Category: Uncategorized

  • Kanagawa: Owakudani & Hakone Venetian Glass Museum

    Kanagawa: Owakudani & Hakone Venetian Glass Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:10 Meet at the hotel
    • 11:00 Owakudani
    • 12:30 Gora Park
    • 13:00 Lunch
    • 14:30  Hakone Venetian Glass Museum
    • 16:30 Tour ends at the hotel

    What Is a Private Hakone Day Tour Like in the Rain? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan from North America, staying in Hakone on their way to Kyoto after several days in Tokyo. There had been no contact from the guests until the night before, and this morning, when I went to the hotel that had been designated in advance, I discovered that the guests were staying at a completely different hotel — on the opposite side of Lake Ashi, no less — and for a moment I was unsure what to do. Fortunately, that hotel drove me the 20 minutes to the guests' hotel by car, so we were able to meet up somehow. It was likely a mistake in the arrangements by the agency or a missed change notification, but since I could not reach the guests until the last minute, it was a stressful situation. Hakone was rainy from the morning, and the rain was expected to grow even stronger in the afternoon, but I managed to take the guests to Owakudani. Even though we were in the clouds and could not see 100 meters ahead, they were able to sense the atmosphere of the place. After that, I took them to Gora Park, where the rose garden happened to be in full bloom, and they were delighted, taking many photos. In the afternoon, after consulting with the guests, we headed to the Hakone Glass Forest Museum, where I believe they were able to enjoy the nature of Hakone despite the rain. Finally, I recommended heading to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, but since it was raining heavily and the museum is outdoors, the guests wished to return to their hotel, so the tour ended a little early.

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya Crossing & Harajuku

    Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya Crossing & Harajuku

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Meet @ Hotel
    • 11:45 Shibuya Crossing
    • 12:30 Lunch @ Tsukiji Market Food Court
    • 14:00 Ginza (Mitsukoshi, Itoya)
    • 15:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 17:00 Harajuku
    • 17:30 Disband @ Harajuku Station

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Ginza, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku The guests were a group visiting from North America. At Tsukiji they enjoyed sashimi and strawberry daifuku, and were delighted, saying that all Japanese food was delicious. They also had ramen at a food court afterward. In Ginza, we visited the basement food floor of a department store and a stationery store. They loved the stationery store so much that they said they would like to return and take their time there again. Although it rained that day, they seemed to enjoy the stroll through Meiji Shrine. At UNIQLO, they took their time looking at T-shirts and made purchases, then we strolled along Takeshita Street and Omotesando. Since they were heading to Hakone the next day, I helped them purchase Shinkansen tickets at Harajuku Station before we said goodbye.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayIkejiri-Ohashi~Shibuya140JPY
    Section 2SubwayShibuya~Tsukiji209JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji~Ginza178JPY
    Section 4SubwayGinza~Meiji-Jingumae178JPY
    Total705JPY

    Hello,
    I’m Rumi.Welcome to Japan!!
    I’m a government-licensed guide in the Tokyo area.
    I’m so excited to have a chance to show you my favorite places in Tokyo.
    Tokyo is a fantastic city with many aspects like history,culture and food.
    What interests you about Tokyo?
    What kind of Japanese food would you like to try?
    I’ll take you to various places according to your request.
    My favorite spot is Meiji Shrine.
    It’s so peaceful that I’m sure you like it.
    I really like to talk with foreigners about various topics.So, I love my job.
    I look forward to meeting and guiding you soon.

    Aug 6, 2026
    madisonf392
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    A successful stopover
    I only had a stopover in Tokyo, but…

    Jun 29, 2026
    898clausw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really helpfull guide
    Extremely helpfull to have a friendly and competent guide…

    Jun 27, 2026
    sallypO7128PM
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo- family with older teens
    My family had an excellent…

    Jun 15, 2026
    Scott P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Terrific Tour and Guide
    We had an incredible day! Rumi was…

  • Osaka in One Day: Osaka Castle & Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

    Osaka in One Day: Osaka Castle & Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Meet up @Hotel at USJ
    • 12:30 Osaka Castle
    • 15:30 Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 17:30 Disband @Tempozan Market Place

    # What Is a Private Osaka Day Tour Like in the Rain? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Unfortunately, it rained all day. The group had traveled from Kyoto by car that morning, but arrived about 30 minutes late due to traffic congestion. We departed just before 12:00 and headed to Osaka Castle, but since one of the guests had difficulty walking, we moved at a fairly slow pace. As a result, the overall schedule fell behind, and we arrived at the next destination, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, around 15:30. At the request of the group, we canceled the stroll around the Minami area and headed to Tempozan, the ending point, so the tour concluded a little earlier than planned.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainUniversal City~Osakajokoen210JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Tengachaya290JPY
    Section 3TrainTengachaya~Sumiyoshi Taisha360JPY
    Section 4SubwayTengachaya~Osakako290JPY
    Total1,150JPY

    Thanks for joining our tour. I’m Hiro Nakagawa, assigned to be your guide for this tour. I was eligible as a National Licensed Tour Guide in 2017. I have guided many tourists from overseas since then. Japan is a beautiful country with full of various attractions. Please enjoy your time in this country to the fullest. I will help you with that. What are you interested in this country? I will introduce this country’s long history, traditional culture, beautiful seasonal highlights, and delicious food to you. Please let me know your preferences. If it’s other than which I mentioned, I’m preparing it for you as much as possible. Let’s enjoy the trip together!

    Jul 13, 2025
    H2enjoy
    Wonderful Day Trip to Mt. Koya from the Osaka Cruise Terminal
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure)…

    Jun 20, 2025
    zoranm709
    Kyoto great tour experience.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was…

    Jun 18, 2025
    Adventurer310309
    Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife…

    May 26, 2025
    SK G
    Excellent tour
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable…

  • Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:55 Meet up @ Sapporo Station
    • 2. 9:05 Former Hokkaido Government Office
    • 3. 9:25 Sapporo Clock Tower
    • 4. 9:55 Odori Park
    • 5. 10:15 Nijo Market
    • 6. 10:30 Tanukikoji
    • 7. 11:30 Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
    • 8. 12:45 Hokkaido Shrine
    • 9. 13:20 Lunch @ Picante (Soup Curry: Maruyama Branch)
    • 10. 14:50 Shiroi Koibito Park
    • 11. 16:00 Disband @ Odori Park

    Title: What Can You See on a Private History and Culture Tour of Sapporo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from North America who expressed interest in history and culture, so we began the private Sapporo tour at the former Hokkaido Government Office and the Sapporo Clock Tower (a facility of the former Sapporo Agricultural College, originally used as a drill hall). On the way to Hokkaido Shrine, we arrived at Maruyama Park by subway just as the bus to the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium was about to depart. Since this bus runs only once an hour, we added the stadium to our itinerary. This made the tour take longer than planned, but I believe the guest enjoyed it. As this was my first time guiding a guest from North America, it was a pleasure to be able to talk about various topics, including society in that region.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOdori Park Station~Maruyama Koen Station210JPY
    Section 2BusMaruyama Koen Bus Terminal~Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium240JPY
    Section 3BusOkurayama Ski Jump Stadium~Maruyama Koen Bus Terminal240JPY
    Section 4SubwayMaruyama Koen Station~Miyanosawa Station250JPY
    Section 5SubwayMiyanosawa Station~Odori Park Station290JPY
    Total1,230JPY

    I was born and raised in Hokkaido and have been a resident of Sapporo for over 30 years. I have been actively involved in guiding tourists around the scenic spots of Hokkaido, primarily focusing on Sapporo. Even before becoming a licensed interpreter guide, I engaged in volunteer activities to assist and guide foreigners, providing me with valuable opportunities to delve into the rich culture and history of Hokkaido.
    Hokkaido is renowned for its exceptional culinary scene, and I am well-versed in gourmet information. I believe I can offer an excellent experience by guiding individuals through the highly acclaimed food experiences that Hokkaido has to offer.

    Aug 15, 2026
    I654RPsandib
    Great experience
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We thoroughly enjoyed our 6 hours touring Sapporo with…

    Apr 22, 2026
    Agent PT A
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Super Sapporo in April with Tom.
    Tom was kind…

    Feb 10, 2026
    Alan_C
    Very enjoyable and well…
    Viator review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Very enjoyable and well worth it. Our…

    Sep 24, 2025
    saratW9816BN
    Tour up to the Moiwa mountain and lots more
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We’ve had…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Shinjuku Gyoen Park & Shibuya

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Shinjuku Gyoen Park & Shibuya

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting up @ Hotel Shinjuku
    • 9:20-10:10 Shinjuku Gyoen Park
    • 10:30-11:00 the Imperial Palace Sakuradamon-Nijubashi
    • 11:15-11:40 Takeshita St. & Omotesando St.
    • 11:40-12:20 Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • 12:30-13:00 Shibuya

    What Is a Rainy-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America, who had a strong interest in Japan, as one of them had once stayed in Japan for a week in the past. Although it rained that day, Shinjuku Gyoen was uncrowded, and the guests enjoyed a quiet stroll through the Japanese garden. At the Imperial Palace, they admired the impressive size of Sakuradamon Gate and the beautiful moats. One of the guests shared Korean customs and asked questions about the Japanese imperial family. On Takeshita Street, the guests were surprised by an animal cafe, and along Omotesando they enjoyed the remarkable architecture. At Meiji Shrine, they were moved by the quiet forest, and we had a lively conversation about religion. After viewing the Shibuya Crossing from above and then crossing it, one of the guests was interested in Nintendo and similar things, so I guided them to PARCO.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSendagaya~Sakuradamon330JPY
    Section 2TrainNijubashimae~Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Shibuya150JPY
    Total690JPY

    Hi,
    Thank you for contacting the Japan Guide Association to request a licensed guide for your upcoming visit to Japan. My name is Motoko Tanaka. I’m so happy to be assigned to you.
    Let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it is nice to hear that you are excited about your visit to this wonderful city. There is much to be excited about here in Tokyo. I have really enjoyed guiding in Tokyo and the surrounding areas for more than 10 years.
    I live with my husband and a dog named Alice. She was a rescue dog and I adopted her about 4 years ago. Now she is a very precious family member. I have two daughters, the elder one has a child and the younger has a aroma shop in a town near Mr. Fuji. I sometimes visit there with Alice.
    I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to create a special day.
    Regards,
    Motoko

    Apr 25, 2026
    catvila
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Primeira vez em Tóquio
    A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos…

    Apr 22, 2026
    72breannaj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
    We had an amazing…

    Apr 17, 2026
    denisemD3032GY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide (Tokyo/Kawagoe dep)
    Tokyo walking tour
    Our guide Motoko was so polite &…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Dennis_M
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Very nice and very…
    Very nice and very…

  • Osaka in One Day: Umeda Sky Building & Shinsekai

    Osaka in One Day: Umeda Sky Building & Shinsekai

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet @ Wa-qoo Shitadera-machi
    • 09:45 @ Umeda Sky Building
    • 11:45 @ Dotonbori (via Shinsaibashi)
    • 12:45 @ Namba, Doguyasuji
    • 14:00 @ Shinsekai
    • 15:00 Disband @ Namba, Ebisubashi Shopping Street

    Title: What's a Private Osaka Food Walk and Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They moved smoothly between locations, but they acted quite freely, and at one point I lost sight of them inside the Umeda Sky Building. I tried to reach them by phone and by message, but received no reply. I later found them taking a light meal and resting at a cafe, and we were able to resume the tour without any trouble. After that, one of the guests seemed to enjoy filming videos, so we frequently paused to allow time for that. The purpose of this tour felt like it was centered on filming videos and food-tasting. In Shinsaibashi they enjoyed cheese tarts, in Dotonbori they had takoyaki, and in Shinsekai they tried Billiken-shaped taiyaki. Afterward, they said they wanted to eat cheesecake, so I guided them to a shop popular among locals (which they planned to visit later). I presented them with a handmade drawstring pouch, which they were delighted to receive. Special note) The guests stayed at a temple-lodging-style facility, where breakfast was said to be shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). The guests mentioned that they had received no advance information about this facility from the agency. They also felt it was not in a particularly good location and that there were no places to eat nearby, and they seemed quite dissatisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTennoji~Osaka240JPY
    Section 2SubwayUmeda~Shinsaibashi240JPY
    Section 3SubwayNamba~Dobutsuen-mae190JPY
    Section 4SubwayDobutsuen-mae~Namba190JPY
    Total860JPY

    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

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    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…

  • Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage in 1 Day Hike

    Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage in 1 Day Hike

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel parking lot – meeting / Travel by guest rental car
    • 9:15- 9:50 Daimonzaka parking lot → Daimonzaka walk / Travel by guest rental car
    • 10:00-10:40 Nachi Taisha Shrine, Seiganto-ji Temple, Three-Story Pagoda tour
    • 10:50-1110 Nachi Falls / Travel by guest rental car
    • 11:30-12:10 Amida-ji Temple / Travel by guest rental car
    • 12:50-13:30 Lunch, in front of Shingu Station "Jofuku Sushi" / Travel by guest rental car
    • 13:50-14:00 Viewing Hanajiro Falls / Travel by guest rental car
    • 15:05-15:50 Dorokyo Gorge / Travel by guest rental car
    • 16:50 Hotel parking lot – dismissal

    Was Nachi Falls and the Kumano Area Worth a Private Car Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report Because we were able to travel by rental car driven by one of the guests, we had a high degree of freedom and could expand our range of activities. Needless to say, the guests enjoyed the area around Nachi Falls, which is famous and popular with everyone. In addition, destinations that are best reached by car, such as Amida-ji Temple and Dorokyo Gorge, were quiet and we hardly encountered anyone, which I believe was a special experience for the guests, who are used to city life. As a typical contrast, the surface of the stone steps of Daimon-zaka, where many people pass through, is cleanly exposed, whereas the stone steps of Amida-ji Temple are entirely covered in moss. The Yamabiko Bridge at Dorokyo Gorge is quite high and thrilling, and everyone is surprised when I tell them that it was washed away in the flood of 2011 and rebuilt afterward. The sanma-zushi (Pacific saury sushi) we had for lunch is a traditional dish of this region, and the guests liked it very much.

    I grew up in the mountain village. I learned many things from my family, especially my grandmother. I can give you many interesting experiences in the wild nature. We eat wild strawberries or “Sukanpo ” the edible grass, fly ferns or cross a suspension bridge.
    I walked all of Kumano Kodo, Koyasan pilgrimage roads and other ancient highways, total length is more than 600km ( 400 miles).
    I want you to show the interesting spots beyond the guide book. Kii mountain range has old history as well as beautiful land scapes. I’ll take you the excellent places you can do Facebook bragging.
    My experiences for guiding foreigners are, town of Koyasan, pilgrimage road to Koyasan, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi, hot springs, Shingu city and Nachi Katsuura town, Kushimoto area, Shirahama area so on.
    I wish to meet you soon!

    May 12, 2025
    andrewgT8079NS
    Wonderful guide and magical scenery and locations.
    Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful, interesting…

    Apr 29, 2025
    farmahel
    A truly magnificent journey through the Kumano Kodo with a wonderfully kind Hira
    Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip…

    Apr 27, 2025
    Sofia_N
    Had a great time. Guide…
    Viator review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
    Had a great time.…

    Mar 23, 2025
    G
    GoPlaces681850
    Wonderful time with a local.
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Hira,…

  • Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at Conrad Osaka, departure ➡ Osaka Castle by subway (get soaked) ➡ Umeda Sky Building by JR ➡ Take a taxi from Umeda to the hotel, disband (12:00)

    Title: What Is a Rainy-Day Private Osaka Castle Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who had arrived at Kansai International Airport the previous night. In the morning there was heavy rain, and by the time we reached the main keep of Osaka Castle, the guests, who only had rain jackets, were soaked. When I suggested buying umbrellas at Miraiza, they took a liking not to the plastic umbrellas but to the traditional janome umbrellas, and both of them purchased one. Perhaps because of the weather, there were few tourists inside the main keep of Osaka Castle, which was fortunate. No one was lined up for the usual samurai helmet and jinbaori try-on experience, which normally has a long queue, so they tried it on right away and purchased the photos that were taken. Had it been sunny, the plan was to visit Dotonbori after the Umeda Sky Building, but since the guests were wet even inside their trousers and shoes, we decided to return to the hotel to change clothes and move on to Kyoto earlier than planned. Travel is greatly affected by the weather, and it can significantly change how much fun you have. Tomorrow looks like it will be sunny, so I hope the guests can fully enjoy Kyoto.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigobashi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2TrainOsakajokoen~Osaka180JPY
    Total370JPY

    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…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Hotel Meet (@Hotel Kyoto Rokujo)
    • 8:30-9:15 Transfer (Subway; Karasuma Gojo → Kyoto, JR; Kyoto → Inari)
    • 9:15-10:15 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 10:15-11:10 Transfer (Keihan Train; Fushimi Inari → Gion Shijo, Hankyu Train; Kawaramachi Shijo → Arashiyama)
    • 11:10-12:30 Arashiyama walk & sightseeing (Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryu-ji Temple Garden [Sogenchi Garden, Hyakkaen], Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine)
    • ※Tour ends. After the tour, we took them to the Teramachi shopping arcade in Shijo and said goodbye.

    What Is a Private Kyoto Tour of Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. This was a graduation trip, and it was their first time in Japan. I took them to Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama, but the tour ended up taking place in heavy rain. To avoid the crowds, we entered Fushimi Inari shortly after 9:00, but just like two days earlier, it was far more crowded than expected. In the heavy rain, the area in front of the Senbon Torii went beyond congestion and became completely gridlocked. Since I had built some extra time into the schedule, we were able to finish the tour on time as planned, but I felt especially sorry about how crowded Fushimi Inari was. Even with everyone using umbrellas, we all ended up soaked. It was also raining heavily in Arashiyama, but there were fewer people there, so I think the guests were able to enjoy it a little. Everyone especially liked the bamboo grove.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayGojo~Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari~Gion Shijo220JPY
    Section 4TrainKyoto Kawaramachi Shijo~Arashiyama240JPY
    Total830JPY

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

    Aug 4, 2026
    Elie_S
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Wonderful and informative walking tour with Michi
    We had a lovely…

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

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

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

  • Wakayama in Half a Day: Kongobuji Temple / Travel

    Wakayama in Half a Day: Kongobuji Temple / Travel

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:10 Meet at Koyasan Station / Travel by bus
    • 10:30-11:25 Visit Kongobuji Temple / Travel by bus
    • 11:40-13:10 Okunoin Approach Walk / Travel by bus
    • 13:20-14:00 Visit Danjo Garan / Travel on foot
    • 14:15-14:30 Visit Tokugawa Mausoleum / Travel on foot
    • 14:46-15:00 Travel by bus / Koyasan Station, disband

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Koyasan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Although the itinerary called for a 10:30 meeting time, I waited early and was able to meet the guests at 10:10. Since the indoor tour of Kongobuji Temple tends to get more crowded as the day goes on, we visited it first. I explained that Koyasan experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms in summer, and because it sits on high, flat terrain, lightning strikes have historically caused many fires, leaving almost none of the buildings from the time of its founding. At the Shinbetsuden hall, an ikebana flower arrangement display was taking place, allowing the guests to enjoy an aspect of Japanese culture. We then moved on to Okunoin, and partway through the walk we stopped at a restaurant for lunch, but for some reason we were turned away at the entrance. We took a bus to the Danjo Garan complex. Crossing the mountain path on the north side, we visited the Tokugawa Mausoleum by the shortest route, then moved to Koyasan Station from the bus stop in front of Kongobuji, saw the guests off, and parted ways. (Please delete the following if it causes any problems.) I believe I was able to respond with a smile throughout. When we said goodbye, I handed over a review card (which I would never do if I felt the tour had gone poorly), but I received a harsh review stating a request for a refund of the guide fee.

    I grew up in the mountain village. I learned many things from my family, especially my grandmother. I can give you many interesting experiences in the wild nature. We eat wild strawberries or “Sukanpo ” the edible grass, fly ferns or cross a suspension bridge.
    I walked all of Kumano Kodo, Koyasan pilgrimage roads and other ancient highways, total length is more than 600km ( 400 miles).
    I want you to show the interesting spots beyond the guide book. Kii mountain range has old history as well as beautiful land scapes. I’ll take you the excellent places you can do Facebook bragging.
    My experiences for guiding foreigners are, town of Koyasan, pilgrimage road to Koyasan, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi, hot springs, Shingu city and Nachi Katsuura town, Kushimoto area, Shirahama area so on.
    I wish to meet you soon!

    May 12, 2025
    andrewgT8079NS
    Wonderful guide and magical scenery and locations.
    Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful, interesting…

    Apr 29, 2025
    farmahel
    A truly magnificent journey through the Kumano Kodo with a wonderfully kind Hira
    Tripadvisor review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip…

    Apr 27, 2025
    Sofia_N
    Had a great time. Guide…
    Viator review: Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Full-Day Private Trip with Government Licensed Guide
    Had a great time.…

    Mar 23, 2025
    G
    GoPlaces681850
    Wonderful time with a local.
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Hira,…