Category: Uncategorized

  • Tokyo in One Day: Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tokyo in One Day: Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Gather at Hotel Century Southern Tower
    • 10:15 Assistance with purchasing Welcome Suica JAPAN at the JR East Travel Service Center at Shinjuku Station South Exit
    • 10:40 Commemorative photo in front of the Meiji Jingu Torii Gate
    • 10:55 Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • 11:50 Loyal Dog Hachiko, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Pokemon Center, Nintendo Official Store
    • 13:30 Lunch at "Tsukiji Sushiko"
    • 14:10 Dessert (ice cream) at Yonemoto Coffee New Store
    • 14:50 Asakusa Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple
    • 16:40 Disband at "Shinjuku Station New South Exit Ticket Gate"

    Title: What Is a Private Family Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were members of a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America, arriving late the previous night and staying in Tokyo before continuing to Kyoto and Osaka, then returning to Tokyo for one more night before heading home. I had received an email explaining that the trip was to celebrate a birthday, so I created an itinerary centered around that and sent it to the guests in advance. Because they had arrived late at their Hotel and were short on sleep due to the 14-hour time difference, one of the guests looked a little sleepy in the afternoon, but after enjoying some cookies-and-cream ice cream, energy was restored and we were able to reach Asakusa, the final stop of the itinerary. During my guiding I always tell the guests, "Please feel free to ask me anything," and this time there was a question about wanting to buy pads that you stick on the soles of your feet when tired from walking, so I shared a photo of "Kyusoku Jikan" that I found online. As you can imagine from the attached image, I once again ended up helping to eat most of the rainbow cotton candy that could not be finished.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainJR Yamanote Line Shinjuku Station～JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station150JPY
    Section 2TrainJR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station～JR Yamanote Line Shibuya Station150JPY
    Section 3TrainTokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station～Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station210JPY
    Section 4TrainTokyo Metro Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station210JPY
    Section 5TrainTokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Kanda Station180JPY
    Section 6TrainJR Chuo Line Kanda Station～JR Chuo Line Shinjuku Station180JPY
    Total1,080JPY

    Tour Report by Bruce

    Hello (Konnichiwa). My name is Masanori SUGANO. Most of my friends call me Bruce, so you can call me Bruce. It would be my pleasure to act as a guide for you as I have been a guide for over twenty years. I curate my tours to suit your quest for knowledge and make you laugh with Dad jokes as an ice breaker. I can add some of my experiences as seasoning since I’m a seasoned guide. I always gain a new perspective through my guests’ eyes, and that’s why I am passionate about my job.
    You can create your own itinerary, and when we meet, you can let me know what things you want to see. I am very flexible and can go off the beaten track on your request.
    Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to meeting you.
    Thank you (Arigatou-gozaimasu).

    Request Booking

    Aug 25, 2026
    T8432CMjeffr
    6 hr Tokyo tour with Bruce
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    The tour was…

    Aug 5, 2026
    Polly1818
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Bruce was the best !! 5⭐️
    Bruce was our…

    Aug 3, 2026
    AJEDav
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide
    Bruce Sagano was terrific! He was very…

    Jul 2, 2026
    jamespmccormick
    Tripadvisor review: The Best Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Great Tokyo tour with Bruce!
    We booked a 6 hour…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji & Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji & Harajuku Takeshita Street

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
    • 9:40 Tsukiji
    • 11:10 Asakusa (Skytree photo)
    • 12:10 Lunch @Mendokoro Ichiryu Asakusa Main Store
    • 13:30 Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 13:50 Meiji Shrine
    • 14:20 Harajuku Takeshita Street
    • 15:10 Disband at Harajuku Station

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street The weather was fairly good, with cloudy skies for much of the day, but there was no rain, so we were able to proceed with the tour smoothly. At Tsukiji, the guests wanted to buy strawberries, so I showed them around and they made their purchase. They enjoyed a strawberry smoothie and parfait and seemed very satisfied. In Asakusa, they browsed quite a variety of souvenir shops and enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes. We stopped by a ramen shop in Asakusa, and I was surprised at how expensive it was. At Meiji Shrine, the guests had many questions about religion and listened attentively to the explanations. On Takeshita Street, they visited many different shops and spent a good amount of time there. When our time was up at the Harajuku Takeshita exit, the guests said they could make their own way back from there, so the tour came to an end.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku～Tsukiji600JPY
    Section 2TrainTsukiji～Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3TrainAsakusa～Shibuya0JPY
    Section 4TrainShibuya～Harajuku146JPY
    Total746JPY

    Tour Report by Koba

    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.

    Request Booking

    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…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:35 Meet at Kyoto Station Shinkansen exit　11:10　Nanzen-ji Temple　11:30 Eikan-do Temple　12:45 Yasaka Pagoda & Sannei-zaka　13:00 Short break　13:40 Kiyomizu-dera Temple　14:40 Ninen-zaka & Ishibei-koji Alley
    • 15:00 Yasaka Shrine　15:20 Gion　16:30 Help purchase Shinkansen tickets at Kyoto Station and end the tour

    Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Eastern Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America, traveling around Asia by cruise ship. From the outset, they had expressed a wish to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple. During our prior communication, I had been told that they could not walk for very long, but I had not been informed about any difficulty with stairs or slopes. Had I known, I would have suggested against Kiyomizu-dera. Today's itinerary involved a lot of walking, centered on the eastern part of Kyoto, which may have been challenging for one of the guests. Since it was one of the guests who led the way in decision-making, in the end we did visit Kiyomizu-dera. Some information had to be explained more than once, but this was handled without any trouble. When they tried to reserve the return Shinkansen on a smartphone it did not go smoothly, so I guided them to Kyoto Station and ended the tour there. The guests were deeply moved by the garden at Eikan-do Temple. The photo was taken near the Yasaka Pagoda. This private walking tour of eastern 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. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto～Keage260JPY
    Section 2BusNanzen-ji & Eikan-do-mae～Higashiyama-Sanjo230JPY
    Section 3BusHigashiyama-Sanjo～Kiyomizu-michi230JPY
    Total720JPY

    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.

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    Sep 28, 2026
    Miguel_E
    Amazing Service
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time with Kazuo.…

    Sep 27, 2026
    T
    TrailBlazer47194
    Kazuo Sumi is a great guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our guide Kazuo Sumi…

    Sep 1, 2026
    Steve6172014
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 7, 2026
    Pascale_Q
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Very good private tour of Kyoto with Kazuo
    We had…

  • Wakayama in Half a Day: Koyasan Station & temple grounds

    Wakayama in Half a Day: Koyasan Station & temple grounds

    Mt. Koya Sacred Sites Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:54　Meet at Hashimoto Station and accompany to Koyasan
    • 10:42　　　　　　　Arrive at Koyasan Station
    • 10:50～11:10　　Move to Kondo-mae by mountain bus, 410 yen
    • 11:10～11:30　　Leave luggage at Saizen-in and complete simple procedures
    • 11:30～13:20　Tour the interior of Konpon Daito, visit Kongobuji Temple
    • 13:30～14:10　Lunch at a restaurant in Senjuinbashi
    • 14:20～14:30　Move to Okunoin-mae by mountain bus, 270 yen
    • 14:30～15:30　Stay at Okunoin
    • 15:30～15:35　Move to Kondo-mae by mountain bus, 320 yen
    • 15:35～15:55　Tour the temple grounds
    • 15:55 Return to Saizen-in behind the temple grounds and disband

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Mount Koya (Koyasan) Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests seemed to be looking forward to relaxing in the nature of Mount Koya after visiting large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. After arriving, we learned that there was a zazen meditation session at Saizen-in at 4:00, and since they could not attend the following day, we finished the tour before 4:00 and I saw them off at Saizen-in, ending the tour there. They understood very well that the interior of the Konpon Daito pagoda and the temple complex form a 3D mandala. I had talked about the white-robed pilgrims (henro) on the train, so some of the guests recognized them when they encountered them on Mount Koya. The guests also purchased goshuin stamp books and received goshuin stamps at two locations. They seemed to love photography, with the guests taking many photos, some with a single-lens reflex camera and others with a smartphone. At Kongobu-ji Temple, we met Hiroshi Senju, the artist who painted the fusuma sliding-door paintings created for the 1200th anniversary of the founding of Mount Koya. The television coverage had just finished, and Mr. Senju, who resides in North America, spoke to us in English. Since I had always included his works in my guide talks, it felt like Kobo Daishi had arranged this encounter for me.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKoyasan Station～Kondo-mae410JPY
    Section 2BusSenjuinbashi～Okunoin-mae270JPY
    Section 3BusOkunoin-mae～Kondo-mae320JPY
    Total1,000JPY

    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

    Aug 17, 2026
    yasmintX6792FN
    Great trip
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    It was a great time and very interesting…

    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…

  • Hyogo in One Day: Mount Rokko & Nankinmachi

    Hyogo in One Day: Mount Rokko & Nankinmachi

    Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Kobe Port Terminal
    • 10:45 at Mount Rokko
    • 13:00 at Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
    • 14:30 at Kikumasamune Sake Brewery Memorial Hall
    • 15:45 at Nankinmachi (Chinatown)
    • 16:15 Dismiss at Nankinmachi

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Kobe Like? Mount Rokko and a Sake Brewery, by a Licensed Guide The guests were a slightly older group from North America, both strong walkers who moved smoothly throughout the day. They seemed to be great admirers of Japan and were very interested not only in the main sights but also in the everyday atmosphere of the city, asking many questions. Unfortunately, the Mount Rokko cable car was closed for maintenance, so we used a substitute bus service (the guests had been informed of this in advance). They appeared very satisfied with the panoramic view from the summit. At the sake brewery, they toured with great enthusiasm and enjoyed the tastings, including the paid ones. In particular, at Hakutsuru they purchased a handmade, limited-production Junmai Daiginjo sake. It was a limited run of just over 200 bottles, and since the guests bought the very last bottle of the day, all the sales staff gave them a round of applause, which delighted the guests greatly. They said they would look forward to enjoying this sake with a friend in North America who loves Japanese sake. In Nankinmachi, they took a commemorative photo in front of the animal of their zodiac sign. They also mentioned they would have dinner after the tour at the Kobe beef restaurant I had recommended, and we parted ways after I explained its location.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainPort Terminal～Sannomiya210JPY
    Section 2TrainSannomiya～Rokko200JPY
    Section 3OtherRokko Cable Station～Rokko Cable Sanjo Station1,800JPY
    Section 4TrainSumiyoshi～Motomachi200JPY
    Total2,410JPY

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Request Booking

    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
    Viator review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    Jul 25, 2026
    Hdixjdixj
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
    Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
    We were taken…

    Jul 20, 2026
    Eric_W
    Viator review: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    Castle journey worth your time!
    Our tour with…

  • Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Tenryuji Temple

    Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Tenryuji Temple

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo Kamogawa
    • 09:30 to 10:20 Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 10:40 to 11:40 Toji Temple
    • 12:30 to 13:30 Nijo Castle
    • 14:00 to 15:00 Tenryuji Temple
    • 15:15 to 15:45 Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge, Sagano Bamboo Grove
    • 16:30 Dismissal Subway Kyoto City Hall Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Temple and Ramen Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today's guests came from Europe. They had been enjoying a long trip through East Asia over the course of their journey and stopped in Japan along the way. The guests were very fond of ramen and said that Japanese ramen was delicious, eating it every day during their stay. For today's lunch as well, I took them to a ramen restaurant. They were very interested in Japanese Buddhist statues and said they were overwhelmed by the powerful presence of the three-dimensional mandala at To-ji Temple. They also mentioned they would be visiting Nara soon, so I recommended the National Treasure Museum at Kofuku-ji Temple, which houses many culturally valuable Buddhist statues.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall～Keihan Sanjo220JPY
    Section 2TrainSanjo～Fushimi Inari220JPY
    Section 3TrainToji～Kyoto180JPY
    Section 4BusKyoto Station～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 5SubwayNijojo-mae～Nijo220JPY
    Section 6TrainNijo～Saga-Arashiyama200JPY
    Section 7TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Nijo200JPY
    Section 8SubwayNijo～Kyoto City Hall220JPY
    Total1,690JPY

    Tour Report by Haru

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Request Booking

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Meet at Hotel New Otani Garden Tower
    • 10:00 Nezu Shrine, Yanaka
    • 12:00 Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple
    • 13:00 Lunch at Tsukiji Market "Sushi Zanmai"
    • 14:00 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 15:00 Drop off at Akasaka-mitsuke (nearest station to the hotel) and finish

    What Can You See in One Day in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Full-Day Private Tour Report The guests were a lively group visiting from North America, who chatted constantly and were very cheerful. Since they had a cruise starting the following afternoon, their main wish was to see as much of Tokyo as possible in one day. We first visited Nezu Shrine, then walked through Yanaka to Nippori, and afterward headed to Asakusa. At Sensoji Temple, they took many photos at the five-story pagoda and the main hall. They did not seem particularly interested in Nakamise Street and passed through it quickly on the way to Tsukiji. They really enjoyed the conveyor-belt sushi restaurant at Tsukiji Market and ate a great deal. By this point they appeared quite tired, but we proceeded as planned to Shinjuku Gyoen. They were disappointed that the cherry blossoms were not yet in bloom, but they loved the Japanese garden and took many photos around the pond. They then wished to visit a discount store, so we headed toward Shinjuku Station, but they said they were tired and wanted to return, so I saw them off near their hotel around Akasaka-mitsuke, ending the tour. They walked quickly and briskly, so we managed to complete the packed itinerary. Since they planned to visit the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace the next day, I wrote down the nearest station and exit on a note and gave it to them, which they were very happy to receive.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNagatacho～Nezu210JPY
    Section 2TrainNippori～Asakusa330JPY
    Section 3SubwayAsakusa～Tsukiji290JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji～Shinjuku Gyoen210JPY
    Section 5SubwayShinjuku-sanchome～Akasaka-mitsuke180JPY
    Total1,220JPY

    Tour Report by YUMI

    I’m YUMI. Japan is full of history, nature and culture. I would like to talk about them from many aspects. When you have some questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. There’re many off the beaten paths in Japan. If you want to walk in a hidden local area, I’ll tailor the special course as you wish.
    Experiencing new foods is also one of many intriguing things during your trip. I would recommend anything from street foods such as Ramen, Yakitori to authentic Sushi or elegant courses. My policy is to cherish your feelings and time. Let’s enjoy talking and walking with me!

    Request Booking

    Jun 6, 2026
    Michelle0309
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Off the tourist track in Tokyo
    We had such a lovely time…

    May 25, 2026
    lynnv748
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hakone was a highlight of our vacation
    We loved our day…

    May 20, 2026
    Suzana F
    Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji Food and Toyosu Market with Government-Licensed Guide
    We learned and enjoyed every minut
    Yumi was a fanty…

    May 14, 2026
    Robert_L
    Excellent tour with our outstanding guide, Yumi
    Viator review: Tokyo 6 hr Private Guided Tour & Tea Ceremony Experience
    Yumi is…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Kyoto in One Day: Nijo Castle & Kyoto Imperial Palace

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hotel Meet (@Hotel)
    • 10:00-10:40 Travel (Karasuma Line & Tozai Line; Kyoto → Nijojo-mae)
    • 10:40-11:50 Nijo Castle visit
    • 11:50-12:30 Travel (City Bus; Nijojo-mae → Waratenjin-mae)
    • 12:30-13:30 Lunch (Japanese Cuisine Joy)
    • 13:40-14:50 Kinkaku-ji visit
    • 14:50- 15:20 Travel (City Bus; Kinkaku-ji-mae → Karasuma Imadegawa)
    • 15:20-16:00 Kyoto Imperial Palace visit
    • 16:00 Tour ends at the Imperial Palace.　　　
    • After the tour, we took the guests to Kyoto Station and said goodbye

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Kyoto's Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and the Imperial Palace Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from South America. They chose the English tour rather than the Spanish one because they felt the English-speaking guides were of a higher level. The guests were friends from their university days and were visiting Japan for the first time. I took them to Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The weather was clear and sunny, if anything a little too hot. Among the guests, most enjoyed Nijo Castle the most, while another preferred the Kyoto Imperial Palace. At Nijo Castle, they were pleased that they could go inside the Ninomaru Palace, but felt it was a shame that the other sites could only be seen from the outside. They also appreciated that, unlike the other places, the Kyoto Imperial Palace was not crowded.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 2BusNijojo-mae～Waratenjin-mae230JPY
    Section 3BusKinkaku-ji-mae～Karasuma Imadegawa230JPY
    Total720JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

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    Aug 4, 2026
    Elie_S
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Wonderful and informative walking tour with Michi
    We had a lovely…

    Jul 19, 2026
    Wander35832177180
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Kyoto temple tour
    Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Abby_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Javier P
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:30 Meet at the hotel
    • 11:00-13:40 Asakura Museum of Sculpture, SCAI The Bath House, Kayaba Coffee, former Yoshida liquor store, around Ueno Sakuragi, Tsuiji-bei wall, HAGISO, Iseya
    • 14:10 Arrive at the hotel
    • The guest had an errand to run after the tour, so we returned to the hotel a little earlier.

    What Is a Private Art and Culture Walking Tour of Yanaka in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests wished to arrive back at their hotel a little earlier, as they had an appointment after the tour. They were very interested in art, so I made sure to allow as much time as possible at the requested Asakura Museum of Sculpture and SCAI The Bathhouse. Afterward, we visited some popular sightseeing spots in the surrounding area. The guests enjoyed the atmosphere of the neighborhood, taking photographs, and strolling around. The Kawazu cherry blossoms were in beautiful bloom, which delighted them greatly. At the requested HAGISO, they enjoyed a cup of coffee. At the washi paper shop Iseya, they made a purchase and were very satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayMetro one-day pass～Metro one-day pass600JPY
    Total600JPY

    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!

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    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…

  • Ishikawa in One Day: Myoryuji Temple & Seisonkaku

    Ishikawa in One Day: Myoryuji Temple & Seisonkaku

    Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    March, 2025

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:50　Meet at Hotel Kanazawa
    • 09:30　Myoryuji Temple
    • 10:20　Yoshiro & Yoshio Taniguchi Kanazawa Museum of Architecture
    • 10:35　Nishi Chaya District
    • 11:25　Kazuemachi Chaya District
    • 11:40　Higashi Chaya District
    • 12:10　Lunch
    • 13:30　Ishikawa Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts
    • 13:50　Seisonkaku
    • 14:20　D.T. Suzuki Museum
    • 14:40　Disband at D.T. Suzuki Museum

    What Is a Private Kanazawa Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Architecture, Tea Districts, and Crafts I guided a guest visiting from North America. The guest had been to Japan several times before, and this time the trip was centered on Kanazawa. Having studied architecture as a student, the guest wanted to focus mainly on Kanazawa's architecture, historic townscapes, and traditional crafts. The clever tricks of Myoryuji Temple seemed to be greatly appreciated. The quiet scenery of the Nishi Chaya District and the Kazuemachi Chaya District was also to the guest's liking. At the Higashi Chaya District, the guest enjoyed the elegant Shima teahouse as well. For lunch, the guest wanted local cuisine and enjoyed an oden set meal in the Higashi Chaya District. In the afternoon, the traditional crafts at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts, the magnificent Seisonkaku Villa, and the tranquil D.T. Suzuki Museum were also well received. The guest mentioned having no particular likes or dislikes when it comes to Japanese cuisine. The guest was looking forward to visiting Takayama, Shirakawa-go, and Nousaku in Takaoka on the upcoming part of the trip. (Regarding the schedule change: the meeting point, start time, and end time were originally planned as Kanazawa Station from 10:00 to 16:00, but at the guest's request the meeting point was changed to the Hotel and the time was changed to 9:00 to 15:00.)

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

    Tour Report by Sho

    I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. I have also guided foreign people around Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture as an international activity of an English circle. I was a volunteer interpreter at the training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

    Hokuriku region has a lot of sightseeing spots as follows, beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, traditional crafts like Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Takaoka copperware, and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism such as Kurobe dam and industrial tourism.

    I also work as a translator. I translated the Japanese firefly squid tourism pamphlet into English in 2020.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoten-sasaki/

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    May 26, 2026
    C4211GUbrittanym
    Tripadvisor review: Toyama 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Great time in Toyama!
    Nice tour, guide was very nice and…

    May 14, 2026
    190kariml
    Great tour in Kanazawa with Sho
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful time…

    Jul 24, 2025
    Wander60650705961
    Delightful experience um Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had the pleasure of taking a…

    Jul 2, 2025
    nuttineeyav
    Walking day in Kanazawa
    Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The old town was very nice to…