Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Kyoto Station

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Kyoto Station

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet @ Kyoto Station Central Gate
    • 9:55-10:45 @ Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:30-12:15 @ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 13:10-13:50 @ Kinkaku-ji
    • 14:40-15:20 @ Gion
    • 15:55 @ Kyoto Station

    **Title:** What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like from a Cruise Ship at Kobe Port? A Licensed Guide's Report **Body:** The guests were a group visiting from Oceania, who came to Kyoto on an excursion from a cruise ship docked at Kobe Port. They already had return Shinkansen tickets, and according to those tickets they needed to catch the 16:46 Shinkansen departing from Kyoto Station, so I made sure to keep our schedule on track to make it in time. Regarding the cherry blossoms, the guests mentioned they had already seen plenty of them elsewhere, so although the blossoms were in full bloom at each location, they did not show much interest. Fushimi Inari Taisha was very crowded, but the guests were pleased that they could take a commemorative photo at the Senbon Torii. At the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, we entered from the Naga-tsuji Street entrance, passed through Kameyama Park, and came out at the Togetsukyo Bridge. On the way to Kinkakuji, we stopped at a convenience store, where the guests bought sandwiches and other items to eat. At Kinkakuji, the wind was strong, so the reflection of the golden pavilion did not appear on the Kyoko-chi Pond. In Gion, there was some light rain, and there was a moment when I lent the guests the folding umbrella I had brought as a spare. After finishing in Gion, we headed to Kyoto Station by city bus, but Higashioji Street was very congested, so we arrived at Kyoto Station later than planned. However, we still made it in time for the Shinkansen, which was a relief. I guided the guests to the Shinkansen platform at Kyoto Station, and we parted ways there.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto Station～Inari Station150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari Station～Saga-Arashiyama Station240JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama Station～Enmachi Station190JPY
    Section 4BusNishinokyo-Enmachi～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi～Nishioji-Oike230JPY
    Section 6SubwayNishioji Station～Sanjo-Keihan Station260JPY
    Section 7BusHigashiyama-Yasui～Kyoto Station260JPY
    Total1,560JPY

    Tour Report by Kaz

    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!

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    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…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Iidabashi Station & Shimokitazawa Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Iidabashi Station & Shimokitazawa Station

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting place: Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo
    • 9:10 Depart Iidabashi Station
    • (JR Sobu Line)
    • 9:30 Arrive Shinjuku Station
    • Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho
    • Kabukicho
    • Shinjuku Golden Gai
    • 10:15 Depart Shinjuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 10:30 Arrive Harajuku Station
    • Harajuku Meiji Shrine
    • Break: Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • Takeshita Street
    • Cat Street
    • Omotesando
    • 11:20 Depart Omotesando Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
    • 11:30 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • Tokyu Food Show
    • 12:15 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (Keio Inokashira Line)
    • 12:30 Arrive Shimokitazawa Station
    • Shimokitazawa Vintage Clothing District
    • 13:15 Depart Shimokitazawa Station
    • (Keio Inokashira Line)
    • 13:30 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • 13:30 Disband: Shibuya Station

    Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shimokitazawa Like? A Tokyo Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. This was a long-term visit of about one month. They arrived at Haneda Airport the previous night and made their way to their hotel by train and subway. Last night they strolled around the area near their hotel, bought onigiri and other items at a convenience store, and had that for dinner. They planned to stay in Tokyo for three days, with plans to visit Disneyland, teamLab, and other spots. After that, they intended to leisurely travel around Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Hida Takayama, and other places, then return to Tokyo before heading home. "We're looking forward to trying various kinds of Japanese food," they said. The tour took place in light rain and chilly weather. First, we headed to Shinjuku. We walked around "Omoide Yokocho," the Kabukicho area, and "Golden Gai," strolling and taking photos here and there. It was late morning and not too crowded, but they remarked, "It feels somehow lively. It's similar to downtown Copenhagen's atmosphere." They also asked, "Is it safe to walk around here at night?" After this, we moved to Harajuku, starting with Meiji Shrine. Around this time the rain finally let up, making it easier to move around. I explained about the torii gates, Emperor Meiji, the history of Edo and Tokyo, the Meiji Restoration, and more. I also explained the differences between Buddhism and Shinto. They asked, "How many Christians are there in Japan?" We took a short break at the café in Meiji Shrine. We then strolled through the crowded Takeshita Street, Cat Street (one of the guests is a fan of collecting vintage clothing), and Omotesando. We moved to Shibuya, which was also very crowded. I explained the history of Shibuya. We walked across the Scramble Crossing and took a commemorative photo in front of Hachiko. They asked questions such as, "Why is the Scramble Crossing so crowded?" and "Are all these people locals?" At their request to see a Japanese department store food hall, we visited the "Tokyu Food Show." After this, at the request of one of the guests, we went to Shimokitazawa and leisurely strolled through the vintage clothing district. They also commented, "Tokyo really is a city with a lot of people," "However, everyone in Japan is quiet and polite," "The whole city is clean and there is no litter scattered around," and "The public toilets are clean and pleasant, whereas I wouldn't feel like using the public toilets back home." We parted ways at Shibuya Station.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainIidabashi Station～Shinjuku Station167JPY
    Section 2TrainShinjuku Station～Harajuku Station146JPY
    Section 3SubwayOmotesando Station～Shibuya Station178JPY
    Section 4TrainShibuya Station～Shimokitazawa Station140JPY
    Section 5TrainShimokitazawa Station～Shibuya Station140JPY
    Total771JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    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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    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…

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

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

    Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet at Kobe Port Terminal
    • 09:30 at Nunobiki Herb Garden
    • 11:00 at Kitano Ijinkan-gai (Moegi House)
    • 12:15 at Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (exterior only)
    • 12:30 Disperse at JR Maiko Station

    Title: What Is a Private Cherry Blossom Tour of Kobe Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America, and the day went smoothly. One of the guests had extensive knowledge of Japanese manufacturers, particularly the automotive industry, which showed a high level of interest. They also seemed fond of photography, actively taking photos and videos not only at each spot but also of the general cityscape. The cherry blossoms at various locations were about thirty to fifty percent in bloom, and the guests enjoyed them greatly. From the observation deck of the herb garden, they were even able to see the cruise ship they were traveling on, which pleased them. The Starbucks in the Kitanocho area is said to be the first to be designated a "Registered Tangible Cultural Property," and its atmosphere is quite different from an ordinary store, so the guests took many photos there. Upon arriving at the final spot, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, one of the guests was feeling a little tired, so rather than going inside, I explained the route from the nearest JR Maiko Station to the cruise ship terminal, and we parted ways a little early.

    Click here for more details: Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainPort Terminal～Sannomiya210JPY
    Section 2SubwaySannomiya～Shin-Kobe210JPY
    Section 3TrainMotomachi～Maiko320JPY
    Total740JPY

    Tour Report by Yama

    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

    Request Booking

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

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

    Jul 13, 2026
    Diane_B
    Viator review: Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Yama was amazing!!
    Our tour guide…

    Jul 4, 2026
    Navigator661725
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful time!
    We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.8:50 Meet @ Kyoto Station Shinkansen Central Exit
    • 2.9:15 @ Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 3.9:45 @ Gion Shirakawa
    • 4.11:10 @ Nijo Castle
    • 5.12:40 @ Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Path
    • 6.15:30 @ Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 7.16:30 Disband @ Kyoto Station Shinkansen Hachijo Exit

    What's a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a tour for a group of 7 guests visiting from North America. They said they really wanted to visit Kiyomizu-dera and Arashiyama, but since these two locations are far apart, I included Gion and Nijo Castle along the way in the itinerary. They had also ambitiously included Kinkaku-ji, but during peak tourist season in Kyoto this proved quite difficult, so I explained the situation honestly and we carried out the above itinerary with a 1.5-hour time extension. Since the guests had come all the way from Tokyo to sightsee in Kyoto, I wanted them to see as many places as possible, and they were very satisfied. They had apparently viewed the cherry blossoms in the rain in Tokyo, so they were deeply moved to be able to see the cherry blossoms under clear skies as they did today.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Shoko

    I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.

    Request Booking

    Mar 31, 2026
    Michael A
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Perfectly customized tour
    Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…

    Mar 29, 2026
    judyl582
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shoko was great
    Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…

    Oct 8, 2025
    441gayh
    World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…

    Oct 3, 2025
    Judi H
    Introduction to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
    She…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Tokyo Station Character Street

    Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & Tokyo Station Character Street

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Hotel Tawaramachi Ekimae
    • 8:40 Asakusa
    • 11:00 Ueno Park, Ameyoko
    • 12:30 Tokyo Station, Imperial Palace Inui Street cherry blossom walk-through
    • 13:30 Chidorigafuchi
    • 14:15 Lunch at Nana KITTE
    • 15:00 Tokyo Station Character Street

    What Is a Rainy-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's Asakusa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Everyone was very quiet, and aside from one person, they tended not to speak unless spoken to, but the one I mainly communicated with was a kind, nice person whose occasional smile was truly lovely. Since the destinations had not been decided in advance, the itinerary below came together based on conversations that morning and along the way. First thing in the morning, I introduced various spots along the route from Tawaramachi to Sensoji Temple, and the guests said they would try visiting them again on their own another day. At Sensoji Temple, the whole group drew "good fortune" omikuji and were very pleased, and at Nakamise they enjoyed stopping at various shops, buying souvenirs, and picking up food. While being surprised at how many students there were for a university entrance ceremony held at Nippon Budokan, we made our way to Chidorigafuchi, and they said they would love to come back another day for the illumination event. Perhaps because it was raining, the best reaction of the day seemed to come at a restaurant inside KITTE. We had lunch at a raised tatami seating area by the window with a nice view and a sunken kotatsu table, and the food really suited their tastes and was very well received, with everyone finishing all their dishes, including the small side plates, and giving high praise. It was a pleasure to watch one of the guests enjoy seiro soba and a salmon-avocado chirashi so beautifully and neatly, without making a sound, remarking how delicious it was. Finally, they wanted to visit Character Street listed in the Tokyo Travel Guide I had given them, so after teaching them how to charge a Suica card, I took them there and we parted ways. They were not particularly talkative, but they were a group with a pleasant atmosphere, and I had an enjoyable time guiding them all day. As I write every time, I am grateful to the guests for being able to spend the day together.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAsakusa～Ueno178JPY
    Section 2TrainUeno～Tokyo167JPY
    Section 3SubwayKudanshita～Otemachi178JPY
    Total523JPY

    Tour Report by Danda

    Nice to meet you. I am delighted to introduce myself. My nickname is Danda. I live in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, but I was brought up in Kanazawa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. My favorite things are bonsai and hiking. Also, I have been a big fun of history and sumo since my childhood. As for the guide, I have enjoyed making communication with foreign visitors since 2019. I have taken more than 30 private groups to not only major scenic spots but also their favorite places such as tea ceremony, maid cafe, sumo tournament, bonsai village, fire ritual and so on. I can arrange the original tour based on your requests and curiosity. It will be only for you. I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.

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    Apr 21, 2026
    Sabrina_F
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Balade riche en découvertes
    Nous avons passé un super moment avec Danda.…

    Apr 14, 2026
    davidjonesresponseen
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking tour with Danda in Tokyo
    Excellent walking tour, we followed our…

    Apr 10, 2026
    Anna_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour with great guide
    Excellent tour with a very good guide…

    Mar 25, 2026
    Nahmjee_L
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour guide and experience.
    Danda was great with my family. He…

  • Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:50　Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:30　Shibuya Scramble Crossing・Hachiko
    • 10:50　Meiji Shrine
    • 11:50　Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 13:00　Lunch @ Numazu Uogashi Sushi (Marunouchi Building)
    • 13:50　Imperial Palace
    • 14:50　Sensoji Temple
    • 16:00　Dismissal @ Hotel

    Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time, and after sightseeing in Tokyo they planned to continue their trip to other destinations in Asia. At Meiji Jingu Shrine, they seemed impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere, which was very different from Shibuya. At Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, they enjoyed strolling among the cherry blossoms in full bloom and admiring the beautiful Japanese garden. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with great interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo shogunate. At Senso-ji Temple, they were intrigued by explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, and they also purchased a T-shirt as a souvenir on Nakamise Street. Although it unfortunately rained today, I responded to the guests' wishes as requested, so I believe they were satisfied. Since today was a tour with a vehicle, there were no transportation costs to be reimbursed.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Seizo

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

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    Jul 10, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful Tour of Kamakura
    Seizo Kamiuto was out…

    Jun 9, 2026
    stacy_grana
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with an experienced guide
    Our guide, Seizo, was amazing.…

    Jun 6, 2026
    U9351HJjakes
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Seizo Kamiuto was great and super knowledgeable. He had a…

    May 20, 2026
    HugoJ670
    Tripadvisor review: Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Tokio in de zon
    Seizo Kaminto is een uitstekende…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:50 Meet up @ Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
    • 2. 09:55 Travel: Subway
    • 3. 10:45 Stay @ Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 4. 12:15 Travel: Subway
    • 5. 12:25 Stay @ Meiji Jingu
    • 6. 13:10 Lunch @ Restaurant Yoyogi
    • 7. 14:30 Travel: Subway
    • 8. 14:50 Stay @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 9. 15:00 Travel: Subway
    • 10. 15:40 Stay @ Asakusa
    • 11. 16:35 Travel: Subway
    • 12. 17:10 Disband @ Tokyo Metro Edogawabashi Station

    Title: What's a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour Like on a Monday? A Licensed Guide's Report Although communication before the tour was delayed and the accommodation was in a location that was not very convenient, the guests kindly gathered early, and the tour proceeded more smoothly than expected. Since Shinjuku Gyoen, which is normally closed on Mondays, was open specially that day, I guided the guests there first. It was very well received, especially as one of the guests was fond of plants. For lunch, I took the group to a restaurant within Meiji Shrine, but because of the rain no one was using the terrace seating, so the wait was longer than usual. However, since one of the guests was experiencing back pain at that point, it seemed to serve as a good rest. After lunch, one of the guests left the group and returned to the Hotel by taxi, and I continued guiding the remaining members of the group. Because more time than planned had been used in the first half, at Asakusa I limited the visit to explaining Nakamise Street and the main hall of Sensoji Temple. Finally, I saw the guests off at the station nearest to their Hotel before we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassEdogawabashi Station～Shinjuku-sanchome Station900JPY
    Section 2Free PassShinjuku-sanchome Station～Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassMeiji-jingumae Station～Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassShibuya Station～Asakusa Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassAsakusa Station～Edogawabashi Station0JPY
    Total900JPY

    Tour Report by Sam

    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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    Jul 21, 2026
    G848SWmaribelm
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo sights was great!
    The tour experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Cezary P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour of Tokyo!
    Sam, was outstanding! Showed…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Michael_C
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    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
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    Jun 18, 2026
    David_W
    Viator review: Tokyo Tsukiji Food & Culture 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Fish Market Tour
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  • Kyoto: JR Nara Station & Naramachi Lattice House

    Kyoto: JR Nara Station & Naramachi Lattice House

    Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:35 Meet at hotel
    • 8:45 Board JR train to Nara
    • 9:40 JR Nara Station
    • 10:00 Nara Park
    • 10:20 Todai-ji Temple
    • 11:45 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 12:45 Naramachi Lattice House
    • 　　　Shopping
    • 14:15 Lunch
    • 15:00 The guests expressed a desire to go to Osaka. When I told them that in that case the guide's transportation fees would be at the guests' expense, they said they would go to Osaka on their own. The tour ended here.
    • I returned to Kyoto by JR as planned, on my own.

    What Is a Private Day Trip to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan from South America. Communication beforehand through a messaging app was limited, and I was only able to confirm the name of their accommodation after a phone call the day before. Shortly after we met in the morning, the guests said they wanted to go to Osaka. When I explained that the guide's transportation costs would be covered by the guests, they changed their minds and decided not to go. They also said they did not need lunch, so we continued the tour. In Naramachi, we visited the Lattice House, and after doing a little shopping, the guests kept walking while saying they wanted to have some coffee. In the end, we had a meal at the restaurant I had originally planned. During the late lunch, the guests mentioned they wanted to visit Fushimi Inari on the way back, but on the way to JR Nara Station, they said they wanted to go to Osaka after all. I then guided them to Kintetsu Nara Station and helped them purchase tickets, and we parted at the ticket gate. The photo was taken at Kintetsu Nara Station.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Nara720JPY
    Section 2Free PassJR Nara～JR Nara600JPY
    Section 3TrainNara～Kyoto720JPY
    Total2,040JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

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    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Kyoto: Daigo-ji Temple & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto: Daigo-ji Temple & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet up @ Hotel Kyoto Premier
    • 9:48 Daigo-ji Temple
    • 11:18 Walk: Philosopher's Path
    • 11:53 Ginkaku-ji Temple
    • 13:30 Lunch @ Shijo Karasuma
    • 14:30 Nijo Castle　
    • 16:10 Sanjusangendo
    • 17:10 Disband @ Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa

    What Is a Private One-Day Cherry Blossom Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. The cherry blossoms in Kyoto were nearly in full bloom and the weather was fairly good, so I believe they enjoyed the entire day. At Daigoji Temple, which we visited first, Japanese visitors had also flocked there as expected, and a ticket line had formed in front of Sanboin, but we were able to enter the grounds right away since the temple precincts were less crowded. The set-menu lunch was also well received. The Philosopher's Path was completely lined with cherry trees, and although we walked quite slowly and fell a little behind schedule, we managed to finish nearly as planned.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall～Daigo290JPY
    Section 2BusSubway Daigo Station～Daigo-ji Temple210JPY
    Section 3SubwayDaigo～Keage290JPY
    Section 4BusGinkakuji-michi～Shijo Karasuma230JPY
    Section 5BusShijo Karasuma～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 6SubwayNijojo-mae～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 7TrainSanjo～Shichijo170JPY
    Section 8TrainShichijo～Sanjo170JPY
    Section 9SubwaySanjo Keihan～Kyoto City Hall220JPY
    Total2,030JPY

    Tour Report by Hiro

    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!

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    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: Fushimi Inari & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:00 Hotel Meet (@The Machiya Ebisuya)
    • 7:00-7:30 Travel (Karasuma Line; Karasuma-Gojo→Kyoto Station, JR; Kyoto→Inari)
    • 7:30-8:20 Fushimi Inari visit
    • 8:20-8:50 Travel (Keihan Railway; Fushimi Inari→Kiyomizu-Gojo)
    • 8:50-10:10 Kiyomizu-dera Temple (including Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka) visit & souvenir shopping
    • 10:10-10:30 Travel (taxi; Yasaka Shrine→Nijo Castle)
    • 10:30-11:30 Nijo Castle visit
    • 11:30-12:00 Travel (city bus; Nijojo-mae→Kinkaku-ji-mae)
    • 12:00-12:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple visit
    • 12:30-13:00 Travel (taxi; Kinkaku-ji→tea ceremony experience venue @near Nishiki Market)
    • 13:00 Farewell in front of the tea ceremony experience venue

    What Is an Early-Morning Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. Before coming to Japan they had stayed elsewhere in Asia for a while, and this was their first time in both Japan and Kyoto. I took them to Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji. It was an early-morning tour starting at 7:00, but by the time we visited Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji it was close to noon, and with the cherry blossoms about 70% in bloom and right at their best viewing season, the sites were quite crowded. Since the guests had a tea ceremony experience booked at 13:30, they agreed to switch part of the transportation to taxi. This allowed us to bring them to the tea ceremony venue with time to spare. Some of the guests especially enjoyed the vermilion Senbon Torii of Fushimi Inari, while others were impressed by the magnificent architecture of Nijo Castle.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKarasuma-Gojo～Kyoto Station220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto～Inari150JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari～Kiyomizu-Gojo220JPY
    Section 4OtherYasaka Shrine-mae～Nijo Castle0JPY
    Section 5BusNijojo-mae～Kinkaku-ji-michi230JPY
    Section 6OtherKinkaku-ji～Tea Ceremony Experience Venue (near Nishiki Market)0JPY
    Total820JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    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 !

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

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

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

    Jul 13, 2026
    Beth_D
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Tour and Guide
    Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…