Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:45 Tokyo International Cruise Terminal-11:30 Ginza Mitsukoshi-12:30 Tsukiji Outer Market-13:45 Imperial Palace East Gardens-14:30 Disband at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal

    What Can You See on a Short Private Tokyo Tour After a Cruise? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a private tour for guests from North America. They arrived at Tokyo Port last night after an 18-day cruise from Asia. Due to strong winds, the ship had been unable to make its scheduled stops at Hiroshima, Kochi, and Nagoya. The Yurikamome line from Shimbashi also arrived at the cruise terminal about an hour late because of strong winds and a train malfunction. Since I was able to call and inform them of the delay, they kindly waited for me. As it was very windy, we took a taxi to the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza for some shopping. We then walked to Tsukiji, where the guests browsed for small knives at several cutlery shops, before strolling through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. The guests enjoyed this short tour of Tokyo.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusTsukiji 6-chome~Tokyo Station210JPY
    Total210JPY

    Welcome to Japan. My name is Michio, your tour guide in Tokyo and Japan. I was born and grown up in Tokyo, and still living in western suburb of Tokyo with my wife, except for 10 years outside of Japan travelling and living in 60 countries. So I might have visited your country and still remember a few words.
    Japan has unique history, nature and culture, and there are plenty of secrets and wonders behind them such as food culture, Zen and Ninja.
    So please explore and discover the hidden and most beautiful part of Japan together. Let’s experience!

    Oct 25, 2025
    Carla_G
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking…
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking tour was fantastic! Michio…

    Oct 24, 2025
    410trishab
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 — Outstanding Tour with Michio and Nobuhiko!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from…

    Oct 11, 2025
    GoPlaces52694049181
    We enjoyed our time in Tokyo with Michio our tour guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    PiscesV
    Sushi for breakfast at 630am? Yes please!!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:15 Kyoto Station meet 7:45 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  9:30 Kinkaku-ji  11:10 Fushimi Inari 13:15 Go to the sake shop for the private tour (starts at 13:30) and end the tour

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. One of the guests runs a travel business and was considering sending tourists from Europe to Japan, so there were many questions not only about Kyoto but also about other sightseeing destinations. I was frequently asked about the distances between attractions, but since we think in terms of transportation and travel time rather than how many kilometers apart places are, this was an interesting difference in perspective. Perhaps they were mainly thinking about traveling by bus. We visited places that foreign tourists often enjoy, such as the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, and Fushimi Inari, and I believe they gained some understanding of the scale of Kyoto and how to get around. Since the guests were also in the same line of business, we often talked about how to make tourists happy. They also eagerly asked why these three attractions are so popular. At first there was talk of visiting the Arashiyama Monkey Park, but once we actually went nearby and got a sense of what it was like, they seemed to lose interest. The meeting point for the 1:30 PM Fushimi sake-tasting tour was near my area, so I walked them there and the tour ended. The photo was taken at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainRanden Arashiyama~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 3BusKitano-Hakubaicho~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi~Kitaoji Bus Terminal230JPY
    Section 5SubwayKitaoji~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 6TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 7TrainFushimi Inari~Fushimi-Momoyama220JPY
    Total1,580JPY

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.10:00 Meet up@The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
    • 2. 10:50 @Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park)
    • 3. 12:00 Lunch@"Chanko Room" (Asakusa)
    • 4. 13:00 @Nihonbashi (Takashimaya food section)
    • 5. 13:30 @Tokyo Station (Yaesu exit, inside the Marunouchi side station building, station front plaza)
    • 6. 14:00 @Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate, Sakuradamon Gate)
    • 7. 14:30 @Ginza (Main street, 4-chome intersection)
    • 8. 15:00 @Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue, FUKURAS)
    • 9. 16:15 Dismiss@The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho

    **Title:** What's a Private Tokyo Food and Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had arrived in Tokyo the day before the tour and described it as the start of a long journey. After Tokyo, they planned to spend a day in Osaka, followed by a cruise through several Asian destinations. The interests within the group seemed to differ. One of the guests asked questions about Japan's relationships with neighboring countries (China, Korea, and North Korea) and shared observations about diversity in Japan. Another of the guests showed a strong interest in food, purchasing matcha and dark matcha chocolate at a shop in Asakusa, and at the basement food floor of a department store in Nihonbashi buying strawberry-filled white bean daifuku and apples (Fuji) that were remarkably large and impressive compared to those back home. They were also amazed by the size of Japanese green onions. For lunch, the guests expressed a wish to eat casual dishes at a place where locals go, so I took them to a chanko restaurant in Asakusa. Unfortunately the chanko hot pot set meal was sold out, but they ordered various set meals and tried karaage, minced chicken cutlet, and simmered beef and tofu. Including the side bean sprout salad and the miso soup with fried tofu, they were very satisfied and found it all delicious. When we visited Shibuya, I additionally introduced a robot café (inside FUKURAS), which they found very charming and thoroughly enjoyed.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Akasaka-mitsuke Station~Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station~Nihonbashi Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Sakuradamon Station~Ginza-itchome Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Ginza Station~Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station~Akasaka-mitsuke Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

    Jul 3, 2026
    Jody D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
    Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…

    Jun 3, 2026
    Sara B
    Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…

  • Nagoya / Aichi Full-day Private Custom Tour with National

    Nagoya / Aichi Full-day Private Custom Tour with National

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. Meet @ Hotel lobby 9:00
    • 2. Move to Nagoya Castle and tour Honmaru Palace and the area around Nagoya Castle
    • 3. Lunch @ Yabaton Kinshachi Yokocho branch
    • 4. Move to Tokugawaen and tour the Japanese garden and the Tokugawa Art Museum
    • 5. Move to Osu and tour Osu Kannon and the Osu shopping arcade
    • 6. Move to OASIS 21 in the Sakae district and tour the exterior of the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER and the shopping area
    • 7. Return to Hotel and disband 15:00

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Nagoya Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a full-day private tour of Nagoya's most popular spots, including Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Garden and the Tokugawa Art Museum, the Osu shopping arcade, and the OASIS 21 shopping area, and the guests were delighted. During the one-day tour, the guests enjoyed a relaxed lunch of Nagoya-style local cuisine at Kinshachi Yokocho next to Nagoya Castle, as well as a leisurely tea break at a coffee shop in the Osu shopping arcade, so they were able to fully enjoy the gourmet side of the guided tour as well. I also explained how to get to the Aichi Prefectural Budokan, which the guests planned to visit during their stay in Nagoya, and introduced some recommended restaurants near their hotel, which they were very pleased with.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwaySakae Station~Nagoya Castle Station210JPY
    Section 2SubwayKamimaezu Station~Sakae Station210JPY
    Total420JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajimaguchi Station & museum

    Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajimaguchi Station & museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet the guest at the hotel
    • 8:08 Travel by bus to Nishi-Hiroshima Station
    • 8:30 From Nishi-Hiroshima Station, take JR to Miyajimaguchi Station
    • 8:50 Arrive at Miyajimaguchi Station
    • 9:00 Take the ferry to Miyajima
    • 9:10 Arrive at Miyajima
    •   Shrine Daishoin Omotesando
    • 12:10 Finish Miyajima sightseeing and head to Miyajimaguchi
    • 12:20 Arrive at Miyajimaguchi
    •     Lunch Okonomiyaki Chinchikurin
    • 13:31 Take the train to Nishi-Hiroshima Station
    • 13:56 Arrive at Nishi-Hiroshima Station
    • 14:11 Take the bus to the museum
    • 14:25 Arrive at the museum
    •     Museum Monument tour
    • 16:10 End of monument tour Disband

    What Is a Private Miyajima and Peace Park Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from North America. They listened carefully and patiently to my guiding, which allowed us to communicate smoothly throughout the day. At Miyajima, I happened to run into an acquaintance who lives on the island. Since that person had also previously worked in education, the guests enjoyed conversing with a local resident. They listened attentively to my explanations and personal anecdotes, and on the train and during lunch we exchanged views on more in-depth topics, such as current American politics and how atomic bomb survivors feel toward the country. Since they had strolled through the Peace Park the previous day, on this day we spent most of our time at the memorial museum.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusIn front of the Broadcasting Center~Nishi-Hiroshima Station240JPY
    Section 2TrainNishi-Hiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi Station330JPY
    Section 3TrainMiyajimaguchi Station~Nishi-Hiroshima Station330JPY
    Section 4BusNishi-Hiroshima Station~Museum240JPY
    Total1,140JPY

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

    Sep 25, 2025
    pedropM3071GD
    Amazing day trip
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    This was an amazing experience to…

    Jul 25, 2025
    ourtravelingt
    Great personalized tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our tour was fabulous and our…

    Jul 13, 2025
    katherinepE2305IO
    Hiroshima Tour 4hr Walking
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an amazing guide. He…

    Jul 7, 2025
    Preston_H
    Great tour guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an incredible guide who…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Kyoto in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Meeting The Chapter Kyoto, a Hotel
    • 09:45 to 10:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 11:45 to 13:00 Kifune Shrine
    • 14:15 to 15:00 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 15:30 Dismissal Sannenzaka

    Title: Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Trip to Kifune Shrine? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests were the group visiting from North America. Unusually, they had requested Kifune Shrine, so I had informed them in advance that it takes about one hour each way and that it would be very cold. When we met, one of the guests was dressed only in a sweater with a light coat, so I asked about where they lived, and they said they lived in a very cold mountain area in North America, so this level of cold was no problem for them. Since the round trip took a considerable amount of time, we were unable to visit Gion as originally planned, but I believe the guests were satisfied to have been able to visit Kifune Shrine as they had wished.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKyoto City Hall~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 2BusKinkakuji-michi~Aoibashi Nishizume230JPY
    Section 3TrainDemachiyanagi~Kibuneguchi470JPY
    Section 4BusKibuneguchi~Kibune200JPY
    Section 5BusKibune~Kibuneguchi200JPY
    Section 6TrainKibuneguchi~Demachiyanagi470JPY
    Section 7BusDemachiyanagi~Gion230JPY
    Section 8BusGion~Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Total2,260JPY

    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 !!

    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…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & Dotonbori

    Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine & Dotonbori

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet up @ DDC Umeda
    • 11:15 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 12:30 @ Namba (Den Den Town)
    • 13:00 @ Dotonbori
    • 13:45 Dismiss @ Shinsaibashi

    What Is a Private Osaka Tour Like for Guests from Asia? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Asia, and everything went smoothly throughout the tour. They showed a great deal of interest in and enthusiasm for Japan, and this was not their first visit to the country. They clearly liked Japan very much, and it was enjoyable to have conversations with them during the guiding. At Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, the guests earnestly experienced praying, picked up the popular "Go-Dai-Riki" pebbles, and, in addition to an amulet pouch, purchased many charms. Since some of the guests were big fans of Japanese anime, I guided them to "Den Den Town" in Namba, where they had a wonderful time and bought souvenirs. As they were getting hungry, they decided to visit the "Pokemon Center" at Daimaru in Shinsaibashi on their own after the tour, so I introduced a sushi restaurant they had requested, and we parted ways there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayUmeda~Namba240JPY
    Section 2TrainNamba~Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine240JPY
    Section 3TrainSumiyoshi Taisha Shrine~Namba240JPY
    Total720JPY

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jul 25, 2026
    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 in One Day: Kanetaka Cutlery Workshop & Heian Shrine Garden

    Kyoto in One Day: Kanetaka Cutlery Workshop & Heian Shrine Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 9:55 Kanetaka Cutlery Workshop Tour
    • 11:28 Philosopher's Path
    • 12:28 Heian Shrine Garden
    • 14:34 Shopping @ Shijo Kawaramachi
    • 15:30 Dismissal @ Shijo Street

    What Can You See on a Private Two-Day Kyoto Tour with a Licensed Guide? A Guide's Report The guests were visiting from the Middle East. This was the second consecutive day of guiding them. They had a strong interest in Kyoto's traditional crafts, so I had arranged visits to related facilities. Because the weather was poor the previous day, we rescheduled part of the itinerary to another day. At a Kyoto blade-making workshop, a seventh-generation smith gave a demonstration and explanation, which deeply impressed the guests. Afterward, I took them to the Philosopher's Path and the garden of Heian Shrine, where there were few tourists, and they were delighted by the quiet and calm atmosphere. With the remaining time, I accommodated a request for shopping, and the work was completed as scheduled. The guests thanked me for the two days of guiding.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto~Karasuma Oike220JPY
    Section 2SubwayKarasuma Oike~Marutamachi220JPY
    Section 3BusKarasuma Marutamachi~Ginkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusHigashi-tennocho~Okazaki Park ROHM Theatre230JPY
    Section 5BusOkazaki Park ROHM Theatre~Shijo Kawaramachi230JPY
    Total1,130JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Gion & Pontocho

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Gion & Pontocho

    Tour Itinerary

    • 15:30 Meet @ Ninja Experience Cafe Kyoto
    • 15:40-16:50 @ Gion
    • 16:55-17:20 @ Higashiyama Area
    • 17:20-17:45 @ Yasaka Shrine
    • 17:50-18:20 @ Pontocho
    • 18:25-19:40 @ Yakiniku "Hiro" Pontocho Branch
    • 19:45 Disband @ In front of "Sanjo Kawaramachi" Bus Stop

    What's a Private Kyoto Gion and Pontocho Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a family group visiting from Oceania. They had mentioned in advance that one member had a particular consideration, but this was hardly noticeable and everything went smoothly. Before coming to Kyoto they had been skiing in Hakuba, but due to heavy snowfall three days earlier the train they had planned to take was affected, and they mentioned having some difficulty reaching Kyoto. Since it was cold outside and light rain had begun to fall, I borrowed a corner of the meeting point, a café, to give a brief explanation about the geisha districts before we set off to explore Gion. Everyone was interested in the history and culture of the geisha districts and asked various questions along the way. We headed toward the Higashiyama area from the Gion Kaburenjo, passing through Kenninji Temple. After that we walked to Yasaka Shrine, and used a city bus to travel from Gion to Pontocho. Pontocho was the final place they had wished to explore. We finished the stroll around 18:20, and since there was still some time left, I asked what they would like to do next. They asked me to take them somewhere recommended for dinner. As they said they wanted to eat meat, I guided them to a yakiniku restaurant in Pontocho. They invited me to join them, so I decided to dine together. We shared dinner for about an hour, after which I guided the guests to a nearby bus stop and we parted ways.

    Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!

    My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.

    I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.

    I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
    I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.

    I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!

    May 19, 2026
    498stephenq
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    An enjoyable visit
    Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…

    Apr 11, 2026
    V5131MFjodieh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
    Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…

    Oct 14, 2025
    Scenic61154406959
    Great Historical Perspective
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…

    Sep 29, 2025
    Jea L
    Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kaz was an excellent tour…

  • Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at Odawara Station. 9:46 Depart Odawara Station on the Tozan Line. Arrive at Gora Station at 10:49. 11:08 Depart the same station by cable car, arriving at Sounzan at 11:49. Take the ropeway to Owakudani. Since the section from Owakudani to Togendai is closed for maintenance, take a substitute bus to Togendai. 12:45 Take the pirate ship and disembark at Hakonemachi Port. Shopping for puzzle boxes and lunch at the Checkpoint ruins. Stroll along the cedar avenue and sightseeing at Hakone Shrine. 16:18 Take the bus departing from Motohakone Port and get off at Yunessun. Guests will head to Ten-yu on their own, and disband at 4:30.

    What Is a Private Hakone Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Hakone Shrine Torii Gate For the guests, the main highlight of visiting Hakone was making a special proposal at the famous red torii gate of Hakone Shrine. Knowing this in advance, I arranged the route so that we would visit the red torii gate last, allowing for a dramatic proposal at the very end of the trip. This spot is always crowded, and visitors often take a long time posing for photos, which can make the wait feel long. As expected, it did take some time, but there was a wonderful proposal, and the long line of other visitors applauded. I was so focused on taking photos with their camera that I unfortunately forgot to take any with my own. Afterward, I used a board I had made myself for them to add their signatures, and we took a celebratory photo.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassOdawara Station~Odawara Station0JPY
    Total0JPY

    I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
    I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
    I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
    First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
    Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
    Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
    For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
    Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
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    Jun 30, 2026
    G2432BLtimothyc
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
    6 hour tour of Hakone
    we had a great experience with…

    Jun 25, 2026
    T7734IPbrandons
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in hakone
    Niro was perfect for us. He was…

    Jun 8, 2026
    JasonB6980
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hiro-san knows Hakone!
    Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Tourist31988989961
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
    Great Day and Tour
    Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…