May 27, 2026
Chris T
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo with Naho!
We had a great time exploring the in intimate streets of Tokyo’s east side with Naho. She
took us to parts of Tokyo we would have never seen, we went shopping together, visited a
local shrine and got get information about customs, culture and life in Japan.

Apr 9, 2026
B4204QCcarolc
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Once in a lifetime experience!
I want to express are appreciation for our tour guide Nahoko and our chauffeur Sabiti. We had a wonderful experience and learned so much about the Japanese culture. Nahoko was full of information and we could tell she enjoyed sharing her knowledge. She was very attentive to my needs as I am healing from a recent broken leg . We were still able to see all the sights we requested and more. We would highly recommend using both Nahoko and Sabiti if you want a once in a life time experience. Thank you for everything .
Carol and Randy Christiansen

Oct 12, 2025
Dee R
Great guided tour of notable Tokyo sites and experienced all modes of transportation with the great help of our guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Naho did a wonderful job getting us to Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji temple, Nakamise shopping, Nezu torii gates. We stopped for conveyor belt sushi for lunch, which was very enjoyable. Last stop was Rikugien Gardens for a beautiful relaxing end of the tour. We highly recommend Nado. She listened to our shopping needs and helped us locate them. She was friendly and knowledgeable and did a great job taking us on trains, buses, and taxi

May 19, 2026
498stephenq
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
An enjoyable visit
Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and a pleasure to be with.

Apr 11, 2026
V5131MFjodieh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic Kyoto. He was flexible when we decided to modify our itinerary on the morning due to rain forecast the next day. Kaz’s English was great which meant he kept my teenage sons engaged with stories about shoguns and samurai battles. We visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Golden and Silver pavilions. The highlight of the tour with Kaz was being shown around beautiful gardens to see cherry blossoms still blooming and views of the city. We highly recommend going on a tour with him.

Oct 14, 2025
Scenic61154406959
Great Historical Perspective
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of of the historical aspects of the sites we visit, provided us great guidance on appropriate behavior at each site. He was energetic throughout the tour. More important he was more of a companion which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Sep 29, 2025
Jea L
Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kaz was an excellent tour guide! He spent 6 hours showing us around Kyoto including Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-Ji Temple and the bamboo forest. He was very knowledgeable, spoke English well (lived in the US for 3 years), and took lots of photos for us. We are so glad we booked this tour.

Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .

Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!

Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.

Jul 7, 2026
77guye
The best way to experience Himeji Castle
Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
What a great way to visit and see Himeji Castle and the Kokoen Gardens. Our private guide
Norio was so knowledgeable and accommodating. He made our visit to Himeji such a
memorable and awesome experience. Arigato gozaimasu Norio-san.

May 30, 2026
karenpG5549XU
Loved our tour
Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour with Norio, would highly recommend him! He was very friendly and knowledgeable!

May 28, 2026
TrailBlazer741528
Kobe Variety.
Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our delightful guide, Norio, was knowledgeable and a master at train negotiation! A highlight of the tour was the Herb Garden and Ropeway visit. The Sake Brewery and Museum was interesting with fabulous explanation from Norio combined with outstanding exhibits and tastings! He then left us to wander at our leisure in Chinatown.

May 23, 2026
sarahpR5911DJ
Himeji castle with Norio
Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We learnt lots about Himeji castle and it was very interesting. The gardens were beautiful and it was great to see all the Koi fish. Norio made sure to take us to the best places and even took us to a great local sake place we asked for 🙂
Would recommend this tour

Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
Best Post cruise tour ever
It was a GREAT TOUR with Noripy! With a family of many different ages and walking levels this was fantastic. We were picked up from our cruise in Yokohama and dropped off at Haneda airport. We had about 10 hours before our flight and it went flawlessly.

June 19, 2026
Alec T
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through several parts of the city: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, Sangedatsumon, Zojo-ji, Meiji Jingu, and Golden Gai. A great way to see many Tokyo sites and get acquainted with the city on your first day!

Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady who managed to fit all the iconic Tokyo spots into my 6-hour tour without anything feeling rushed. She was knowledgeable, organised, and genuinely kind. Toward the end she even helped me with some shopping, which I really appreciated. A wonderful introduction to Tokyo and a guide I’d happily recommend….

Jun 3, 2026
Sara B
Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Noripy gave a 5/5 tour! She provided useful instruction for public transport use, fascinating historical information, spiritual customs and current cultural practices- All with an infectious smile and never ending positive energy. Noripy’s tour allowed us to made the most of the rest of our time in Tokyo. I feel like we did 5 days of sightseeing in 6 hrs! But Noripy made sure to always check if we wanted a break. Our tour was customized for my 2 teenage kids and I, and if we saw or thought of something along the way that interested us, Noripy accommodated! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tokyo. And you will be extra lucky to get Noripy for your guide!

Jul 10, 2026
Jenny_A
Viator review: Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car with Licensed Guide
Interesting tour to see…
Interesting tour to see surroundings affected by the tsunami in 2011. Our guide Miki told us about it and showed private photos as she comes from a region also reached by the tsunami. Saw a school close to the water and the Decommissioning Center and was told about the nuclear plant and the work to close it down.

Jun 14, 2026
Michael_B
Viator review: Fukushima Hope Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle from Iwaki
Fukushima & Iwaki – Excellent Tour With Local Guides
Seeing and learning about these places would have been enough but learning from those who actually grew up there and personally experienced their history was so much more impactful. Our guide, Miki, and our driver, Mr. Otomo (sp?), could not have been more genuinely welcoming, professional, knowledgeable, and interested in sharing their stories with us. By the end of the tour, they felt much more like friends than guides. The museums and exhibits featured on the tour itinerary are very well done and informative; and the scenery along the way was an unexpected bonus. A great experience all the way around; highly recommended.Note: This tour operator also deserves praise for voluntarily accommodating an unexpected anomaly we experienced along the way; most appreciated.

Mar 23, 2025
Phillosophizing
An Unforgettable Journey Through Resilience and Remembrance
Tripadvisor review: Fukushima Hope Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle from Iwaki
Our Fukushima Hope Tour with Mikiko “Miki” Shiga was truly exceptional. As a Licensed Guide Interpreter, Miki’s knowledge, compassion, and attention to detail made this powerful experience even more meaningful.

The tour took us through significant sites including the Ruins of Namie Machiritsu Ukedo Elementary School, where Miki thoughtfully translated a children’s story displayed on illustrated plaques throughout the school grounds—each page revealing part of the disaster narrative that we would have completely missed without her.

Miki went above and beyond by recommending a wonderful hotel before our tour, helping with taxi communications, and guiding us to authentic local cuisine at Michinoeki Namie (the katsu and local fish were delicious!). Even on a particularly cold day, she ensured our comfort while still providing a comprehensive experience.

What made this tour truly special was hearing Miki’s personal connection to the events—her own experiences during the earthquake, evacuation stories from locals, and how communities have persevered through devastating circumstances. Her passion for sharing Japan’s history and culture shines through in everything she does.

If you’re considering this tour, I cannot recommend Miki highly enough. Beyond just seeing historical sites, you’ll gain profound insights into human resilience and the ongoing revitalization efforts in Fukushima.

Oct 11, 2024
716zaineb
A wonderful tour worth doing!
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Miki did a wonderful job showing us a small part of Miyagi Prefecture, an area not as well-trodden by Western Tourists. She arranged a fun itinerary and provided lots of local knowledge. She made exploring Matsushima easy, and kindly provided us with plenty of tips for how to spend our remaining days in the area. We had a great time and highly recommend this tour if you find yourself in the area!

Apr 5, 2026
Giovanni_M
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Fantastic
Our tour was just amazing worth every moment and our guide Keiko was just wonderful she really adapted the tour to our request and needs
My brother and sister are very limited in walking and our driver really managed to get very close to the sites to limit our walking

Mar 18, 2026
Victor_P
Great tour.
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Keiko was great. Very friendly and accommodating. The castle read very interesting. Highly

recommended.

Jun 19, 2025
Brad_M
Best Tour of our Entire Trip to Japan
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
We had such a great time on our tour in Kochi. Keiko was an amazing, fun, knowledgeable and kind tour guide, and Mr. O was a great driver. The van was modern, spacious and comfortable. Kochi Castle was a great start to the day and we enjoyed all the views and climbing to the very top. The museum was also very nice and a good way to escape the heat. Lunch in Hirome Market was so much fun. Keiko took us to the different shops and stalls and helped us pick out our lunch, and make sure we didn’t accidentally buy any items that we were allergic to. We then went to Chikurinji Temple and Makino Botanical Garden. They were both beautiful and worth the trip. Keiko made a big difference, keeping the tour fun and also teaching us about Japan along the way. At the end she even gave us some lovely origami cranes she had personally made. Such a nice touch!

The entire family (3 teenage boys) agreed that this was the best tour of the our trip to Japan (and we had been on many!). We loved it and would recommend it to anyone.

May 21, 2025
aileenhs1739
Great day!
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great way to see Mt Fuji with low stress! There so many things to try and manage if you are
new to the area- Sho made things so much easier

Apr 5, 2025
aradhnaa
Perfect day
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sho was absolutely wonderful. He arrived early at our hotel in Hakone and brought us all
around Hakone for beautiful views of lake ashi and Mount Fuji. We had a wonderful time and
strongly recommend this tour!

Nov 9, 2024
jennifergW1707MI
Great way to see all the beauty Hakone had to offer
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great way to see Hakone and all its hidden gems. Our guide Sho was very nice and very helpful in navigating and ensuring we had the best experience. We went on the ropeway, owakudani valley, saw Mount Fuji, pirate ship across lake ashi, hakone checkpoint, cedar stree and hakone shrine.

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 and easy to understand. While planning our time together he helped me understand the various areas things I wanted to see were in. He designed a great tour for us. We had a delicious fresh seafood lunch, and yummy Japanese treat. He even helped me interpret with shopkeepers and my fortunes from the temples. I cannot recommend him enough!

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 favorite guide during my month-long trip in Japan.
He is an amazing, kind, and genuinely thoughtful gentleman. Before guiding, he had a successful career at a major conglomerate in Tokyo, with experience in business development and marketing, and you can immediately tell that he brings a level of professionalism, perspective, and depth that goes far beyond a standard tour.
What makes Hideki special is that he does this because he truly enjoys it. He told me, “You can use ChatGPT to get all the history, but it’s my job to explain what it can’t.” That perfectly sums up the experience. He did not just point things out or recite facts. He added context, judgment, personality, and a real human understanding of Japan that you simply would not get from a guidebook or online search.
The morning of our tour, I told him I wanted to completely change the plan. Not only did he accept it, he took it as a challenge and immediately sprung into action. A few hours later, I was completely off the beaten path in a place that would never show up in travel guides or magazines. We ate locally, and it ended up being the best lunch I had in Tokyo. We walked around, bantered, explored, and had an amazing time.
Being with Hideki felt less like being on a tour and more like spending the day with an old friend or a fun uncle who happens to know Tokyo incredibly well. His knowledge, friendliness, calm demeanor, and willingness to go above and beyond made the day unforgettable.
I could not recommend Hideki more highly. If you book with him, you are lucky to have his time. Treat him well.

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 that worked well.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Using the subway and minimizing time in the rain we saw many of the most important sites and experienced a variety of interesting and fun neighborhood cultures. We had lunch at a local gem for a fun meal of tempura and rice. Some of the sites were spectacular, all were worthwhile. Time and money well spent.

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 time being shown around the sights of Tokyo by our guide Hideki, walking and travelling on the transport network. We were able to learn about some of the history and culture of Japan. The whole day was thoroughly enjoyable and was a great experience. We can highly recommend the private tour with Hideki who was very knowledgeable and helpful and can tailor the tour to meet your interests.

Jul 27, 2026
OscarBrisenoJr
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Awesome tour of Kyoto
Seeing the temples and shrines and other Kyoto’s surrounding areas were amazing to see and experience. Mizu was very kind and patient with my two daughters since they wanted stamps/seals of each shrine/temple that we visited in their books. Mizu even helped them to get stamps at each train station. She arranged our trip to be efficient and asked me prior to the trip which sites weee important for me to see and gave us her recommendations of what was feasible to see within the 6 he time frame. She was able to pick a nice restaurant to eat at for lunch. Overall I was very pleased with the private tour!

Jul 21, 2026
MarcL3556
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A Wonderful and Memorable Tour of Osaka with Mizu
We had a wonderful tour of Osaka with Mizu and can highly recommend her as a guide. From the very beginning, she was friendly, welcoming, and extremely well prepared. The entire tour was well organized, informative, and perfectly matched our expectations.

The sights and areas she selected gave us a great impression of Osaka and its unique character. We particularly appreciated the balance between famous attractions, local culture, history, and everyday life in the city. Mizu provided us with a lot of interesting background information and explained everything in a clear and engaging way. We learned much more about Osaka than we would have discovered on our own.

Her English was excellent, and communication was easy and natural throughout the entire tour. She was always happy to answer our questions and made sure that everyone in our group felt comfortable and included. We got along with her very well, and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable from start to finish.

Mizu was also very attentive to our interests and adjusted the tour whenever necessary. We never felt rushed, and there was always enough time to take photos, look around, and enjoy the different places. Her warm personality, local knowledge, and enthusiasm for Osaka made the experience particularly memorable.

Overall, the tour was one of the highlights of our stay in Osaka. We would gladly book another tour with Mizu and recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and personable guide. Thank you, Mizu, for such a fantastic and memorable day in Osaka!

Jul 8, 2026
Ranvt
Local tour kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
I had a great experience on this local tour in Kyoto. It was very educational and informative, and our guide, Mizuho, was incredibly knowledgeable about the city. She was friendly, helpful, and happy to answer every question we had. She is very passionate for kyoto I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto who wants to learn more about the city’s history and culture!

Jun 11, 2026
MamaL843
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing Kyoto with Mizu
Mizu-San gave us an AMAZING tour of Kyoto. There was SO much to do and see in this
beautiful area of Japan, but Mizu was able to adjust on the fly because… well, young adult
sons 🤷🏻