Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet @ the HILTON KYOTO
    • 8:50 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 9:55 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 11:30 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove ～ Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 12:35 Lunch
    • 13:35 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:30 Disband @ Nijo Castle

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Family Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had all been looking forward to this tour. The weather was fairly pleasant this day, and at each place we visited they repeatedly exclaimed "beautiful!" We finished almost exactly on schedule, so I saw them off at Nijo Castle as they had requested, and we parted ways there. One note: their accommodation, a hotel, was reportedly not listed as an option among the meeting point choices. I was asked to reconfirm right before the tour, and it was also pointed out when we met in the morning. Since it is a hotel we often pick up guests from, I would appreciate it if it could be added to the list of options.

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

    Tour Report by Hiro

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tochomae Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo in One Day: Tochomae Station & Shibuya Station

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:00 Meeting place: Keio Plaza H
    • 13:10 Depart Tochomae Station
    • (Toei Subway Oedo Line)
    • 13:30 Arrive Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station
    • Shinjuku Station Station Trip Concierge
    • 13:45 Depart Shinjuku Station
    • (JR Chuo Line)
    • 14:15 Arrive Tokyo Station
    • Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • Nijubashi Bridge
    • 15:00 Depart Tokyo Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    • 15:20 Arrive Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station
    • Shinjuku Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 16:00 Depart Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
    • Shinjuku-sanchome Station
    • (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line)
    • 16:15 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
    • Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • Lunch: Starbucks
    • 17:40 Depart Harajuku Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 18:00 Arrive Shibuya Station
    • Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • Hachiko Statue
    • Tokyu Food Show
    • 19:10 Depart Shibuya Station
    • (JR Yamanote Line)
    • 19:30 Shinjuku Station
    • 19:30 Disband: Shinjuku Station

    Title: What's a Rainy One-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors to Japan from Europe, and it was their first visit to Japan. This time, they were staying in Japan for a couple of weeks. They were planning a day trip to Mount Fuji the following day. The day before, they had arrived at Narita Airport after connecting flights via the Middle East, then taken a limousine bus to their hotel in Shinjuku. Since they arrived around 21:00, they had a light meal at the hotel and went straight to sleep. From the day after next, they planned to travel around Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, and then depart from Kansai Airport to return home. The tour took place in the rain, so we walked around under umbrellas. First, they were keen to buy a "SUICA card," so we went to Shinjuku Station. They also said, "Tomorrow's Mount Fuji trip meets at Tokyo Station, so please show us how to get from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station," so we used the Chuo Line. First, we went to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. We strolled through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, saw some early-blooming cherry blossoms, and took commemorative photos in front of them. I explained topics such as "From the Edo period to the Meiji period," "About the Meiji Restoration," "Why did Edo Castle become the Imperial Palace?" and "An overview of the current Imperial Family." They commented, "The pine trees are beautiful," and asked questions such as "Does the Emperor really live inside here?" and "Does the Emperor hold any political power?" From there, at their strong request to see it, we went to Shinjuku Gyoen. Here too, we saw early-blooming cherry blossoms, and they were absorbed in taking photos. I explained "The history of Shinjuku" and "The history of Shinjuku Gyoen." They said, "It's enviable to have such a large green space in the city center." We moved to Harajuku. We could not enter Meiji Shrine as it was after closing time, but I gave a brief explanation of topics such as "What is Shinto" and "The difference between Buddhism and Shinto." After taking a light meal and a break at a coffee shop, we walked around Takeshita Street and Cat Street in the rain. We moved to Shibuya. I explained "The history of Shibuya." We walked across the Scramble Crossing at Shibuya Scramble Square and took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue. They said, "We'd like to see a Japanese supermarket," so we went to the Tokyu Food Show. They also made comments such as, "All Japanese people are polite," "There is no trash on the streets," "Japanese public restrooms are clean and pleasant," and "We don't see any homeless people." I saw them off at Shinjuku Station, where we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTochomae Station～Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station178JPY
    Section 2TrainShinjuku Station～Tokyo Station208JPY
    Section 3SubwayTokyo Station～Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station209JPY
    Section 4SubwayShinjuku-gyoemmae Station～Meiji-jingumae Station178JPY
    Section 5TrainHarajuku Station～Shibuya Station146JPY
    Section 6TrainShibuya Station～Shinjuku Station167JPY
    Total1,086JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

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

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

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

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

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Meeting point: Osaka Port

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Meeting point: Osaka Port

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 《Originally planned route》
    • 15:00 Meeting point: Osaka Port (Tempozan)
    • 15:50 Sightseeing ①: Osaka Castle
    • 17:10 Sightseeing ②: Dotonbori
    • 18:10 Sightseeing ③: Shinsekai
    • 19:00 Dismissal: Shinsekai
    • 《Route after the emergency occurred》
    • 17:00 Meeting point: Osaka Port (Tempozan)
    • 18:00 Sightseeing: Dotonbori
    • 19:00 Dismissal: Osaka Metro Nippombashi Station

    Title: What Happens When a Cruise Ship Runs Late? A Licensed Guide's Osaka Private Tour Report The guests were visitors from Europe, sightseeing in Osaka while traveling by cruise ship. Prior communication and itinerary planning were carried out between me and one of the guests. As a result of our discussions, the tour itinerary had been finalized as: "15:00 meet at Osaka Port (Tempozan) ⇒ Osaka Castle ⇒ Dotonbori ⇒ Shinsekai ⇒ 19:00 dismissal at Shinsekai." However, around noon on the day of the tour in March, I received a message via a messaging app from one of the guests, describing an emergency: "The immigration procedures when disembarking from the cruise ship are taking a considerable amount of time, and we will not make the promised 3:00 p.m. meeting time. In some cases, we may be delayed by more than two hours. What should we do?" I immediately consulted the [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) head office, and as a result, it was confirmed that we would "meet at 17:00, two hours later, sightsee only in Dotonbori, and finish at 19:00. However, the guests would not receive a refund for the two hours lost, and the guide fee would be paid for the originally planned four hours." Based on this course of events, I informed the guests that we would "delay the meeting time to 17:00, tour Dotonbori, and end the tour at 19:00." While apologizing for the sudden delay, the guests were pleased that they could still see something of Osaka even in a short time. I arrived at the location 30 minutes before the changed meeting time of 17:00. I was able to meet the guests at around 16:50. After a quick greeting, we headed to "Osaka Port Station" to take the subway to Dotonbori, but the station was so crowded with foreign visitors who had come off the cruise ships that we could barely move. Seeing this, the guests suggested, "Let's take a taxi," so we returned to the taxi stand, but there too was a long line of foreign cruise passengers. According to information I obtained later, two large cruise ships were docked that day, and about 8,000 foreign passengers disembarked all at once. After about 30 minutes, we were finally able to get a taxi, and by the time we reached Dotonbori, it was nearly 18:00. The guests seemed to love Dotonbori, which they had finally managed to reach, and they listened enthusiastically to my explanations and asked many questions. Guiding in Dotonbori usually takes place during the daytime, but this time it was already after dusk, and the dazzling neon lights created a glamorous atmosphere. From time to time they bit into the local specialty "takoyaki," and they appeared to fully enjoy the atmosphere of Osaka. The time passed in the blink of an eye, and after finishing the Dotonbori tour, I guided them to the nearest subway station. In fact, from the stage of our prior discussions, the guests had expressed the wish to "make a round trip to Kyoto by Shinkansen after the Osaka tour, since the departure is early tomorrow morning and there is time before returning to the ship." While I noted that "the Shinkansen takes only 15 minutes one way from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto, but from southern Osaka (around Minami) it takes about an hour one way, so a round trip would take more than two hours and is not really recommended," I also said, "If you really want to go, I will show you a model route," and taught them a round-trip route between Osaka and Kyoto. Under the sudden time change and the extreme congestion, the tour turned out to be significantly different from the originally planned itinerary, but at parting the guests expressed their gratitude, saying, "We were very grateful that you accommodated the sudden change. It was fun." According to a message that came later, in the end they decided to cancel the trip to Kyoto and, for the remaining time, went back to Dotonbori to enjoy dining and shopping.

    Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local 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.

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    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.9:00 Meet at Hotel
    • 2.9:40 Visit Senso-ji Temple, stroll along Nakamise Shopping Street
    • 3.11:00 Enjoy the scenery at a cafe
    • 4.11:30 Yanaka – Watch a performance at the puppet theater "Shokichi"
    • 5.12:20 Stroll around Nezu Shrine
    • 6.13:00 Stroll around Nijubashi Bridge
    • 7.13:30 Ginza
    • 8.14:30 Stroll around Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko)
    • 9. 15:20 End the tour at Hotel

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Yanaka, and Shibuya The guests were travelers from North America who love traveling. They were staying in Japan for an extended period by cruise, and the tour day was their final day. They had already visited Meiji Shrine and the Imperial Palace, and requested to visit Asakusa and Shibuya. Taking the weather and conditions of the day into account, we decided on the other destinations together. After visiting Sensoji Temple, it began to rain, so I suggested a finger puppet show in Yanaka. When it finished, the rain had eased, so on the way to Nezu Shrine and Shibuya, we stopped by Nijubashi Bridge and Ginza. The guests were very pleased, telling me it had been a truly meaningful and enjoyable day.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayMitsukoshimae～Asakusa180JPY
    Section 2SubwaySendagi～Shibuya260JPY
    Section 3SubwayShibuya～Mitsukoshimae210JPY
    Total650JPY

    Tour Report by Yuko

    Welcome to Japan ! I’m Yuko, government licensed tour guide. I’d like to provide you with a Tokyo & Yokohama tour, specially designed for you. Tokyo is an attractive city full of varieties such as traditional & Tokyo, such as Art, History, Nature, Architecture, and Subculture, etc. while Yokohama is a special port city where the first exchange with foreign countries started in Japan. I will arrange your itinerary which would be fitted to you and your group, the only one in the world ! You are the only guests of the tour ! I’m looking forward to seeing you in Japan !

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    Mar 12, 2025
    K9170PYchrisl
    A Perfect Guide for Tokyo’s Hidden Gems
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yuko Ohmori was…

    May 14, 2024
    honoratak615
    Great day in Tokyo with Yuko
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We enjoyed Tokyo tour with Yuko.…

  • Tokyo: Akihabara Radio Kaikan & Shimbashi Midori no Madoguchi

    Tokyo: Akihabara Radio Kaikan & Shimbashi Midori no Madoguchi

    Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:15 Hotel Tokyo
    • 9:35 Tsukiji Outer Market, Namiyoke Shrine, Honganji Temple
    • 10:50 Ryogoku Hakkaku Stable, Former Yasuda Garden, Edo Noren
    • 11:30 Lunch @Tomoegata
    • 13:00 Akihabara Radio Kaikan
    • 13:40 Ueno Kasai Kyakuei Rou, Statue of Saigo Takamori, Grave of the Shogitai, Kiyomizu Kannondo, Great Buddha, Toshogu Shrine
    • 15:10 Yanaka Cemetery, Tsuiji-bei Wall, Kannonji Temple, Yanaka Ginza, Ise-tatsu, Snake Road
    • 16:10 Nezu Shrine
    • 17:00 Shimbashi Midori no Madoguchi
    • 17:30 Dismissal @Shimbashi Station

    Title: What's an 8-Hour Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ryogoku, Ueno, and Yanaka I guided guests visiting from North America on an 8-hour private tour of Tokyo. In the morning the Den-en-toshi Line was delayed by more than 30 minutes, so I contacted the guests along the way and we started 15 minutes late. It was a long day at eight hours, but the guests were very pleasant. They loved sumo and were extremely knowledgeable about the wrestlers' names and other details, so they thoroughly enjoyed Ryogoku. They mentioned that they wanted to visit a calligraphy shop, so we went to a shop in Ueno where the owner was incredibly kind, which was a wonderful experience. They purchased a piece of calligraphy with a poem written on it along with a mounting board. They loved the townscape of Yanaka and bought traditional toy prints and chiyogami paper at a long-established shop there. At the first stop, Namiyoke Shrine, they purchased a goshuin stamp book and collected five goshuin stamps. When we returned to Shimbashi Station, I helped them buy Shinkansen tickets for Osaka and from Kyoto, confirmed the route to their accommodation, and the tour came to an end.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShiodome～Tsukiji Market180JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji Market～Ryogoku220JPY
    Section 3TrainRyogoku～Akihabara150JPY
    Section 4TrainAkihabara～Ueno150JPY
    Section 5TrainUeno～Nippori150JPY
    Section 6SubwayNezu～Shimbashi180JPY
    Total1,030JPY

    Tour Report by Takako

    Hello!! I’m Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
    I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
    My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
    I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
    Please let me know what interests you.
    I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
    Looking forward to meeting you!!

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    Z222TCshannonr
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
    Our wonderful guide,…

    Jul 9, 2026
    cronima2
    Perfectly guided day
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing day with…

    Jul 3, 2026
    johnoD792VT
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely Guide!
    Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on…

    Jul 3, 2026
    71nidhim
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Nunobiki Herb Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Nunobiki Herb Garden

    Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meet @ Kobe Port Terminal
    • 09:30 @ Nunobiki Herb Garden
    • 11:15 @ Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
    • 12:45 @ Kobe Motomachi Daimaru Department Store
    • 13:15 Disband @ Kobe Motomachi Daimaru Department Store

    What Is a Private Kobe Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sannomiya, Sake Brewery, and Nankinmachi The guests were from Oceania. Both were strong walkers and moved smoothly throughout the day. At each spot, they showed great interest and listened attentively to the guide's explanations. From the observation deck of the herb garden, they were delighted to be able to see, even with the naked eye, the cruise ship they were traveling on moored in the harbor. At a bakery near Sannomiya Station recommended by the guide, they bought some sweet buns and ate them on the spot, and said they were very satisfied. At the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery, they also toured with great interest and thoroughly enjoyed the tasting. Before the final planned spot of Nankinmachi, they mentioned they would like to purchase a jacket if possible, so I guided them to the local Daimaru department store, but they could not find something to their liking. I recommended the nearby Motomachi Shopping Street, and we parted ways there. Nankinmachi is located just to the south of that shopping street, and the shuttle bus stop back to the cruise ship terminal was also right nearby, which the guests were very pleased about. The guests' spoken English was somewhat difficult to catch, and I was able to understand only about 50–60% of what was said. When there was something I needed to confirm, I checked it carefully to make sure the tour proceeded smoothly.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainPort Terminal～Sannomiya210JPY
    Section 2SubwaySannomiya～Shin-Kobe210JPY
    Section 3SubwayShin-Kobe～Sannomiya210JPY
    Section 4TrainSannomiya～Sumiyoshi200JPY
    Section 5TrainSumiyoshi～Motomachi200JPY
    Total1,030JPY

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Sagano Bamboo Forest

    Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Sagano Bamboo Forest

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa
    • 09:30 to 10:20 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 10:45 to 11:30 Sanjusangendo
    • 12:05 to 12:50 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 13:40 to 14:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 14:50 to 15:20 Ryoan-ji Temple
    • 15:40 to 16:00 Sagano Bamboo Forest
    • 16:30 Dismissal Subway Karasuma Oike Station

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sanjusangendo and Ryoanji Body: Today's guests were a group visiting from Europe. Before coming to Japan, they had studied the country extensively, and they knew a great deal about history and culture that I myself was not familiar with, so it was a day that kept me on my toes. At Sanjusangendo they spoke in detail about Buddhist statues, and at Ryoanji they explained a great deal about Zen, so I was able to learn a lot as well. The climate in their home region is quite similar to Japan's, and I believe they enjoyed a comfortable tour today.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall～Sanjo Keihan220JPY
    Section 2TrainSanjo Keihan～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 3TrainFushimi Inari～Shichijo170JPY
    Section 4BusMuseum Sanjusangendo-mae～Gojozaka230JPY
    Section 5BusKiyomizuzaka～Higashiyama Sanjo230JPY
    Section 6SubwayHigashiyama～Nishioji Oike260JPY
    Section 7BusNishioji Oike～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 8TrainSaga Arashiyama～Nijo200JPY
    Section 9SubwayNijo～Karasuma Oike220JPY
    Total1,980JPY

    Tour Report by Haru

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

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

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Nara in One Day: Guided tour of Kofuku-ji Temple

    Nara in One Day: Guided tour of Kofuku-ji Temple

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at JR Nara Station
    • 11:30 Guided tour of Kofuku-ji Temple
    • 12:00 Nara Park
    • 12:30 Guided tour of the Buddhist statue exhibition at the Nara National Museum
    • 13:00 Guided tour of the Okumura Corporation Research Institute
    • 13:30 Guided tour of Todai-ji Temple's Nandaimon Gate and the Great Buddha Hall
    • 14:30 Guided tour of Nigatsu-do Hall
    • 15:30 Guided tour of Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 16:00 Meal break at "Tengyokudo" inside Nara Station
    • 17:00 Disband at JR Nara Station

    What Is a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report After meeting the guests on time at Nara Station, we introduced ourselves to one another and set off on foot toward Kofukuji Temple. At Kofukuji, I explained the role of Jizo Bodhisattva at the children's cemetery, and then described the architectural structure of the Three-Storied Pagoda. The guests were familiar with Hinduism and showed great interest in the reliquary hall. When explaining the Buddhist statues at Hokuendo and Nanendo, I learned that one of the guests had a strong interest in Buddhist statues, so I guided the group to a special exhibition at the Buddhist Statue Hall attached to the Nara National Museum, which they were very pleased with. In Nara Park, some of the guests enjoyed feeding the deer, and when the topic of the Great East Japan Earthquake came up, they experienced earthquake-resistant construction at the Okumura-gumi research institute. From the research institute, we visited the Nandaimon Gate and the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, then moved on to Nigatsudo. As it was the season of the "Omizutori" ceremony, the guests were able to see a signature scene of spring in Nara. Leaving Nigatsudo, we passed by Mount Wakakusa and headed to our final destination, Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The shrine was preparing for its spring events, so we could not enter the precincts, but I explained Shinto and the complex relationship between Shinto and Buddhism. As the guests were becoming tired from walking, we took a bus to Nara Station, and after enjoying a meal of udon together at a restaurant famous for kuzu cuisine as a rest, we parted ways after seeing the guests off at Nara Station.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKasuga Taisha Honden-mae Station～JR Nara Ekimae Station250JPY
    Total250JPY

    Tour Report by Toshi

    After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
    As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
    And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
    With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

    Request Booking

    Apr 26, 2026
    39ferdinandr
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional and entertaining
    Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

    Apr 9, 2026
    X1429XKclaudiam
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sehr zu empfehlen
    Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

    Jun 28, 2025
    WilliamAlfonso_R
    Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi was…

    May 30, 2025
    Z
    ZevP5
    Best Tour Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…

  • Hyogo: Kobe Port Terminal & Kobe Harborland

    Hyogo: Kobe Port Terminal & Kobe Harborland

    Kobe Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 　Kobe Port Terminal
    • 9:40 　Viewing the Plum Grove Along the Sumiyoshi River
    • 10:20　Kikumasamune Sake Brewery Museum
    • 11:50 　Kitano Ijinkan Line no Yakata
    • 12:20　Minatogawa Shrine
    • 12:50　Kobe Harborland
    • 13:40　Kobe Port Terminal

    Title: What Can You See on a Short Private Kobe Tour Before a Cruise Departure? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests had a cruise departing at 3:00 p.m. and wanted to be back at the port by early afternoon. Since they did not wish to move up the start time, the tour became shorter with their understanding. It was their first visit to Kobe, and they asked me to plan around well-known spots, so I prepared an itinerary while remaining ready to adjust it to their wishes. I had initially included the Foreigners' Residences (Ijinkan) and Chinatown, but since visitors from abroad are not always interested in these, I also kept Hyogo Daibutsu (Great Buddha) and Minatogawa Shrine in mind. Along the way, the guests preferred Minatogawa Shrine over Chinatown, so I made the change. We also happened to be able to observe a Miyamairi (shrine visit) ceremony, which I believe they greatly enjoyed. We finished by showing them the view of Kobe from Harborland. Although Kobe is an international city, the guests were more fond of its distinctly Japanese features, such as the plum grove, sake breweries, and shrines.

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

    Tour Report by Chiyuki

    Hello, I am a tour guide, Chiyuki. If I write my name in Japanese, it means one thousand happiness. Please call me Chiyuki. I am looking forward to seeing you.
    I have been guiding many visitors from all parts of the world since I became a tour guide.
    I hope Japan can attract many people with beautiful scenery, culture, historical buildings, food and so on. What are you interested in?
    And I couldn’t be happier if I can help you to create memories of a wonderful trip.
    I will make my best effort to satisfy my guests. See you soon. Thank you very much. Chiyuki

    Request Booking

    Jul 9, 2026
    727tessv
    We had the best time in Kobe
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Our guide Chiyuki was…

    Jun 21, 2026
    M9524SIphilippel
    Tripadvisor review: Exploring Nada Sake Breweries Kobe Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sake tour in Kobe
    Chiyuki is one of the…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Pinoy V
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very interesting and informative.
    Chiyuki kept us informed on our itinerary…

    Jun 11, 2026
    Sharon G
    Tripadvisor review: Kobe Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day!!
    After getting off to a rocky start our…

  • Tokyo in One Day: GOTOKU-JI Temple & SHIBUYA

    Tokyo in One Day: GOTOKU-JI Temple & SHIBUYA

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 meet in the lobby of the Hotel Tokyo
    • 10:45 1. GOTOKU-JI Temple
    • 1:00 2. THE IMPERIAL PALACE & the Tokyo Station
    • 2:45 3. TAKESHITA STREET
    • 3:45 4. SHIBUYA
    • 4:00　See off at SEIBU Shibuya

    What Can You See on a Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Rainy-Day Report The guests were a group of five visiting from Oceania, and they were a warm and friendly group. Gotokuji Temple, which I introduced on a guide-led basis, was very well received. Unfortunately, due to rain, the itinerary had to be slightly changed from the Imperial Palace onward, but the guests said they were determined to return the next day, when clear weather was expected, after I guided them through Takeshita Street in the light rain. I was very pleased to see them look at the route map and the TCVB Tokyo Travel Guide I had provided several times on the subway during our travels, as it showed their genuine interest in Tokyo and Japan. At the end, I guided them to a Midori Sushi restaurant located in Seibu Shibuya, as they had expressed a wish for sushi, and I took my leave in front of the restaurant.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOdakyu Line Shinjuku～Gotokuji398JPY
    Section 2Free PassMarunouchi Line Shinjuku～Tokyo600JPY
    Section 3Free PassChiyoda Line Nijubashimae～Meiji-jingumae0JPY
    Section 4Free PassFukutoshin Line Meiji-jingumae～Shibuya0JPY
    Total998JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.

    Who am I?
    I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
    I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
    I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.

    What can I be expected?
    I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
    and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
    I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
    As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
    I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.

    What do I love?
    Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
    I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.

    How do I spend my spear time?
    I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
    I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.

    I look forward to meeting you soon.
    Thank you.

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    Sandra_U
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Individualized Tour!
    Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…

    Apr 3, 2026
    Celal_S
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour even…
    We had a great tour even…

    Mar 30, 2026
    Johanna H
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
    We booked the 6…

    Mar 26, 2026
    Chica717
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing private tour with Masa!
    We had the absolute pleasure of spending…