Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Rinn Gion Shirakawa Meet up
    • 10:40~11:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:50~12:35 Sanjusangendo
    • 13:10~14:00 Nanzen-ji Temple
    • 14:30~15:15 Nijo Castle
    • 15:35~16:00 Nishiki Market

    What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report The guests were visiting from North America and were on their first trip to Japan, arriving in Kyoto yesterday after spending a few days in Tokyo. At Fushimi Inari, they wrote wishes on prayer sticks at the main hall and offered prayers. They were deeply moved by the vermilion main hall and the thousand torii gates, and we discussed the differences between Shinto and Buddhism as well as the religious perspectives of Japanese people. At Sanjusangendo, they were overwhelmed by the building that has stood for about 800 years, along with the 1,001 Buddhist statues and the striking presence of the 28 guardian deities. At Nanzenji, they were enveloped in fresh greenery and tranquility, and became absorbed in meditation in the Hojo garden. At Nijo Castle, they were amazed by the large groups of school excursion students and the number of visitors, and we discussed the circumstances that led the Tokugawa shogun to return power to the emperor and the influence of Western pressure. Throughout the tour, the guests took many photographs.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo~Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Shichijo170JPY
    Section 3TrainShichijo~Sanjo170JPY
    Section 4SubwaySanjo~Keage220JPY
    Section 5SubwayKeage~Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 6TrainNijojo-mae~Shijo220JPY
    Total1,260JPY

    Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
    Shige.

    May 23, 2026
    Sarajean_s
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
    Shige was a…

    May 21, 2026
    828vickeyb
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
    Shige was an excellent…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking Tour with Shige
    Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Marcus_C
    Osaka tour 2025
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00:00 Meet Tokyo station
    • 8:10:00 train Tokyo->Tsukiji Stn
    • 8:30:00 sightseeing Tsukiji Fish Market
    • 9:20:00 walk Tsukiji Market -> Hamarikyu
    • 9:40:00 sightseeing Hamrikyu Garden
    • 11:10:00 train Shinbashi->Akasaka Mitsuke
    • 11:50:00 sightseeing Hotel New Otani Garden
    • 12:30:00 train Akasaka Mitsuke->Asakusa
    • 13:00:00 sightseeing Sensoji Temple
    • 14:30:00 train Asakusa-> Tour end
    • Since they wanted to go to Meiji Shrine and it was on the way back for me, I escorted them to the shrine entrance.

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Hamarikyu, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine The guest was a visitor from North America who came to Japan to attend a Star Wars event held at Makuhari Messe, so the accommodation was in the Chiba area. When I mentioned that I had studied at a university in North America, it turned out to be the same university that a family member attends. The guest was very calm and kind, and listened attentively to explanations about Japanese history and culture. At Tsukiji, the guest enjoyed some wagyu skewers and bought wasabi sesame as a souvenir. The guest was fond of cherry blossoms, and greatly enjoyed Hamarikyu Gardens, taking photos happily and sending them by message to a family member who had originally planned to come along. We had first planned to visit Shibuya, but the guest had already been there and, the day before, requested to see a garden or cherry blossoms instead if possible. Shinjuku Gyoen was closed, so as an alternative we stopped by the garden at Hotel New Otani, which has a different atmosphere from the metropolitan gardens and is conveniently located. At Sensoji Temple, the guest was surprised by the large crowds while enjoying buying souvenirs. Finally, the guest expressed a wish to visit a shrine as well, so although it meant heading back, since it was on my way I took the guest to Meiji Shrine. (The guest had explored Shibuya with a friend the day before and was able to return to Chiba alone.) It was a very enjoyable day of guiding.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTokyo Station~Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 2SubwayShinbashi~Akasaka Mitsuke178JPY
    Section 3SubwayAkasaka Mitsuke~Asakusa209JPY
    Total565JPY

    My name is Yoko Umeda. I live in Tokyo,
    I studied abroad and worked for foreign based companies located in Tokyo. During my life of living in the US and working in these companies, I was often asked about Japan and Japanese culture from my friends and collogues, to which now I became a certified guide to satisfy all of your curiosity.
    Tokyo is a fascinating city! It has everything, not only industrialized modern buildings, but also precious monuments rich in history and beautiful nature. I am sure it will give you eye opening experiences!!
    Please visit us and I wish to be your guide!

  • Tokyo in One Day: Kyobashi Station & Ueno Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Kyobashi Station & Ueno Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:50 Pick-up at Hotel Asakusa-Ekimae
    • 11:10 After strolling, Asakusa Station
    • 11:40 Kyobashi Station
    • 12:00 Stationery store Itoya
    •  Shopping & lunch at the top-floor cafe
    • 13:30 Ginza UNIQLO
    • 14:00 Nakamura Tokichi Ginza store
    • 14:45 Yurakucho Station
    • 15:10 Nippori Station
    • 15:15 Yanaka Ginza
    • 16:15 Nippori Station
    • 16:30 Tokyo Station
    •  Shopping at Character Street
    • 17:15 Tokyo Station
    • 17:25 Ueno Station
    • 17:35 Guide to the Ginza Line ticket gate and disband

    Title: What Can You Do on a Private Tokyo Shopping and Matcha Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guided the guests to some of their most requested spots in Tokyo, including one of Japan's largest stationery stores, an authentic matcha shop, one of the largest UNIQLO stores, and Tokyo Character Street, all of which they greatly enjoyed. A stroll through the Yanaka area had also been clearly listed in advance as a desired destination. The guests were very kind, and the conversation flowed wonderfully throughout the tour. They had originally chosen a food-focused tour, but since they had already spent several days in Osaka enjoying the local cuisine before coming to Tokyo, and had also eaten lunch, they decided to skip the visit to Tsukiji. Instead, they preferred shopping, matcha, and strolling through traditional old streetscapes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAsakusa~Kyobashi209JPY
    Section 2TrainYurakucho~Nippori178JPY
    Section 3TrainNippori~Tokyo167JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo~Ueno167JPY
    Total721JPY

    Have worked for a US-based organization for over 30 years as a translator/interpreter.
    Since the time I acquired the official interpreter-guide license issued by the Japanese Government in 2015, I have been working part-time as a tour guide for a bus tour consisting of 20-40 customers and a tour for a small group of 2 to 5 or 6 customers to visit Tokyo and its vicinities using trains.
    The following are the major places and events I covered:
    Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Nagano, Mt. Fuji, Nikko, etc.
    Riverboat cruise, soba making, Sumo viewing, pro-baseball viewing, etc.

    I really love to entertain people and always try to improve my tour quality by assessing what I talked about and the reaction of customers each time the tour is over. Let me help you making your visit extremely worthwhile during your short stay.

  • Osaka in Half a Day: 11;30@Osaka Castle & Shitennoji Temple

    Osaka in Half a Day: 11;30@Osaka Castle & Shitennoji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Hotel Keihan Kyobashi Grande
    • 10:35-11;30@Osaka Castle
    • 12:10-12:30@Harukas Garden, break
    • 13:00-13:40@Shitennoji Temple
    • 14:05-14:20@Dotonbori, Hozenji Temple
    • 14:20 Disband @Hozenji Temple

    Title: What's a Private Family Day Tour of Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Their only request was to include occasional breaks during the day, so the rest was left up to me. We visited Shitennoji Temple, where the annual "Shoryo-e" ceremony was beginning, as well as Osaka Castle and Dotonbori. Japan is a very popular overseas destination among travelers from Oceania, and the guests happily searched for all kinds of souvenirs, delighted that everything, including food, was affordable. They collected stamps at stations and various spots to create a record of their trip, and asked questions about things and words they had seen on YouTube, making for a lively and enjoyable tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyobashi~Osakajokoen150JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Tennoji240JPY
    Section 3SubwayShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka~Namba190JPY
    Total580JPY

    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: Nezu Shrine & Asakusa

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Nezu Shrine & Asakusa

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meet @ Hotel
    • 13:30 Nezu Shrine
    • 14:30 Yanaka
    • 15:30 Asakusa
    • 17:30 Disband @ Ginza

    What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nezu Shrine, Yanaka, and Asakusa The guests were visitors from Europe. It was their first time in Japan, and they planned to spend two days in Tokyo before continuing on a cruise. Since the azaleas were still beautiful, we visited Nezu Shrine. Seeing all the different varieties of azaleas, one of the guests who enjoys photography was delighted. The guests also mentioned that they had never seen such beautiful azaleas before. Afterwards, we strolled around Yanaka, had some ice cream, took a break, and then headed to Asakusa. They were surprised by the crowds along Nakamise, but enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes and more. Since their hotel was in Higashi-Ginza, we visited the food hall of a department store in Ginza before parting ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Ginza~Nezu178JPY
    Section 2TrainNippori~Ueno146JPY
    Section 3SubwayUeno~Asakusa178JPY
    Section 4SubwayAsakusa~Ginza209JPY
    Total711JPY

    Hello,
    I’m Rumi.Welcome to Japan!!
    I’m a government-licensed guide in the Tokyo area.
    I’m so excited to have a chance to show you my favorite places in Tokyo.
    Tokyo is a fantastic city with many aspects like history,culture and food.
    What interests you about Tokyo?
    What kind of Japanese food would you like to try?
    I’ll take you to various places according to your request.
    My favorite spot is Meiji Shrine.
    It’s so peaceful that I’m sure you like it.
    I really like to talk with foreigners about various topics.So, I love my job.
    I look forward to meeting and guiding you soon.

    Jun 29, 2026
    898clausw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really helpfull guide
    Extremely helpfull to have a friendly and competent guide…

    Jun 27, 2026
    sallypO7128PM
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo- family with older teens
    My family had an excellent…

    Jun 15, 2026
    Scott P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Terrific Tour and Guide
    We had an incredible day! Rumi was…

    Jun 12, 2026
    Tonya O
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Rumi is a great guide!
    Rumi was a wonderful guide. She…

  • Shizuoka: leave the pier for Nihon Daira & port say good-by

    Shizuoka: leave the pier for Nihon Daira & port say good-by

    Tour Itinerary

    • ・Day's Itinerary
    • 9:00 a.m.   meet at Hinode port
    • 9:10 leave the pier for Nihon Daira by taxi
    • 9:35~10:25 arrive at Nihon Daira spend 50 mini.
    • 10:30 leave Nihon Daira for Rinzai-ji Temple by taxi
    • 11:10~11:25 arrive at Rinzai-ji Temple in the city of Shizuoka
    • spend 15 min.
    • 11:25 leave Rinzai-Ji Temple for Shizuoka-Sengen Shrine " by taxi
    • 11:30~12:15 arrive at Shizuoka-Sengen Shrine spend 45 mini
    • 12:15 leave the Shizuoka-Sengen Shrine for Sumpu Castle Park in the city of Shizuoka by walk
    • 12:30~14:00 arrive at Sumpu Castle Park spend 1and half hours taking a rest (including light lunch if you like )
    • walking around the park with the restored castle's buildings
    • or enjoying Japanese green tea in a Japanese garden by walk
    • 14:00 leave Sumpu Castle Park for Hinode port by train
    • 14:40 arrive at the port say good-by

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Shizuoka City Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Temples, Shrines, and Sunpu Park The guest was a visitor from Europe. Since the guest was interested in temples and shrines, [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) arranged a tour covering Rinzai-ji Temple, Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, and Sunpu Park by taxi and on foot. At Rinzai-ji Temple, we viewed the grounds from outside the gate due to the temple's circumstances, but the guest was impressed by the temple's grandeur. At Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, I introduced each of the shrine halls in English, based on explanations from the accompanying taxi driver, who had experience as a Japanese-language guide. We were also able to observe a kyudo (Japanese archery) competition that day, and the guest said it was a chance to experience Japanese culture firsthand. For lunch, we had Japanese soba at a shop along the approach to the shrine, and we went a little further to visit a Japanese tea café in Chamachi. Finally, we strolled through Sunpu Park before returning to Shin-Shimizu on the Shizutetsu line. Although Mount Fuji was not visible all day, the guest interacted with local people at various places and seemed to feel a genuine connection with Japan and its culture, saying they would love to visit again. It reminded me anew of how much foreign travelers wish to connect with local people in Japan.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShin-Shizuoka~Shin-Shimizu350JPY
    Total350JPY

    I am Mr. Yasu Katou . I am an English-speaking excursion guide . I mainly take my guests to the popular tourist places around Shimizu ward and the city of Shizuoka.
    I am a typical “Shizuokan citizen”, who are too shy to refer often to the great things we have such as Mt. Fuji-San but are, in the deepest of our heart , very proud of them . It would be wonderful if our great things, which are represented by not only Mt. Fuji-San but also other historical and cultural spots, could be known to others coming from all over the world.
    So as a resident here in central Shizuoka-prefecture I would like to show my guests as many things such as our culture, history and nature as I can.

    Jul 22, 2026
    Silke72
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great tour of the Shizuoka sights
    Even though we did…

    Jul 11, 2026
    theinnocentabroad25
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    An Unforgettable Day in Shimizu with Yasu
    Here’s a warm,…

    Sep 12, 2025
    shelleysD5492YS
    A Great in Shimizu
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Our guide Yasu and his…

    Jul 9, 2025
    Jennifer_M
    Great tour, great guide.
    Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Shizuoka Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Fantastic tour. Traveling in a small…

  • Kyoto: Fushimiinari & Kyoto Sta

    Kyoto: Fushimiinari & Kyoto Sta

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Kyoto Sta. Main Entrance of Shinkansen
    • 10:30 Fushimiinari (0)
    • 11:50 Kiyomizudera (500)
    • 13:30 Lunch (Japanese Cuisine Now Joy Nishioji Branch)
    • 14:30 Kinkakuji (500)
    • 16:00 Kyoto Sta.
    •    End of the tour

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour by Car Like for Cruise Ship Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Until the day before, the full details had not been entirely clear, but they arrived in Kyoto by bullet train from a cruise ship that had docked in Kobe. They were touring Japan by cruise ship all the way from North America, with the journey scheduled to end in North America. As walking was not easy for them, we used an elevator at Fushimi Inari and took a slightly shorter route at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Since they had requested it, I had included the bamboo grove in Sagano at the end of the itinerary, but as they were set to return to Shin-Kobe on the 17:02 bullet train, we did not push it and skipped the bamboo grove. They did not buy any souvenirs. They were very pleased with a lunch at a family restaurant. Since we had a car, transportation was smooth, which was very helpful.

    I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

    Jul 14, 2026
    T6871WWricharde
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…

    Jun 5, 2026
    mateoe216
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Would book again
    The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…

    May 27, 2026
    Leah_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely recommend!
    I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…

    May 26, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
    Kazz was an excellent guide…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Fish Market & Shibuya area

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Fish Market & Shibuya area

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting Up @ Mimaru Ginza East
    • 9:25 – 10:45 Tsukiji Fish Market
    • 11:40-12:10 the Imperial Palace
    • 12:30:13:10 Meiji Shrine
    • 13:15-13:40 Lunch @ Jangara ramen
    • 13:45-14:15 Takeshita Street
    • 14:30-15:00 Shibuya area

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, and Shibuya The guests were a friendly group visiting Japan, who listened attentively and asked many questions throughout the day. At Tsukiji, [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide showed them long-established shops, where they enjoyed tuna, wagyu beef, strawberries, sake, and tamagoyaki (rolled omelet). At the Imperial Palace, we talked about the history of Tokyo and the imperial family, and at Meiji Shrine the conversation turned to religion, with many questions from the guests. They also loved the ramen, and Takeshita Street was a delight. After enjoying the Hachiko statue and the famous scramble crossing in Shibuya, we said our goodbyes at a Pokémon shop, which was a favorite of the group.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShintomicho~Tsukiji Station210JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji Market~Sakuradamon290JPY
    Section 3TrainNijubashimae~Meiji-jingumae210JPY
    Section 4TrainHarajuku~Shibuya150JPY
    Total860JPY

    Hi,
    Thank you for contacting the Japan Guide Association to request a licensed guide for your upcoming visit to Japan. My name is Motoko Tanaka. I’m so happy to be assigned to you.
    Let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it is nice to hear that you are excited about your visit to this wonderful city. There is much to be excited about here in Tokyo. I have really enjoyed guiding in Tokyo and the surrounding areas for more than 10 years.
    I live with my husband and a dog named Alice. She was a rescue dog and I adopted her about 4 years ago. Now she is a very precious family member. I have two daughters, the elder one has a child and the younger has a aroma shop in a town near Mr. Fuji. I sometimes visit there with Alice.
    I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to create a special day.
    Regards,
    Motoko

    Apr 25, 2026
    catvila
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Primeira vez em Tóquio
    A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos…

    Apr 22, 2026
    72breannaj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
    We had an amazing…

    Apr 17, 2026
    denisemD3032GY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide (Tokyo/Kawagoe dep)
    Tokyo walking tour
    Our guide Motoko was so polite &…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Dennis_M
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Very nice and very…
    Very nice and very…

  • Hiroshima in Half a Day: Itsukushima Shrine & Toyokuni Shrine

    Hiroshima in Half a Day: Itsukushima Shrine & Toyokuni Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Miyajima Ferry Port Meet
    • Great Torii Gate
    • 9:10 Itsukushima Shrine
    • 9:50 Daishoin Temple Kannondo Hall Kaidan Meguri Manidono
    • 11:10〜11:25 Toyokuni Shrine
    • 〜11:45 Hakataya Break 
    • Omotesando Shopping Street Stroll
    • 12:00 Disbandment

    What Is a Private Miyajima Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from Europe. We met at the Miyajima ferry port. Because it was early in the morning, there were still few people at the shrine, so we could explore comfortably. Just as we arrived in front of the Hitasaki area, one of the group came by kayak to the spot beneath the Great Torii Gate, and it was very memorable to see the group waving to one another. Another member of the group then joined us as well, and we headed toward Daigan-ji and Daisho-in temples. They seemed very interested in the differences between shrines and temples. At Daisho-in, with its many steps, walking may have been a little difficult. Afterwards, we rested our feet over a snack of momiji manju, and we parted ways at the Omotesando shopping street. In the end, the member who had been kayaking rejoined as well, and everyone enjoyed a meal together before heading off. They all seemed very satisfied, each having enjoyed activities that suited them.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSaijo Station~Miyajimaguchi990JPY
    Section 2TrainMiyajimaguchi~Saijo Station990JPY
    Total1,980JPY

    My name is Yuka Yoshida. I am a Hiroshima Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. I was born and raised in Tokyo. I lived in the U.K. and the U.S. for 10 years, when I had chances to travel different cities in those countries, as well as India, Ghana, Canada. I had wonderful experiences in different cultures and environments there. Since I moved to Hiroshima 18 years ago, I was intrigued by this city, especially Miyajima Island. I love outdoors and playing tennis. I started working as a tourist guide in 2024. I am passionate and enthusiastic about working as a guide, because it gives me enjoyable opportunities of meeting and talking with people and learning new things. I used to work in an elementary school for 13 years as an English teacher. It was a wonderland where classroom atmosphere changed every year so much. With this background, I am versatile to adapt myself to any situations and flexibly accommodate guest’s requests. As a guide, I frequently visit monuments in the Peace Memorial Park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum, and the magnificent Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima Island.

    Let me tell you briefly about Hiroshima. Hiroshima prefecture is located in western Japan, facing the Seto Inland Sea to the south. There is a famous Japanese garden, Shukkeien Garden in the middle of the city. It was built as a garden for the villa of Nagaakira Asano, the lord of Hiroshima Castle during the early Edo period (1603-1868). You will be surprised to see how peaceful and relaxing the garden is when you browse there. It’s not a huge garden, but it presents a wonderful landscape of a traditional Japanese garden and different beautiful colors every season.

    Hiroshima prefecture is unique, having two World Heritage Sites.

    One of them is the Atomic Bomb Dome. As you can see, Hiroshima is a city of many attractions today, but it is also the place where the world’s first atomic bomb was used on August 6, 1945, near the end of the World War II. The atomic bombing destroyed Hiroshima City completely, killing approximately 140,000 people that was about 40 percent of Hiroshima’s population at that time by the end of 1945. You will be amazed at how the city of Hiroshima has been rebuilt since then. Our tour will visit the monuments in the Peace Memorial Park and provide you with rich information that you cannot find in any guidebook.

    By joining this visit, I am sure that you will better understand why the people of Hiroshima hope for the peaceful world so fervently.
    The other World Heritage Site is Itsukushima Shrine. The entire island of Miyajima is one of the three most beautiful scenic spots in Japan. It is a very popular tourist attraction in the Seto Inland Sea area which is also designated as a national park for its beauty. Itsukushima Shrine has a long history going back to the 6th century. It is very unique and outstanding architecture which attracted people from the ancient time. The shrine and the Big Gate, O-torii, are must-sees.

    Regarding food, Hiroshima offers delicious oysters. On Miyajima Island, you can enjoy shopping on the Omotesando street (a main street) which gives you opportunities to eat out, not only grilled oysters but also some local sweets, such as Momiji-manju (that is like a sponge cake sweets with a shape of maple leaf), lemon beverages and so on. Another delicacy is Okonomiyaki, savory pancakes with a lot of vegetables with your choice of numerous toppings which you should definitely try.

    I truly hope that your trip in Hiroshima will be a memorable one. I am so thrilled and delighted to see that every guest is satisfied with this tour. Please feel free to contact me for your customized tour. I will do my best to make your tour very special and memorable for your lifetime.

    Mar 30, 2026
    m2k0pp
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Excellent Hiroshima Experience!
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    414elizeh
    Excellent tour guide!
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    samwcook21
    Great day in Hirsoshima
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    Yuka was great! We enjoyed…

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  • Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:45 Meeting point: Hotel "MONday Apart Premium Kyototei Kyotoeki Kamogawa"
    • 09:50 Sightseeing ①: Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 11:45 Sightseeing ②: Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 12:30 Sightseeing ③: Bamboo Path
    • 13:20 Sightseeing ④: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 14:00 Lunch/Break: Arashiyama (Udon "Ozuru")
    • 15:00 Dismissal: Subway Tozai Line "Karasuma Oike"

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like, Including Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from Oceania. Prior communication and itinerary planning were handled with one member of the group. Initially, along with popular spots such as Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, and Kiyomizu-dera, they expressed interest in "off-the-beaten-path" places, saying they would also like to visit "somewhere calm and not too crowded." In the end, we finalized the route as "Kinkaku-ji ⇒ Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji and the Bamboo Grove) ⇒ Saga / Otagi Nenbutsu-ji." On the day, the weather was clear all day, and according to the forecast the temperature was expected to reach 25 degrees Celsius, but the air was dry so it was not too uncomfortable. Travel using a combination of subway, JR, and bus went smoothly, and the first half up to Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama proceeded as planned. The unexpected situation we encountered was that, on the way to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, all of the restaurants we had planned for "lunch and a break" were so crowded that a wait of more than 30 minutes was anticipated. A wait of over 30 minutes would be fatal for a tour, so after consulting with the guests, we decided to first finish sightseeing at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji and take our lunch and break after returning to the center of Arashiyama. The guests had also already decided to head straight to Tenju-an in Higashiyama after the tour ended (that is, after the guided tour), and mentioned that they "could not spend too long at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji." In the end, we wrapped up our stay at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji in about 20 minutes, returned to central Arashiyama, and were finally able to take a late lunch and break. The udon at the udon specialty restaurant "Ozuru" was very well received and seemed to soothe the minds and bodies of the guests, who were tired from walking. The guests were an extremely energetic, lively, and curious group. They asked many questions in response to my explanations, making for a rewarding tour. The challenge, as expected, was how to secure a place for lunch amid the crowds. Central Kyoto has many restaurants, so finding a place to eat is not a problem, but I keenly realized that in suburban areas like Sagano, thorough prior research and careful preparation are essential.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShichijo~Sanjo170JPY
    Section 2SubwaySanjo Keihan~Kitaoji260JPY
    Section 3BusKitaoji Bus Terminal~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi~Nishinokyo Enmachi230JPY
    Section 5TrainOtagidera-mae~Nonomiya230JPY
    Section 6TrainSaga Arashiyama~Nijo200JPY
    Total1,320JPY

    Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
    Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

    Apr 9, 2026
    Ron_W
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We saw so much in the…
    We saw so much in the…

    Mar 24, 2026
    zackn719
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
    We did our private tour with…

    Oct 20, 2025
    66speech
    Highlights of Kyoto.
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    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
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