Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Honen-in Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Honen-in Temple

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00　Meet in front of Nijo Castle
    • 10:05　Itinerary explanation and explanation of Kyoto's history
    • 10:30　Nijo Castle
    • 11:45　Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 13:00　Daisen-in Temple
    • 14:15　Lunch break (in front of Ginkaku-ji Temple)
    • 15:00　Stroll along the Philosopher's Path
    • 15:20　Honen-in Temple
    • 16:15　Disband in front of Nanzen-ji Sanmon Gate

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America on their first trip to Japan. They had already gained some knowledge from a tour in Tokyo and asked thoughtful questions about things they had been wondering about. For example, they asked what the difference is between the teachings of Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism, the meaning of the five-story pagoda, why the Golden Pavilion is a three-tiered structure, and they had long been curious about the Jizo statues found around the city. The next day they planned to head to Osaka, so I enthusiastically recommended trying okonomiyaki. Since arriving in Japan, they had already enjoyed plenty of fine food, including kaiseki cuisine at high-end ryokan and traditional restaurants, so today we had a simple lunch of egg rice bowl and konoha-don at a small udon shop. Over lunch, we talked about kaiseki cuisine, Japanese dialects, and the character of people from the Kansai region, and in turn I got to hear a variety of perspectives about dialects in North America and, tied to the history of baseball teams, various views and ways of thinking. It was truly fascinating to hear stories from a perspective rooted in the region.

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

    Tour Report by Kazu

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha

    Kyoto in One Day: Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00: Meet with guests @ Kyoto Station
    • 11:30: Guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 12:30: Lunch @ Vermilion Cafe
    • 15:00: Guide to Kiyomizu-dera
    • 17:00: Disband @ Kyoto Station

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera Report I met the group of guests at the Central Exit of Kyoto Station. The guests had traveled from Kanazawa to Kyoto, and some of the group were a little tired from the journey. Because the Kyoto sightseeing plan had changed several times, we had no time to discuss the day's itinerary in advance, so we decided to plan it together at Kyoto Station. Hearing that they planned to visit Arashiyama on their own the next day, we decided to first visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and then discuss the rest. The weather was fine that day, and I explained Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine at a relaxed pace, describing the introduction of Buddhism and Shinto as the spirit of Japanese culture. After performing a shrine-style prayer together with the guests, we enjoyed drawing "omikuji" fortunes, and I had them try their luck at the power spots while passing through the Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates), which concluded our visit to Fushimi Inari. By this point lunchtime had already passed, so we decided to take a lunch break. Since the guests had dietary restrictions, we found a restaurant that could serve vegan dishes, and we moved there to have lunch. After lunch, some of the group wished to rest at the hotel, so they took a taxi from in front of Inari Station back to the hotel. I then took the remaining guests to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, walking up the approach from the "Yasaka Pagoda" via "Sannenzaka" to reach the temple. At Kiyomizu-dera, I carefully guided them through the "Kannon Bodhisattva," the "Kiyomizu Stage," the "Koyasu Pagoda," and the "Otowa Waterfall." The guests looked very happy and took many photos, and they said they would love to visit again with the whole group the following day. The guests were highly cultured and asked insightful, high-quality questions. After guiding them through Kiyomizu-dera, we took a bus back to Kyoto Station, where the tour concluded.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainJR Kyoto Station～JR Inari Station150JPY
    Section 2TrainJR Inari Station～JR Tofukuji Station150JPY
    Section 3BusTofukuji Station～Kiyomizu-michi Station230JPY
    Section 4BusHigashiyama Yasui Station～Kyoto Station230JPY
    Total760JPY

    Tour Report by Toshi

    After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
    As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
    And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
    With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

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    Apr 26, 2026
    39ferdinandr
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional and entertaining
    Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

    Apr 9, 2026
    X1429XKclaudiam
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sehr zu empfehlen
    Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

    Jun 28, 2025
    WilliamAlfonso_R
    Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi was…

    May 30, 2025
    Z
    ZevP5
    Best Tour Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya & Asakusa

    Tokyo in One Day: Shibuya & Asakusa

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:30 Meet up @InterContinental Tokyo Bay
    • 13:15 Shibuya (Hachiko Statue, Scramble Crossing)
    • 13:45 Meiji Shrine
    • 14:30 Harajuku UNIQLO
    • 16:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 17:30 Asakusa (Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Denboin, Shin-Nakamise)
    • 18:30 Dismissal @in front of Sansada

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shibuya, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa Body: The guests were from the Middle East, traveling around Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka before arriving in Tokyo that day. After Tokyo, they planned to travel to Oceania to visit some of their family. Since I explained the day's itinerary at the Hotel and thought they might be tired, we took a taxi to Shibuya (though they turned out to be more energetic than I expected). For some reason they already knew the story of "HACHI," so we waited in line and I took photos for them. At UNIQLO, they were amazed at how affordable the prices were and bought a large number of items, both as souvenirs for their family in Oceania and for themselves. Due to time constraints, we skipped Takeshita Street and headed to the Imperial Palace. Hearing "Imperial Palace," they mistakenly thought they could enter the palace itself and were a little disappointed, but they loved the Ninomaru Garden and filmed a video there. Having already seen plenty of temples in Kyoto and Nara, in Asakusa we did not go as far as Senso-ji, and instead enjoyed the atmosphere of the town and some shopping. Although they said they did not strictly follow halal, to be safe I guided them to a tempura restaurant before we parted ways. As their home country is also a monarchy, they had many questions about the Imperial family.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainJR Shibuya～JR Harajuku146JPY
    Section 2SubwayChiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae～Chiyoda Line Otemachi209JPY
    Section 3SubwayTozai Line Otemachi～Ginza Line Asakusa178JPY
    Total533JPY

    Tour Report by Hideki

    Hello! My name is Hideki Maruyama. I was born in Osaka and raised in the Greater Tokyo area. I obtained my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter Certificate in February 2016.
    I spent 23 years working at a leading Japanese automotive company, including 7 years posted overseas. I then worked for a German premium automotive manufacturer for 13 years, followed by 6 years as an advisor to a British energy company. Through these roles at global corporations, I developed and refined key skills such as:
    1. Cross-cultural communication
    2. A deep understanding of business elites and affluent customers
    3. The ability to deliver impactful and impressive presentations in English
    In addition to my regular duties, I often served as an interpreter for top executives during meetings with foreign government officials. I also had opportunities to introduce aspects of Japan—such as our national character and consumer preferences—to leadership teams in both the German and British companies.
    As a tour guide, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding guests from a wide range of countries especially after the pandemic, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Turkey, Jordan, Kenya and Israel.
    When guiding, I always keep in mind to go beyond what guests can find on social media or ChatGPT. I believe my professional background allows me to offer unique insights, and I am encouraged when guests mention this in their reviews

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    Jun 14, 2026
    tiffany_w
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Phenomenal experiance
    Hideki san was an amazing guide. He was incredibly knowledgable…

    Jun 13, 2026
    Joshua_A
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The Best Guide I Had in Japan
    Hideki was, without question, my…

    May 2, 2026
    Bruce G
    Our guide (Hideki san) was a master. It was a rainy day and he suggested a new plan in anticipation…

    Apr 30, 2026
    johnbD9596UO
    Lovely Private tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I had a great…

  • Hiroshima: Kamiyacho & Hiroshima Station

    Hiroshima: Kamiyacho & Hiroshima Station

    Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:30 Meet at JR Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit
    • 12:45 Move to Kamiyacho
    • 12:55 Visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park, and Peace Memorial Museum
    • 15:00 Stroll around Hondori
    • 16:00 Move to Hiroshima Station
    • 16:25 Disband at Hiroshima Station

    Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. While some of the guests spent time in Tokyo, others made the effort to travel all the way to Hiroshima. Although they were a very intelligent group who could easily research anything online, they kindly requested a guide and listened attentively to my explanations, for which I am truly grateful. Thank you very much.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusShinkansenguchi Station～Kamiyacho Station240JPY
    Section 2TrainHatchobori Station～Hiroshima Station240JPY
    Total480JPY

    Tour Report by Emmy

    Hi, nice to meet you! I am Emmy. I am so honored and happy to be your guide.
    I had been teaching at a local university in Hiroshima. After I got retired in March 2023, I started guiding. I was born and raised in Hiroshima. I love communicating with people all over the world more than anything, so I have been involved in home visit, homestay, volunteer guide for people from foreign countries.
    I always hope that our guests will take away lots of positive energy from Hiroshima, a city that was resilient and revived like a phoenix, in spite of its sad history.
    While realizing customers’ wishes, I will introduce you the beauty of Hiroshima, Miyajima and so on, which are tranquil and peaceful places with a unique charm that cannot be found in big cities.
    I am happy to answer any questions about things Japanese.
    I look forward to meeting you in person soon!!

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    Jul 3, 2026
    715rachnak
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Such a great experience in Hiroshima and Miyajima!
    We…

    Jul 2, 2026
    Janine_P
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Worth the money!
    From the moment we booked our…

    May 7, 2026
    Diane_F
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful tour and guide
    Our tour guide Emmy was…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Curious613511
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    We did a 4 hour walking tour through Hiroshima where…

  • Mie in Half a Day: Geku & Naiku

    Mie in Half a Day: Geku & Naiku

    Ise Jingu Shrine Half-Day Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:45 Meet at Geku
    • 10:45 Visit Geku (until 12:10)
    • 12:15 Lunch at Geku Sando (until 13:10)
    • 13:30 Visit Naiku (until 15:00)
    • 15:00 End of work

    Title: What Is a Private Rainy-Day Tour of Ise Jingu Like? A Licensed Guide's Report "Ise Jingu in the Rain" The forecast was rain. On the other hand, even during the holiday period, Ise Jingu was surprisingly uncrowded, so I set out determined to help the guests savor it calmly and thoroughly. The guests were visiting from Asia. They said they wanted to focus only on the "Geku" (Outer Shrine) and "Naiku" (Inner Shrine), so they were fine with skipping my suggested stops at Futamigaura and Oharai-machi. How unusual! Even Japanese visitors short on time often see only Naiku and Oharai-machi. To make up for it, we walked every corner of just the Geku and Naiku so the guests could fully enjoy Ise Jingu, and I too was thoroughly satisfied. As a bonus, on the Geku approach we also shared some "abalone rice." What a treat! The guests not only bought amulets but even purchased a kamidana household shrine to display at home. It was four hours that greatly contributed to both the shrine and the local economy!

    Click here for more details: Ise Jingu Shrine Half-Day Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by YOSHI

    Since I completely retired from my position at a railway company and started being involved in the tour guide interpreter business, I have experienced almost all types of guiding through FIT, Long Group Tours, Cruises (Shore Excursions), Incentive Tours, Special Interest Tours (Railway Travel, Pilgrimages), Familiarization Tours (Sales Promotion Tours) etc.
    However, I noticed that I am not fully satisfied to only be a general guide who just manages a tour itinerary provided by tour agents/clients.
    High-end guests have sometimes requested me to answer some enquiries that are actually challenging to answer for Japanese nationals. However, I appreciated those because they provided such a challenge and I felt that they wanted to understand my sense of beauty/values as a guide concerning a new culture for them.
    Every time I host my guest I do my best to prepare the most appropriate information based on three travel elements (appetite, logistics, accommodation). Nevertheless, I decided to aim for higher guiding skills after I was motivated by senior guides whose guiding strategies and gestures were particularly impressive.

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    Jul 5, 2026
    788amarpals
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Top 7 Sights Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Private tour Guide in Kyoto- Mr Yoshi
    Mr.…

    Mar 17, 2026
    jodonr2026
    Amazing. Go with Yoshi!
    Tripadvisor review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a fantastic…

    Jan 2, 2026
    Fearless67262385503
    Memorable experience
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide, Yoshi-san, a sweet and gentle elderly…

    Oct 17, 2025
    Laura_C
    Amazing experience…
    Viator review: Nagano All Must-Sees 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Amazing experience getting to see sites outside of…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kinkakuji & Gion

    Kyoto in One Day: Kinkakuji & Gion

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Hotel Meet (@Granvia Kyoto)
    • 13:00-13:50 Travel (Subway Karasuma Line; Kyoto→Kitaoji, City Bus: Kitaoji Bus Terminal→Kinkakuji-michi)
    • 13:50-14:30 Kinkakuji visit
    • 14:30-15:20 Travel (City Bus; Kinkakuji-michi→Kitano-Hakubaicho, Keifuku Railway; Kitano-Hakubaicho→Arashiyama)
    • 15:20-16:20 Tenryuji visit (Hatto, Sogenchi Garden, Hyakkaen), Bamboo Grove
    • 16:20-17:30 Travel (Keifuku Railway; Arashiyama→Randen Tenjingawa, Tozai Line; Uzumasa Tenjingawa→Sanjo Keihan, Keihan Railway; Keihan Sanjo→Fushimi Inari)
    • 17:30-18:20 Fushimi Inari visit
    • 18:20-18:40 Travel (Keihan Railway; Fushimi Inari→Gion-Shijo)
    • 18:40-19:00 Gion stroll
    • 19:00 Farewell at Gion (The guests will have dinner in Gion)

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Kyoto Day Tour of Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of friends visiting from North America. It was the first visit to Japan for all but one of the group. They had arrived in Japan only a few days earlier, and some were still suffering from jet lag and lack of sleep. I took them to Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, and Gion. Today's tour involved a lot of travel with transfers between trains and buses, so it may have been quite demanding for the group. Everyone seemed to be enjoying Japan very much, and they commented that all of today's destinations were wonderful.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto～Kitaoji260JPY
    Section 2BusKitaoji Bus Terminal～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 3BusKinkakuji-michi～Kitano-Hakubaicho230JPY
    Section 4TrainKitano-Hakubaicho～Arashiyama250JPY
    Section 5TrainArashiyama～Randen Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 6SubwayUzumasa Tenjingawa～Sanjo Keihan260JPY
    Section 7TrainSanjo Keihan～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 8TrainFushimi Inari～Gion-Shijo220JPY
    Total1,920JPY

    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 !

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    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…

  • 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

    • ①8:00 Meet at the hotel, coffee time until 8:45 when the car arranged directly by the guest arrives. (The car is available until 18:30)
    • ②8:45–9:30 Car window views (Imperial Palace, Nihonbashi, Akihabara) → to Asakusa
    • ③9:30–10:15 Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street
    • ④10:30–10:45 Ozu Washi
    • ⑤10:45–11:00 Car window views (Ginza)
    • ⑥11:00–11:45 Hamarikyu Gardens
    • ⑦11:45–12:00 To Odaiba via Rainbow Bridge
    • ⑧12:00–12:30 Odaiba
    • ⑨12:30–13:15 Car window views (Toyosu, Kasumigaseki, National Diet Building, Supreme Court, Omotesando, Harajuku)
    • ⑩13:15–14:30 Meiji Shrine, lunch
    • 11 14:30–15:20 Move to the Ginza Issey Miyake flagship store via Shibuya Crossing, then disperse.
    • ☆After this, the guest will communicate directly with the driver (foreigner) to visit the art museum and Kappabashi, then return to the hotel.

    What's a Private Car Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Since they preferred to travel efficiently with a car, they had arranged a vehicle directly. Although some stops had been discussed in advance, they wished to explore flexibly, so I adjusted the timing while gauging their level of interest. As some of the guests were interested in origami, we stopped along the way at Ozu Washi in Nihonbashi, where they happily enjoyed shopping. The previous day, the guests had visited the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno on their own, so we covered most of the other major buildings and tourist spots, including some viewed from the car window. At the end, we went together to the requested Issey Miyake flagship store in Ginza before parting ways. Due to traffic congestion, the tour ran over six hours, but I provided the service accordingly.

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

    Tour Report by SAM

    Hello! I am Osamu Kitagawa , National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter(English). Please call me SAM.
    I love Japanese culture, history, and visiting historical places, scenic spots, and fashionable spots as well. I can guide you all over Japan as I have ever visited all prefectures in Japan. I have a global experience in international banking business including residing in Hong Kong and Jakarta. So I’m able to have daily conversations in Indonesian language, too. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!

    Certification
    Certified Travel Services Manager
    Authorized Tour Conductor
    Kyoto Expert Certification

    Request Booking

    Jul 23, 2026
    svendulrikr
    Tripadvisor review: Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
    Best of Nara
    Amazing trip to Nara with the most…

    Jul 10, 2026
    valerianos862
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Private tour of Tokyo.
    Our guide Sam is very…

    Jun 20, 2026
    Sarah B
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We learned how to ride the trains and we went to…

    Apr 14, 2026
    MDMallory
    Tripadvisor review: Yokohama and Kamakura 6hr Private Trip Government-Licensed Guide
    The Natural Beauty of Kamakura
    Our guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge & Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge & Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:50 Hotel Kyoto TAKASEGAWA by HULIC Meet up
    • 9:40 Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 10:00 Tenryuji Temple Garden
    • 10:20 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove ~ Nonomiya Shrine
    • 11:50 Lunch at Ukiya, Takashimaya Kyoto Store
    • 12:50 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 14:00 Sannenzaka ~ Yasaka Pagoda ~ Yasaka Koshin-do
    • 14:30 Yasui Konpiragu Shrine ~ Gion Hanamikoji
    • 15:05 Disband at Gion-Shijo Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera Today's private tour in Kyoto was for a group of guests visiting from Oceania. As it was just after a holiday period, there were fewer school-trip students and tourists than usual, so the guests were able to enjoy the tour at a relaxed pace. At Arashiyama, they happily took many photos of the bamboo grove. To save time, we took a taxi from Shijo Kawaramachi to Kiyomizu-dera, and since there was no traffic congestion at all, we arrived smoothly. At a branch of a local shop, the guests purchased many pairs of chopsticks as souvenirs. They also thoroughly enjoyed Kiyomizu-dera, which was less crowded than usual, and were delighted to be able to take plenty of photos. I believe they had a wonderful time.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto Kawaramachi～Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama～Shijo-Omiya250JPY
    Section 3TrainOmiya～Kyoto Kawaramachi170JPY
    Total660JPY

    Tour Report by Kaeko

    Thank you very much for choosing JGA experience, and please allow me to briefly introduce myself. I’m Kaeko Tanigawa, your tour guide, and I have been showing tourists from abroad around mainly in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka areas. Every year I’ve guided my guests through those areas for over 80 times. I always try to do my best to help my guests explore and enjoy our unique and attractive locations, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive so many 5-star reviews from the guests I hosted. I’d like to help make your visit to Japan one of the most wonderful memories in your life. I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you very much.

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    Jul 25, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
    We spent half a day…

    Jul 24, 2026
    J6711TVnancyb
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
    Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create…

    Jul 13, 2026
    elizabethtW414DU
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Private Tour
    Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start…

    Jul 12, 2026
    johnkE8649IH
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
    We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji & Nadagiku Sake Brewery

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Egret Himeji & Nadagiku Sake Brewery

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meet @ JR Himeji Station
    • 13:15 @ Egret Himeji
    • 13:30 @ Himeji Castle
    • 15:45 @ Nadagiku Sake Brewery
    • 17:00 Dismissal @ Restaurant "Il Riccio"

    What Is a Private Himeji Castle Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe, and they were very interested in and knowledgeable about Japan, asking many detailed questions. At a specialty shop for handmade beckoning cats (maneki-neko) in a local shopping street on the way to Himeji Castle, they purchased a rare beckoning cat souvenir and seemed very pleased. They were also greatly impressed by the full view of the castle from the rooftop of "Egret Himeji," located on the south side of the castle, and took many photographs. As it was just after a major holiday period, there were few visitors at Himeji Castle, so we were able to explore it at a relaxed pace. We moved slowly, especially inside the castle, and took frequent breaks. At Nadagiku Sake Brewery, the guests enjoyed a paid tasting and wanted to purchase several bottles of the sake they liked, but unfortunately, since the brewery does not handle overseas shipping, they had to give up on that and purchased only one bottle. After the tour, the guests wanted to have a meal locally, so I searched online and guided them to a restaurant near the station, where we parted ways.

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

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Jul 25, 2026
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  • Ishikawa in Half a Day: Kenrokuen Garden & Higashi Chaya District

    Ishikawa in Half a Day: Kenrokuen Garden & Higashi Chaya District

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    May, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Hyatt Centric KANAZAWA
    • 11:30 Kenrokuen Garden
    • 12:30 Kanazawa Castle
    • 13:20 Lunch
    • 14:35 Higashi Chaya District
    • 15:10 Disband at Higashi Chaya District

    What Is a Private Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They toured at a relaxed pace, so it took more time than expected. One of the guests carefully admired the beautiful scenery of Kenrokuen and took many photographs. Another member of the group was lively and moved around energetically, which kept me attentive. Another guest enjoyed collecting stamps. The group enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Kenrokuen Garden, the traditional architecture of Kanazawa Castle, and the elegant rooms of the Higashi Chaya District. The guests said that the scenery of Kenrokuen was the highlight of the day.

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

    Tour Report by Sho

    I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. I have also guided foreign people around Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture as an international activity of an English circle. I was a volunteer interpreter at the training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

    Hokuriku region has a lot of sightseeing spots as follows, beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, traditional crafts like Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Takaoka copperware, and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism such as Kurobe dam and industrial tourism.

    I also work as a translator. I translated the Japanese firefly squid tourism pamphlet into English in 2020.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoten-sasaki/

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