Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Outer Market & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 9:30 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 10:20 Namiyoke Shrine
    • 10:40 Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
    • 11:30 Imperial Palace・Nijubashi Bridge
    • 13:00 Meiji Shrine
    • 14:30 Asakusa・Sensoji Temple
    • 15:20 Tour ends in Asakusa

    Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa After accepting this assignment, I was unable to reach the guests at all, and despite several requests for support, I received no response before the day of the tour. Even so, I was able to meet the guests without any problem on the day. The group was visiting from Europe, having arrived in Japan the previous day. One of the guests was a big fan of Japan, which was the reason for their trip. We first headed to the Tsukiji Outer Market. Although it was a market holiday, we visited the shops that were open and the guests enjoyed a variety of seafood. At Namiyoke Shrine near the outer market and at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, the guests were able to experience and understand the differences between Shinto and Buddhism firsthand. Next, at the Imperial Palace, I explained the origins and history of the imperial family, as well as their current position. At Meiji Shrine, which we visited afterward, we were fortunate enough to witness a private high school's religious service, and the guests were surprised by this unusual Japanese custom. Finally, we headed to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, but since the guests had a reservation at the Skytree from 5:00 and wanted to enjoy shopping there, we ended the tour at that point.

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

    Tour Report by Atsushi

    Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

    I have been working for business with American companies for many years. I have many experiences guiding customers from around the world in Japan and taking Japanese customers to the USA and Europe.

    I now have a national license as a guiding interpreter, and I want to introduce the unique gigantic city of Tokyo and the traditional Japanese culture, which is not shown in the guidebooks, to people worldwide who are interested in it. In addition, I want to introduce various Japanese foods you can enjoy only in Japan.
    Unique experiences such as the Sumo Training Viewing and Tea Ceremony are optionally available.
    Depending on your preference and itinerary, I can guide you in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone so that you can enjoy your time in Japan.

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    Aug 18, 2026
    Heather_C
    Private tour for 4 in Tokyo – highly recommend
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide…

    Aug 8, 2026
    victoriahD2588SK
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    An action packed visit to Hakone!
    Atsushi was an…

    Jul 26, 2026
    Kevin_B
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Highly recommend this tour for first time…

    Jun 22, 2026
    Ashish_L
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Best Tour for a Short Visit
    Atsushi-san was an incredibly well-researched and…

  • Osaka in One Day: Okunoin & Danjo Garan

    Osaka in One Day: Okunoin & Danjo Garan

    Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel meet
    • 9:00-11:18 Travel to Koyasan
    • 11:18-11:35 Travel to Okunoin by bus
    • 11:35-14:30 Explore Okunoin (lunch)
    • 14:30-15:45 Kongobuji Temple
    • 15:45-16:50 Danjo Garan
    • 16:50-17:05 Travel to Koyasan Station
    • 17:32-19:30 Travel to Namba
    • 19:30-20:15 Guide to vegan okonomiyaki restaurant, dismissal

    Title: What Is a Private Guided Tour of Koyasan from Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a visitor from Oceania who was well versed in Buddhism and listened attentively to explanations about the Shingon esoteric Buddhism of Koyasan. The guest took photos until the phone battery ran out. The guest enjoyed shojin ryori, the traditional temple cuisine. However, the tour proceeded at a relaxed pace to match the guest, and even after I warned that leaving at 16:00 would mean returning to Osaka by 18:00, the guest wanted to see as much of Koyasan as possible. I managed to have the guest skip the Reihokan museum, but we still descended the mountain around 17:00, and due to poor train connections we waited nearly 30 minutes on the second floor of the station. Even so, we enjoyed the treasures of the Reihokan that we could not visit through an art book available at the station. After arriving at Namba, the guest wanted to try vegan okonomiyaki, so I accompanied the search for a restaurant, and in the end we stayed in Osaka until past 8:00 without charging any extension fee. I would not get home until after 10:00. It was certainly tiring, but the guest was such a wonderful person that I once again went above and beyond. Tomorrow it is off to Koyasan again first thing in the morning.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKoyasan～Namba3,540JPY
    Total3,540JPY

    Tour Report by Yuki

    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.

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    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:30 Meet at Hyatt Regency Tokyo (Support purchasing Tokyo Subway Ticket at the tourist information center in the Metropolitan Government Building)
    • 2. 10:10 Shibuya (Around the Scramble Crossing)
    • 3. 11:30 Ueno (Almost all of Ueno Park, including Ueno Toshogu Shrine)
    • 4. 13:10 Lunch @ Asakusa
    • 5. 14:00 Asakusa (Azumabashi Bridge, Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, etc.)
    • 6. 15:30 Dismiss @ Asakusa

    What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shibuya, Ueno, and Asakusa During our earlier communication the plan was to purchase a PASMO card, but when I met the guests and asked about their plans, it turned out that a Tokyo Subway Ticket (48 hours) would be better, so we went together to the tourist information center inside the Metropolitan Government Building to buy it. In Shibuya, I quickly took photos of the guests right in the middle of the crossing, and since they planned to go to "Shibuya Sky" at 19:00 that day, I recommended "Shibuya Yokocho" as a place for dinner. In Ueno, although the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms were near their end, the weeping cherries and double cherry blossoms were in full bloom and very beautiful, and the guests took many photos. I also guided them to Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which they were very pleased with. In Asakusa, after eating sushi together, we admired the view from Azuma Bridge, and I explained the golden course of Sensoji Temple from Kaminarimon Gate and Asakusa Shrine. We walked along the West Approach and Hoppy Street, then parted ways on Denboin Street. The guests seemed to like Hoppy Street and said they would stay for a drink there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTochomae～Shibuya286JPY
    Section 2SubwayShibuya～Ueno209JPY
    Section 3SubwayUeno～Asakusa178JPY
    Total673JPY

    Tour Report by Mac

    Hello, I’m Masaaki Kurata. I have been conducting walking tours in Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka and the East Garden of Imperial Palace since I joined an English guide volunteer club in 2016. I worked for 2 U.S. based companies in Tokyo for 41 years and retired in 2023. I developed good communication skills with people from other countries in my long career in those 2 companies. I was born in the suburb of Tokyo and I’m familiar with Tokyo pretty much. Since I retired and do not work for a company any longer, I can be flexible in making itineraries. I really want to make tourists happy by making fun and interesting communication.

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    Jun 5, 2026
    Flyer544764
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Extraordinary submersion into Japanese history and culture~
    What an extraordinary 6 hr…

    Apr 27, 2026
    Eric_K
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mac was a very good tour…
    Mac was a very good tour…

    Apr 23, 2026
    O4598GUpatriciat
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional Private Guide – Discovering the Hidden Side of Tokyo
    We had…

    Apr 2, 2026
    V742WEsusans
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Highly recommended tour
    Excellent friendly guidance from Mac. He greeted us at…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Umeda Sky Building

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle & Umeda Sky Building

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 14:00 　Hotel
    • 14:30　Osaka Castle
    • 16:00　Umeda Sky Building
    • 17:45　Hotel

    What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Osaka? A Licensed Guide's Report Today I guided a group visiting from Asia. Since they planned to explore the Namba area on their own the next day, we visited Osaka Castle and the Umeda Sky Building. In the evening they were heading to Nagai Park, so I saw them off at their hotel a little earlier, at 5:45. The weather today was very nice, and it was pleasant to walk around. They mentioned that they had already seen plenty of cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto, so they didn't mind if they couldn't see more, but the cherry blossoms at Osaka Castle were very beautiful. Since there was an enormous line, they decided they did not need to go inside. Throughout the day, they took many photos.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassNamba～Tanimachi 4-chome820JPY
    Section 2TrainTanimachi 4-chome～Higashi-Umeda0JPY
    Section 3TrainUmeda～Namba0JPY
    Total820JPY

    Tour Report by Mimmy

    Bye bye smart phone!! Let’s enjoy Japan without bothering to check up your phone all the time with not AI but a local guide like me. Hi, my name is Mimmy. You may think this sounds like a kitten’s name.
    I use this nickname because it sounds cute and easy to remember. However,
    I actually look rounded, a middle aged woman more like a yellow character of M&Mchocolate, which reminds you of my name easily when you see me.
    I was born in Osaka, went to school in Kobe, went to work in Kyoto and married but still live in Osaka. I am a local, native Osakan. My 3 children are all grown up and live separately except one son. Now I live with one son and a husband in suburbs of the Osaka city.
    I like travelling, walking around the town and anything new.
    I got my guide license in 2017 and started guiding after that. I wasn’t able to work during Covid period but start guiding in 2022 again. I guide Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe and have experienced more than100 tours including bus tours.
    I would like to tell you about the itineraries I usually have in each area.
    In Osaka, we usually go to Osaka castle, Shinsekai and Dotonbori Namba area.
    I think most important part you should see is Dotonbori Namba in Osaka.
    This place is vibrant , energetic, full of 3D signs and different from any other place in Japan.
    In Kyoto, we cannot see all famous sightseeing spots in one day.
    It will be better to visit each area respectively. I recommend guests who come to Kyoto first time to visit East area, Kiyomizu Temple>Sannenzaka>Ninenzaka>Ishibeikouji>Yasaka shrine> Gion area. This area has an atmosphere of traditional old Kyoto. The most Kyoto like places which suit Kimono. You can rent Kimono in a lot of places around here.
    The second place I recommend you is West area: Golden temple and Arashiyama area where Bamboo forest , Tenryuji temple, mountains and a river. There are several nice gardens in this area. If you want to enjoy the nature quietly, you
    should come here when it is not crowded (Winter is the most quiet)
    In Nara which used to be a capital even older than Kyoto, we visit Todaiji Temple where a huge Buddha is sitting inside of one of the largest wooden hall and you can play with deer everywhere in Nara. Naramachi: a small town in this area is a local place where small interesting shops are.
    In Kobe, a port city, you can visit Japanese Sake breweries, Herb garden and the top of Mt.Rokko for viewing Kobe city. A small China town is there, too.

    Now I bet you want to leave home to explore somewhere else you do not know.
    Not only going to somewhere else, we can help you to do several experiences: making tea, making Japanese sweet, making Takoyaki(food), wearing Kimono, making food samples, attending a tea ceremony, throwing Shriken like Ninja, Using bow and arrow like Samurai, , , ,
    I am very happy indeed if I can help you find things impressive enough and have once in a life time experience during our tour.
    I am looking forward to sharing a good time with you.

    Request Booking

    Mar 24, 2025
    Jennie_N
    Ask for Mimmy
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A must if visiting the first time. Will save…

    Mar 15, 2025
    Eric B
    Wonderful Osaka castle and tour
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Mimmy was a wonderful…

    Mar 12, 2025
    williampP2709MA
    Amazing time in Osaka with Mimmy
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mimmy was an amazing tour guide!…

    Oct 30, 2024
    Niaz_M
    Great choice if you have limited time in Kyoto
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Koko-en Garden

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Gather in front of Otemon Gate
    • 10:30-12:50 Himeji Castle
    • 13:20-13:40 Himeji Shrine
    • 13:50-14:40 Koko-en Garden
    • 14:45 Disband in front of Japanese boat experience

    What Is a Private Himeji Castle Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of friends visiting from Europe. We had originally planned to meet at 9:00, but they contacted me in the morning to say they had just set off by car from Kyoto and would arrive late, so we ended up starting at 10:30. They were interested in Japanese history and culture and listened attentively to my explanations. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and they were delighted by the beautiful scenery. Since they seemed to be collecting goshuin seals, I arranged for them to receive a castle seal for Himeji Castle at a souvenir shop, a Himeji Castle stamp at the information center, and a goshuin at Himeji Shrine. They greatly enjoyed the tea ceremony at Koko-en Garden. They seemed to love fish and were pleased to see the carp in the moat. At the end, we parted ways in front of the traditional wooden boat experience area, and I gave a brief tour of Gokoku Shrine and Soja Shrine to one of the guests who did not board the boat before saying goodbye.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Yumiko

    Welcome to Japan! I’m Yumiko. I’ll be your guide.
    I’m from Kakogawa, a small city located in Hyogo Prefecture. Since it’s located near Himeji and my grandparents used to live in Himeji, I like showing my guests around places in Himeji, especially Himeji Castle and Mt. Shosha – Engyoji Temple. I’ve also lived in Osaka for about 10 years, so Osaka is also my favorite place. I’m familiar with Kobe as well, so it’s also a great pleasure to show you around these areas. I like traveling, reading, and of course, tour guiding. It’s great to see people from all over the place while living in Japan. I’d love to share Japanese history, culture, and food with you. I’m also looking forward to learning about your country – about your culture, history, and food. I’m looking forward to seeing you in Japan!

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    Apr 7, 2025
    VHerzberg
    A wonderful Himeji castle tour with Yumiko
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    The Himeji castle tour was…

    Apr 1, 2025
    Sightseer39112583641
    Yumiko is the best
    Tripadvisor review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yumiko was such an amazing and sweet guide!!…

    Jul 12, 2024
    jennarD7008EA
    A MUST DO in Kobe!!! Amazing Sake Tour and Kobe Beef Lunch with Yumiko
    Tripadvisor review: Exploring Nada Sake Breweries Kobe…

  • Hiroshima: Japanese Garden Shukkeien & Hiroshima Castle

    Hiroshima: Japanese Garden Shukkeien & Hiroshima Castle

    Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 PM – Meet at the lobby of the Hotel
    • 11:45 PM – Visit Japanese Garden "Shukkeien"
    • 1:00 PM – Hiroshima Castle
    • 1:20 PM – Lunch <Okonomiyaki>
    • 2:00 PM – Visit Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
    • 3:30 PM – End the tour and go back to the Hiroshima station

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Oceania traveling in Japan for the first time. They came from Osaka to Hiroshima, dropped off their luggage at their hotel near Hiroshima Station, and we had planned to meet in the lobby at 12:00. When I arrived at around 11:30, they were already there, so we started the tour a little early. Since Shukkeien Garden has many slopes and uneven paths that made walking a bit challenging, we walked slowly and took our time. I made sure we could sit down and rest along the way, though I think they may have been a little tired. During the tour, the guests shared many stories about their family and even showed me photos. They also seemed very interested in child-rearing and family life in Japan, and asked me many questions.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainIn front of the Atomic Bomb Dome～Hiroshima Station240JPY
    Total240JPY

    Tour Report by Mari

    Hello. My name is Mari.
    I am a certified local tour guide in Hiroshima.

    I was born and grew up in Hiroshima until I entered in a university in Tokyo.
    After 6 years in Tokyo, I came back to Hiroshima because I really love my hometown and wanted to spend the rest of my life here.

    Hiroshima is very comfortable city to live in and rich in nature.
    I am so happy that I have been able to raise my kids here.

    Hiroshima is absolutely full of beautiful and historically important places and also the great food.
    I am so excited to introduce the wonderful experiences here in Hiroshima and hope you will come to love this place, too.
    Look forward to meeting you.

    Request Booking

    Sep 26, 2026
    F1357GRpaulg
    Hiroshima and Miyajima.
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    Mari was a delightful guide. We…

    Sep 29, 2026
    Matthew_T
    Do not miss this tour of Hiroshima
    Viator review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    This was fantastic. Mari…

    Sep 28, 2026
    Passport734191
    As good as it gets in Hiroshima!
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    Mari was a very…

    Jul 27, 2026
    Jen_S21
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    The highlight of our trip!
    Mari was an excellent…

  • Ishikawa in Half a Day: Samurai Residence & Kanazawa Castle

    Ishikawa in Half a Day: Samurai Residence & Kanazawa Castle

    Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:50 Meet at Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
    • 14:15 Samurai Residence (Nomura Family)
    • 15:05 Nishi Chaya District (Ninja Weapon Museum)
    • 16:15 Kenrokuen Garden
    • 17:10 Kanazawa Castle
    • 17:45 Disband at Kanazawa Castle

    What Is a Private Half-Day Kanazawa Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided the guests visiting from North America. They enjoyed the beautiful garden and traditional buildings of the Nomura samurai residence. At the ninja weapon museum in the Nishi Chaya district, they asked the staff about the differences between ninja and samurai. At Kenrokuen Garden, they enjoyed the cherry blossoms in full bloom and the beautiful pond. At Kanazawa Castle, they enjoyed the combination of cherry blossoms and the castle. The guests seemed to have a genuine interest in Japanese history and beautiful nature. (Regarding the meeting point and schedule change: The meeting point, start time, and end time were originally set at a Hotel from 13:00 to 17:00, but due to the guests' circumstances, they were changed to another Hotel from 14:00 to 18:00.)

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

    Tour Report by Sho

    I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. I have also guided foreign people around Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture as an international activity of an English circle. I was a volunteer interpreter at the training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

    Hokuriku region has a lot of sightseeing spots as follows, beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, traditional crafts like Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Takaoka copperware, and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism such as Kurobe dam and industrial tourism.

    I also work as a translator. I translated the Japanese firefly squid tourism pamphlet into English in 2020.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoten-sasaki/

    Request Booking

    May 26, 2026
    C4211GUbrittanym
    Tripadvisor review: Toyama 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Great time in Toyama!
    Nice tour, guide was very nice and…

    May 14, 2026
    190kariml
    Great tour in Kanazawa with Sho
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time…

    Jul 24, 2025
    Wander60650705961
    Delightful experience um Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had the pleasure of taking a…

    Jul 2, 2025
    nuttineeyav
    Walking day in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The old town was very nice to…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Taizo-in Temple & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Kyoto in One Day: Taizo-in Temple & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00…Meet at the guest's hotel
    • 9:00…Taizo-in Temple
    • 10:20…Heian-kyo Sosei-kan
    • ※Heian costume dressing experience
    • 11:20…Purchase foot supporters at a pharmacy
    • 11:50…Lunch at the restaurant "Higaki Saryo" at Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 12:20…Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 13:20…Taxi stand
    • 13:40…End the guide at the hotel

    What Is a Private Kyoto Tour with Weeping Cherry Blossoms and Heian Costumes Like? A Licensed Guide's Report We first headed by bus to Taizoin Temple. Taizoin Temple is famous for its weeping cherry blossoms, and when we arrived a little before 9:00, a line had already formed. The guests enjoyed viewing the famous ink painting "Hyonenzu" and the "Motonobu Garden." The weeping cherry blossoms were truly magnificent, and I took many photos for the group. In the Yokoen Garden, one of the guests found the red carp and moved closer to gaze at them with curiosity. At the Heiankyo Sozokan, the group viewed a miniature of Heiankyo and then put on the costumes of Heian-era nobility. They were very delighted. Since one of the guests had foot pain, we stopped by a pharmacy and purchased a support brace. We had lunch at a restaurant near the Imperial Palace and then headed to the Imperial Palace. The guests listened attentively to my explanations and took photos at key points along the way. As some of the guests seemed tired, we had planned to take a taxi to Heian Shrine, but since one of the guests had fallen asleep, we headed straight to the Hotel instead and ended the tour there. I believe it turned out to be a wonderful tour, with the guests enjoying the beautiful cherry blossoms and the Heian-era noble costumes.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusShijo Nishinotoin～Myoshinji-mae230JPY
    Section 2BusMyoshinji-mae～Marutamachi Shichihonmatsu230JPY
    Section 3BusMarutamachi Shichihonmatsu～Saibansho-mae (Courthouse)230JPY
    Total690JPY

    Tour Report by Lily

    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!

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Osaka in One Day: Koyasan Daimon Gate & Okunoin

    Osaka in One Day: Koyasan Daimon Gate & Okunoin

    Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30　Meet up @ Hotel Hiyori
    • 10:40　Koyasan Daimon Gate
    • 11:00　Danjo Garan
    • 11:50　Koyasan Reihokan Museum
    • 12:30　Kongobuji Temple
    • 13:30　Seijoshin-in Goma Fire Ritual Viewing
    • 14:00　Okunoin
    • 15:30　End of Okunoin Tour
    • 17:00　Dismissal @ Nankai Koya Line Hashimoto Station

    Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Koyasan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The tour was blessed with wonderful weather. Since it was a clear, sunny day, the guests and I walked part of the Nyonin-michi from Daimon before heading to the Danjo Garan. The blue sky behind the Konpon Daito pagoda was strikingly beautiful, and the guests eagerly took many photographs. When I asked whether they would like to observe the goma fire ritual at Seishinin, they were very keen to see it, so we watched for about 30 minutes. The goma fire ritual is always well received by guests. At Okunoin, we walked along the approach path while enjoying pleasant conversation about the gravestones, the Jizo statues, and more. Compared with tours in winter, Koyasan was warm this time, and I enjoyed guiding here as well.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNankai Namba～Gokurakubashi1,720JPY
    Section 2OtherGokurakubashi～Koyasan500JPY
    Section 3BusKoyasan Station Front～Daimon Gate360JPY
    Section 4BusKongobuji Temple Front～Okunoin-guchi160JPY
    Section 5BusOkunoin-mae～Koyasan Station Front610JPY
    Section 6OtherKoyasan～Gokurakubashi500JPY
    Section 7TrainGokurakubashi～Hashimoto490JPY
    Total4,340JPY

    Tour Report by naka

    I have guiding experience for 6 years. The name of my web site is “gururin kansai” which means to go around Kansai district.
    Kansai district includes Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, Wakayama (Koyasan).
    I provide more than 2,000 sightseeing spots information in Japanese, English and Chinese.
    In 2021 I walked through four pilgrims loads in Koya and Kumano area.
    I also have the license of official guide of Kongobuji temple and world heritage master of Wakayama Prefecture.
    I would like to engage in the guide in English at Wakayama prefecture (Koyasan) and neighboring area.

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    Aug 18, 2026
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  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden & Egret Himeji Rooftop

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden & Egret Himeji Rooftop

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    April, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ JR Himeji Station
    • 10:30 @ Koko-en Garden
    • 11:45 @ Himeji Castle
    • 13:45 @ Egret Himeji Rooftop
    • 14:30 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    Title: What's a Private Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Everything went smoothly throughout the tour. One of the guests expressed an interest in "maneki-neko" (beckoning cat figurines), so on the way to Koko-en Garden I took them to a specialty maneki-neko shop in the local shopping street, where nearly all items are said to be handmade. They purchased many unusual maneki-neko and seemed very satisfied. One of the guests had a deep knowledge of plants and greatly enjoyed the visit to Koko-en Garden, teaching me the names of many plants. The cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle were in full bloom, and everyone was very pleased; they will probably begin to fall in about two or three days. On the way back to the station, we stopped by the rooftop of Egret Himeji, and the guests seemed satisfied with the panoramic view of the castle. Since they planned to have lunch before returning to Osaka, I introduced several local restaurants, and we parted ways there. One of the guests was very fond of Japan (their own garden at home is said to be in a Japanese garden style) and praised Japan in many ways, so much so that I felt quite humbled. That said, some of the other guests did not seem as interested in each spot. I presented some of the guests with handmade drawstring pouches made by my sister, which they were very delighted to receive.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    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

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    Sep 27, 2026
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