Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kinkaku-ji

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kinkaku-ji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting: MIMARU Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo
    • 10:50 Sightseeing ①: Nijo Castle tour
    • 12:30 Sightseeing ②: Arashiyama tour (Bamboo Grove ⇒ lunch)
    • 15:00 Sightseeing ③: Kinkaku-ji tour
    • 16:00 End of guide (Kinkaku-ji)

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and Kinkaku-ji The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from North America for sightseeing. They were a lively and energetic group. I discussed the itinerary in advance with one of the guests, but even after I sent my first message, there was little response, and since there were only about ten days between the booking and the tour day, I asked [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to help follow up for a reply. Finally, four days before the tour, I received a response to the message I had sent via a messaging app, and we were just barely able to discuss the itinerary. Since the guests' requests for places to visit were difficult to finalize, on the day I proposed two plans (Plan 1: Nijo Castle → Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji; Plan 2: Kiyomizu-dera → Kodai-ji → Gion), and in the end we decided on Plan 1: Nijo Castle → Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji. On the day, the extreme heat that had continued for several days was ongoing, so I made an effort to keep the itinerary comfortable and manageable while being considerate of the group. Fortunately, since we mainly used trains, subways, and buses for transportation, we were able to spend most of the travel time in cool, air-conditioned environments. Also, although the plan for Arashiyama had included three spots (the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, and Togetsukyo Bridge), after walking through the Bamboo Grove, at the guests' request we skipped Tenryu-ji and Togetsukyo Bridge and decided to take a leisurely lunch instead. At a restaurant with strong air conditioning and spacious seating, we were able to relax and enjoy the meal at our own pace. At each destination, the guests showed a keen interest in Japanese history and culture, and they asked many questions in response to my explanations. Despite the extreme heat, it was an enjoyable tour with a close-knit group. Additional note (regarding input of transportation costs during the tour): Because the above matter was "sent back," I tried to input the information again using the method advised, but I could not proceed beyond "④ Amount: select the amount/route from the pull-down menu." Could there be a discrepancy in the system here? Having no other option, as with my first input, I set the "transportation method" to "Other," manually entered the "amount," and entered "error" in the "remarks" field.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherKiyomizu-Gojo~Sanjo (Kyoto Prefecture)170JPY
    Section 2OtherSanjo Keihan~Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 3OtherNijojo-mae~Nijo220JPY
    Section 4OtherNijo~Saga-Arashiyama200JPY
    Section 5OtherArashiyama (Keifuku Line)~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 6OtherKitano-Hakubaicho / Kyoto City Bus~Kinkakuji-michi / Kyoto City Bus230JPY
    Total1,290JPY

    Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
    Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

    Aug 10, 2026
    Paul_H
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kind and knowledgeable guide – highly recommended
    Nori communicated…

    Apr 9, 2026
    Ron_W
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We saw so much in the…
    We saw so much in the…

    Mar 24, 2026
    zackn719
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
    We did our private tour with…

    Oct 20, 2025
    66speech
    Highlights of Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Yurakucho station & Tour completed

    Tokyo in One Day: Yurakucho station & Tour completed

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Aloft Tokyo Ginza, Walking in the Ginza
    • 10:00 Yurakucho station
    • 10:30 Ueno Ameya Yokocho
    • 11:40 Ueno Park
    • 14:15 Imperial Palace
    • 15:00 Tour completed

    I'm happy to help translate this, but the text you've provided appears to be a set of English conversational notes or questions—not a Japanese tour report. The instructions describe a workflow for anonymizing and translating a **Japanese-language tour report** into English. However, the content you've submitted is: 1. Already in English 2. Not structured as a tour report (no title field, tour route field, guide transportation field, etc.) 3. A list of miscellaneous conversational remarks and questions Because of this mismatch, I can't apply the intended process meaningfully. Could you please clarify what you'd like? For example: – If you have a **Japanese tour report** you'd like anonymized and translated, please paste that text. – If you'd like me to **anonymize this English list** (e.g., remove the references to San Francisco, Ohio, the U.S., etc.), I can do that instead—just confirm. If you want the anonymization applied to this English list, note that it contains location/nationality details (S.F., Ohio, U.S.) that would be generalized to a region (North America) under the rules. Let me know and I'll proceed.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherYurakucho~Otemachi523JPY
    Total523JPY

    Hello, welcome to Japan you all.

    I’m a resident of Ebina, Kanagawa, and am a national government licensed guide and interpreter.
    I enjoy showing travelers both the new and old of central Honshu, primarily Tokyo and Kanagawa, ranging from Meiji Shrine, Edo Castle, Tsukiji Outer Market, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, Ginza Sky Farmstead, Shibuya Zebra Crossings, Yokohama, Kamakura, to Hakone, not to mention Mt. Fuji, and sharing views with my guests on Japanese homes and their surroundings, Japan’s labor productivity and labor market, among others.

    I also enjoy introducing travelers to Japanese culture through home visits with Japanese families, touring Zen temples, and explaining the intricacies of Japanese culture.

    I am happy to arrange personalized tours to other places of your interest.
    I am making the most of my long experience as a foreign language education service, escorting VIPs at the Sony showroom in Ginza, Tokyo.
    I also offer services to help families and individuals relocating to Japan with immigration VISA applications.

    My hobbies are movies, strolling along the river in my neighborhood and am a novice at la lingua Italiano.
    Let’s enjoy touring together, shall we?

    Sep 27, 2026
    Jan_v
    City tour
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Very kind and knowledgeable guide. Taylor made…

    Sep 23, 2026
    Yolanda_S
    Tokyo walking tour with Hideaki
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Hideaki was our guide today and…

    Jul 16, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Private guide – a very good experience
    We spent a half…

    Jun 21, 2026
    CJW324
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Tablet Guided Origami Experience
    Unforgettable day in Tokyo with Hideaki — incredible with…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.10:00 Meet up@The Okura Tokyo Heritage Wing
    • 2.10:40 @Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate, Imperial Palace Plaza)
    • 3.11:30 @Tsukiji Market
    • 4.12:20 @Ginza (Kabukiza Theatre, Ginza 4-chome Crossing, NISSAN Showroom)
    • 5.13:15 Lunch@Bakuro Ichidai (Ginza)
    • 6.15:00 @Rikugien Garden
    • 7.16:55 Dismissal@The Okura Tokyo pedestrian passage entrance

    Title: What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report It was an extremely hot day. The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They mentioned that the heat back home was even greater than Tokyo's, yet judging by how they walked across the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace drenched in sweat while showing keen interest in the various buildings there, Tokyo's humidity seemed challenging for them. The guests had chosen Japan as their travel destination this time because one of them wished to, and the main reason was a deep love of Japanese food. Although there are Japanese restaurants back home, they were full of anticipation that authentic Japanese cuisine eaten in Japan would be far more delicious. Their flight to Japan was with ANA, and they seemed excited about the in-flight service and the Japanese meals as well. One of the guests loved sea urchin so much they said they would happily eat it every day at every meal, and during our stroll in Tsukiji they sampled sea urchin still in the shell at the Tsukiji fish market. They were highly satisfied. Initially, lunch during the tour was planned for the Tsukiji outer market, but the guests had already enjoyed a sushi dinner at a hotel the evening before the tour. So when I asked again about their wishes on the day, we settled on a shabu-shabu lunch. On the way to the lunch venue, they showed interest in some takoyaki we came across, but since we needed to be careful not to fill up before enjoying shabu-shabu, the takoyaki attempt was postponed to another day. At a Hida beef specialty restaurant in Ginza, they had their first shabu-shabu experience around the pot. They thoroughly enjoyed premium wagyu shabu-shabu with two dipping sauces, sesame sauce and ponzu. While Japanese food was a major reason for their visit, they also showed strong interest at the NISSAN showroom, which we visited unexpectedly. They eagerly viewed not only the first-floor but also the second-floor exhibits, and each of them took commemorative photos while sitting in the cars. Furthermore, at Rikugien Garden, which we visited at one guest's request, another guest remarked afterward, "I thought I wouldn't be that interested in a garden for viewing greenery since I'm more of a mechanical person, but I really enjoyed it." In fact, it seemed they also greatly liked the melon cream soda they ordered at the tea house. For the trip after lunch, since one of the guests might experience knee pain when walking for long periods, we moved to Rikugien Garden by taxi (using the guest's Uber app) at their request. The ride took about 25 minutes, but I think it gave them considerable relief from the heat. Finally, since they planned to visit Harajuku's Takeshita Street the next day, I explained how to get there from the hotel using the subway, and we said goodbye in front of the hotel entrance.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Toranomon Hills Station~Yurakucho Line Sakuradamon Station700JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Tokyo Station~Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station0JPY
    Section 3OtherJR Yamanote Line Komagome Station~Yurakucho Station180JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Ginza Station~Toranomon Hills Station0JPY
    Total880JPY

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

    Sep 10, 2026
    Sonal_G
    Noripy is just the best
    Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Noripy is such a…

    Jul 3, 2026
    Jody D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
    Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…

  • Tokyo: Toyosu Market auction & Tsukiji Market

    Tokyo: Toyosu Market auction & Tsukiji Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 5:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 5:20-6:20 Toyosu Market auction viewing
    • 6:20-7:00 Toyosu Market intermediate wholesaler building
    • 7:15-8:00 Tsukiji Market

    Can You Visit the Tuna Auction and Tsukiji on a Private Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The meeting point was at a facility that could not be entered as it is a U.S. military site, so I waited outside. The guests were very pleasant, and the tour was enjoyable. Everyone showed great interest in the tuna auction and enjoyed watching it. Since the guests also wanted to see the intermediate wholesalers' building, we walked through it briefly. Because they wanted to enjoy sampling food around Tsukiji, we skipped the sushi restaurant I usually visit. As there was not much time in Tsukiji, we walked around so I could introduce several recommended shops. We parted ways after they bought a large rice ball, and I imagine they went on to enjoy sampling various other foods afterward.

    Hello , my name is Isao.
    I like cooking and eating while drinking wine and listening to the rock music sometime classical music, too.
    I am a tour guide mainly around Tokyo. I have experience as an E-bike tour guide( Imperial palace, Tokyo station, Asakusa, Sumida river, Ningyocho, Odaiba area, Tsukishima Monja street ) and a food tour. I like to eat local Japanese food and drink many kind of alcohol.
    Besides Tokyo, I also recommend Kamakura and Kawagoe where I was borne.
    I will do my best to help you make good memories of Japan.
    I am looking forward to meeting you soon.

    May 21, 2026
    Anne_A
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Enjoyable tour of the local markets and…

    May 18, 2026
    Olivia_H
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    An unforgettable Tokyo food and culture experience…

    May 7, 2026
    Susan C
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Highly recommended tuna auction tour
    Iseo…

    Oct 25, 2025
    TravelYes8
    Highly recommended the Toyosu Tuna Auction tour with Isao!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Peace Memorial Park

    Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Peace Memorial Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at the Cruise Ship Terminal
    • 9:35-9:50 Walk to Ujina Port
    • 10:25-10:57 Travel to Miyajima by high-speed boat
    • 11:00-13:50 Miyajima
    • 14:00-14:50 Travel to Peace Memorial Park
    • 14:55-16:20 Peace Memorial Park (Atomic Bomb Dome – Museum)
    • 16:25 Disband at the Peace Memorial Park taxi stand

    What Is a Private Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Park Day Tour Like for Cruise Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were cruise visitors from North America. Originally the group was scheduled to include several people, but due to one member feeling unwell, the group participated with fewer people than planned. In the morning I took the group to Miyajima, and in the afternoon to the Peace Memorial Park. Since the group was visiting from North America, I paid particular attention to measures against the heat, and everyone completed the tour in good spirits. The museum was crowded, as it was during the summer holidays and a mid-holiday period, so I guided them only to the key points inside the museum (without detailed guide commentary).

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherUjina Port~Miyajima1,150JPY
    Section 2TrainMiyajimaguchi~Yokogawa (Hiroshima Prefecture)330JPY
    Section 3TrainYokogawa (Hiroshima Prefecture)~Genbaku Dome-mae240JPY
    Section 4TrainChuden-mae~Kaigan-dori240JPY
    Total1,960JPY

    Hi! My name is Kazuhisa To. I was born in Nagasaki Prefecture and spent a total of approximately 17 years there. After graduating from university and completing graduate school, I moved to Hiroshima in 1984. Hiroshima has been my home base for more than 42 years, including approximately five and a half years during which I was posted to Germany and the United States. I worked as an engineer at Mazda Motor Corporation for 40 years. While working at Mazda, I earned a Ph.D. in Engineering through a doctoral program designed for working professionals at a national university. During the final five years of my career at Mazda, I was assigned to Hiroshima University, where I served as a Specially Appointed Professor and Deputy Director of a research center. In this role, I led the development of the center’s organizational and operational framework and advanced more than 20 industry–university collaborative research projects across four major research programs, contributing to regional revitalization. Living in Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Germany, and the United States has deepened my appreciation for the distinct histories and cultures of different regions and broadened my international perspective. Drawing on these experiences, I strive to offer tours that allow guests from around the world to feel comfortable and relaxed while enjoying a genuinely engaging experience. After retiring from Mazda at the end of March 2024, I embarked on a new chapter in my life as a licensed local guide in Hiroshima. In addition to renowned destinations such as Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima, I am delighted to introduce guests to Hiroshima’s history, culture, natural beauty, local cuisine, and everyday life, tailoring each tour to their individual interests and preferences. It is my sincere hope that every guest will enjoy a truly personal and memorable experience while discovering the authentic spirit of Hiroshima. I very much look forward to welcoming you to Hiroshima!

    Sep 28, 2026
    anita2336
    The best time in Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    This was one of…

    Sep 23, 2026
    Mostew
    Private tour with To – Hiroshima / Miyajima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    We…

    Aug 30, 2026
    644lucys
    Fantastic guide, full and wonderful day.
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Today we had…

    Jul 21, 2026
    anza
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Excellent Walking Tour with Kazuhisa To
    We had a…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Hotel-11:20 Imperial Palace East Gardens-12:40 Pokemon DX-14:00 Lunch-15:30 Omotesando-16:30 Harajuku Takeshita Street disband

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Pokémon Center, and Ginza Sushi The guests were a group visiting from North America on the first full day of an approximately two-week tour of Japan. One of the guests mentioned having visited Japan about 50 years earlier. As the weather was fine and it was expected to get hot, I recommended parasols before we headed to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and the group purchased folding umbrellas for everyone. They also brought water bottles from the Hotel, so we were fully prepared against the heat from the start. After visiting the Pokémon Center, we had lunch at a sushi restaurant in Ginza. The group enjoyed delicious sushi at a reasonable price, making for a great start to their tour in Japan.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Ginza Station/Chuo-ku, Tokyo~Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)~Nihonbashi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 3SubwayNihonbashi (Tokyo)~Ginza180JPY
    Section 4SubwayGinza~Omotesando180JPY
    Total720JPY

    Welcome to Japan. My name is Michio, your tour guide in Tokyo and Japan. I was born and grown up in Tokyo, and still living in western suburb of Tokyo with my wife, except for 10 years outside of Japan travelling and living in 60 countries. So I might have visited your country and still remember a few words.
    Japan has unique history, nature and culture, and there are plenty of secrets and wonders behind them such as food culture, Zen and Ninja.
    So please explore and discover the hidden and most beautiful part of Japan together. Let’s experience!

    Oct 25, 2025
    Carla_G
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking…
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking tour was fantastic! Michio…

    Oct 24, 2025
    410trishab
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 — Outstanding Tour with Michio and Nobuhiko!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from…

    Oct 11, 2025
    GoPlaces52694049181
    We enjoyed our time in Tokyo with Michio our tour guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    PiscesV
    Sushi for breakfast at 630am? Yes please!!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Tower & Shinjuku Golden Gai

    Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Tower & Shinjuku Golden Gai

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya By IHG
    • 10:15 Purchase Welcome Suica at Shibuya Station
    • 11:05 Tokyo Tower
    • 12:05 Snack @ Seven Kamiyacho Holland Hills Store
    • 12:55 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 14:40 Shinjuku Golden Gai
    • 15:00 Disband at Shinjuku Toho Building (Godzilla Head)

    What Does a Private One-Day Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report It was a very hot day with strong sunshine, so I handed out parasols to the group and they used them for most of the day. As they wanted transportation IC cards, we started by purchasing Welcome Suica cards in Shibuya. At Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji was not visible, but the view was good and the guests were pleased to buy souvenirs. On the way to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, they bought and ate snacks at a convenience store. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were very hot, so we toured while taking frequent breaks and using cooling body sheets, among other things. These cooling sheets were well received. In Shinjuku, I guided the group to Golden Gai and the Godzilla Head, and the plan was to continue to Akihabara before finishing. However, at the building with the Godzilla Head, the guests said they were already tired and would sit down to have a meal and then head back, so the tour came to an end there. I received a tip.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShibuya~Akabanebashi290JPY
    Section 2TrainKamiyacho~Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
    Section 3TrainTakebashi~Shinjuku-sanchome290JPY
    Total760JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo by Car

    Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 07:00 Meet at The Peninsula Tokyo
    • 2. 08:45 Oishi Park
    • 3. 09:45 Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba
    • 4. 10:45 Fugaku Wind Cave
    • 5. 11:45 Oshino Hakkai
    • 6. 15:35 Disband at The Peninsula Tokyo

    What Is a Private Mount Fuji and Oshino Hakkai Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a close-knit group visiting from North America. The weather was pleasant, but unfortunately Mount Fuji was hidden behind clouds, so we were not able to see it in its full form. Even so, I believe the guests enjoyed each location and were satisfied with the day. As it was the final day of a three-day holiday weekend and heavy traffic was expected on the expressway on the way back, I explained the situation in advance and the guests agreed to depart a little earlier. We were able to leave Oshino Hakkai just after 1:00 PM, which allowed us to return to the Hotel a little earlier than scheduled. Another factor in our early return was that, upon receiving information that the Chuo Expressway was heavily congested, the driver switched the return route to the Tomei Expressway.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Kyoto Station  9:25 Fushimi Inari  10:45 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple  11:20 Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple  12:25 Lunch (Sushi) 13:05 Kinkaku-ji Temple 14:25 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 15:15 Gion  15:45 Tour Ends

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour by Car Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. They were staying at a hotel in Shin-Osaka and came to Kyoto Station by Shinkansen on the day of the tour. After meeting, the start of the tour was slightly delayed because they exchanged dollars for yen, but since it would have been inconvenient to have no cash, this was unavoidable. Kyoto was extremely hot, exceeding 36 degrees, and at each site, foreign tourists were lined up sitting wherever there was a place to sit. On the veranda of Kiyomizu-dera, many tourists gathered in the shade to sit and rest. Perhaps because schools had entered summer vacation, there were no school excursion groups, so the sites were not that crowded. As I also noted in the tour time section, during our visit to Kiyomizu-dera it looked like we might run over the scheduled time, so I consulted with the driver and we used the car for 30 minutes. Since it was such a hot day, it was good that we did not have to walk to Gion. The photo was taken in the bamboo grove at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji.

    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.

    Sep 28, 2026
    Miguel_E
    Amazing Service
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  • Osaka: Osaka Castle & Shinsaibashi

    Osaka: Osaka Castle & Shinsaibashi

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Meet up @ Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
    • 09:15 @ Osaka Castle (including light meal)
    • 11:30 @ Dotonbori (including light meal)
    • 13:00 @ Shinsaibashi (including jewelry store visit)
    • 14:00 Disband @ Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

    Title: What's a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and Shinsaibashi The guests were a group visiting from North America, some of whom spoke a little Japanese. Despite the intense heat today, we were able to move around smoothly, but at Osaka Castle they spent a great deal of time taking in the sights carefully, and they also requested a break at the beer garden on the rooftop of the adjacent "Miraiza." As a result, we ended up skipping "Shinsekai," which had been on the plan. They seemed very satisfied with the view of Osaka Castle from there. At this point, I presented some of the guests with handmade drawstring pouches made by my guide's sister, which delighted them greatly, and they began using them right away. Afterwards, at "Dotonbori," they wanted to try "takoyaki," so I took them to a shop I recommend. At the last stop, "Shinsaibashi-suji," some of the guests visited a jewelry store and purchased a rather expensive pearl necklace. Perhaps due to the heat, they were a little tired, so we wrapped up about 30 minutes earlier than planned. Today's driver was also courteous in both manner and driving, and had extensive knowledge of each spot.

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
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