Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shiba Rikyu & Guide ends

    Tokyo in One Day: Shiba Rikyu & Guide ends

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:50 Meet at hotel
    • 10:20 Shiba Rikyu
    • 12:00 Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine
    • 13:00 Lunch
    • 14:10 Tokyo Tower
    • 15:10 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 16:10 Hanazono Shrine, Golden Gai, Godzilla Head, 3D Billboard
    • 16:50 Shibuya Station
    • 17:00 Guide ends

    **Title:** What Is a Private Cherry Blossom Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report **Body:** The guests were visiting from Europe, and the tour focused on cherry blossom viewing. We began at Shiba Rikyu Gardens, where the guests, who enjoy photography, happily took many photos of the beauty of this former feudal lord's garden. Although the cherry blossoms there are few, they match the garden beautifully. At Asakusa, the weeping cherry tree in front of the Hozomon Gate was just past full bloom, but it paired wonderfully with the gate and the five-story pagoda. As the guests are fond of sushi, lunch was, of course, sushi. At Tokyo Tower, they enjoyed the cherry blossoms of Zojoji Temple and other spots from the observation deck. Shinjuku Gyoen was crowded with throngs of people who came to enjoy the Somei Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom, and the guests admired the various different types of cherry blossoms. They took a liking to the deity of performing arts at Hanazono Shrine and took commemorative photos with the cherry blossoms. We walked 20,000 steps, and this morning I received an email from the guests saying, "It was fun, it was interesting, thank you."

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKanda~Hamamatsucho170JPY
    Section 2SubwayDaimon~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa~Akabanebashi360JPY
    Section 4SubwayAkabanebashi~Kokuritsu Kyogijo220JPY
    Section 5TrainShinjuku~Shibuya170JPY
    Total1,140JPY

    My name is Shuji, meaning “Excellent Manager” in English. I was born in Hiroshima 1952. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
    After graduating Kyoto Univ. I joined Mitsubishi-UFJ Bank, Osaka Branch where I met my wife who was a master of Englsih, so I started studying English.
    The bank allowed me to go to Columbia Graduate business school in New York and got MBA Degree there. I worked in London and Manchester Branch.
    During staying in U.K., I was introduced by BBC and Financial Times News Paper about my achievement there. I was selected as a personal assistant and interpreter for the President of the Bank.
    I made many business trips with him to overseas countries. I experienced as an interpreter for meeting late Henry Kissinger and the President of Citi. Corp.
    I changed the job to ORIX corporation, there I was promoted to a Board Member. When the company had acquired Dutch company, I was a member as an accountant to check the Dutch company’s statements of accounts.
    My hobbies are cooking, singing a song, playing tennis & golf, enjoy seeing arts especially opera & musical, travel. I am also busy with taking care of grandchildren. I passed Government Licensed Guide Exam. in 2016. After I retired in 2017, I started guide job as a part timer. So far, I accomplished guide job more than 500 times.
    My area coverage is from Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, Oaka, Hiroshima. I am also able to guide Tea Ceremony, Maiko/Geisha, Sushi Making, Calligraphy, Sumo, Samurai, etc. I can speak excellent English. My knowledge is very wide and deep about not only sightseeing places but Japanese History, Culture, Religion, Daily Life. I know many foreign countries and people. I love talking with all kinds of people including babies with interesting humor.
    By the way, I look young for my age of 74.

    Jul 16, 2026
    salomons666
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto fun
    Amazing with our guide Shuji very kind and acknowledge

    Jul 15, 2026
    P9099TXkennethr
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    A great day
    A great day in the Company of mr. Shuji.

    Jun 28, 2026
    A
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    AmyfromPlano
    Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached…

    Jun 22, 2026
    yeseniag981
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Osaka Tour
    Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:55 Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier
    • 2. 10:00 Transit: On foot
    • 3. 10:10 Stay@Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 4. 11:40 Transit: Transit: Subway
    • 5. 12:10 Lunch@Tsukiji Uogashi Shokudo
    • 6. 12:50 Stay@Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 7. 13:20 Transit: Subway
    • 8. 13:40 Stay@Yanaka
    • 9. 15:00 Transit: Subway
    • 10. 15:30 Stay@Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple
    • 11. 16:35 Transit: Subway
    • 12. 17:00 Dismissal@Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier

    What Does a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku Gyoen, Tsukiji, Yanaka, and Tokyo Tower The guests were visiting from North America. Since the Hotel was in an excellent location within walking distance of Shinjuku Gyoen, I first guided the group there. As it was still early morning before the crowds arrived, I believe they were able to fully enjoy taking photographs. Since some of the guests did not particularly care for sashimi, at Tsukiji I guided the group to a food court with many options. As they were interested in local art, shopping in Yanaka took a little longer than usual. After showing them Tokyo Tower, I also took the group to Zojoji Temple, where they took many photos as well, so we headed to Daimon Station slightly behind schedule, saw them back to the Hotel, and then parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassKokuritsu-Kyogijo Station~Tsukijishijo Station900JPY
    Section 2Free PassTsukiji Station~Sendagi Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassSendagi Station~Kamiyacho Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassDaimon Station~Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station0JPY
    Total900JPY

    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.

    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
    Tokyo tour
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a wonderful guide -…

    Jun 18, 2026
    David_W
    Viator review: Tokyo Tsukiji Food & Culture 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Fish Market Tour
    Great tour. Got to see…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple & Taizo-in Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple & Taizo-in Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet up @ Hotel by Hilton Kyoto Station
    • 9:20 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 10:25 Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko) Arashiyama ~ Tenryu-ji Sogenchi Garden
    • 11:44 Myoshin-ji Temple
    • 12:14 Taizo-in Temple
    • 13:19 Lunch @ Shijo
    • 14:29 Disband @ Hotel by Hilton Kyoto Station

    Kyoto Cherry Blossom Private Tour Report: What Can a Licensed Guide Show You in One Day? The guests were visitors from North America. The weather was fairly pleasant on this day, and since the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms were nearly in full bloom, the guests were very pleased. In particular, the weeping cherry tree at Tenryu-ji Temple was in magnificent full bloom, and they took many photographs. At Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, they were deeply moved by the temple's history and the origins of the area. At Taizo-in Temple within Myoshin-ji, the last place we visited, they were surprised by the beautiful garden and how few people were there. When I asked for their impressions at the end, they said it had been "a wonderful day."

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama~Myoshin-ji250JPY
    Section 3BusMyoshin-ji-mae~Shijo-Karasuma230JPY
    Section 4SubwayShijo~Kyoto220JPY
    Total940JPY

    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: Fushimi Inari Shrine & Ginkaku-ji

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Shrine & Ginkaku-ji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10AM iHotel Pickup
    • 10:30-11:30 Fushimi Inari Shrine
    • 11:45-12:45 Sanjusangendo
    • 12:45-13:30 Lunch
    • 14:00-14:45 Walk from Nanzen-ji to the Philosopher's Path
    • 15:00-15:45 Ginkaku-ji
    • 16:00 Return to iHotel

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like When Guests Have No Fixed Plans? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests came without a fixed itinerary. In the pre-tour communication, the basic request was simply "take us anywhere," and there were no precise answers about what they wanted to see or what interested them. Even after meeting on the day, there were no particular requests, so I first took them to Fushimi Inari Taisha, a common destination, and explained about the shrine while observing their reactions. Since they were very interested in the Thousand Torii Gates, I then suggested seeing a thousand Buddhist statues and took them to Sanjusangendo. They were fascinated by the many Buddhist statues, and as they were looking at and photographing the cherry blossoms in the garden, I suggested viewing the cherry blossoms, a little early in the season, and we strolled from Nanzenji Temple along the Philosopher's Path. The Kawazu cherry blossoms were in bloom, and this too was well received. Finally, we visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ginkakuji Temple at the end, which was also enjoyed. Although we started without deciding a precise itinerary, I proceeded while watching the guests' reactions, and overall they were satisfied. The private one-day tour in Kyoto by a [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) licensed guide covered Fushimi Inari Taisha, Sanjusangendo, Nanzenji Temple, the Philosopher's Path, and Ginkakuji Temple. During the busy spring and summer seasons, when guides are in short supply, I wondered whether applying dynamic pricing might help, without leading to excessively high compensation.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKarasuma Oike~Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari~Shichijo170JPY
    Section 4TrainShichijo~Keage390JPY
    Section 5TrainGinkaku-ji~Karasuma Oike230JPY
    Total1,160JPY

    Hello!
    I am Joji. Please call me Bonjoji, because Bon Jovi is my favorite Rock group. I was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan. I graduated from University of South Carolina with Statistic major. During my work, I have lived in CA and NJ for 12 years. So, we can talk about the cultural difference between the USA and Japan from my experience as a student and as a businessman. My hobby is visiting old ruins in the world so that I have been to Vesa Merde in the USA, Macchu Picchu in Peru, Easter Island in Chile, Volbilis in Morocco, Tikal in Guatemala, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and etc. When I lived in the USA and visited these historical sites, I have been treated well as a family by many local people. So, it is a time that I treat you back well while you are traveling in Japan. I am official National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter and my goal is simply to make your journey more comfortable, enjoyable and unforgettable. Please feel free to contact me and let’s enjoy the tour together.
    Bonjoji

    Apr 16, 2026
    kellywO6769DQ
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour with a great guide
    Joji was an excellent guide who…

    Apr 5, 2026
    D1147DVdamons
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great Guide
    Joji guided us through temples and a small bamboo forest…

    Apr 3, 2026
    558drews
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The perfect guide for discovering Kyoto
    We had an exceptional experience with…

    Oct 25, 2025
    OnAir05338931895
    Tokyo Adventure with Joji
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We visited Japan in October of 2025, during…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ①10:00 Meet at DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto
    • ②10:05 Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
    • ③10:40 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • ④11:50 Tofuku-ji Temple
    • ⑤14:00 Nishiki Market
    • ⑥15:00 Hirano Shrine (weeping cherry blossoms in full bloom)
    • ⑦15:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • ⑧16:45 Return to the hotel and disband

    What Does a Private Kyoto Tour with a Licensed Guide Look Like? A Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari and Cherry Blossom Season The guests were visiting Japan and Kyoto for the first time. Apart from Hirano Shrine, the destinations were chosen by the guests themselves. I am constantly reminded of just how popular Fushimi Inari Taisha is, as I now visit it on every single tour. Beyond the Senbon Torii, I share various explanations about the coexistence of Shinto and Buddhism, which is fundamental to Japan's religious culture and, for people from abroad, represents the everyday cultural foundation that underlies Japanese life. I truly feel that everyone is deeply interested in this. Since I explain it every time, I have gradually become better at it, adding a little more depth to the story each time. Explaining this concept of the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism at the very beginning of the tour makes it easier to explain whatever comes afterward, and it may also help the listeners understand more easily. The beautiful cherry blossom season has finally arrived, and the way foreign guests react with emotion when they see the cherry blossoms is so striking that it surprises me. It was memorable how they exclaimed not "cherry blossom" but "Sakura!!" Perhaps the way cherry blossoms bloom so casually everywhere feels extraordinarily precious to them. The guests said they would head to Nara and Osaka from the next day, and since I was born and raised in Osaka, I made sure to give them plenty of rich Osaka information, much like the region's hearty flour-based dishes.

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

    Jul 29, 2026
    James_G
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide and very…
    Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    peterhR6472GA
    Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with Kazu…

    Jul 12, 2026
    cgalvez73
    Fantastic tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour

    Nagoya Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:00 Meet up @ Nagoya Port Garden Pier
    • 2. Move to Nagoya Castle and tour the area around Nagoya Castle
    • 3. Move to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and tour inside
    • 4. Move to Oasis 21 (Sakae), take a coffee break in the shopping area, and enjoy the view from the rooftop of the building
    • 5. Return to Nagoya Port Garden Pier and disband 14:00

    What Is a Private Nagoya Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nagoya Castle and the Toyota Museum I had agreed in advance with the guests on an itinerary visiting Nagoya Castle, Tokugawaen, and Oasis 21 in that order. However, when we met at the Nagoya Port meeting point on the day, the guests requested to change Tokugawaen to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, so I adjusted the itinerary to match their wishes. At Nagoya Castle, the cherry blossoms were nearly in full bloom and there were many visitors enjoying the flowers. Since there was a long line waiting to enter Honmaru Palace, we gave up on entering and instead enjoyed the cherry blossoms around the castle keep, as well as the view of the blossoms along the moat from atop the outer moat's earthen embankment, which can only be visited during this season. At the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, the guests showed great interest in the exhibits of the Textile Machinery Pavilion and the Automobile Pavilion, and we enjoyed the visit while discussing the history from the Meiji to the Showa periods. I saw them off at the subway's Nagoyako Station, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNagoyako Station~Nagoyajo Station270JPY
    Section 2SubwaySakae Station~Nagoyako Station270JPY
    Total540JPY

    Hello, guests of JGA tours, I’m Takao (Todd) Miura, a national licensed guide of Japan.
    I have experiences as a professional guide over 5 years. The themes in which I’m well versed include castles, Japaneses landscape gardens, museums, festivals, and traditinal Japanese arts and crafts.
    Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture, where I live, have many attractive sites to visit. I would like to introduce you to the most popular sites and spots in this area.
    I really wish to have a very nice time with you as a guide of your tour in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

    Feb 16, 2026
    B9190RXcolleenm
    The Nagoya walking tour was great!
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    Todd was the perfect…

    Oct 2, 2025
    Jeffrey_B
    Nagoya with Todd Miura
    Viator review: Nagoya / Aichi Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    A great 4 hour…

    Sep 17, 2025
    sjhppy
    Todd Was A Fabulous Guide
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    I highly recommend Todd! He…

    Jul 22, 2025
    guelphturfgrassinstu
    Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
    We enjoyed this tour with a knowledgeable guide. Todd shared…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Higobashi & Yotsubashi

    Osaka in Half a Day: Higobashi & Yotsubashi

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet @ Conrad Osaka
    • 11:00-11:10 Higobashi → Morinomiya 620 yen (1-day pass)
    • 11:20-12:10 Osaka Castle Park sightseeing
    • 12:25-12:40 Osaka Business Park → Nipponbashi
    • 12:50-14:30 Kuromon Market, Dotonbori area walk
    • 14:35-14:42 Yotsubashi → Higobashi
    • 15:00 Dismiss @ Conrad Osaka

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from North America. We had planned to visit Tsutenkaku Tower, but since they had already been there on a food tour the day before, we skipped it and headed to Osaka Castle instead. Next, we moved to Kuromon Market. They really liked the atmosphere, saying, "I love this kind of vibe." At a butcher shop, they ordered wagyu beef steak and a specially arranged inari sushi. After that, we strolled around the Dotonbori area, and since they wanted to shop, we visited Audemars Piguet and Louis Vuitton. They did not make a purchase on the spot, but they were seriously considering it, noting that it was cheaper than buying elsewhere. Afterward, I saw them back to their hotel, and the tour came to an end.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigobashi~Morinomiya620JPY
    Section 2SubwayOsaka Business Park~Nipponbashi0JPY
    Section 3SubwayYotsubashi~Higobashi0JPY
    Total620JPY

    Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.

    I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.

    There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.

    I look forward to attending you in Japan.

    Best regards,

    Andy Murao

    Jul 13, 2026
    webstere2025
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent
    Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…

    Jun 21, 2026
    Catherine_D
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in Osaka
    Andy was great . On time and patience…

    Jun 6, 2026
    eyeessess
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour!
    Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…

    Jun 5, 2026
    Janice_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 9hr Private Tour (Kobe Dep. ) with Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Kyoto
    It was a good tour…

  • Kyoto: Shimogyo Ward Police Station & Shin-Osaka

    Kyoto: Shimogyo Ward Police Station & Shin-Osaka

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Hotel Meet (Hilton Garden Inn)
    • 9:30-10:50 Shimogyo Ward Police Station (The customer lost their mobile phone on the Shinkansen yesterday, so they will submit a lost property report at the police station)
    • 10:50-11:20 Travel (Subway; Karasuma Shijo → Kyoto Station, City Bus; Kyoto Station → Sanjusangendo)
    • 11:30-12:10 Visit Sanjusangendo
    • 12:20-12:40 Travel (Keihan Train; Keihan Shichijo → Gion Shijo)
    • 12:40-13:30 Lunch (@Veggie ISO TERRACE)
    • 13:30-13:50 Travel (Subway; Karasuma Shijo → Imadegawa)
    • 13:50-14:30 Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 14:30-15:00 Travel (Subway; Imadegawa → Higashiyama)
    • 15:00-15:10 Antique Shop
    • 15:20-15:50 Visit Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts
    • 15:50-16:20 Travel (Taxi; Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts → Kyoto Station)
    • 16:20-16:50 Kyoto Station → Shin-Osaka Station (Lost Property Center)
    • 16:50-17:00 Lost Property Center *Pick up the lost mobile phone
    • 17:00-17:30 Shin-Osaka → Kyoto Station
    • Say goodbye at Kyoto Station

    Title: What Happens on a Private Kyoto Tour When a Guest Loses a Phone? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Asia. When I met them at the hotel, they reported that they had lost a mobile phone on the bullet train the previous day. I tried calling the bullet train lost-and-found center, but could not get through at all, so we first went to the police station and filed a lost-item report. Because of this trouble, we canceled the originally planned visit to To-ji Temple. At Kyoto Station we obtained a new phone number for lost-item inquiries, and after visiting Sanjusangen-do, we contacted the lost-and-found center in Shin-Osaka again from a restaurant, and were finally able to confirm the location of the lost item. After lunch, we visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace, an antique shop along the way, and the Museum of Kyoto Traditional Crafts. We canceled the originally planned visits to the museum of modern art and an antique shop, and instead went to the lost-and-found center in Shin-Osaka to collect the lost mobile phone. We safely received the phone, and I accompanied the guests back to Kyoto Station, where we said our goodbyes. To confirm the whereabouts of the lost phone, I ended up having the guests walk quite a lot around Kyoto Station. The guests seemed more concerned about their lost phone than the tour itself, and were not really in a state to enjoy it. As for the tour, they were disappointed that they could not enter the buildings at the Imperial Palace. It was a day of guiding while searching for a lost mobile phone.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKarasuma Shijo~Kyoto Station220JPY
    Section 2BusKyoto Station~Sanjusangendo-mae230JPY
    Section 3TrainKeihan Shichijo~Gion Shijo170JPY
    Section 4TrainKarasuma Shijo~Imadegawa260JPY
    Section 5TrainImadegawa~Higashiyama260JPY
    Section 6OtherKyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts~Kyoto Station0JPY
    Section 7TrainKyoto Station~Shin-Osaka0JPY
    Section 8TrainShin-Osaka~Kyoto Station0JPY
    Total1,140JPY

    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 !

    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…

  • Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • AM 09:30 Tour starts from Tempozan – Osaka Cruise Terminal
    • Travel to Kyoto Arashiyama Railway 
    • AM 11:10-PM12:30 From Tenryu-ji Temple Garden to the Bamboo Grove
    • Travel to Fushimi Inari Railway
    • PM 13:10-PM14:30 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, up to Kumataka Shrine
    • Travel to Gion Railway
    • PM 14:50-PM15:50 Lunch
    • Shopping for tea ceremony utensils in Kawaramachi
    • PM 16:30 Tour ends at the TAXI stand in front of Kawaramachi Takashimaya

    Title: Can You Customize a Private Kyoto Tour to Include Sushi and Tea Ceremony Shopping? A Licensed Guide's Report At the start of the tour, the guests requested that we include a particular sushi restaurant they very much wanted to visit, as well as shopping for tea ceremony utensils in Kyoto, so we adjusted the itinerary to accommodate these wishes. By canceling the planned visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we were able to have lunch at the desired sushi restaurant. While the guests were having lunch, I scouted a specialty shop selling tea ceremony utensils on Shijo Street, as well as the Takashimaya store located across from it. The guests decided to make their purchase at the Takashimaya store, but some of the items were out of stock, which meant they needed to go to the main store located in the Nijo Teramachi area. Since the store closed at 5:00 PM, the guests decided to go there on their own, and the tour concluded at that point.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOsaka Port~Umeda290JPY
    Section 2TrainUmeda~Arashiyama410JPY
    Section 3TrainSaga-Arashiyama~Inari240JPY
    Section 4TrainFushimi Inari~Shijo220JPY
    Section 5TrainKawaramachi~Umeda410JPY
    Section 6SubwayUmeda~Osaka Port290JPY
    Total1,860JPY

    Hello , My name is Hideharu Yoshino . Just call me” Yoshi” .
    I have been involved with many foreign Business partners through my business life for 38 years ,
    Based on my work experience , I would like to try my best to make you comfortale and Happy fruitful times during your stay in Japan .
    Not only giving you basic tourist information about famous sightseeing spot , also I would enjoy to give you the back ground inofrmation in my word.
    ” Once in a lifetime encounter ” Let’s enjoy with me Miracle time to be picked up from 6 billion in somewhere Japan!

    Jul 25, 2026
    Ann W
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    Incredible tour, one of the highlights of my…

    Jul 18, 2026
    Geert73
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A Well-Organized and Informative Tour of Kanazawa
    We, a…

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    G5010ZVmelodys
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    Number one guide for personalised touring of Kanazawa
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    rikkes490
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Rigtig god guidet tur
    Rigtig god oplevelse og gode forklaringer

    とても良いガイドツアーでした。
    とても良い体験でした。説明も分かりやすく、とても良かったです。

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Egret Himeji Rooftop

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Egret Himeji Rooftop

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:45 Meet @ JR Himeji Station
    • 11:15 @ Himeji Castle
    • 14:00 @ Koko-en Garden
    • 14:45 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 15:00 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    What Is a Private Himeji Castle Tour Like During Cherry Blossom Season? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. We met smoothly and started the tour, proceeding without any trouble. There was a considerable crowd from the moment we met at JR Himeji Station. When I checked at the tourist information center inside the station early in the morning, I learned that the cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle had been declared in bloom two days earlier, that huge crowds had already gathered since the previous day with wait times of 30 to 60 minutes, and that today's crowds were expected to be even larger. I conveyed this information to the guests and recommended revising the original itinerary, so we decided to skip Hiromine Shrine, which had been the first planned visit. The guests also requested more time at Himeji Castle. As expected, Himeji Castle was extremely crowded, with about a 30-minute wait to buy tickets, and there were two points inside the castle where entry was restricted, again resulting in waits of more than 30 minutes. Although the cherry blossoms inside the castle grounds were only about 30 percent open, some areas were nearly in full bloom, and the guests enjoyed it. At Mikuni-bori, we were able to see a "white heron," which is the origin of Himeji Castle's alternate name "White Heron Castle" and is said to be seen only occasionally. It is said that seeing one brings a year of good luck, and on the way back we were able to see it again, so the guests were delighted, saying "Now that's two years of good luck!" (It can be seen small and white at the far left of the photo.) On the way back to the station, we stopped at the rooftop of Egret Himeji, and the guests seemed very satisfied with the panoramic view of the castle. Both guests appeared to have a considerable interest in Japanese castles, and I received many quite in-depth questions. I was also able to hear about the state of castles in their home region in Europe, making it a meaningful tour for me as a guide as well.

    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

    Jul 25, 2026
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    Our tour with…

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    A wonderful time!
    We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was…