Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Blossom Kyoto & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in One Day: Blossom Kyoto & Nishiki Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:30 Blossom Kyoto
    • 10:00 Fushimiinari (0) by subway and JR train
    • 11:00 Kiyomizudera (500) by taxi
    • Sannenzaka
    • Yasaka-no-to
    • Lunch (Namaste Dhaulagiri)
    • 13:30 Kinkauji (500) by taxi
    • 14:30 Ryoanji (600) by taxi
    • 16:00 Nishiki Market
    • 16:20 End of the tour

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkaku-ji The guests were visiting from North America and it was their first time in Japan, though they did not seem to have researched their trip extensively. They were repeatedly moved by the thousand torii gates at Fushimi Inari, the beautiful views from Kiyomizu-dera, and the overwhelming beauty of Kinkaku-ji. They did not do any shopping. They mentioned that they had gone to Nishiki Market the day before, but it was so crowded that they left without eating anything. After finishing at Ryoan-ji, I guided them around the Teramachi shopping street area, and we walked through Nishiki Market where I introduced them to various shops.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGojo~Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Inari150JPY
    Total370JPY

    I’m Ryoichi Kazuma and my nickname is “Kazz”. I live in Kyotanabe city next to Kyoto city. I want guests to enjoy Kyoto by seeing and experiencing not only from outside but also from inside. I offer various information from daily matters to traditional cultures. Most destinations in Kyoto are located on the eastern side or the western side. As I want to guide guests to as many destinations as possible, I make an efficient itinerary and recommend a taxi use to save time. Additionally, I take pictures at various spots and finally share the link to my storage. By doing so, guests can download their favorite pictures from my storage. Please enjoy Kyoto night and day!

    Jul 14, 2026
    T6871WWricharde
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour…

    Jun 5, 2026
    mateoe216
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Would book again
    The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone…

    May 27, 2026
    Leah_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely recommend!
    I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a…

    May 26, 2026
    sheilacL3330KS
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
    Kazz was an excellent guide…

  • Kyoto: Nonomiya Shrine & Hanamikoji Street

    Kyoto: Nonomiya Shrine & Hanamikoji Street

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet up @ Hotel Blossom Kyoto
    • Transportation: Taxi
    • 9:00: Nonomiya Shrine → Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 9:40 Transportation: Taxi
    • 10:00~11:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 11:30~12:30 Lunch @ Hama Sushi
    • Transportation: Taxi
    • 13:00~13:45 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • Transportation: Taxi
    • 14:00~14:30 Hanamikoji Street → Yasaka Shrine
    • 14:30 Disband @ In front of Yasaka Shrine

    Title: What Can You See on a 6-Hour Private Kyoto Tour by Taxi? A Licensed Guide's Report When I asked the guests where they wanted to go, they mentioned the Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Gion, and Nishiki Market. I explained that covering all of these within 6 hours, including lunch, would be difficult, so we dropped Nishiki Market. Even so, they asked to travel mainly by taxi to save time, which we did. Since the guests wanted to visit the Bamboo Grove early in the morning, it was fortunate that it was still uncrowded before 9:00. The atmosphere was calm, so I also introduced Nonomiya Shrine. The guests showed interest in many things and wrote an ema votive tablet at Nonomiya Shrine. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the scenery of the Bamboo Grove. At Kinkaku-ji, the guests were moved by the beauty of the Golden Pavilion. Since one of the guests seemed a bit bored, I tried to keep things engaging, for example by pointing out the carp in the pond. For lunch, the guests wanted sushi, so I took them to a nearby conveyor-belt sushi restaurant. It was my first time going to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant with guests as a guide. We then moved on to Fushimi Inari Taisha, where the guests were overwhelmed by the crowds. One of the guests was very surprised to see a large amount of sake offered at the outer worship hall in preparation for the New Year. Another guest was intently looking at the ema at Higashimaru Shrine. The guests were impressed by the scenery of the Senbon Torii. I had considered traveling by train if we had time, but I thought it would be better to part at an easy-to-find location, so I decided it would be best to guide them along Hanamikoji Street from Kennin-ji toward Shijo Street, and we traveled by taxi once again. As we strolled along Hanamikoji Street, I talked about maiko and geiko, which the guests found very interesting. Finally, we took a group commemorative photo in front of Yasaka Shrine and said our goodbyes. I keenly felt that my future challenge is to devise ways of guiding so that younger guests do not become bored.

    I am a 53-year-old woman, living in Kyoto for nearly 40 years. I got the license in 2001. Since then, I worked as an interpreter or a translator in several companies, secretary at universities, and now work for a company on weekdays at the international dept.I do guiding job only weekend now. I started full swing guiding career after COVID-19 pandemic. I have gotten good review from many of my guests. I love my hometown, Kyoto which has a lot of interesting and historical sites to see. Particularly, I am native to Arashiyama which is famous for bamboo forest. So, I know a lot of places where you can relax yourself around this area. Other than that, Kyoto has many attractive sites which surely interest you.Also, I like meeting many people from different cultural background. I am very happy if I learn about your culture as well. Let’s enjoy exploring around Kyoto!

    May 18, 2026
    WENDY_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent day out
    The trip was really well planned and organised, it…

    Sep 21, 2025
    joshsJ915FC
    Super tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Really wonderful tour of markets and geisha district.…

    Jun 16, 2025
    Chanyl C
    Highly recommend
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My husband and I really enjoyed the Kyoto tour.…

    May 18, 2025
    Steve J
    A relaxing, enjoyable visit to Arashiyama.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Satori was very kind and…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Sumiyoshi Taisha → 11:46 Hankai Sumiyoshi Toriimae Station → 12:03 Ebisucho Station → Strolling around Shinsekai (didn't go up Tsutenkaku due to the long waiting line) → 12:46 Shin-Imamiya Station → 12:50 JR Namba Station → 13:10 Namba Yasaka Shrine → Taxi → 13:40 Strolling around Dotonbori → 14:00 Lunch @ Tayoshi → 14:48 Nippombashi Station → Osaka Metro → 14:55 Tanimachi 4-chome Station → 15:00 Osakajo Koen-mae (end)

    Title: What's a Private Osaka Day Tour from Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sumiyoshi Taisha, Namba Yasaka Shrine, and Osaka Castle The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America, and one member of the group led the communication both before and on the day of the tour. They had requested Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, and Sumiyoshi Taisha, but I explained that traveling between Osaka Castle and Sumiyoshi Taisha alone would take about an hour. Since they were staying in Kyoto, I arranged for us to meet at Kyoto Station and travel together to Sumiyoshi Taisha, making it the starting point of the tour, and from there I guided them through to the entrance of Osaka Castle Park. They also asked me to suggest other destinations, so I proposed the unique Namba Yasaka Shrine and took them there, which they were very pleased with. Some of the guests followed a vegan diet, so I took them to a vegan restaurant, but others in the group wanted to eat meat, so I quickly changed plans and took them to an izakaya instead. By checking on the ingredients and making adjustments — such as ordering yakisoba without meat — I made sure everyone could enjoy what they wanted to eat, and they were very satisfied. At Sumiyoshi Taisha and Namba Yasaka Shrine, I received questions about what each shrine is prayed to for (what kind of blessings the prayers bring) and why sake is placed there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainSumiyoshi Toriimae~Ebisucho230JPY
    Section 2TrainShin-Imamiya~JR Namba140JPY
    Section 3TrainNippombashi~Tanimachi 4-chome190JPY
    Total560JPY

    “He was easy to talk to, friendly, and knowledgeable and even made sure we successfully navigated the public transit back to our hotel. If we are ever back in Kyoto, we’d love to book a tour with him again! ”

    “At every side we got an indepth explanation to any minor detail and every question we asked was answered and explained really well. It felt like a relaxing and wholesome walk through Kyoto even while it was pouring rain. We can absolutely recommend choosing Nabet!”

    “Nabet’s English is just perfect, he knows the way around sights, little streets and hidden secrets, he is very authentic…just a perfect tour!”

    Here are just a few of the many kind reviews I’ve received from the more than 100 groups I’ve guided through Kyoto and other cities.

    I’m deeply thankful for the chance to connect with my guests and contribute to a memorable tour experience!

    +Current Occupation+
    • Associate Professor specially appointed for Entrepreneurship Education and University-Based Startup Support
    • Management Consultant for SMEs and startups
    • Government-Licensed Interpreter Guide

    +Hobbies+
    Travel, music, sake, ice hockey, squash, watching soccer

    May 29, 2026
    Tamara M
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto bei Nacht – faszinierende Einblicke in Kultur und Spiritualität
    Ich…

    Oct 21, 2025
    Jana_C
    4-hour private tour with Nabet was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Viator review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an amazing experience…

    Oct 16, 2025
    987kayeh
    Knowledgeable guide who was will to respond to our multiple questions
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Thankyou…

    Oct 16, 2025
    janiec555
    Significant sites in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nabet is an excellent guide. He explained Japanese…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel Levant Tokyo (2-2 Kinshi 1-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
    • 2) 10:30 Yanaka <Tennoji Temple → Cemetery → Tsuiji-bei Wall → Yanaka Shopping Street → Yomise-dori>
    • 3) 11:30 Ueno Park <Shinobazu Pond → Bentendo → Gojo Tenjin Shrine → Hanazono Inari Shrine Thousand Torii Gates>
    • 4) 12:30 Akihabara → Lunch @ ABURI Hyakkan (AKIBA_ICHI 3rd floor, 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
    • 5) 14:30 Azabudai Hills
    • 6) 15:00 Tokyo Midtown
    • 7) 16:10 Disband @ Roppongi Hills (6-10 Roppongi 6-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

    What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like from Ueno to Roppongi? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. In their advance message, they had requested "places that are not too crowded, such as Ueno." When I reconfirmed the itinerary at the hotel meeting point, it turned out they had already visited Odaiba, so I suggested Akihabara instead. One of the guests had visited Japan before, but the others were visiting for the first time. In Yanaka, they shopped at an accessory store, and at the Bentendo hall by Shinobazu Pond in Ueno they bought many charms and explored with great interest. Although the guests were not particularly anime fans, they showed curiosity for the sake of relatives. They also seemed to enjoy a hearty lunch at a sushi restaurant. Since we had extra time before Roppongi, I also guided them around Azabudai Hills. At Tokyo Midtown, they took photos in front of the Suntory Museum of Art and stopped by a Cool Japan select shop, enjoying some shopping. Finally, I guided them to the Mori Garden at Roppongi Hills, and after taking commemorative photos, we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainJR Sobu Line Kinshicho Station~JR Yamanote Line Nippori Station180JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Sendagi Station~Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Yushima Station600JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Ueno Station~Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Suehirocho Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Akihabara Station~Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station~Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station0JPY
    Total780JPY

    Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!

    Jun 19, 2026
    Daniel_O
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    10/10 would do again!
    Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and…

    May 24, 2026
    Meander63637687943
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tour guide Tachi is the best!
    A most enjoyable and…

    May 19, 2026
    Jai_K
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    I would definitely…
    I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi…

    May 5, 2026
    Gary33556
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Wonderful tour of the highlights of Tokyo
    Tachi was our guide. What…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.10:00 Meet up @Hotel Monterey Hanzomon
    • 2.10:30 @Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
    • 3.11:20 @Tokyo Station (Station Plaza, Station Building, JR Cafe, Yaesu Exit)
    • 4.12:40 @Nihonbashi (Takashimaya Food Floor)
    • 5.13:15 Lunch @Sansada (Asakusa)
    • 6.14:00 @Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine)
    • 7.15:30 @Akihabara (Yodobashi Akiba)
    • 8.16:00 @Roppongi (National Art Center, Tokyo [exterior only], Tokyo Midtown Roppongi)
    • 9.16:20 Disband @In front of the underground eat-in area at Tokyo Midtown Roppongi

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Akihabara, and Roppongi The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. Some of their relatives had stayed in Japan before, so they already had a lot of information about the country. Before this tour began, they had already visited the tuna auction at Toyosu Market and enjoyed a sushi breakfast. After visiting the Imperial Palace, while we were exploring Tokyo Station, I helped them arrange their Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto for the following day, as they had not yet purchased them. We did this at the least crowded JR cafe near the Yaesu exit, but including the waiting time, it took more than an hour. However, we were able to secure Shinkansen seats even during the busy year-end period, so they were very pleased. For lunch, they had expressed interest in trying curry rice or udon, but when I introduced Asakusa as being famous for tempura, they decided they would love to try it, so I guided them to Sansada, a long-established restaurant. They enjoyed tempura soba and a tempura set meal. On Nakamise Street near Sensoji Temple, they also tried ningyo-yaki and mitarashi dango. At Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara, they obtained several souvenirs from the capsule toy machines. For our final stop in Roppongi, they already had information about Roppongi Hills, but this time I guided them to Tokyo Midtown Roppongi, where they could enjoy a new type of illumination. There, they were very happy when I introduced several shops, including a specialty cutlery store, the Itoya stationery shop, the Kayanoya dashi store, a pet-related shop, and an eat-in corner offering ochazuke and tempura udon.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Hanzomon Line Hanzomon~Yurakucho Line Sakuradamon Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Nihonbashi Station~Asakusa Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station~Suehirocho Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Akihabara Station~Roppongi 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!…

  • Kyoto: Monkey Park Iwatayama & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Kyoto: Monkey Park Iwatayama & Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet @ Hotel
    • 9:45-10:45 Monkey Park Iwatayama
    • 11:00-12:00 Tenryu-ji Temple & Bamboo Grove Path sightseeing
    • 12:30-13:10 Lunch @ Gontaro Kinkaku-ji Branch
    • 13:20-14:20 Kinkaku-ji Temple sightseeing (soft serve ice cream)
    • 15:00 Drop off at Gion Hanamikoji
    • 15:15 After strolling Hanamikoji, disband

    What Does a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour of Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and Gion Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The group of guests from North America visited Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, and the Gion area on a private one-day tour of Kyoto. In Arashiyama, they strolled through Tenryu-ji Temple and the Bamboo Grove path, thoroughly enjoying the beautiful scenery, though the uphill climb to the Monkey Park was a bit challenging for one of the guests. Even so, they walked all the way to the end, and the whole group felt a great sense of accomplishment. For lunch, they enjoyed udon, soba, and a tempura set at a restaurant near Kinkaku-ji, and one of the guests especially liked drinking the sobayu (the water used to boil soba). Because of the time this took, we decided to skip the planned visit to Nijo Castle and instead added the Gion area. In Gion, they walked along Hanamikoji Street and seemed to enjoy the traditional atmosphere of Kyoto.

    Hello! I am Andy Murao. I love this job as I can visit various destinations with the people from all over the world. I am always thinking that I could help you know more about Japan and understand the attractiveness of Japan.

    I would like to provide a tour in accordance with your request and preference. Please let me know what you want to see, eat, experience, etc. and then I will propose a schedule based on them.

    There is one point to note. I like walking very much, so I might be a guide who forces you to take long walks.

    I look forward to attending you in Japan.

    Best regards,

    Andy Murao

    Jul 13, 2026
    webstere2025
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent
    Andy(Atsushi) was great and communicated with us beforehand about our…

    Jun 21, 2026
    Catherine_D
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in Osaka
    Andy was great . On time and patience…

    Jun 6, 2026
    eyeessess
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour!
    Andy Murao was an amazing and wonderful tour guide.…

    Jun 5, 2026
    Janice_W
    Viator review: Kyoto 9hr Private Tour (Kobe Dep. ) with Licensed Guide
    Great tour of Kyoto
    It was a good tour…

  • Tokyo in Half a Day: MEIJI JINGU SHRINE & SHIBUYA Pokemon Center

    Tokyo in Half a Day: MEIJI JINGU SHRINE & SHIBUYA Pokemon Center

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:50 meet at the Hotel
    • 10:00 1. THE IMPERIAL PALACE & the Tokyo Station
    • 11:00 2. MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
    • 11:45 3. TAKESHITA STREET
    • 12:55 4. SHIBUYA Pokemon Center
    • 13:00 see off at Shibuya PARCO

    Title: What Happens If a Guest Is Late for a Private Tour Meetup at Tokyo Station? A Licensed Guide's Report I thought it might be a no-show, but the guest and I were able to meet 50 minutes after the scheduled time. The guest had designated the Hotel as the meeting point rather than their own accommodation, and had gotten lost because they could not find the location. The guest apologized for being late, and we started with an explanation of the itinerary.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayChiyoda Line Hibiya~Meiji-jingumae178JPY
    Section 2SubwayFukutoshin Line Meiji-jingumae~Shibuya178JPY
    Total356JPY

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

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

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

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

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

    I look forward to meeting you soon.
    Thank you.

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

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

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

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

  • Nara in One Day: Nara Park & Kofuku-ji

    Nara in One Day: Nara Park & Kofuku-ji

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ JR Nara Station
    • 10:15 Nara Park
    • 10:30 Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall
    • 11:30 Nigatsu-do
    • 12:20 Kasuga Taisha
    • 13:02 Shin-Yakushi-ji
    • 13:50 Naramachi + Lunch
    • 14:40 Kofuku-ji
    • 16:00 Disband @ JR Nara Station

    Can You Do a Private Day Tour of Nara from Kyoto? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America, all visiting Japan for the first time. They traveled from Kyoto in the morning, and we met on time at JR Nara Station to begin the tour. Some of the guests were very interested in history and culture, asking many questions at every place we visited. Others were more interested in the deer, other animals, and sweets, so I tried to manage the schedule carefully to accommodate everyone's interests as much as possible. On this day they were moving to a hotel in Osaka and had a dinner reservation, so I was able to see them off at Nara Station before 16:00 as planned.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusJR Nara Station~In front of Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall & Kasuga Taisha250JPY
    Section 2BusTamukeyama & Nigatsu-do~Kasuga Taisha Main Shrine100JPY
    Section 3BusIn front of the Prefectural Office~JR Nara Station250JPY
    Total600JPY

    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Building 8:10 – Tokyo Tower 9:10~9:50 – Asakusa Sightseeing + Meal 10:10~12:00 – Meiji Shrine 12:30~13:15 – Shibuya 13:35~14:10 – Haneda Airport 14:30

    Title: What Can You See on a Half-Day Private Layover Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest was a solo traveler visiting Japan for a short half-day layover tour with no overnight stay, stopping in Tokyo while in transit. The flight had arrived at Haneda Airport at 5:40, and since the cafés had not yet opened, the guest kindly passed the time on the rooftop observation deck. The tour was scheduled to start at 8:30, but because roads can get congested at the end of the year, we left the airport shortly after 8:00. On the way to Tokyo Tower, the guest treated me and the driver to coffee at a Starbucks. The guest was very active and mentioned having traveled to 30 countries. Since we traveled by taxi, I was able to explain the destinations in advance during the ride, and our conversation ranged widely over the scenery outside, Japanese culture, the declining birthrate issue, wedding customs in Asia, and a recent aviation accident. The guest was intelligent, kind, considerate, and very pleasant to guide.

    I have been working as a tour guide once a week since the autumein 2024. I got 5 star ratings from 32 individuals or groups succesively.
    Previously, I have been working with grain business for 43 years. I was sent to a subsidiary office in New Orleans for three years.
    I love Japanese history, culture and nature and want as many viaitors as possible to know the good and beautiful things about Japan. There’s a Zen teaching that I hold dear. That is ‘Ichi-go ichie’, which means ’Treasure every encounter as it may not come again’. Looking forward to see you!

    Jul 4, 2026
    317roxaneh
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  • Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel meeting. Due to a mistake in the luggage transport arrangements, the guests had to travel to the hotel in Kyoto carrying their own suitcases each
    • 10:45 Arrived at Hyatt Place Kyoto, where they will be staying starting today 11:00 Short break at a matcha cafe near the hotel 12:00 Kinkaku-ji 13:45 Light meal (lunch) in Arashiyama
    • 14:35 Bamboo Grove 16:00 Fushimi Inari 17:25 Guided them to the hotel and the tour ended

    What Can You See on a Private Osaka-to-Kyoto Day Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests had arranged to have their luggage transported in advance to their Kyoto hotel for that night's stay, but due to some error the luggage could not be transported, so they had no choice but to carry it themselves to the Kyoto hotel. The tour began with all of us moving while carrying the luggage, using the Osaka subway, JR, and the Kyoto city subway. I searched for elevators wherever possible and moved with care to minimize the burden on the guests. We spent the first two hours or so just traveling, so in the end we only visited three places: Kinkaku-ji, the Arashiyama bamboo grove, and Fushimi Inari. The group was very close-knit, and everyone carried their luggage without a single complaint. I did not even ask why the transport had failed, as everyone was focused solely on solving the problem in front of us. Moving while carrying the luggage was tough, so after arriving at the Kyoto hotel and checking in, we rested for a while at a nearby matcha café before heading to Kinkaku-ji. At the end I saw them back to the hotel, and the tour concluded. The photo was taken in Arashiyama.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNamba~Umeda240JPY
    Section 2TrainOsaka~Kyoto580JPY
    Section 3SubwayKyoto~Marutamachi1,100JPY
    Section 4SubwayMarutamachi~Kitaoji0JPY
    Section 5BusKitaoji Bus Terminal~Kinkaku-ji-michi0JPY
    Section 6BusKinkaku-ji-michi~Kitano-Hakubaicho0JPY
    Section 7TrainKitano-Hakubaicho~Randen Arashiyama250JPY
    Section 8TrainSaga-Arashiyama~Inari240JPY
    Section 9TrainInari~Kyoto150JPY
    Section 10SubwayKyoto~Marutamachi0JPY
    Total2,560JPY

    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
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    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
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    Kazuo was great and…
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