Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • PM15:35 　Start from Hotel
    • Transport by train to Fushimi Inari
    • PM 16:15-17:00 Visit Fushimi Inari, up to Okusha
    • Transport by TAXI to Kiyomizu-dera
    • PM 17:20-18:00 Visit Kiyomizu-dera
    • Transport on foot: Sannenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda, from Gion to Pontocho, shopping along the way
    • PM 19:10 Tour ends at Pontocho with the guest's consent

    Title: What's an Afternoon Private Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Although the assigned meeting point was one hotel near Kawaramachi Oike, the local travel agency's documents listed a different hotel near Nijo Castle, and the guests had gathered there. Their actual accommodation, however, was yet another hotel near Nishi Hongan-ji. This became clear through communication right before the tour started. Since the hotels were relatively close, I quickly moved from the first hotel to meet them, and everything worked out fine. The guests were visiting from North America, and their native language was Spanish. Because the tour started at 15:30, I had informed them in advance that we would use a taxi to travel from Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu-dera, and we managed to arrive at Kiyomizu-dera before its closing time, so they enjoyed the visit. After walking through Sannenzaka, the Yasaka Pagoda, and Gion, the guests enjoyed some shopping in nighttime Kyoto. I then guided them along Pontocho, and with the guests' agreement, the tour ended at 19:10.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall Front～Nijo Castle Front220JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijo Castle Front～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 3TrainSanjo Keihan～Fushimi Inari240JPY
    Total680JPY

    Tour Report by YOSHI

    Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
    I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
    Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
    Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
    ” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!

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    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 in One Day: Shiomi Station & Ginza Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Shiomi Station & Ginza Station

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meeting place: Hotel
    • 8:40 Depart Shiomi Station
    • (JR Keiyo Line)
    • Hatchobori Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • Ueno Ueno Station / Eki Tabi Concierge
    • 9:30 Depart Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 9:40 Arrive Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Nakamise Shopping Street
    • 10:30 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 10:50 Arrive Tsukiji Station
    • Tsukiji Tsukiji Uogashi
    • Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 11:30 Depart Tsukiji Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • Hibiya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 11:50 Arrive Otemachi Station
    • Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • Nijubashi Bridge
    • 12:40 Depart Nijubashimae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • Hibiya Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 13:00 Arrive Ginza Station
    • Ginza Ginza 4-chome Mitsukoshi and others
    • 14:00 Depart Ginza Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
    • 　 Hatchobori Station
    • (JR Keiyo Line)
    • 14:30 Arrive Shiomi Station
    • 14:30 Disband: Shiomi Station

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for Senior Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, coming to Japan for the first time. This visit was part of a 14-day trip. They planned to stay in Tokyo, then travel to Hakone, Hida-Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, before returning to Tokyo and heading home. They had arrived at Narita Airport the previous evening and taken a pre-booked taxi to their Hotel. However, due to heavy rain, they arrived much later than planned, finally reaching the Hotel around 21:00. They mentioned, "Tomorrow we are planning to visit Odaiba." The tour took place under cloudy skies, with occasional light rain. First, they wanted to activate their JR Pass, make Shinkansen reservations, and purchase a Suica card. They had been told by a travel agency that "the guide can take care of everything." So we headed to the travel concierge counter at Ueno Station. However, since the itinerary details (dates, train times, etc.) had not been finalized, it took considerably more time than usual before everything was completed. From there, we went to Asakusa. Starting in front of the Kaminarimon Gate, I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "the purpose of the five-story pagoda," "what Buddhism is," 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. We strolled slowly along the Nakamise shopping street. They asked, "What are the major religions in Japan?" "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?" and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people believe in?" Next, we went to Tsukiji. As always, it was extremely crowded with tourists. I explained about "the history of Tokyo's fish market since the Edo period" and "the difference between Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market." They asked and commented, "Do all Tokyo residents come here to buy fish?" and "It's very crowded—are these locals or tourists?" They purchased and tasted some matcha ice cream. We then moved to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. I explained about "Japanese history from the Edo period to the Meiji era," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "the Tokyo air raids." They asked, "What happened to the shoguns and samurai after the Meiji Restoration?" and "Does the current Emperor of Japan hold any political power?" We moved on to Ginza. In the light rain, we strolled around Mitsukoshi, Ginza Six, the Nissan showroom, and other spots. They commented and asked, "Japanese people are all so quiet and polite," "There are no homeless people to be seen in the city," "The streets are clean and there is no litter," and "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?" I saw them off at Shiomi Station, where we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShiomi～Hatchobori (Tokyo)170JPY
    Section 2TrainHatchobori (Tokyo)～Ueno180JPY
    Section 3TrainUeno～Asakusa180JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa～Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 5TrainAsakusa～Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 6TrainNijubashimae～Ginza180JPY
    Section 7TrainGinza～Hatchobori (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 8TrainHatchobori (Tokyo)～Shiomi170JPY
    Total1,450JPY

    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.

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    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…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Sanjusangendo & Gion Explanation about Gion

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Sanjusangendo & Gion Explanation about Gion

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet the guests at Hotel Kyoto
    • 10:10 Depart from the hotel
    • 10:20 Arrive at Sanjusangendo
    • 11:00 Depart from Sanjusangendo
    • 11:30 approx.　Arrive at Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 12:20 approx. Depart from Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • Via Kiyomizu-zaka, Sannen-zaka, Ninen-zaka, Ichinen-zaka, Nene-no-michi, and Ishibe-koji
    • 13:30 Arrive at Yasaka Shrine
    • 13:40 Depart from Yasaka Shrine
    • 13:45 Arrive at Gion　Explanation about Gion
    • 14:00 Say farewell and disband

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizu-dera, and Gion The guests were visitors from North America on their first trip to Japan, and they mentioned that they would hike Fushimi Inari the next day before leaving for another destination in Asia. At the start of the tour, I shared that I myself had once lived in North America. When I took them to Sanjusangendo, they looked at the Buddhist statues very attentively and asked me many questions. After that, we took a taxi to Kiyomizu-dera and enjoyed sampling treats such as yatsuhashi. After visiting Kiyomizu-dera, we had a light meal on Kiyomizu-zaka, and they purchased tea and a teapot as souvenirs. They mentioned wanting to buy Japanese-made chocolate, but we were not able to find any. Finally, in Gion, they had questions about maiko and geiko, which I answered, and the tour came to a close.

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

    Tour Report by Yuko

    Hello, I’m Yuko, a nationally licensed tour guide in Japan.
    My passion for guiding began in my twenties, and was deepened by the eight years I spent in New York, where I studied art criticism and volunteered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These experiences taught me the joy of cultural exchange and the value of warm hospitality. I love solo travel, art history – especially the Renaissance – and the Japanese tea ceremony, which I’ve studied under the Urasenke school. Wearing kimono and practicing tea ceremony brings me peace and mindfulness that I enjoy sharing with visitors.
    I look forward to being your bridge to Japan’s culture, history and traditions.

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  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkaku-ji

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkaku-ji

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto
    • 10:20 to 11:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:40 to 12:20 Kinkaku-ji
    • 12:40 to 13:10 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 13:30 to 14:10 Lunch near Ginkaku-ji (udon)
    • 14:10 to 14:40 Ginkaku-ji
    • 16:00 Disband at Keihan Railway Shichijo Station

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like for Guests Visiting from Overseas? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. The person who made the arrangements was working in Osaka, and since members of the group were coming to Japan, the request was for a day of sightseeing in Kyoto followed by help getting them onto a train to Yodoyabashi Station on the Keihan Line after the tour. There was light rain today, but it was within an acceptable range, and with the temperature neither too hot nor too cold, I believe the guests were able to fully enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto. They savored the beautiful gardens at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Ginkaku-ji.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKiyomizu-Gojo～Shichijo180JPY
    Total180JPY

    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…

  • Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • Meet at the Marunouchi North Gate ticket gate at Tokyo Station at 6 AM, travel to Yurakucho on the Yamanote Line, then walk to Tsukiji Outer Market while strolling through Ginza. At 6:50, enjoyed nigiri sushi at Sushizanmai. After strolling through Tsukiji, walk to Yurakucho. Travel by train to Tokyo Station. At 8:40, tour the Tokyo Station building. Walk to the Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge. At 8:55, visit Nijubashi Bridge. Walk to Yurakucho Station. Travel by train to Takanawa Gateway Station. At 9:30, visit Newoman and the 28th floor observation deck. Disperse at 10 AM.

    Title: What's an Early-Morning Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji and Beyond The meeting time was early, at 6:00 in the morning, but Tokyo Station was quiet, so we were able to meet up smoothly. The guests were visiting from North America. Since Tsukiji was their top choice, we decided to head first to the Tsukiji Outer Market. After that, they asked me to suggest some recommendations, so I proposed the Imperial Palace, Takanawa Gateway, and Newoman. For each part of the walk on foot, I obtained their consent before moving on. We walked quite a distance, but with the clear skies and pleasant weather, I believe it was very comfortable. At Tsukiji, the guests enjoyed nigiri sushi at a sushi restaurant (a tuna set, along with individual nigiri of salmon, shrimp, and amberjack). It was very well received. During our movements I explained the rail routes each time using a simplified train line map, so after we parted ways at 10:00, the guests planned to continue strolling around on their own a little longer.

    Click here for more details: Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTokyo～Yurakucho150JPY
    Section 2TrainYurakucho～Tokyo150JPY
    Section 3TrainYurakucho～Takanawa Gateway170JPY
    Total470JPY

    Tour Report by Naoki

    English / Guide in English and German / Guiding areas are in Tokyo, Yokohama and my home town Okayama. (Since I’m based in Tokyo, I might not be able to guide in Okayama, depending on the timing.) My profile in German follows!
    First of all, thank you very much for your taking time to have a look at my profile. My name is Naoki Shimono. Naoki would be fine. I’m a certified tour guide in English and German. After long years of work at Japanese electronics manufacturer, always in charge of international marketing, I’m focusing on tour guide and interpreter. As of now, I did tour guide more than 50 times in English and more than 50 times in German. Not only in Tokyo but also other cities, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hakodate, Niigata, Shimizu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha etc. It is always a big pleasure for me to show around Japan to guests from abroad. I’m looking forward to seeing you in Japan!

    Deutsch / Reiseleiter auf Deutsch und Englisch / In Tokio und Yokohama sowie in meiner Heimatstadt Okayama. (Da ich in Tokio ansässig bin, kann ich je nach Zeitpunkt möglicherweise nicht in Okayama als Reiseleiter tätig sein.)
    Zunächst einmal vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, mein Profil anzusehen. Mein Name ist Naoki Shimono. Naoki wäre schön. Ich bin zertifizierter Reiseleiter in Englisch und Deutsch. Nach langjähriger Tätigkeit bei einem japanischen Elektronikhersteller, wo ich stets für das internationale Marketing verantwortlich war, konzentriere ich mich nun auf die Reiseleitung und Dolmetschertätigkeit. Bisher habe ich über 50 Mal auf Englisch und über 50 Mal auf Deutsch als Reiseleiter gearbeitet. Nicht nur in Tokio, sondern auch in anderen Städten wie Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hakodate, Niigata, Shimizu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha usw. Es ist mir immer eine große Freude, Gästen aus dem Ausland Japan zu zeigen. Ich freue mich darauf, Sie in Japan zu sehen!

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    Oct 16, 2025
    Songqi_L
    Highly recommend!
    Viator review: Okayama Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Naoki san is a great guide. He’s very friendly, adaptive,…

    Oct 11, 2025
    Gizelle K
    Wonderful Experience
    Tripadvisor review: Okayama Half-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    A very organise tour, from the prompt pick up…

  • Tokyo in One Day: MEIJI JINGU SHRINE & ZOJOJI TEMPLE

    Tokyo in One Day: MEIJI JINGU SHRINE & ZOJOJI TEMPLE

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet at the lobby in Aloft Tokyo Ginza
    • 8:30 1 MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
    • 9:30 2 HIE SHRINE
    • 10:30 3 UENO TOSHOGU SHRINE
    • 11:15 4 Tokyo Cruise
    • 12:15 5 HAMA-RIKYU GARDENS
    • 1:15 6 ZOJOJI TEMPLE
    • 1:30 See of at near the Tokyo Tower

    Half-Day Private Tokyo Tour Report by a Licensed Guide: Shrines, Tokyo Cruise, and Hamarikyu Gardens [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a comfortable private tour for guests visiting from North America under clear autumn skies. Before the tour, I asked about their preferences for the itinerary and arranged it accordingly. The guests placed importance on visiting sites from a historical perspective, so I carried out a tour that respected their wishes. At Meiji Jingu and Hie Shrine, there were families celebrating Shichi-Go-San, so I explained the meaning of this celebration. On the Tokyo Cruise, many international visitors were on board, and many of them disembarked at Hamarikyu Gardens to enjoy the garden and the tea house.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassHigashi-Ginza～Meiji-jingumae700JPY
    Section 2Free PassMeiji-jingumae～Kokkai-gijidomae／Tameike-sanno~Ueno~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3FerryAsakusa (Water Bus)～Hama-rikyu (Water Bus)940JPY
    Section 4OtherAsakusa～Hama-rikyu240JPY
    Section 5SubwayShiodome～Daimon (Tokyo)180JPY
    Total2,060JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.

    Who am I?
    I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
    I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
    I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.

    What can I be expected?
    I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
    and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
    I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
    As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
    I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.

    What do I love?
    Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
    I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.

    How do I spend my spare time?
    I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
    I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.

    I look forward to meeting you soon.
    Thank you.

    Request Booking

    Sep 21, 2026
    judygU2038FZ
    A wonderful time in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had such a…

    Jul 21, 2026
    Sandra_U
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Individualized Tour!
    Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…

    Apr 3, 2026
    Celal_S
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour even…
    We had a great tour even…

    Mar 30, 2026
    Johanna H
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
    We booked the 6…

  • Kagawa in One Day: Miyanoura Port Bus & Out door Art Works

    Kagawa in One Day: Miyanoura Port Bus & Out door Art Works

    Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:43 Miyanoura Port (Naoshima) [Meet]
    • 09:46 Miyanoura Port Bus Stop
    • by Setouchi Triennale Express Bus
    • 09:52 Chichu Art Museum Bus Stop
    • 10:30~11:30 Chichu Art Museum
    • 11:52 Chichu Art Museum Bus Stop
    • by Benesse Shuttle Bus
    • 11:56 Benesse House Museum Bus Stop
    • 12:00~13:45 Benesse House Museum (including lunch) & Outdoor Art Works
    • (including “Yellow Pumpkin”)
    • 14:20 Tsutsujiso Bus Stop ( 13:54 Bus was full)
    • by Setouchi Triennale Express Bus
    • 14:25 Naoshima Hall Bus Stop
    • 14:35~15:20 Art House Project (visited Ishibashi, Gokaisho and Kadoya)
    • 15:22 Noukyomae Bus Stop
    • by town bus
    • 15:29 Miyanoura Port Bus Stop
    • 15:30~15:45 Out door Art Works (including “Red Pumpkin”)
    • 15:50 Miyanoura Port [Say goodbye]

    What Is a Private Art Tour of Naoshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America whose ancestors came from Yamaguchi Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture. They enjoy art and came to Naoshima, the art island, during their vacation. They also planned to meet a relative living in Osaka. Their itinerary in October covered Osaka, Kyoto, and Naoshima. At the Benesse House Museum, they were delighted by Richard Long's work "Inland Sea Driftwood," and one of the guests happily mentioned having visited the River Avon near Shakespeare's birthplace. Naoshima was extremely crowded during the Setouchi Triennale 2025, and the guests cooperated cheerfully with the long lines and waits for the bus. It was a close-knit group, and I had a wonderful time guiding them for the day.

    Click here for more details: Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusMiyanoura Port / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture～Chichu Art Museum / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture300JPY
    Section 2BusTsutsujiso / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture～Naoshima Hall (Art House Project) / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture300JPY
    Section 3BusNoukyomae / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture～Miyanoura Port / Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture100JPY
    Total700JPY

    Tour Report by Kaji

    Hello. My name is Hisao Kaji. I was born in 1945. I was raised in Takamatsu City from 3 years old. So, I have been living in Takamatsu for around 75 years. I believe I know Takamatsu City and the Kagawa prefecture area very well. If you come to Takamatsu, Kagawa I think you can enjoy your tour with me. I started a Government Licensed Guide in 2019. So, I have been a licensed guide for about 5 years. My favorite destinations are Naoshima, Teshima, Ritsurin Garden, the top of Mt. Yashima and so on. I always show you an itinerary about one month before your tour date, and I will accept any questions, other favorite places you want to visit. Communicating with you, I would like to accommodate your request for your tour. I always listen to NPR on the internet to know how the world is moving and improve my English. I like conversation based upon it with my life. I stayed in the USA for 8 months for a Power Systems Engineering Course conducted by General Electric in New York State when I was 28 years old. I sometimes talk about my memory of those days with the guests. I am very happy to guide tourists because I can see the guests become happy and enjoy themselves when I am guiding better. Nothing is more wonderful than that. I welcome your visit to Takamatsu City and Kagawa Prefecture. I believe you will have a pleasant time through my guide.

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    Apr 19, 2026
    2Pippin2
    Tripadvisor review: Naoshima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A day to remember
    Perfect day! Our tour guide, Kaji,
    added so…

    Oct 23, 2025
    C
    Calli_C
    This was a great day tour…
    Viator review: Naoshima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    This was a great day…

    Oct 12, 2025
    Vanessa_A
    Lovely day on Naoshima Island
    Viator review: Naoshima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    It was great to relax and leave…

    Jun 1, 2025
    Pamela_F
    Highly recommend the half…
    Viator review: Okayama Half-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Highly recommend the half day tour and our…

  • Kyoto: Kyoto Imperial Palace & Gion

    Kyoto: Kyoto Imperial Palace & Gion

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:00 Hotel
    • 11;30-13:10 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 13:50-15:00 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 15:20-16:20 Nishiki Market
    • 16:30-17:30 Gion
    • 17:55 Hotel

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, Nishiki Market, and Gion The guests were visitors from North America who walked very quickly, so we progressed ahead of schedule. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, unusually there was no line for the Omokaru-ishi stones, so they were able to try lifting them. They enjoyed it, saying it strangely felt light. At the Neagari-no-matsu pine tree, they passed underneath the pine hoping for a rise in fortune. At the Imperial Palace, they listened to an English explanation by the Imperial Household Agency staff starting at 2:00 pm and spent 50 minutes taking photos and looking around. At Nishiki Market, since they wanted to see knives, I took them to Aritsugu. They plan to make a purchase at a later date. We ordered sake and takoyaki and took a short break at Nishiki Market, then headed to Gion, where they watched Kyoto-style dance performed by a maiko at the Gion Corner cultural hall starting at 17:10, and then returned to the Hotel.

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

    Tour Report by Harumi

    Hello, my name is Harumi, and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan. I have been actively involved in volunteer activities for many years, sharing my passion for Japanese culture and history. As a kimono dressing instructor, I can provide hands-on kimono experiences and guide tours. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling, making my tours ideal for those interested in this fascinating sport. I am also well-versed in Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (Jūdenken) and can introduce historical townscapes dating back to the Edo period. If you are interested, I would be happy to show you around the sake brewing process in the Nada region.

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    Sep 29, 2026
    H1282JBkarinas
    Customizable tour with Harumi-san
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing tour with Harumi…

    Sep 28, 2026
    Coastal07335209891
    Kobe Delight with Harumi
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour was definitely customized and our…

    Sep 27, 2026
    kakeelma
    Learning is fun with Harumi san!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    My husband and I…

    Sep 23, 2026
    Cosmopolitan580857
    We had a great time! Kyoto is a beautiful city.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide…

  • Tochigi in One Day: Shinkyo Bridge & Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial

    Tochigi in One Day: Shinkyo Bridge & Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30　Meet up @ Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park parking lot
    • 9:40　Shinkyo Bridge
    • 10:15　Rinnoji Temple Shoyoen Garden
    • 10:25　Rinnoji Temple Sanbutsudo Hall
    • 11:05　Rinnoji Temple Gomado Hall (watching the goma fire ritual)
    • 11:25　Toshogu Grand Festival Sennin Musha Gyoretsu (Procession of a Thousand Warriors) viewing
    • 11:45　Toshogu Shrine
    • 12:10　Futarasan Shrine
    • 12:30　Lunch @ Maruhide Shokudo
    • 14:00　Kanmangafuchi Abyss
    • 14:30　Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
    • 16:00　Tour ends @ Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park parking lot

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Nikko Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: The guests were a family visiting from North America. One of the guests was very bright, friendly, and talkative; another was quiet but visibly moved at each site, murmuring "beautiful…" and thoroughly enjoying the day; and another was also very bright and friendly. Together they had a wonderful time walking through Nikko for a full day. After arriving in Japan the previous day, they immediately rented a car and drove from Tokyo to Nikko, staying at a hotel in Oku-Nikko. Because the area around Toshogu Shrine gets very crowded during the annual grand festival, we arranged to meet at the parking lot of the Tamozawa Imperial Villa, a little before Toshogu Shrine. The scheduled meeting time was 10:00, but I arrived 30 minutes early and the guests arrived at the same time, so we quickly spotted each other and were able to start the tour early. The guests, who follow Hinduism, also showed great respect for Buddhism. At Rinnoji Temple, they offered coins at each spot and gazed carefully at the Buddhist statues. At the Goma Hall, a goma fire ritual happened to be taking place, and they watched it very intently. I would have liked to stay until the end, but it also happened to be the time for the highlight of the grand festival procession, so regrettably we watched until the last possible moment before leaving the goma ritual. For one of the guests, the goma fire ritual was the most moving part of the day's tour. The guests praised the tour, saying that each place we visited was beautiful, that they were able to see everything they had wanted to see, and that it was a perfect itinerary. Although the day was packed, they said the walking pace was just right, which was a relief.

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

    Tour Report by Yumi

    Hello! My name is Yumi. The Nikko area, Nasu area, in Tochigi Prefecture, and Aizu and Shirakawa area in Fukushima prefecture, where I will be guiding you, are not only surrounded by beautiful nature in all four seasons but are also full of historical attractions. Nikko, in particular, is a great place to learn about the culture and history that has shaped Japan to this day. In order for you to truly enjoy your day, I am flexible to your wishes and will prepare your day to be a great day. Because I am a local guide, you will surely see some sights that are not in the guidebooks. Is local food one of your favorite parts of your trip? I am also a sushi-making instructor for foreigners, so food is one of my specialties. I am also a certified sake navigator. Why don’t you come and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with me?

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    Aug 24, 2026
    arzed
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A perfect day!
    My family and I had an…

    Jul 1, 2026
    laine164
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!
    We had a wonderful time exploring Nikko.
    Our friendly…

    Apr 7, 2026
    V2097LInickd
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Guide Yumi Highlights Nikko on walking tour
    Our 16,000 step tour…

    Apr 4, 2026
    O4367MVkarenv
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fantastic day in Nikko
    We had a fantastic day with Yumi. She…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine and Harajuku & Asakusa

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine and Harajuku & Asakusa

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    October, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel
    • 9:30-11:00 Meiji Shrine and Harajuku
    • 11:30- Asakusa
    • 13:00 Farewell at Hoppy Street

    What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour of Meiji Shrine and Asakusa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. They had arrived in Japan early the previous morning and had done a lot of walking that day, so they were a little tired. I guided them to Meiji Shrine and Asakusa. Asakusa was very lively as it was the day of the monthly temple fair, and we were able to see the Golden Dragon Dance. The weather was very nice, so there were also a great many people. One of the guests enjoyed taking photographs and spent time carefully capturing pictures at each location. They wanted to buy a knife in Japan, so after Asakusa they planned to head toward Kappabashi in the afternoon.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 2TrainHarajuku～Asakusa360JPY
    Total510JPY

    Tour Report by Maki

    Hello!
    I’m Maki. Nice to meet you.
    I used to work at a travel agency as a tour escort so I have traveled to more than 50 countries and all 47 prefectures in Japan.
    When I came back to Japan from abroad, I always noticed virtues in Japan anew.
    I’m thrilled to introduce such kinds of stories and favorite places to you.
    I like bar hopping, cooking, history, and outdoor activities such as camping, cycling.
    I have a licence of International Sake Sommlier and Wine Expert. I’m happy if I would have a chance to introduce you about sake and wine.
    I’m also a mother of junior high school girl. Let’s have fun together!

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    Oct 9, 2025
    301catherinep
    Fabulous customised tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised…

    Oct 2, 2025
    Gene L
    Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and…

    Aug 31, 2025
    T
    tmay2921
    Maki is the best!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring…

    Jul 12, 2025
    O6400ONsaram
    Maki san kakkoii desu
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Maki was generous and flexible! She met us…