Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel New Otani
    • 10:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 11:45 Imperial Palace
    • 13:00 Senso-ji Temple
    • 13:50 Lunch @ Sansada (Asakusa)
    • 15:10 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 16:05 Disband @ Shinjuku

    What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, and Shinjuku Gyoen The guests were visitors from Europe who were visiting Japan for the first time. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to go on a cruise tour. At Meiji Shrine, they seemed impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo Shogunate. At Senso-ji Temple, they listened with interest to explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, and they purchased souvenirs along Nakamise-dori. At Shinjuku Gyoen, although many of the cherry blossoms had already fallen, they were very pleased to be able to see some of the remaining blossoms. Since I responded in accordance with the guests' wishes, I believe they were satisfied.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAkasaka-mitsuke~Meiji-jingumae700JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Nijubashimae0JPY
    Section 3SubwayYurakucho~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 4SubwayAsakusa~Shinjuku-gyoemmae0JPY
    Total700JPY

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
    jonaJ5014ZK
    Walking tour of Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Seizo was a tremendously fabulous…

    Sep 11, 2026
    M7402TTsharonp
    Higly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…

    Sep 8, 2026
    OnAir57127583503
    Amazing Experience with Kamakura Day Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
    We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our…

    Sep 4, 2026
    B2319ZKjoseo
    Pleasant stroll through HISTORY
    Tripadvisor review: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We had a great time learning about…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meet at the hotel → 13:00-13:30 Travel to Asakusa → 13:30-15:00 Stroll around Asakusa → 15:00-15:20 Travel to Otemachi (the Imperial Palace was closed, so we turned back) → 15:30-15:50 Travel to Shibuya → 15:50-17:00 Experience the Shibuya Crossing, then stroll around Cyberspace Shibuya and disband

    What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa and Shibuya Today's guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, who had arrived in Tokyo the previous day after traveling through Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. We first visited Asakusa and took a commemorative photo in front of Kaminarimon Gate. Along Nakamise Street, the guests enjoyed strawberry treats and happily sampled ningyo-yaki. Afterward, we moved to Shibuya and experienced the famous Hachiko statue and the Shibuya Crossing. At the crossing, everyone took selfies and commemorative photos. Finally, we visited the cyberspace area of Shibuya PARCO and experienced the worlds of Super Mario and Pokémon.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayGinza~Asakusa286JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa~Otemachi286JPY
    Section 3SubwayOtemachi~Shibuya209JPY
    Total781JPY

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

    Oct 14, 2025
    Randi R
    Amazing tour of Tokyo with Yuji
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yuji was an amazing guide.…

    Sep 30, 2025
    K6530TRangelor
    Great tour.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yuji was excellent. He was very punctual and…

    Sep 19, 2025
    belindaf2022
    Tokyo highlights
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful day with being shown the key…

    Sep 8, 2025
    S8908ADcarolinab
    Family friendly guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a great experience with our 6 hour…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.9:30 Meet up @The b Akasaka-mitsuke
    • 2.10:00 @Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 3.11:00 @Asakusa
    • 4.12:00 Lunch @Kura Sushi Asakusa
    • 5.13:30 @Shibuya
    • 6.14:00 @Meiji Shrine
    • 7.14:50 @Takeshita Street
    • 8.15:30 Disband @Takeshita Street

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street The guests were visiting from Europe and had just arrived the day before, planning to stay for a while. At Tsukiji, the group showed great interest in a wide variety of ingredients. One of the guests had never tried sea urchin before, and after tasting it, they said it was incredibly delicious. In Asakusa, they bought souvenirs along Nakamise, drew omikuji fortunes, and admired the beauty of the five-story pagoda, taking many photos. They also enjoyed conveyor-belt sushi. At Meiji Shrine, they remarked on the beauty of the forest, and along Takeshita Street they mentioned places like the mini pig café that they wanted to visit on their own. Afterward, since they wished to explore on their own, we concluded the tour at Takeshita Street. The weather was lovely, and I believe the guests enjoyed themselves.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayAkasaka-mitsuke~Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji~Asakusa286JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa~Shibuya252JPY
    Section 4TrainShibuya~Harajuku178JPY
    Total894JPY

    Hello, I am Fumiko, an English-speaking Tourist Guide. I have been guiding foreign visitors science 2016. Please let me know your bucket lists whiles you are staying in Japan and what you are interested in. I will make the best plan for you. This is an once in a lifetime experience for you. As for myself, I love traveling, meeting people, eating local food, drinking, history, and art. I am learning Ikebana, traditional Japanese-style flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. I also love sports, especially tennis. I like children, so I can teach them some origami, folding paper. I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Japan.

    Sep 29, 2026
    W9834MZdavidn
    First Visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    We had an absolutely wonderful day…

    Sep 12, 2026
    Don_G
    Tokyo 6 hour Tour
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    We had a great time on…

    Jul 27, 2026
    zyarisa
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko tour good vibes only
    Mrs. fumiko was very…

    Jul 23, 2026
    734mortenp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Nice tour of Tokyo
    Don’t visit Tokyo without a guide! You’ll…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Tokyo Tower & Odaiba Kaihinkoen Station

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Tokyo Tower & Odaiba Kaihinkoen Station

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:25 Meet at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal
    • 10:35 Departure
    • 11:15 Arrive at Tokyo Tower
    • 12:10 Head to Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden on foot
    • 12:30 Arrive at Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden
    • 13:00 Depart Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden
    • 13:30 Arrive at Asakusa
    • 14:30 Depart Asakusa
    • 15:25 Arrive at Odaiba Kaihinkoen Station
    • 15:30 Farewell

    What's a Private Tokyo Cruise Stopover Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tokyo Tower, Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden, and Asakusa The guests were visiting Japan for the first time as part of a cruise stopover from Europe. We visited Tokyo Tower, Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden, and Asakusa. Since one of the guests enjoyed flowers and gardening, they happily admired the peonies and Sato-zakura cherry blossoms at Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden. As it was a rather hot day, the guests mentioned they would like some ice cream, so we took a short break at a gelato shop in Asakusa. They commented that gelato in Europe is much richer in milk, and found this gelato a little lighter in taste. On the way back, they wished to stop by Odaiba Marine Park, so I guided them to the station and we parted ways there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTokyo International Cruise Terminal~Akabanebashi503JPY
    Section 2SubwayDaimon~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 3TrainAsakusa~Odaiba Kaihinkoen534JPY
    Total1,257JPY

    Hello.
    Thank you for choosing Japan as your travel destination.

    I am Michi.
    It has been over 40 years since I was born and raised in Tokyo.
    And I live with my husband and two children.

    I love history,Japanese gardens,cooking,traveling,and more recently,camping.

    I have been working as a National Licensed Guide since 2016.
    Because of my husband’s job,I lived in Western part of Japan from 2012 to 2017 and spent nearly two years working as a guide in Kyoto.

    Afterward,I moved back to Tokyo,my hometown,and continued my work.

    I am truly passionate about my work as a tour guide and am very proud of it.
    Also,I am flexible and happy to adjust to your needs.

    I am looking forward to sharing lots of wonderful discoveries with you.

    Michi

    Sep 21, 2025
    Q7599JLstellav
    Tokyo Walking tour with Michi
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful guided tour with Michi
    Couldn’t ask…

    Jun 25, 2025
    R9003QBcindyk
    Michi-san is the best!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Michi-san was our amazing guide. The communication for…

    May 31, 2025
    Molly_G
    Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    This was…

    May 12, 2025
    Anonymous
    We had the absolute…
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had the absolute pleasure of spending the…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Yanaka Ginza

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Yanaka Ginza

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:20 Meiji Shrine
    • 11:30 Nezu Shrine
    • 13:00 Lunch: Rice balls @ Sendagi
    • 14:30 Yanaka Ginza
    • 15:20 Ginza (Mitsukoshi department store food floor)
    • 16:20 Disband @ Shibuya Station

    What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Nezu Shrine, Yanaka, Ginza, and Shibuya The guests were visitors from Europe. They joined the tour within a tight schedule, having arrived the day before and departing on a cruise the following day. They had originally hoped to visit the East Gardens, but since it was Friday, we went to Meiji Shrine instead. Surrounded by forest, they remarked that it was hard to believe they were in the center of the city. At Nezu Shrine, the azaleas were at their peak, and they took many photos in the azalea garden. They were deeply impressed by the variety and beauty of the azaleas. For lunch at a rice ball shop, they enjoyed rice balls and pork miso soup. Afterwards, we visited Yanaka and the food floor of the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza, took photos at the Shibuya scramble crossing, and said our goodbyes.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShibuya~Harajuku146JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae~Nezu209JPY
    Section 3TrainNippori~Ginza345JPY
    Section 4SubwayGinza~Shibuya209JPY
    Total909JPY

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

    Sep 29, 2026
    Darrin_T
    Tokyo Tour with Rumi
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Local tour guide Rumi took…

    Sep 29, 2026
    anettesoegaardn
    Rumi Hosoya is a very good tour-guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our guide was Rumi…

    Sep 25, 2026
    Frances_K
    Rumi was a wonderful…
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Rumi was a wonderful guide that provided…

    Sep 19, 2026
    K6328IFcarolinel
    Tokyo highlights
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Had a great day
    Rumi was very…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:10 Meet up @ Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Shiodome
    • 2. 09:15 Travel∶Train
    • 3. 10:00 Stay @ Meiji Shrine
    • 4. 11:00 Travel∶Train
    • 5. 11:10 Stay @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 6. 11:25 Travel∶Subway
    • 7. 11:45 Stay @ Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 8. 12:55 Stay @ Marunouchi
    • 9. 13:15 Travel∶Train
    • 10. 13:35 Disband @ Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Shiodome

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens This was a case where communication had been difficult beforehand, so I had been a little concerned, but when I arrived at the hotel about 20 minutes early on the day, the guests were already waiting in the lobby, and we were able to start the tour ahead of schedule. Originally I had planned to guide them around the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Asakusa, but since they had booked a spot tour of Asakusa for the following day, I decided to show them Meiji Shrine and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing instead. I had thought of taking the Ginza Line from Shimbashi Station, but since it was rush hour and boarding looked unlikely, we traveled to Harajuku by JR. After that we mainly used JR to get around. One of the guests loves plants, and there was a particularly positive reaction to the seasonal flowers in the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Since we had some time to spare in the latter half, I also guided them around the Marunouchi area, then took them from Tokyo Station toward Shimbashi Station, saw them back to the hotel, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShimbashi Station~Harajuku Station210JPY
    Section 2TrainHarajuku Station~Shibuya Station150JPY
    Section 3SubwayShibuya Station~Otemachi Station210JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo Station~Shimbashi Station150JPY
    Total720JPY

    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.

    Sep 29, 2026
    Y9791IZnicks
    Making the most of a rainy day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Sam was a wonderful…

    Sep 25, 2026
    910lorig
    Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Best…

    Sep 15, 2026
    R8612KOjanicea
    Highly recommend 👍
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

    Sep 1, 2026
    greasygrandpa
    First Day In Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…

  • Osaka in One Day: Osaka Castle and stay there & Kuromon Market

    Osaka in One Day: Osaka Castle and stay there & Kuromon Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at hotel
    • 9:30-12:30 Move to Osaka Castle and stay there
    • 12:45-14:15 Stay at Shitennoji Temple
    • 14:35-15:10 Kuromon Market
    • Around 15:10 End of the tour

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting Japan. They were interested in Japanese history and culture and had been learning a little Japanese, so at the restaurant where we had lunch, they spoke to the staff and said, "It was very delicious." At Osaka Castle, they enthusiastically explored every floor, and when we also toured the stone wall hall, that took up about half of our time. They also seemed fond of animals, and enjoyed the turtles at Shitennoji Temple and the pufferfish and moray eels in the tanks at Kuromon Market. Since they had already gone to Dotonbori on their own the previous day, they decided to stroll a bit more around the Kuromon Market area before returning to their hotel, and we parted ways there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNagahoribashi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka190JPY
    Section 3SubwayShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka~Nipponbashi190JPY
    Total570JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Gifu in Half a Day: Hida Kokubunji Temple & Takayama Jinya

    Gifu in Half a Day: Hida Kokubunji Temple & Takayama Jinya

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00…Meet at Honjin Hiranoya
    • 8:10…Hida Kokubunji Temple
    • 9:00…Miyagawa Morning Market
    • 9:00…Old Town Streets
    • 9:30…Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall)
    • 10:00…Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine
    • 10:10…Nikkokan
    • 10:40…Sanmachi Street
    • 11:10…Takayama Jinya
    • 12:00…End of guide in front of Takayama Jinya

    Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Takayama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report We met as planned at Honjin Hiranoya, where I explained the day's schedule and began the tour. First, I guided the guests to Hida Kokubunji Temple. The cherry blossoms in the temple grounds were in full bloom, and they took several photos in front of the three-story pagoda framed by the blossoms. I introduced the Tenaga-Ashinaga figures at Kajibashi Bridge, and the guests listened with great interest. At the morning market, they browsed various shops and enjoyed local folk crafts and food. In the old townscape, the guests took an interest in a cat café. Near the Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Float Exhibition Hall), a large tree branch was being cut, and they watched this for a while. Inside the exhibition hall, they viewed each of the festival floats slowly and carefully. At Hachimangu Shrine, the guests offered a prayer. They were delighted to see many red carp swimming in the pond. The cherry blossoms along the Enako River were also in full bloom, and they enjoyed taking photos. On Sanmachi Street, we stopped at the miso shop "Ohnoya," where the guests sampled miso soup. The shop also sold soy sauce, and when asked "which soy sauce goes well with rice?", I asked the shop staff and relayed the answer. I guided the guests to the Takayama Jinya and concluded the tour. At the end, they kindly took a photo with me, and I asked them to post a review.

    Hi, everyone! I’m Yuriko Suematsu, a government licensed tour guide. Please call me Lily, because Yuri means Lily in English.
    I like Japanese history, culture, and Japanese castles. Especially, I like tea ceremony in kimono.(I’m also a licensed kimono dresser.)
    So, I sometimes guide around Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Osaka, Nara and Nagoya in kimono.
    There are lots of beautiful places to visit in Japan.
    Especially, I recommend you to visit Kyoto and Nara if you are interested in Japanese ancient history. Nara and Kyoto are both ancient capital cities over 1000 years ago.
    I also recommend you to visit Gifu(Shirakawa-go and Takayama), my hometown if you want to enjoy rural nostalgic atmosphere.
    If you’re interested in Japanese castles, I recommend you to visit Himeji, Osaka, Kanazawa and Nagoya. I’m sure you will have a wonderful time to see beautiful castles.
    Let’s enjoy Japanese culture and history together!

    Sep 30, 2026
    edmondc795
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Wonderful walking tour in Takayama
    The 4 hour tour was arranged…

    Apr 16, 2026
    maerlaeb
    Wonderful tour on the Nakasendo Trail
    Tripadvisor review: Magome & Tsumago Nakasendo Trail Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had the…

    Apr 14, 2026
    Andrew K
    Tripadvisor review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful Tour
    Highly recommended! Yuriko-san was so knowledgeable and patient.…

    Oct 23, 2025
    Sydney_N
    We had a wonderful tour…
    Viator review: Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour in…

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Sanjusangendo

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel Kyoto Meeting point
    • 9:30~10:10 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 10:30~11:10 Sanjusangendo
    • 11:30~12:10 Gion・Hanamikoji・Gion Kaikan
    • 12:30~13:10 Yasaka Shrine・Chion-in Temple・Maruyama Park  Dismissal

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangendo, and Gion The guests were on their first trip to Japan, visiting from North America. The day before, they had arrived in Kyoto and enjoyed Japanese food at Nishiki Market, and they were a group who love Japanese cuisine. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, we discussed the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, and with the fine weather, they were drawn to the shrine buildings and the shining vermilion of the torii gates, taking many photographs. At Sanjusangendo, a Buddhist memorial service was being held, and they were overwhelmed by the 1,001 Buddhist statues and the sutras chanted by seven monks echoing through the hall. They were disappointed that photography was not allowed there. In Gion, they were moved by the Gion Festival scenes projected on the screen at the Gion Gallery and by the life-sized festival float. Afterwards, they were impressed by the enormous scale of the Chion-in Sanmon gate, the Miedo hall, and the bell tower, and took many photographs.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Gion-Shijo220JPY
    Total370JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo: teamLab Planets entrance & Ginza

    Tokyo: teamLab Planets entrance & Ginza

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Meeting place: teamLab Planets
    • 11:40 Depart teamLab Planets entrance
    • (Hired car)
    • 12:15 Arrive Meiji Jingu parking lot
    • Harajuku Meiji Jingu
    • Break: Cafe Terrace Meiji Jingu
    • Takeshita Street
    • 13:30 Depart Takeshita Street / Meiji Street entrance
    • (Hired car)
    • 14:00 Arrive Gyoko-dori Avenue
    • Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • Nijubashi Bridge
    • 15:00 Depart Gyoko-dori Avenue
    • (Hired car)
    • 15:20 Arrive Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate
    • Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    • Asakusa Shrine
    • Nakamise-dori Shopping Street
    • Shin-Nakamise-dori Shopping Street
    • 16:00 Depart Asakusa Nitenmon Gate
    • (Hired car)
    • 16:15 Arrive Akihabara
    • Akihabara Akihabara Electric Town
    • Break: Doutor Coffee
    • 16:45 Depart Akihabara
    • (Hired car)
    • 17:00 Arrive Ginza
    • 17:00 Disband: In front of Hotel by Granbell

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Akihabara The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, all traveling to Japan for the first time. One of the guests was fluent in English, while the others in the group spoke mainly their own language. This time, they came to Japan during a holiday period, staying for a total of ten days. A week earlier, they had flown from Europe via a connecting city to Kansai Airport. After staying in Osaka and Kyoto, they had traveled to Tokyo by Shinkansen the previous day. Tomorrow they were planning a day trip to Hakone. The day after next, they were going to Disneyland, and after that they planned to return home. They said, "We were able to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Kyoto, so we are very satisfied," and "Japanese food is all healthy and delicious." The tour took place under clear skies, warm enough to feel almost hot, making for a very pleasant day. First, we headed to Meiji Shrine. One of the guests was interested in architecture and art, and was absorbed in taking photographs here and there along the way. We started in Harajuku and went to Meiji Shrine. I explained about "Shinto and Buddhism," "torii gates," "Emperor Meiji," "the history of Edo and Tokyo," "the Meiji Restoration," and "why wine barrels are displayed there." There were also questions such as "When did Shinto originate?" and "About how many Buddhists are there in Japan?" We took a short break at the café at Meiji Shrine. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy the matcha ice cream. We moved to the Imperial Palace. We strolled through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. The cherry blossoms had almost entirely fallen, which was a bit disappointing. I explained about "the history from the Edo period to the Meiji era," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "an overview of the current Imperial family." They commented, "The pine trees are beautiful, like bonsai," "They are completely different from the pine trees in our country," and "Our country is dry all over and lacks lush green scenery, so we envy Japan." They also asked, "Does the Japanese Emperor have political power?" and mentioned, "We once had a king too, but he was exiled and there is no monarchy now." We moved to Asakusa. As always, it was very crowded. I once again explained about "Senso-ji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." There was a question about "What percentage of people in Japan are Christian?" One of the guests drew an omikuji fortune and got "great blessing," and was delighted. We slowly strolled through the Nakamise shopping street amid the crowds. From here, we went to Akihabara (at the request of some of the guests). They bought game software at an electronics store. When they spotted a maid café, they asked, "What kind of café is that?" We took a break at a coffee shop. After this, they said, "We are tired and would like to return to the hotel early," so we wrapped up a bit earlier and headed to their accommodation. We parted ways in front of the hotel entrance.

    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.

    Jul 21, 2026
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