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  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:00 Meet up at Shangri-La Tokyo
    • 2. 09:20 Ueno Park
    • 3. 09:40 Asakusa (Nakamise Street, Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Shrine)
    • 4. 11:00 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 5. 11:30 Lunch at Udon the Birth
    • 6. 12:30 Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
    • 7. 12:50 Harajuku (Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Harajuku Street)
    • 8. 14:10 Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, Golden Gai)
    • 9. 14:50 Disband at Golden Gai

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ueno, Asakusa, and Tsukiji The guest was a visitor from North America, traveling to Japan for the first time. I mainly guided them according to the requests I had received in advance, but since I knew that the oh-kanzakura cherry blossoms at the entrance of Ueno Park were nearly in full bloom, we stopped by to take some photos before heading to Asakusa. We visited Tsukiji on a Sunday, as I had the previous week, and it was just as lively as on a regular opening day. Since the guest mentioned wanting to have udon or soba for lunch, I took them to Udon The Birth just outside the Tsukiji outer market, and they were very pleased. At the end, I took them to Golden Gai, but they said they would find an open bar on their own and had no concerns, so we parted ways there. The weather was fine, and I believe the guest thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNihonbashi (Tokyo)～Ueno180JPY
    Section 2SubwayUeno～Asakusa180JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji～Shibuya210JPY
    Section 5TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 6TrainHarajuku～Shinjuku150JPY
    Total1,080JPY

    Tour Report by Nobu

    Hi, I am Nobu, a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English).
    I have been an English guide in Tokyo area since January 2017.
    Tokyo is a wonderful city, and you may enjoy this city by yourselves.
    Even so, I recommend you go around with a guide, especially if it is your first time visit to Tokyo.
    A good guide will help you to understand about Tokyo and Japan as well as how to use convenient but complicated public transportations more effectively.
    I am glad if I can help you to make your tour more enjoyable.
    I am looking forward to meeting you in Tokyo soon!
    Nobu

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    Jun 2, 2026
    amandavW9846AW
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Tokyo day trip!
    We had a wonderfull day with Nobu! He…

    May 25, 2026
    Matthew_C
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nobu was an excellent and…
    Nobu was an excellent and informative guide…

    May 24, 2026
    Diane D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Pleasant Intro to Tokyo
    Nobu was an experienced and informative guide.…

    Apr 28, 2026
    GrandTour57165664797
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Awesome!
    It was our first visit to Japan. Nobu was very knowledgeable…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Tokyo National Museum

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Tokyo National Museum

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Hotel
    • 12:40 Asakusa
    • 14:10 Lunch　la vasara annex
    • 15:20 Ueno Park (Shinobazu Pond, Kiyomizu Kannon-do, Hanazono Shrine, Ueno Toshogu)
    • 16:15 Tokyo National Museum
    • 17:35 Dismissal at hotel

    Title: What's a Private Family Walking Tour of Tokyo's Asakusa and Ueno Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private walking tour of Tokyo for a group visiting from North America. The day before, the guests asked to shift the start time to 12:00 because they had somewhere to visit in the morning, so we began one hour later than originally planned. At the meeting point there was a slightly apologetic atmosphere about a small delay, and a brief moment of tension within the group, so I felt a little uneasy at the start, but that concern quickly proved unfounded. Since one of the guests had passed through Asakusa during the Tokyo Marathon, we first visited Sensoji Temple, and they showed me a photo of Kaminarimon Gate that they had taken while running, saying "Look at this." Communication was a little challenging at times, but at Asakusa Shrine one of the guests carefully asked me about the proper way to pray and spent a long time praying for something. The guests keep a dog and are great dog lovers, so one of them asked permission to pet a Mameshiba being walked nearby, looking truly delighted — that smile was wonderful. Because one of the guests had strong food preferences, we were wondering what to do about lunch, when we came to a restaurant where I had once listened to shamisen. When I explained "It's a Japanese-style building, but it serves Italian food," the reaction was "Interesting, let's go in here," and it was my first time using it since the restaurant changed hands. Although it had lost some of its former charm, the food seemed good. The edamame (topped with cheese and garlic — truly delicious) and the fried potatoes were especially well received. One of the guests specially ordered plain pasta (simply boiled) and finished it completely, while the others had pizza. On the way out, the guests spotted a shop selling character goods and were delighted, purchasing two of them. Meanwhile, outside, I had one of those familiar chats — a common worry all around the world. In Ueno Park we started walking from Shinobazu Pond, where the cherry blossoms were blooming, then continued to Kiyomizu Kannon-do and were drawn to Anamori Inari Shrine. After Ueno Toshogu, we went to the Tokyo National Museum and rushed through the entire main building in about 30 minutes, stopping at the Buddhist statues, swords, armor and helmets, and tea ceremony utensils (or perhaps more accurately, the parts I could explain). Regarding the tea ceremony utensils in particular, the guests were sorry that they had not experienced a tea ceremony in Kyoto, so they listened intently to my explanation of "ichigo ichie" and watched a video of a tea gathering with great interest. Because the guests had a dinner reservation, we returned to the hotel a little early and parted ways, but they were pleased, saying "That was so much fun. Thank you," which was the best possible outcome. They were a very pleasant group, and it felt as though we were always chatting about something throughout the day.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku～Asakusabashi180JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusabashi～Asakusa180JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Ueno180JPY
    Section 4TrainUeno～Shinjuku210JPY
    Total750JPY

    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
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Balade riche en découvertes
    Nous avons passé un super moment avec Danda.…

    Apr 14, 2026
    davidjonesresponseen
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking tour with Danda in Tokyo
    Excellent walking tour, we followed our…

    Apr 10, 2026
    Anna_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Nadagiku Sake Brewery

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Nadagiku Sake Brewery

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • Meet at 12:00 @ JR Himeji Station
    • 12:15 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 12:30 @ Himeji Castle
    • 14:15 @ Kokoen Garden
    • 15:00 @ Nadagiku Sake Brewery
    • 16:00 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    Title: What Is a Private Sake-Focused Day Tour in Himeji Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a solo traveler from North America who was touring various parts of Japan. While the guest did not seem particularly interested in specific sightseeing spots, they mentioned enjoying sake, and appeared to be greatly looking forward to visiting the final stop, Nadagiku Sake Brewery. The guest tried the tasting and asked the staff many questions about sake. The guest also purchased sake as a souvenir. Originally the guest had wanted to buy more sake, but seemed disappointed to learn that the duty-free allowance for bringing alcohol into North America is limited to one liter. I presented a handmade drawstring pouch, which the guest was delighted to receive.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    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

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    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
    Viator review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Imperial Palace

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Imperial Palace

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00　Meet up @ Hotel Kaminarimon
    • 09:50　Shibuya Scramble Crossing・Hachiko
    • 10:20　Meiji Shrine
    • 12:10　Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 13:20　Lunch @ Hakata Menbo Akanoren Marunouchi Branch
    • 14:10　Imperial Palace
    • 15:15　Disband @ Hotel Kaminarimon

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen, and the Imperial Palace The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, with some of the guests having visited Japan before and others for the first time. Before arriving in Tokyo, they had toured Kyushu and Korea by cruise, and planned to return home the next day. At Meiji Shrine, they listened with great interest to the explanation about the difference between shrines and temples, and seemed deeply impressed by the quiet, solemn atmosphere, which was so different from Shibuya. At Shinjuku Gyoen, they enjoyed the beautiful Japanese garden scenery and the early-blooming cherry blossoms. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo shogunate. Since the guests had already visited Senso-ji Temple on their own the previous day, I changed the original plan on short notice and guided them to Shinjuku Gyoen instead of Senso-ji Temple. As I accommodated the guests' wishes, I believe they were satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAsakusa～Shibuya260JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Shinjuku-gyoenmae180JPY
    Section 4SubwayShinjuku-gyoenmae～Tokyo210JPY
    Section 5SubwayYurakucho～Ginza-itchome180JPY
    Section 6SubwayGinza～Asakusa210JPY
    Total1,190JPY

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
    jonaJ5014ZK
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Seizo was a tremendously fabulous…

    Sep 11, 2026
    M7402TTsharonp
    Higly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…

    Sep 8, 2026
    OnAir57127583503
    Amazing Experience with Kamakura Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our…

    Sep 4, 2026
    B2319ZKjoseo
    Pleasant stroll through HISTORY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We had a great time learning about…

  • Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet at The Thousand Kyoto
    • 09:30 to 10:15 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 10:30 to 11:10 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 11:30 to 12:00 Gion
    • 12:25 to 13:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 13:15 to 13:45 Lunch at Tenkaippin
    • 14:00 to 14:45 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00 Disband at The Thousanf Kyoto

    Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were visitors from North America. They were a very close-knit group who happily took many photos together throughout the tour. One of the guests had recently completed a marathon in Tokyo and was a strong walker who moved along quickly, having also participated in famous marathon events such as those held in Berlin and Boston. Thanks to this, the tour proceeded exactly as planned, which was a great help. We were able to finish the tour right at 3:00.

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

    Tour Report by Haru

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

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

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

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

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

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

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

  • Yamanashi: Oshino Hakkai & Oishi Park

    Yamanashi: Oshino Hakkai & Oishi Park

    Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Private Car Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00　 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:10～10:45　@ Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway to the summit of Kachikachi Mountain
    • 11:00～11:25　@ Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Boat 'Appare' boarding
    • 11:30　Fujiyoshida, via Honcho Street, to Oshino Hakkai (commemorative photo in front of Kanadorii)
    • 11:50～13:00　@ Oshino Hakkai (Hannoki Museum)
    • 13:10～13:25　@ Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
    • 13:40～14:30　Lunch @ Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch
    • 14:45～15:05　@ Narusawa Ice Cave
    • 15:15　@ Commemorative photo by Lake Saiko
    • 15:25～15:50　@ Oishi Park
    • 16:00　Dismissal @ Hotel

    What Is a Private Fuji Five Lakes Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report from Oshino Hakkai The guests were a group visiting from Europe. Since we had exchanged the itinerary by email in advance and reached agreement, the tour itself proceeded smoothly. The group gave a somewhat reserved first impression, and at the meeting point they were initially rather distant, but as the tour went on and I included some jokes along the way, they gradually opened up. At Oshino Hakkai I treated them to the local specialty kusa-mochi, and after lunch I bought them Yukimi Daifuku at a convenience store. By the second half of the tour, we were able to proceed in a warm and friendly atmosphere. When I gave them a set of chopsticks (five pairs with a Mount Fuji motif) as a souvenir, they were very pleased. They also greatly enjoyed the hoto lunch, telling me it was delicious and thanking me for bringing them there. Working with the hired car driver, with whom I have a good rapport, we coordinated well and finished the tour with perfect time management. Although they were a little reserved at first, in the end I believe they were very satisfied.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Private Car Tour with Licensed Guide

    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.

    Request Booking

    Sep 19, 2026
    Plumb72
    Introduction to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our guide ‘May’ had emailed us several times…

    Aug 31, 2026
    Charlene_E
    You get to experience…
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    You get to experience moving…

    Aug 31, 2026
    labrinir2016
    Excellent- best in class.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We booked a private tour…

    Jul 16, 2026
    fernandorM8865OM
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    Memorable day
    We had a great time. Our guide Meiji…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:00　Meet up @ HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, Hotel
    • 2. 10:30　@ Meiji Shrine
    • 3. 11:30　@ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
    • 4. 12:00　View from the car @ Tokyo Tower
    • 5. 12:20　@ Imperial Palace (distant view of the National Diet Building, Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate, Tatsumi Yagura Turret)
    • 6. 12:50　@ Tokyo Station (station plaza, station building)
    • 7. 13:10　Lunch @ Tokyo Station Gransta Yaekita Kamatake Udon
    • 8. 14:00　View from the car @ Ginza (4-chome intersection, Kabukiza Theater) and Tsukiji Market (Monzeki Street) and Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
    • 9. 14:45　@ Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Street, Sumida Park, distant view of Tokyo Skytree)
    • 10. 16:00　Disband @ HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, Hotel

    Title: What's a Private Car Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and the Imperial Palace The guests were first-time visitors to Japan from Oceania. We met for the first time in the hotel lobby, but they walked straight toward me, made eye contact, and we greeted each other right away. They surprised me by saying, "We know Noripy is famous," and it turned out they had read the reviews. Since retiring, they have been traveling all over the world. They emphasized how clean and tidy Tokyo is, and how clean the air was in Tokyo (compared with Beijing). After Tokyo, they planned to travel around Japan for about three weeks, visiting Hakone, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. The guests both seemed to have a strong interest in food. The previous day they had tried an izakaya around the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku. One of them mentioned being bothered by cigarette smoke, but it appeared to be the kind of place where people enjoy dining around a traditional hearth. For today's lunch we had intended to have tempura at Gransta Yaenaka in Tokyo Station, but there was a long line. Since every restaurant had a queue, we settled on "Kamatake," an udon place that looked like it would turn over quickly. Both ordered a set of negitoro-don and warm udon, and they savored it, saying, "It's so delicious!" In Asakusa they tried dango (both plain soy sauce and mitarashi). As usual, whatever the portion one of the guests could not finish was eaten by the other. Since this was a vehicle tour, the places we got out and walked around were Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. This time the itinerary went smoothly, and from the car window I was able to introduce many sights, including the Meiji Jingu Gaien (the ginkgo-lined avenue and the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery), Tokyo Tower, the Ginza 4-chome intersection, the Kabukiza theater, Tsukiji Monzeki-dori, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Akihabara, and Ueno Park. One of the guests brought up the topic of age with me, so as people of a similar generation, our conversation flowed with all kinds of topics. They showed me photos of the beach near their home and of their many grandchildren. They also showed me a photo of a knife engraved with a personal name, which had once been given to them by a family member who had visited Japan in the past. At the final farewell, one of the guests gave me a hug, and the following day I received a separate thank-you email.

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

    Tour Report by Noripy

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

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    Sep 10, 2026
    Sonal_G
    Noripy is just the best
    Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
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    Jul 3, 2026
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    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
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  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Sosha Shrine

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Sosha Shrine

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Meet at JR Himeji Station
    • 12:15 at Himeji Castle
    • 15:00 at Kokoen Garden
    • 15:45 at Sosha Shrine
    • 16:15 Disband at the food court inside JR Himeji Station

    What Is a Private Guided Tour of Himeji Castle Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from Oceania. They had visited Japan several times before, and one of them had previous experience staying in the Kanto region and seemed to be a great admirer of Japan. Although they had visited other Japanese castles before, they told me that Himeji Castle was the finest of all. They asked many probing questions—among the most detailed I had ever received—which showed their deep level of interest. They listened very attentively to my explanations. Because our stay at the first spot, Himeji Castle, ran long, the visits to the following two locations became somewhat rushed, which I regretted and felt apologetic about. I presented them with a handmade drawstring pouch, which they were delighted to receive. As they were heading to Kyoto after the tour and wished to have a light meal beforehand, I recommended the local specialty "eki-soba" at the food court inside Himeji Station, where we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    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

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    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
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    Our guide Yama was so…

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    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

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    Castle journey worth your time!
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  • Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Meet (Ryokan Sanga）
    • 9:00-9:40 Travel (Keihan Train; Keihan Sanjo → Kiyomizu-Gojo)
    • 9:40-11:00 Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 11:00-12:00 Travel (Keihan Train; Kiyomizu-Gojo → Keihan Sanjo, Subway; Sanjo Keihan → Imadegawa)
    • 12:00-12:50 Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 12:50-13:15 Travel (Taxi; Kyoto Imperial Palace → Restaurant CoCo Kana／near Kinkaku-ji Temple)
    • 13:15-14:05 Lunch (CoCo Kana)
    • 14:15-15:05 Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 15:05-15:35 Travel (City Bus: Kinkaku-ji-michi → Nijo-jo-mae)
    • 15:40-17:00 Visit Nijo Castle
    • 17:00 Tour ends.　　We said goodbye to the guests at Nijo-jo-mae.

    Title: What's an 8-Hour Private Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. The tour was originally scheduled for 6 hours, but the guests extended it by 2 hours, and I took them to four locations including lunch: Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Nijo Castle. As the walking pace was somewhat slow, we were running about 20 minutes behind schedule after visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but by switching to a taxi for the trip from the Imperial Palace to the restaurant, we were able to stay on schedule afterward. The weather was a little unsettled, with light rain at times and a noticeable drop in temperature at Nijo Castle. Over the 8-hour tour, the guests walked about 25,000 steps, so I imagine they were quite tired. Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Nijo Castle were all quite crowded as the sightseeing season was approaching, but the guests said that Kinkaku-ji Temple left the strongest impression on them.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSanjo (Kyoto)～Kiyomizu-Gojo180JPY
    Section 2TrainKiyomizu-Gojo～Sanjo (Kyoto)180JPY
    Section 3SubwaySanjo (Kyoto)～Imadegawa260JPY
    Section 4BusKinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto City Bus～Nijo-jo-mae230JPY
    Total850JPY

    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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    Aug 4, 2026
    Elie_S
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Wonderful and informative walking tour with Michi
    We had a lovely…

    Jul 19, 2026
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    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
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    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

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    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:30 Meet at Shangri-La Tokyo
    • 2. 11:10 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 3. 12:40 Harajuku (Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street)
    • 4. 14:30 Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 5. 15:30 Asakusa (Nakamise Street, Senso-ji Temple)
    • 6. 16:40 Disband at Shangri-La Tokyo

    What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji and Classic Sights The guests were visitors from North America, and it was their first time in Japan. Since they did not have any particular place they especially wanted to visit, I proposed a classic route plus either Hamarikyu Gardens or the Tsukiji Outer Market, and following their preference, I took them to the Tsukiji Outer Market. They seemed to enjoy eating and shopping, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves at Tsukiji. They also seemed fond of photography and took many photos at each location. Although it was a bit cloudy that day, it was not too cold, and I believe they were able to fully enjoy the tour.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNihonbashi (Tokyo)～Tsukiji180JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku～Shibuya150JPY
    Section 4SubwayShibuya～Asakusa260JPY
    Section 5SubwayAsakusa～Nihonbashi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Total980JPY

    Tour Report by Nobu

    Hi, I am Nobu, a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English).
    I have been an English guide in Tokyo area since January 2017.
    Tokyo is a wonderful city, and you may enjoy this city by yourselves.
    Even so, I recommend you go around with a guide, especially if it is your first time visit to Tokyo.
    A good guide will help you to understand about Tokyo and Japan as well as how to use convenient but complicated public transportations more effectively.
    I am glad if I can help you to make your tour more enjoyable.
    I am looking forward to meeting you in Tokyo soon!
    Nobu

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    Jun 2, 2026
    amandavW9846AW
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Tokyo day trip!
    We had a wonderfull day with Nobu! He…

    May 25, 2026
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    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nobu was an excellent and…
    Nobu was an excellent and informative guide…

    May 24, 2026
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    Pleasant Intro to Tokyo
    Nobu was an experienced and informative guide.…

    Apr 28, 2026
    GrandTour57165664797
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Awesome!
    It was our first visit to Japan. Nobu was very knowledgeable…