section 4	Subway	Ueno～Asakusa	180JPY
Total			690JPY

Tour Report by Danda

Nice to meet you. I am delighted to introduce myself. My nickname is Danda. I live in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, but I was brought up in Kanazawa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. My favorite things are bonsai and hiking. Also, I have been a big fun of history and sumo since my childhood. As for the guide, I have enjoyed making communication with foreign visitors since 2019. I have taken more than 30 private groups to not only major scenic spots but also their favorite places such as tea ceremony, maid cafe, sumo tournament, bonsai village, fire ritual and so on. I can arrange the original tour based on your requests and curiosity. It will be only for you. I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.

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Apr 21, 2026
Sabrina_F
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Balade riche en découvertes
Nous avons passé un super moment avec Danda.…

Apr 14, 2026
davidjonesresponseen
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Walking tour with Danda in Tokyo
Excellent walking tour, we followed our…

Apr 10, 2026
Anna_O
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Great tour with great guide
Excellent tour with a very good guide…

Mar 25, 2026
Nahmjee_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour guide and experience.
Danda was great with my family. He…

August, 2026

Nara in One Day: Kintetsu-Nara Station & Nara-machi

Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

11:00 Kintetsu-Nara Station (Start of Tour)
(bus 250y)
11:10-40 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park:
We enjoy feeding and communicating with deer.
We will be in the park almost to the end of tour (walk 10 minutes)
12:00-30 Kasuga-taisha Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage) entrance 700 yen
(walk 10 minutes)
lunch at Mizuya Chaya (Udon noodles: Japanese traditional fast food)
12:50-13:00 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill:
(They no more produce katana but make awesome knives.) (walk 10 min)
13:40- Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)
13:40-14:10 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall (walk 5 minutes)
14:20-30 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower (walk 10 minutes)
14:40-15:10 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall:
World's largest bronze statue from 8th century entrance 800 yen
　　　(walk 5 minutes)
15:20-30 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate):
World's largest wooden statues walk 15 minutes
15:50- Nara-machi (Old Quarters of the town):
Sake tasting, traditional merchant's house etc.
17:15 (End of Tour) back close to Kintetsu-Nara Station

Title: What Is a Private Nara Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report Near the beginning of the tour I lost my smartphone, but when I contacted the police after the tour ended, it had been properly turned in. I will go to pick it up first thing in the morning. Because I did not have my phone, I was unable to take photos of the guests, but the guests kindly sent me several of the pictures taken on their own phone. Along with the photos, I even received a message like this via a messaging app: Thank you for showing us around! We also had a really good time, easily the best tour we have had in Japan 😁 On a related note, I have the impression that [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) has had fewer Nara tours than last year, which is very unfortunate. I would greatly appreciate efforts to help increase the number of guests for the Nara Tour.

Click here for more details: Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Bus	Kintetsu-Nara～Todaiji Daibutsuden・Kasuga-taisha Mae／Nara Kotsu	250JPY
Total			250JPY

Tour Report by Junichi

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

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

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

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

Apr 11, 2026
64sandig
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day Unforgettable!
We had the pleasure of touring Nara with Junichi today, and he was simply phenomenal from the very first moment! Warm, welcoming, and a true professional, Junichi made us feel instantly at ease. His genuine enthusiasm and excellent English made every part of the day enjoyable and easy to follow.
Junichi’s knowledge is encyclopedic, yet he explains everything in such a clear, engaging, and understandable way. At Kofuku-ji Temple, he brought the history and significance of the site to life with fascinating details. We then enjoyed a relaxing lunch together before heading to Nara Park, where we had the delightful experience of feeding the famous bowing deer ? such a fun and memorable moment!
What really stood out was how flexible and attentive Junichi was. When we felt a bit pressed for time, he smoothly adjusted the itinerary and took us to a wonderful sake tasting facility instead of the next temple. We sampled several excellent sakes and couldn’t resist taking some home with us! From there, he led us to an incredible traditional kitchen knife shop run by an artisan whose family has been crafting blades for 750 years (originally making samurai swords). The craftsmanship was breathtaking, and we ended up purchasing a beautiful knife.
Later, Junichi took us to see an original Japanese merchant’s house, which was a real eye-opener ? the minimalistic lifestyle and beautiful architecture were fascinating.
The entire day was perfectly paced, insightful, and filled with wonderful surprises. Junichi’s caring attitude, deep knowledge, and ability to adapt made this one of the best private tour experiences we’ve ever had. We are so grateful we got to spend the day with him.
If you’re visiting Nara, do yourself a favor and book with Junichi ? you won’t regret it! He’s an absolute gem.
Highly, highly recommended ? 5 stars without hesitation!

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

August, 2026

Kyoto in One Day: Kyoto & Shijo

Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

10:30 Meet @ Kyoto Station
11:00-11:05 Kyoto→Inari　150 yen　JR
11:10-12:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha sightseeing
12:14-12:23 Fushimi Inari→Gion-Shijo　240 yen　Keihan
12:30-13:40 Gion area・Kennin-ji sightseeing
14:00-14:40 Ramen Kyo
14:50-15:10 Yasaka Shrine, Yasaka Pagoda, Ninen-zaka, Sannen-zaka stroll
15:20-15:50 Kiyomizu-dera sightseeing (not entering inside)
16:00-16:15 Travel by taxi
16:20-16:40 Nishiki Market stroll
16:46-16:50 Shijo→Kyoto　220 yen　Subway
17:00 Disband @ Kyoto Station ticket gate

What Is a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private day trip to Kyoto for guests visiting Japan, departing from and returning to Tokyo. The guests were visiting Japan for the first time. The tour covered Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Gion area, Kiyomizu-dera, and Nishiki Market. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, the guests were amazed by the beauty of the thousands of torii gates as well as the crowds. In the Gion area, they listened with great interest to stories about geiko and maiko. As some fatigue set in around Kiyomizu-dera, we did not enter the main hall and instead headed to Nishiki Market. On the way, one of the guests left a phone behind in the taxi, but I immediately called the driver, who turned back and returned it, so all was well. Finally, I saw the guests off at Kyoto Station.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Train	Kyoto～Inari	150JPY
Section 2	Train	Fushimi Inari～Gion-Shijo	240JPY
Section 3	Subway	Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)～Kyoto	220JPY
Total			610JPY

Tour Report by AndyMurao

Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.

I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.

There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.

I look forward to attending you in Japan.

Best regards,

Andy Murao

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Jul 13, 2026
webstere2025
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent
Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…

Jun 21, 2026
Catherine_D
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First time in Osaka
Andy was great . On time and patience…

Jun 6, 2026
eyeessess
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Great tour!
Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…

Jun 5, 2026
Janice_W
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Great tour of Kyoto
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August, 2026

Tochigi in One Day: Kanmangafuchi Abyss & Shinkyo Bridge

Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

8:50 Meet at Nikko Hoshinoyado
9:30 Kanmangafuchi Abyss
10:20 Toshogu Shrine
12:50 Break at the cafe in Toshogu Shrine Treasure Museum
13:45 Rinnoji Temple
14:40 Shinkyo Bridge
14:50 Disband just before Nikko Hoshinoyado

Can You Do a Private Day Tour of Nikko? A Licensed Guide's Report The afternoon brought a light drizzle, but the weather was generally good and the tour proceeded smoothly. Of the itinerary we had discussed in advance, the guests had already visited Kegon Falls the previous day, so I guided them only through the remaining spots I had planned to cover. The guests were visiting from South America. Since one of them was quite fluent in Japanese, I guided them in both English and Japanese. There were many questions about religion. We had a lively conversation, touching on topics such as, "Japan is well-liked around the world, yet few people wish to move here, and the reasons for that are…" The tour concluded just before reaching the Hotel.

Click here for more details: Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Bus	Shinkyo/Tobu Bus～Kanaya Hotel History Museum/Tobu Bus	220JPY
Total			220JPY

Tour Report by Koba

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.

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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…

August, 2026

Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera & Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

8:30 Hotel Meet (@Hotel Gracy Kyoto Sanjo)
8:30-9:10 Travel (Keihan Railway; Keihan Sanjo → Fushimi Inari)
9:10-10:30 Visit Kiyomizu-dera (including Yasaka Pagoda and Koshin-do)
10:30-10:50 Travel (City Bus; Kiyomizu-michi → Higashiyama Shichijo)
10:50:11:40 Visit Sanjusangen-do
11:50-12:40 Lunch (@Sato, near Sanjusangen-do)
12:40-13:00 Travel (Keihan Railway: Keihan Shichijo → Fushimi Inari Taisha)
13:00-13:50 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
13:50-14:20 Travel (Keihan Railway; Fushimi Inari → Keihan Sanjo
14:20-14:30 Travel (on foot; Keihan Sanjo → Hotel)
14:30 After arriving at the hotel, the tour ended and we parted ways with the guests.

What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangendo, and Fushimi Inari The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. It was their first time in Japan and in Kyoto. They were traveling during a holiday break. I took them to Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangendo, and Fushimi Inari Taisha. The weather was not as cold as the previous day, making it comfortable for the tour. Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangendo were also less crowded than expected, so we were able to proceed smoothly. At Fushimi Inari, the area around the main hall was so packed that it felt like the first three days of the New Year, but fortunately it was not as crowded near the torii gates, which was a relief. Some of the guests said they especially enjoyed Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo, while others found Fushimi Inari the highlight. There were questions about the meaning of the New Year's Eve bell ringing (108 times), as well as about kadomatsu and gegyo.

Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Train	Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)～Kiyomizu-Gojo	180JPY
Section 2	Bus	Kiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus～Higashiyama Shichijo / Kyoto City Bus	230JPY
Section 3	Train	Keihan Shichijo / Princess Line～Fushimi Inari	180JPY
Section 4	Train	Fushimi Inari～Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)	240JPY
Total			830JPY

Tour Report by Michi

My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

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Jul 19, 2026
Wander35832177180
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Kyoto temple tour
Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

Jul 16, 2026
Abby_M
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour. Highly recommend
Michi our guide was excellent!…

Jul 13, 2026
Javier P
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kyoto gems
Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

Jul 13, 2026
Beth_D
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent Tour and Guide
Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…

August, 2026

Hiraizumi Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

Hiraizumi Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

December, 2025

Tour Itinerary

09:00 Depart from ｢Hotel Ichinoseki Matsunokaoru｣ ⇒09:20 Arrive at ｢Geibikei Gorge｣⇒09:30 Board the ｢Boat Cruise｣⇒11:00 Return to the ｢Boat Cruise｣ starting point⇒ 11:40 Arrive at ｢Takkoku no Iwaya｣⇒12:30 Arrive at ｢Roadside Station Hiraizumi｣ and have lunch⇒13:10 Arrive at ｢Muryokoin Ruins｣,｢Yanaginogosho Ruins｣⇒13:20 Arrive at ｢Motsuji Temple｣⇒13:50 ｢Kanjizaio-in Ruins｣⇒ 14:00 Arrive at ｢Chusonji Temple｣ Sakanoue Parking Lot ⇒14:05 Arrive at ｢Chusonji Temple Sankozo｣⇒14:30 Arrive at ｢Chusonji Temple Konjikido｣⇒14:50 ｢Chusonji Temple Fukudo (covering hall)｣⇒15:00 Arrive at ｢Chusonji Temple Main Hall｣⇒15:20 Arrive at ｢Chusonji Temple Tsukimizaka Entrance｣⇒15:40 Arrive at ｢Hotel Ichinoseki Matsunokaoru｣

What Is a Private Tour of Hiraizumi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Geibikei Gorge, Takkoku-no-Iwaya, and Chuson-ji All three guests share a strong interest in Buddhism, and they are all big fans of MLB player Shohei Ohtani. I am also a big fan of Shohei Ohtani, and when I mentioned that Ohtani's birthplace is only about a ten-minute drive from my home, the guests were surprised. This time, at the guests' request, we experienced the boat ride down Geibikei Gorge. The boat ride operates year-round, but in winter a kotatsu is set up inside the boat for warmth. A removable transparent roof is also installed, so during the roughly one-hour boat ride we did not feel much cold. The boat ride through the gorge is a truly spectacular sight. The towering rock walls on both sides create the illusion that they are leaning toward you. The boatman had a great sense of humor, and the guests were delighted. The boatman's rendition of the "Oiwake" song had an emotional quality that resonated with the heart regardless of language. Of the roughly twenty passengers on board, more than half were travelers from overseas. What was unfortunate was that there was no snow at all in the gorge. Leaving Geibikei behind, our next destination was Takkoku-no-Iwaya. The first thing that surprises visitors at the Takkoku-no-Iwaya Bishamon-do is that a sheer cliff (a cave) serves as the back wall of the hall, with the upper part of the cliff jutting out and used almost like part of the roof. It is quite powerful. The Buddha image carved into the cliff on the left side of the Bishamon-do also arouses interest. That day was cloudy, so it seemed difficult to make out the face of the cliff-carved Buddha. However, it was the guests who first spotted a small hornet's nest a little above the carved Buddha. After a while, the guests were also able to see the face of the carved Buddha. Among the guests was someone whose legs were not in the best condition, yet they climbed up and down the rather steep stairs to pray to the principal image inside the hall — truly reflecting their devotion to Buddhism. Takkoku-no-Iwaya Bishamon-do is a temple known for offering the most powerful protective charm, but unfortunately that day the "most powerful charm" was sold out and we could not obtain one. At Takkoku-no-Iwaya, the guests asked me, "Why does a temple have three torii gates?" At that moment the word "syncretism" from "the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism" did not come to me, so I explained, "In the Edo period there was something called the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, where the two were on good terms, and it was common to have torii gates and Buddhist statues within the same grounds," and they kindly accepted my explanation. I also added that at Chuson-ji there is a shrine called Hakusan Shrine right next to the Konjikido. At Takkoku-no-Iwaya we ended up spending nearly twice as much time as planned. The next destination after Takkoku-no-Iwaya was supposed to be Motsu-ji, but since it was lunchtime, after consulting with the guests, we changed it to Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi. The guests chose the pork cutlet and fried shrimp set meal. I had the same. The guests treated me to lunch. While eating, there was a question about the difference between "tempura" and "fried shrimp (ebi fry)." The guests said both are "deep fried" and asked if they were the same, but I could only explain that the "batter" is different. I could not explain that "ebi fry developed from Western-style cuisine, while shrimp tempura is part of Japanese cuisine." I also regretted not being able to say that "shrimp tempura uses flour dissolved in water, while ebi fry uses flour, egg, and breadcrumbs." There was also a conversation about the "New Year's Eve bell." It concerns the 108 earthly desires, and I explained that "shiku-hakku" (the four sufferings and eight sufferings) works out to 4×9=36 and 8×9=72, which added together makes 108. After this, I explained Muryoko-in and the Yanagi-no-Gosho site while in the car, and we headed to Motsu-ji. At Motsu-ji we prayed at the main hall, but since we were running short on time, we skipped the circuit of the garden. I explained the neighboring Kanjizaio-in while in the car, and we headed to Chuson-ji. Since one of the guests had trouble with their legs, we took a taxi and got off at the Chuson-ji Saka-no-ue parking lot. From here we walked up a short slope and arrived at the Sankozo in about five minutes. Right inside the Sankozo there are three Joroku Buddha statues, and the guests were amazed at their size. All three are seated statues, standing about 2.4 meters tall. If they were to stand up, they would be about 5 meters tall. In addition to the Joroku Buddhas, the guests viewed the seated Dainichi Nyorai and the standing Thousand-Armed Kannon with great interest. After the Sankozo comes the Konjikido. The Konjikido at Chuson-ji is the highlight of the tour. At the Konjikido, an explanation lasting several minutes is broadcast inside the hall over the public address system. Because it was New Year's Eve, entry to the Konjikido was allowed only until 15:00. Since there were far fewer Japanese tourists than usual, I asked if they could switch to the English audio, and they kindly switched the broadcast to English right away. The guests were delighted by this. After the Konjikido we prayed at the Chuson-ji main hall, but perhaps because of preparations for the New Year's visit, the entire hall was filled with a busy atmosphere. On our way quickly to the entrance of Tsukimi-zaka, the guests seemed to be taking in the entire view of Hiraizumi from the Higashi-monomi lookout. Just as we reached the entrance of Tsukimi-zaka, our taxi was already waiting for us. Thanks to that, we were able to board the taxi right away, which was a great help. Since we had gone considerably over time, we skipped the rest house we had planned to visit and left Chuson-ji, heading toward the hotel in Ichinoseki. The guests said they would come to Chuson-ji again the next day for their New Year's visit, and that they would like to take a taxi to the Hiraizumi rest house at that time. I was glad that even the guest who had concerns about their legs was able to return safely to the hotel.

Click here for more details: Hiraizumi Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toshi

Hello and welcome! If you’re an inbound guest, I’d like to extend a warm greeting to you. I hope you have a pleasant stay in our beautiful city. If there’s anything you need, feel free to ask – I’m here to assist! My name’s Toshiya Ozawa. Please call me Toshi. I have 25 years’ experience as National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter guiding in English. Presently, I live in Ohsyu-shi, Iwate-ken where the Major Baseball player Shohei Ohtani was born and bred. The followings are the places where I attended as a tour guide for your reference. [Guide experience] Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Japan’s largest lake Lake biwa and Azuchi-jyo Ruins in Shiga prefecture. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara:Horyu-ji, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple. Former Site of the Imperial Palace at Heijokyo, Todaiji Temple, along with Kasugataisha Shrine and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Koyasan (Shukubo Rengejo-in) shukubo literally means sleeping with the monks. Yagyu-no-sato (or the swordsman village of Yagyu), known as the home of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu (traditional style of swordsmanship), is located in Northeast of Nara-city with rich natural environment. In Kyoto: JR Kyoto Station, The Golden Pavilion, World Heritage Site Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle, Ryoan-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple. In Mie Prefecture: Ise Shrine, Wadakin (Japan’s one of the best wagyu-beef restaurant, Matsusaka-shi). In Shiga prefecture: Mother Lake Lake Biwa, Azuchi Castle ruins.
In Tokyo: Meiji shrine, Odaiba, Imperial Palace, Takeshita Street in Harajyuku, Akihabara (the otaku mecca and has its own unique atmosphere), Asakusa Kannon (Bodhisattva of Mercy) Sensoji Temple, and Tokyo Tower.
In Shizuoka Prefecture: Mt. Fuji.
In Aichi prefecture: 1. Atsuta Shrine 2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology 3. Inuyama Castle (Inuyama-shi) 4. Ohsu Shopping District 5. Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa-shi) 6.Tagata Jinja Shrine’s Honen Festival 7. Toyota Automobile Museum (Nagakute-shi) 8. Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya (Yotsuya Senmaida) (Shinshiro-shi) 9. Asuke/Korankei (Toyota-shi Asuke-cho) 10. Chubu Centrair International Airport 11. Rest Stop (Highway Oasis Kariya, Donguri-no-sato Inabu)

10 years’ experience in a trading operations position and 7 years’ experience as an Exporting Manager and 5 years’ experience as a Domestic Sales Representative: All of the experiences above included contacts with respective customers both externally and internally.
I spent more than 2 years in the United States and Canada. Attended Kibbutz Hebrew class for six months in Israel.

Aug1991– present MASPRO DENKOH Corporation, Aichi prefecture in Japan.
Sales presentative/Exporting Manager “Export of TV reception and related equipment to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand”
Negotiated prices and specifications with the makers “Drafting and arranging the needed documentations requested by custom houses”
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supply of CS antennas to SONY Corporation
OEM supply of U.S. DirecTV Satellite Dish Antenna Dual LNB to Sony Corporation
Attended the customers from overseas when they came to the head office
Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O. (engaged in direct report to the company president)
Import of invaluable western style paintings, Japanese potteries and porcelains
Export of receiver and transmitter for Qualcomm Omni TRACS Ku-band satellite fleet tracking system in the U.S.
Export of CATV Tap-off for Time Warner Cable in the U.S. OEM supply of ETC In-Vehicle Unit in Singapore to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Apr. 1989–March 1991, employed by ESPO Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Manager of secretarial section to the C.E.O
Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O “Assisted M&A transactions”
Formula 1 ESPO-LARROUSSE Team negotiation and interpreter. Was in charge of training new staff (26 university graduates )
Supervised new graduate recruitment activities as a part of training new staff and successfully recruited 40 prospective employees
Apr 1976 – March 1991 Nissait English School in Tokyo, Japan
1989 Director of Nissait English School “Management of English schools in Tokyo and Saitama prefecture”
Instructor: Taught English conversation more than 1000 students “Was in charge of training new instructors (12 vocational college graduates )”
Supervised new student recruitment activities as a part of training new instructors and successfully recruited 420 students at ten different schools for 5 years
Was in charge of International Exchange program
Chaperoned and supervised 160 Japanese youth delegates for cultural immersion homestays in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Education: In 1976, Completed the curriculum at a university, received a degree of B.A. in Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University, in Tokyo.

Windows MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Certified as a National Licensed English-Speaking Tour Guide in 2009 (License No. Aichi EN00307)
Passed Grade 1 of the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency in 1989.

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Apr 29, 2026
447dags
Tripadvisor review: Morioka Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Full service tour of Morioka
Full service tour with Toshiya Ozawa, who…

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Best way to spend the afternoon in Morioka.
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Great insights on Morioka!
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Juan Ignacio G
Experiencia recomendable!
Tripadvisor review: Hiraizumi Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
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August, 2026

Tokyo in One Day: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace & Shibuya

Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

December, 2025

Tour Itinerary

09:00 Meet up @Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi
09:05　Walk to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
09:15～10:15　@East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
10:30　Take the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line via Nihonbashi to Asakusa
11:00　@Asakusa (Nakamise)
11:30　Lunch @Tsurujiro (monjayaki)
12:40　@Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Rokku)
14:00　Take the Ginza Line to Shibuya
14:30　@Shibuya (Hachiko Statue, Scramble Crossing, Center Gai)
15:00　Disperse @Shibuya Station ticket gate

What's a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the East Gardens and Asakusa The guests were visitors from North America. Although this was a last-minute booking made just two days before the tour, we were able to exchange emails the day before, so on the day itself we met and set off smoothly. Since some of the guests had a connection to a location in the Tohoku region, I first helped them issue their Tohoku Shinkansen tickets for the following day at Tokyo Station, for which they were very grateful. The guests were also very interested in history and culture, and listened attentively to my explanations both at the East Gardens and in Asakusa. At Nakamise, I bought them some kibi dango and rice crackers, and gave them a pair of chopsticks as a souvenir, which they were also very pleased with. They kindly wrote a wonderful review, and overall I believe they were very satisfied with the tour.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Subway	Takebashi～Asakusa	210JPY
Section 2	Subway	Asakusa～Shibuya	260JPY
Total			470JPY

Tour Report by May

Hi, I’m May, your guide in Tokyo. Welcome to Japan!
I have been grown up in Tokyo and working here for more than 45 years, so I’m sure I can share the best attraction of Tokyo with you, such as food, cultural and historic sites, sub-culture, shopping, and nightlife.
Besides the tour guide, I have been working for a travel agent for more than 30 years, I can advise you the travel plan of not only in Tokyo but all over Japan.
I had lots of guests from all over the world here in Tokyo, and most of them gave me great and wonderful review.
I’m sure I can meet all of your demand and expectations, and am ready to welcome you to Japan with the best “Omotenashi” mind, or hospitality.

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Jul 16, 2026
fernandorM8865OM
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10/10 Recommend
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May was an enthusiastic…
May was an enthusiastic and well informed guide.…

August, 2026

Tokyo: MEIJI JINGU SHRINE & ASAKUSA/Senso-ji

Tokyo Early Morning Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

January, 2026

Tour Itinerary

7:00 Meet at Hotel Asia Center of Japan
7:30 1 MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
8:45 2 NEZU
10:00 3 ASAKUSA/Senso-ji
11:15 See off at the Shibuya Station

What Is a New Year's Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since we had coordinated the itinerary several times in advance through a messaging app, the guiding went smoothly. We built a good rapport during our conversations, which helped everyone feel at ease. Despite it being the New Year holiday, we were able to visit Meiji Shrine just after 7:30 without having to wait in line. There was plenty to talk about, including people visiting the shrine on their first working day of the year. Since they planned to take a limited express train to Kusatsu the next day, I showed them the boarding platform at Ueno Station. As they were heading to Jiyugaoka for a lunch reservation, I saw them off to Shibuya and took my leave.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Early Morning Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.	Transportation	Route	Fare
Section 1	Free Pass	Nogizaka～Meiji-jingumae～Nezu, Ueno～Asakusa～Shibuya	700JPY
Section 2	Train	Nippori～Ueno	150JPY
Total			850JPY

Tour Report by Masa

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.

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Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
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Great Individualized Tour!
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Apr 3, 2026
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6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6…

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Amazing private tour with Masa!
We had the absolute pleasure of spending…

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