Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji Market & Guide ends

    Tokyo: Tsukiji Market & Guide ends

    Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30　Meet at the hotel
    • 9:20　Tsukiji Market
    • 11:00　Tokyo Tower
    • 12:10　Guide ends

    Title: What Can You Eat at Tsukiji Market on a Private Tokyo Food Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report My final guiding assignment of the year was for a group visiting from North America who loved seafood, so we headed to Tsukiji Market. First, the guests enjoyed tuna sashimi and nigiri sushi, an abundance of fatty tuna (o-toro), fresh oysters, eel, and satsuma-age fish cakes, tasting one dish after another. Next, drawn to the fruit stalls, they tasted some strawberries. Two boxes of premium brand strawberries were purchased to enjoy back at the hotel, even though each box contained only nine strawberries and cost 6,000 yen! Someone in the group had a strawberry candy. Finally, they polished off some wagyu sirloin. We went up to the main observation deck of Tokyo Tower, but as it turned out, some of the guests had a fear of heights, so others in the group enjoyed the view. They bought souvenirs such as T-shirts, and the tour came to an end. Wanting to eat king crab, the guests took a taxi back to Tsukiji Market. What a fun finish!

    Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Toyosu Market Local Food Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShinjuku～Tsukiji Market280JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji Market～Akabanebashi180JPY
    Total460JPY

    Tour Report by Shuji

    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.

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    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 11:00　Meet up @ Hotel
    • 2. 11:40　@ Tsukiji
    • 3. 12:10　@ Ginza (Kabukiza Theater, Ginza Main Street, Kimuraya)
    • 4. 12:45　@ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
    • 5. 13:30　@ Tokyo Station (Station Plaza, Station Building, Midori no Madoguchi, Yaesu Exit)
    • 6. 14:10　@ Nihonbashi (Takashimaya Food Department)
    • 7. 14:20　Lunch @ Nihonbashi Takashimaya Basement Restaurant
    • 8. 15:40　@ Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine)
    • 9. 17:50　@ Roppongi (Roppongi Crossing, Keyakizaka Illumination)
    • 10. 18:15　Disband @ In front of restaurant in Roppongi Hills

    Title: What Can You See in One Day in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Private Tour Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. When asked why they chose Japan as their destination, they mentioned that "traveling to Japan is very popular right now." There were no specific sightseeing spots requested in advance, but despite arriving in Japan the previous night, everyone was in good condition and highly motivated to sightsee, so I planned a tour that would allow them to visit many places even in a short time. For example, before heading to the Imperial Palace, which was the first planned destination, we got off at a station slightly before it and walked through the lively Tsukiji Market and along Ginza's main avenue, where I introduced famous spots. Also, regarding the Shinkansen ticket exchange and seat reservations that they consulted me about that morning, the QR code could not be read at the ticket machine at Tokyo Station, so I checked with a station attendant, and in the end we completed the procedure at the relatively empty JR Cafe on the Yaesu side. Although the Shinkansen was extremely crowded due to the year-end and New Year period, we managed to secure seats, and after that they were able to enjoy the tour with peace of mind. We had lunch at a department store in Nihonbashi, and aside from one of the guests who ordered hamburg steak, the others enjoyed Japanese dishes such as tendon and chirashi sushi, repeatedly saying how delicious they were. Although there are many Japanese restaurants, including sushi shops, back home, they said the food they had here in Tokyo was by far more delicious. At Asakusa, they enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes. One of the guests drew the best fortune, while others drew the worst. Reading the text, one remarked, "This is spot on. This year has been a very tough one." Of course, the omikuji paper was taken home as a keepsake. One of the guests purchased a protective charm. By the time the Asakusa sightseeing ended, the evening darkness was gradually setting in. Due to time constraints we could not visit Shibuya, but instead, taking into account the guests' wishes, we headed to Roppongi Hills, from which the route back to their accommodation was easy to understand. I guided them to a spot where they could see the illuminations of Keyakizaka and the lit-up Tokyo Tower. One of the guests had initially said they wanted to shop indoors because it was cold, but upon seeing the beauty of the illuminations, they were delighted, saying, "This is worth seeing," and eagerly took photographs. Finally, I introduced a popular ramen shop within Hills and said goodbye in front of it.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainJR Keiyo Line　Shiomi Station～Hatchobori Station170JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro　Hatchobori Station～Tsukiji Station600JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro　Yurakucho Line　Ginza-itchome Station～Sakuradamon Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro　Ginza Line　Nihonbashi Station～Asakusa Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassTokyo Metro　Ginza Line　Asakusa Station～Hibiya Line　Roppongi Station0JPY
    Total770JPY

    Tour Report by Noripy

    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!

    Request Booking

    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!…

  • Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day

    Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day

    Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Hotel – 10:00 Meiji Shrine – 11:00 Harajuku Takeshita Street – 11:40 Cat Street – 12:30 Tsukiji Outer Market – 13:00 Lunch – 14:20 Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine – 14:40 Fukagawa Fudo Temple – 15:30 Disband at Tsukiji Market Station

    What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private Tokyo tour for guests visiting Japan for the first time from North America. At the guests' request, the original 8:30 start time was pushed back by 30 minutes, and we met at the Hotel. Since the guests planned to travel to Kyoto the following day, stay for a few days, and then return to Tokyo, we first went to Shimbashi Station so they could purchase a convenient SUICA card. Traveling by train and subway, the guests were impressed by how clean and quiet the cars were, and they were even more delighted by the sushi we had for lunch at Tsukiji. They said that even if they paid ten times as much back home, they could not find sushi this delicious. They were very happy, which made bringing them there truly worthwhile.

    Click here for more details: Tsukiji & Asakusa Local Food Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShimbashi～Yoyogi208JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Tsukiji209JPY
    Section 3SubwayTsukiji～Monzen-nakacho178JPY
    Section 4SubwayMonzen-nakacho～Tsukiji Market178JPY
    Total773JPY

    Tour Report by Michio

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

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

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

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

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

  • Otaru & Yoichi from Sapporo by Car

    Otaru & Yoichi from Sapporo by Car

    Otaru & Yoichi from Sapporo by Car with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 – Hotel Forza Sapporo Meeting the customers　
    • 2. 10:00~10:30 – Yoichi Liqueur Factory　
    • 3. 11:00~11:30 – Occi-Gabi (Ochigabi Winery)
    • 4. 11:40~11:55 – In front of the main gate of the Nikka Whisky Distillery　
    • 　Entering the city of Otaru, we showed from the car window the canal, the old bank street (Wall Street of the North), and Sakaimachi Street.
    • 5. 13:00~14:00 – Lunch (at Otaru Waraku)
    • 6. 14:20~14:50 – LeTAO Confectionery Shop
    • 7. 15:00～15:40 – Financial Museum (former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch)
    • 8. 15:50～16:15 – Kitaichi Glass Building No. 3　
    • 9. 16:20～16:30 – Music Box Hall Main Store　
    • 10. 17:10 – Hotel Forza Sapporo Seeing off the customers

    Title: What Is a Private Winter Day Tour of Otaru and Yoichi in Hokkaido Like? A Licensed Guide's Report On the day of the tour, the Yoichi and Otaru area (as well as Sapporo) was covered by a cold wave, and snow continued to fall. Fortunately, there were occasional breaks of clear skies, so the guests were able to enjoy playing in the snow. Initially, I had considered visiting the Nikka Whisky Distillery in Yoichi, but I had learned in advance that it was closed for the New Year holidays (December 23 to January 6). As an alternative, I guided the guests to a liqueur shop and the OcciGabi Winery. Along the way, I took the guests to the front gate of the Nikka Whisky Distillery, where they enjoyed taking photographs.

    Click here for more details: Otaru & Yoichi from Sapporo by Car with Licensed Guide

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

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Osaka: Mochi pounding event & Dotonbori

    Osaka: Mochi pounding event & Dotonbori

    Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 　Meet at hotel
    • 9:40　Mochi pounding event
    • 11:20　Osaka Castle
    • 13:30　Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
    • 15:00　Lunch
    • 16:00　Shinsekai
    • 16:40　Dotonbori
    • 17:00　Disband

    What Is a Private Osaka Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Namba, Dotonbori, and Local Mochi-Pounding I guided a group visiting from North America. They had hoped to see the Ramen Museum, but unfortunately it was closed for the year-end holiday, so I found information about a mochi-pounding (mochitsuki) event taking place in the city and suggested it as an alternative. It seemed to be their first time seeing traditional Japanese mochi-pounding, and they appeared to enjoy it. They passed on trying it themselves, but they were delighted to eat the freshly made mochi. For lunch, they requested delicious ramen, so I suggested a shop that is popular online (not Ichiran). It was near Namba Station, so the location was a bit hard to find and we got slightly lost, but we managed to arrive, which was a relief, and the elegant, delicious ramen suited their taste, which was wonderful. They also requested to see kitchen knives near Tsutenkaku, so we went to a shop. Bringing knives into their destination country seemed difficult, so they decided to purchase them on a future visit. I guided them through Hozenji Yokocho and Dotonbori, and then we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNamba～Nakatsu240JPY
    Section 2SubwayNakatsu～Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 3SubwayTanimachi 4-chome～Tengachaya240JPY
    Section 4TrainTengachaya～Sumiyoshi Taisha180JPY
    Section 5TrainSumiyoshi Taisha～Namba240JPY
    Section 6SubwayNamba～Dobutsuen-mae190JPY
    Section 7SubwayEbisucho～Nipponbashi190JPY
    Total1,520JPY

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

    Request Booking

    Oct 23, 2025
    536terryw
    Great day out in Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noriko was a great guide. She had…

    Oct 22, 2025
    pascalpJ9601TX
    Bamboo forest, Monkeys, and Temples in North-West Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Family of four adults:…

    Oct 14, 2025
    9
    903tammyw
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Osaka with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
    Amazing! Our guide Noriko and our…

    Oct 11, 2025
    Graham S
    A great introduction to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noriko-san was a wonderful guide. She…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle and stay there

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle and stay there

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Pick up at the hotel
    • 9:00-11:00 Move to Osaka Castle and stay there.
    • 11:20-12:30 Dotonbori / Hozenji Alley
    • 12:30 End of the tour

    Some of the guests were not feeling well and decided to stay at the Hotel. When I asked about the symptoms, I learned there had been vomiting, and appetite was low as well, so I thought it might possibly be a norovirus infection. Since today might be the last day clinics were open, I advised that seeing a doctor would be wise if recovery did not follow. At Dotonbori, the guests cheered up and laughed. As they planned to stroll around the area, have something to eat, and then head back, we ended a little earlier than scheduled. We used an electric car for the trip to and from Osaka Castle, and took a taxi to Dotonbori, so it was an easy day for me as well.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTennoji～Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 2OtherTanimachi 4-chome – In front of the castle tower～Taxi stand600JPY
    Total840JPY

    Tour Report by Yuki

    Hi! I’m an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. I’m also a national guide as well. I’d like to expand my guide area to help tourists.
    The town of Osaka offers a different atmosphere than Tokyo. I like both exciting Osaka and nature-filled Wakayama Prefecture.
    If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, you can go to Koyasan for one day, or even for a day trip, so I recommend sightseeing at Koyasan.
    If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the nature of Koyasan will relax you.
    I will introduce you to the unique culture, history and must-see sights.

    Request Booking

    Jun 23, 2026
    Shelley_E
    Viator review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    There is much to do in…
    There is much to…

    May 28, 2026
    Duncan_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Great Tour of Kyoto
    The tour was both very informative and…

    May 28, 2026
    ignaciosilenzi
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Koyasan with Miyuki
    Miyuki was…

    May 23, 2026
    189mirjamf
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Grandioser Einblick in eine fremde Kultur
    Sehr nette und…

  • Tokyo: Imperial Palace & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo: Imperial Palace & Sensoji Temple

    Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00-13:50 Yanaka, Nezu Shrine, Lunch
    • 14:05-14:50 Imperial Palace
    • 15:10-16:00 Sensoji Temple

    What Is a Private Walking Tour of Yanaka, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests wished to visit places with fewer crowds, so they enjoyed a stroll through Yanaka. They were very interested in the quiet, narrow alleys with few tourists, as well as the temple gardens and cemeteries. They took many photos and enjoyed the atmosphere of the town with great interest. For lunch they wished to try something unusual in Japanese cuisine, so I recommended kamameshi. They were intrigued by the small iron pots. As they also wished to see the Imperial Palace, I guided them to Nijubashi Bridge and the statue of Kusunoki Masashige. They asked many questions about the emperor and the shogun. At Sensoji Temple, they enjoyed taking photos of Kaminarimon Gate, the main hall, and the garden, and were interested in the difference between Buddhism and Shinto.

    Click here for more details: Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayToei Metro One-Day Pass～Toei Metro One-Day Pass900JPY
    Total900JPY

    Tour Report by Yumiko

    Hello, I am Yumiko Hoshida. I was born in Osaka and live in Tokyo now. I have been to UK (ESL) and The USA (Executive Secretary course) as a student.
    After I came back to Japan, I worked at Osaka EXPO as an interpreter. And then I worked at foreign companies at Osaka and Tokyo. After resignation, I have got the national guiding license. I have been enjoying guiding sightseeing spots and showing Japanese history & culture etc. to the guests from overseas. It is really wonderful for me to spend time with foreign guests in Japan.
    I am very looking forward to welcoming foreign guests.
    I do hope to see YOU soon!

    Request Booking

    May 13, 2025
    Glenda_P
    4 Hour Walking Tour Tokyo
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yumiko was an excellent guide. Yumiko met…

  • Kyoto in 1 Day from Kobe: Private Car Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Kobe: Private Car Tour

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Kobe: Private Car Tour, Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at the hotel　10:30 Fushimi Inari　11:50 Lunch (sushi)　13:10 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove　14:20 Kinkaku-ji　15:30 Gion Area　16:20 Head to the hotel in Kobe
    • 18:00 Arrive at the hotel　Tour ends

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour to Kobe and Arashiyama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. They came to Japan partly to preview the city of Kobe and a university, as one member of the group plans to do a short-term study program at a university in Kobe the following year. The group was quiet throughout and asked very few questions. One of the guests took a few photos at each destination, but the others rarely took pictures. Their only shopping was for drinks at a convenience store. Even so, everyone listened attentively to my explanations. The entrance to the Hotel was hard to find, and there was no place to park the private vehicle, so it was fortunate that we arrived early in the morning to check. The driver also arrived early to confirm the situation. The start was originally scheduled for 9:30, but as I was concerned about traffic on the way back, I asked to move it up by 30 minutes. This turned out to be the right decision. Traffic was heavy once we entered Kobe city, and we arrived back at the Hotel at exactly 6:00. The photo was taken at the bamboo grove in Arashiyama.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Kobe: Private Car Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherRemm Plus Kobe Sannomiya～Remm Plus Kobe Sannomiya0JPY
    Total0JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

    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.

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo in One Day: 30 @ Asakusa & 20 @ Takeshita Street

    Tokyo in One Day: 30 @ Asakusa & 20 @ Takeshita Street

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.10:00 Meet up @ Hotel Metropolitan Edmont
    • 2:10:30 @ Asakusa
    • 3.11:50 Lunch @ Tsukiji Sushi Iwa Sohonke
    • 4:12:40 @ Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 5:14:20 @ Meiji Shrine
    • 5:15:20 @ Takeshita Street
    • 6.16:00 Disband @ Harajuku Station

    Can You Do a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Covering Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. They had arrived a little earlier in the month, so they had already seen Shinjuku and Shibuya. They mentioned that where they live it can drop to minus 40 degrees, so they did not find the Japanese winter cold at all. Since it was a large group, I arranged some free time along Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Because it was a big group, I had reserved a private room at a restaurant for lunch in advance, and the guests said it was a nice room. At the outer market they enjoyed wagyu beef and white strawberries, and they said they would like to come again to try things like a sea urchin rice bowl. At Meiji Shrine, the quiet atmosphere of the grounds seemed to be especially appreciated. When I showed a photo of Emperor Meiji, it looked so much like one of the guests that everyone laughed together. On Takeshita Street the guests enjoyed gashapon machines, shopping, and sweets. After that, they wanted to continue exploring Harajuku on their own, so we parted ways in Harajuku.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainIidabashi～Asakusabashi167JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusabashi～Asakusa178JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Tsukiji209JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji～Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Total763JPY

    Tour Report by FUMIKO

    Hello, I am Fumiko, an English-speaking Tourist Guide. I have been guiding foreign visitors science 2016. Please let me know your bucket lists whiles you are staying in Japan and what you are interested in. I will make the best plan for you. This is an once in a lifetime experience for you. As for myself, I love traveling, meeting people, eating local food, drinking, history, and art. I am learning Ikebana, traditional Japanese-style flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. I also love sports, especially tennis. I like children, so I can teach them some origami, folding paper. I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Japan.

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    Jul 27, 2026
    zyarisa
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko tour good vibes only
    Mrs. fumiko was very…

    Jul 23, 2026
    734mortenp
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Nice tour of Tokyo
    Don’t visit Tokyo without a guide! You’ll…

    Jul 10, 2026
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    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Fumiko was wonderful. …
    Fumiko was wonderful. You can…

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  • Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour

    Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour

    Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • Meet at hotel in Ginza 8-chome at 8:25 ~ 8:35 Shimbashi Station ~ 9:00 Tobu Asakusa Station ~ 9:47 JR Ueno Station ~ 10:28 JR Utsunomiya Station ~ 11:22 JR Nikko Station ~ 11:35 Tobu Nikko Station ~
    • 12:30 Chuzenji Onsen Station ~ 12:40 Lake Chuzenji ~ lunch ~ Kegon Falls ~ 14:10 Chuzenji Onsen Station ~ 14:37 Nishisando Entrance ~ 14:50 Toshogu Shrine ~ by taxi to Tobu Nikko Station at 16:00
    • 17:27 Tobu Nikko Station ~ 19:15 disband at Tobu Asakusa Station.

    Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Nikko: A Licensed Guide's Report on Toshogu, Lake Chuzenji, and Kegon Falls The original plan was to take a Tobu Railway limited express to Nikko, so we went to Tobu Asakusa Station, but everything was sold out until after 11:00. We quickly changed plans to take the Shinkansen and transfer to a local line via Utsunomiya to reach Nikko. The reserved seats were fully booked with holiday travelers, so we decided to take the non-reserved cars. There was an earlier Shinkansen bound for Utsunomiya than the one the station staff had suggested, so we took that, and all of us managed to get seats. When I checked, the transfer to the local line at Utsunomiya allowed only three minutes, but we just barely made it. A high school student offered a seat. Up to this point, everything went luckily. I had heard beforehand that one of the guests had a bad knee and preferred not to walk much. On the train, I checked online for available seats on the return Tobu limited express, and since there were openings, once we arrived at the station I had them reserve the limited express online, and I reserved one too. At Lake Chuzenji, the mountains were covered in snow, and one of the guests from Asia enjoyed a snowy landscape for the second time in their life, following the previous day at Yuzawa. Since Mount Nantai is a volcano resembling Mount Fuji, we took a commemorative photo. For one of the guests who does not eat meat or pork, we had the Nikko specialty yuba set meal and yuba curry rice. All of the smaller falls at Kegon Falls, apart from the main cascade, were frozen. The guest was delighted, saying that there are many waterfalls in their home region as well, but none set against a snowy landscape. One of the guests works abroad. When we went from the west approach entrance to the entrance of Toshogu, one of the guests' knee began to hurt and, unable to walk any further, said they would not go in and would wait there. Since it would be a shame to have come this far without seeing the Yomeimon Gate and the Three Wise Monkeys at Toshogu, I suggested we go in, so we climbed the steps and viewed the Three Wise Monkeys and the Yomeimon Gate, and took commemorative photos. That guest said they would wait there, so I guided the other two up to the Sleeping Cat inside the Yomeimon Gate. One guest did not want to take off their shoes, so I guided only the other guest inside the main shrine. They asked whether we could take a taxi to the station, so we went to the taxi stand, where an available taxi happened to be waiting, and we traveled to Tobu Nikko Station by taxi. Since we had time to spare, they did some shopping and passed the time at a café. They made a large amount of purchases. From my side, I gave them dried sweet potatoes and glasses in a paulownia wood box shaped like Mount Fuji at the base as a gift. I wish that guest could have enjoyed Toshogu a little more, but afterward that guest remarked that Nikko is a wonderful place. All of the guests had visited Japan three or four times before. Other traveling families were said to be visiting Disneyland at the time. We parted at Asakusa Station.

    Click here for more details: Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShimbashi～Asakusa Station210JPY
    Section 2SubwayAsakusa Station～Ueno Station180JPY
    Section 3TrainJR Ueno Station～JR Nikko Station4,940JPY
    Section 4BusTobu Nikko Station～Chuzenji Onsen Station1,250JPY
    Section 5BusChuzenji Onsen Station～Nishisando Entrance1,150JPY
    Section 6TrainTobu Nikko Station～Tobu Asakusa Station3,195JPY
    Total10,925JPY

    Tour Report by Akey

    Hello, new friends! I’m Akio Yasui. I was born in Kyoto City and graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto and moved to Tokyo for working. I used to work for international companies as a marketing advertising specialist. I have been to fourty five different countries until now and been to all prefectures in Japan.
    I have deep knowledge of both traditional and modern culture of Japan based on my experience in Kyoto, Tokyo and their surrounding areas such as Kamakura, Nikko, Nara, Osaka. I can design exclusive and the optinum itineray for you and guide you not only to ordinary tour courses but also casual or hidden locations. My task is making you enjoy Japan and like our culture and people. Let me guide you any where you want to visit and enjoy Japan together.

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    Mar 30, 2026
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    You can tailor make this…
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