Category: Uncategorized

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Peace Memorial Museum & Daisho-in Temple

    Hiroshima in One Day: Peace Memorial Museum & Daisho-in Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 9:30 Peace Memorial Museum
    • 10:30 Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Children's Peace Monument, Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, hypocenter, etc.
    • 12:30 Play with deer at Miyajima
    • 12:45 Lunch
    • 13:30 Itsukushima Shrine
    • 14:15 Daigan-ji Temple
    • 14:45 Daisho-in Temple
    • 17:00 Escort to the hotel, tour ends

    Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private full-day tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima for a group visiting from Europe. The tour started despite a forecast of rain all day. At the Peace Memorial Museum, the guests viewed the exhibits very seriously, and I added important comments at key points. At the Peace Park, they seemed particularly interested in the Children's Peace Monument, the T-shaped bridge that served as the bombing target, and the hypocenter. After crossing over to Miyajima and spending some time with the deer, we had lunch. Some of the guests preferred meat, so we chose a meat restaurant, while others could not eat oysters but decided to try conger eel, which they found delicious. The guests were very satisfied with the beauty of Itsukushima Shrine, and remarked that the Fudo Myoo statue at Daiganji Temple was "super interesting!" At Daishoin Temple, they showed interest in the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage circuit and the charming Jizo statues.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHatchobori (Hiroshima Prefecture)~Shirakami-sha-mae / Hiroshima Bus240JPY
    Section 2TrainHondori~Shin-Hakushima190JPY
    Section 3TrainShin-Hakushima~Miyajimaguchi330JPY
    Section 4TrainMiyajimaguchi~Shin-Hakushima330JPY
    Section 5TrainShin-Hakushima~Hondori190JPY
    Total1,280JPY

    My name is Shuji, meaning “Excellent Manager” in English. I was born in Hiroshima 1952. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
    After graduating Kyoto Univ. I joined Mitsubishi-UFJ Bank, Osaka Branch where I met my wife who was a master of Englsih, so I started studying English.
    The bank allowed me to go to Columbia Graduate business school in New York and got MBA Degree there. I worked in London and Manchester Branch.
    During staying in U.K., I was introduced by BBC and Financial Times News Paper about my achievement there. I was selected as a personal assistant and interpreter for the President of the Bank.
    I made many business trips with him to overseas countries. I experienced as an interpreter for meeting late Henry Kissinger and the President of Citi. Corp.
    I changed the job to ORIX corporation, there I was promoted to a Board Member. When the company had acquired Dutch company, I was a member as an accountant to check the Dutch company’s statements of accounts.
    My hobbies are cooking, singing a song, playing tennis & golf, enjoy seeing arts especially opera & musical, travel. I am also busy with taking care of grandchildren. I passed Government Licensed Guide Exam. in 2016. After I retired in 2017, I started guide job as a part timer. So far, I accomplished guide job more than 500 times.
    My area coverage is from Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, Oaka, Hiroshima. I am also able to guide Tea Ceremony, Maiko/Geisha, Sushi Making, Calligraphy, Sumo, Samurai, etc. I can speak excellent English. My knowledge is very wide and deep about not only sightseeing places but Japanese History, Culture, Religion, Daily Life. I know many foreign countries and people. I love talking with all kinds of people including babies with interesting humor.
    By the way, I look young for my age of 74.

    Jul 16, 2026
    salomons666
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto fun
    Amazing with our guide Shuji very kind and acknowledge

    Jul 15, 2026
    P9099TXkennethr
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    A great day
    A great day in the Company of mr. Shuji.

    Jun 28, 2026
    A
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    AmyfromPlano
    Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached…

    Jun 22, 2026
    yeseniag981
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Osaka Tour
    Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Hamarikyu Gardens & Harajuku

    Tokyo in One Day: Hamarikyu Gardens & Harajuku

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet at Tokyo Monorail Hamamatsucho Station
    • 09:30 Hamarikyu Gardens
    • 10:30 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 12:00 Asakusa (Nakamise Shopping Street, Senso-ji Temple)
    • 13:30 Harajuku (Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Harajuku Street)
    • 15:00 Dismissal at Harajuku Station

    What Is a Private Anime-Themed Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. One of them had been to Japan three times before, but for the others it was their first visit, and they seemed to be looking forward to it very much. Since I had heard that they liked anime, on the way to Hamarikyu I made a stop at the Nittele Ohdokei (the large clock designed by Hayao Miyazaki), which they were delighted to see. This clock is often passed by during tours, but when guests are Ghibli fans they really enjoy it, so I recommend making a stop there. After that, I guided them along the standard course, but they did seem a little tired from the heat and humidity, so I took my time and included breaks along the way. With the peak of summer approaching, I felt once again that dealing with the heat will be an ongoing challenge.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayDaimon (Tokyo)~Shiodome180JPY
    Section 2SubwayHigashi-Ginza~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa~Meiji-jingumae260JPY
    Total660JPY

    Hi, I am Nobu, a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English).
    I have been an English guide in Tokyo area since January 2017.
    Tokyo is a wonderful city, and you may enjoy this city by yourselves.
    Even so, I recommend you go around with a guide, especially if it is your first time visit to Tokyo.
    A good guide will help you to understand about Tokyo and Japan as well as how to use convenient but complicated public transportations more effectively.
    I am glad if I can help you to make your tour more enjoyable.
    I am looking forward to meeting you in Tokyo soon!
    Nobu

    Jun 2, 2026
    amandavW9846AW
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Tokyo day trip!
    We had a wonderfull day with Nobu! He…

    May 25, 2026
    Matthew_C
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nobu was an excellent and…
    Nobu was an excellent and informative guide…

    May 24, 2026
    Diane D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Pleasant Intro to Tokyo
    Nobu was an experienced and informative guide.…

    Apr 28, 2026
    GrandTour57165664797
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Awesome!
    It was our first visit to Japan. Nobu was very knowledgeable…

  • Kyoto: Kofuku-ji Temple & Kasuga-taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Kofuku-ji Temple & Kasuga-taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:15 to 10:00 Kofuku-ji Temple
    • 10:00 to 10:30 Nara Park
    • 10:30 to 11:30 Todai-ji Temple
    • 11:45 to 12:15 Nigatsu-do Hall
    • 12:45 to 13:45 Kasuga-taisha Shrine

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. They were staying in Kyoto, and had attended the Gion Festival the previous day, though they were disappointed that the morning in Kyoto had been marked by heavy rain. In the afternoon the weather recovered, and they told me they had climbed all the way to the summit of Mount Inari at Fushimi Inari. However, having climbed to the summit the day before, walking around the vast Nara Park today seemed to be a bit demanding for them. We took many breaks and managed to complete the popular spots mentioned above safely and as scheduled. On the way back, we returned to Nara Station by bus.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto~Takeda (Kyoto)240JPY
    Section 2TrainTakeda (Kyoto)~Kintetsu-Nara760JPY
    Section 3BusKasuga-taisha Shrine Main Hall/Nara Kotsu~Nara250JPY
    Total1,250JPY

    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 !!

    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hotel – 10:40 Meiji Shrine – 11:30 Harajuku Takeshita Street – 12:30 Tsukiji Outer Market – 13:15 Lunch – 14:30 Yanesen – 15:30 Asakusa Sensoji Temple – 16:15 Dismissal at Asakusa Station

    What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, on their first trip to Japan. Since they mentioned they would continue on to Osaka and Kyoto after Tokyo, I first gave them an overview of Tokyo and then explained some of Japan's history before starting the tour at Meiji Shrine. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, when I explained that Namiyoke Shrine enshrines the deity of sailors and fishermen, one of the guests, who enjoys fishing, happily took photos alone, saying they would show them off to their fishing friends back home. We enjoyed a delicious sushi lunch and had a wonderful day together.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusShinjuku Sumitomo Building / Keio Bus~Sangubashi Station (in front of Koma Terrace Nishi-sando) / Keio Bus230JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji Shrine (Harajuku Station) / Shibuya Ward, Tokyo~Tsukiji280JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji~Nezu180JPY
    Section 4TrainNippori~Ueno Station / Taito Ward, Tokyo150JPY
    Section 5SubwayUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Total1,020JPY

    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!

    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 Half a Day: Meiji Shrine & Shibuya

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine & Shibuya

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at the hotel, then head to Golden Gai
    • 11:00 Tsukiji Outer Market, Namiyoke Shrine, Higashi Honganji Temple
    • 12:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 13:40 Shibuya
    • 14:20 End of the tour

    What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They had arrived just the night before, and this was their first day in Tokyo. First, I guided them around the Shinjuku Golden Gai area near their hotel so they could get a sense of the location, and then took them to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where we walked around while I explained the history and culture of the Tsukiji market. They love seafood and said they would like to come back another day. At Namiyoke Shrine and Higashi Honganji Temple, I explained the differences between Buddhism and Shinto, the influence each has had on Japanese culture, and the differences in worship, allowing them to experience it firsthand while seeing the actual sites. We then headed to Meiji Shrine, where I again explained the influence of Shinto, which is unique to Japan. They seemed to greatly enjoy the solemn atmosphere. Our final stop was Shibuya. Since they wanted ramen for lunch, I introduced them to the famous shop "Ichiran." As they had a reservation at teamLab in the evening, I explained how to get there and then concluded the tour.

    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.

    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…

  • Morioka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Morioka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Hotel 13:10 Kaiun Bridge 13:25 Ishiwari-zakura (Morioka District Court) 13:45 Suzuki Morihisa Kobo (Nambu ironware) 14:10 Morioka Hachimangu Shrine 14:40 Sixteen Arhats 14:50 Daiji-ji Temple (Hara Takashi's grave) 15:00 Nataya-cho (Morioka townhouses) 15:10 Enko-ji Temple (Yonai Mitsumasa's grave) 15:25 Former Ninety Bank (Morioka Takuboku/Kenji Youth Museum) 15:45 Iwate Bank Red Brick Building 16:00 Sakurayama Shrine・Eboshi Rock 16:15 Morioka Castle Ruins Park 17:00 Arrive at hotel・End of guide

    What Is a Private Walking Tour of Morioka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report After viewing the Kitakami River, the fifth longest river in Japan, and the majestic Mount Iwate, the highest peak in the prefecture, from Kaiun Bridge, the group approached the natural monument Ishiwari-zakura (the rock-splitting cherry tree) to take photographs up close. On the way along the approach to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, we stopped at Suzuki Morihisa Studio, a long-established maker of Nambu ironware, where the guests purchased small iron zodiac-themed items. At Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, we visited the main hall and also toured the Hocho-zuka (kitchen knife mound), the sacred horse stable, and the traffic safety shrine. The guests seemed interested in learning at what ages people undergo purification prayers for unlucky years. In the Nataya-cho district, there was a traditional townhouse where boats are made for the "Funakko Nagashi" festival held in August, and the group went inside to photograph the work in progress. At the grave of Mitsumasa Yonai, the guests read with interest an English information board explaining how, as Navy Minister, he consistently maintained an anti-war stance right up to the end of the Pacific War. The guests were well acquainted with Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet said to have directed the attack on Pearl Harbor, but appeared to be learning of Yonai's achievements for the first time. We toured inside the former Ninety Bank (Morioka Takuboku and Kenji Seishun-kan) and the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, and the guests noted that although they were completed at almost the same time, their styles differ (the former in the Art Nouveau style popular in German-speaking regions, the latter in the Tatsuno-style Renaissance). At Morioka Castle Ruins Park, after viewing the poetry monument of Takuboku Ishikawa and the pedestal of the bronze statue of Lieutenant Nambu, we admired the drum bridge featured in The New York Times, and then passed through the arcade of the Odori shopping street before safely returning to the Hotel near the station.

    My name is Hitoshi Ohata. I’ve been an interpreter and guide for about six years since I retired. I live in Takizawa City which is at the foot of Mt. Iwate, the highest mountain in Iwate Prefecture. My hobby is playing table tennis once a week. I’m not a competitive player, I’m just having fun. I also play go, a board game. The main guides are a guide to Hiraizumi’s cultural heritage and a guide to cruise ship tours in Aomori and Iwate Prefecture. I’ve experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, so I can talk about things like that. I try to convey Japanese culture and society to people overseas in an easy-to-understand way as much as possible.

    Jul 19, 2025
    Michael_B
    Morioka Marathon
    Viator review: Morioka Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour with Hiitoshi. He is from…

    Jun 24, 2025
    Matthew_M
    Half Day Morioka Tour
    Viator review: Morioka Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hitoshi was a pleasure to be with and…

    Sep 16, 2024
    Johannes S
    Hitoshi Ohata hat uns eine interessante Führung gegeben. Er hat viel Erfahrung und geht auf individuelle Wünsche ein.
    Tripadvisor review:…

  • Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:50 Hotel meet-up. After the meeting, take the bus at 9:24 to Soun-zan. Take the ropeway to Owakudani, then the ropeway to Togendai. 10:45 Pirate ship. 11:25 Motohakone Port. Hakone Shrine Red Torii Gate. Take the bus from Motohakone Port. 12:10 Hakone Checkpoint Ruins. Lunch at Donburi Chaya. 13:00 Maruyama Bussan. Presentation and shopping. 13:36 Take the bus and get off at Yunessun. 14:00 Disband at the hotel lobby.

    What Is a Private Fuji-Hakone Day Tour Like from Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. As I had traveled there during my earlier career as an engineer at a manufacturing company, I felt a friendly connection with them, and although our time together was short, we spent it very pleasantly. Although we could not see Mount Fuji, the guests enjoyed each of the places we visited. At a donburi teahouse, they treated me, and we had a lively conversation over beer, sharing stories about our families and work. The presentation at the local product store received enthusiastic applause and was recorded on video. The guests purchased a puzzle box with 54 moves, another with 4 moves, and another with 12 moves, along with various other items. In the end, they were delighted to have found such wonderful souvenirs.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassOdawara Station~Odawara Station5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
    I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
    I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
    First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
    Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
    Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
    For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
    Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
    dummy

    Jun 30, 2026
    G2432BLtimothyc
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
    6 hour tour of Hakone
    we had a great experience with…

    Jun 25, 2026
    T7734IPbrandons
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in hakone
    Niro was perfect for us. He was…

    Jun 8, 2026
    JasonB6980
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hiro-san knows Hakone!
    Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Tourist31988989961
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
    Great Day and Tour
    Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at MIMARU Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo
    • 10:10〜11:40 Tenryu-ji Temple Garden〜Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walk
    • 12:30〜13:30 Lunch at Gontaro Kinkaku-ji Branch
    • 13:40〜15:00 Kinkaku-ji Temple, shopping at souvenir shops
    • 16:05 Disband at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    What's a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari The guests today were a group visiting from Oceania. They had become friends through walking and decided to travel together. Their tour covered many destinations over three weeks. The bamboo grove in Arashiyama looked beautifully green after the previous day's rain, and the guests were very pleased. Kinkaku-ji was not too crowded during the summer off-peak season, so we were able to enjoy it at a relaxed pace. There was no wind, and Kinkaku-ji reflected beautifully on the surface of the water, which delighted the guests. While they took their time browsing souvenirs nearby, we ran short on time, and by the time we reached the final destination, Fushimi Inari Taisha, we were about an hour over schedule, so I gave only a brief explanation there and we parted ways. I believe they enjoyed themselves.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayGojo (Kyoto Municipal Subway)~Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho / Kyoto City Bus~Kinkaku-ji-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkaku-ji-michi / Kyoto City Bus~Kitaoji Bus Terminal (Subway Kitaoji Station) / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 6SubwayKitaoji~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 7TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Total1,580JPY

    Thank you very much for choosing JGA experience, and please allow me to briefly introduce myself. I’m Kaeko Tanigawa, your tour guide, and I have been showing tourists from abroad around mainly in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka areas. Every year I’ve guided my guests through those areas for over 80 times. I always try to do my best to help my guests explore and enjoy our unique and attractive locations, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive so many 5-star reviews from the guests I hosted. I’d like to help make your visit to Japan one of the most wonderful memories in your life. I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you very much.

    Jul 25, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
    We spent half a day…

    Jul 24, 2026
    J6711TVnancyb
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
    Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create…

    Jul 13, 2026
    elizabethtW414DU
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Private Tour
    Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start…

    Jul 12, 2026
    johnkE8649IH
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
    We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Station & Shibuya Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting place: Shinjuku 4-2-10, Shinjuku Ward (Hotel)
    • 9:10 Depart Shinjuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 9:30 Ikebukuro Station
    • Ikebukuro Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro
    • 9:45 Depart Ikebukuro Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • Ueno Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 10:15 Arrive Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Senso-ji Temple
    • Nakamise-dori Shopping Street
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • 11:00 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 11:10 Arrive Suehirocho Station
    • Akihabara Akihabara Electric Town
    • 12:00 Depart Suehirocho Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 12:30 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Break: Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • Takeshita Street
    • Cat Street
    • Omotesando
    • 13:30 Depart Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 13:40 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • Shibuya Parco
    • 14:45 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 15:00 Arrive Ikebukuro Station
    • 15:00 Dismissal: Ikebukuro Station

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Anime and Culture Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of colleagues visiting Japan from Europe, all on their first trip to Japan. Before arriving in Japan, they had spent about two weeks in North America, then flew to Japan the previous evening. They planned to stay in Japan for a couple of weeks, visiting Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara in addition to Tokyo. They had mentioned an interest in Japanese "anime" and "otaku culture." It was a tour under the worst possible weather, cloudy with occasional heavy downpours. The pickup point was a capsule hotel in Shinjuku (a first-time experience for me as a guide, though many foreign travelers appeared to be staying there). The guests had large suitcases and wanted to first drop them off at the hotel in Ikebukuro where they would be staying that night, so we went from Shinjuku Station to Ikebukuro Station first. After that, we returned via Ikebukuro Station and headed to Asakusa. As always, it was crowded with large numbers of visitors. We started from in front of Kaminarimon Gate. I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is for," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos in front of Kaminarimon Gate and strolled slowly along Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?", "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people follow?" We then went to the Akihabara electronics district. I explained about "the history of the electronics district." Pokemon figures were purchased. There was a question about "maid cafes" and what kind of places they are. Many "Pokemon goods" were purchased. We moved on to Harajuku and Meiji Shrine. I explained about "Shinto," "the torii gate," "Emperor Meiji," and "why wine barrels are displayed there." There were questions such as "What kind of teaching is Shinto?", "When did Shinto originate?", and "How many shrines are there in Japan?" We took a break for a while at the cafe terrace at Meiji Shrine. We also strolled slowly along Takeshita Street, Cat Street, and Omotesando. Then we went to Shibuya. First, we looked down on Scramble Square from the entrance of the Keio Inokashira Line platform and took photos, then actually crossed the intersection. There was also a question, "Why do so many people gather here?" We took photos in front of the Hachiko statue as well. At the guests' request, we visited the Pokemon Center at Shibuya Parco. There were also comments and questions such as "Tokyo felt clean and extremely safe, even at night," "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?", "I think the Tokyo subway is very well made," and "The public restrooms are wonderful." I saw them off at Ikebukuro Station, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Ikebukuro170JPY
    Section 2TrainIkebukuro~Ueno180JPY
    Section 3TrainUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa~Suehirocho (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 5TrainSuehirocho (Tokyo)~Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 6TrainMeiji-jingumae~Shibuya180JPY
    Section 7TrainShibuya~Ikebukuro180JPY
    Total1,280JPY

    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.

    Jul 21, 2026
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  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Asakusa

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Asakusa

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at hotel
    • 9:50 Meiji Shrine
    • 10:55 Tsukiji
    • 12:10 Lunch (sushi)
    • 13:10 Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    • 14:30 Asakusa
    • 16:00 Hotel

    What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, and Asakusa The guests were visitors from North America. We first visited Meiji Shrine and then went to Tsukiji. In the heat, they wanted something cold, but since we were at a fish market, they also wanted to eat something related to fish — a first-time request for me — and Kibun's shrimp tempura (fish paste) was a perfect fit, and the guests were delighted, saying it was delicious! The guests also had a mango soft serve, while I had a black sesame soft serve. They were curious about the black soft serve, so I offered them a spoonful, and they said it tasted like peanut butter. Then we went to Nemuro Hanamaru in Iidabashi and enjoyed a traditional conveyor-belt sushi experience. They also seemed to enjoy sorting the sushi plates and building a tower with them. At Koishikawa Korakuen, they said it looked like Jurassic Park while walking through the woods, and they found the thatched-roof rest area unusual. At Senso-ji, they got absorbed in shopping and we ran a little behind schedule, but since they were tired and wanted to head back for a while, I took them to their hotel. They were very satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNishi-Shinjuku~Meiji-jingumae180JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji~Korakuen180JPY
    Section 4SubwayIidabashi~Asakusa220JPY
    Total790JPY

    Hi, I’m Sam.
    I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.

    Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.

    I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.

    Please feel free to ask me anything!

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