Sep 28, 2026
Miguel_E
Amazing Service
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful time with Kazuo. He had such insightful knowledge of each area we wanted to visit and had all the best spots to take photos and was very patient with us.

Sep 27, 2026
T
TrailBlazer47194
Kazuo Sumi is a great guide.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide Kazuo Sumi was excellent. We had a wonderful time, learned a lot of new things about Japanese culture and history, practiced navigating transport, enjoyed a perfect lunch. Kazuo-San even facilitated a purchase of a UV blocking umbrella, which was much needed on that sunny day.

Sep 1, 2026
Steve6172014
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had a great tour with Kazuo, our guide. Days before arrival he communicated directly with me to set up the tour according to sites we wanted to see and he made good suggestions. Besides listening to his Kyoto detailed knowledge, we enjoyed the local walking of streets, taking buses and trains between sites. Kazuo has excellent English and has travelled himself so being with him for the day was a pleasure. I highly recommend using him as your guide

Aug 7, 2026
Pascale_Q
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Very good private tour of Kyoto with Kazuo
We had a wonderful experience during our Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide. Our guide, Kazuo, was truly outstanding from start to finish. He shared an impressive amount of knowledge about Kyoto’s history, culture, temples, and daily life. You can feel how passionate he is about his city, and he explains everything with the calm, precision and kindness so typical of Japanese guides. His English was clear and easy to follow, which made the whole day even more enjoyable. Kazuo was also extremely friendly, attentive and careful. He always made sure we were comfortable, took the time to answer all our questions, adapted the pace of the tour, and anticipated our needs without us even asking. Travelling by car made the experience smooth and relaxing, allowing us to see more places without rushing. We felt very well taken care of throughout the day, and we learned so much thanks to him. We highly recommend Kazuo to anyone looking for a personalized, insightful and stress‑free discovery of Kyoto.

May 16, 2026
I3520JTcristinat
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nara with family
Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and highly knowledgeable.
Highly recommend this tour!!!!

May 3, 2026
Maria_J
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Enjoyable day in Nara
We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi Taguchi and were impressed by how much we were able to see and learn in that time. Traveling as a group of seven adults, we visited Kasuga Taisha, enjoyed lunch at Mizuya Chaya, and explored Tōdai-ji—including the Great Buddha Hall and surrounding grounds. We also spent time at Yoshikien Garden and Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography, along with encounters with Nara’s famous bowing deer.

Junichi shared clear, informative context throughout the day, adding depth to each stop without ever feeling overwhelming. His pacing was thoughtful, and he kept our group moving smoothly while still allowing time to take things in.

A well-organized and engaging tour—highly recommend Junichi for anyone visiting Nara.

Apr 11, 2026
64sandig
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day Unforgettable!
We had the pleasure of touring Nara with Junichi today, and he was simply phenomenal from the very first moment! Warm, welcoming, and a true professional, Junichi made us feel instantly at ease. His genuine enthusiasm and excellent English made every part of the day enjoyable and easy to follow.
Junichi’s knowledge is encyclopedic, yet he explains everything in such a clear, engaging, and understandable way. At Kofuku-ji Temple, he brought the history and significance of the site to life with fascinating details. We then enjoyed a relaxing lunch together before heading to Nara Park, where we had the delightful experience of feeding the famous bowing deer ? such a fun and memorable moment!
What really stood out was how flexible and attentive Junichi was. When we felt a bit pressed for time, he smoothly adjusted the itinerary and took us to a wonderful sake tasting facility instead of the next temple. We sampled several excellent sakes and couldn’t resist taking some home with us! From there, he led us to an incredible traditional kitchen knife shop run by an artisan whose family has been crafting blades for 750 years (originally making samurai swords). The craftsmanship was breathtaking, and we ended up purchasing a beautiful knife.
Later, Junichi took us to see an original Japanese merchant’s house, which was a real eye-opener ? the minimalistic lifestyle and beautiful architecture were fascinating.
The entire day was perfectly paced, insightful, and filled with wonderful surprises. Junichi’s caring attitude, deep knowledge, and ability to adapt made this one of the best private tour experiences we’ve ever had. We are so grateful we got to spend the day with him.
If you’re visiting Nara, do yourself a favor and book with Junichi ? you won’t regret it! He’s an absolute gem.
Highly, highly recommended ? 5 stars without hesitation!

Mar 30, 2026
dpadillachavez
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
Great day at Nara!
Best tour on Nara, Junichi is great during the tour! He definitely knows and shows the best
parts of the city.

Apr 30, 2026
R6516SMglenb
Tripadvisor review: Hirosaki 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Excellent guide and scenery
Fuji was a wonderful guide and helped show me around the city to many different spots that were not heavily trafficed. He was very knowledgeable and shared information about the different shrines and historical background of them and of the Hirosaki castle grounds. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone else.

Jun 28, 2025
E3776VPshawnk
Unique tour of Hirosaki!!
Tripadvisor review: Hirosaki Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I had Fuji-san for a private tour of the Hirosaki area, and it was an amazing experience. I
even got to see some off the beaten path areas that were amazing to see. I’d highly
recommend a tour with the JGA after this. Fuji-san was knowledgeable and helpful.

May 25, 2025
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Brian_V
Excellent tour highlighting the less-touristy spots.
Viator review: Aomori Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Fuji-san was our guide and we could not have been happier with him. We saw a real samurai master who’s won championships practice their swordsmanship along with his students, the temples and shrines that have survived the last 350-400 years without tourists (besides us), eating at an eatery that locals frequent and enjoying food comfort food, seeing the birthplace of the Nebuta festival, and watching a live shamisen show. We also saw the old red light district in Hirosaki, and the now-repurposed public bath that was common and popular after the war. This was a packed tour that hit areas located in the suburbs, and Fuji-san made the trip efficient by renting a car instead of using public transportation.

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 enjoyable day touring Tokyo the day before our Japan cruise. Our guide, Takako, was great and ensured we saw what we wanted to see. Tokyo traffic is crazy but our driver, Mr. Isizuka, was amazing. Takako asked for our lunch preference and suggested a terrific steak house…so fun! She explained all the traditions and rituals at the shrine and temple so we felt at ease visiting these places. Because of traffic, we were running a little behind (no fault of hers or our driver) so we only got a drive through of the Ginza area. We will spend one more day in Tokyo at the end of the cruise and now have a better idea of where to concentrate our time. All in all, we had a great time, despite the rain.

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 real well. Despite miserable weather conditions, she was able to show us all the great sites and explain everything.

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 review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Takako was the perfect guide; extremely articulate and knowledgeable, friendly, passionate about Japan and giving her customers the best experience in gaining knowledge of the area and covering so much in one day. She showed a great understanding of her customers’s needs and desires and went out of her way to make you feel comfortable. She had a great sense of humour which made the day so very delightful and enjoyable.

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 for the day, was an absolutely wonderful companion in Tokyo. She took the time in advance to understand our interests and wishes, and the whole day was tailored exactly to what we wanted to see and experience.

My mother isn’t very steady on her feet and can’t walk long distances, and Takako handled this beautifully, she adjusted the pace and made sure my mother could fully enjoy the day without feeling rushed or left out. It’s reassuring to know that a tour like this can be adapted so well for someone with limited mobility.

Her knowledge, warmth and preparation made the day truly special. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and can highly recommend her to anyone visiting Tokyo.

Aug 18, 2026
Heather_C
Private tour for 4 in Tokyo – highly recommend
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A great experience / Atsushi was incredibly knowledgeable and we had a brilliant tour with him. Really well organised – went out of his way to advise and help us. The tour was bespoke to us and the use of our limited time in Tokyo was perfect. Would do it again and with our guide.

Aug 8, 2026
victoriahD2588SK
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
An action packed visit to Hakone!
Atsushi was an excellent guide and took us on a fully organised trip all around Hakone. He was very articulate and explained every place visited in much detail. Be ready to walk lots. It was a pleasure to meet him and hear about the area. Thank you.

Jul 26, 2026
Kevin_B
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Highly recommend this tour for first time visit to Tokyo. Our guide Atsushi took great care to acclimate us with navigating through busy train stations efficiently with a group of eight family members. Along the way and at each site he explained various cultural practices and associated histories that made the tour very immersive and enjoyable. We will highly recommend Atsushi and Viator to our family and friends for future tours.

Jun 22, 2026
Ashish_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Best Tour for a Short Visit
Atsushi-san was an incredibly well-researched and friendly tour guide. His knowledge allowed us to explore and get to the historical significance of the various locations we visited. His explanations were simple but comprehensive. The six hours flew by and included some off-the-beaten opportunities including coffee at a very austere but memorable location near the fish market. I would highly recommend him as well as this tour for anyone with limited time in Tokyo wanting see as much as possible

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 morning walk with Michi. He had a great English, was at our meeting point before the planned time, he explained in such a delicate way the story behind the temples, buildings and streets of our tour. He was lovely towards our children and pleased us when we wanted to stop at a shop, eat/ drink smtng or even go to see a statue that was
«not planned ». We had a wonderful time scrolling down ancient Kyoto Tnx to Michi

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 great way to see some of the city’s most famous sights. The itinerary was well organized, starting with a convenient hotel pickup before visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walking through the thousands of red torii gates was a memorable experience, and our guide shared interesting background about the shrine that added helpful context.

We then explored the Kiyomizu area, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, and Yasaka Koshindo Temple. The route offered a nice mix of historic landmarks, traditional streets, and scenic viewpoints. There was enough time at each stop to take photos and enjoy the surroundings without feeling rushed.

What really made this tour special was our guide’s knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. He provided interesting cultural insights, recommended local foods and hidden photo spots, and made sure everyone in the group was comfortable throughout the day.

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! Great communication before the tour and laid out an entire day for us. Was very accommodating and understood when the heat got to us and needed to take a break. He was very knowledgeable and gave us great pieces of information about the beautiful city of Kyoto. Would highly recommend the tour and Michi!!

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. He had a great plan for our tour and everything went smoothly. He talked about the history of the city, industry, and culture and kept our daughters engaged. Highly recommended!

Sep 24, 2026
Leslie_R
Good tour on first day
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Ted, our guide was terrific. He was well informed and took us all over Tokyo. He was very open to questions. Would recommend!

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 to suit our families interests. Definitely a great way to see Tokyo.

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 so much about Tokyo and Japan in a few hours. We were very fortunate to have such an excellent guide! We highly recommend Ted and appreciated his knowledgeable and thoughtful sightseeing tour of Tokyo. He planned a wonderful itinerary for us and made it all happen, with excellent pacing of breaks and good conversation.

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 had a fantastic time with Ted, our guide. He contacted us prior to the trip to customize an itinerary that would have things of interest to everyone in our group. He shared helpful history for each of the places we visited, from Tsukigi market, Harujuku district, to Meiji Shrine. He had great recommendations for other parts of our trip. He is an expert at navigating the Tokyo train system. This tour is family friendly, but also very active in terms of walking to cover all the places we got to visit. The tour with Ted is definitely a highlight of our trip, I would highly recommend.

Sep 29, 2026
matthewsY2654UC
Highly recommended!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Yoshi is an exceptional guide where he took us to the best market stalls at the fish market where every food we indulged in (including the sea snails and eel liver) were superb. The walking tour of the tea houses (Geisha district) and knowledge of the history of both the precinct and greater Japan was first class. Yoshi is also a kind and caring person and made conversation very easy, including when we wanted to dig into the country’s cultural values and lifestyle

Sep 28, 2026
751juergend
Perfect day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Yoshi was the perfect guide, very knowledgable and very friendly. He is an excellent role model tour guide. We can only recommend him. Thank you so much Yoshi!

Sep 27, 2026
karen_f
YOSHI san was incredible!
Viator review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
YOSHI met us at our hotel and was very friendly and helpful. We walked around the city and he took us to view several different spots including samurai living quarters, geisha houses, the beautiful garden built by Maeda san. Yoshi was knowledgeable about the entire city and it’s treasured history. He inspired me to do some reading on Maeda san, a leader who played a huge part in the development of the city. Yoshi was an excellent guide, and even provided a LOT of recommendations and useful information for after our tour. We would definitely recommend YOSHI san! Note: you will need a IC card to board some of the city buses.

Sep 19, 2026
Plumb72
A morning in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
We had a fab tour with Yoshi our guide, we visited the tea district then the gardens and castle which were my favourite. Yoshi was very informative , explaining the history and mechanisms of the castle was built and the water system. He was also very helpful with explaining the bus service.

Jun 5, 2025
rinaw523
Easy and helpful intro to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Easy, family-friendly and helpful intro to Tokyo with sweet and professional Yumi on our first day in Japan. Customized to our group, we saw the sights we wanted and received many valuable local tips from Yumi. We loved how helpful she was with the subway system and enjoyed our friendly interaction throughout the tour, learning many interesting insights, arigato!

May 27, 2025
Valerie A
Tokyo in a few hours
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Yumiko was a very knowledgeable guide. She had great information about Japan, its
culture, history, and was very flexible to accommodate our interest and schedule.

Jun 6, 2026
Michelle0309
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Off the tourist track in Tokyo
We had such a lovely time with our guide, Yumi. We wanted to visit places that showed us
life for Tokyo residents plus some architecture heroes. The four hours disappeared so
quickly and Yumi had planned our tour so efficiently, no wasted time. Yumi is a star!

May 25, 2026
lynnv748
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hakone was a highlight of our vacation
We loved our day with Yumi. She was so warm and friendly and very knowledgeable. She
took us to the major attractions in Hakone efficiently and helped us avoid long lines. We
took cable cars, a lovely boat ride and the bus.

May 20, 2026
Suzana F
Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji Food and Toyosu Market with Government-Licensed Guide
We learned and enjoyed every minut
Yumi was a fanty guide. She make us feel welcomed and tried to capture and pass to us
the history and current vibe of the markets. Also she give us insides into food and Japanese
culture.

May 14, 2026
Robert_L
Excellent tour with our outstanding guide, Yumi
Viator review: Tokyo 6 hr Private Guided Tour & Tea Ceremony Experience
Yumi is an outstanding guide. She greatly assisted in guiding us in our choices of areas Tokyo to tour based on our likes. Yumi gave us a wealth of information on Japanese history and culture specific to the areas we toured. She met us in the lobby of our Tokyo hotel and guided us with travel using the Tokyo train and subway. We choose to see the Rikugien garden, the Asakusa area of Tokyo and the Sensoji Temple. The Japanese Tea ceremony was beautiful, calming and informative. Yumi helped us arrange to add wearing Kimonos for this experience. She graciously took our photos throughout this tour. She is such a lovely lady. We highly recommend this tour and have high praises for Yumi.