Category: Uncategorized

  • Aomori Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Aomori Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Aomori Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00
    • at Re Labo med spa
    • We will initially meet at Re Labo med spa
    • then we will take the taxi (or other agreed upon method of transportation) to Hirosaki City
    • 10:30 AM
    • Hirosaki Castle Park
    • Completed in 1611, the castle was occupied by generations of the Tsugaru clan. The castle keep was rebuilt in 1810 and has now been turned into a small historical museum.
    • It dominates the 121-acre / 49ha public park, which is very famous throughout Japan for the flowering of its 2,600 cherry trees, from the end of April to mid-May.
    • The botanical gardens in the park are worth strolling through to see the many styles of garden in different seasons.
    • 11:30
    • Neputa – Mura Village
    • Let's experience Hirosaki's unique summer time festival within the Neputa-Mura Village!
    • Here you will see:
    • Neputa Float: Containing some of the highly decorative festival floats with illuminated screens or gigantic fans used during the Famous Hirosaki festival, the Neputa Matsuri Festival.
    • Did you know that the word neputa derives from nepute or “drowsiness” in the
    • local dialect? This allegedly refers to the farmer’s custom of placing giant lanterns along the riverbank in order to keep them awake when they were returning home from a hard days work.
    • The museum also offers free live performances featuring:
    • ● Shamisen: Japanese traditional 3 stringed musical guitar.
    • ● Neputa Festival Music where you can try hitting the gigantic drums
    • ●Lunch and Shopping: Ramen and others (Aomori Ramen-dried sardine-based soup, Sushi, Tempura (Mountain vegetables).
    • ●Aomori Specialties (varieties of crafts, cake and others)
    • ●Workshops: wooden dolls, pottery, locale ware.
    • 14:00
    • Return to Aomori city
    • We will take the taxi (or agreed upon method of transportation) back to Aomori city
    • Ending Point
    • 15:00
    • at Re Labo med spa

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Hirosaki, Aomori Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided the guests, who came from North America, around Hirosaki (Saishoin Temple, Hirosaki Apple Park, Zenringai, Hirosaki Castle, and Tsugaru-han Neputa Village). This visit was part of a journey from Tokyo to Sendai, Aomori, Hakodate, Noboribetsu, and Sapporo. One of the guests was very fond of sports, had experience playing American football, and enjoyed watching the NHK BS grand sumo broadcasts. They knew many of the sumo winning techniques. The domain of the Tsugaru clan was 100,000 koku, while the Kumamoto domain was 500,000 koku. What is a "koku"? One koku is equivalent to about 150 kilograms of rice, the amount an adult eats in one year! The last lord of the Tsugaru clan, "Tsuguakira," was the son of the lord of the Kumamoto domain! What a remarkable connection! For lunch, we had a set meal of Aomori's soul food, "scallop grilled with miso" and "kenojiru," which I was taught is called "comfort food" in English. The guests were moved, saying it was the first time in their life to be surrounded by so many apples, and they were impressed by the wonderful taste of the apple pie. *For reference: Hirosaki Apple Park has 2,300 apple trees of 80 varieties planted there.

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

    Tour Report by Tomohiko

    My name is Tomohiko Kudo.
    I live in Aomori city.
    I already visited more than 30 nations so far.
    After official retirement from the public officer, I could have the Japanese Government Licensed Guide Certificate and am nowadays very pleased to guide overseas tourists all over the world.
    Did you know that the Fuji apple is not from Mt.Fuji…but is actually from Aomori Prefecture’ Fujisaki town. Aomori is proud of the biggest apple product in
    Japan. We provide 40 apple-pie restaurants to guests.
    Let’s enjoy real Japanese culture and history with me. I would enjoy with you real Samuri history, Kimono culture, local traditional festivals, castle,
    Japanese garden, temple, shrine, Japanese tea ceremony, food and Sake.
    I often go to the local sea food and vegetable markets and eat fresh foods and would love to show you some secret, hidden restaurants that only Aomori locals know about – let’s go on an adventure together.
    If you like sushi and fresh seafood, let me introduce to Nokkedon ?
    What is it? Come to Aomori and find out! I am waiting for you.

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    Jun 2, 2025
    413maryannb
    Tomohiko organized our day beautifully! The car was immaculate, the driver skilled. We thoroughly enjoyed our day!
    Tripadvisor review: Aomori Full-Day…

    Apr 30, 2025
    Jacqueline_F
    Great Guide, great tour
    Viator review: Aomori Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    We experienced the wonderful sites of Aomori which…

    Dec 30, 2024
    Scenic33296385055
    Warm and professional guide
    Tripadvisor review: Aomori Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mr. Kudo-san is very professional, meticulate and kind…

    Aug 3, 2024
    Monika R
    Fun and informative tour – great tour guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Aomori Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    We were 3…

  • Kyoto: Seishin-In Temple & Ramen Factory

    Kyoto: Seishin-In Temple & Ramen Factory

    Kyoto Customized Tour & Ramen Making with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting at the lobby of Hotel
    • 9:00-9:15 walk
    • 9:15-9:45 Seishin-In Temple
    • 9:45-9:50 walk
    • 9:50-10:00 Seigan-ji Temple
    • 10:00-10:10 walk and taxi
    • 10:10-12:15 Shoren-in Temple
    • 12:15-12:30 taxi
    • 12:30-13:00 stroll in Kyoto Gyoen Park
    • 13:00 Ramen Factory

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour Focused on Classical Literature Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. Through prior communication, one of the guests expressed a strong interest in classical Japanese literature, having read an English translation of "The Izumi Shikibu Diary," and requested to visit places connected to Izumi Shikibu as well as sites where they could take their time in a relaxed atmosphere. Based on this, I proposed visiting Seishin-in and Seigan-ji, both associated with Izumi Shikibu, followed by Shoren-in and the garden of Heian Jingu Shrine, which were expected to be less crowded. On the day of the tour, it was clear how much they loved Izumi Shikibu, and they were very delighted with the visit to Seishin-in. The guests said they loved foreign cultures and eagerly asked many questions about the temples and about Japanese culture and customs. After a short stop at the nearby Seigan-ji, also connected to Izumi Shikibu, we took a taxi to Shoren-in. Sitting on the veranda of the Kacho-den, where there were only one or two other groups of visitors, the guests took their time viewing the garden. They became very interested in the blue lotus paintings on the sliding doors and the framed paintings of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, and at the shop corner they bought three types of blue lotus tenugui hand towels as souvenirs for themselves. They happily explained that, having just moved into a new home, they had been looking for Japanese paintings to hang on the wall, and planned to frame the three hand towels and display them together. One of the guests also loved not only traditional culture but also sports and entertainment. They mentioned having watched a professional baseball game and a soccer match in Tokyo the previous week, and planned to return to Tokyo the following week to watch sumo. After we had toured through Shoren-in, they mentioned wanting to get tickets for an upcoming concert by a rock group visiting Japan, but had been unable to complete the booking on their smartphone and had spent the entire bullet train ride from Tokyo to Kyoto without success. It took a little time, but I was able to help them arrange it. While all this was going on, there was no longer time to visit Heian Jingu Shrine, so we took a taxi and adjusted our timing by strolling through the nearby Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, arriving at the Ramen Factory right at 13:00. Judging from the photos they sent me afterward, they seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed making ramen as well.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Tour & Ramen Making with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Nabet

    “He was easy to talk to, friendly, and knowledgeable and even made sure we successfully navigated the public transit back to our hotel. If we are ever back in Kyoto, we’d love to book a tour with him again! ”

    “At every side we got an indepth explanation to any minor detail and every question we asked was answered and explained really well. It felt like a relaxing and wholesome walk through Kyoto even while it was pouring rain. We can absolutely recommend choosing Nabet!”

    “Nabet’s English is just perfect, he knows the way around sights, little streets and hidden secrets, he is very authentic…just a perfect tour!”

    Here are just a few of the many kind reviews I’ve received from the more than 100 groups I’ve guided through Kyoto and other cities.

    I’m deeply thankful for the chance to connect with my guests and contribute to a memorable tour experience!

    +Current Occupation+
    • Associate Professor specially appointed for Entrepreneurship Education and University-Based Startup Support
    • Management Consultant for SMEs and startups
    • Government-Licensed Interpreter Guide

    +Hobbies+
    Travel, music, sake, ice hockey, squash, watching soccer

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    May 29, 2026
    Tamara M
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto bei Nacht – faszinierende Einblicke in Kultur und Spiritualität
    Ich…

    Oct 21, 2025
    Jana_C
    4-hour private tour with Nabet was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing experience…

    Oct 16, 2025
    987kayeh
    Knowledgeable guide who was will to respond to our multiple questions
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Thankyou…

    Oct 16, 2025
    janiec555
    Significant sites in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nabet is an excellent guide. He explained Japanese…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Crossing

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Crossing

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at the hotel
    • 10:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 12:00 Shibuya Crossing
    • 13:00 Asakusa・Senso-ji Temple
    • 15:00 After exploring Senso-ji Temple, tour the area by rickshaw
    • 15:40 After finishing, take a taxi to the hotel

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like Before a Cruise? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Oceania who had just arrived in Japan this morning to join a cruise from Tokyo to Singapore starting the day after next. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guided them on a private day tour of Tokyo. First, I took the group to Meiji Shrine and explained the differences between temples and shrines, the influence each has had on Japanese culture, and the differences in the way people worship. After listening, they became very interested in Shinto and said they wanted to research more about it later. We happened to come across a wedding procession taking place within the shrine grounds, and they were deeply impressed by the solemn atmosphere. After stopping by the Shibuya crossing, we headed to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. While strolling through the area, they became very interested in the rickshaws and wanted to try one, so they enjoyed a rickshaw experience at the end. Finally, I saw them off from Asakusa to their hotel by taxi, bringing the tour to a close.

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

    Tour Report by Atsushi

    Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

    I have been working for business with American companies for many years. I have many experiences guiding customers from around the world in Japan and taking Japanese customers to the USA and Europe.

    I now have a national license as a guiding interpreter, and I want to introduce the unique gigantic city of Tokyo and the traditional Japanese culture, which is not shown in the guidebooks, to people worldwide who are interested in it. In addition, I want to introduce various Japanese foods you can enjoy only in Japan.
    Unique experiences such as the Sumo Training Viewing and Tea Ceremony are optionally available.
    Depending on your preference and itinerary, I can guide you in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone so that you can enjoy your time in Japan.

    Request Booking

    Jul 26, 2026
    Kevin_B
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Highly recommend this tour for first time…

    Jun 22, 2026
    Ashish_L
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Best Tour for a Short Visit
    Atsushi-san was an incredibly well-researched and…

    May 27, 2026
    jackie m
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Our guide was really interesting and had…

    Apr 9, 2026
    Lindsey_W
    Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Atsushi, was…
    Our guide, Atsushi, was great! He met…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Hotel – 12:00 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace – 13:00 Meiji Shrine – 14:00 Harajuku Takeshita Street – 14:40 Nezu Museum – 15:15 Shibuya Scramble Crossing, dismissal

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. This was effectively the second day of their tour, planned over about two weeks to travel from Mount Fuji to the Kansai region and Hiroshima. The day before, they had already visited Tsukiji Market, enjoyed a sushi-making experience, and seen Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, so I gave them an overview of Tokyo along with a summary of Japanese history. With a pleasant breeze and more comfortable weather than the previous day, we toured the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine. In Yoyogi, I introduced the Yoyogi National Gymnasium designed by Kenzo Tange. On Takeshita Street, the guests were amazed by the animals, especially wide-eyed and surprised at the miniature pigs.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTsukiji～Otemachi (Tokyo)290JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)～Kita-sando210JPY
    Section 3BusMinami-Aoyama 6-chome / Toei Bus～Shibuya210JPY
    Section 4OtherMeiji Shrine (Harajuku Station) / Shibuya Ward, Tokyo～Omotesando180JPY
    Total890JPY

    Tour Report by Michio

    Welcome to Japan. My name is Michio, your tour guide in Tokyo and Japan. I was born and grown up in Tokyo, and still living in western suburb of Tokyo with my wife, except for 10 years outside of Japan travelling and living in 60 countries. So I might have visited your country and still remember a few words.
    Japan has unique history, nature and culture, and there are plenty of secrets and wonders behind them such as food culture, Zen and Ninja.
    So please explore and discover the hidden and most beautiful part of Japan together. Let’s experience!

    Request Booking

    Oct 25, 2025
    Carla_G
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking…
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking tour was fantastic! Michio…

    Oct 24, 2025
    410trishab
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 — Outstanding Tour with Michio and Nobuhiko!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from…

    Oct 11, 2025
    GoPlaces52694049181
    We enjoyed our time in Tokyo with Michio our tour guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    PiscesV
    Sushi for breakfast at 630am? Yes please!!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tour ended

    Tokyo in One Day: Tour ended

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 Meet at the Conrad Tokyo 28th floor lobby. Until then, I had sent messages by email and WhatsApp, but had not received a reply, so I asked, "Have you read them?" but they had not read them. So we had a route meeting in the lobby, deciding on Sensoji Temple → Imperial Palace → Meiji Shrine, and having lunch whenever we got hungry. However, since they had not exchanged currency after arriving in Japan yesterday afternoon, I helped them withdraw Japanese yen at the FamilyMart ATM on the 2nd floor, and purchase a 72-hour 1,500 yen subway free pass at the Oedo Line Shiodome Station ticket gate, and by then it was 08:40.
    • 09:20-10:45 Guided around Asakusa. Sumida River → Masuda Tea Shop → Kaminarimon → Nakamise Street → Hozomon and the Five-Storied Pagoda → Main Hall → Koi carp at the stone bridge → Yogodo → Asakusa Shrine → Kannon Street. When we finished, I confirmed we would head to the Imperial Palace, but they said, "We will be staying in Tokyo for another 4 days, and the Imperial Palace is close to the Hotel, so we'll go there ourselves. Let's go to Meiji Shrine," so we moved to Meiji Shrine by subway.
    • 11:25 When we arrived at Harajuku and were about to go to Meiji Shrine, Mr. Marti requested, "I'm hungry, I'd like to sit down and eat something light." So we had lunch.
    • 11:40-12:25 Lunch. We walked about 2 minutes from Meiji Street to Omotesando and had a light lunch centered on shumai and spring rolls at "Shumai no Nakame" on the street to the right. After finishing, we walked to Meiji Shrine.
    • 12:40-13:30 Guided around Meiji Shrine. When we finished and were about to take them to Takeshita Street, Mr. Marti seemed tired from jet lag and requested to return to the hotel, so I accompanied them to the Oedo Line Shiodome Station, saw them off to the Conrad entrance, and said goodbye.
    • 14:15 Tour ended

    What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Harajuku, and Meiji Shrine The guests were visitors from North America. Getting in touch beforehand had been difficult, so I sent a fax to the hotel again the previous night, and I was relieved to meet them near the front desk at the Hotel at 8:00 a.m., exactly as arranged in the tour booking. They seemed to enjoy Asakusa very much, and since they still had four more days in Tokyo, they said they wanted to come back again to shop and enjoy an izakaya. When we arrived in Harajuku, one of the guests suddenly said they wanted to sit down and have a light snack, so we walked toward Omotesando to a shop known for its delicious shumai. They ordered five different kinds of shumai and were delighted, saying it was very tasty, which made me happy. Meiji Shrine was not too humid and we were able to walk very comfortably, so they were very fond of the forest. Unlike the oppressive extreme heat of recent days, the temperature had become pleasant, and I felt relieved that guiding in the city would soon be comfortable again. As we were parting, they mentioned they were thinking of going to Golden Gai in Shinjuku that evening to visit an izakaya. Since Golden Gai is mainly made up of bars, I suggested that they first head to Omoide Yokocho near Shinjuku's west exit to enjoy some yakitori for dinner, and then walk about 15 minutes to Golden Gai to enjoy drinks afterward. They said they would definitely give it a try. After we said goodbye, I received a message via a messaging app saying, "Thanks for the tour today. We really enjoyed it," so I believe they were satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassShiodome～Asakusa900JPY
    Section 2Free PassAsakusa～Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku)0JPY
    Section 3Free PassMeiji-jingumae (Harajuku)～Shiodome0JPY
    Total900JPY

    Tour Report by MINORUASAI

    I acquired national guide license in 2014, and I have been doing guide work full fledged since 2016. In my career before starting guide work, I was a business man and made more than 1,000 business trips both abroad and in Japan, and that experience is my foundation as a guide because I came to know so many places both abroad and in Japan. I have been taking care of both group and individual tourists, and the number of foreign guests I have taken care is close to 2,500 so far. I am based in Tokyo, but I can cover guide work in many prefectures throughout Japan. When I take care of foreign guests, my major concern is to listen attentively to them, find out what they want to know and do in Japan, and give them appropriate guiding in accordance with what I heard from my guests. I would like to provide tailor made tour as much as possible for every precious guest who kindly chose Japan as the tour destination.

    Request Booking

    Aug 1, 2025
    8
    898kendrap
    Great first day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Asai, our tour guide, made our…

    Jul 14, 2025
    Anette_V
    Perfect
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide Minoru Asai was very friendly and knowledgeable about culture,…

    Jun 30, 2025
    liammL2246HL
    Amazing experience
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing private tour with Minoru Asai! We…

    Jun 26, 2025
    394milesd
    Excellent guide making an excellent day in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A perfect day, tailored…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Hamarikyu

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Hamarikyu

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Hotel Tokyo
    • 10:40 Asakusa (Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise, Sensoji Temple, West Approach, Hoppy Street, Shin-Nakamise)
    • 12:15 Hamarikyu
    • 13:00 Former Tsukiji Market ~ Tsukiji Outer Market ~ Ginza 4-chome)
    • 13:30 Disband @ Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store Basement Food Floor

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Hamarikyu, Tsukiji, and Ginza The guest was a solo traveler visiting from North America. We started by confirming the itinerary at the hotel and going over some Japanese history. The guest did not have any Japanese cash on hand, so I purchased the tickets to Asakusa. After arriving in Asakusa, we were finally able to obtain Japanese yen at the fifth ATM we tried (the reason for the earlier failures was unclear). Since the guest teaches at a university, we spent much of the way discussing the factors behind Japan's "lost 30 years." I explained everything as my personal view, and there were many points the guest agreed with. The guest seemed uncomfortable in crowds and appeared to enjoy Hamarikyu Gardens more than Asakusa. Since the guest wanted to walk around Tokyo, we walked from Hamarikyu through Tsukiji to Ginza, which was pleasant, but as the guest had arrived on an overnight flight, we wrapped up about 30 minutes early, bought a bento at a department store food hall, and decided to return to the hotel. The guest planned to revisit Ginza in the evening.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Ginza～Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Shimbashi220JPY
    Total440JPY

    Tour Report by Hideki

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: Sagano Bamboo Grove & Gion

    Kyoto in One Day: Sagano Bamboo Grove & Gion

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:40 to 11:00 Sagano Bamboo Grove
    • 11:00 to 11:45 Okochi Sanso Villa
    • 12:00 to 12:40 Lunch at Arashiyama
    • 13:00 to 13:50 Monkey Park
    • 14:30 to 15:00 Nishiki Market
    • 15:10 to 15:30 Gion

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting from the Middle East. The summer in their home region is around 35 degrees, roughly the same as Kyoto, though the humidity is said to be even higher than in Japan. They were among the few guests who did not find Kyoto's hot and humid summer particularly difficult. Since they were all quite active, they climbed up to the Monkey Park without taking a single break, and it was actually challenging for me to keep up with them. One of the guests was not feeling well during the trip and had a slight cold, apparently because the morning and evening temperatures in Japan are lower than in their home region. I wish them a speedy recovery.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)～Shijo-Omiya (Express/Connecting Bus)250JPY
    Section 3BusShijo-Omiya～Shijo-Takakura／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusShijo-Kawaramachi／Kyoto City Bus～Gion／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5BusGion／Kyoto City Bus～Kyoto230JPY
    Total1,180JPY

    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…

  • Ishikawa in One Day: Kanazawa Castle Park

    Ishikawa in One Day: Kanazawa Castle Park

    Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Kanazawa Soshi
    • 10:05 Walk toward Omicho Market
    • 10:10 Stroll through Omicho Market, and after peeking into the first-floor gallery of the Ohi Museum along the way, head to Higashi Chaya District
    • 10:45 At Sakuda Gold Leaf near Higashi Chaya District, tour the gold leaf manufacturing process
    • 11:10 Since the wife is interested in kintsugi, we visit Shinbido near Sakuda to see kintsugi. All three of us were moved by the kintsugi of a 300-year-old Ko-Kutani large plate, one of the shop owner's collection, and the couple purchased a pair of gold-and-silver-decorated Kutani-ware rice bowls for husband and wife and a pair of glasses with beautiful glass patterns at the shop.
    • 11:30 Enter the cafe of Amano Tea Shop, located just before Shinbido, for a tea break. The husband enjoyed gyokuro, the wife had a matcha latte, and I had Kaga bocha. Then, we strolled through Higashi Chaya District.
    • 12:35 Take a route bus from Hashiba-cho toward Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa Castle.
    • 12:45 At the husband's request, we have an udon lunch at Tsutsumitei on Kenrokuen Chaya-dori Street. The husband had jibuni hotpot udon, the wife had sansai (mountain vegetable) udon, and I had inari udon.
    • 13:20 Stroll through Kenrokuen, and along the way we enter the Ishikawa Life and Crafts Museum and tour the first floor. On weekends there are artisan demonstrations, but today was Niginori Washi day and there was a hands-on experience, so the wife tried it and made three washi postcards decorated with cherry-blossom shells from Masuhogaura in Noto. After that, we returned to Kenrokuen and strolled
    • 14:30 Stroll through Kanazawa Castle Park
    • 15:00 Head from Gyokusen'inmaru Garden to the Nagamachi Samurai District
    • 15:20 Guide through the Nagamachi Samurai District.
    • 16:00 After talking about the Nomura Family in front of the Nomura Family Residence, we concluded today's tour.
    • The guests said they would enter the Nomura Family Residence on their own afterward, stroll around the area some more, and then walk back to their hotel.

    What Is a Private Kanazawa Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. It was their first time in Japan, and they had planned and arranged much of their trip themselves. Later in the tour, one of the guests said, "I think Kanazawa is even better than Kyoto and Osaka, which we visited earlier on this trip. It was better than I expected, so I wish we could stay one more day, but our schedule is already set, which is a shame." I was very happy that the appeal of Kanazawa had come across. The guests said they felt a great deal of Japan's traditional beauty and everyday life through many places: Omicho Market, which has a more local atmosphere than the very touristy Nishiki Market in Kyoto; the Higashi Chaya district, where old buildings match beautifully with the traditional culture you can experience there; Kenrokuen Garden, where beautiful traditional aesthetics are carefully maintained by gardeners; and the jibuni udon they enjoyed in a nostalgic Japanese-style room on the second floor of an old shop along the teahouse street of Kenrokuen. The guests were also very fond of the kintsugi of old Kutani ware shown to them at a shop, and enjoyed shopping there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHashiba-cho / Hokuriku Railroad Bus～Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa Castle / Hokuriku Railroad Bus210JPY
    Total210JPY

    Tour Report by Masayo

    Hello.
    My name is Masayo Shirai.
    I have been a national licensed tour guide of English since April in 2014.
    I was born. raised, and still living near the Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa.
    I have guided lots of foreign guests in my hometown Kanazawa, Gokayama, Shirakawago, Takaymam, Kaga, Fukui, and Toyama.
    I have guided FIT, highend FIT, group tour, and bus tours.
    I have been learning tea cemoney, flower arrangement, and noh performance of noh chanting and playing the hand drum.
    I can take you to the experience spot of such traditional cultural spots in my hometown, Kanazawa,

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    Oct 5, 2025
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    LightPacker147788
    Kanazawa visit
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Very interesting tour with Masayo. She took us…

    Jun 27, 2025
    H6092PZsuem
    Pleasant and interesting morning
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Masayo was our guide for the morning.…

    Mar 16, 2025
    952bonnieh
    Wonderful!!!
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We loved our time with Masayo! Thank you for a…

    Jan 3, 2025
    U5110ZKjades
    A day in Kanazawa with Masayo!
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Masayo Shirai was an excellent…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari & Kinkakuji

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari & Kinkakuji

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:30 Hotel Meet (@Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto)
    • 7:30-8:00 Travel (Keihan Railway; Gion-Shijo → Fushimi Inari)
    • 8:00-8:50 Fushimi Inari visit
    • 8:50-9:40 Travel (Keihan Railway; Fushimi Inari → Keihan Sanjo, Subway; Sanjo Keihan → Nijojo-mae)
    • 9:40-11:00 Nijo Castle visit
    • 11:00-11:20 Travel (Taxi: Nijojo-mae → Kinkakuji)
    • 11:20-12:00 Kinkakuji visit
    • 12:10-12:50 Lunch (@Doi Katsuman Kinkakuji branch)
    • 12:50-13:15 Travel (Taxi; Kinkakuji → Hotel)
    • 13:15 Tour ends. We said goodbye in front of the hotel (The tour ended slightly early since part of the travel was switched to taxi)

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Some of the guests had been to Kyoto several times before, while others were visiting for the first time. I took them to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. At Nijo Castle, the path to the honmaru castle wall was under construction, so we had to take quite a long detour. It seems best to avoid the honmaru castle wall until the construction is complete. Since the guests wished to avoid crowded buses, I switched to a taxi for the trips from Nijo Castle to Kinkaku-ji and then to the hotel. This gave us some extra time in the schedule, so I suggested an additional visit, but the guests commented that seeing three places was plenty, so I saw them back to their hotel, and the tour ended slightly earlier than planned. For lunch, at the guests' request, I took them to an eel restaurant. Some of the guests especially enjoyed Fushimi Inari, while others liked Kinkaku-ji the most.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 3SubwaySanjo (Kyoto)～Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Total660JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

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    Jul 19, 2026
    Wander35832177180
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Kyoto temple tour
    Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Abby_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Javier P
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Beth_D
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Tour and Guide
    Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    September, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Hotel meeting point
    • 9:00 Fushimi Inari
    • 10:20 Kiyomizu-dera
    • 11:40 Nijo Castle
    • 12:30 Nishiki Market

    What Is a 4-Hour Private Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time, having arrived in Kyoto the day before for a stay of several days. From the list of requested destinations they had provided in advance, I selected places that would fit within a four-hour tour. Despite the intense heat, the guests were energetic and we were able to proceed as planned. The guests seemed interested in Japanese history and culture, and I received questions especially about the differences between temples and shrines, and between Buddhism and Shinto. When I explained that, although I might not be entirely accurate, I believe Buddhism and Shinto coexist at the foundation of the Japanese mindset, the guests found this convincing. They appeared most interested in Nijo Castle, where visitors can actually enter the buildings. Toward the end of the tour they seemed to be getting hungry, and I am sure they enjoyed sampling various street foods at Nishiki Market.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSanjo (Kyoto)～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari～Keihan Shichijo / Princess Line170JPY
    Section 3BusShichijo～Kiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusKiyomizu-michi / Kyoto City Bus～Shijo Karasuma (Subway Shijo Station) / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5SubwayShijo (Kyoto City)～Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 6SubwayNijojo-mae～Shijo (Kyoto City)220JPY
    Total1,290JPY

    Tour Report by Naoki

    I am Naoki Nakatani. I live in Osaka.
    I started tour guide from 2023 after 40 years
    work experience in Japanese manufacturing company. I am currently teaching Japanese as volunteer staff to foreign residents who live in my community. I have 11 and half years work experience in overseas office and I had interacted with people of foreign countries for a long time enjoying business and friendship with them. My guide experience is still short but I will provide my best service to the guests. I am in a position to prepare the itinerary if guests request and to send any information for the guest to make plan before visit to Japan.

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    Jul 11, 2026
    Trevor_F
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    4 hour Private Tour
    Naomi was our guide and did a…

    Jun 6, 2026
    May_O
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful time in Kyoto
    We had a terrific time with Naoki. He…

    May 1, 2026
    Sanfrancisco820
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
    Naoki is an…

    Mar 28, 2026
    Tanya_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great guide
    Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best…