Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:10 Meet at the hotel (delayed due to the guest's eldest daughter's breakfast)　10:35 Nanzen-ji Temple　12:15 Yasaka Pagoda (Higashiyama area)　12:40 Lunch (near Sannenzaka)　
    • 13:30 Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Ishibei-koji, Yasaka Shrine　　14:45 Gion　　15:40 Pontocho　　16:00 Return to the hotel and end the tour

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. The tour was influenced by the mood of one of the guests throughout the day. As it was colder than they were used to, the mood was not great in the latter half. After some discussion, we decided not to visit Sanjusangendo as originally planned and instead returned to the Hotel. At each destination, the guests took many photographs. One of the guests seemed to want to touch and have everything. At the first stop, Nanzenji, everyone was in good spirits, but after lunch a combination of drowsiness and the cold made things restless. After Gion, we scouted out the restaurant in Pontocho where they had reserved dinner, and then returned to the Hotel. The photos were taken at the lunch restaurant and near the Yasaka Pagoda.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKyoto City Hall～Keage220JPY
    Section 2OtherKeage～Higashiyama220JPY
    Section 3BusHigashiyama-sanjo (Subway Higashiyama Station)／Kyoto City Bus～Kiyomizu-michi／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total670JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

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

    Request Booking

    Sep 28, 2026
    Miguel_E
    Amazing Service
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time with Kazuo.…

    Sep 27, 2026
    T
    TrailBlazer47194
    Kazuo Sumi is a great guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our guide Kazuo Sumi…

    Sep 1, 2026
    Steve6172014
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 7, 2026
    Pascale_Q
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Very good private tour of Kyoto with Kazuo
    We had…

  • Kyoto: Hilton Kyoto & Kyoto City Bus 207

    Kyoto: Hilton Kyoto & Kyoto City Bus 207

    Kyoto Instagram Spots Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hilton Kyoto
    • 10:14 Keihan Sanjo Station
    • 10:24 Fushimi Inari Station → About 1 hour at Fushimi Inari
    • 11:23 JR Inari Station
    • 11:28 JR Kyoto Station
    • 11:59 JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → About 1 hour at Arashiyama
    • 13:14 Hankyu Arashiyama Station
    • 13:26 Hankyu Katsura Station
    • 13:37 Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station
    • 　　　Lunch
    • 14:30 Kyoto City Bus 207 → Kiyomizu-michi
    • 15:00 Yasaka Pagoda, Yasaka Koshindo
    • 16:00 Hotel

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like Around Shijo Kawaramachi and Gion? A Licensed Guide's Report The weather turned much warmer than the forecast had predicted, with sunshine making it a very pleasant day for this time of year. However, everywhere we went was extremely crowded. Shijo Kawaramachi in particular was so packed with people that it was difficult even to cross at the traffic lights. We had planned to have lunch in the Shijo Kawaramachi area, but every place was fully booked, and all the restaurants we had originally shortlisted were full, which took quite a lot of time. In the end, we went into a café-style restaurant, but the guests kindly said it was a nice place, which put me at ease. Afterward, we did not go to Gion as originally planned, both because the guests had already visited there the previous day and because lunch had put us behind schedule. Even so, the guests were very warm, and I even received a thank-you email after the tour. Thank you for your support. I look forward to working with you again.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Instagram Spots Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSanjo (Kyoto)～Fushimi Inari240JPY
    Section 2TrainInari～Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama (Hankyu Line)～Kyoto-Kawaramachi240JPY
    Section 4BusShijo-Kawaramachi／Kyoto City Bus～Kiyomizu-michi／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total950JPY

    Tour Report by Yoko

    Hello. Thank you for your interest in Japan. I am a guide in Kansai area, the west part of Japan. There are many World Heritage sites in the west area. If you are interested in Japanese history and traditional culture, Kyoto and Nara are the two best places to visit. There are many temples. Osaka has many recreational places. Hyogo prefecture has one of the greatest castles in Japan called Himeji Castle and sake breweries. Hiroshima is famous for the Peace Memorial Park and a beautiful shrine. Also, you can taste different Japanese cuisines in each place. l will be very happy to guide families, couples, and solo travelers. I love children. I’ll do my best to make your time here unforgettable.

    Request Booking
  • Kyoto: Kofukuji Temple & back at Shijo station

    Kyoto: Kofukuji Temple & back at Shijo station

    Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:40　Start at MIMARUSUITES Kyoto Shijo→17:40 end of tour
    • 09:54 Train departs Shijo
    • 10:48 Train arrives at Kintetsu-Nara station
    • walk 5 minutes via Nakatanidou
    • 11:10-20 Kofukuji Temple
    • walk 20 minutes mochi pounding experience at Aoba Chaya
    • 12:00-20 Kasuga-taisha Shrine gave up entering due to too many people
    • walk 10 min.
    • 12:30-40 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
    • walk 5 minutes
    • 12:50-13:20 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
    • 　 walk 5 minutes
    • 13:30 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
    • walk 5 minutes
    • 13:40-14:40 Nigatsudo Hall
    • Lunch or snack at Emado Chaya
    • walk 5 minutes
    • 14:50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill
    • former katana sword manufacturer's, craft shop etc.
    • walk 10 minutes
    • 15:00 Kasugataisha again did not enter
    • walk through the park
    • 16:00 back at Kintetsu-Nara Station
    • 17:00 back at Shijo station

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour from Kyoto to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from South America. The high-speed mochi pounding at Nakatanidou was not happening at the right time, so we skipped it, but the guests enjoyed a free mochi-pounding experience at Aoba Chaya inside the park, just like last year. They were delighted, calling it a "once in a lifetime experience!" One of the guests wished to learn about Shinto in detail. During the train ride from Kyoto to Nara, there were plenty of questions and plenty of explanations. This was one of the few tours where I was able to explain so much, covering not only Shinto but also Buddhism. Compared to guests from Western countries, guests from this region seem to have a deeper interest in diverse cultures. The oyakodon at Emado Chaya received the highest praise, with the comment, "This is the best food I had in Japan." The guests said they will surely revisit Nara. A tour like this was guided by [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides serving all 47 prefectures.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShijo (Kyoto Municipal)～Kintetsu-Nara980JPY
    Section 2TrainKintetsu-Nara～Shijo (Kyoto Municipal)980JPY
    Total1,960JPY

    Tour Report by Junichi

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:53 Arriving at West Hiroshima Station
    • 2. 10:38 Taking a delayed train and arriving at Miyajima-guchi
    • 3. 12:10 Finishing a visit to the Shrine
    • 4. 12:30 Having lunch at Toriiya Restaurant
    • 5. 13:30 walking along a shopping street
    • 6. 15:15 arriving at the A-bomb dome and visiting monuments
    • 7. 16:40 Arriving at the Museum
    • 8. 17:30 Saying goodbye after showing the restaurant for their dinner

    Title: What Is a Private Snowy Day Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests had a deep interest in the atomic bombing and its aftermath, and from the moment we met I was met with many questions. Some of the guests were also interested in Miyajima and were delighted to see the island covered in snow. The train was delayed by 14 minutes due to an accident involving a car, and the approach to Itsukushima Shrine was very slippery with melting snow and ice, so I linked arms with one of the guests to avoid slipping. It was my first time walking such slippery paths in Miyajima. They were deeply impressed by the shrine built in the 12th century, now covered in snow, and by the ninth-generation torii gate built in 1875. At the Dome, they were astonished to learn that children had played there after the bombing. When I explained the reasons for the bombing of Hiroshima together with the context of Japan's expansion into Asia, they said, "It's amazing that Japanese people don't hate Americans! Mr. Trump should come here." They also seemed struck by the fact that the people of Hiroshima did not move away to safer places after the bombing.

    Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherWest Hiroshima Station～Miyajima-guchi Station330JPY
    Section 2OtherMiyajima-guchi～In front of the A-bomb Dome240JPY
    Total570JPY

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

    Request Booking

    Apr 13, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima Tour with Yoshi
    Yoshi was truly one of the…

    Apr 11, 2026
    Liesbet N
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Boeiende reis door geschiedenis
    Een boeiende rondleiding van Yoshiko…

    Oct 26, 2025
    COYS100
    Great Hiroshima experience
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    A great tour with a very informed…

    Jun 25, 2025
    O1135UVraymondp
    Highly recommended to everyone to this tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Joshi is…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Ginkaku-ji & Sanjusangen-do

    Kyoto in One Day: Ginkaku-ji & Sanjusangen-do

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Meet at Hotel Kuu Kyoto
    • 09:15 to 10:00 Ginkaku-ji
    • 10:40 to 11:30 Kodai-ji
    • 11:30 to 11:45 Yasaka Pagoda
    • 12:00 to 12:30 Lunch at Kiyomizu-zaka
    • 12:30 to 13:00 Kiyomizu-dera (Not entering the paid area.)
    • 13:40 to 14:20 Sanjusangen-do
    • 14:30 Disband at Keihan Railway Shichijo Station

    # What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were friends visiting from Oceania. They seemed to be close friends and planned to spend about two weeks in Japan over the New Year period. They intended to enjoy skiing in areas such as Hokkaido and Nagano. Stories about bears are quite well known among travelers coming to Japan, and the guests were rather concerned that bears have recently not been hibernating and have been appearing even in snowy regions. After this tour, they were heading to Fushimi Inari Taisha, so we parted ways at the Keihan Railway station.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKarasuma Rokujo／Kyoto City Bus～Ginkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2BusGinkaku-ji-michi／Kyoto City Bus～Higashiyama Sanjo (Subway Higashiyama Station)／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 3BusHigashiyama Sanjo (Subway Higashiyama Station)／Kyoto City Bus～Higashiyama Yasui／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusGojo-zaka／Kyoto City Bus～Museum Sanjusangen-do-mae／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total920JPY

    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 !!

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Kokoen Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Kokoen Garden

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Meet up @ JR Himeji Station
    • 09:45 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 10:00 @ Himeji Castle
    • 12:45 @ Kokoen Garden
    • 13:30 Disband @ Kokoen Garden

    Title: What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Some of the guests seemed to enjoy photography and were eagerly taking pictures not only at each spot but also of the townscape while moving between locations. One of the guests appeared a little tired and frequently sat down to rest, so some of the group tended to fall slightly behind. That said, they showed great interest in each spot and listened attentively to the guide's explanations. They seemed to be a very close-knit group, and it was heartwarming to see how well they looked after one another. The guests were very fond of plants, and they explored Koko-en Garden with great interest. I presented one of the guests with a handmade drawstring pouch made by my sister, which was very well received. After visiting the spots, they wished to stroll around on their own, so we parted ways at Koko-en Garden.

    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

    Request Booking

    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

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 09:00 Tour starts from the hotel
    • Move by subway to Meiji Shrine
    • AM 09:30-10:30 Visit Meiji Shrine
    • AM 10:30-11:00 Takeshita Street
    • Move by subway to Shibuya
    • AM 11:20-PM 12:20 Shibuya Cross, Hachiko Statue, lunch at Shibuya Yokocho
    • Move by subway to Nijubashi
    • PM 12:45-13:30 From the Imperial Palace Outer Garden to Marunouchi and Tokyo Station
    • Move by JR & subway to Asakusa
    • PM 14:00-14:40 Visit Senso-ji Temple, tour ends at a tempura restaurant

    What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like in Early January? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were close friends visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Although it was early January, we visited Meiji Shrine first thing in the morning and were able to worship without any waiting time, which was wonderful. After that, Shibuya Sky and lunch at Shibuya Yokocho were relatively uncrowded, but at the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens, because it was the New Year's public visiting day, access to the immediate area was not possible, so I gave my explanations from a distance. I shared a variety of stories, and I believe the guests enjoyed it. At Asakusa, there was also a wait to worship at the main hall, but since the guests had asked me to recommend a good tempura restaurant, I introduced the long-established Daikokuya and took them there. As the wait was about 20-30 minutes and the guests themselves wished to wait there, the tour came to an end. Many spots were closed for the New Year holidays, but the guests 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 1SubwayToranomon Hills～Meiji-jingumae180JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Shibuya180JPY
    Section 3SubwayShibuya～Nijubashimae210JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo～Kanda (Tokyo)150JPY
    Section 5SubwayKanda (Tokyo)～Asakusa180JPY
    Total900JPY

    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!

    Request Booking

    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 Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    December, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
    • 2. 10:05 Travel: Subway
    • 3. 10:40 Visit @ Meiji Shrine
    • 4. 11:50 Visit @ Cat Street
    • 5. 12:25 Visit @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 6. 12:40 Travel: Subway
    • 7. 13:25 Visit @ Senso-ji Temple
    • 8. 14:15 Disband @ Senso-ji Temple Kaminarimon Gate

    Title: What's a 4-Hour Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shibuya, Harajuku, and Asakusa The guests were a group visiting Japan. There were some moments where the English was a little difficult to catch, so listening carefully was needed at times. The guests had listed several local shopping streets in the Shibuya area as places they wished to visit, but since these were outside the planned itinerary from [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) and far from the other spots, we decided to skip them. However, since Cat Street can be used as a route from Harajuku to Shibuya, I chose to guide the group on foot along that path while moving between the two areas. Since traveling directly from Shibuya to Asakusa takes about 40 minutes, I usually include another stop in between, but this time it was a 4-hour tour and there was not enough time to spare, so we took the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to its final stop. After visiting Senso-ji Temple, I took the group to Kaminarimon-dori, which has many restaurants, and we parted ways there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShimbashi～Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo180JPY
    Section 2SubwayShibuya～Asakusa260JPY
    Total440JPY

    Tour Report by Sam

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Request Booking

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    January, 2026

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Via Inn Nihonbashi Ningyocho 11:20 Akihabara 12:30 Marunouchi Maruzen 13:30 Imperial Palace General Visit 15:30 Gotokuji 16:30 Meal 17:20 Disband at Shibuya

    What Can You See on a Private Tour of Tokyo? Akihabara, the Imperial Palace, Gotokuji, and Shibuya — A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. One of the guests had begun studying Japanese at university a few months earlier and could speak simple Japanese. The other was studying at university. Both moved around energetically and briskly, which made guiding them easy. One of the guests was a big fan of anime and manga and was delighted in Akihabara, taking many photos and shopping. Suddenly one of the guests wanted to buy a Japanese-language book by Haruki Murakami, so I changed the itinerary on the spot and we went to a large bookstore in Marunouchi. In addition to the target book, they bought several comic books. At the Imperial Palace, a public appearance ceremony happened to be taking place, and at the guests' request we joined it, which became a valuable experience. We then moved to Gotokuji Temple. They were able to buy the beckoning cat figurine they had been looking for and were very satisfied. We were only able to have lunch after 16:00 (until then the guests insisted they were not hungry). We arrived at Shibuya, which they had been looking forward to, after 17:00. I gave them a brief tour and we parted ways around 17:20.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNingyocho～Akihabara180JPY
    Section 2TrainAkihabara～Tokyo150JPY
    Section 3TrainNijubashimae～Gotokuji380JPY
    Section 4TrainGotokuji～Shibuya260JPY
    Total970JPY

    Tour Report by Shinji

    Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
    I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.

    Request Booking

    Jun 8, 2025
    T1516LOmarkg
    Tokyo tour
    Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Great tour, Shinji was great, they…

    Feb 28, 2025
    LaToya_S
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…

    Feb 27, 2025
    Edward_M
    Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly!…

    Feb 17, 2025
    Trip29223434750
    Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    For those not wanting to…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Ginza Station & Shinjuku Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Ginza Station & Shinjuku Station

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    December, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meeting place: Ginza Mitsukoshi, in front of the lion statue at the entrance
    • 10:40 Depart Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Hibiya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 11:00 Arrive Nezu Station
    • Nezu Nezu Shrine
    • 12:00 Depart Nezu Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Nishi-Nippori Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 12:30 Arrive Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Nakamise Shopping Street
    • 13:10 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Akasaka-mitsuke Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    • 13:30 Arrive Shinjuku Station
    • Shinjuku Kabukicho
    • 3D Cat Billboard
    • Godzilla Head
    • 14:00 Shinjuku Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    • 14:30 Arrive Ginza Station
    • 14:30 Dismissal: Ginza Station

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nezu Shrine, Asakusa, and Shinjuku The guests were a group visiting from North America. It was everyone's first visit to Japan. They were staying at a hotel in the Tsukiji area. They had arrived at Narita Airport in the evening in late December and taken a taxi from the airport to the hotel. They planned to stay in Japan for about two weeks. After spending several days in Tokyo, they would visit Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, then return to Tokyo before heading home. The next day, they were planning a day trip to Mount Fuji. The tour took place under clear skies, though the weather was rather chilly. First, at the guests' request, we headed to Nezu Shrine. Within the grounds, preparations for the New Year visits were underway, and there were many worshippers. I explained "About Shinto," "About torii gates," and "The history of Edo and Tokyo," and we also visited an Inari shrine. While passing through the torii gates, I also explained "About Inari shrines." There were questions such as "What kind of religion is Shinto?" and "Why did Shinto arise?" We then moved to Asakusa. We started from the front of the Kaminarimon Gate. I explained "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "What is the purpose of the five-story pagoda," "What is Buddhism," and "The difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos at the Kaminarimon Gate, in front of the five-story pagoda, and at various other spots, and strolled leisurely through the Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?" "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?" and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people follow?" From here, at the guests' request, we headed to Shinjuku. They very much wanted to see the "Godzilla Head" and the "3D cat billboard." I explained "The origins of Shinjuku," "The difference between the east and west sides of Shinjuku," and "The history of Kabukicho." There were comments and questions such as "The streets are clean and there is no litter. It's very clean," "I was surprised at how clean the public restrooms are," and "There are no trash cans on the streets. Why is that?" I saw them off at Ginza Station, where we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGinza～Nezu180JPY
    Section 2TrainNezu～Asakusa510JPY
    Section 3OtherAsakusa～Shinjuku260JPY
    Section 4TrainShinjuku (Tokyo Metro)～Ginza210JPY
    Total1,160JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…