Category: Uncategorized

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Harukas Garden & Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Osaka in Half a Day: Harukas Garden & Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet up @Hotel Osaka
    • 11:00-11:50@Osaka Castle, Hokoku Shrine
    • 12:15-12:30@Harukas Garden
    • 12:50:13:30@Sumiyoshi Taisha
    • 14:00 Disband @Namba Station ticket gate

    Can You Do a Private New Year's Day Tour in Osaka? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. On the evening before the tour, they had traveled from Tokyo through Kyoto and arrived at their hotel in Osaka. Since they were scheduled to return to Tokyo by shinkansen at 3:00 on the day of the tour, they had to move around carrying their overnight luggage as well as a large plush toy they had won at a game arcade in Dotonbori the previous day, which looked a bit inconvenient for them. However, the weather was blessed with clear, bright skies, and although they were surprised by the long line of worshippers at Sumiyoshi Taisha, they enjoyed a typical Japanese New Year experience. To make sure they would not miss the 3:00 shinkansen, we ended the tour a little earlier than planned.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShinsaibashi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Tennoji240JPY
    Section 3TrainTennoji Station Front~Sumiyoshitorii-mae230JPY
    Section 4TrainSumiyoshi Taisha~Nankai Namba240JPY
    Total900JPY

    I’m Sahiko Ogura, Sachiko literally means ‘happy child’, please call me Sachiko or Sachi for short. I was born and raised in Osaka. I’ve been guide for 6 years mainly in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara after having worked far trading company. I love traveling and visited about 30 countries, where I had a great time and experienced something new and exciting. I also like sports, tea ceremony and gardening, I’m growing veritable and flower in my garden. Please let me know your interest and anything what you would like to do during your tour. I’m happy to make an itinerary customized for you.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you and exploring in my home town!

    Jul 30, 2026
    135ulrikh
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We spent half…

    Jul 12, 2026
    angiegI1120DY
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great tour! Great guide!
    Sachi was a great guide. She customized…

    Jul 8, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    We Miss Osaka Already
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Sachiko O. was our guide…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Relax64382499520
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A memorable experience!
    Wonderful experience with an amazing guide! Ms. Sachiko Ogura,…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet up at Hotel Granada Roppongi 9:00 Senso-ji Temple 10:00 Harajuku (pet cafe, purikura) 11:30 Shibuya (Hachiko, crossing, Mega Don Quijote) 13:00 Shinjuku
    • 13:45 Finish at Roppongi Station

    What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku The guests were a group who were very friendly and easy to talk with. When I took them to Sensoji Temple, which had not been part of the original plan, they enjoyed it even more than expected. In Harajuku, one of the guests had wanted to visit a dog cafe, but it was too crowded to get in, so instead we went to a guinea pig cafe, which they were happy about. They also enjoyed the purikura photo booths more than anticipated. We moved to Shibuya and stopped by a large discount store that had not been on the original itinerary, which they also liked, and they did a lot of shopping there. After moving to Shinjuku and seeing the giant cat video display and Godzilla, we had covered everything they wanted to see, and since the group was getting tired from walking, I saw them off at Roppongi Station, the nearest station to their accommodation, ending the tour. Along the way I casually suggested stopping for a meal or a coffee break, but they did not stop anywhere, and I think walking the whole time was quite hard on their feet.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainRoppongi~Asakusa209JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa~Omotesando252JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Shibuya146JPY
    Section 4TrainShibuya~Shinjuku167JPY
    Section 5TrainShinjuku~Roppongi220JPY
    Total994JPY

    Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
    I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.

    Jun 8, 2025
    T1516LOmarkg
    Tokyo tour
    Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Great tour, Shinji was great, they…

    Feb 28, 2025
    LaToya_S
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Mr. Shinji is so nice and…

    Feb 27, 2025
    Edward_M
    Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly!…

    Feb 17, 2025
    Trip29223434750
    Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    For those not wanting to…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:00 Meet up @Four Points
    • 2. 9:20 @Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 3. 11:00 @Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 4. 12:30 @Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 5. 14:00 Disband @Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Starting at 8:00 AM? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan who loved taking photographs. Since each of them had their own wishes, the initial request included as many as 11 locations, so I explained that four would be the maximum and they kindly narrowed the list down. Because the tour started at 8:00, Fushimi Inari Taisha would already be crowded regardless, so I decided to start from the more distant Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple. Even though I had carefully checked the bus schedule, the bus, which runs only once an hour, was already full and we could not board. However, since there were also some members of a youth baseball team who could not board, an extra bus was arranged. There were many hikers, and when I asked one of them, it seemed that many of them were setting out on their first mountain climb of the season. Right next to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple is Mount Atago, whose deity protects against fire, so I imagine many people go there to receive protective charms. In any case, the extra bus was completely empty, so we could all sit down and travel comfortably to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, which delighted the guests. Everyone was quite moved. After Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple, we walked leisurely to the bamboo grove, had a snack at the Randen station, and went to Kinkaku-ji. Since we were running behind schedule, I explained about Fushimi Inari Taisha on the train during the ride, and we managed to arrive at Fushimi Inari Taisha at 14:05. I explained the return route and a chopstick shop, took a commemorative photo together, and we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKarasuma~Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2BusArashiyama~Atagodera-mae230JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi~Enmachi230JPY
    Section 6TrainEnmachi~Inari200JPY
    Total1,380JPY

    Hi! My name is YUKA. I’ve got the government license in 2018 and joined a half year traning to do the guide. But a half year later I started my carreer, Covid came. I should have given up guiding. During the Covid, I’ve read many books and made my own materials to explain Japanese culture, history, etc. I love guiding because the guests expand my horizon all the time and let me know their own country and culture, etc. It is really important for us all to know each other and respect each other to make this world peace. Thank you for coming to Japan! Let’s enjoy Japan together!

    Jul 25, 2026
    Ann W
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
    One of the highlights of my trip, perfect for solo…

    Jul 14, 2026
    Elizabeth W
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Great tour
    We had a great tour with…

    Jul 11, 2026
    Dianna-fam
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Wonderful Tour, Wonderful Guide!
    My teenage boys and I…

    Jul 1, 2026
    Christian_L
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto visite with Yuka : Wow !
    Wow ! Yuka was…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Hachijoguchi, departure ➡ To Fushimi Inari Taisha by JR ➡ To Arashiyama by JR ➡ On foot to Tenryu-ji Temple ~ Bamboo Grove ~ Kameyama Park ➡ Kimono rental shop ➡ Wearing kimono, stroll around Arashiyama, explain how to get to Monkey Park and disband (13:20)

    What Is a Private Kimono Experience in Arashiyama, Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Today's highlight was without a doubt when the entire group strolled through the streets of Arashiyama wearing kimono. One of the guests was especially delighted, and we took many photos. The kimono rental had not been arranged in advance; while in the bamboo grove, one of the guests suddenly expressed a wish to wear a kimono, and we were able to make it happen by asking a shop that accepts walk-ins when the timing is right. The guests were very pleased. After the tour, they planned to enjoy the monkey park and some ramen on their own.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Section 2TrainInari~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Total390JPY

    Hello! I’m Emi (meaning “smile” or “laugh” in Japanese) , born, raised, and living in Osaka for more than half a century. I’ve been working as a government-licensed tour guide since 2018 after early retirement from a company. My favorite things are hiking, cooking, eating, laughing, learning different cultures, jazz, playing the chromatic harmonica, etc.
    I’ll provide you with a few suggested itineraries first, but of course I’ll be happy to provide you with a flexible itinerary according to your preferences and requests and to help you enjoy your stay in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, etc. I can also offer a tour visiting not only popular destinations but also hidden or less-crowded places.
    I’m looking forward to meeting and guiding you!!

    Jul 17, 2026
    TROY_R
    Viator review: Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    This was a perfect tour…
    This was a perfect tour of…

    Sep 18, 2025
    L9831WKjenniferb
    4 hour Kyoto tour with English speaking guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely afternoon with English…

    Aug 15, 2025
    SuperGC68
    Great value
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a two day 6hr tour with our guide…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Inspire64445626178
    Delightful day with Emi
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a delightful day with our guide…

  • Kyoto: Sanjusangendo & Hana Kisshokyo

    Kyoto: Sanjusangendo & Hana Kisshokyo

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet up @ Hana Kisshokyo
    • 10:15 Sanjusangendo
    • 11:50 Kinkaku-ji
    • 12:40 Ryoan-ji
    • 13:46 Lunch @ Enmachi
    • 15:30 Bamboo Grove Path ~ Tenryu-ji Garden
    • 17:47 Hana Kisshokyo

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sanjusangendo, Kinkaku-ji, and Arashiyama The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Some of the guests were very interested in Japanese culture, so we ended up spending more time than planned at our first stop, Sanjusangendo. Afterward, they said they really wanted to visit Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, and that it would be fine to skip Oku-Saga in exchange, so I adjusted the itinerary accordingly, ending with some shopping in front of Arashiyama Station. Since we were able to visit all the places they had hoped to see, I believe the guests were very satisfied. This private one-day tour of Kyoto was arranged through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusOmiya Matsubara~Museum Sanjusangendo-mae230JPY
    Section 2TrainShichijo~Sanjo170JPY
    Section 3SubwaySanjo Keihan~Nishioji Oike220JPY
    Section 4BusNishioji Oike~Kinkaku-ji-michi230JPY
    Section 5BusRyoan-ji-mae~Nishinokyo Enmachi230JPY
    Section 6TrainEnmachi~Saga-Arashiyama190JPY
    Section 7TrainArashiyama~Shijo Omiya250JPY
    Total1,520JPY

    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 One Day: Nijo Castle & Guide ends

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Guide ends

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 9:50 Nijo Castle
    • 11:45 Lunch in Arashiyama
    • 12:30 Bamboo Grove Path
    • 13:15 Nonomiya Shrine
    • 13:30 Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 13;50 Iwatayama Monkey Park
    • 14:30 Randen train from Arashiyama to Shijo-Omiya
    • 15:10 Guide ends

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like with Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and the Monkey Park? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They mentioned that a family connection had Japanese roots, which was part of the reason for their trip to Japan. The original plan was to take the subway from the Hotel to Nijo Castle, but since one of the guests was experiencing back pain, we took a taxi to Nijo Castle instead. Unfortunately, the Ninomaru Palace was closed, but we enjoyed the Otemon Gate, the Karamon Gate, and the Japanese garden. In Arashiyama, I introduced Kyoto's traditional tofu cuisine (which developed from Buddhist vegetarian cooking), and the response was, "This is healthy and delicious." Some of the guests had wagyu beef. We visited the much-anticipated Bamboo Grove Path, and then Nonomiya Shrine, which has connections to the Imperial family. Rubbing the famous "Kameishi" (Turtle Stone), which is said to make wishes come true within one year, each of the guests made a wish. We crossed the Togetsukyo Bridge and went to the Monkey Park. Although Kinkakuji Temple had been on the itinerary, we changed plans on the spot at the guests' request. They enjoyed feeding the wild Japanese macaques and were delighted. I saw them off near their accommodation at Shijo-Omiya, ending the tour. One of the guests said, "It was a wonderful day. Thank you," and gave me a tip.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNijojo-mae~Arashiyama510JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama~Shijo-Omiya250JPY
    Total760JPY

    My name is Shuji, meaning “Excellent Manager” in English. I was born in Hiroshima 1952. I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
    After graduating Kyoto Univ. I joined Mitsubishi-UFJ Bank, Osaka Branch where I met my wife who was a master of Englsih, so I started studying English.
    The bank allowed me to go to Columbia Graduate business school in New York and got MBA Degree there. I worked in London and Manchester Branch.
    During staying in U.K., I was introduced by BBC and Financial Times News Paper about my achievement there. I was selected as a personal assistant and interpreter for the President of the Bank.
    I made many business trips with him to overseas countries. I experienced as an interpreter for meeting late Henry Kissinger and the President of Citi. Corp.
    I changed the job to ORIX corporation, there I was promoted to a Board Member. When the company had acquired Dutch company, I was a member as an accountant to check the Dutch company’s statements of accounts.
    My hobbies are cooking, singing a song, playing tennis & golf, enjoy seeing arts especially opera & musical, travel. I am also busy with taking care of grandchildren. I passed Government Licensed Guide Exam. in 2016. After I retired in 2017, I started guide job as a part timer. So far, I accomplished guide job more than 500 times.
    My area coverage is from Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, Oaka, Hiroshima. I am also able to guide Tea Ceremony, Maiko/Geisha, Sushi Making, Calligraphy, Sumo, Samurai, etc. I can speak excellent English. My knowledge is very wide and deep about not only sightseeing places but Japanese History, Culture, Religion, Daily Life. I know many foreign countries and people. I love talking with all kinds of people including babies with interesting humor.
    By the way, I look young for my age of 74.

    Jul 16, 2026
    salomons666
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto fun
    Amazing with our guide Shuji very kind and acknowledge

    Jul 15, 2026
    P9099TXkennethr
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
    A great day
    A great day in the Company of mr. Shuji.

    Jun 28, 2026
    A
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    AmyfromPlano
    Shuji is the best! Once we booked this tour, he reached…

    Jun 22, 2026
    yeseniag981
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Osaka Tour
    Our tour guide Shuji was amazing. He was…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:45 Meet at Himeji Station
    • 13:10 Sightseeing at Himeji Castle
    • 15:30 Stroll through Kokoen Garden
    • 16:10 Leave Kokoen Garden and browse souvenir shops
    • 16:30 Genmyoan on the 1st floor of Egret Himeji
    • 16:45 Disband at Otemae-dori

    What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America, who came to Japan to celebrate an academic milestone. Because it was still the New Year holiday period, Himeji Castle was very crowded, but we were able to move through more smoothly than expected, and the guests listened attentively to each explanation. We then visited Koko-en Garden, where few flowers were blooming in winter, so we left a little early and browsed the souvenir shops. At the guests' request, I took them to a venue where they could enjoy sake and sake tasting. On the way toward the castle, one of the guests spotted a nice hat and wanted to visit the shop, so we went to a store on Otemae-dori, where they were able to make the purchase they had hoped for and were delighted. We said our goodbyes in front of that shop.

    Hello, I’m your tour guide, Rie Ito. Please call me Rie. I have been living in Himeji for 40 years. I would like to show you around our beautiful city. Himeji is very famous for its several sightseeing places. Especially, as the most recommended place, we boast Himeji Castle, the first World Heritage Site of Japan. When you see this message, please contact me through WhatsApp. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask me before the tour. I am sure you will enjoy this local city of Japan with me! I’m looking forward to seeing you. Thank you.

    Apr 25, 2026
    Alix_M
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Himeji castle
    Fantastic tour of the beautiful Himeji castle!…

    Oct 3, 2025
    P
    Peggy_M
    Rie is an excellent guide with a lot of knowledge to share
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed…

    Aug 6, 2025
    OMAR_A
    Excellente visite avec guide dynamique
    Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour avec une guide compétente et…

    Apr 30, 2025
    JandK14
    A perfect day in Himeji: We saw the cherry blossoms at their peak and had Rie as our guide!
    Tripadvisor review:…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet up @ Hotel Tokyo
    • 2. 10:00 @ Asakusa Kimono Rental Shop
    • 3. 11:00 @ Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park, Azumabashi Bridge)
    • 4. 12:30 @ Nihonbashi (Takashimaya)
    • 5. 13:30 @ Harajuku
    • 6. 14:00 Lunch @ Shibuya (FUKURAS)
    • 7. 15:00 @ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
    • 8. 15:30 Disband @ Hotel Tokyo

    What Is a Private Kimono and Asakusa Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time, arriving after traveling elsewhere. They had already spent time sightseeing in Osaka and traveled to Tokyo by Shinkansen, and had begun various sightseeing activities in Tokyo. The day before this tour, they had joined a thrilling tour riding high-performance sports cars around iconic landmarks. In our prior communication, the main event for today's Tokyo tour was for some of the guests to wear kimono and take photographs while walking around Asakusa. We first headed to a kimono rental shop that had been booked before their arrival in Japan. As it coincided with the special New Year period, it was extremely crowded, and one of the guests ended up waiting nearly an hour at a nearby cafe. In any case, once they chose their favorite kimono and had them fitted, the colors of the kimono looked wonderful against their skin tones and suited them beautifully. Sensoji Temple was extremely crowded with New Year worshippers, so we gave up on praying at the main hall, but we were able to take many photographs in front of the Kaminarimon Gate, the five-story pagoda, the Hozomon Gate, and the Nitenmon Gate, as well as at the main hall, and even along the Sumida River with Tokyo Skytree in the background. While taking photos from the front, I also recommended and took shots from behind so that the knot of the obi and the hair ornaments in the bun-styled hair could be seen. The guests were very satisfied. After returning the kimono, we headed to Nihonbashi and tried to have lunch at Takashimaya, but there was a very long line here as well. At the guests' request, as they did not want to wait, we headed to the next destination, Harajuku. Since they were interested in cute shops and purikura photo booths, we were about to head from Harajuku Station toward Takeshita Street when they asked, "Is this crowded too?" Tired from the driving tour they had enjoyed late into the previous night, they wanted to avoid crowded places. So I suggested skipping Takeshita Street and instead going to Shibuya, which was on the route back to the hotel, having lunch there, and then returning to the hotel. From the restaurant floor I guided them to at Shibuya FUKURAS, they chose tonkatsu and were delighted, saying the sauce was very delicious. Being able to rest a little while chatting there, they enjoyed the experience of crossing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing after lunch and took video footage. Starting the day after next, they plan to enjoy two days at Disneyland before returning home.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Hanzomon Line Otemachi Station~Ginza Line Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station~Nihonbashi Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Nihonbashi Station~Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Hanzomon Line Shibuya Station~Otemachi 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!…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Hiroshima Station & Miyajima/Peace Park

    Hiroshima in One Day: Hiroshima Station & Miyajima/Peace Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:40 Hiroshima Station
    • 9:45/10:19 Hiroshima Station / Miyajimaguchi (420 yen)
    • Miyajima stroll (oyster curry bread, shopping street, torii gate, Itsukushima Shrine from outside, Senjokaku, five-story pagoda, high-speed boat dock
    • 14:00/14:45 Miyajima/Peace Park (1100 yen)
    • Touring the monuments within the park, heading to the Atomic Bomb Museum/hypocenter/Atomic Bomb Dome
    • Take the streetcar from Atomic Bomb Dome/Fukuromachi (220 yen)
    • Book Off Otemachi store
    • Take the bus from Fukuromachi / Hiroshima Station (220 yen)
    • Tour ends at the Shinkansen exit of Hiroshima Station at 18:15

    What Is an 8-Hour Private Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. One of the guests mentioned an interest in Buddhism. Throughout the tour, the guests smiled, listened attentively to the explanations, and asked good questions. One of the guests had difficulty walking, with almost no cartilage in the knee, and dragged that leg with each step. During the tour, this person also rested on chairs many times. I had been in contact with the guests about the tour for several days beforehand. One of the guests had said they wanted to take a high-speed boat from Miyajima to the Peace Park but was worried about seasickness, so I had been planning to skip the boat. However, when we saw the calm Seto Inland Sea, the idea changed to taking the boat if seats were available, and we ended up taking the high-speed boat on the way back. Given the walking difficulty, I was glad there were open seats. At Miyajima, the guests were amazed at how long the line to visit the shrine was, stretching almost all the way to the ferry terminal. We had originally planned to eat in the city, but when I talked about Miyajima's local specialties, the guests decided they wanted to try conger eel, okonomiyaki, and oysters, and to eat something on the island rather than in the city. However, every restaurant we looked into had long lines reaching to the side of the road, and it seemed impossible to get in. We happened to find a restaurant with a short line and were seated, but it was about three times more expensive than an ordinary place. The guests were delighted with how delicious their orders were. I ordered oysters because they were a small, easy-to-eat portion, but afterward I developed a stomachache and regretted eating them. I had eaten oysters as takeout during tours before without any stomach trouble, so I had not been very worried, but since I struggled with a stomachache during the tour, I decided to avoid them in the future. This was also the first 8-hour tour I had accepted. Partly because of the stomachache, it felt very difficult and long. My time with the guests was enjoyable, but I had to rush to the restroom several times while trying not to let the guests notice my stomachache. Once we reached the city, we visited the memorial monuments and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Inside the museum, some of the guests looked frightened by the exhibits or did not want to look at them, while another of the guests examined the displays carefully, not wanting to miss a single word. I told that person, "Since you have come all this way, please take your time with the exhibits you want to read carefully," while I let the other guests know where they could rest on chairs and go ahead, or wait in a section where a video of survivor testimonies was playing. After leaving the museum, we continued the memorial monument tour. While chatting with the guests, one of them was interested in vintage jeans and asked if there was a shop where they could look, so we decided to go to a secondhand store. Since one of the guests seemed to be in a lot of pain from walking, I suggested taking the streetcar from in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the guests were thrilled to be able to ride yet another form of public transportation in Hiroshima. They happily said, "Today we rode the Shinkansen, a local train, a ferry, a high-speed boat, and now we can ride the streetcar!" At the secondhand store, they finally found some jeans they liked, but after trying them on they did not feel right, so we headed back to Hiroshima Station. The tour felt as though it would end at that spot, but the plan suddenly changed for everyone to return to Hiroshima Station together, so I used the fastest way back to the station (the bus), accompanied them to Hiroshima Station, and saw them off at the Shinkansen gate, ending the tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi420JPY
    Section 2OtherMiyajima~Peace Park1,100JPY
    Section 3TrainAtomic Bomb Dome~Fukuromachi220JPY
    Section 4BusFukuromachi~Hiroshima Station220JPY
    Total1,960JPY

    Dear guests,
    Hello! My name is Miki. I was born and brought up in Hiroshima. I enjoy traveling around Inland Sea areas and I enjoy chatting with guests from overseas!

    In Hiroshima, you can see many beautiful rivers and old bridges. Lately, I often take photos of Hiroshima city including bridges and rivers. There are not many tall buildings here, but I know some places you can visit and see the view for free. By the atomic bomb dome, there is a building called Orizuru(paper crane) Tower. You need to pay to go up to the top floor but you can see the view of Hiroshima city and the Miyajima Island(Itsukushima).

    Many tourists from overseas as well as Japan want to visit Miyajima Island. You can see a beautiful shrine from Heian Period which is around 12th century and a huge Torii gate in front of the shrine and it is in the water. There are several ways to visit the island from Hiroshima city. If you are going to stay near JR Hiroshima Station, we will visit the island by JR train and JR ferry. If you are staying in the city area, we can go there by streetcar and ferry, or there is a high-speed boat from Peace Memorial Park pier directly to the island and vise versa.

    Hoping to see you in the near future!

    Miki
    Your tour guide in Hiroshima

    May 20, 2026
    Barbgal
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    Walking tour of Hiroshima – 4 hours
    It was a…

    May 16, 2026
    E8055FUjamesg
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    Great day in sunny Hiroshima
    We were with Miki Nakashima,…

    Apr 5, 2026
    jacquid804
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    Miki was amazing
    Miki was fabulous very informative and knowledgeable…

    Aug 19, 2025
    J
    Jemma H
    Excellent tour of Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Miyuki was a very…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace public appearance

    Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace public appearance

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Tokyo Station platform – after this it took time until luggage delivery
    • 12:10 Imperial Palace public appearance (did not see the faces of the imperial family) > Stroll inside the Imperial Palace
    • 13:20 Asakusa – it took time until the visit (Skytree photos)
    • 15:30 Meiji Shrine (gave up on the visit partway and turned back)
    • 16:20 Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • 17:15 Disband at Hotel

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street I learned for the first time that when moving from the JR Central platforms at Tokyo Station to the JR East side, you need a JR East ticket or a Suica card. After some back-and-forth with a JR Central station attendant, we finally reached the baggage storage area inside Tokyo Station. We went to the Imperial Palace public appearance event, but upon hearing that there was still an hour until the Imperial Family would appear, we decided to move on without seeing them. In Asakusa there were many worshippers and we were held up a few times, but we were able to visit, and the guests enjoyed drawing omikuji fortune slips. Since Meiji Shrine was crowded, we gave up on completing the visit partway through and went to Takeshita Street instead. The guests were very pleased with the animal café. From Takeshita Street we went straight to the Hotel, saw them through check-in, confirmed that their luggage had arrived, and concluded the tour.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTakebashi~Asakusa600JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa~Meiji-jingumae0JPY
    Section 3TrainMeiji-jingumae~Shinjuku0JPY
    Total600JPY

    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…