Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Nijo Castle & Nishiki Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meeting at Hotel
    • 10:02 Nijo Castle
    • 12:01 Kiyomizu-zaka – Sannei-zaka – Ninen-zaka – Nene-no-michi – Yasaka Shrine
    • 12:59 Nishiki Market
    • 13:29 Finish at Nishiki Market

    What Is a Private Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, and Higashiyama The guests were visitors from Oceania. They were quite frequent travelers, and although it was their first time in Japan, they had already toured from the Tohoku region up to Hokkaido over two weeks. Their only requests were Nishiki Market and the Higashiyama area, so I built the itinerary around those and added Nijo Castle, which turned out to be the most impressive part for them. Afterward, we walked from the approach to Kiyomizu-dera all the way to Gion, and they were delighted by the calm and serene atmosphere. At Nishiki Market, they browsed each shop very carefully, one by one, and when we parted ways there as planned, they repeatedly exclaimed how lovely it was.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto~Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijojo-mae~Higashiyama220JPY
    Section 3BusHigashiyama-sanjo~Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusGion~Shijo-Kawaramachi230JPY
    Total940JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:40 Meet in front of Fujiya Ryokan (Fujiya Ryokan was just the meeting place, not the accommodation) 11:15 Fushimi Inari 12:40 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 13:45 Short break
    • 14:50 Kinkaku-ji 16:20 Gion 17:10 Tour ends 17:30 Traveled together to Kyoto Station, guided to the Shinkansen entrance

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like for Guests from Asia? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from Asia, exploring Kyoto during a break from their trip. The assignment document listed a "ryokan" as their accommodation, but it turned out this was not actually where they were staying; it seems they had simply chosen a spot near Kyoto Station as a meeting point on their own. Since none of this had been mentioned in the messages beforehand, I had assumed they were coming from Tokyo and staying overnight. Normally, when guests arrive at Kyoto Station, the meeting point would be something like the Shinkansen exit, so this was a first for me, and their thinking was a little hard to follow. The group had spent time in Tokyo and then used their free days to travel to Hakone and Kyoto for sightseeing. Because of this, the tour started later than planned. The guests were very keen on shopping and stopped frequently along the way to shop, which caused further delays. We had originally planned to visit Nijo Castle, but as it became unlikely we would make it before the 4:00 p.m. closing time, I asked their preference and changed the plan to Gion. They did a lot of shopping in Gion as well, so the tour ended considerably later than scheduled. We traveled together by taxi to Kyoto Station and I saw them off at the Shinkansen entrance. The photo was taken at Kinkaku-ji.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainRanden Arashiyama~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi~Nishioji-Oike230JPY
    Section 6SubwayNishioji-Oike~Higashiyama-Sanjo260JPY
    Section 7BusHigashiyama-Sanjo~Gion230JPY
    Section 8OtherGion~Kyoto Station0JPY
    Total1,590JPY

    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…

  • Hokkaido in One Day: Otaru Canal & Cafe

    Hokkaido in One Day: Otaru Canal & Cafe

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 – ONSEN RYOKAN Yuen Sapporo pick-up
    • 08:25 – Board JR from JR Sapporo Station
    • 09:15 – Break at Unga Plaza (LeTAO)
    • 10:30 – Otaru Canal walk (Asakusa Bridge, Chuo Bridge, Ryugu Bridge)
    • 11:00 – Museum of Western Art
    • 11:40 – Sakaimachi Street walk
    • 12:00 – Cafe (break)
    • 13:00 – Souvenir shops, glass shops (shopping at 5-6 stores)
    • 15:33 – Board JR from JR Otaru Station
    • 16:08 – Arrive at JR Sapporo Station, disperse in front of Sapporo Station

    Title: What's a Private Winter Day Tour of Otaru and Sapporo in Hokkaido Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who love Japan and had visited four or five times before, coming to Hokkaido for the first time on this trip. They enjoyed the snowy scenery and the pleasant cold air. They looked with great interest at the canal and the group of historic buildings that contributed to the development of Otaru. At the Otaru Museum of Western Art, they showed interest in the beautiful stained glass of the building. While strolling along Sakaimachi Street, they stopped at many souvenir shops and did some shopping. Upon arriving at Sapporo Station, I offered to see them off to their hotel, but the guests declined, so we parted ways there. Note: Around 15:20, on the way to Otaru Station, the guide slipped and fell on the frozen road surface, injuring a wrist. There was no impact on attending to the guests, but the wrist was later diagnosed at a hospital as having a hairline fracture.

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

    Feb 7, 2025
    Stay38335184325
    A very frosty day in a very interesting little seaside town
    Tripadvisor review: Otaru 6hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our…

    Dec 27, 2024
    G
    G5102BEannied
    Sapporo, Hokaido Winter Escapade
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had an experienced tour guide…

    Oct 30, 2024
    Clarice W
    A Day of Joy at Otaru Canal, Half-day Walking Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Otaru 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Katsuko-san…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace East Gardens & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace East Gardens & Meiji Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho
    • 11:15 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 13:10 Lunch at Oreryu Shio-ramen Harajuku Station Front
    • 14:10 Harajuku Takeshita Street, visit M-pig café, Pompompurin Café
    • 15:40 Meiji Shrine
    • 16:30 Disband at Shibuya Scramble Crossing

    What Is a Private Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Harajuku and Shibuya The weather was pleasant, though it was a little chilly in the shade with the breeze, but the guests enjoyed the tour. As it was a large group, moving around took quite a bit of time, partly due to some difficulty at the subway ticket gates. Lunchtime was crowded, so it was hard to find a place to eat, and in Harajuku we visited a themed café and a character café, so we did not manage to reach Asakusa as planned. At the guests' request, we ended the tour in front of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Everyone was pleased to have enjoyed a variety of experiences.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNagatacho~Takebashi178JPY
    Section 2TrainOtemachi~Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Shibuya146JPY
    Total533JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Hyogo in One Day: Iwatayama Monkey & Rickshaw tour around the

    Hyogo in One Day: Iwatayama Monkey & Rickshaw tour around the

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:30 Meet up @ Kobe Port
    • 13:30 Iwatayama Monkey Park
    • 14:15 Rickshaw tour around the bamboo grove
    • 17:00 Disband @ Mouriya Sannomiya

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour with a Licensed Guide Like? An Arashiyama Itinerary Report The day before the tour, I received a request to change the start time, and we agreed on the condition that the end time would remain the same. A change to the itinerary was also requested, so I remained on standby until 11:30 today. This morning, I revised the agenda based on the guests' email and sent it, receiving a reply of confirmation. However, in the car, the guests said that this was not where they wanted to go, that they had wanted to ride a boat on the river, visit the monkey park, and see the bamboo grove, and that the company's handling had been unacceptable. So I quickly changed the destination to Arashiyama. There was an awkward atmosphere in the car, but I gradually eased the mood by talking about baseball and other topics, and by the time we reached the summit of Mount Iwatayama, their spirits had lifted considerably. On the way to the bamboo grove, they spotted a rickshaw and said they wanted to ride it, so I arranged that for them. They asked me to recommend a good restaurant for Kobe beef, and I made a reservation, but the only available seating was from 5:00, so we timed our return accordingly and parted ways earlier than scheduled. At the end, they gave me a gratuity, so I believe they were satisfied.

    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…

  • Hokkaido in Half a Day: Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura & Otaru Canal

    Hokkaido in Half a Day: Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura & Otaru Canal

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:30 – Grand Park Otaru pickup
    • 12:45 – Tanaka Sake Brewery Kikkogura tour
    • 13:45 – Otaru Music Box Museum main store tour
    • 14:15 – Free stroll along Sakaimachi Street
    • 15:15 – Break at Canal Plaza (LeTAO)
    • 15:30 – Otaru Canal stroll
    • 16:00 – Disband at Otaru Canal, Asakusa Bridge

    What's a Private Otaru Day Tour Like in Hokkaido? A Licensed Guide's Report Weather: Cloudy. Temperature: 3°C. The guests visited Japan from Oceania. They stopped in Otaru during a break from their ski trip. They seemed captivated by the snowy mountains of Hokkaido, and the guests fully enjoyed the feeling of the snow, even lying down on the piled-up snow. They were also delighted with the food, saying it was very delicious. I recommended that they consider a summer trip to Hokkaido next time. The guiding was originally scheduled until 16:30, but since the guests wished to finish a little early and return to their hotel by taxi, we parted ways at 16:00.

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

    Feb 7, 2025
    Stay38335184325
    A very frosty day in a very interesting little seaside town
    Tripadvisor review: Otaru 6hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our…

    Dec 27, 2024
    G
    G5102BEannied
    Sapporo, Hokaido Winter Escapade
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had an experienced tour guide…

    Oct 30, 2024
    Clarice W
    A Day of Joy at Otaru Canal, Half-day Walking Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Otaru 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Katsuko-san…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1000 Hilton Tokyo (3 min from Marunouchi Line Nishi-Shinjuku) Meet-up
    • 1025 Meiji Jingu Shrine (assemble from Kita-Sando, drop off nearby) Visit
    • 1115 Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue
    • 1145 Imperial Palace Outer Garden, view Nijubashi Bridge from the car, get off at Gyoko-dori to see Tatsumi Yagura, restroom break at Starbucks
    • 1245 Asakusa, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Shrine (drop off at Kaminarimon, board at Nitenmon)
    • 1425 Akihabara, Radio Kaikan, shopping under the elevated tracks
    • 1450 Pokemon Center Tokyo (Takashimaya SC Annex)
    • 1600 Return to hotel

    Title: What's a Private Family Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Akihabara The guests were a group visiting from North America on a family trip. They had entered Japan three days earlier and had enjoyed two days at Disneyland. They mentioned that the following day they would experience a ninja show and a tea ceremony tour. After that, they planned to head to Kyoto and return home over the weekend. Since the group included a young member (who was actually the most energetic of all), we visited Meiji Shrine from the Grand Torii gate to the main hall. As the group was very keen on the Pokémon Center, with their understanding we skipped lunch in Asakusa and instead had strawberry candy, mitarashi dango, and melon bread. However, they were also quite delighted with Akihabara, and including the gachapon machines, it took more time than expected. I had been concerned because checkout at the Pokémon Center usually involves long lines, but it was less crowded than usual, and I was able to return them to their Hotel on schedule. For the next day, the group said they wanted to visit Takeshita Street, which they had passed by, and Shibuya Parco, so I gave them a map and a Tokyo Travel Guide.

    I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
    After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

    My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
    My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
    – Senso ji Temple
    – Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
    – Tokyo Skytree
    – Ueno Park
    – Nezu Shrine
    – Imperial Palace outer park
    – Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    – Ginza
    – Odaiba
    – Hama Rikyu Garden
    – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
    – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
    – Roppongi
    – Meiji Shrine
    – Harajuku & Takeshita Street
    – Shibuya
    – and Any of your interest.

    I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
    Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
    Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

    I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

    Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
    Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

    A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

    In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

    Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
    These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
    Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
    Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
    The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
    Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

    Jul 2, 2026
    Susan M
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Family fun in Tokyo.
    A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…

    Jun 26, 2026
    ann r
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Educational with kind, generous guide
    My teenage sons and I learned…

    Jun 14, 2026
    141yunb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
    We…

    May 18, 2026
    B
    Beth56646
    Great tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Ted and I agreed upon what we would see…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Sakura Masamune Memorial Hall

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Sakura Masamune Memorial Hall

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Meet @ Kobe Port Naka Pier Passenger Terminal
    • 10:00 @ Sakura Masamune Memorial Hall
    • 10:30 @ Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Memorial Hall
    • 11:15 @ Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
    • 12:15 @ Sannomiya Underground Mall
    • 13:00 Disband @ Sannomiya "Mouriya"

    What's a Private Kobe Sake and Gourmet Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who arrived by cruise ship. Due to bad weather, the day before arrival the docking location was changed from Kobe Port Terminal to Naka Pier Terminal. Both were strong walkers and moved around smoothly. They were very fond of Japan and clearly held great interest in the country. One of the guests especially enjoyed sake, so although two breweries had originally been planned, we visited three, and they sampled many labels and seemed very satisfied. They also purchased a lot of sake as souvenirs. The other guest was interested in Japanese bakeries and confectionery shops, and I guided them to various shops originating in Kobe, which they enjoyed. They bought many sweet breads as well. Since we were in Kobe, they wished to try "Kobe beef," so I guided them to the popular restaurant "Mouriya" (we had no reservation and the first location was full, but they checked a nearby branch for us). After helping them place their order, we parted ways. The guests shared many fascinating and unusual stories from North America, and as a guide I was able to spend a very enjoyable time. Note) Regarding the itinerary, I had recommended a visit to Mount Rokko and the guests kindly extended the time from 4 hours to 6 hours, but due to bad weather starting about two days earlier (snowy conditions with frozen roads), the facilities were closed. As a result, we had to return to the original 4 hours, and I felt sorry toward the guests.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMotomachi~Uozaki250JPY
    Section 2TrainSumiyoshi~Sannomiya200JPY
    Total450JPY

    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…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: Tsukiji & Asakusa

    Tokyo in Half a Day: Tsukiji & Asakusa

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hilton Tokyo
    • 9:40 Tsukiji
    • 10:40 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 12:10 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 13:40 Dismiss at Meiji Shrine

    What Does a Private Walking Tour of Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa in Tokyo Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report It was a clear day, but the wind was a little strong and the temperature was low, so it felt quite chilly in the shade. At Tsukiji, I first guided the guests through the fish market, and they were delighted with the fresh seafood. They enjoyed sampling a variety of foods, including grilled beef and tuna skewers, mochi, and strawberries. Since the Imperial Palace was the top place the guests wished to see, I guided them through it starting from Takebashi. It was nice that we could see some early-blooming cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, there were few carp in the pond. I gave the guests a full tour of Asakusa, and they were pleased to draw a fortune slip that turned out to be a good one. Although we exceeded the four-hour time frame, we finished by guiding them to Meiji Shrine at the end. This itinerary was arranged at the request of the guests, but I felt that covering this course in four hours was not really feasible in terms of planning.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTochomae~Tsukiji Market900JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji~Takebashi0JPY
    Section 3TrainOtemachi~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa~Meiji-jingumae0JPY
    Total900JPY

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Fukushima in One Day: Roadside Station Namie

    Fukushima in One Day: Roadside Station Namie

    Tour Itinerary

    • 07:55  Meet, HOTEL B4T
    • 08:00 Depart by taxi from Iwaki Station North Exit
    • 09:20~11:20 The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum
    • 11:30~12:45 Roadside Station Namie
    • 12:55~14:35 Namie Town Ukedo Elementary School
    • ~Sightseeing from inside the car: Mt. Ohira, JR Futaba Station~
    • 16:00 Arrive by taxi at Iwaki Station South Exit, disband

    What Is a Private Fukushima Disaster Area Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's 8-Hour Report The guests were young visitors from North America who had been university classmates. They said that at the time of the disaster they were of junior high school age, and the extensive coverage of the damage shown on television had left a strong impression on them. At the memorial museum, they viewed each exhibit carefully and thoroughly. After lunch at Michi-no-Eki Namie, they greatly enjoyed a sake tasting at the local sake shop and bought some as a souvenir. At Ukedo Elementary School, they were astonished by the power of the tsunami. Although travel by car can take time, the 8-hour tour passed by in no time, and the guests seemed to find it very meaningful to actually visit the affected area, learn with their own eyes what had happened, and hear firsthand about the events of that time.

    Hello. I’m Mikiko Shiga, a licensed guide interpreter.
    I live in Iwaki, Fukushima, about 200km northeast from Tokyo.
    I was born in Sendai, the capital of Tohoku or the North East area of Japan.
    I ‘ve belonged to a volunteer guide group, I experienced walking tours in Asakusa, and other places in Tokyo.

    Meanwhile, the area I was born and live in is relatively uncrowded.
    Tohoku is blessed with beautiful nature, delicious food and fresh air.
    It is recommendable for tourists who want to avoid busy places.
    It would be wonderful if I could share the attractions in Tohoku or Ibaraki areas with my guests.

    Jul 10, 2026
    Jenny_A
    Viator review: Fukushima Hope Tour in 1 Day by Car with Licensed Guide
    Interesting tour to see…
    Interesting tour to see…

    Jun 14, 2026
    Michael_B
    Viator review: Fukushima Hope Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle from Iwaki
    Fukushima & Iwaki – Excellent Tour With Local Guides…

    Mar 23, 2025
    Phillosophizing
    An Unforgettable Journey Through Resilience and Remembrance
    Tripadvisor review: Fukushima Hope Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle from Iwaki
    Our Fukushima…

    Oct 11, 2024
    716zaineb
    A wonderful tour worth doing!
    Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Miki did a wonderful job…