Category: Uncategorized

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima

    Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima

    Tour Itinerary

    • (08:00) Meet at Hotel Hiroshima Stadium
    • 08:20 Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
    • 10:30 Travel to Nishi-Hiroshima Station
    • 11:40 Miyajima sightseeing
    • 15:25 Travel to Hiroshima Station
    • (16:23) Disband at the north exit of JR Hiroshima Station

    What Is a Private Guided Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America, and after touring Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara, they came to Hiroshima. They had been planning a trip to Hiroshima for many years, and were very happy to finally make it happen this time. Both of them enjoyed Japan very much, and it made me truly happy when they said, "We came to love Hiroshima and Miyajima the most. We want to come back again." It was my first time guiding guests with a vegan diet and I was a little worried, but they enjoyed the food at the restaurant I recommended, which was a relief. There was reportedly an issue with a freight train just past Miyajimaguchi, so the train schedule was disrupted in both directions, but I am grateful that we were able to complete the itinerary safely.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHiroshima Station~Hondori Station220JPY
    Section 2BusPeace Memorial Park Station~Nishi-Hiroshima Station220JPY
    Section 3TrainNishi-Hiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi Station330JPY
    Section 4TrainMiyajimaguchi Station~Hiroshima Station420JPY
    Total1,190JPY

    Hi, nice to meet you! I am Emmy. I am so honored and happy to be your guide.
    I had been teaching at a local university in Hiroshima. After I got retired in March 2023, I started guiding. I was born and raised in Hiroshima. I love communicating with people all over the world more than anything, so I have been involved in home visit, homestay, volunteer guide for people from foreign countries.
    I always hope that our guests will take away lots of positive energy from Hiroshima, a city that was resilient and revived like a phoenix, in spite of its sad history.
    While realizing customers’ wishes, I will introduce you the beauty of Hiroshima, Miyajima and so on, which are tranquil and peaceful places with a unique charm that cannot be found in big cities.
    I am happy to answer any questions about things Japanese.
    I look forward to meeting you in person soon!!

    Jul 3, 2026
    715rachnak
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Such a great experience in Hiroshima and Miyajima!
    We…

    Jul 2, 2026
    Janine_P
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Worth the money!
    From the moment we booked our…

    May 7, 2026
    Diane_F
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Wonderful tour and guide
    Our tour guide Emmy was…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Curious613511
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    We did a 4 hour walking tour through Hiroshima where…

  • Hiroshima in Half a Day: Miyajima

    Hiroshima in Half a Day: Miyajima

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Hotel Meet
    • 12:00 Miyajima
    • 14:00 Lunch
    • 15:00 Hotel, Dismissal

    What Is a Half-Day Private Miyajima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Tour Report Date: December 2024 Destination: Miyajima Weather: Sunny with occasional clouds Experiences: Kaidan-meguri (underground path pilgrimage), stroll along Maple Road The guests were visitors from Asia. Since this was a half-day tour of Miyajima, I planned the route while keeping an eye on the time, but as expected, four hours was not quite enough to cover everything. This tour came right after I had led several cycling tours in the Kansai region over about a month, so I was a little worried about whether I could get back into my usual routine, but I was able to guide fairly normally as always. The guests said they would go on to enjoy more of their trip in Japan. They mentioned that next time they would like to experience the Japanese countryside in Aomori.

    Originally, I’m a cycling guide doing cycling tours all over Japan.
    But, already done Hiroshima & Miyajima tour more than 400 times.
    I traveled many countries in my younger days. I traveled Europe, US, China, India, US, Mexico, Peru Australia, NZ, and so on.
    I decided to use this experience to become a guide.
    I’m afraid but no tipping required, because cycling guides are not allowed to have tipping in my association. And you do not need to pay for my lunch, because my lunch is prepared by our group.
    Please do not hesitate to ask me anything, I’ll change the plan according to your requests.
    Thank you for your understanding and please stay connected.

    Jun 1, 2026
    John_W
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    A top day with a top guide
    My wife…

    May 27, 2026
    Annabelle_C
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima in a day
    Yuji was a great communicator…

    May 12, 2026
    satishp656
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    HIROSHIMA HALF DAY TOUR
    Yuji is a warm, knowledgeble…

    May 10, 2026
    StephanieB6076
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Incredible Experience
    We had an incredible experience visiting Hiroshima…

  • Hiroshima: Hiroshima Castle & Peace Memorial Park

    Hiroshima: Hiroshima Castle & Peace Memorial Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meeting in front of the coin locker in the South Exit of the station
    • 9:15 Hiroshima Castle
    • 11:05 Peace Memorial Museum
    • 12:00 Peace Memorial Park
    • 13:10 Goodbye at the bus stop

    Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests contacted me twice by email saying they wanted to use a messaging app. I installed the app, but no call came through, and I received three more emails. The night before, they emailed asking to meet at the coin lockers in front of the bus stop on the south side, so I went there. They had no IC card and no small change, and mentioned they would board the bus with a 10,000-yen note, but since the bus does not give change, we each bought an ICOCA card at the station. At Hiroshima Castle, I talked about the castle, Japan's history since the Meiji Restoration, and the atomic bombing. They said they understood it very well. Then I guided them to the Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Park, and the Atomic Bomb Dome. They took an interest in the Dome, and I explained its history, including how it originally resembled a department store. They were also interested in the hypocenter, so I took them there and gave an explanation. The guests were very thoughtful and well-mannered.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHiroshima Station~Hiroshima Castle220JPY
    Section 2BusShimin Byoin Mae~Peace Memorial Park220JPY
    Total440JPY

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

    Apr 13, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima Tour with Yoshi
    Yoshi was truly one of the…

    Apr 11, 2026
    Liesbet N
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Boeiende reis door geschiedenis
    Een boeiende rondleiding van Yoshiko…

    Oct 26, 2025
    COYS100
    Great Hiroshima experience
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    A great tour with a very informed…

    Jun 25, 2025
    O1135UVraymondp
    Highly recommended to everyone to this tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Joshi is…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Gora to Sounzan & Hakone Shrine

    Kanagawa in One Day: Gora to Sounzan & Hakone Shrine

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:22 Meet at Hakone-Yumoto, mountain railway
    • 10:00-10:15 From Gora to Sounzan
    • 10:15-11:20 Bus from Sounzan to Owakudani (ropeway under inspection)
    • 11:25-12:10 Owakudani sightseeing
    • 12:40-13:10 Lake Ashi pirate ship
    • 13:10-14:10 Lunch
    • 14:14-15:10 Visit Hakone Shrine
    • 15:10-15:25 From Moto-Hakone, move to Hotel front, disband

    What Is a Private Hakone Day Tour Like in Winter? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from North America, and only English was spoken. They were delighted to see and experience a variety of places. On this day, the ropeway from Sounzan to Owakudani was under inspection, so a bus was used instead, which took longer than planned, but everything else proceeded very smoothly. The Hakone Tozan Railway was less crowded than usual, so they were able to sit and enjoy the autumn foliage of Hakone from the carriage. Being accustomed to a warm climate, they found the winter in Hakone a little cold. Above all, it was very lucky that Mount Fuji could be seen clearly.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassHakone-Yumoto~Hakone-Yumoto5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
    Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!

    Jul 30, 2025
    Michael_R
    Customized Hakone tour
    Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour…

    May 18, 2025
    Leigh_M
    Kappa, our guide met us…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa, our guide met us at the…

    May 4, 2025
    panderhigs
    Kappa A+ Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…

    May 4, 2025
    O9621SBscottp
    Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I were treated…

  • Kyoto: Arashiyama & Fushimi Inari

    Kyoto: Arashiyama & Fushimi Inari

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:30 Meet up @ Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto
    • 09:10 Arashiyama stroll (Tenryu-ji Temple, bamboo grove, Togetsukyo Bridge area)
    • 11:00 Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:15 Visit Nijo Castle
    • 13:30 Visit Fushimi Inari
    • 14:15 Dismissal @ Kyoto Station

    What Is a One-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. One of them had visited Japan before but was in Kyoto for the first time, and the others were also visiting Japan and Kyoto for the first time. They had come to Kyoto from Tokyo the previous evening, checked out of their Hotel this morning, and after today's tour they planned to return to Tokyo directly from Kyoto Station and leave Japan the next day, making for a very tight schedule. Since they wanted to quickly see Kyoto's most representative sights, we followed the itinerary described above. Along the way, we had the kind of pleasant conversations that often come up with guests, and nothing particularly unusual happened. I should note that I had felt a bit under the weather since yesterday and was not quite in my usual form today, but I managed to get through the tour without any mistakes and was relieved to finish it successfully.

    My name is Shoji and I’m a tour guide in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan for more than one thousand years until the mid 19th century.
    I have been doing this work since 2019 covering not only Kyoto but also its surrounding areas like Nara , Osaka and Shiga.
    I am very much interested in Japanese history, culture and traditional arts.
    Kyoto and the Kansai region are rich with many heritage sites of historical and cultural features.
    I am sure that I can provide the guests with good insight and help them appreciate the charms of our wonderful city.

    May 23, 2026
    Amber_D
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great walking tour in Kyoto!
    Shoji was a great guide around Kyoto.…

    Jun 25, 2025
    Safari35155142765
    Peaceful and perfect temple guided tour.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Brilliant private guided tour of Kyoto…

    Jun 22, 2025
    Global136391
    Shoji Ogawa Made Kyoto Come Alive!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    If you’re ever in Kyoto, you…

    Jun 9, 2025
    Amy_R
    Wonderful Nara tour
    Viator review: Private Nara Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Kyoto Departure)
    We had such a wonderful…

  • Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Osaka Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:50 Meet up @Courtyard Shin Osaka station
    • 2. 10:30 @Umeda Sky Building
    • 3. 12:00 @Osaka Castle
    • 4. 14:00 Lunch @Kamukura
    • 5. 15:00 @Dotonbori
    • 6. 15:45 Disband @Dotonbori

    What Is a Private Osaka Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, and Umeda Sky Building The guests were visitors who had traveled to Japan many times for work, mostly staying around the Nagoya and Tokyo areas, so this was their first time in Osaka. They were especially looking forward to seeing the large crab sign in Dotonbori. They already had PASMO cards, but I explained that the Enjoy Eco Card is inexpensive on weekends, offers discounts at Osaka Castle and the Umeda Sky Building, and lets you skip the line at Osaka Castle, so they purchased the cards. As expected, there was a very long line at Osaka Castle, and the guests were delighted, saying they could never have obtained this kind of information on their own and that they were glad they had requested a guide. Since some of the guests had particular food preferences, we had agreed that they would tell me what they felt like eating whenever they got hungry during the tour. Around 14:00 they said they wanted ramen, so they enjoyed a meal at Kamukura. In Dotonbori there are many large signs, so the guests were very pleased and took lots of photos. They also loved the Christmas market at the Umeda Sky Building and planned to return in the evening when the lights are beautiful.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShin-Osaka~Umeda620JPY
    Section 2OtherSakuramon~Tanimachi 4-chome200JPY
    Total820JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 11:00 Meet at ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto
    • ② 11:05 Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
    • ③ 11:40 Nijo Castle
    • ④ 13:00 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • ⑤ 14:20 Lunch around Sanjo-dori
    • ⑥ 15:30 Stroll around Gion (Shinbashi・Tatsumi Bridge~Chugen-ji Temple~Introduction to the Gion Hanamachi Art Museum)
    • ⑦ 16:30 Yasui Konpira Shrine
    • ⑧ 17:30 Disband around the Yasaka Pagoda

    # What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto History Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. In Kyoto today the wind was strong with light rain and it was very cold, so coming from midsummer in Oceania, the group looked chilly. This was their first time in Japan, and their itinerary went from Tokyo to Hakone and Mount Fuji, then Kyoto and Osaka. They had traveled from Tokyo by Shinkansen this morning and met at 11:00, so things were a bit rushed, and they had not yet decided where to go today. When I spoke with them at the Hotel in the morning, it seemed they were interested in Japanese history, so we decided to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle, and to decide the rest as we went along. One of the guests was quite knowledgeable about the Japanese language and Japanese history, grasping the outline of everything I mentioned, which gradually made it more and more interesting for me, so I poured out details like a shower. It was memorable to see the rest of the group looking so happy watching this.

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

    Jul 29, 2026
    James_G
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide and very…
    Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    peterhR6472GA
    Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with Kazu…

    Jul 12, 2026
    cgalvez73
    Fantastic tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Koko-en Garden

    Tour Itinerary

    • 13:30 Meet @ Himeji Castle
    • 15:30 @ Koko-en Garden
    • 16:45 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    Title: What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were an older group who appeared to find walking and stairs difficult, so we moved at a fairly slow pace. Because the guests had misunderstood the meeting time, we were unable to meet at 13:00. When I contacted the guests via a messaging app at 13:00, they understood the meeting time to be 12:00, had arrived at the meeting point before 12:00, could not find the guide, waited until 12:20, and, unable to wait longer, had gone ahead to Himeji Castle. The guide headed straight to Himeji Castle, and we started about 30 minutes late. Regarding the meeting time, when I showed the confirmation document I had brought along and our previous email exchanges, the guests were understanding. I was a little worried the tour might become awkward, but in response to my apology they said, "It was not your fault," and were warm and friendly with me throughout. At Himeji Castle, the guests listened to my explanations with great interest and asked many questions. At Koko-en Garden, they were very pleased with the magnificent autumn foliage. Although we had originally planned to visit one more place, due to the late start and the time of the bullet train back to Kyoto, we parted ways at JR Himeji Station. Inside the station, the guests bought "Gozasoro" (a Himeji specialty, a type of imagawayaki) that I recommended, and seemed very satisfied. Note) Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden will be closed on both the 29th and 30th of this month. They will operate as usual on the 31st and during the New Year period. Other shrines and temples will also operate as usual, but museums and art galleries will generally be closed from December 28th through January 3rd.

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jul 13, 2026
    Diane_B
    Viator review: Kobe Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our tour guide Yama was amazing!!
    Our tour guide…

    Jul 4, 2026
    Navigator661725
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful time!
    We absolutely loved this tour. Yama was attentive, was…

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:00 Meet @Hotel Oike Kyoto
    • 2. 10:50 @Arashiyama (Tenryu-ji Temple・Bamboo Grove)
    • 3. 13:00 @Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 4. 14:45 Disband @Shinkyogoku Shopping Street

    What Can You See on a 4-Hour Private Kyoto Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a booking made through a travel agency, and I was finally able to get in touch with the guests the day before the tour. Since it was only a four-hour tour and we could not afford to waste travel time, we agreed that the guests would visit Fushimi Inari Taisha on their own, and we went to Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji together. The autumn foliage was near its end, but a few vibrant trees still remained, and the guests were delighted. Perhaps because of an interest in such topics, when I explained the garden of Tenryu-ji, one of the guests happily said, "I really love stories like that. I learned so much." Since it began to rain earlier than forecast, we used only the bus to get to Nishiki Market. In the bus, the guests asked me many questions, such as about Japan's pension system and how I became a guide. I answered candidly, and I was also able to ask the guests various things about themselves, and we both felt encouraged by the exchange. One of the guests was a promising illustrator and drew an illustration in a book that is precious to me and signed it. It has become a lifelong treasure. When we parted, one of the guests hugged me with a beaming smile and said, "I'm so glad I met you."

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyoto City Hall~Kyoto260JPY
    Section 2TrainKyoto~Saga-Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 3TrainArashiyama~Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 4BusKitano-Hakubaicho~Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 5BusKinkakuji-michi~Shijo-Takakura230JPY
    Total1,210JPY

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

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 8:40 Meet up @ Hilton Tokyo (6-6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
    • 2) 9:10 Meiji Shrine
    • 3) 10:40 Shibuya <Hachiko Statue・Crossing>
    • 4) 11:20 Harajuku Takeshita Street & Light Meal @ Marion Crepes
    • 5) 13:20 Imperial Palace East Gardens (Hirakawamon Gate → Japanese Garden → Otemon Gate)
    • 6) 14:50 Disband @ Toei Subway Asakusa Line Asakusa Station Ticket Gate

    Title: What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for Guests Who Prefer a Slow Pace? A Licensed Guide's Report [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private one-day Tokyo tour for a group visiting from North America. In their advance messages, the guests had requested visits to famous spots and a relaxed pace. The meeting time had been changed to 8:30 in advance, with the guests' agreement. After meeting at the Hotel and reconfirming the itinerary, the tour began. Since one of the guests had an injury and needed to take frequent rests, we proceeded while pausing along the way. Meiji Shrine in the early morning was uncrowded, and the air was clear and refreshing. The guests drew omikuji fortunes, purchased omamori charms, and offered prayers. At the Shibuya crossing, there was a somewhat tense atmosphere with fire engines, ambulances, and police cars due to an accident that had occurred on the JR line, but I guided them as usual to the Hachiko statue and the crossing. On Takeshita Street in Harajuku, the guests enjoyed some light snacks such as Korean food and crepes. Around this area, one of the guests found walking quite difficult, so we made a point of taking shortcuts and using elevators and escalators. Even so, the guests were delighted by the wonderful autumn foliage in the Japanese garden at the East Gardens. On the way toward Asakusa, the guests said they would like to skip Asakusa for now (planning to visit when they returned to Tokyo about ten days later) and go to Skytree instead. I explained how to transfer from the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line at Asakusa Station to the Toei Asakusa Line and showed them the way to Skytree, and then we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Nishi-Shinjuku Station~Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Kita-sando Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Meiji-jingumae Station~Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station~Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station~Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Takebashi Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    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!

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