Category: Uncategorized

  • Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour

    Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour

    Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. Meet in the lobby of Hotel 11:00
    • 2. Move to Nagoya Castle and tour Honmaru Palace and the area around the castle tower 11:00-12:40・・Move to Nagoya Castle by subway
    • 3. Move to Tokugawaen and tour Tokugawaen (Japanese garden) and the Tokugawa Art Museum 12:40-14:10・・Move to Tokugawaen by taxi
    • 4. Move to Oasis 21 and tour the area around Mirai Tower 14:10-14:40・・Move to Oasis 21 by taxi
    • 5. Return to Hotel inside Nagoya Station and disband 14:40-15:00・・Move to Nagoya Station by subway

    What Is a Private Nagoya Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Garden, and the Tokugawa Art Museum The guests were visitors from Asia. They enjoyed viewing the Hommaru Palace at Nagoya Castle, the autumn foliage scenery of Tokugawaen Garden, and the exhibits at the Tokugawa Art Museum. On this day, the Tokugawa Art Museum was holding a special exhibition featuring the National Treasure "Tale of Genji Picture Scrolls." Because it was a weekend during the autumn sightseeing season, the museum was extremely crowded, with a 30-minute wait before entering, and there was also a wait inside due to a limit on the number of visitors allowed into the special exhibition room. For viewing in the special exhibition room, we chose to look from behind rather than from the very front row of the exhibits, so that we could view them as smoothly as possible. Although the guests had said that Oasis 21 could be removed from the list of sites to visit, since it was on the way back, we stopped by briefly so they could take some photos, and they were satisfied.

    Click here for more details: Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNagoya～Nagoya Castle240JPY
    Section 2SubwaySakae (Aichi Prefecture)～Nagoya210JPY
    Total450JPY

    Tour Report by Todd

    Hello, guests of JGA tours, I’m Takao (Todd) Miura, a national licensed guide of Japan.
    I have experiences as a professional guide over 5 years. The themes in which I’m well versed include castles, Japaneses landscape gardens, museums, festivals, and traditinal Japanese arts and crafts.
    Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture, where I live, have many attractive sites to visit. I would like to introduce you to the most popular sites and spots in this area.
    I really wish to have a very nice time with you as a guide of your tour in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

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    Feb 16, 2026
    B9190RXcolleenm
    The Nagoya walking tour was great!
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    Todd was the perfect…

    Oct 2, 2025
    Jeffrey_B
    Nagoya with Todd Miura
    Viator review: Nagoya / Aichi Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    A great 4 hour…

    Sep 17, 2025
    sjhppy
    Todd Was A Fabulous Guide
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    I highly recommend Todd! He…

    Jul 22, 2025
    guelphturfgrassinstu
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    We enjoyed this tour with a knowledgeable guide. Todd shared…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & Shinsaibashi

    Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & Shinsaibashi

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 09:15 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 10:45 @ Namba Doguyasuji Shopping Street
    • 11:30 @ Kuromon Market
    • 12:15 @ Dotonbori
    • 13:00 @ Shinsaibashi
    • 13:30 Disband @ Subway Shinsaibashi Station

    Title: What Is a Private Osaka Tour Like? Visiting Sumiyoshi Taisha, Doguyasuji, and Kuromon Market — A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America. The group visited Sumiyoshi Taisha, which was lively with an event praying for an abundant harvest and with families celebrating Shichi-Go-San, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. They experienced worship at the shrine, picked up the small "Go-Dai-Riki" pebbles from the popular power spot, and purchased the small pouches used as charms. Afterward, they showed great interest while exploring Doguyasuji and Kuromon Market. I presented them with handmade drawstring pouches, which they were delighted to receive. As we moved at a somewhat slower pace, the tour was extended by about an hour.

    Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

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

    Tour Report by Yama

    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

    Request Booking

    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: Nijo Castle & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet @ Hotel
    • 9:30-10:30 Nijo Castle
    • 11:10-12:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 12:10～12:40　Lunch @ Bien　
    • 13:30～14:15　Tofuku-ji Temple
    • 14:30-15:30　Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 15:30　Dismissal @ Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour of Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, Tofuku-ji, and Fushimi Inari Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They were both strong walkers and gracious, smiling throughout the day, which made for a very pleasant guiding experience overall. All destinations followed the guests' wishes. At Nijo Castle, they asked eager questions about topics such as the shogun's family system. Today we also walked one full loop around the castle. Next, we moved on to Kiyomizu-dera. We got off the bus at Kiyomizu-zaka, but Chawan-zaka, which is usually relatively uncrowded, was even busier than usual. After arriving, when I explained the history of Kiyomizu-dera and described why one of the guardian lion-dogs has its mouth open, they understood and were satisfied. Although they were impressed by the Buddhist statues in the main hall and the construction of the stage, it was so crowded that they wished to exit via a shortcut. I suggested having lunch before heading to the next destination, and since a new ramen shop partway up Chawan-zaka was relatively empty, we decided to eat there. They enjoyed the lunch. We then moved on to Tofuku-ji. As they were strong walkers, rather than returning all the way to the bus stop, I suggested walking to the Keihan station, but this area was also more crowded than usual. When we got off at Tofukuji Station, perhaps because it was the autumn foliage season, there were quite a lot of people even along the way. Even before entering the middle gate, there were many people lined up for Tsutenkyo Bridge, so I asked, "There is an admission fee to see the bridge, the abbot's hall, and the Sanmon gate—how would you like to proceed?" They said, "Just the abbot's hall is fine," so I guided them toward the abbot's hall while showing them the tosu (temple restroom building) and the Sanmon gate. They had a good impression of the abbot's hall. Since we exited from the south gate, we decided to walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Along the way, they were very surprised to see a line of cars coming from the direction of Fushimi Inari Taisha. Fushimi Inari Taisha was also more crowded than usual. However, they happened to witness a kagura performance and watched it with great interest. At the inner shrine, a shrine-visit blessing was also being held, which they found interesting to observe. After they had seen everything, they said they would stay there for a while and that was enough, so we concluded the tour. The photo was taken at the Ninomaru Garden of Nijo Castle.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHorikawa Nakadachiuri／Kyoto City Bus～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 2TrainNijojo-mae～Higashiyama (Kyoto)220JPY
    Section 3TrainHigashiyama Sanjo (Subway Higashiyama Station)／Kyoto City Bus～Kiyomizu-michi／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4TrainKiyomizu-Gojo～Tofukuji180JPY
    Total860JPY

    Tour Report by Satoko

    I am a 53-year-old woman, living in Kyoto for nearly 40 years. I got the license in 2001. Since then, I worked as an interpreter or a translator in several companies, secretary at universities, and now work for a company on weekdays at the international dept.I do guiding job only weekend now. I started full swing guiding career after COVID-19 pandemic. I have gotten good review from many of my guests. I love my hometown, Kyoto which has a lot of interesting and historical sites to see. Particularly, I am native to Arashiyama which is famous for bamboo forest. So, I know a lot of places where you can relax yourself around this area. Other than that, Kyoto has many attractive sites which surely interest you.Also, I like meeting many people from different cultural background. I am very happy if I learn about your culture as well. Let’s enjoy exploring around Kyoto!

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    May 18, 2026
    WENDY_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent day out
    The trip was really well planned and organised, it…

    Sep 21, 2025
    joshsJ915FC
    Super tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really wonderful tour of markets and geisha district.…

    Jun 16, 2025
    Chanyl C
    Highly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My husband and I really enjoyed the Kyoto tour.…

    May 18, 2025
    Steve J
    A relaxing, enjoyable visit to Arashiyama.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Satori was very kind and…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel Century Southern Tower (2-2-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
    • 2) 10:15 Shibuya <Intersection → Shibuya Center Street → Hachiko Statue>
    • 3) 11:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 4) 12:10 Hibiya Park & Lunch @ Hibiya Sarow (1-1 Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
    • 5) 14:00 Imperial Palace Main Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Outer Garden
    • ↓ On the way, Ueno dining district
    • 6) 15:15 Asakusa <Nakamise Street → Sensoji Temple → Nishi-Sando Street → Okuyama Omairimachi → Hanayashiki Street → Hoppy Street → Koen Street → Orange Street → Shin-Nakamise Street → Metro Street → Kannon Street>
    • 7) 16:00 Dismiss @ Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station ticket gate

    What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Covering Meiji Shrine, Hibiya Park, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa The guests were a group visiting from North America. In their pre-tour messages, they asked, "Can we visit all the places listed on the tour website?" and "Do we need reservations to enter shrines and temples?" After I replied with my answers and a proposed itinerary, the guests happily agreed. They then contacted me saying they "might visit Skytree," so I replied with information on facilities that should be reserved and a request to "book Skytree for after 4:00." There was no further contact until the day of the tour, and when I confirmed the itinerary at the hotel meeting point, they told me they had not reserved Skytree. Freed from the strict "must finish by 4:00" constraint, I began the tour with peace of mind (though still aiming to finish by 4:00). I had the guests purchase the "Tokyo Free Ticket" (¥1,600) at JR Shinjuku Station. This was everyone's first visit to Japan. Perhaps wishing to trace their roots, they were very interested in Japan's history, traditions, and culture, as well as typical Japanese foods (sushi, tempura, omurice, wagyu beef BBQ skewers, ramen). I received questions everywhere we went and answered as appropriate (I emailed the names and addresses of restaurants). At Meiji Shrine, it was crowded due to a special chrysanthemum exhibition and other events, so we skipped the worship, but it was wonderful to see a rarely seen procession of the head priest. We took a lunch break at Hibiya Park, where the autumn foliage was magnificent. I tried to guide them to a famous restaurant in the park, but there was already a line of 20 people. While the guests waited in line, I checked the situation at other restaurants and found one with open seats. I quickly guided the guests to the other restaurant, and we enjoyed a relaxed lunch (four of the guests ordered katsu curry! By their kindness, I was treated to smoked tofu). Afterward, I guided them to the main gate of the Imperial Palace and the Nijubashi Bridge (the iron bridge was under repair). They also admired the magnificent pine trees of the outer garden. In Asakusa, we visited Senso-ji Temple. One of the guests loves sweet potatoes, so I guided them to Funawa, Oimoya-san Koshin, and Imoyasu, a shop specializing in roasted sweet potatoes. Everyone shared Koshin's candied sweet potatoes at a spot off Nakamise Street, and they were very pleased (by their kindness, I received one as well). We had some time before the parting hour, so I guided them along one street after another. One of the guests bought strawberry daifuku and strawberry candy at Asakusa Soratsuki Uranaka branch and shared them with the group. They were interested in Asakusa's animal cafes, so I showed them a few locations and then headed to Asakusa Station. Time flew by so quickly that I forgot to take a photo of all the members. I only have one photo of a guest holding a strawberry candy, but they happily consented to its use for promotional purposes. I explained the details of the route back to the hotel both verbally and by email, and we parted with smiles at the ticket gate.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku～Shibuya170JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 3SubwayKita-sando～Kasumigaseki (Tokyo)210JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijubashimae～Yushima180JPY
    Section 5SubwayUeno-hirokoji～Asakusa180JPY
    Total890JPY

    Tour Report by Tachi

    Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!

    Request Booking

    Jun 19, 2026
    Daniel_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    10/10 would do again!
    Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and…

    May 24, 2026
    Meander63637687943
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour guide Tachi is the best!
    A most enjoyable and…

    May 19, 2026
    Jai_K
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    I would definitely…
    I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi…

    May 5, 2026
    Gary33556
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful tour of the highlights of Tokyo
    Tachi was our guide. What…

  • Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple & Tsukiji Market

    Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple & Tsukiji Market

    Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:55　Meet up @ Hotel
    • 09:50　Senso-ji Temple
    • 11:00　Ueno Ameyoko
    • 12:00　Akihabara
    • 12:40　Lunch @ Kaiten Sushi Hyakkan (Akihabara)
    • 14:10　Tsukiji Market
    • 15:05　Disband @ Hotel

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They planned to travel to Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara after sightseeing in Tokyo. At Sensoji Temple, they listened with great interest to explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, as well as about Kaminarimon Gate. They also purchased a variety of souvenirs along Nakamise Street. At Ameyoko, they explored many shops, and some of the guests bought and enjoyed ice cream. In Akihabara, they showed interest in anime shops and enjoyed sushi for lunch. At Tsukiji Market, they were interested in the many shops of the outer market. Since I accommodated the guests' requests as they wished, I believe they were satisfied.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShimbashi～Asakusa210JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Ueno180JPY
    Section 3SubwayUeno-hirokoji～Suehirocho (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 4SubwayAkihabara～Tsukiji180JPY
    Section 5SubwayTsukiji～Shimbashi180JPY
    Total930JPY

    Tour Report by Seizo

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Shibuya

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Shibuya

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 11:20 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 12:30 Ginza
    • 14:00 Imperial Palace & Nijubashi Bridge
    • 15:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 16:30 Shibuya
    • 17:00 Tour ends at Shibuya

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They took this trip during a school break, and it was something they had long wished to do; many people around them had also traveled to Japan and praised the experience so highly that they very much wanted to come and see it for themselves. We first headed to the Tsukiji Outer Market, which was close to their hotel. After introducing Hamarikyu and explaining the history of Tsukiji, we made our way to the outer market. They seemed to greatly enjoy the overwhelming atmosphere and the fresh seafood here, and said they would like to come back again another day. At the nearby Namiyoke Shrine and Higashi Honganji Temple, I explained the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, the influence each has had on Japanese culture, and the different ways of praying, allowing them to experience it in person. They said they were able to understand the background of Japanese culture well, and that they wanted to feel it again in Kyoto, which they would visit after Tokyo. At the Imperial Palace, I explained the history and background of the Imperial family, as well as how it differs from royal families in the West. At the next stop, Meiji Shrine, the Niinamesai harvest festival was being held, it was the season for Shichi-Go-San, and they were even able to see a traditional wedding ceremony, which delighted them greatly. Finally, we headed to Shibuya, where I introduced a ramen restaurant they had wished to try, and the tour came to an end.

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

    Tour Report by Atsushi

    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.

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Meiji Jingu Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Meiji Jingu Shrine

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @Hotel Tokyo
    • 10:40 Stroll around Asakusa
    • 12:15 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 14:00 Lunch @Kichi Soba Harajuku Store
    • 14:30 Takeshita Street ~ Omotesando Entrance
    • 15:00 Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • 16:30 Dismissal @Hotel Tokyo

    What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Meiji Shrine The guests were from Europe, visiting Japan for the first time. They had traveled through Asia and then Hiroshima and Kobe before arriving in Tokyo the previous day. Since they had mentioned in advance that they wanted to see the many different faces of Tokyo, I proposed the itinerary above, and in the end they were very pleased with it. In Asakusa, they were overwhelmed by the crowds on the way to Senso-ji Temple, but they enjoyed the Okuyama area and the Shin-Nakamise shopping street. At the Imperial Palace, the original plan was to visit only the Ninomaru Garden, but they said they also wanted to see the Honmaru, so I guided them there as well. The trees had turned lovely autumn colors, and they seemed very satisfied. I personally found the animal cafe on Takeshita Street a bit over the top, but they watched with great interest. Because the morning was expected to be crowded due to the Niiname-sai harvest festival, I moved Meiji Shrine to the afternoon. There they were able to see the festival offerings and a wedding procession, which delighted them greatly. Throughout the day, the guests listened attentively to my explanations and asked many questions, making it a rewarding tour to guide. Aside: We talked about gasoline prices, and they were surprised at how cheap it was, as well as by the discussion of abolishing the provisional tax rate. It ended up being proof of how the Japanese have grown poorer.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShimbashi～Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 3SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 4SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Shimbashi180JPY
    Total790JPY

    Tour Report by Hideki

    Hello! My name is Hideki Maruyama. I was born in Osaka and raised in the Greater Tokyo area. I obtained my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter Certificate in February 2016.
    I spent 23 years working at a leading Japanese automotive company, including 7 years posted overseas. I then worked for a German premium automotive manufacturer for 13 years, followed by 6 years as an advisor to a British energy company. Through these roles at global corporations, I developed and refined key skills such as:
    1. Cross-cultural communication
    2. A deep understanding of business elites and affluent customers
    3. The ability to deliver impactful and impressive presentations in English
    In addition to my regular duties, I often served as an interpreter for top executives during meetings with foreign government officials. I also had opportunities to introduce aspects of Japan—such as our national character and consumer preferences—to leadership teams in both the German and British companies.
    As a tour guide, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding guests from a wide range of countries especially after the pandemic, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Turkey, Jordan, Kenya and Israel.
    When guiding, I always keep in mind to go beyond what guests can find on social media or ChatGPT. I believe my professional background allows me to offer unique insights, and I am encouraged when guests mention this in their reviews

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    Jun 14, 2026
    tiffany_w
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Phenomenal experiance
    Hideki san was an amazing guide. He was incredibly knowledgable…

    Jun 13, 2026
    Joshua_A
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The Best Guide I Had in Japan
    Hideki was, without question, my…

    May 2, 2026
    Bruce G
    Our guide (Hideki san) was a master. It was a rainy day and he suggested a new plan in anticipation…

    Apr 30, 2026
    johnbD9596UO
    Lovely Private tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I had a great…

  • Nara in One Day: Kofukuji Temple & Kasuga Taisha Shrine

    Nara in One Day: Kofukuji Temple & Kasuga Taisha Shrine

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting point: Kintetsu Nara Station
    • 11:05 Move: Walk to Kofukuji Temple
    • 10:15 Sightseeing ①: Kofukuji Temple (National Treasure Museum)
    • 11:00 Move: Walk to Nara Park and Todaiji Temple
    • 11:30 Sightseeing ②: Todaiji Temple
    • 12:30 Sightseeing ③: Nigatsudo and Sangatsudo Halls
    • 13:00 Lunch and break
    • 14:00 Move: Walk to Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 14:15 Sightseeing ④: Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00 Move: Take the loop bus to Higashimuki Shopping Street (Kintetsu Nara Station)
    • 15:20 Reservation: Reserve a restaurant for dinner (Wagyu sukiyaki) at Higashimuki Shopping Street
    • 15:30 End of guide and dismissal

    Can You Do a Private Day Trip from Kyoto to Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting and traveling in Japan from South America. Prior communication about adjusting the destinations was handled with the group. The guests were very meticulous — before I sent my first message after being assigned, their first message had already arrived, that was how quick they were. I hurriedly replied with my first message, and just two hours later a response came back, packed with important information. At that point the guests were staying in Kyoto and wanted to enjoy a full-day day trip to Nara. They left the choice of destinations to the guide but asked for a relaxed tour rather than one covering many places, and since they were interested in various aspects of Japanese history and culture, they asked for clear and easy-to-understand explanations. In addition, they wanted a light lunch and wagyu sukiyaki for dinner — a list of requests that made it easy for the guide to fully apply their skills in building the tour. After consulting with the guests, the itinerary was finalized as: Kofuku-ji ⇒ Nara Park ⇒ Todai-ji ⇒ Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do ⇒ lunch and rest ⇒ Kasuga Taisha ⇒ Higashimuki Shopping Street ⇒ end of tour, after which the guests would have dinner. On the day, although the temperature was on the low side, it turned into wonderful weather with sunshine — perfect conditions for a walking tour. I met the guests on schedule in front of the underground ticket gate at the Kintetsu Nara Station, and after a brief greeting, self-introduction, and confirmation of the itinerary, we set off. The guests had a very gentle atmosphere. During the tour, we carefully visited two representative Buddhist temples (Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji) and one shrine (Kasuga Taisha), while I gave historical explanations about the introduction of Buddhism and its great influence on Japan, and the coexistence of Shinto and Buddhism. The guests listened to the explanations with great interest and asked many questions. Although most of the itinerary involved walking, thanks to keeping the schedule relaxed and taking sufficient breaks along the way, we were able to complete the tour without much strain.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKasuga Taisha Main Shrine / Nara City area, Nara Prefecture～In front of Kintetsu Nara Station (highway/connecting bus)250JPY
    Total250JPY

    Tour Report by Nori

    Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
    Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

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    Apr 9, 2026
    Ron_W
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We saw so much in the…
    We saw so much in the…

    Mar 24, 2026
    zackn719
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
    We did our private tour with…

    Oct 20, 2025
    66speech
    Highlights of Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0830 Meet at Sakanoue
    • 0930 Tenryu-ji ~ Bamboo Grove
    • 1045 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji
    • 1130 Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (view from outside)
    • 1200 Kinkaku-ji
    • 1310 Lunch
    • 1430 Tofuku-ji
    • 1520 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 1700 Disband at Yamanoue

    Title: What Is a Private Full-Day Kyoto and Arashiyama Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. From the email stage, they mentioned that they wanted to visit many places and also enjoy a relaxed lunch, so we extended the tour. It was cold in the morning, but it gradually warmed up into very nice weather, and the autumn foliage showed wonderful colors. Since it was the Saturday at the start of a three-day weekend, there were many people out, but thanks to going to Arashiyama first thing in the morning, we were able to avoid heavy crowds.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

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    Oct 10, 2025
    alijohn48
    Just what we were looking for
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Tomy was…

    Aug 8, 2025
    Katherine_G
    Fantastic day touring Kyoto with private tour guide & driver!
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max…

    Jul 22, 2025
    98patrickn
    early morning tour of Kyoto with guide Tomy
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We did an early…

    Jul 20, 2025
    Mark_S
    Great day in Kyoto
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a great…

  • Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 09:30 Tour starts from the hotel
    • Transfer by bus to Hashiba-cho
    • AM 10:00 – AM 11:15 Strolling through Kazue-machi and Higashi Chaya District, Utasu Shrine, Kinpaku Sakuda (gold leaf)
    • Transfer by bus to Kenrokuen-shita
    • AM 11:45 – PM 12:30 Visit Kenrokuen Garden
    • PM 12:30 – 13:20 Kanazawa Castle Park, visit Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya, and Hashizumemon Tsuzuki Yagura
    • Transfer on foot to Omicho Market, PM 13:40 Tour ends

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Kanazawa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe on their first trip to Japan. The booking was originally for a larger group, but one member was unable to join due to personal circumstances, so the group was slightly smaller than planned. They were longtime friends who had known each other since childhood, and they seemed to enjoy their trip to Japan very much. I believe they also fully enjoyed the tour of Kanazawa. While group travelers from that region are often attended throughout by a guide speaking their native language, this tends to be the style for older travelers, and the guests explained that English was perfectly fine for them. In practice, they understood English without much difficulty. We ended the tour by visiting Omicho Market for lunch.

    Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKanazawa Station / Hokuriku Railroad Bus～Hashiba-cho / Hokuriku Railroad Bus210JPY
    Section 2BusHashiba-cho / Hokuriku Railroad Bus～Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa Castle / Hokuriku Railroad Bus210JPY
    Total420JPY

    Tour Report by YOSHI

    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!

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    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。