Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Nijo Castle ➡ Nijo Castle (10:00~11:10) ➡ Kinkaku-ji Temple by bus (11:40~12:20) ➡ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by taxi (12:50~13:30) ➡ Shijo by Randen & Hankyu, lunch at a Chinese restaurant (14:10~14:50), Nishiki Market (14:50~15:30) ➡ Walk to the tea ceremony shop reserved for 16:00 and disband (16:00)

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle and a Tea Ceremony The second day with the guests. Today the meeting point was set at Nijo Castle. The guests were very interested in the interior of the Ninomaru Palace and the painted fusuma sliding doors in each room, and asked many questions. For lunch, they wished to sit at a table at a restaurant rather than eat at Nishiki Market, and preferred Chinese food. I took them to a Chinese restaurant near Nishiki Market. They enjoyed a wide variety of dishes, including ramen, gyoza, and fried rice. Since they wanted to experience a head spa in Osaka, I helped them make a reservation. I then took them to a tea ceremony shop where a reservation had been made for 16:00, and we parted ways there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusNijojo-mae~Kinkakuji-michi/Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Shijo-omiya250JPY
    Section 3TrainOmiya (Kyoto Prefecture)~Karasuma170JPY
    Total650JPY

    Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
    I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
    I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!

    Jul 17, 2026
    TROY_R
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    This was a perfect tour…
    This was a perfect tour of…

    Sep 18, 2025
    L9831WKjenniferb
    4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely afternoon with English…

    Aug 15, 2025
    SuperGC68
    Great value
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Inspire64445626178
    Delightful day with Emi
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a delightful day with our guide…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani & Hakone Venetian Glass Museum

    Kanagawa in One Day: Owakudani & Hakone Venetian Glass Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at the hotel
    • 10:30 Owakudani
    • 12:00 Hakone Shrine
    • 14:00 Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
    • 15:50 Tour ends at the hotel

    Title: What's a Private Hakone Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They had already traveled around Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto before this Hakone tour, which came after a long-held wish to visit Japan. Although they strongly hoped to see Mount Fuji, the sky was unfortunately cloudy and it was mostly not visible. However, the summit briefly appeared partway through, which delighted them greatly. They had heard about the famous "black eggs" of Owakudani and were very interested in them, and were thrilled by the story that "eating one adds seven years to your life." The whole group enjoyed the experience. At Hakone Shrine, I explained the differences between Shinto and Buddhism and the differences in ways of worship. They were moved to purchase omamori charms and to receive a goshuin stamp, which they had begun collecting since arriving in Japan. For lunch along the way, they ordered tempura rice bowl and tsukimi soba, and both were highly satisfying. It was clear that they were thoroughly enjoying their stay in Japan.

    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.

    Aug 18, 2026
    Heather_C
    Private tour for 4 in Tokyo – highly recommend
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide…

    Aug 8, 2026
    victoriahD2588SK
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    An action packed visit to Hakone!
    Atsushi was an…

    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…

  • Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Hotel – 8:45 Toyosu Market – 11:00 Tsukiji Outer Market – 11:50 Asakusa – 12:00 Disband at Asakusa

    What Is a Private Tokyo Tour of Toyosu Market and Asakusa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private Tokyo tour for a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. The guests were spending a few days in Tokyo before boarding a cruise ship from Yokohama Port to travel around various cities in Japan and also visit Jeju Island in Korea. From Shiodome Station on the Yurikamome Line, located very close to the Hotel, we headed to Toyosu Market. We had breakfast at a sushi restaurant that was already open, and even though the guests regularly eat sushi at home, they found it truly delicious. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they purchased a kitchen knife made using traditional sword-making techniques. After a coffee break, we went to Asakusa, went up to the observation deck of the information center, and parted ways there. The guests enjoyed experiencing Japanese food culture.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShiodome~Shijo-mae390JPY
    Section 2BusToyosu Market / Toei Bus~Tsukiji Rokuchome / Toei Bus210JPY
    Section 3BusTsukiji / Toei Bus~Ginza Yonchome / Toei Bus210JPY
    Section 4SubwayGinza~Asakusa210JPY
    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…

  • Osaka: Shitennoji Temple & Umeda Sky Building

    Osaka: Shitennoji Temple & Umeda Sky Building

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet up @Hotel Brighton city Osaka Kitahama
    • 9:00-10:30@Osaka Castle, Hokoku Shrine
    • 11:00-11:40@Shitennoji Temple
    • 12:15-13:30 Lunch & Shopping @Harukas
    • 14:05-14:50@Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 15:45-16:15@Umeda Sky Building
    • 16:30-17:30 Shopping (Yodobashi Camera)
    • 18:00 Disband @ Hotel Brighton city Osaka Kitahama

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They arrived in Japan the day before the tour, transiting through another Asian destination. Since they had already visited Dotonbori on their own the previous day, I adjusted the itinerary slightly. It was an extremely hot day with no wind, but the guests walked energetically throughout. The area where they live has factories of Toyota, Honda, Mazda and others, and many Japanese people live there, so the guests were quite familiar with Japan. Even so, since this was their first visit, they were first surprised by how clean the subway was and even asked me to take photos. Each of the guests had decided what they wanted to buy in Japan, and we spent a lot of time at Yodobashi Camera, where you can find just about anything.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKitahama (Osaka)~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka190JPY
    Section 3SubwayShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka~Tennoji190JPY
    Section 4TrainTennoji-ekimae~Sumiyoshitorii-mae240JPY
    Section 5TrainSumiyoshi Taisha~Namba (Nankai Line)240JPY
    Section 6SubwayNamba (Subway)~Umeda (Subway)240JPY
    Section 7SubwayHigashi-Umeda~Kitahama (Osaka)190JPY
    Total1,480JPY

    I’m Sahiko Ogura, Sachiko literally means ‘happy child’, please call me Sachiko or Sachi for short. I was born and raised in Osaka. I’ve been guide for 6 years mainly in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara after having worked far trading company. I love traveling and visited about 30 countries, where I had a great time and experienced something new and exciting. I also like sports, tea ceremony and gardening, I’m growing veritable and flower in my garden. Please let me know your interest and anything what you would like to do during your tour. I’m happy to make an itinerary customized for you.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you and exploring in my home town!

    Sep 26, 2026
    Y
    yolanda552
    Sachiko the best tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sachiko was our tour guide…

    Sep 9, 2026
    peteraI5718XP
    My First Visit to Osaka
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    I enjoyed seeing Osaka through Sachiko’s…

    Sep 4, 2026
    S
    satchithh
    Hasabnis family
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Sachiko or Choko Ogura is a…

    Aug 3, 2026
    G6602NEeduardoa
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Osaka Tour with Sachiko
    We had a great Osaka…

  • Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkakuji

    Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkakuji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 to 10:45 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:15 to 12:00 Sanjusangendo
    • 12:15 to 12:45 Gion
    • 12:45 to 13:45 Lunch at Gion
    • 14:00 to 14:30 Nishiki Market
    • 15:00 to 15:45 Ginkakuji

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were a group visiting from North America. They mentioned that in their home region the summer temperatures are similar to Japan, but the humidity is only around 30%. Some of the guests seemed tired due to the high humidity in Japan. After the tour ended at 17:00, they had planned to see the illumination at Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires. However, some of the guests were not feeling well. We decided to interrupt the tour partway through and return to the hotel. I can only pray for their safe recovery.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Shichijo Keihan-mae / Kyoto City Bus170JPY
    Section 3BusHigashiyama Shichijo / Kyoto City Bus~Gion / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 4BusShijo Keihan-mae / Kyoto City Bus~Shijo Takakura / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 5BusShijo Kawaramachi / Kyoto City Bus~Ginkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 6BusGinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus~Karasuma Imadegawa (Subway Imadegawa Station) / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Section 7SubwayImadegawa~Kyoto260JPY
    Total1,500JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at the hotel ➡ Kyoto Station by taxi (station building guide) ➡ Fushimi Inari Taisha by JR (11:00~11:45) ➡ Sanjusangendo by taxi (12:00-12:40) ➡ Yasaka Pagoda by taxi ➡ Lunch (13:10~14:10) ➡ On foot, Sannenzaka ~ Kiyomizu-dera ~ Chawanzaka ~ Yasui Konpiragu ~ Gion (14:10~16:00) ➡ Disband at Gion (16:00)

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour With a Licensed Guide Like? A Guide's Report The guests were a cheerful and lovely group visiting from Europe. Some of the guests preferred shopping over sightseeing at temples, while another preferred sightseeing. At Kiyomizu-dera, opinions were divided, and in the end they chose to see only the exterior before moving on. They said they were satisfied after thoroughly visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha and Sanjusangen-do. For lunch, they preferred Italian food over Japanese options such as wagyu beef or sushi, so I took them to a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant nearby, which they were very pleased with. The staff member in the photo said it was fine to be photographed.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Total150JPY

    Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
    I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
    I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!

    Jul 17, 2026
    TROY_R
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    This was a perfect tour…
    This was a perfect tour of…

    Sep 18, 2025
    L9831WKjenniferb
    4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely afternoon with English…

    Aug 15, 2025
    SuperGC68
    Great value
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Inspire64445626178
    Delightful day with Emi
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a delightful day with our guide…

  • Hiroshima: Shukkeien Garden & Peace Park

    Hiroshima: Shukkeien Garden & Peace Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:55 Hotel
    • 9:20 Shukkeien Garden
    • 10:30 Hiroshima Castle
    • After buying drinks at the Seven-Eleven inside Shareo, buy Baumkuchen at SOGO.
    • 12:10 Hypocenter
    • 12:25 Peace Park (Atomic Bomb Dome, story of in-utero exposure survivors, Rest House)
    • 12:55 Tour ends at the underground entrance of the Rest House

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hiroshima Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests on this tour came through a request based on a referral from relatives who had visited the previous spring. On that earlier occasion it had rained heavily, but this day was clear with a high of 34°C. Since one of the guests was sweating profusely even in the shade, I chose the coolest possible places, such as underground shopping areas and buildings, but once above ground there was almost nowhere to escape the heat. Having heard beforehand from a fellow guide that the Atomic Bomb Museum was very crowded, I informed the guests and suggested that they borrow the audio guide at the reception and visit on their own after the tour, in the early evening when it would be less crowded. When I asked whether they would like to take the streetcar or walk from the hotel to Shukkeien Garden, they said they preferred to walk, so we strolled slowly while I asked about their impressions of Miyajima the day before and the fireworks in Fukuyama. I also explained Hiroshima's streetcar system as we walked. Shukkeien Garden was not crowded, so we were able to go around at our own relaxed pace. From time to time we sat on benches to hydrate and kept an easy pace. They mentioned that the gardens in Kyoto had been lovely as well, but they seemed to enjoy Shukkeien too. The admission fee had recently been revised sharply, from 260 yen to 350 yen for adults. Although it takes less than five minutes to walk to Hiroshima Castle, walking along a road with almost no shade was very hot. Since the topic of baumkuchen came up, I talked about how baumkuchen spread from Hiroshima as we headed toward the castle. The 500 ml cooling pack I had brought completely melted in less than an hour. I let them know that the castle keep would close next March and suggested that, if interested, they could enter the keep after the tour within opening hours. I introduced the Astram Line station in the underground shopping area in the city, which has a vending machine selling momiji manju. They also bought baumkuchen at a shop near the underground passage, and when they ate it on a bench, both of them were delighted, saying "It's so delicious!" Because of the heat, I mentioned the option of going up the Orizuru Tower, but as they were undecided, we did not go and instead began the explanation of the hypocenter and the Peace Memorial Park. Just near the Atomic Bomb Dome, a person who had been exposed to radiation in the womb happened to be present again today, so I spoke a little about them and explained that the guests could hear their story after the tour if interested. When I spoke to that person, they said, "It's hot in the afternoon and there are few people to listen, so I'm heading home now," so before they left, I had the guests listen briefly to their story. The guests listened with great interest. As the tour's ending time was approaching, I took them to the Rest House and the basement where a person had survived inside the building, and ended the tour at the entrance to the basement. It was a tour in very hot conditions, but both of the guests seemed very pleased. That is all.

    Dear guests,
    Hello! My name is Miki. I was born and brought up in Hiroshima. I enjoy traveling around Inland Sea areas and I enjoy chatting with guests from overseas!

    In Hiroshima, you can see many beautiful rivers and old bridges. Lately, I often take photos of Hiroshima city including bridges and rivers. There are not many tall buildings here, but I know some places you can visit and see the view for free. By the atomic bomb dome, there is a building called Orizuru(paper crane) Tower. You need to pay to go up to the top floor but you can see the view of Hiroshima city and the Miyajima Island(Itsukushima).

    Many tourists from overseas as well as Japan want to visit Miyajima Island. You can see a beautiful shrine from Heian Period which is around 12th century and a huge Torii gate in front of the shrine and it is in the water. There are several ways to visit the island from Hiroshima city. If you are going to stay near JR Hiroshima Station, we will visit the island by JR train and JR ferry. If you are staying in the city area, we can go there by streetcar and ferry, or there is a high-speed boat from Peace Memorial Park pier directly to the island and vise versa.

    Hoping to see you in the near future!

    Miki
    Your tour guide in Hiroshima

    May 20, 2026
    Barbgal
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Walking tour of Hiroshima – 4 hours
    It was a…

    May 16, 2026
    E8055FUjamesg
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great day in sunny Hiroshima
    We were with Miki Nakashima,…

    Apr 5, 2026
    jacquid804
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Miki was amazing
    Miki was fabulous very informative and knowledgeable…

    Aug 19, 2025
    J
    Jemma H
    Excellent tour of Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Miyuki was a very…

  • Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Shinjuku Kabukicho

    Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Shinjuku Kabukicho

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00: Meet up @ Hotel
    • 08:20: Shibuya Scramble Crossing・Hachiko
    • 08:40: Meiji Shrine
    • 09:20: Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 10:30: Imperial Palace
    • 11:15: Sensoji Temple
    • 12:00: Lunch @ Sansada (Asakusa)
    • 13:00: Yasukuni Shrine
    • 13:40: Shinjuku Kabukicho
    • 14:00: Dismissal @ Hotel

    What Does a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from North America who was visiting Japan for the first time. Before coming to Japan they had already visited other destinations abroad, and they planned to sightsee in Tokyo and around Mount Fuji before returning home without visiting places such as Kyoto. At Meiji Shrine, they seemed deeply impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere. At Shinjuku Gyoen, they enjoyed strolling through the beautiful Japanese garden. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with great interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo shogunate. At Senso-ji Temple, they were very interested in explanations about the differences between temples and shrines and about Kaminarimon Gate. In Shinjuku Kabukicho, they enjoyed seeing sights such as the Godzilla head and the 3D cat screen. Since I handled everything according to the guest's wishes, I believe they were satisfied.

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
    jonaJ5014ZK
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Seizo was a tremendously fabulous…

    Sep 11, 2026
    M7402TTsharonp
    Higly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…

    Sep 8, 2026
    OnAir57127583503
    Amazing Experience with Kamakura Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our…

    Sep 4, 2026
    B2319ZKjoseo
    Pleasant stroll through HISTORY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We had a great time learning about…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:50 Meet up@the b Akasaka
    • 2. 09:55 Travel∶Subway
    • 3. 10:30 Stay@Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 4. 12:00 Travel∶Subway
    • 5. 12:50 Lunch@Aen
    • 6. 13:55 Stay@Shinjuku Kabukicho (Godzilla Head)
    • 7. 14:15 Travel∶Subway
    • 8. 14:30 Stay@Takeshita Street
    • 9. 14:50 Disband@Yoyogi Park Entrance

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial East Gardens, Shinjuku, and Harajuku The guests were a family visiting from Europe. Their accommodation was located at the top of a steep hill in Akasaka, which was a slightly inconvenient location, but I discovered that using an elevator near the TBS grounds made the trip considerably easier. The guests had reserved a 3-day subway pass online, which they had issued at Akasaka Station, and we traveled by subway from then on. Each of the guests had different interests, so we often stopped along the way, and we spent longer than planned at each spot. After guiding them through the Imperial East Gardens, the guests requested a proper sit-down lunch at a restaurant rather than a light meal, so I took them to a Japanese restaurant I frequent in Shinjuku. This lunch break was not part of the original plan, and the schedule ended up being pushed back by the time spent here. By the time we arrived in Harajuku we had already exceeded the schedule, so I skipped the guided portion at the final stop, Yoyogi Park, and we parted ways at the entrance.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAkasaka (Tokyo)~Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)~Shinjuku-sanchome210JPY
    Section 3SubwayShinjuku-sanchome~Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya Ward, Tokyo180JPY
    Total570JPY

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:25 Meet up @ Tokyo Tower
    • 2. 10:30 Travel: Subway
    • 3. 11:30 Visit @ Ueno Park
    • 4. 11:45 Visit @ Tokyo National Museum
    • 5. 13:10 Lunch @ Obon de Gohan
    • 6. 14:05 Travel: Subway
    • 7. 14:15 Visit @ Asakusa, Matsuchiyama Shoten (Rickshaw Experience)
    • 8. 15:25 Visit @ Sensoji Temple
    • 9. 16:25 Disband @ Tobu Asakusa Station

    What Is a Private Tokyo Cultural Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ueno and Asakusa This was a very fulfilling and enjoyable tour. I guided the group mostly along the itinerary that had been prepared in advance, and the time allocation turned out to be close to ideal. The group was based in North America. Since the guests seemed to have a particular interest in Japanese culture and history, I studied in advance before visiting the Tokyo National Museum. Some of the guests also showed interest in artifacts related to archaeology. Because some of the guests preferred kosher food, I took care with the meal arrangements. The restaurant we used in Ueno is a place that often has a line on weekends, but on this day we were able to get in without much of a wait. Since we seemed to have some extra time in Asakusa, I arranged a rickshaw experience at the request of the guests. Because the course included Matsuchiyama Shoten, a spot I do not usually visit, I chose that one. I rode along with one of the guests, and I could clearly tell how delighted they were. As I heard the group planned to visit Tokyo Skytree after the tour, I saw them off at Tobu Asakusa Station at the end and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKamiyacho~Ueno210JPY
    Section 2SubwayUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Total390JPY

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…