Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
    • 10:10 Tsukiji Outer Market, Yonemoto Coffee, Uogashi Food Court
    • 12:10 Shibuya Hachiko, Scramble Crossing, Center Street
    • 13:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 13:40 Takeshita Street, Omotesando
    • 14:10 Disband @ Omotesando Station

    Title: What Can You See on Your First Day in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Rainy-Day Private Tour Report I guided the group from Europe on their first day in Japan. They were both very pleasant. Since it was raining heavily, we discussed the plan and changed the originally scheduled Hamarikyu to Harajuku and Omotesando. In Tsukiji, they enjoyed coffee at a coffee shop and had soba and tempura at the fish market. As they wanted to withdraw a little more cash, we stopped by an ATM at a convenience store. They said Meiji Shrine was wonderful even in the rain. We walked from Takeshita Street to the end of Omotesando, and after I recommended the Nezu Museum, we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTsukiji Market~Shibuya290JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya~Harajuku150JPY
    Total440JPY

    Hello!! I’m Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
    I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
    My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
    I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
    Please let me know what interests you.
    I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
    Looking forward to meeting you!!

    Sep 30, 2026
    16shelleyb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Great day in Toyko
    Four of us spent an…

    Sep 29, 2026
    982marvf
    Yokohama Experience
    Tripadvisor review: Yokohama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Takako is an outstanding tour guide who knows Yokohama…

    Sep 24, 2026
    marshad422
    A great day of seeing so much and gaining knowledge of the historical and spiritual meaning to the places visited.
    Tripadvisor…

    Sep 18, 2026
    7
    770stefanieg
    Wonderful, personalized tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Takako, our guide…

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tour Itinerary

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

    Title: What's a Private Toyosu Market and Tsukiji Tour Like in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. One of the guests had visited the former Tsukiji fish market about ten years earlier and had been curious about the newer Toyosu Market. They were amazed by Toyosu Market's state-of-the-art facilities and by how smoothly everything was operated, and were impressed, saying it reflected the Japanese character. At the tuna auction, they were surprised to see a single tuna sold in about five seconds. They tried to guess the winning prices themselves, but the prices were decided so quickly that they could not keep up, and they were amazed by the auctioneers' habitual skill in judging high prices. At a sushi restaurant after the auction, they enjoyed a tuna-focused meal and were delighted by the deliciousness of the marinated tuna prepared by the head chef. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they purchased a Japanese kitchen knife. The day before, they had visited several knife shops in Kappabashi but had not found a Japanese knife that suited their taste. At the Tsukiji knife shop I introduced, they found a Japanese knife that matched their wishes in both weight and size, and they were very pleased. At a shop selling dried goods for making dashi, they sampled dashi from a dashi pack and bought a bag, and one of the guests said they wanted to surprise their friends back home with cooking that uses dashi. Unfortunately it was raining, so we strolled through Tsukiji with umbrellas, but on the other hand there were fewer tourists, so the guests were able to enjoy shopping at a relaxed pace.

    Transportation cost per person

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

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

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

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Sep 25, 2026
    robert_s
    Fantastic experience!
    Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    We had a tour booked with Toru…

    Sep 24, 2026
    Pamela_S
    Ask for Toru!
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our travel date for this tour…

    Sep 13, 2026
    S4579HLmaxf
    An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    Outstanding experience at the…

    Sep 7, 2026
    Victor_G
    All the temples and…
    Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…

  • Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 09:00 Tour start
    • Travel by bus to Kenrokuen
    • AM 09:40-10:30 Kenrokuen tour
    • AM 10:30-11:30 Kanazawa Castle Park, Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya, Hashizumemon Tsuzuki Yagura tour
    • Travel on foot to the Nagamachi Samurai District area
    • AM 11:50- PM 13:00 Nagamachi Samurai District, visit to the Nomura Family Residence
    • Tour end

    What Is a Private Kanazawa Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from Oceania. They had been to Japan many times before, but this was their first visit to Kanazawa. They owned a Japanese sword and had a strong interest in samurai culture, so despite the cold rain, they took their time enjoying Kanazawa Castle Park. At the Nomura Family residence in the Nagamachi samurai district, the attached small museum displays several sets of Japanese swords, so they also enjoyed observing the patterns on the blades there. Since they would be staying in Kanazawa for one more day, I recommended some places worth visiting before ending the tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKanazawa Station / Hokuriku Railway Bus~Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa Castle / Hokuriku Railway Bus220JPY
    Total220JPY

    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!

    Sep 29, 2026
    matthewsY2654UC
    Highly recommended!
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us…

    Sep 28, 2026
    751juergend
    Perfect day in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the perfect guide, very…

    Sep 27, 2026
    karen_f
    YOSHI san was incredible!
    Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    YOSHI met us at our…

    Sep 19, 2026
    Plumb72
    A morning in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We had a fab tour with Yoshi…

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 05:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 05:10-05:30 Explanation of related information in advance, such as tuna catching methods, how the auction proceeds, collection methods, and the roles of primary and intermediate wholesalers
    • 05:30-06:00 Observe the tuna auction
    • 06:00-07:00 Sushi breakfast at a sushi restaurant inside Toyosu Market
    • 07:00-07:15 Move to Tsukiji
    • 07:15-08:00 Stroll through the Tsukiji inner market
    • 08:00 Disband at Tsukiji

    Title: What's an Early-Morning Tsukiji and Toyosu Tuna Auction Private Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was visiting Japan from North America and joined this early-morning tour alone. The guest showed great interest in the systematic flow of the auction and the strategies of the auctioneers competing with one another. For breakfast at a sushi restaurant after observing the auction, the guest enjoyed the chef's omakase selection of nigiri. When choosing the two additional complimentary pieces, the guest asked both me and the chef for recommendations, so we suggested a rarely available seki isaki (grunt fish) and seasonal cod milt sushi. Both were ingredients that cannot be tasted in North America, so the guest savored them with great delight. The stroll through the Tsukiji Outer Market turned into a shopping tour. After sampling products at each shop, the guest purchased wasabi-infused salt (said to pair well with BBQ), flying-fish dashi, and a premium dashi pack. The guest also bought fresh minced tuna (about 200g) and scallop adductor muscles (six large ones for sashimi) to enjoy back at the Hotel with the group, and was very satisfied when the shop kindly added soy sauce and wasabi as a complimentary service. The guest also purchased a Japanese vegetable knife, looking forward to cooking with it after returning home. Finally, the guest enjoyed fresh Akkeshi oysters eaten standing-style, and the tour came to an end. The guest was interested in everything and asked many questions, making me feel as though I had opened every drawer of knowledge I have as a guide. Thanks to this, I discovered new perspectives on guiding, and it became a truly meaningful tour for me as well. I am very grateful. Since the beginning of March, the number of visitors to the Toyosu auction has been increasing rapidly. I braced myself a little, realizing it will likely become extremely crowded when the cherry blossoms bloom.

    Transportation cost per person

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

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

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

    I look forward to meeting you soon!

    Sep 25, 2026
    robert_s
    Fantastic experience!
    Viator review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    We had a tour booked with Toru…

    Sep 24, 2026
    Pamela_S
    Ask for Toru!
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our travel date for this tour…

    Sep 13, 2026
    S4579HLmaxf
    An unforgettable morning at Toyosu
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide
    Outstanding experience at the…

    Sep 7, 2026
    Victor_G
    All the temples and…
    Viator review: Kamakura Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    All the temples and shrines were fantastic.…

  • Okayama Customized Half-Day Tour

    Okayama Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Hotel – 11:50 Nishigawa Green Belt Park – 12:50 Okayama Korakuen – 14:10 Okayama Castle – 14:50 Lunch inside Okayama Station – 15:45 Hotel

    What's a Private Tour of Okayama's Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from Europe who has traveled to Japan on several occasions. On this visit, the guest came to Japan in connection with work and, alongside professional duties, wished to explore parts of Japan that had not previously been possible to visit. The guest speaks several languages, including their first language as well as additional European languages, and also speaks a little Japanese. During the tour, the guest occasionally spoke in more than one language. For this tour, we visited Nishigawa Ryokudo Park, a spot not usually included on typical sightseeing routes. The park, spreading through the very center of the city, seemed to bring a fresh sense of wonder. The seasonal plants and flowers, the sculptures, and the gentle murmur of the stream that was once a canal appeared to bring a feeling of calm and peace. That day, an event was being held at Shiroshita Park, and a torchbearer from the Tokyo Olympics, noticing us, came over and kindly let the guest hold a genuine torch, which was a moving experience. We then finally entered the long-awaited Korakuen Garden and took our time to appreciate it fully. The guest seemed intrigued and delighted by a garden with more lawn than moss. The plum blossoms, just slightly past their peak, welcomed us, and the guest was enchanted not only by their sweet and tangy fragrance but also by the noble scent of the wintersweet. Afterward, we moved on to Okayama Castle, where a Japanese guide, who had once guided a former U.S. ambassador to Japan, struck up a conversation and offered various explanations in Japanese. We then explored the interior of Okayama Castle thoroughly, reflecting on the Warring States and Edo periods. Although it became a little late, we found a restaurant suitable for the guest and had lunch, before I saw the guest off to their accommodation. It was a fond farewell as we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOkayama Station Front~Shiroshita (Okayama Prefecture)160JPY
    Section 2TrainShiroshita (Okayama Prefecture)~Okayama Station Front160JPY
    Total320JPY

    My name is Susumu Hiramatsu. I am a national government licensed guide interpreter. I became a guide interpreter in 1992. My educational background started with a BA in law, then an MA in English language education, and completed a doctoral course without a degree in English language teaching. My occupational career began with a bank officer, then shifted to a translation and interpretation company, finally became a freelance translator, interpreter, and college teacher. I handle conference interpretation, namely simultaneous interpretation. As for the guide interpreter, my interest covers wide areas including politics and business, but I deem cultural aspects to be fundamental. I am always encouraging myself to be filled with Japanese hospitality.

    Jun 20, 2025
    NinjaTwins2013
    Kurashiki walking tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kurashiki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We enjoyed our walking tour of Kurashiki. Our guide…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Shibuya

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Shibuya

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at Hotel
    • 9:10 Tsukiji — bought sushi at the market and ate it on the 3F, could eat a lot of food
    • 11:10 Ueno Station – purchased Shinkansen tickets
    • 11:35 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 12:00 Break @ Kaminarimon Starbucks
    • 13:35 Went to Shinjuku Gyoen-mae and realized it was a closed day
    • 14:00 Shibuya (Hachiko photos)
    • 14:10 Disband in front of Shibuya crossing

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report Although it looked like rain and there was a brief spell of very light rain, the tour otherwise went smoothly. The plans were not clear until the day itself, so we decided to start and go as far as we could. Since the guests had not eaten breakfast, at Tsukiji Market they bought sushi at the outer market and ate it on a rooftop, and also bought and enjoyed many food items from the street stalls. When I heard they wanted to take the Shinkansen to Osaka that day but had made no arrangements, we bought tickets at Ueno Station. In Asakusa they took many photos and also took a break at a coffee shop. As they wanted to see cherry blossoms, we went as far as the front of Shinjuku Gyoen, only to realize it was closed that day, which was embarrassing. We parted ways in Shibuya.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTochomae~Tsukiji Market280JPY
    Section 2Free PassTsukiji~Ueno700JPY
    Section 3Free PassUeno~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa~Shinjuku-sanchome260JPY
    Section 5Free PassShinjuku-sanchome~Shibuya0JPY
    Total1,240JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Hyogo: Sawanotsuru Museum & Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

    Hyogo: Sawanotsuru Museum & Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet @ Hanshin Electric Railway, Oishi Station
    • 11:30 @ Sawanotsuru Museum
    • 12:45 @ Hakutaka Rokusuien
    • 13:30 @ Kikumasamune Sake Brewery Memorial Museum
    • 14:30 @ Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
    • 16:00 Disband @ Sannomiya Sankita Shopping Street

    What's a Private Sake Brewery Tour of Nada Gogo in Kobe Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Regarding the meeting point, we had confirmed it about three times, but on the day before the tour they contacted me asking to change it to their accommodation in Osaka. I explained that changing it would be difficult given the schedule and timing of the itinerary, and they agreed to keep the original location. Everything went smoothly. This tour was a sake brewery tour of Nada Gogo, and since all of the guests loved Japanese sake, they thoroughly enjoyed both the free and paid tastings at each brewery. They also purchased a great deal of sake as souvenirs. We finished visiting each spot ahead of schedule, and as they wished to have Kobe beef for their meal, I guided them to a restaurant I recommended, where we parted ways with about one hour to spare. I presented some of the guests with handmade drawstring pouches, which they were delighted to receive.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOishi~Nishinomiya250JPY
    Section 2TrainNishinomiya~Uozaki200JPY
    Section 3TrainSumiyoshi (Hyogo Prefecture, Hanshin Line)~Sannomiya200JPY
    Total650JPY

    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

    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 Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:30 Meet at Hotel Toranomon Hills
    • 2. 10:30 Gotokuji Temple
    • 3. 11:20 Harajuku (Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street)
    • 4. 13:30 Shibamata (Daikyoji Temple, Yamamoto-tei)
    • 5. 14:40 Asakusa (Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple)
    • 6. 15:40 Disband at Nihombashi Station

    What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who were on a short stay this time, and they mentioned they planned to return around October for a sightseeing-focused trip. We visited the places they had requested in advance, but since this day also coincided with the Tokyo Marathon, we arranged the order of the route to minimize its impact as much as possible. At the end of the tour, the guests shared that all the places had been wonderful, and that they especially enjoyed Shibamata. The weather was also lovely, and I believe it turned out to be a tour they were satisfied with.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainToranomon~Miyanosaka520JPY
    Section 2TrainGotokuji~Meiji-jingumae330JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Shibamata530JPY
    Section 4TrainShibamata~Asakusa360JPY
    Section 5SubwayAsakusa~Nihombashi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Total1,920JPY

    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

    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: Tokyo Station & Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Station & Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at Hotel Nishi Shinjuku
    • 9:10 Tokyo Station
    • 9:25 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 11:00 Asakusa (Skytree photo) — Snack with melon bread if desired
    • 13:05 Meiji Shrine
    • 13:55 Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • 14:15 Disband in front of Harajuku Takeshita Street Mac

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The weather was clear and warm, and the tour proceeded smoothly. Since the guests were planning to run the Tokyo Marathon the following day, I guided them from the finish point in front of Tokyo Station to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. A few cherry trees were in bloom, and the guests took many photos of the cherry and plum blossoms. In Asakusa, I talked about Buddhism and the history of the wartime damage, and since the guests wished to try melon bread, we stopped at a shop and had a snack. At Meiji Shrine, I received many questions about the shrine and its history, but there were two wedding ceremonies taking place, which caused us to pause along the way. I had planned to guide them along Takeshita Street on the way back, but partway through they stopped at a fast-food restaurant to shop, said they could find their own way from there, and the tour ended at that point. A tip was received.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassNishi Shinjuku~Tokyo700JPY
    Section 2Free PassTakebashi~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3Free PassAsakusa~Meiji-jingumae0JPY
    Total700JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Fukuoka in One Day: Nanzoin Temple & Ohori Park

    Fukuoka in One Day: Nanzoin Temple & Ohori Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:50 Meet at Hakata Port Central Wharf Cruise Center
    • 12:40 Nanzoin Temple
    • 14:30 Lunch at JR Hakata Station
    • 15:50 Tocho-ji Temple
    • 16:50 Ohori Park

    Despite the rainy weather, the requested sightseeing spots were visited without any trouble, and I believe the guests were reasonably satisfied. Initially, the plan was to visit Nanzoin and Dazaifu Tenmangu, then Ohori Park, and if possible Tochoji Temple as well, but I explained that seeing both Nanzoin and Dazaifu Tenmangu in the available time would be difficult, so I guided them on an itinerary that excluded Dazaifu Tenmangu. For lunch, we had tendon at the underground dining area of JR Hakata Station. The portion size was just right, and the guests liked it very much, describing it as "Perfect." Ohori Park had many migratory birds, and since one of the guests enjoys photographing birds, they were very pleased.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHakata Station / JR Kyushu Bus~Kido Nanzoin-mae450JPY
    Section 2TrainKido Nanzoin-mae~Hakata Station / JR Kyushu Bus450JPY
    Section 3SubwayHakata Station / JR Kyushu Bus~Gion (Fukuoka Prefecture)210JPY
    Section 4SubwayGion (Fukuoka Prefecture)~Ohori Park260JPY
    Section 5SubwayOhori Park~Tenjin210JPY
    Total1,580JPY

    Hi! I’m Masaaki Chiwata. I’m a bit old man but luckily I’m fine and healthy. I have just passed the government licensed guide interpreter test in February 2025, so my command of English might not be good enough yet, but hopefully I’m going to be a good guide and I’ll do my best to help you enjoy the tour. I worked for the news agency “Kyodo News Service” as a stuff writer for over 40 years. I retired several years ago. As a reporter, I covered and wrote articles on wide range of topics from murder case, trials, elections, politics, volcanic eruptions, even an airplane accident. May be I could share some of my experiences with you.

    Feb 27, 2026
    Vicki_C
    Fabulous Fukuoka
    Viator review: Fukuoka Full-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Mr Masaaki Chiwata made our trip to Fukuoka so…