Category: Uncategorized

  • Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:45 Meet　8:52 Miyaginobashi　By bus arrive at Gora Station 9:00　By train　The Hakone Open-Air Museum　After sightseeing　10:30　By bus　via Kowakien　Arrive at Moto-Hakone 11:15　By taxi to Amazake Chaya　12:00 From the chaya by taxi to Hakone Checkpoint Ruins　Maruyama Bussan　After shopping　13:10 From Hakonemachi take the pirate ship　13:50 Togendai　Ropeway　Owakudani　14:50 By ropeway to Sounzan　By cable car arrive at Gora Station 15:15　Explain to the guests how to return by hotel shuttle car and disband 15:20

    Title: What Is a Private Hakone Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were friendly and talkative. This was their last day in Japan before returning home the next day. At the Hakone Open-Air Museum, they took plenty of photos. At their request, we added a visit to the Amazake Chaya teahouse on short notice, going there and back by taxi, and they were delighted to have fulfilled a long-held wish. At Maruyama Bussan, they were first amazed by the traditional puzzle boxes, made many purchases, and decided to ship them home to North America by courier service. We also took a photo with the presenter. On the pirate ship and at Owakudani, they thoroughly enjoyed the nature of Hakone, as their home region is also rich in nature. At Owakudani, they enjoyed the black eggs and rice curry. Since they had some free time the following morning, I introduced them to Gora Park.

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

    Transportation cost per person

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

    Tour Report by Hiro

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu Temple & Fushimi Inari

    Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu Temple & Fushimi Inari

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Meet(@Hotel Kyoto)
    • 9:00-9:40 Travel (Subway; Karasuma Oike→Sanjo Keihan, Keihan Train; Keihan Sanjo→Kiyomizu Gojo)
    • 9:40-11:00 Kiyomizu Temple visit (including Yasaka Pagoda and Koshin-do)
    • 11:00-11:30 Yasaka Shrine visit
    • 11:30-12:00 Travel (City Bus; Yasaka Shrine Front→Higashiyama Sanjo)
    • 12:00-12:50 Lunch (Sato)
    • 12:50-13:10 Travel (Keihan Train; Keihan Shichijo→Fushimi Inari)
    • 13:10-14:00 Fushimi Inari visit
    • 14:00 Tour ends after visiting Fushimi Inari. After the tour, we escorted you to the hotel.

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, and More The guests were visitors from North America. They were visiting Japan for the first time, but they were very knowledgeable. I took them to Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, Sanjusangendo, and Fushimi Inari. Some of the guests were most impressed by Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangendo, while others found Sanjusangendo and Fushimi Inari memorable. Since the guests would be staying in Kyoto for a couple more days, I recommended visiting some antique shops and the Kyoto National Museum. In addition, I suggested Nijo Castle and Ryoan-ji. At Kiyomizu-dera there were many school excursion students, and at Fushimi Inari there were large tour groups, so the guests may not have been able to fully enjoy the tour.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKarasuma Oike～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 2TrainSanjo Keihan～Kiyomizu Gojo170JPY
    Section 3BusYasaka Shrine Front～Higashiyama Shichijo230JPY
    Section 4TrainKeihan Shichijo～Fushimi Inari170JPY
    Total790JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    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 !

    Request Booking

    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.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Beth_D
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Tour and Guide
    Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting point: Hotel Namba・Nippombashi
    • 10:40 Sightseeing ①: Osaka Castle
    • 12:00 Sightseeing ②: Umeda Sky Building・Floating Garden Observatory
    • 13:00 Dismissal: Umeda Sky Building・1F

    What's a 4-Hour Private Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, and Kaiyukan The guests on this occasion were a group visiting Japan for sightseeing from Asia. Prior communication and itinerary discussions were carried out with the lead member of the group. It was quite difficult to reach these guests, and with the help of [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), who kindly sent reminders on my behalf, I still received no reply after sending my first contact in early March, and May arrived without any response. In early May, I finally received a reply via a messaging app, saying they would contact me once they arrived in Osaka. After that, I received a list of places they wished to visit, but even though this was a 4-hour course, they listed about 10 desired destinations. I advised them, "Since this is a 4-hour course, considering travel time, we can visit at most three places," and after narrowing down the guests' requests, we finally confirmed the plan as "Osaka Castle → Umeda Sky Building → Kaiyukan Aquarium." On the day, although the sunshine was strong at times, the air was dry so the shade felt cool, and conditions were reasonably good. The meeting time was originally set for 11:00 a.m., but the night before, the guests contacted me asking to move the departure up to 10:00, so we changed it on short notice. We were able to meet at the Hotel right at 10:00. After a brief self-introduction and a quick discussion, we started the tour right away. We headed for Osaka Castle, but upon arriving they asked, "How much is the admission fee?" When I answered, "1,200 yen for adults and 600 yen for high school and university students," they said, "We don't need to go inside," so they listened to my explanation while viewing the castle keep. At the next stop, Umeda Sky Building, when we reached the floor just below the top and it came time to buy the entrance tickets (2,000 yen per adult), the guests said, "Some of us are not good with heights, so we don't need to go up to the observation floor," and here again the admission fee seemed to be a concern. After coming down from the Umeda Sky Building, when I was about to head to the next stop, Kaiyukan Aquarium, the guests said, "We don't need to go to Kaiyukan, so it's fine to end the guiding here. After this we'll walk around the Umeda shopping district on our own, or head to Dotonbori." Even though I said, "There is still more than an hour of guiding time left, and I would like to show you around…," they replied, "Don't worry about the remaining time. We appreciate all your guidance so far," so I had no choice but to end the tour. This was the first time such a thing had happened in my guiding experience so far, and I am reflecting on it with a sense of frustration.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKintetsu Nippombashi～Osakajokoen310JPY
    Section 2TrainOsakajokoen～Osaka180JPY
    Total490JPY

    Tour Report by Nori

    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.

    Request Booking

    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…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji & Omotesando

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji & Omotesando

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 meet you at your hotel
    • 10:30 Tsukiji
    • 12:00 Ryogoku
    • 13:30 Lunch@Asada
    • 14:30 Asakusa
    • 16:00 Omotesando
    • 16:30 Disband@Omotesando

    Title: What's a Private Tokyo Tour of Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Ryogoku Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. They had arrived the day before, so the guiding day was their first day of sightseeing. During our prior communication, they had installed Mobile Suica on their phones, but one of their phone batteries ran low, so from partway through, one guest purchased individual tickets each time. Mobile Suica is convenient, but I was reminded once again that battery levels require attention. On the day of the tour, at the guests' request, I guided them through Tsukiji, Asakusa, and also Ryogoku, which I recommended. Tickets for the grand sumo tournament were sold out, but in Ryogoku we watched lower-division sumo wrestlers passing by and were able to take a commemorative photo with a young wrestler. This young wrestler was actually one I had asked for a photo with during a tour the previous week, and he was happy to report that he had achieved a winning record. I also guided them to the former Yasuda Garden next to the Kokugikan. We were lucky to see a bride and groom in traditional kimono there for a pre-wedding photo shoot. For lunch, we ate at a soba restaurant in Asakusabashi, where we had gotten off to transfer. Asakusabashi has few inbound tourists, so I recommend it. After lunch, I guided them through Asakusa, and since the guests showed interest in the modern architecture of Omotesando, we got off at Omotesando, toured the inside of Prada together, and then said goodbye. Since it takes more than 30 minutes from Asakusa to Omotesando, I explained on the train how to get from Omotesando to Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ebisu. On the Ginza Line you can get a seat from Asakusa, so I use it as a break time or to take the time to explain various things. The guests are going to participate in a motorbike tour in Nikko next. I hope they have a wonderful trip.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayEbisu～Tsukiji210JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji～Akihabara180JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara～Ryogoku150JPY
    Section 4TrainRyogoku～Asakusabashi150JPY
    Section 5SubwayAsakusabashi～Asakusa180JPY
    Section 6SubwayAsakusa～Omotesando260JPY
    Total1,130JPY

    Tour Report by Yoko

    I’m Yoko Kusumoto, a government lisenced English-speaking guide.
    I have been living in Tokyo for more than 20 years, and it’s my pleasure to show you around Tokyo. I recommend Meiji Shrine and Asakusa if you are first time in Japan. I also recommend off-the-beaton path spots like Fukagawa Fudodo and Gotokuji Temple(lucky cat temple).
    I was born and brought up in Kamakura, where the first shogun’s government was established. It will be my pleasure to introduce you my hometown as well.

    I live with my husband and one teenage son.
    I like traveling, flowers, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, and exploring Tokyo.

    I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.

    Request Booking

    Jun 2, 2026
    ericahT6840AD
    Awesome!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some…

    May 20, 2026
    CharKris17
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Walking Tour
    We did a six-hour walking tour of Tokyo with…

    May 3, 2026
    jefftK1794VZ
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
    This was our first time visiting Tokyo and…

    Oct 23, 2025
    Y6401BOshaunam
    Knowledgable, engaging guide Yoko Kusmoto made day of Tokyo history, architecture and insights exceptional. le.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Hotel Iconic Osaka Midosuji
    • 10:45 @ Osaka Castle (viewing from outside only)
    • 12:00 @ Shinsekai
    • 13:30 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha
    • 14:30 Dismissal @ Nankai Railway Namba Station

    What Can You See on a Private Osaka Walking Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were from North America and moved through the day smoothly. Both seemed to have a strong interest in Japan, and one of them could understand simple Japanese. Osaka Castle was viewed only from the outside, but the guests listened attentively to my explanations. One of the guests appeared to enjoy photography and took many photos. In Shinsekai, known as the home of "Billiken," the guests enjoyed rubbing the soles of the feet of the largest local Billiken statue. (Billiken is said to have a large belly and short arms, so when the soles of its feet are itchy it cannot reach them; therefore, it is said to grant the wishes of those who rub them on its behalf.) At Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, the guests were pleased to see scenes of a first shrine visit for a newborn and pre-wedding photo shoots. They also picked up the popular "Go-Dai-Riki" pebbles. As they planned to stroll around and have a meal on their own, we parted ways at Namba Station. The guests today were very friendly and pleasant to interact with, for which I was grateful.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHommachi～Morinomiya190JPY
    Section 2TrainMorinomiya～Shin-Imamiya180JPY
    Section 3TrainShin-Imamiya～Sumiyoshi Taisha240JPY
    Section 4TrainSumiyoshi Taisha～Namba240JPY
    Total850JPY

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour

    Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour

    Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel→Meiji Shrine 10:15→Takeshita Street 11:15→Harakado 12:05→Shibuya (including lunch) 13:45→Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Sumida Park 15:15→Hotel 16:30 Send-off, dismissal.

    What Does a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Shibuya, and the Sumida River The guests were visitors from Asia. As the time difference was small and the flight had been comfortable, they were in good spirits and walked well throughout the tour. On the trains they were able to sit down, and we were able to chat about many things while traveling. They enjoyed shopping, and apart from the crowds at Asakusa and Nakamise Street, there were no major crowds, so they had a good time and we took many photos. For lunch, we were able to relax at a sushi restaurant in the Shibuya Center Gai area. After I guided them to view Tokyo Skytree from the Sumida River, they mentioned they wanted to relax in Yokohama, so I saw them off to the Hotel. They were wonderful guests. Thank you very much.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMinato Mirai～Meiji Shrine680JPY
    Section 2BusOmotesando～Shibuya Station100JPY
    Section 3TrainShibuya～Asakusa260JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa～Minato Mirai830JPY
    Total1,870JPY

    Tour Report by Silvy

    Hi Sawadeeka. I’m Silvy. I was born in Tokyo and grew up in Yokohama. I went college in Southern CA, master degree in Bangkok Thailand. I myself love to travel not only within Japan but also in the world. Love any kinds of music. Also well knowledge of Bunraku, puppet Kabuki. Bookworm, Minimalist and movie lover.
    I will be more than happy to assist you anytime. Also learning Spanish! สวัสดีคา ดิฉันชื่อซิลวี่ ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักค่ะ ดิฉันพูดภาษาอังกฤษและภาษาไทยได้ เพราะจบปริญญาโทจากเอแบค และเรียนภาษาไทยที่จุฬาฯ แต่ภาษาไทยของดิฉันยังไม่ค่อยดีเท่าไหร่ค่ะ คนไทยช่วยติดต่อฉันด้วยนะคะ!

    Request Booking

    May 25, 2025
    Myra_F
    Read reviews before booking
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Good tour
    Make sure you read other reviews…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.9:40 Meet @ Double Tree By Hilton Kyoto Station
    • 2. 10:15 @ Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 3.11:45 @ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
    • 4.11:55 @ Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 5.12:40 Lunch @ "Yamazaki"
    • 6: 13:45 @ Nijo Castle
    • 7.14 : 55 @ Gion Shirakawa → Hanamikoji
    • 8 .15:30 Disband @ Double Tree By Hilton Kyoto Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? A Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had known each other since early childhood, having been friends for many years. The itinerary started from the hotel, and we arranged the details by exchanging messages through a messaging app. It was only through a message on the morning of the tour that I first learned they would be coming from Tokyo that day. I immediately shared this information with the driver as well. I arrived at the hotel 30 minutes before the meeting time, but to my surprise, the guests had arrived at the hotel even earlier. I had wondered whether it might have been better to meet at the station, but there was no need to worry. The guests planned to stay at this hotel tonight and travel to Osaka the next day. Since they were able to leave their luggage at the hotel, meeting at the hotel turned out to be the best choice. Because the guests gathered early, we started the tour ahead of schedule. For lunch, the guests wanted to have sushi, which was difficult to arrange around the Arashiyama area, so the driver kindly guided us to a good place located on the way to Takao. As a result, the guests were very satisfied with both the sightseeing and the meal.

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

    Tour Report by Shoko

    I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.

    Request Booking

    Mar 31, 2026
    Michael A
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Perfectly customized tour
    Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…

    Mar 29, 2026
    judyl582
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shoko was great
    Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…

    Oct 8, 2025
    441gayh
    World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…

    Oct 3, 2025
    Judi H
    Introduction to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
    She…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1000 Meet at Courtyard by Hotel (5 min from Ginza Station on Ginza Line)　Kabukiza Theater　Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 1100 Imperial Palace Outer Garden　Tokyo Station　Marunouchi　Gyoko-dori Avenue　Tatsumi Yagura Turret　Otemon Gate
    • 1215 Asakusa　Kannon-dori Street　Lunch at "Towada"　Nakamise　Sensoji Temple　Asakusa Shrine
    • 1515 Meiji Shrine　Explanation of historical background at the First Torii Gate　Takeshita Street
    • 1600 Shibuya　Hachiko Statue　Scramble Crossing
    • 1615 Guide to the Ginza Line boarding area and disband

    What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors on a Layover? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who had arrived in Japan for the first time the day before. They were stopping over to adjust to the time difference on their way to a vacation in Asia, and were scheduled to continue on a midday flight the next day, connecting through another Asian city. The guests mentioned they had a large family back home, so their shopping list was quite extensive. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, one of the guests preferred meat and was not drawn to the seafood, while another thoroughly enjoyed a large raw oyster. The whole group savored the white strawberries together. One of the guests was also looking for the Japanese whisky "Hibiki," so while in Asakusa I searched and found a shop called "Sakaemon" just off the Nakamise shopping street. The price range went from vintage bottles worth hundreds of thousands of yen to more affordable ones around 20,000 yen. In the end, the guests purchased two bottles for 50,000 yen. Since they only had this one day, I extended the shopping time on the Nakamise street by 30 minutes. Similarly, to secure shopping time on Takeshita Street, we gave up on visiting the main hall of Meiji Shrine and concluded with an explanation at the first torii gate. When we said goodbye in Shibuya, the guests mentioned they would go shopping in Ginza afterward.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTsukiji～Hibiya～Nijubashimae178JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi～Nihonbashi～Asakusa178JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Omotesando～Meiji-jingumae252JPY
    Section 4TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Total754JPY

    Tour Report by Ted

    I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
    After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

    My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
    My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
    – Senso ji Temple
    – Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
    – Tokyo Skytree
    – Ueno Park
    – Nezu Shrine
    – Imperial Palace outer park
    – Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    – Ginza
    – Odaiba
    – Hama Rikyu Garden
    – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
    – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
    – Roppongi
    – Meiji Shrine
    – Harajuku & Takeshita Street
    – Shibuya
    – and Any of your interest.

    I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
    Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
    Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

    I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

    Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
    Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

    A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

    In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

    Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
    These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
    Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
    Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
    The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
    Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

    Request Booking

    Jul 2, 2026
    Susan M
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Family fun in Tokyo.
    A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…

    Jun 26, 2026
    ann r
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Educational with kind, generous guide
    My teenage sons and I learned…

    Jun 14, 2026
    141yunb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
    We…

    May 18, 2026
    B
    Beth56646
    Great tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Ted and I agreed upon what we would see…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Oshiage Station & Starbucks Roastery

    Tokyo in One Day: Oshiage Station & Starbucks Roastery

    Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet at the hotel, board the train
    • 9:30 Oshiage Station
    • 10:00 Skytree, Solamachi
    • 11:30 Board the train
    • 12:00 Tsukiji, lunch
    • 14:00 Board the train
    • 14:30 Meguro Station
    • 14:45 Starbucks Roastery
    • 15:20 Board the train
    • 16:00 Arrive at the hotel

    What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Skytree, Tsukiji, and Starbucks Reserve Roastery The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since one of the guests had experience working at a travel agency, we had planned the itinerary together in advance, but when I met the guests in person on the day, their preferences turned out to be a little different, so I made some last-minute changes to part of the plan. First, we went up to the Tembo Galleria of Tokyo Skytree using tickets they had purchased in advance. They enjoyed the height. They interacted with students on a school trip, taking photos together and quizzing them about where they were from. Next, I had planned for us to go to Tsukiji and eat sushi, but they said, "Is sushi raw fish? We can't eat that," so we went to a tempura rice bowl restaurant instead. It turned out they could enjoy it since it was cooked, and they said the sauce was exquisite. After that, we went to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which they enjoyed, saying it was like a theme park of coffee. Since they were going on a cruise trip starting Sunday, and it was raining, I also helped them reserve a taxi in advance. They were extremely satisfied, and they even asked me whether there was a site where they could leave a review of this tour.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainIshikawacho～Shimbashi571JPY
    Section 2SubwayShimbashi～Oshiage220JPY
    Section 3SubwayNingyocho～Tsukiji97JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji～Naka-Meguro209JPY
    Section 5TrainNaka-Meguro～Motomachi-Chukagai Station533JPY
    Total1,630JPY

    Tour Report by Sam

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

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

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

    Please feel free to ask me anything!

    Request Booking

    Jul 10, 2026
    Brooke_J
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tokyo History Modernized!
    This tour was a wonderful experience.…

    Jun 19, 2026
    Catherine_S
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience!
    We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Elena_Q
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fun visit to Tokyo!
    Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She…

    May 12, 2026
    Leonard B
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
    We had an…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:55 Meet at Kyoto Station
    • 10:05 Fushimi Inari
    • 11:45 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 12:25 Short break (bakery shop)
    • 13:15 Kinkaku-ji
    • 15:00 Sanjusangendo
    • 16:20 Guide to Gion, tour ends

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Before their trip, one of the guests had studied Japanese at university about ten years earlier and could still read hiragana, though kanji remained difficult. That experience proved useful during today's tour. At Sanjusangendo, where the explanations of the Buddhist statues are provided in both Japanese and English, we went around viewing each one while talking together. It was also a good opportunity for me to refresh my own knowledge. After the visit, the guests agreed that Sanjusangendo was the most impressive and worthwhile part of the day. The tour began at 10:00, and Fushimi Inari was extremely crowded and difficult to walk through. It might have been a good idea to suggest starting an hour earlier. The photo was taken at Fushimi Inari, where the guests were writing on a fox-shaped ema plaque.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari～Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Enmachi180JPY
    Section 4Free PassEnmachi～Kinkakuji-michi1,100JPY
    Section 5Free PassKinkakuji-michi～Nishioji-Oike0JPY
    Section 6Free PassNishioji-Oike～Higashiyama0JPY
    Section 7Free PassHigashiyama-Sanjo～Sanjusangendo-mae0JPY
    Section 8Free PassSanjusangendo-mae～Gion0JPY
    Total1,670JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

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

    Request Booking

    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

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

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…