Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Hotel Meet (@Hotel Kiyomizu)
    • 9:30-10:10 Travel (Keihan Railway; Kiyomizu-Gojo → Keihan Sanjo, Subway Tozai Line; Sanjo Keihan → Nijojo-mae)
    • 10:10-11:20 Nijo Castle visit
    • 11:20-12:00 Travel (City Bus; Nijojo-mae → Kinkakuji-michi)
    • 12:00-12:50 Lunch (Egao Gohan CoCo Kana)
    • 13:10-14:00 Kinkakuji Temple visit
    • 14:10-14:40 Travel (City Bus; Kinkakuji-michi → Imadegawa)
    • 14:40-15:30 Kyoto Imperial Palace visit
    • 15:30 Tour ends
    • ※Since the customer's hotel is on my way home, I will accompany them to the hotel and say goodbye in front of it

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. The weather was fine, even a little hot, but the tour proceeded smoothly. I took the guests to Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. They were overwhelmed by the large crowds at Nijo Castle and Kinkakuji. Some of the guests said they preferred the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was less crowded. One of the guests liked the grandeur of Nijo Castle, while another said that despite the crowds, Kinkakuji was still their favorite. Over lunch, we discussed the historical connections between Japan and Europe (Dutch trade during the period of national isolation in the Edo era), as well as the issue of a declining birthrate and aging population, which Europe also faces, and how Japan is responding to its situation (the trend in that region lags about 20 years behind Japan). I encouraged them to visit Kyoto again in autumn (from mid to late November) and we said our goodbyes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKiyomizu-Gojo~Keihan Sanjo170JPY
    Section 2SubwaySanjo Keihan~Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 3BusNijojo-mae~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi~Imadegawa230JPY
    Total850JPY

    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 !

    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 in One Day: Asakusa & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Customer arrived late, decided to extend by 1 hour (cash payment)
    • 9:00 Meet at hotel, take the train
    • 9:30 Asakusa
    • 10:10 Take the train
    • 10:30 Ueno National Museum
    • 12:00 Take the train
    • 12:30 Lunch in Shinjuku
    • 13:30 Walk to Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 14:00 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 15:00 Disband at Sendagaya Station

    Because this was a last-minute booking and the destinations had not been decided beforehand, we determined the itinerary as the tour progressed. First, since the guests really wanted to visit Senso-ji Temple, we headed to Asakusa. The guests seemed to want to learn deeply about history and Japanese culture, and asked questions such as whether people had lived in this area before Senso-ji Temple was built. At Ueno Park and the National Museum as well, there were questions about the fires caused by the Tokyo air raids, and about the lives of the former samurai class after the bloodless surrender of Edo Castle and the sword abolition edict. For lunch, the guests wanted to eat udon, so we had lunch at a udon restaurant in Shinjuku and then walked to Shinjuku Gyoen. The plan had been to keep it brief and move on to Meiji Shrine, but since the guests wanted to spend a little more time there, they made their own way to Meiji Shrine on foot afterward.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShimbashi~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa~Ueno66JPY
    Section 3TrainUeno~Shinjuku208JPY
    Total494JPY

    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!

    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…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge & Nunobiki Herb Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge & Nunobiki Herb Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meet at JR Sannomiya Station
    • 13:45 at Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
    • 15:30 at Nunobiki Herb Garden
    • 17:00 Disband at JR Sannomiya Station

    What's a Private Kobe Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nunobiki Herb Garden and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge The guests were a group of four visiting from North America. Everything went smoothly. The itinerary was not decided until the day itself, and ultimately they left everything up to the guide, so we started the tour on that basis. Today was in the middle of a major holiday period, so all the spots and public transportation were crowded with many people. In particular, at Nunobiki Herb Garden there was a wait of about 15 to 20 minutes for the elevator. This time it was hard to fully understand what the guests were particularly interested in. However, at the plaza adjacent to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, a local event was being held with many food stalls and lively crowds, and the guests seemed satisfied enjoying beer and other refreshments. Apart from one of the guests, there were not many questions. I presented one of the guests with a handmade drawstring pouch made by my sister, which was well received. After the tour, the guests planned to have a Kobe beef dinner and had reserved a local restaurant, so we parted ways after I explained where it was located.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSannomiya~Maiko320JPY
    Section 2TrainMaiko~Sannomiya320JPY
    Section 3SubwaySannomiya~Shin-Kobe210JPY
    Section 4SubwayShin-Kobe~Sannomiya210JPY
    Total1,060JPY

    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

    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…

  • Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • Shimizu Port 8:40→9:30 Sunpu Park (Momijiyama Park)→12:00 Shopping inside Shizuoka Station→13:00 Kashi no Ichi→14:30 Shimizu Port

    What's a Private Day Tour of Shimizu and Shizuoka Like from the Cruise Port? A Licensed Guide's Report We met earlier than scheduled at Shimizu Port and walked cheerfully to the nearest bus stop while chatting. Since the guests were not particularly interested in shrines and temples, we headed for Sunpu Park and Momijiyama Park. In the garden we enjoyed delicious matcha and green tea, and walked slowly through the garden while I explained its features. Afterwards we went out into the park to see the statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu and an excavation site, and took photos together with the Ieyasu statue. As it happened to be the last day of a holiday period, there were many tents in the park selling craft beer, local sake, and more, so we enjoyed tasting and comparing different beers and sake. After that, we walked to Shizuoka Station and bought local specialty items such as ceramics, then headed to Shimizu Station. We explored the newly relocated riverside market, and although it was crowded, we enjoyed delicious tuna at the tuna hall. The timing worked out well, Mount Fuji even showed its face along the way, and we parted at the port after a hug with the guests.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusBansei-cho~Shin-Shimizu200JPY
    Section 2BusShimizu Station~Bansei-cho200JPY
    Section 3TrainShin-Shimizu~Shin-Shizuoka350JPY
    Section 4TrainShizuoka~Shimizu240JPY
    Total990JPY

    I have been teaching high school students for 40 years as an English teacher and guiding for 10years including a volunteer guide .Now I am a national government licensed guide. I have been dreaming to introduce Japanese culture including tasty Japanese food and history , our society and also some problems in it. It is a great moment of joy and excitement to be with you from all over the world. I love traveling around Japan and abroad myself. I visited East Germany ,too that does not exist any more. I am looking forward to guiding you in and around Shizuoka!

    Jul 26, 2026
    Edward_H
    Viator review: Shimizu Shore Excursion: Mt. Fuji View Tour, Licensed Guide
    The only way to tour if…
    The only way to…

    Jun 30, 2026
    Louisa_B
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    My Fuji Experience and temple visit
    Great trip out…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Bret_F
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Great Shizuoka Area Experience
    We enjoyed a memorable day…

    Mar 27, 2026
    James_M
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Loved are guide.
    Great tour guide. We loved her…

  • Osaka in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Osaka in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet up @ Osaka Port
    • 10:35 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 12:02 Hanamikoji ~ Gion Shinbashi
    • 12:42 Lunch
    • 14:04 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 17:00 Disband @ Osaka Port

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, and Local Shopping The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. I arranged the itinerary entirely according to their wishes, though it ended up involving quite a lot of walking. Even so, the guests walked energetically throughout. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, the guests said they wanted to see a bamboo grove, so we stopped by Kaijo Shrine, where they were delighted by a small but beautiful bamboo grove. While waiting for lunch, the guests explored the shopping street and mentioned they wanted to buy a kitchen knife and spend time at a shop, so we skipped the planned Nishiki Market, and they were very happy to have found a fine item. At the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the guests seemed to appreciate the impressive buildings and the beautifully maintained pines and gardens.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOsaka Port~Umeda580JPY
    Section 2TrainOsaka~Inari840JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari~Gion-Shijo220JPY
    Section 4SubwayShijo~Imadegawa260JPY
    Section 5SubwayImadegawa~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 6TrainKyoto~Bentencho840JPY
    Section 7SubwayBentencho~Osaka Port240JPY
    Total3,240JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0900 Meet at Hilton Tokyo (3 min from Nishi-Shinjuku on the Marunouchi Line)
    • 0910 Meiji Shrine. Board and alight at Parking Lot No. 1. Grand Torii Gate, dedicated sake barrels, Meoto Kusu (married camphor trees), outer worship hall.
    • 0950 Shibuya Scramble Crossing. From the vehicle.
    • 1020 Imperial Palace Outer Garden. Nijubashi Bridge (from the vehicle), brief stop at Gyoko-dori Avenue, explanation of historical background in front of the Tatsumi Yagura Turret. Tokyo Station (from the vehicle).
    • 1110 Tokyo Skytree. Observation deck.
    • 1240 Asakusa. Nakamise. Lunch at Tatsumiya on Kannon-dori. Senso-ji Temple. Asakusa Shrine. Exit via Nitenmon Gate.
    • 1430 Akihabara Electric Town (anime/manga) from the vehicle.
    • 1500 Return to hotel

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like During Golden Week? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. For one of the guests, it had been several decades since their last visit to Japan, while for the other it was a first visit. Since the tour fell during the Golden Week holiday period, I had suggested from the outset that busy areas such as Shibuya be enjoyed as sightseeing from the vehicle. In the morning, Meiji Shrine was still relatively uncrowded, but by the time we were leaving, the number of visitors was steadily increasing. Fortunately, as arranged in advance, the Skytree tickets, including mine, had already been reserved. However, because of the Children's Day period and a character-themed event, Skytree was crowded with many families. Even after checking in with the tickets, we had to wait in line for more than ten minutes to actually board the elevator. Even so, since part of the itinerary had been arranged as sightseeing from the vehicle, we were able to proceed smoothly through the schedule. The guests asked about a wide range of topics, including the current situation of the Fukushima nuclear plant and Japan's key industries. Fortunately, my own past experience proved useful to some extent, and we were able to keep the conversation going. In two days they plan to visit Lake Kawaguchi, and afterward they will continue on to Kyoto and other destinations.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherTokyo Hilton~Tokyo Hilton0JPY
    Total0JPY

    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.

    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…

  • Saitama in Half a Day: Guide at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine & Toki no Kane

    Saitama in Half a Day: Guide at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine & Toki no Kane

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1:00 PM Meet at Hotel
    • 1:20 PM Take the bus to Hikawa Shrine
    • 1:50 PM Guide at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
    • 2:30 PM Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
    • 3:00 PM Lunch @ Okanoya Shokudo
    • 3:30 PM Stroll through Ichibangai
    • 4:00 PM Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
    • 4:15 PM Taisho Roman Yume Street ~ Koedo Kurari
    • 5:00 PM Dismiss at Kawagoe Station

    Title: What Is a Private Kawagoe Day Tour Like During Golden Week? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Asia. They first traveled to Japan 15 years ago and have been completely captivated by the country ever since, returning many times. They especially love Japanese cuisine, and said that no matter which restaurant they enter, the food is always delicious — they have never once had a bad meal. They appeared to be seasoned travelers. This time, after staying in Tokyo, they planned an 8-day itinerary of Kawagoe, Karuizawa, and Tokyo. They had already visited the main tourist spots in Tokyo, so this time they wanted to see somewhere a little different. It was extremely crowded during Golden Week. The bus heading to Hikawa Shrine got caught in traffic, and what normally takes 10 minutes took at least 30 minutes. It turned out to be the right decision to give up on the bus from Hikawa Shrine and continue on foot. Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Alley) was as crowded as rush hour, so packed that we could only move in one direction. There were many sweet potato desserts with a great variety, and the guests enjoyed treats such as a croissant filled with sweet potato. Since we had not yet had lunch, we ended up at a soba restaurant where the noodles were kneaded with sweet potato powder, which was very unusual and delicious. One of the guests was delighted, saying, "I love these kinds of traditional Japanese restaurants." There were many new shops along Ichibangai (the main street), each with a long line. On Taisho Roman Yumedori, we happened to see koinobori (carp streamers), which made for great photos. Since there was no time left to visit Kitain Temple, we walked through Crea Mall and parted ways at Kawagoe Station.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKawagoe Station~Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine210JPY
    Total210JPY

    Hello! My name is Ayaka.
    I originally come from Osaka, but now live in Saitama . I have a 19-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son.
    My hobbies are cooking, baking sweets, playing the piano and watching movies.

    On weekdays, I work as a part-time English teacher at a boys’ junior high school and a high school. Since 2023, I have started working as a tour guide on weekends and long vacations. It is mainly private tours for small groups.

    I strongly believe that it is my calling to tell the greatest points of Japan to many foreigners. Through my guiding, I will do my best to give you as good an impression of Japan as possible.

    Mar 28, 2026
    Destination424937
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Japan
    Ayaka was knowledgeable and she took us to some historical highlights of Tokyo .

    Mar 19, 2035
    L9685HWdianan
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing Tokyo Tour with Ayaka ? Kind, Knowledgeable & Memorable Experience
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    Maxkerry
    Great day in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    An excellent day with Ayaka in Tokyo. She…

    Oct 4, 2025
    D
    Donna_S
    Private tour of Tokyo with Ayaka of Japan Guide Agency
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0900 Meet at Nol kyoto sanjo
    • 0940 Fushimi Inari
    • 1040 Nanzen-ji
    • 1200 Nijo Castle
    • 1315 Disband at Karasuma Oike

    What Is a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They were very curious and enthusiastically engaged with many things. The weather was very nice, even a little hot, but the tour went smoothly and enjoyably. They enjoyed taking photos, capturing many images with an old film single-lens reflex camera, a digital camera, and smartphones, and I also took many photos for them. We were able to capture many beautiful high-contrast photos featuring the deep blue sky, the fresh green leaves, and the vermilion of the torii gate.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKarasuma Oike~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari~Sanjo220JPY
    Section 4SubwaySanjo Keihan~Keage220JPY
    Section 5SubwayKeage~Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 6SubwayNijojo-mae~Karasuma Oike220JPY
    Total1,330JPY

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

    Oct 10, 2025
    alijohn48
    Just what we were looking for
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Tomy was…

    Aug 8, 2025
    Katherine_G
    Fantastic day touring Kyoto with private tour guide & driver!
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max…

    Jul 22, 2025
    98patrickn
    early morning tour of Kyoto with guide Tomy
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We did an early…

    Jul 20, 2025
    Mark_S
    Great day in Kyoto
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a great…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Shitennoji Temple & Shin-Osaka Station

    Osaka in Half a Day: Shitennoji Temple & Shin-Osaka Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet up @Hotel Granvia Osaka
    • 9:40-10:30@Osaka Castle, Hokoku Shrine
    • 11:10-12:00@Shitennoji Temple
    • 12:40-13:00@Harukas Garden
    • 13:30-13:50 Shin-Osaka Station
    • 13:50 Disband@Shin-Osaka Station

    Title: What's a Half-Day Private Tour of Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They had come to Osaka to see the Expo and had already spent two days there before the tour. They were curious about everyday life in modern Japan rather than history or culture — wondering why there were no flowers on the balconies of Osaka apartments, and asking where Osaka's water comes from. The tour was originally planned as a 4-hour itinerary designed to see as many places as possible, but during the tour they mentioned they would like to experience riding the Shinkansen. So I changed the plan, purchased Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto at Tennoji Station, saw them off to Shin-Osaka Station, and we parted ways. They mentioned that they would head to North America the next day for a few days, then return to Japan to visit Tokyo before flying home a few days later.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayUmeda~Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka190JPY
    Section 3SubwayTennoji~Shin-Osaka Station290JPY
    Total720JPY

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

    Jul 30, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We spent half…

    Jul 12, 2026
    angiegI1120DY
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great tour! Great guide!
    Sachi was a great guide. She customized…

    Jul 8, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    We Miss Osaka Already
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Sachiko O. was our guide…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Relax64382499520
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A memorable experience!
    Wonderful experience with an amazing guide! Ms. Sachiko Ogura,…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Groove Shinjuku & Shinjuku station West

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Groove Shinjuku & Shinjuku station West

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Groove Shinjuku (Hotel)
    • 09:55 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory.
    • 10:35 Shibuya crossing and Hachi dog statue
    • 11:30 Matsuya Department Store
    • 12:00 Ginza
    • 12:40 Imperial Palace
    • 13:20 Ohtemachi
    • 13:50 Shinjuku station West

    Please provide the tour report text you would like me to anonymize and translate. The content you've shared appears to be a list of questions and comments (likely from a guest during a tour), but I need the full tour report with its title and body fields to apply the anonymization and translation rules correctly. If this list is the actual tour report body content, please confirm, and also provide the title field, so I can process it according to the instructions.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku―Shibuya―Ginza Otemachi―Shinjuku~Shinjuku585JPY
    Total585JPY

    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?

    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…

    May 20, 2026
    olgalA154QQ
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with an excellent guide
    Great experience! Our guide WADA Hideaki…

    Apr 19, 2026
    Sightseer57474900023
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hideaki’s perfect first day in Tokyo!
    Hideaki was an incredible guide and…