Category: Uncategorized

  • Osaka: Umeda Sky Building Observatory & Namba Yasaka Shrine

    Osaka: Umeda Sky Building Observatory & Namba Yasaka Shrine

    Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meeting point: Umeda Sky Building
    • 09:30 Sightseeing ①: Umeda Sky Building Observatory
    • 10:30 Sightseeing ②: Osaka Castle
    • 12:00 Sightseeing ③: Dotonbori
    • 12:30 Lunch/Break: Ramen "Kamukura" Dotonbori Branch
    • 13:45 Sightseeing ④: Kuromon Market
    • 15:00 Sightseeing ⑤: Shitennoji Temple
    • 16:15 Sightseeing ⑥: Namba Yasaka Shrine
    • 16:45 Dismissal: Namba Yasaka Shrine

    What's an 8-Hour Private Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from North America. I coordinated the pre-trip communication and destination planning with one member of the group. For an Osaka tour, it was unusually an "8-hour course," and since they wanted to see many different parts of Osaka, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to help them appreciate the city's charms, so I built the itinerary around the theme of "Osaka's everyday character and its history." The final plan was set as "Umeda Sky Building ⇒ Osaka Castle ⇒ Dotonbori ⇒ Kuromon Market ⇒ Shitennoji Temple ⇒ Namba Yasaka Shrine." On the day, the cold from the previous day still lingered and the cherry blossoms had paused their blooming, but there was occasionally warm sunshine, making it favorable weather for a tour. One thing that did not go quite as expected was that, at the guests' request, we changed the meeting point from the Hotel to the first destination, the Umeda Sky Building, to save time; however, since the Umeda Sky Building opens at 9:30 a.m., it did not end up saving time after all. That said, we used the waiting time to introduce ourselves and to go over the tour itinerary in detail, which deepened our mutual understanding and was extremely beneficial for the tour. The guests were very open and responded to me, whom they had just met, in a friendly and candid manner. Once the tour finally started, the guests were very curious, listened eagerly to my explanations, and asked a variety of questions. At the Umeda Sky Building, while looking out over Osaka from the observation deck, I gave an overview of the city's history, industry, culture, and the characteristics of its people. With that grounding in place, at Osaka Castle I described the era of the samurai, and at Shitennoji Temple and Namba Yasaka Shrine I shared stories about the long history of Buddhism and Shinto. At Dotonbori and Kuromon Market, they got to fully experience Osaka's distinctive everyday character, way of life, and food culture. After finishing the final visit at Namba Yasaka Shrine, the guests repeatedly said "Thank you for a great day!" and expressed their gratitude for the eight-hour guiding. I was a little tired, but it was truly a wonderful guiding experience in which we genuinely connected with one another.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNipponbashi～Shitennoji-Yuhigaoka190JPY
    Section 2SubwayShitennoji-Yuhigaoka～Namba190JPY
    Total380JPY

    Tour Report by Nori

    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.

    Request Booking

    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.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Shukkeien Garden

    Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Shukkeien Garden

    Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Hiroshima Station
    • 11:30 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
    • 12:30 Atomic Bomb Dome
    • 13:30 Shukkeien Garden
    • 15:00 Disband at Hiroshima Station

    Tour Report Date: 2025/04 Visited: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Shukkeien Garden Guests: The group Weather: Cloudy with occasional sunshine Experiences: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Atomic Bomb Dome War Memorial Facilities Details: The group were guests visiting from North America. They were very cheerful, and the moment we met on the platform at Hiroshima Station, where I was waving a Carp flag, they gave me a powerful hug. Their expressions seemed to say, "Are you really a guide, or are you some kind of crazy person?" Since they did not show much interest in the atomic bomb-related sites, I guided them to Shukkeien Garden, which was in full bloom. They were delighted here and became completely absorbed in feeding the carp.

    Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Yuji

    Originally, I’m a cycling guide doing cycling tours all over Japan.
    But, already done Hiroshima & Miyajima tour more than 400 times.
    I traveled many countries in my younger days. I traveled Europe, US, China, India, US, Mexico, Peru Australia, NZ, and so on.
    I decided to use this experience to become a guide.
    I’m afraid but no tipping required, because cycling guides are not allowed to have tipping in my association. And you do not need to pay for my lunch, because my lunch is prepared by our group.
    Please do not hesitate to ask me anything, I’ll change the plan according to your requests.
    Thank you for your understanding and please stay connected.

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    Jun 1, 2026
    John_W
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    A top day with a top guide
    My wife…

    May 27, 2026
    Annabelle_C
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima in a day
    Yuji was a great communicator…

    May 12, 2026
    satishp656
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    HIROSHIMA HALF DAY TOUR
    Yuji is a warm, knowledgeble…

    May 10, 2026
    StephanieB6076
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Incredible Experience
    We had an incredible experience visiting Hiroshima…

  • 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

    • 10:40 Meet at Hotel 　11:00 Buy cold-weather jackets and gloves nearby　11:30 Shinjuku Gyoen　13:30 Akasaka　(Lunch)　14:30 Hie Shrine　15:00 Chidorigafuchi　16:30 Ueno Park　18:00　Disband　(1-hour extension)

    Title: What Is a Private Cherry Blossom Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They asked a great many questions throughout the day, and their interests and topics were different from those of many previous guests. For example, they were curious about things like the average household income in Japan and typical monthly living expenses. Our tour happened to fall during the peak of the cherry blossom season, and the blossoms were in magnificent full bloom everywhere, which delighted the guests, who took a large number of photos. At the guests' request, the tour was extended by one hour, continuing into the evening until the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park were lit up by the illuminations. There were also opportunities to do some shopping here and there along the way, and I believe the guests were very satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainEbisu～Shinjuku167JPY
    Section 2TrainShinjuku-sanchome～Akasaka-mitsuke178JPY
    Section 3TrainNagatacho～Hanzomon178JPY
    Section 4TrainKudanshita～Asakusa286JPY
    Total809JPY

    Tour Report by Shinji

    Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
    I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.

    Request Booking

    Jun 8, 2025
    T1516LOmarkg
    Tokyo tour
    Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Great tour, Shinji was great, they…

    Feb 28, 2025
    LaToya_S
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…

    Feb 27, 2025
    Edward_M
    Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly!…

    Feb 17, 2025
    Trip29223434750
    Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    For those not wanting to…

  • Kyoto: Arashiyama & Philosopher's Path

    Kyoto: Arashiyama & Philosopher’s Path

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting point: Sanmaru Kyoto Central (Hotel)
    • 10:20 Sightseeing ①: Arashiyama (Tenryuji Temple ⇒ Bamboo Path)
    • 11:20 Sightseeing ②: Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
    • 12:00 Lunch・Break: "Kura Sushi" Kinkakuji branch
    • 13:00 Sightseeing ③: Kinkakuji Temple
    • 14:20 Sightseeing ④: Ginkakuji Temple
    • 15:00 Sightseeing ⑤: Philosopher's Path
    • 16:00 Dismissal: Hotel

    Title: What's a Private Car Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and the Philosopher's Path The guests this time were a group visiting Japan from North America. Prior communication and itinerary planning were arranged with one of the guests. It was their first visit to Japan, and they had a strong desire to "enjoy the best of Kyoto" while at the same time "avoiding places that are simply crowded," so there was quite a bit of email exchange before we finalized the destinations. During the exchange, there were also messages such as "we misunderstood the dates, so we need to change them" and "we changed our hotel," which meant it took a fair amount of time to finalize the itinerary. In the end, we settled on Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji ⇒ Bamboo Grove ⇒ Adashino Nenbutsu-ji) ⇒ Kinkaku-ji ⇒ Ginkaku-ji ⇒ the Philosopher's Path. All transportation was by private car, and the experienced driver helped us in many ways. On the day, the weather was colder than usual for late March, and the cherry blossoms had only just barely begun to bloom. Although we were able to depart a little earlier than planned, just as we set off from the hotel toward the first destination of Kinkaku-ji, one of the guests suddenly requested, "There is a great coffee shop nearby, and I'd like to get a takeout, so please stop by." Since this had not been mentioned in advance, I hesitated for a moment, but judging that "a detour of a few minutes could be made up for later," I decided to make the stop. However, this turned out to be a miscalculation, as the guest did not return after five minutes, nor after ten. It was only after about fifteen minutes that they came back to the car. I explained to the guests, "Since we are running a little behind, we will save some time in Arashiyama," and they agreed. After that, thanks to the cooperation of the guests, the tour went very smoothly. Since the destinations matched the guests' wishes, they were very satisfied, apart from the crowds at Kinkaku-ji and the Bamboo Grove. In particular, the "Kura Sushi" chosen for lunch was very much to their liking, as they said they often go to conveyor-belt sushi restaurants in their home area as well. At the start I felt a little nervous, wondering how things would turn out, but in the end it became an enjoyable tour with a warm and friendly group.

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

    Tour Report by Nori

    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.

    Request Booking

    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.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM8:00 The gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa
    • by Hulic Meet up
    • AM8:50 Arashiyama
    • 　　　(Monkey Park, Bamboo Grove Path)
    • AM11:15 Nijo Castle
    • PM12:40 Nishiki Market　Disband

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama and Nijo Castle The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had arrived from Tokyo the day before and were staying in Kyoto before returning home from Tokyo. To avoid the crowds, we moved our meeting time an hour earlier, which worked out well, and we were able to enjoy Arashiyama without getting caught in the crowds. The cherry blossoms along the banks of the Katsura River and the weeping cherry trees at Tenryu-ji Temple were nearly in full bloom, and the guests spent some time admiring them. As planned, we headed to Nijo Castle and parted ways at Nishiki Market. The guests expressed interest in buying a secondhand kimono. This was a first-time request for me as well, so although I looked into it, I could not judge which shops were reputable, so I asked them to gather more detailed information at their hotel. Since they still had three more days in Kyoto, I recommended a day trip to Osaka and introduced a few dining spots before saying goodbye.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKawaramachi～Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama～Uzumasa-Tenjingawa250JPY
    Section 3SubwayUzumasa-Tenjingawa～Nijojo-mae220JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijojo-mae～Shijo220JPY
    Total930JPY

    Tour Report by Naoki

    I am Naoki Nakatani. I live in Osaka.
    I started tour guide from 2023 after 40 years
    work experience in Japanese manufacturing company. I am currently teaching Japanese as volunteer staff to foreign residents who live in my community. I have 11 and half years work experience in overseas office and I had interacted with people of foreign countries for a long time enjoying business and friendship with them. My guide experience is still short but I will provide my best service to the guests. I am in a position to prepare the itinerary if guests request and to send any information for the guest to make plan before visit to Japan.

    Request Booking

    Jul 11, 2026
    Trevor_F
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    4 hour Private Tour
    Naomi was our guide and did a…

    Jun 6, 2026
    May_O
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful time in Kyoto
    We had a terrific time with Naoki. He…

    May 1, 2026
    Sanfrancisco820
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Choose Naoki – you will have a great day!!
    Naoki is an…

    Mar 28, 2026
    Tanya_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great guide
    Naoki was very kind and knowledgeable He knew the best…

  • 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

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel　9:15 Imperial Palace East Gardens　10:00 Chidorigafuchi　11:15 Tsukiji Outer Market　12:30 Meiji Shrine　13:30 Harajuku・Takeshita Street 14:30 Shibuya　15:00 Disband on-site

    Title: What's a Private Tsukiji and Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Oceania. They were very talkative and asked a wide range of questions throughout the tour. Many of their questions were about Japanese politics, and they also spoke several times about the era when the Japanese economy was strong. They seemed to feel a sense of familiarity with Japan, having once had a connection to a Japanese company. One of the guests carried a large video camera and kept filming throughout the day. The guests recorded narrations of the various sights facing the camera, saying they were making a family movie. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they eagerly bought and tried anything that caught their interest. They were extremely interested in everything about Japan, and while I cannot be sure how fully satisfied they were, I did my best to answer and explain their questions.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHanzomon～Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji～Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Total533JPY

    Tour Report by Shinji

    Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
    I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.

    Request Booking

    Jun 8, 2025
    T1516LOmarkg
    Tokyo tour
    Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Great tour, Shinji was great, they…

    Feb 28, 2025
    LaToya_S
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…

    Feb 27, 2025
    Edward_M
    Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly!…

    Feb 17, 2025
    Trip29223434750
    Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    For those not wanting to…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Ueno Park - Ueno - Nihonbashi

    Tokyo in One Day: Ueno Park – Ueno – Nihonbashi

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at The Westin Tokyo – Ebisu – Ueno
    • 9:40-11:10 Ueno Park – Ueno – Nihonbashi
    • 11:40 Mitsukoshimae – Lunch @ Nana –
    • 13:00 Mitsukoshimae – Kudanshita – Yasukuni Shrine – Chidorigafuchi
    • 14:45 Hanzomon – 15:15 Disband in front of Shibuya JR

    What Is a Private Cherry Blossom Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report At 9:00, I met the guests who came from North America. They seemed a little reserved at first, but as I kept smiling, they gradually opened up. Since the cherry blossoms were in full bloom that day and they left everything to me except for high places, I told them that today's mission was to immerse ourselves in cherry blossoms, and I chose Ueno, Nihonbashi, and Chidorigafuchi. In Ueno, we visited Kiyomizu Kannon-do, the Great Buddha, and Toshogu Shrine, and in Nihonbashi we enjoyed the architecture and the cherry blossom-lined street before having a Japanese lunch. The cherry blossoms at Yasukuni Shrine and Chidorigafuchi were spectacular and greatly delighted the guests. Finally, I saw them off at JR Shibuya Station and said goodbye. I believe the cherry blossom mission was accomplished.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassEbisu～Ueno – Nihonbashi – Kudanshita – Shibuya700JPY
    Total700JPY

    Tour Report by Kyoko

    Hello! I am Kyoko who has been working as a guide since 2017. I was born in Kyoto. So, my name comes from Kyoto which is Japan’s beautiful ancient capital . And “ko” literally means child in Japanese. Thus, my name Kyoko means Kyoto’s child, Kyoko. But some guests call me Kyoto. It’s okay, not a big problem.
    But to say the truth, I feel like this, ” Am I like an ancient person? No way~!!…” I am mainly guiding in and around Tokyo. Tokyo has two faces of well-advanced and old-fashioned. So, you can enjoy both high-tech technology and historical culture plus delicious food and drinks,too. You will surely be inspired in this city with me. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you in the near future. Thank you in advance!

    Request Booking

    Sep 9, 2025
    salanicolas
    Superb Tokyo guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoko was great! Super knowledgeable, a lot of fun,…

    Jun 19, 2025
    josephk547
    A definite must-do when visiting Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Walking Tour with Government-Licensed Guide (Tokyo DEP.)
    Absolutely amazing tour…

    May 24, 2025
    sandrashachar
    Terrific Tokyo Tour!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a fantastic tour of the Asakusa Shrine,…

    May 22, 2025
    andywP8147WV
    Private Guided Tour in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our wonderful guide Kyoko prepared an excellent…

  • Tochigi in One Day: Kegon Falls & Futarasan Shrine

    Tochigi in One Day: Kegon Falls & Futarasan Shrine

    Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel lobby, board taxi (3-hour charter)
    • 9:40 Kegon Falls
    • 10:10 Ryuzu Falls
    • 10:40 Lake Yunoko (Yumoto Onsen side)
    • 10:55 Lake Yunoko (Yudakigawa), Yudaki Falls
    • 12:00 Get off taxi, lunch at Maruhide Shokudo
    • 13:00 Rinnoji Shoyoen Garden
    • 13:20 Rinnoji Sanbutsudo
    • 14:00 Toshogu Shrine
    • 15:20 Futarasan Shrine
    • 15:35 Disband at Ueshima Coffee

    Title: What Is a Private Winter Day Tour of Nikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kegon Falls and Snowy Scenery The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They were very easygoing and active, and cheerful and talkative as well, so it was a day full of laughter from start to finish. Because of the snow that had begun the day before, the road toward Kegon Falls was surrounded by pure white, snow-covered trees. Having enjoyed almost summer-like warm sunshine and cherry blossoms in Tokyo the previous day, the guests were thrilled by the dramatic contrast in scenery and temperature. They cheered at the dynamic rock face of Kegon Falls and the beauty of the snowy landscape, threw snowballs at each other and had great fun at Ryuzu Falls and Lake Yunoko, and at Yudaki Falls they were full of energy, walking down the trail from the top to the bottom to see it up close. (The usual parking area was closed due to snow, so I had planned to show it only from above, but since they said they wanted to go via the trail, we descended the long staircase.) Since the guests were from Europe, I had thought of showing them the British Embassy building, but it seemed that enjoying nature was their priority, so I adjusted the schedule to follow what they wished. They said, "This is exactly what we wanted to do!", which made me happy. I believe they thoroughly enjoyed winter in Nikko. They had stayed the previous night at a hotel, and asked whether there were any activities on the evening they arrived. I told them about a popular theater performance near Toshogu Shrine, and since they showed interest, I made a reservation in advance and sent them a map of the location. I was a little worried about whether they would actually go, but it seems they did, and they said that although they were a bit puzzled by their first experience of Japanese popular theater, they found it very interesting. They were curious about everything, active, and cheerful, so I was able to guide them to places I don't usually visit, and it turned out to be an enjoyable day for me as the guide as well.

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

    Tour Report by Yumi

    Hello! My name is Yumi. The Nikko area, Nasu area, in Tochigi Prefecture, and Aizu and Shirakawa area in Fukushima prefecture, where I will be guiding you, are not only surrounded by beautiful nature in all four seasons but are also full of historical attractions. Nikko, in particular, is a great place to learn about the culture and history that has shaped Japan to this day. In order for you to truly enjoy your day, I am flexible to your wishes and will prepare your day to be a great day. Because I am a local guide, you will surely see some sights that are not in the guidebooks. Is local food one of your favorite parts of your trip? I am also a sushi-making instructor for foreigners, so food is one of my specialties. I am also a certified sake navigator. Why don’t you come and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with me?

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    Jul 1, 2026
    laine164
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!
    We had a wonderful time exploring Nikko.
    Our friendly…

    Apr 7, 2026
    V2097LInickd
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Guide Yumi Highlights Nikko on walking tour
    Our 16,000 step tour…

    Apr 4, 2026
    O4367MVkarenv
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fantastic day in Nikko
    We had a fantastic day with Yumi. She…

    Nov 10, 2025
    Salutory
    A fascinating tour with a friendly and knowledgeable guide
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Yumi…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:45 Meet the customer early at Tokyo Station, take the train to Harajuku, 9:30-10:30 Meiji Shrine, head to Takeshita Street 10:30-11:30, 11:30-13:00 Asakusa via Shibuya, 13:00 End of work at Asakusa

    Title: What Is a Family-Friendly Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan. They were very kind, and it turned out to be an enjoyable tour, with the group warming up to me nicely. The tour was centered around family-friendly activities, and the guests purchased many items such as gachapon capsule toys and dolls. The group were baseball fans, so we had a lively conversation about the player Ohtani, and I explained Ohtani's "mandala" goal-setting chart. The meeting point was the Marunouchi Central Exit of Tokyo Station, but it happened to be closed on the day, which caused some difficulty. However, we contacted each other by email and were able to meet without any problem.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTokyo Station～Harajuku208JPY
    Section 2TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Section 3TrainShibuya～Asakusa252JPY
    Total606JPY

    Tour Report by Tomoko

    Hello, my name is Tomoko, I have been an English guide since 2011. I have guided Asakusa, Tokyo SkyTree, Nihonnbashi, Shibuya, Harajyuku, Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Ginza, Yanaka, Tsukiji, Hamarikyuu Garden and many places in Tokyo. Public transportation in Tokyo is very complicated, I show the guests how to use public transportation in Tokyo. I will exchange a lot of emails with my guests and according to your requests, I will make itineraries. The tour will be a customized tour only for you. Will you tell me whatever you want to do and whereever you want to visit in Japan? My motto is ‘Enjoy! I am looking forward to guiding you. Thank you.

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  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) Meet at 9:30, Lee at Hotel, take the bus to Nijo Castle
    • 2) Nijo Castle 10:00-11:00, subway and Randen to Arashiyama
    • 3) Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge) 11:50-13:10, JR to Fushimi Inari
    • 4) Fushimi Inari Taisha 14:00-14:50, after sightseeing, farewell

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari Body: It had been difficult to reach the guests in advance, and when I finally received a reply once, they mentioned that my email had gone into their spam folder, but they confirmed that the proposed itinerary was fine. Just to be safe, on the day before the tour I sent a fax to the hotel where they were staying, communicating the proposed itinerary and the pickup time. On the day, we met as scheduled, and they confirmed that they had received the fax. The guests were visiting Japan on a private tour. At Nijo Castle, they observed the Ninomaru Palace with great interest. The cherry blossoms were also in bloom in the garden of Nijo Castle, which pleased them. When I told them that after Nijo Castle we would head to Arashiyama, one of the guests asked whether Fushimi Inari was included in the day's itinerary. I explained that, as I had communicated earlier, Fushimi Inari was not included, but that Kiyomizu-dera was. I offered that we could change Kiyomizu-dera to Fushimi Inari instead, and they said they would like to make that change. Before this discussion about the change, when we were talking about Japanese anime, the topic of Ghibli came up, so I mentioned that there was a Ghibli shop near Kiyomizu-dera, and one of the guests said they wanted to go. I then explained that if we changed to Fushimi Inari we would not be able to visit the Ghibli shop, and they said that was fine and we decided to make the change. When we arrived in Arashiyama, it was around noon, so I asked about lunch, and they said not yet. At Nonomiya Shrine, I had the guests pray at the deity for safe childbirth and at the deity for wealth. After that, since the bamboo grove path gradually becomes an incline, and considering the pace of walking, I took a photo of the guests in the bamboo grove and then turned back partway to enter Tenryu-ji. At Tenryu-ji, we toured and enjoyed the cherry blossoms while taking rest breaks. They seemed to like the Sogenchi Garden and took many photos. At Fushimi Inari, I took photos of the guests in front of the great torii gate and inside the Senbon Torii. I had one of the guests try lifting the Omokaru-ishi stone. We could have gone a little further up, but since it becomes an uphill path, we decided against it and turned back. It was around 14:50 at JR Inari-mae, so I asked whether they would like to return to the hotel, but they said they would stroll around this area and have lunch, so this spot was fine, and we said goodbye here.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusIn front of Shimogyo Ward General Government Building～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijojo-mae～Uzumasa Tenjingawa260JPY
    Section 3TrainRanden Tenjingawa～Randen Arashiyama250JPY
    Section 4TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Inari240JPY
    Total980JPY

    Tour Report by Hiro

    Nice to meet you.
    My name is Hiroki Muramoto, please call me Hiro.
    Hiro in Japanese means large or big. Although I’m neither large nor big, you can call me Hiro. How are you doing ?
    I lived in a city nearby Kobe city. Do you know Kobe ? Kobe is famous for Kobe beef and pearl. If you have not yet had Kobe beef, you should taste the authentic Kobe beef. It is very satisfying taste. But I have recently moved to a city in Kyoto prefecture, so I can be in Kyoto city in about one hour. By the way, I am a family of four. I have a son and a daughter. My son now works in Tokyo. I sometimes go to Tokyo to see him. Tokyo is a huge city, but too crowded, so it seems not to suit me. I seem to be better suited to a small city than a big one. Where do you live in ? How many families do you have ? If you like, please tell me about them. I worked in the quality assurance department of a pharmaceutical company and visited the factories of foreign affiliated companies, so I became interested in foreign cultures and obtained a qualification as an interpreter guide in 2015.

    I have been a guide for about eight years. During that time, I have guided in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kochi and so on, although I could do little guiding work between 2020 and 2022 due to COVID-19. However, since last year, my guiding work has been back! So, I am happy to be able to meet different people again. My hobby is travelling, but sadly, I am not in a position to travel abroad easily at the moment due to the very weak yen, and I hope to travel abroad again when the situation eases a bit more.
    How many countries have you been to so far ? Which countries have you liked so far? Another hobby is watching sports – baseball and football. Do you like the baseball ? Do you know Otani, Japanese baseball player ? He has joined Dodgers in Los Angeles this year. I look forward to another successful year for Otani.

    By the way, what interests you in Japan? Food, history, scenery ? As far as tourist attractions are concerned, famous places are too crowded. If you like, I also would like to show you some less crowded places. Are you interested in experiencing something ? If you want to experience something, I can suggest an experience plan for you. If so, please contact me as early as possible. As for food, what kind of food do you like? There are many kinds of delicious food. Of course, you can get good food in fine restaurants, but you can also get good food in downtown restaurants. If you like alcohol, why don’t you try Japanese sake? It can range from light and fragrant to rich in flavor, so you’re sure to find a Japanese sake you like.

    My motto is “Be content with life.” However, I find myself complaining all the time. If you like, please tell me your motto. I want to treat all guests who visit Japan with the spirit of “Treasure every encounter” and guide them so that they can enjoy themselves and have good memories of Japan.
    You only live once (YOLO). So, I also want to enjoy it with you.

    I look forward to meeting you.
    Best regard.

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    Nov 27, 2024
    Julianne_A
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    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    This was a wonderful experience with our guide Hiro. He…