Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Station & Harajuku

    Tokyo in One Day: Tokyo Station & Harajuku

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:45 Tokyo Station
    • 09:15 Imperial Palace
    • 12:00 Ginza Sony Showroom. Nissan Showroom Kimura-ya Bakery
    • Ginza Shrine
    • 13:00 +Shibuya crossing.
    • Star Wars pop-up shop. LuluLemon
    • 14:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 15:00 Harajuku

    Title: What Do Guests Notice on a Private Tokyo Walking Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report 1. Streets are clean here. 2. I bet they are causing problems (looking at the way gocarts moving past in front of Harajuku station.) 3. It's not mandatory to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. 4. You don't have to pay back when you are on a scholarship as long as you maintain a good record. Grant. 5. At elementary school, you walk 5 minutes to school; at secondary school, 5 minutes' ride. 6. One of the guests always cooks. 7. We like bamboo curry. 8. You start training at the age of 15 to be a sumo wrestler, which is most ideal? Oh, are there some college graduates-turned sumo wrestlers now? 9. Lululemon is very popular in North America. 10. You have small compact cars. We have pickups and large vehicles, carrying yachts for camping in North America.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGinza~Harajuku355JPY
    Total355JPY

    Hello, welcome to Japan you all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:30 Meet up@FLIPPER'S Shibuya Store
    • 2. 10:40 Stay@Shibuya Koen-dori
    • 3. 11:00 Stay@Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 4. 11:15 Move∶Subway
    • 5. 11:55 Stay@Kimono Rental VASARA Asakusa Station Front Store
    • 6. 13:20 Stay@Asakusa
    • 7. 14:35 Stay@Kimono Rental VASARA Asakusa Station Front Store
    • 8. 14:55 Move∶Subway
    • 9. 15:35 Stay@Shibuya Station West Exit, Liquor Mountain SHIBUYA313
    • 10. 16:25 Move∶Subway
    • 11. 16:55 Disband@soul food house

    Title: What's a Private Full-Day Tour of Tokyo Like With Shibuya Shopping and Asakusa Kimono? A Licensed Guide's Report The meeting point and desired spots kept changing right up until the last minute, which made things quite challenging, but the tour was carried out without any major problems. As one person was absent, I guided the group on the day. The evening before, I had been asked to come to the Hotel at 11:00, but around 09:30 on the day of the tour, the guests emailed me asking whether I could come directly to a pancake shop in Shibuya instead. Since I was at Tokyo Station at the time, I contacted them via a messaging app to say I could arrive around 10:30, hurried to Shibuya Station, and joined the guests just as they were finishing their meal to begin the tour. The two main requests from the guests this time were shopping in Shibuya and a kimono experience in Asakusa. Since the restaurant where they had a 17:00 dinner reservation was in Azabu-Juban, I first took them to Asakusa, which was farther away. As they had not made a reservation, I chose a major kimono rental shop close to the station. Selecting kimono and getting dressed took more than an hour. Since taking photographs also used up quite a bit of time, at Senso-ji Temple we turned back at the Hozomon Gate without stopping at the main hall, so that we could return to the rental shop before 15:00. In Shibuya, the guests requested a liquor store where they could buy tequila. I managed to find one shop online, though it was a difficult task for me since I am not knowledgeable about alcohol. It was fortunate that the dinner restaurant was close to Azabu-Juban Station. We arrived a little before opening time and parted ways in front of the restaurant.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShibuya Station~Asakusa Station260JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa Station~Shibuya Station260JPY
    Section 3SubwayShibuya Station~Azabu-juban Station290JPY
    Total810JPY

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…

  • Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day

    Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:20 Gracery Shinjuku Meet 7:36 Depart Shinjuku by JR 8:42 Arrive Kamakura After that, by train, bus, and on foot as mentioned 9:20 Goryo Shrine 9:50 Hasedera Temple and the Hydrangea Festival within the grounds 11:00 Great Buddha of Kamakura 11:45 Lunch (near Hasedera Temple) 13:00 Hokokuji Temple 13:50 Hachimangu Shrine 14:20 Komachi Street 15:00 Kamakura Station 15:16 Depart Kamakura by JR 15:41 Disband at Yokohama The customer will then proceed to Akihabara (mentioned they had also gone two days prior)

    Title: What's a Private Kamakura Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. As usual, I prepared a celebration board for them. The guests were interested in history and Buddhism, so at each place we visited I spoke about the history of Kamakura and about Shinto and Buddhism, which they listened to with great interest. They were also interested in nature, and I was able to introduce the hydrangea festival at Hasedera Temple at just the right time. Because the Hotel was near Kabukicho in Shinjuku, the streets were littered with trash the morning after Sunday; however, the guests were amazed that everywhere else we went was completely clean. For lunch, I asked the restaurant to reserve a tatami room, and the guests enjoyed their first experience of dining on tatami mats.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Kamakura950JPY
    Section 2TrainKamakura~Hase200JPY
    Section 3TrainHase~Kamakura200JPY
    Section 4BusKamakura~Jomyoji220JPY
    Section 5BusJomyoji~Hachimangu220JPY
    Section 6TrainKamakura~Yokohama360JPY
    Total2,150JPY

    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

    Aug 24, 2026
    Deb_K
    Viator review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Well organised tour
    Hiro is obviously an experienced guide.…

    Aug 6, 2026
    Marcus_J
    Viator review: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing day with…
    Had an amazing day with Hiro.…

    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…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Nezu Shrine

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Nezu Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Akihabara
    • 9:30 Nezu Shrine
    • 10:40 Ameyoko, Statue of Saigo Takamori, Grave of the Shogi Corps, Kiyomizu Kannon-do, Ueno Toshogu Shrine
    • 12:00 Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, Sensoji Temple
    • 13:00 Dismissal @ In front of "Sushi Ei"

    What Is a Private Family Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from Europe. When one of the guests arrived 20 minutes late, they seemed to be in a bad mood, but they listened carefully to my explanations about the shrine and even smiled, which was a relief. One of the guests was lively and leaned out over the platform door and touched the pine tree at Toshogu, so I gave a gentle reminder. The rest of the group were very considerate, and one of the guests asked me many questions about life in Japan. Since there are few trash bins on the streets, they asked what to do with an empty plastic bottle after finishing a drink. I explained that they could buy something at a convenience store and use the bin there, or simply carry it back with them. At Nezu Shrine, the guests enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes and walking through the rows of torii gates. At Ameyoko, they bought Japanese sweets and Aquarius at a confectionery shop. At Toshogu, they paid the admission fee to go inside and were impressed by the decorations. By the time we reached Asakusa, some of the guests were clearly struggling with jet lag, but they persevered without complaint. In response to a request to eat sushi, I guided the group to a sushi restaurant, where the tour came to an end.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayYushima~Nezu180JPY
    Section 2BusNezu Shrine Entrance~In front of Ueno Matsuzakaya210JPY
    Section 3SubwayUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Total570JPY

    Hello!! I’m Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
    I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
    My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
    I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
    Please let me know what interests you.
    I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
    Looking forward to meeting you!!

    Sep 30, 2026
    16shelleyb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Great day in Toyko
    Four of us spent an…

    Sep 29, 2026
    982marvf
    Yokohama Experience
    Tripadvisor review: Yokohama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Takako is an outstanding tour guide who knows Yokohama…

    Sep 24, 2026
    marshad422
    A great day of seeing so much and gaining knowledge of the historical and spiritual meaning to the places visited.
    Tripadvisor…

    Sep 18, 2026
    7
    770stefanieg
    Wonderful, personalized tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Takako, our guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 08:55 Meet up @ Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya
    • 2. 09:05 Travel: Subway
    • 3. 09:55 Stay @ Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
    • 4. 10:55 Travel: Subway
    • 5. 11:30 Stay @ Asakusa
    • 6. 13:00 Disband @ Marugoto Vegan Dining Asakusa

    Can You Do a Private Tokyo Tour Covering Asakusa and Koishikawa Korakuen? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group. Since only one member of the group had a Suica card, the rest of the guests purchased a common one-day subway pass at Shibuya Station, taking their return trip into consideration. I had heard in advance that some members of the group had specific dietary needs, so I was initially planning to guide them at the end of the tour to a ramen restaurant near Tokyo Station that could accommodate everyone. However, since one of the guests had picked out two restaurants of interest in Asakusa, I gave priority to guiding them there instead. A sandwich shop near Nakamise Street was easy to find, and I had personally visited the restaurant I took them to before we parted ways, so I was able to guide them there without any hesitation. It was a tour in the rain, but the Japanese irises at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden were magnificently beautiful.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShibuya Station~Iidabashi Station210JPY
    Section 2SubwayIidabashi Station~Asakusa Station290JPY
    Total500JPY

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet (@Hotel) The customer returned to their room to retrieve a forgotten item, causing an additional wait of about 15 minutes
    • 8:15-8:50 Travel (Keihan Train; Gion-Shijo → Kiyomizu-Gojo, Walk; Kiyomizu-Gojo → Gojozaka)
    • 8:50-10:20 Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 10:20-10:50 Travel (Taxi; Gojozaka → Fushimi Inari Taisha)
    • 10:50-11:40 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:40-12:20 Travel (Taxi; Fushimi Inari Taisha → Restaurant/Washoku Joy Kinkaku-ji Branch)
    • 12:20-13:10 Lunch (Washoku Joy)
    • 13:10-14:00 Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:00 Tour ends
    • After the tour ended, we saw the customer off to their hotel by taxi and said goodbye

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour to Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, and Kinkaku-ji Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. I took them to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, and Kinkaku-ji Temple. The tour did not go according to schedule at all, and by the time we reached Kiyomizu-dera we were about 50 minutes behind the planned finish time. There was a 15-minute delay for a forgotten item at departure, another 15 minutes for a stop at a convenience store along the way, and because of the group we had to keep a slow walking pace with breaks included. I explained the significant delay to the schedule and made some changes to the itinerary (to keep the restaurant reservation time, I switched the order from Kinkaku-ji then lunch to lunch then Kinkaku-ji). At the guests' expense, all transportation from Kiyomizu was changed to taxi. Since some of the guests did not seem to understand much English, I added brief and simple explanations in Spanish for the most important points wherever possible. The original plan was to take the group to the bamboo grove after Kinkaku-ji, but the rain became heavy before we even visited Kinkaku-ji, so we gave up on the bamboo grove and instead saw the guests back to the Hotel. All of the guests said they enjoyed Fushimi Inari the most. In particular, since visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was the main purpose of the Kyoto visit for one of the guests, it seems that goal was achieved. The one regret was that the rain became so heavy that I was unable to take the group to the bamboo grove.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo~Kiyomizu-Gojo170JPY
    Section 2OtherGojozaka~Fushimi Inari Taisha0JPY
    Section 3OtherFushimi Inari Taisha~Restaurant Washoku Joy Kinkaku-ji Branch0JPY
    Section 4OtherKinkaku-ji Temple~Hotel (Good Nature Hotel)0JPY
    Total170JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto: Kofuku-ji National Treasure & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path

    Kyoto: Kofuku-ji National Treasure & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Tsukihi House Kyoto (22-1 Suwakaicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City), depart for the Nara area
    • 11:10-11:30 Kofuku-ji National Treasure Museum
    • 11:40-12:00 Interact with deer near Kofuku-ji
    • 12:20-13:30 Lunch (PY Halal Kitchen)
    • 13:50-14:20 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 14:30-15:10 Todai-ji (Nandaimon Gate ~ Great Buddha Hall)
    • 15:20 Depart for the Kyoto area
    • 16:30-17:00 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
    • 17:15 Disband near Keifuku Arashiyama Station

    **Title:** Can You Do a Private Nara Day Trip and Add the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove? A Licensed Guide's Report **Body:** The guests were a group visiting from the Middle East. One strong request in the itinerary was that, even though this was a Nara tour, they wanted to stop by the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the way back to Kyoto. So I arranged the route as follows: guesthouse → Kofukuji National Treasure Museum → lunch (a halal restaurant) → Kasuga Taisha Shrine → Todaiji Temple (from the Great South Gate to the Great Buddha Hall) → Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and at the end, at the guests' request, I dropped them off near Keifuku Arashiyama Station where we parted ways. Meals had to be halal only, but it turned out that halal dining options in Nara are extremely limited. The guests had initially requested halal ramen and halal sushi, but some places had already closed and others had quality issues, so in the end we settled on an Indian restaurant. Apart from strictly observing their dietary practices, the guests joked around and teased one another, and the vehicle was lively all day long — full of the youthful energy you find anywhere in the world. They were enjoying a Japan trip of a little over a week, and on this day they even came across a wedding at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and seemed drawn to its dignified, serene beauty. Their favorite parts of the trip were interacting with the deer at Nara Park (they never tired of it, both morning and afternoon) and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where they took many photos.

    My name is Masaki Kitagawa, a male in the middle of 50s living in Kyoto with my wife, son and three cats. While working for a local energy company on weekdays, I’ve been a tour guide on weekends since 2019 and enjoy interacting with people coming from different worlds. It is my great pleasure to help you make your excursion time-efficient and pleasant even during the high seasons in Kyoto. Considering your interests, preferences and priorities, I want to design and make your journey fruitful one. I’m thrilled to be contacted from you. Let’s explore Kyoto !

    Jun 3, 2026
    Nikki G
    Wonderful experience with a great guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Masaki was our guide through…

    May 24, 2026
    Pamela_C
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Perfect day in Kyoto with the best guide!…

    May 4, 2026
    TravelersHigh77
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent English speaking guide for Kyoto
    Masaki was s wonderful and patient…

    Nov 29, 2025
    vsairamkumar
    Kyoto guided tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had great fun exploring Kyoto with Masaki San.…

  • Kyoto: JR train & Kodaiji Temple

    Kyoto: JR train & Kodaiji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 meeting at Kyoto Station
    • 10:15 JR train
    • 10:20 Fushimi-Inari Shrine
    • 11:30 JR Inari Station
    • 11:45 Express Bus from Kyoto Station Bus Terminal
    • 11:55 walk
    • 12:20 Kiyomizudera Temple
    • 13:20 Lunch at Gion Tamejiro Kiyomizuzaka
    • 14:10 stroll along Kiyomizuzaka – Sanneizaka – Ninenzaka
    • 14:40 Ryozen-Kannon
    • 15:05 Kodaiji Temple
    • 15:40 walk
    • 16:00 End of the Tour at Yasaka Shrine

    Title: What's a Private Day Trip to Kyoto from Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had a lively, cheerful energy, and despite first impressions they were very polite and courteous throughout, which made the tour enjoyable from start to finish. The weather alternated between light rain and clear spells, but not enough to require umbrellas, and the guests enjoyed taking photos of themselves at every stop along the way. After visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the guests requested udon, so I took them to an udon restaurant along Kiyomizu-zaka. Despite the crowded street, the restaurant itself was quiet, and they were very satisfied to enjoy delicious udon in a relaxed atmosphere (I recommend it, as yatsuhashi is also included as a dessert). Ryozen Kannon and Kodai-ji Temple were also uncrowded, allowing for a leisurely visit, and the guests' eyes lit up while taking photographs. They clearly had a keen appreciation for beauty and aesthetics. At the end, the guests seemed tired and wished to return to Kyoto Station by taxi rather than by bus (they were on a day trip from Osaka), so I arranged a premium van from a taxi company that could seat everyone at once, saw them off, and the tour came to an end.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari~Kyoto150JPY
    Section 3BusKyoto Station~Kiyomizuzaka500JPY
    Total800JPY

    “He was easy to talk to, friendly, and knowledgeable and even made sure we successfully navigated the public transit back to our hotel. If we are ever back in Kyoto, we’d love to book a tour with him again! ”

    “At every side we got an indepth explanation to any minor detail and every question we asked was answered and explained really well. It felt like a relaxing and wholesome walk through Kyoto even while it was pouring rain. We can absolutely recommend choosing Nabet!”

    “Nabet’s English is just perfect, he knows the way around sights, little streets and hidden secrets, he is very authentic…just a perfect tour!”

    Here are just a few of the many kind reviews I’ve received from the more than 100 groups I’ve guided through Kyoto and other cities.

    I’m deeply thankful for the chance to connect with my guests and contribute to a memorable tour experience!

    +Current Occupation+
    • Associate Professor specially appointed for Entrepreneurship Education and University-Based Startup Support
    • Management Consultant for SMEs and startups
    • Government-Licensed Interpreter Guide

    +Hobbies+
    Travel, music, sake, ice hockey, squash, watching soccer

    May 29, 2026
    Tamara M
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto bei Nacht – faszinierende Einblicke in Kultur und Spiritualität
    Ich…

    Oct 21, 2025
    Jana_C
    4-hour private tour with Nabet was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing experience…

    Oct 16, 2025
    987kayeh
    Knowledgeable guide who was will to respond to our multiple questions
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Thankyou…

    Oct 16, 2025
    janiec555
    Significant sites in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nabet is an excellent guide. He explained Japanese…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tochomae Station & Shinjuku West Exit Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Tochomae Station & Shinjuku West Exit Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meeting point: Hotel Tokyo
    • 8:40 Depart Tochomae Station
    • (Toei Subway Oedo Line )
    • Kuramae Station
    • (Toei Subway Asakusa Line)
    • 9:15 Asakusa Station
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Nakamise-dori Shopping Street
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • 10:00 Depart Asakusa Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 10:10 Suehirocho Station
    • Akihabara Akihabara Electric Town
    • 11:00 Suehirocho Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
    • 11:30 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Jingu Shrine
    • Takeshita Street
    • 12:30 Depart Harajuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 12:40 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • 13:40 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 13:50 Arrive Shinjuku Station
    • Shinjuku Shinjuku Station / Eki Tabi Concierge
    • Odakyu Travel Center
    • Omoide Yokocho
    • Kabukicho
    • Shinjuku Golden Gai
    • Isetan
    • 14:50 Shinjuku West Exit Station
    • (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
    • 15:00 Arrive Tochomae Station
    • 15:00 Disband: Tochomae Station

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, Harajuku, and Shinjuku The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had originally come from another region and moved to North America some time ago. They arrived at Haneda Airport the previous evening and took a taxi to their hotel. The night before, they had strolled around the hotel area and enjoyed grilled meat for dinner. On this occasion, they were on a 12-day visit to Japan, planning to stay in Tokyo for three days before visiting Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, then returning to Tokyo before heading home. They said, "In Japan, we want to visit as many places as possible," and also, "We want to try and enjoy many different kinds of Japanese food." Although the sky was cloudy, we were able to get through the tour without any rain. First, we went to Asakusa. As always, there was a huge crowd, with many foreign tour groups and school excursion students in particular. We started in front of Kaminarimon Gate. I explained the history of Sensoji Temple and the transition from Edo to Tokyo, the purpose of the five-story pagoda, what Buddhism is, and the difference between Buddhism and Shinto. We took many commemorative photos in front of Kaminarimon and the five-story pagoda. One of the guests drew an omikuji fortune and was disappointed to pull a "bad luck" result. One of the guests also purchased an omamori charm. There were questions such as, "What are the main religions in Japan?" "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?" and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people believe in?" There was also a question, "Do you go to the temple every week?" We then moved to Akihabara, where I explained its history. Video game software was also purchased. Next, we moved to Harajuku and visited Meiji Shrine. I explained about Shinto, the torii gate, Emperor Meiji, and why wine barrels are displayed there. There were questions such as, "What kind of teachings does Shinto have?" "When did Shinto originate?" "How many shrines are there in Japan?" and "What is the difference between Buddhism and Shinto?" From here we moved to Shibuya. First, we took photos at the scramble crossing. There was a question, "Why do so many people gather here?" We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. Since they wanted to purchase tickets for their upcoming travels, we went to Shinjuku Station. At JR Shinjuku Station they purchased round-trip Shinkansen tickets between Tokyo and the Kansai area, and at the Odakyu Travel Center they also purchased tickets from Shinjuku to Hakone (the guests insisted they had already purchased them in advance on a website, but for some reason the QR code did not appear on the screen, causing a bit of trouble). After this, we walked around the east exit of Shinjuku and explored the underground shopping area of a department store. There were comments and questions such as, "It's surprising that there is no litter on the streets," "Doesn't anyone throw trash on the streets?" "Kabukicho isn't very clean, but it feels far cleaner and safer than cities in North America," and "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?" I saw them off at Tochomae Station, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTochomae Station~Asakusa Station272JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa Station~Suehirocho Station178JPY
    Section 3SubwaySuehirocho Station~Meiji-jingumae Station209JPY
    Section 4TrainHarajuku Station~Shibuya Station146JPY
    Section 5TrainShibuya Station~Shinjuku Station167JPY
    Section 6SubwayShinjuku West Exit Station~Tochomae Station178JPY
    Total1,150JPY

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

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  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:00 Meet up @ Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
    • 2. 09:05 Travel: Subway
    • 3. 09:30 Stay @ Asakusa
    • 4. 11:10 Travel: Subway
    • 5. 11:30 Stay @ Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tsukiji Uogashi
    • 6. 12:10 Lunch @ Tsukiji Uogashi Shokudo
    • 7. 13:20 Travel: Subway
    • 8. 13:50 Stay @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 9. 14:10 Travel: Subway
    • 10. 14:25 Stay @ Harajuku, Takeshita Street
    • 11. 15:15 Travel: Subway
    • 12. 15:45 Disband @ Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

    What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan. At Shimbashi Station, which was near the Hotel, they purchased a combined one-day pass for the Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro, and we traveled by subway. Just before the tour, we received a request to change Meiji Shrine, which had been listed as a desired spot, to Takeshita Street. Originally we had planned to visit the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Meiji Shrine in the morning, but with this change I decided to take the group to Asakusa first. This decision seemed to work out quite well. Around the Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa, many shops were already open by around 10:00, so the guests were able to enjoy shopping from early in the day. They had mentioned being interested in the Tsukiji market but not fond of raw fish, so I chose the Uogashi Shokudo as the lunch venue, since it offers not only seafood but also chicken dishes and pastries, and this time as well the guests seemed satisfied with menu items such as teriyaki chicken and a mixed fry. Since one of the guests appeared to be having trouble deciding on a souvenir, on Takeshita Street I took the group even to a tucked-away shop that I usually skip, and in the end they seemed to find their favorite character goods, which was a relief. At the end, I saw the group off to the Hotel before we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassShimbashi Station~Asakusa Station900JPY
    Section 2Free PassAsakusa Station~Tsukiji Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTsukiji Station~Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassShibuya Station~Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassMeiji-jingumae Station~Shimbashi Station0JPY
    Total900JPY

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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    Highly recommend 👍
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