Category: Uncategorized

  • Hiroshima: Museum

    Hiroshima: Museum

    Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:40 Meeting with 9 clients in front of the fountain at the entrance of the Park
    • 11:00 Giving the information about the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima
    • 12:20 Museum
    • 13:30 Monument tour, including the A-bomb Dome, Hiroshima National Memorial Hall, and the hypocenter.
    • 14:30 Goodbye in front of the Pokémon Center in the station building

    Title: What Is a Private Family Tour in Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Despite repeatedly sending emails through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), there was no reply from the guests, and I had begun to think the tour would be canceled. Since no cancellation notice arrived, I sent a text message via a messaging app early on the morning of the tour, but again received no reply. Even by 10:30 they had not arrived. When I sent another message through the messaging app, I finally got a reply saying they were on the train. When I asked whether they could come by taxi, there was no response, so I had absolutely no idea what transportation they were taking from Hiroshima Port. However, meeting them was a pleasant surprise. The group turned out to be very well-mannered, and I had prepared picture books and origami just in case. They were able to listen attentively to the explanation of the reality of the atomic bombing together. When praised, they asked pointed and thoughtful questions such as "How many people died?" The group were visitors from North America. At the group's request, instead of Hiroshima Castle I guided them to the Pokémon Center at the station, and I explained the train back toward Hiroshima Port. (Does a free pass mean an IC card?)

    Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassIn front of the A-bomb Dome～Hiroshima Station240JPY
    Total240JPY

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Hiroshima in One Day: hypocenter & Hiroshima Station

    Hiroshima in One Day: hypocenter & Hiroshima Station

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

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00　Meet at the Hotel
    • 9:02　Head to the hypocenter by bus
    • 9:15　Arrive at Hondori and head to the hypocenter
    • 9:20　Arrive at the hypocenter
    • 　　　Tour of monuments　Museum
    • 12:05　Finish the museum tour and head to Nishi-Hiroshima by bus
    • 12:17　Arrive at Nishi-Hiroshima　Head to Miyajimaguchi by JR
    • 12:24　Arrive at Miyajimaguchi Station
    • 12:30　Lunch at Okonomiyaki Hanako
    • 13:30　Finish the meal and head to Miyajima by ferry
    • 13:40　Arrive at Miyajima
    • 15:45　Finish sightseeing in Miyajima and head to Miyajimaguchi
    • 15:55　Arrive at Miyajimaguchi
    • 16:03　Head from Miyajimaguchi Station to Hiroshima Station
    • 16:20　Arrive at Hiroshima Station
    • 　　　　Guide to the taxi stand and disband

    What's a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private tour for a group visiting from North America, covering Hiroshima and Miyajima. Because low tide at Miyajima was around 11:00 a.m., we first visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the museum. Before crossing over to Miyajima, the guests enjoyed Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, which they liked very much. In front of the Children's Peace Monument, I explained that around 10 million paper cranes are offered there each year, and that these are recycled into paper used for business cards, notebooks, and even diplomas. When I gave them my own business card made from this recycled paper, they were delighted. At the museum, the guests were deeply moved by a photograph of elementary school children laughing innocently, saying it was heartbreaking to see them smiling without knowing the tragedy that was about to unfold, and they looked at it with tears in their eyes. When I explained the photograph taken at Miyuki Bridge, showing a mother holding her burned baby and crying out "Wake up, wake up," they listened to my explanation while shedding tears. Right after the tour, I received a message through a messaging app saying, "Today was a very meaningful tour." The tour ended about 30 minutes earlier than scheduled because the transit connections were extremely smooth, with almost no waiting time. In addition, a heatstroke alert had been issued that day, and since the guests expressed a wish to return to their hotel a little early, I adjusted the plan and concluded the tour ahead of schedule.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusTanakamachi／Hiroshima Bus～Hondori／Hiroshima Bus240JPY
    Section 2BusPeace Memorial Park／Hiroshima Bus～Nishi-Hiroshima Station (Koi)／Bon Bus240JPY
    Section 3OtherNishi-Hiroshima Station～Miyajimaguchi Station330JPY
    Section 4TrainMiyajimaguchi～Hiroshima Station420JPY
    Total1,230JPY

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

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    Sep 25, 2025
    pedropM3071GD
    Amazing day trip
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    This was an amazing experience to…

    Jul 25, 2025
    ourtravelingt
    Great personalized tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our tour was fabulous and our…

    Jul 13, 2025
    katherinepE2305IO
    Hiroshima Tour 4hr Walking
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an amazing guide. He…

    Jul 7, 2025
    Preston_H
    Great tour guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an incredible guide who…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 Gathered at the lobby of Monday Apartment Premium Akihabara. When asked about the places they wanted to visit, they said Senso-ji Temple → Imperial Palace → Shibuya Scramble Crossing → Meiji Shrine, and the tour departed.
    • 08:40-10:25 After arriving at Asakusa, guided them through Azumabashi Sumida River bank → Nakamise shopping street → Senso-ji Temple → stone bridge → Kannon Street, and when finished I confirmed about moving to the Imperial Palace, but with the two children (a 6-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl), especially the 4-year-old girl wanting to sit in the stroller and not walking, and since the Imperial Palace has strong sunlight, we decided to skip it and go to Shibuya. At the same time, one additional request came up: the 6-year-old boy (Tumanaka-kun) wanted to go to the Pokemon Center. So we went to Shibuya and decided to also visit the Shibuya Pokemon Center.
    • 11:00-12:25 Arrived at Shibuya and guided them to Hachiko and the Scramble Crossing. After that, we walked to the Nintendo Center and Pokemon Center on the 6th floor of Shibuya Parco. Since Tumanaka-kun is a Pikachu fan, they purchased about 4 plush toys and finished. Then there was a request: "We want to have lunch."
    • 12:40-13:30 Had lunch at "Oreryu Shio Ramen" in Shibuya Center Gai. After finishing, we moved to Harajuku on the Yamanote Line.
    • 13:40-14:30 Guided them through Meiji Shrine. There was no wind and it was quite hot and humid. Because of this and since the two children had become quite tired, they decided to return to the hotel and the tour ended.

    What's a Private Family Tour of Tokyo Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and the Pokemon Center The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. After arriving in Tokyo, they had spent one day at Disneyland and one day at DisneySea before this Tokyo sightseeing tour. They brought a folding stroller for the youngest member of the group. As soon as we started moving together, I noticed that one of the younger members of the group would sometimes climb into the stroller, which occasionally led to a bit of squabbling among the children, though for the most part the youngest used it. For the tour, having the stroller was reassuring since it also provided shade, but folding and unfolding it repeatedly must have been hard physical work for the adults in the group. The temperature was around 35°C, and with almost no wind that day, walking around both Sensoji Temple and Meiji Shrine required considerable stamina. In the end, the children became quite tired and we headed back to the Hotel, but they told me they had "a really great time," which was a relief. Visiting the Pokemon Center was a major goal of the tour for one of the children, and even though the line for payment after choosing a plush toy was surprisingly long — about a 40-minute wait — the child was overjoyed, which was a great help. For lunch, some of the guests ordered tonkotsu ramen, while others ordered karaage and fried rice, and both were big hits, enjoyed as very delicious, so I was glad. Before the tour, there had been a note mentioning an infant, so I set out quite concerned about safety in the extreme heat, but there were no problems, and although the children were fairly tired by the end, they finished the day in good spirits, which left me very relieved.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassAkihabara～Asakusa700JPY
    Section 2Free PassAsakusa～Shibuya0JPY
    Section 3TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Total850JPY

    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji Rooftop & Koko-en Garden

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:15 Meet @ JR Himeji Station
    • 09:30 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 10:00 @ Himeji Castle
    • 13:00 @ Koko-en Garden
    • 13:45 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    Title: What Is a Private Himeji Castle Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe, and this was the guide's first time to welcome guests from this region. They showed a strong interest in Japan and asked many detailed questions at Himeji Castle. They were also well informed about the historical relationship between Japan and their home region during the Edo period, and we had a lively conversation about Japanese words derived from their language. When I mentioned that the firearms displayed inside Himeji Castle may possibly have been brought in from their region, they were very interested. One of the guests found the steep, narrow staircases inside the castle quite challenging. They planned to return to Kyoto but wished to stop in Kobe to enjoy "Kobe beef" along the way, so I recommended two or three restaurants. Although they had used the Shinkansen this morning, there was no need to take the Shinkansen as far as Kobe, so I suggested the local train line and explained everything from buying tickets to how to board, and then we parted ways. I presented them with a handmade drawstring pouch made by my sister, which they were delighted to receive.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

    This is (Mr.) Yama, greeting from Kobe, Japan.
    I would like to warmly welcome you to Japan this time. I am from the city of Kobe, which is of course, well-known for very tasty Kobe Beef . You can taste
    real genuine Kobe Beef here. Kobe is also called “Home of Japanese Sake” with lots of Sake breweries, and I recommend you would visit those breweries
    if you have any interest in Japanese Sake as well as one aspect of Japanese cultures. Of course, you can have tastings of various kinds of Sake there.

    Whenever during the tour, I always try to make it safe, pleasant and comfortable for all of the guests, which is my first priority. I am very much confident
    that you can have a pleasant and unforgettable experience in Japan. Just tell me about your preference; what you would like to like to see, have, know
    and eat and so on. Particularly, I hold the license for cooking qualified by the government here and maybe, I can reply you for questions related to the
    foods here. In this respect, I strongly recommend you would try not only famous Japanese cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura or Suki-yaki but some
    Japanese traditional local foods, like Tako-yaki, Okonomi-yaki and Kushkatsu. They are sometimes called the soul foods of Japan. Here is the brief
    explanation for these three foods.

    1) Tako-yaki
    Tako-yaki is a snack filled with pieces of octopus in a batter of flour , egg and soup stock. You can call them octopus dumplings or balls. “Tako” means
    octopus and “yaki” means grilled or broiled.
    2) Okonomi-yaki
    This word Okonomi-yaki means “cook just as you like” and you can use whatever you like as toppings, such as beef, pork, shrimp, squid and octopus.
    Okonomi-yaki is round shape and just like pancakes or pizza in shape mainly made from egg, flour and water.
    3) Kushi-katsu
    Kushi-katsu is skewered cutlet or deep-fried foods on a stick. “Kushi” means skewer and “katsu” means cutlet. Various kinds of foods are used for
    ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, octopus and lots of kinds of vegetables.

    Actually, the western Japan including Osaka, Kobe and Himeji is called as “Home of such local soul foods”. You should give it a try and I am sure
    that you like them very much.

    I sincerely hope that I can be your tour guide this time in Kobe, Osaka and Himeji. If my guests said to me after the tour, “I have had a very good
    and pleasant time with you today. I hope I can come here again and name you as our guide”, which is my great pleasure. Moreover, I would be
    great honored if they say “I like Japan now thanks to you”.

    Looking forward to meeting you soon here.
    Doomo Arigato Gozaimasu!
    Yama

    Request Booking

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    Jul 20, 2026
    Eric_W
    Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    Castle journey worth your time!
    Our tour with…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Diane_B
    Viator review: Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Yama was amazing!!
    Our tour guide…

    Jul 4, 2026
    Navigator661725
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful time!
    We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was…

  • Kyoto: Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto: Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo & Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo
    • 9:15-9:35 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
    • 09:50-10:15 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 10:40-11:10 Nijo Castle
    • 11:25-11:35 Photos at Gion Shirakawa
    • 11:40-12:40 Lunch (Kyoto Cuisine Izutsu)
    • 12:45-13:05 Matcha sweets in Gion
    • 13:30-14:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 14:30 Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. The itinerary was: Hotel → the Bamboo Grove path in Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji → Nijo Castle → photos at Gion Shirakawa → lunch (Kyoto cuisine restaurant) → matcha sweets in Gion → Fushimi Inari Taisha → Hotel. The highest temperature that day reached 37 degrees. I kept my explanations as short and concise as possible, but the guests were refined and well-mannered throughout, and everyone in the group listened attentively to the explanations. For lunch, I guided the group to a Kyoto cuisine restaurant, where they enjoyed a hot-pot experience with sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. During the meal, we talked about the current state of language education and history classes in schools in each of our countries. From my side as a guide, I explained the differences in grammar (word order) between English and Japanese, as well as dining etiquette in Japan. After lunch, I took the group to a shop for matcha sweets they had especially been looking forward to, and (together with the following visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha) every item on the group's to-do list for the day ended up being checked off.

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

    Tour Report by Masaki

    My name is Masaki Kitagawa, a male in the middle of 50s living in Kyoto with my wife, son and three cats. While working for a local energy company on weekdays, I’ve been a tour guide on weekends since 2019 and enjoy interacting with people coming from different worlds. It is my great pleasure to help you make your excursion time-efficient and pleasant even during the high seasons in Kyoto. Considering your interests, preferences and priorities, I want to design and make your journey fruitful one. I’m thrilled to be contacted from you. Let’s explore Kyoto !

    Request Booking

    Jun 3, 2026
    Nikki G
    Wonderful experience with a great guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Masaki was our guide through…

    May 24, 2026
    Pamela_C
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Perfect day in Kyoto with the best guide!…

    May 4, 2026
    TravelersHigh77
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent English speaking guide for Kyoto
    Masaki was s wonderful and patient…

    Nov 29, 2025
    vsairamkumar
    Kyoto guided tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had great fun exploring Kyoto with Masaki San.…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Hie Shrine & Imperial Palace

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Hie Shrine & Imperial Palace

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:25　Meet up @Hotel
    • 10:45　Hie Shrine
    • 11:50　Meiji Shrine
    • 13:30　Imperial Palace
    • 14:35　Dismiss @Hotel

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report Covering Hie Shrine, Meiji Shrine, and the Imperial Palace The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time. They planned to travel to Kyoto and Osaka after sightseeing in Tokyo. At Hie Shrine, they listened with great interest to the explanation about the differences between shrines and temples, and they were particularly intrigued by the staircase lined with red torii gates. At Meiji Shrine, they seemed deeply impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere, which felt remarkable for a location within the city. They also purchased an ema and wrote down their wishes on it. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo shogunate. Since I responded according to the guests' wishes, I believe they were satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAkasaka (Tokyo)～Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo180JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo～Nijubashimae210JPY
    Section 3SubwayNijubashimae～Akasaka (Tokyo)180JPY
    Total570JPY

    Tour Report by Seizo

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

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    Jul 10, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful Tour of Kamakura
    Seizo Kamiuto was out…

    Jun 9, 2026
    stacy_grana
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with an experienced guide
    Our guide, Seizo, was amazing.…

    Jun 6, 2026
    U9351HJjakes
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Seizo Kamiuto was great and super knowledgeable. He had a…

    May 20, 2026
    HugoJ670
    Tripadvisor review: Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Tokio in de zon
    Seizo Kaminto is een uitstekende…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 09:00　Meet at Noku Kyoto
    • ② 09:05　Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
    • ③ 09:50　Sanjusangendo
    • ④ 11:00　Stroll along the Philosopher's Path
    • ⑤ 11:20　Honen-in Temple
    • ⑥ 12:30　Lunch break (around the Philosopher's Path area)
    • ⑦ 13:30　Nanzen-ji Sanmon Gate
    • ⑧ 14:00　Konchi-in Temple
    • ⑨ 15:00　Disband in front of Konchi-in Temple

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour of Quiet Temples and Gardens Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan and Kyoto for the first time. They were both full of humor, laughing and chatting a great deal, which made spending time together truly enjoyable. We had a wonderful time talking about the Beatles — humming "Let It Be" and discussing Abbey Road and Penny Lane at length. Originally the plan had been to visit Gion and Kiyomizu-dera, but after talking more, it turned out that the list of places I had assumed were the guests' own requests had actually been chosen by a travel agency, and they did not really know what those spots were like, having left it entirely up to the agency. They said what they truly wanted was to see quiet, tranquil temples, gardens, and beautiful scenery, so I suggested changing the itinerary. I guided them to temples and shrines with wonderful gardens and dry landscape (karesansui) gardens where there were as few people as possible, adding the Philosopher's Path as well. When I explained the concept of wabi-sabi while looking at a karesansui garden at a Zen temple, they listened very earnestly, but then they said something I had never quite thought of before — "wabi-sabi sounds a bit like wasabi, I'll remember it through wasabi" — which made me laugh in turn. For lunch they tried okonomiyaki for the first time, and while waiting for it to cook, I taught them the little battle over the bonito flakes flying off on the hot iron plate and the small pieces of cabbage — "that one's mine, no it's mine!" The time passed pleasantly in this way throughout, and before long it was time to say goodbye.

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

    Tour Report by Kazu

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

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    Jul 29, 2026
    James_G
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide and very…
    Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    peterhR6472GA
    Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with Kazu…

    Jul 12, 2026
    cgalvez73
    Fantastic tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:20 Meet at Kyoto Station　8:55 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple　10:00 Gio-ji Temple　11:00 Daikaku-ji Temple　12:00 Lunch (Japanese cuisine)　12:45 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove　　13:35 Gion　　14:20 Tour ends

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Kyoto's Arashiyama Temples Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a solo traveler visiting Japan from North America, who came to Kyoto after working in Nagoya. Up until the day of the tour, the schedule kept changing and it remained unclear how many people would join, so there was some uncertainty about what to expect. In the prior email exchanges, communication was not always smooth, and it was difficult to finalize the destinations to visit. After meeting on the day of the tour, we continued to discuss the itinerary on the train. At one point the suggestion came up that it would be enough to view the temples only from the outside without going inside. I explained that you cannot truly appreciate their value without going inside, and we finally decided to visit Adashino Nenbutsu-ji. After that, we walked all the way to Gio-ji and Daikaku-ji on foot. We entered the temple grounds where I gave explanations along the way. It was a full day of walking through Kyoto's temples in the Arashiyama area. Regarding whether one more participant might join, it seemed the plan had been to find another traveler in Kyoto and invite them along. The photo was taken at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji.

    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 2OtherDaikaku-ji Temple～Saga-Arashiyama Station230JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Tofuku-ji240JPY
    Section 4BusTofuku-ji／Kyoto City Bus～Gion／Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total940JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

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

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    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…

    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…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional 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…

  • Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Nanzen-ji Temple

    Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Nanzen-ji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:40 to 11:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:00 to 12:30 Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 12:40 to 13:10 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 13:30 to 14:20 Okochi Sanso Villa
    • 14:20 to 14:40 Sagano Bamboo Forest
    • 15:30 to 16:00 Tenju-an Temple
    • 16:00 to 16:30 Nanzen-ji Temple

    What's a Private Kyoto Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests came from Europe. The guests were interested in Japanese gardens and requested to visit the garden of Tenjuan, a sub-temple within Nanzen-ji Temple, so I took them there. Since they were interested in Japanese gardens, I also introduced popular nearby spots such as Okochi Sanso Villa and the gardens of Nanzen-ji Temple, even though these were not on their original wish list. They were very pleased. Although it was a hot day, the guests walked steadily without a single complaint about the heat. As a result, the tour progressed smoothly.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKyoto Station / Kyoto City Bus～Kinkaku-ji Michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2TrainRanden Saga～Randen Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 3SubwayUzumasa Tenjingawa～Keage260JPY
    Section 4SubwayKeage～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Total960JPY

    Tour Report by Haru

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

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    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    July, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.13:00 Meet @ Hotel Tateshina
    • 2.13:40 @ Tsukiji
    • 3.14:50 @ Asakusa
    • 4.16:30 @ Meiji Shrine
    • 5.17:20 @ Takeshita Street
    • 6.18:40 @ Shibuya
    • 7.19:00 Disband @ Hotel Tateshina

    What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Covering Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest had arrived that morning from Europe and was visiting Japan for the first time. A very earnest guest, they mentioned that there are many travelers who do not follow the rules in Europe as well, and asked me to let them know if there were any rules that must be observed in Japan. A friend was scheduled to arrive in the evening, and the two of them planned to travel around Japan together for about a month. Wanting to try various snacks, at Tsukiji they enjoyed sushi, green tea, and melon, and also purchased a peach. At Asakusa they tried ningyo-yaki, matcha ice cream, and taiyaki, and on Takeshita Street they enjoyed a brown sugar tapioca drink. They said Meiji Shrine was very beautiful. Perhaps due to the heat, it was not very crowded, and in the evening a pleasant breeze was blowing. I believe they enjoyed themselves.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku-sanchome～Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji～Asakusa290JPY
    Section 3TrainAsakusa～Meiji-jingumae260JPY
    Section 4TrainMeiji-jingumae～Shibuya180JPY
    Section 5TrainShibuya～Shinjuku-sanchome180JPY
    Total1,120JPY

    Tour Report by FUMIKO

    Hello, I am Fumiko, an English-speaking Tourist Guide. I have been guiding foreign visitors science 2016. Please let me know your bucket lists whiles you are staying in Japan and what you are interested in. I will make the best plan for you. This is an once in a lifetime experience for you. As for myself, I love traveling, meeting people, eating local food, drinking, history, and art. I am learning Ikebana, traditional Japanese-style flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. I also love sports, especially tennis. I like children, so I can teach them some origami, folding paper. I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Japan.

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    Jul 27, 2026
    zyarisa
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko tour good vibes only
    Mrs. fumiko was very…

    Jul 23, 2026
    734mortenp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Nice tour of Tokyo
    Don’t visit Tokyo without a guide! You’ll…

    Jul 10, 2026
    Jessica_A
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko was wonderful. …
    Fumiko was wonderful. You can…

    Jun 28, 2026
    alistairn2016
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fumiko is a great tour guide – informative, friendly and very well…