Category: Uncategorized

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Dotonbori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 meet at The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama
    • 9:00-11:20 Osaka Castle
    • 11:20-12:30 Kuromon Market
    • 12:30-13:15 Dotonbori

    What Is a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Osaka Castle and Kuromon Market The guests were a lively group visiting Japan. They planned to visit the Expo the next day, and Osaka was the final stop of a longer trip. At Osaka Castle, I took many photos of the guests, and they explored the interior with great interest. They also visited the stone wall museum and said they came to understand the history of Osaka Castle very well. At Kuromon Market, they enjoyed cream-filled croissants, wagyu beef steak skewers, takoyaki, and cherry blossom ice cream. While they were eating, I converted their photos into a Ghibli-style image using ChatGPT, which delighted them. I have recently become fascinated with using ChatGPT to convert photos into Ghibli-style anime images, and when I showed the guests, they eagerly asked me to convert theirs, so I made three versions and gave them copies. They planned to eat something in Dotonbori and then head to the Osaka Aquarium, so we parted ways at Ebisu Bridge.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKitahama~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Nippombashi190JPY
    Total380JPY

    Hi! I’m an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. I’m also a national guide as well. I’d like to expand my guide area to help tourists.
    The town of Osaka offers a different atmosphere than Tokyo. I like both exciting Osaka and nature-filled Wakayama Prefecture.
    If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, you can go to Koyasan for one day, or even for a day trip, so I recommend sightseeing at Koyasan.
    If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the nature of Koyasan will relax you.
    I will introduce you to the unique culture, history and must-see sights.

    Aug 17, 2026
    yasmintX6792FN
    Great trip
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    It was a great time and very interesting…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Shelley_E
    Viator review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    There is much to do in…
    There is much to…

    May 28, 2026
    Duncan_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Great Tour of Kyoto
    The tour was both very informative and…

    May 28, 2026
    ignaciosilenzi
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Koyasan with Miyuki
    Miyuki was…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet at Hotel Nihonbashi Saibo
    • 2. 9:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 3. 11:20 Asakusa (Nakamise Shopping Street, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, etc.)
    • 4. 12:40 Lunch @ Asakusa
    • 5. 14:00 Ueno
    • 6. 15:30 Disband (Hibiya Line Ueno Station)

    What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like on a Guest's First Day in Japan? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests had arrived in Japan the previous evening, so this was effectively the first day of their trip to Japan. When I arrived about 10 minutes before the meeting time, the guests were already standing by, so we started the tour right away. It was a pleasant day—a little warm in the sun but comfortable in the shade—and at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, the guests found everything fascinating, from the stone walls to the plants, and happily took many photographs. It was the same in Asakusa, where they listened attentively to my explanation of the Sanja Matsuri festival, which was to begin two days later. Standing where Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine sit side by side, I explained Shinto and Buddhism, and the guests listened with great interest. They also loved Ueno, saying it was "a very nice park," and were grateful when I explained the history of the National Museum of Western Art. At Ueno Toshogu Shrine, they said it was "beautiful" and took many photographs. Since it was their first time in Japan and essentially their first day, they were interested in everything they saw, which made it a very rewarding tour to guide, and the guests appeared very satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNingyocho~Otemachi178JPY
    Section 2SubwayOtemachi~Asakusa178JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa~Ueno178JPY
    Total534JPY

    Hello, I’m Masaaki Kurata. I have been conducting walking tours in Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka and the East Garden of Imperial Palace since I joined an English guide volunteer club in 2016. I worked for 2 U.S. based companies in Tokyo for 41 years and retired in 2023. I developed good communication skills with people from other countries in my long career in those 2 companies. I was born in the suburb of Tokyo and I’m familiar with Tokyo pretty much. Since I retired and do not work for a company any longer, I can be flexible in making itineraries. I really want to make tourists happy by making fun and interesting communication.

    Jun 5, 2026
    Flyer544764
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Extraordinary submersion into Japanese history and culture~
    What an extraordinary 6 hr…

    Apr 27, 2026
    Eric_K
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mac was a very good tour…
    Mac was a very good tour…

    Apr 23, 2026
    O4598GUpatriciat
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional Private Guide – Discovering the Hidden Side of Tokyo
    We had…

    Apr 2, 2026
    V742WEsusans
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Highly recommended tour
    Excellent friendly guidance from Mac. He greeted us at…

  • Hyogo in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Kinkaku-ji

    Hyogo in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Kinkaku-ji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 07:30 Meeting Kobe Port Terminal
    • 08:45 to 09:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 10:30 to 11:30 Kiyomizu-dera
    • 11:45 to 12:15 Gion
    • 12:30 to 12;45 Lunch (Ramen)
    • 13;00 to 13:30 Sagano Bamboo Forest
    • 14:00 to 14:45 Kinkaku-ji
    • 15;15 to 16:00 Ninja & Samurai Museum
    • 17:40 Dismissal Kobe Port Terminal

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Tour Like from a Cruise Ship Port? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests today were a family visiting from North America. The tour was originally planned as a 9-hour Kyoto tour departing from and returning to Kobe, but since 9 hours were not enough to cover all of the intended destinations, we extended the time and carried out the tour. Because the guests had to board their cruise ship by 18:00, the schedule was quite tight, but the guests cooperated very well and refrained from shopping or buying souvenirs outside of the shops I had designated. As a result, we were able to move through the tour quickly and return to the ship by the scheduled time, which was a great outcome.

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Tenryu-ji

    Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Tenryu-ji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet up @ Kamishichiken Oku
    • 9:15 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 10:50 Kiyomizu-dera
    • 11:35 Walking: Sannenzaka ~ Yasaka Pagoda
    • 12:15 Lunch
    • 13:35 Tenryu-ji
    • 14:30 Disband @ Nishiki Market

    The guests were a group visiting from North America. Some of them had visited Japan before. As this was the final day of their sightseeing before their return trip the following day, I arranged the itinerary according to their wishes. They took photos everywhere we went and each enjoyed the day according to their own preferences. Lunch was also well received, and I believe they were satisfied. We were able to proceed almost exactly as planned, and at the end, at their request, we parted ways at Nishiki Market.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet @ Hotel Kyoto
    • 10:15-11:40 @ Nijo Castle
    • 12:20-13:00 @ Kinkaku-ji
    • 13:05-13:30 Lunch @ Menmen-kaku
    • 14:00-14:50 @ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 15:00 Dismiss @ Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Kyoto? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since Kyoto Imperial Palace was closed for viewing on this day, I informed them and they agreed to visit Kinkaku-ji Temple instead, and we began the tour. The guests were very interested in history, and at the Ninomaru Palace of Nijo Castle they explored each room quite carefully. This allowed me to explain each section thoroughly. When I offered a pair of binoculars I had prepared in advance, they took turns using them and were very pleased. Kinkaku-ji Temple was not very crowded and was easy to walk around. They were moved by the beauty of the Golden Pavilion, but it was especially impressive to see how touched they were by the "Rikushu no Matsu" (Land Boat Pine). Unfortunately, the "Ryumon Falls" was under construction and completely covered, so it could not be seen at all. Afterward, since they had requested either ramen or soba for lunch, I guided them to a noodle restaurant near Kinkaku-ji Temple. However, it seemed the food was not quite to their taste, and it turned into a somewhat quiet lunch. At the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, I also guided them to Nonomiya Shrine and the Hozukyo Gorge view from the top of Kameyama Park. I had intended to see them off at their accommodation, but when we reached the area near Togetsukyo Bridge, they said they wanted to explore Arashiyama on their own from there. So although the tour ended a little earlier than planned, we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusNijojo-mae~Kinkakuji-mae230JPY
    Total230JPY

    Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!

    My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.

    I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.

    I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
    I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.

    I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!

    May 19, 2026
    498stephenq
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    An enjoyable visit
    Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…

    Apr 11, 2026
    V5131MFjodieh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
    Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…

    Oct 14, 2025
    Scenic61154406959
    Great Historical Perspective
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…

    Sep 29, 2025
    Jea L
    Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kaz was an excellent tour…

  • Nagasaki in Half a Day: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb & Nagai Takashi Memorial

    Nagasaki in Half a Day: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb & Nagai Takashi Memorial

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel
    • 9:30 Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
    • 11:30 Hypocenter Park & Peace Park
    • 12:00 Nagai Takashi Memorial Museum
    • 13:00 Lunch in Chinatown
    • 14:00 Disband at the hotel

    What Is a Private Nagasaki Tour Focused on Atomic Bomb History Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests' first destination in Japan was Nagasaki, and they specifically requested to focus on learning about the history of the atomic bomb, asking to be taken only to related sites. For this reason, I took them to the Takashi Nagai Memorial Museum, dedicated to an honorary citizen of Nagasaki. At the Atomic Bomb Museum, they carefully examined the exhibits and listened intently to my family's experience of the bombing and to stories of history that had almost been buried in darkness, spending about two hours there. At Peace Park and the Hypocenter Park, I introduced only the main highlights due to time, taking care to leave enough time for the Takashi Nagai Memorial Museum. They asked me to join them for lunch as well, so I introduced a restaurant in Chinatown that my family often visits. They treated me to lunch and asked for my business card, saying they wanted to recommend me to their friends. They were also delighted with the handmade paper cranes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainDejima~Atomic Bomb Museum150JPY
    Section 2TrainOhashi~Nishihamamachi150JPY
    Total300JPY

    Hello, I’m Rikako, but please call me Coco. It would be my absolute pleasure to show you around my hometown of Nagasaki. Having performed in the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival in my childhood, I developed a deep interest in history and cultural exchange. This motivated me to become a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter during my university years. Since then, I have gained valuable experience—from assisting ambassadors at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony to handling a wide variety of tours, including private and coach tours, site inspections, international conference support, and VIP hospitality.
    Explaining about Nagasaki’s history and culture is the most important to me. It is not only about this. I would love to provide genuine care so that your time in Nagasaki remains in your heart forever.
    I’m truly looking forward to guiding you in Nagasaki 🙂

    Jul 21, 2026
    Dawnery_V
    Viator review: Nagasaki Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful city. Great guide.
    Rikako was a great guide. She…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Todd_C
    Viator review: Nagasaki Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Had a very nice…
    Had a very nice experience. Coco was very…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Explore34946025848
    Tripadvisor review: Nagasaki Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nagasaki
    Really good day out with a local guide, very informative about…

    Apr 4, 2026
    Giovanni_M
    Viator review: Nagasaki Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Good
    Nagasaki is a very interesting tour
    I would recommend…

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

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

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Kobe Port Terminal
    • 11:15 at Nunobiki Herb Garden
    • 12:45 at Kitano Ijinkan (Moegi House)
    • 14:30 at Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
    • 15:45 Disband at Port Liner, Sannomiya Station

    Title: What Is a Private Kobe Tour Like at Nunobiki Herb Garden and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were two groups visiting from North America. The tour proceeded at a fairly slow pace with frequent breaks. In addition, at the first stop, Nunobiki Herb Garden, some of the guests spent a great deal of time exploring, so the tour ran considerably behind the original schedule. At the Kitano Ijinkan foreign residences and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, some of the guests walked partway and then rested for the remainder. Some of the guests seemed very interested in plants and explored Nunobiki Herb Garden with great enthusiasm. From the observation deck, they were able to see with the naked eye the cruise ship they were traveling on, which delighted them greatly. As noted above, the tour ran considerably behind the original schedule and ended after running about 45 minutes over time. Note) This course was somewhat demanding for those who found walking difficult. Had I known in advance about the walking difficulties, I could have considered an alternative course. (I had informed them beforehand that we would need to move somewhat briskly and would walk for about 30–45 minutes…)

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMotomachi~Maiko320JPY
    Section 2TrainMaiko~Sannomiya320JPY
    Total640JPY

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
    Viator review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    Jul 20, 2026
    Eric_W
    Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    Castle journey worth your time!
    Our tour with…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Fukagawa Edo Museum

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Fukagawa Edo Museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up ANA Inter Continental Tokyo
    • 10:50 Asakusa
    • 12:30 Yanaka Ginza lunch
    • 14:00 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
    • 15:20 Fukagawa Edo Museum
    • 16:00 Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station Dismissal

    What Is a Private Tokyo Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Fukagawa The guests were visitors from North America. It was an early summer day with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius, and since one of the guests seemed to have some difficulty walking, we took our time and used taxis when appropriate to keep the pace comfortable. One of the guests had a very strong interest in Japan and asked many questions about culture, history, and daily life. Our conversation flowed as I shared some materials along the way, and the guests appeared very satisfied. After finishing the tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens, one of the guests became tired and returned to the hotel first by taxi. Afterward, I took the other guest to the Fukagawa Edo Museum, and they thanked me warmly for bringing them to such a wonderful place. At Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station, I received a generous word of thanks for the thoughtful guidance, and we said our goodbyes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKamiyacho~Asakusa286JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa~Otemachi286JPY
    Total572JPY

    My name is Kris,
    Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.

    After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.

    I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.

    I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.

    Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.

    Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.

    I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

    See you in Japan!

    Kris

    May 10, 2026
    Matt_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
    We were so lucky to have Kris-San…

    Apr 29, 2026
    Rebecca_M
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour
    We had such a wonderful…

    Apr 21, 2026
    jacquir581
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We love Kris
    Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…

    Apr 2, 2026
    Frank_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A great day in Tokyo
    Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris.…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji jingu shrine & Asakusa

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji jingu shrine & Asakusa

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Hotel pickup
    • 10:15 Meiji jingu shrine
    • 11:00-13:00 Lunch at Shibuya
    • 13;30-14:00 Taukiji fish market
    • 14:30-15:30 Asakusa

    What Does a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report After the hotel pickup, the guests wanted to collect the Shinkansen tickets they had purchased online, so I guided them to the ticket machine at the JR ticket office. After that, we visited Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Tsukiji, and Asakusa. The guests were very pleasant, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy the full-day tour. They especially loved the monjayaki restaurant in Shibuya and told me it was truly delicious. We ran out of time to visit the Nintendo shop in Shibuya, but since I shared the location on Google Maps, they said they would try to go there on their own.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Harajuku146JPY
    Section 2TrainHarajuku~Shibuya146JPY
    Section 3TrainShibuya~Tsukiji209JPY
    Section 4TrainTsukiji~Asakusa286JPY
    Total787JPY

    Hello! My name is Mami Ekuni, and I am a licensed English-speaking tour guide in Japan. With over 30 years of experience as a professional translator and more than a decade of guiding for international visitors, I am passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and culture of Japan with people from around the world. Guiding is more than just showing people around; it’s about creating memorable experiences. I strive to provide insightful, well-structured, and fun tours tailored to your interests. Whether you love history, food, architecture, or nature, I can customize a tour that suits your preferences.
    I look forward to welcoming you to Japan and sharing unforgettable moments together. Let’s explore this amazing country and create lasting memories!

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1030 HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU (8 min from JR Shinjuku Station) Meeting – 3D Cat Display from Godzilla Road
    • 1100 Shibuya Hachiko Statue Scramble Crossing
    • 1115 Harajuku Meiji Shrine Visit Takeshita Street
    • 1330 Tsukiji Outer Market (described later)
    • 1430 Escort to Meiji Jingumae Station and dismiss

    What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Tsukiji The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, arriving in Japan for the first time yesterday morning. Since they had some free time, they had tried to go to Shinjuku Gyoen but ended up heading in the opposite direction and went up to the observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. From there they spotted Shinjuku Central Park and visited it, but they seemed to realize it was not Shinjuku Gyoen. I gave them a Tokyo Travel Guide and explained the route to Shinjuku Gyoen, which they plan to visit tomorrow. Tomorrow they also plan to visit TeamLab Planets. One of the guests seemed quite shy and initially responded a bit reservedly. However, when I guided them to Takeshita Street, there was a complete transformation, and they mentioned there were about 20 shops they wanted to visit between Harajuku and Shibuya. It wasn't that they couldn't walk further, but when I asked what they would like to do about the planned visits to Tsukiji and the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, they said they especially wanted to go to Tsukiji, so I guided them there. At Tsukiji, they found strawberry daifuku, one of the items on their "things to do" list, and were very pleased. Since they did not eat fish, I had wondered about the seafood, but they did not necessarily want to eat it — they just wanted to see it. After this, the plan had been to finish at the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, but we skipped that, and I saw them off at Meiji-jingumae, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Shibuya167JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya~Harajuku146JPY
    Section 3SubwayMeiji Jingumae – Hibiya~Tsukiji209JPY
    Section 4TrainTsukiji – Hibiya~Meiji Jingumae209JPY
    Total731JPY

    I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
    After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

    My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
    My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
    – Senso ji Temple
    – Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
    – Tokyo Skytree
    – Ueno Park
    – Nezu Shrine
    – Imperial Palace outer park
    – Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    – Ginza
    – Odaiba
    – Hama Rikyu Garden
    – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
    – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
    – Roppongi
    – Meiji Shrine
    – Harajuku & Takeshita Street
    – Shibuya
    – and Any of your interest.

    I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
    Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
    Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

    I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

    Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
    Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

    A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

    In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

    Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
    These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
    Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
    Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
    The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
    Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

    Sep 24, 2026
    Leslie_R
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