Jun 5, 2025
_Q1601JV
An Amazing Guided Tour
Tripadvisor review: Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Thanks to a very professional and experienced guide, Mr. Yoshi Nishio, our one-day tour of Ise shrines was FanTastic; Geku in the am and Naiku in the pm. His steep knowledge of the history and ability to explain the details and nuances of the cultural background was amazing. Yoshi is very personable and has a great sense of humour, adding “pop quizes” throughout the tour.

May 20, 2025
Z8872DHpatriciaf
Last minute trip , woul not have gone well had we not found Mr Nishio
Tripadvisor review: Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My husband and I loved our trip to the Ise shrines and Wedded Rocks with a fabulous guide
Yoshi Nishio. He was a former English professor and speaks good English… but even more
important was his knowledge of the history and the area. If you go, ask for Yoshi.

Apr 26, 2025
_B3371UM
Yoshi was our wonderdul. Indispensable co-pilot at Izu Shrine
Tripadvisor review: Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Mr Yoshi’s knowledge about the Izu Shrine and its history is impeccable. He was our co-pilot every step of the way. He even went out of his way to make sure we stood at the right bus line so that we would get to sit in an otherwise crowded bus on the first day of the tourist-heavy golden week holiday in Japan. This we were ensure a seat to sit down during the 15 minute bus ride to the inner shrine from the outer shrine. I would suggest being proactive asking Yoshi a bunch of question if you’d like to know more than the standard details he shared which is already a lot. You will get more enjoyment by being curious about Japan, the shrine and its amazing legends and history. We were short on cash for part of the trip and Yoshi happily gave us a small “loan” before we found an ATM. Go prepared with cash as there are quite a few places (like the museum) that did not accept cards. All in all we were very pleased with the service we received and we would highly recommend having Yoshi be your co-pilot on your journey through Izu.

Apr 15, 2025
Panos_T
Een leuke leerzame ervaring.
Viator review: Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We hebben een geweldige tijd gehad met Yoshi, een vriendelijke gepensioneerde man die ons uitleg gaf over de belangrijkste tempels en het Shintoisme en uitleg gaf over het bidden, de mensen die bij de tempels werken en welke weg enkel door de keizer van Japan mag worden gebruikt bij de grootste tempels.

2025年4月15日
Panos_T
楽しく学びの多い体験でした
Viatorレビュー：
私たちはYoshiさんと素晴らしい時間を過ごしました。彼は親切な退職後の男性で、主要な神社や神道について説明してくれました。また、参拝の仕方や神社で働く人々、日本で最も大きな神社で天皇のみが通ることを許されている道についても教えてくれました。

Mar 21, 2025
Carol B
Peaceful Tour with Kind Local
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Relaxed tour with Hiroshima-native who personalized our tour experience to meet our
interests and expectations. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a peaceful tour of
Hiroshima/Miyajima with a knowledgeable local.

Dec 10, 2024
Catherine_U
Great Half Day with Shin!
Viator review: Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We enjoyed our half day tour to Miyajima from Hiroshima with our private guide, Shin, a professional guide with Japan Guide Agency, in November 20. He met us at our hotel, which was next to the train station, then escorted us to the train and then to the ferry over to Miyajima. Lots of wild deer strolling about here but not as tame as those in Nara-avoid feeding them! Our first stop after brief walk from the ferry was the famous Torii gate that stands in the water. We were not there at low tide so we could not walk out to it but were happy just seeing and it (and posing for pictures. Our guide offered to take many photos for us). We also visited the Itsukushima Shrine and learned about the different buildings and uses of the Shrine and observed a bride and other traditions. We also walked through the peaceful and beautiful Momijidani Park and learned how to get to the Miyajima Ropeway to get to the top of the mountain for great views. Our guide showed us around to see the Senjokaku Shrine area, and some of the Omotesando Shopping Arcade, where we had a snack and parted ways at the end of our half day together, as we opted to stay in and explore further. Shin made dure we knew how to get back to the ferry and train. We had an excellent walking tour and appreciated our time together. Thank you Shin! Highly recommended! (Not as part of the tour, we took the Ropeway and spent some time enjoying the ride and views from up high, thanks to Shin’s directions. Worth doing if you have time! It was a beautiful day!

Dec 8, 2024
William W
11/10 Great Guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Our guide, Mr. Itaki, is very knowledgeable. He was able to answer every question we had. He
has a great way of explaining that kept us engaged and focused.

Oct 7, 2024
Shiv_K
We had a lovely visit of…
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had a lovely visit of Hiroshima and Miyajima. Our guide, Shin-san, was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable and was able to relate cross-culturally to many of our queries. We started off by taking the ferry to Miyajima at high tide. While it was rainy we managed to have a good tour of the Itsukushima shrine. Shin-san then took us to the Daishoin temple where we spent a considerable amount of time. We then did a nature walk and had a brief tour of the town area before hopping on the ferry back to the main land. Shin-san then took us to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

May 10, 2026
Matt_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
We were so lucky to have Kris-San as our guide for our first full day in Tokyo. He was great about communicating before the trip, and he even left our hotel a beautiful note welcoming us to the city. He met us at our hotel early the day of the tour and showed us how to use the subway. We toured Senso Ji, the Tobacco and Salt Museum, the Honjo Disaster Prevention Center, and the Kiyosumi Gardens. He also recommended a fantastic noodle restaurant close to one of our tour spots where the duck soba noodles were incredible. Kris-San was warm, personable, and funny, it was hard to say goodbye after such a wonderful tour.

Apr 29, 2026
Rebecca_M
Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour
We had such a wonderful tour with Kris! He was very knowledgeable and kept things so fun.
Meeting and transport were seamless and stress-free. This was a wonderful memory of our
time in Tokyo!

Apr 21, 2026
jacquir581
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We love Kris
Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our flight was cancelled and we weren’t able
to make our original tour.

Apr 2, 2026
Frank_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A great day in Tokyo
Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris. He made suggestions in advance, we were able to tweak the schedule before the tour adjusted as we went along. He had a restaurant in mind for lunch but when we got there the wait time was more than we wanted to spend. So he came up with other alternatives that worked well. He knows his stuff and added interesting bugs of information, making the visits special.

Jun 19, 2026
Daniel_O
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
10/10 would do again!
Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and patient with our group. Their
expertise made our vacation fun, educational, and stress-free!

May 24, 2026
Meander63637687943
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour guide Tachi is the best!
A most enjoyable and personalized tour . Tachi was most professional and knowledgeable.
She provided very very thorough historical information about the 4 gardens we visited. I
would highly recommend her!

May 19, 2026
Jai_K
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I would definitely…
I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi was so helpful in showing us around and answering all our questions. It was a great idea to do this on the first day since we covered most of the popular cultural sights and areas with her leaving the ret of our days for other specific interests.

May 5, 2026
Gary33556
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of the highlights of Tokyo
Tachi was our guide. What a wonderful experience. She communicated very effectively before our departure to plan a very nice tour around the city. On the day of departure, it was raining very heavily in Tokyo and we considered rescheduling, but went ahead anyway. She met us at our hotel just as planned and set out on a very nice tour that visited all the sites we wanted to see. We used the subway system to move about the city. We we very happy with the tour and would book with her again in the future if we return to Tokyo. Hint: download PASMO to your phone to pay for subway rides.

Jul 14, 2026
T6871WWricharde
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kazz gave a great one on one 8 hour custom tour of Kyoto
Ryoich Kazuma (Kazz) was an amazing guide! He picked me up at my hotel and expertly guided me around Kyoto, showing me a custom set of sites. His background revealed interesting facts about the sites and related Japanese culture. He photographed moments for me and later shared all the pictures, allowing me to enjoy the sites rather than focusing on taking all my own pictures. He prepared an itinerary in advance and gave me useful information about how much local currency would be needed as well as estimated admission and transportation costs. Basically have 15000 yen ready and use a Suica card and everything is easy! We had a lovely lunch around midday as well. I highly recommend the tour and can’t say enough good things about Kazz! Love every moment!!

Jun 5, 2026
mateoe216
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Would book again
The tour with Kazuma-san was absolutely great. As someone who has never taken a private tour before, I was unsure what to expect. Kazuma-san met us at our hotel, was very friendly and knowledgeable. His English is also good. As me and my mother took more time than planned at the different sites we visited, Kazuma-san was able to provide us with interesting explanations and history facts throughout it all, even smells of local flora, and he took photos for us even after the alloted 4 hours were over and we were on our way back. One highlight for me was a high end porcelain shop near kiyomizudera.

I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to get a feel for Kyoto’s temples and history.

May 27, 2026
Leah_D
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Absolutely recommend!
I definitely recommend seeing some of the sights with a guide, we learned so many things we would’ve been clueless about had we done some of the temples and castles on our own. Kazz was a wonderful guide and took pictures of us with his nice camera everywhere we went, so we had a little photo album of our day at the end of it! We had so much fun and are extremely glad we did this. Thank you so much!!

May 26, 2026
sheilacL3330KS
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enthusiastic and knowledgable guide. Much appreciated
Kazz was an excellent guide – very enthusiastic about everything and happy to explain not only the meaning of the ‘golden pavilion’ but also the different properties of bamboo, and the meanings of anything pertinent he noticed in various shops He also took multiple photographs which he sent to us via email .

Jul 25, 2026
Hdixjdixj
Tripadvisor review: Osaka Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Amazing Food Tour through Osaka
We were taken care of by Yama-San. We had an amazing time and probably ate the best Tuna ever in our lives. Yama-san really knew where to take us and also gave us some historical backgrounds in general. We can only recommend this Tour as a 5 Star tour. All the places he took us too where amazing and the food so super delicious.

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 Mr. Yamashita was absolutely wonderful from start to finish! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and engaging and he shared so much fascinating history and information throughout the tour. His passion for Himeji Castle and the gardens really showed and he made the experience both educational and fun while taking the time to answer all of our questions. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mr. Yamashita and would highly recommend his tour to anyone looking for a memorable and informative experience.

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 Yama was simply fantastic – knowledgeable, friendly, and provided impeccable service. Many weeks before our tour, Yama reached out to help us plan and customize our itinerary with him. He was easy to find at our agreed upon meeting location and seamlessly coordinated our transportation around Kobe. We had wonderful visits to Mt Rokko via the cable car, Nunobiki Herb Gardens (Shin-Kobe, using the ropeway), Kitano Ijinkan Street, and the Sannomiya area. At the end of the tour, we felt as if we were saying goodbye to a dear friend. I cannot recommend him highly enough!

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 filled with interesting facts, and he also took us a few areas that were not as full of tourists. He seemed to enjoy his work which made it really fun for us. Absolutely a kind and knowledgeable guide, I would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Osaka for the first time….

Apr 12, 2026
Ralf V
Tripadvisor review: Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit mit Naoka.
Alles mit Bus und Bahn. Tolle Erfahrung. Wichtige Sehenswurdigkeiten haben wir in 4
Stunden entspannt erlebt. Gerne wiede

ナオカと一緒に素晴らしい時間を過ごしました。
すべてバスと電車で移動しました。素晴らしい体験でした。主要な観光名所を4時間でゆったりと楽しむことができました。またぜひ参加したいです。

Apr 2, 2026
Sushil_R
Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour the Himeji Castle with Nao San. You will enjoy more.
I recommend travelers to take this tour even though the Himeji Castle is a bit of a disappointment since it is a fort or fortress, not really a castle. Regardless, it is worth visiting to understand how the rulers in that era protected themselves from wars and aggressions. What made the tour really valuable was our guide, Nao san. From the day we booked the tour, Nao San was engaged with us asking us our preferences, providing suggestions, and doing whatever she could to make the tour worthwhile. If you are planning to take this tour, I strongly recommend you ask for Nao San to be your guide and you will not be disappointed.

Apr 15, 2025
O
oOoKiyaoOo
Wonderful Family Experience
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our family had Nao for a guide and we couldn’t recommend her enough.
Communication and organising our plans were easily managed, and our guide was there waiting at the gates as soon as our train arrived.

Nao was thoughtful, and even brought some origami mementos for our children.

Despite the rainy weather and a few hiccups along the way we had a wonderful day out.

Nov 21, 2024
boyd_s
A great tour!
Viator review: Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
The special knowledge shared by our tour guide Noe made the tour extra special. She took
us thru the castle and showed us several spots in the city with spectacular views of Himeji
Castle. Thank you Noe!

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 great way to see some of the city’s most famous sights. The itinerary was well organized, starting with a convenient hotel pickup before visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walking through the thousands of red torii gates was a memorable experience, and our guide shared interesting background about the shrine that added helpful context.

We then explored the Kiyomizu area, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Pagoda, and Yasaka Koshindo Temple. The route offered a nice mix of historic landmarks, traditional streets, and scenic viewpoints. There was enough time at each stop to take photos and enjoy the surroundings without feeling rushed.

What really made this tour special was our guide’s knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. He provided interesting cultural insights, recommended local foods and hidden photo spots, and made sure everyone in the group was comfortable throughout the day.

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! Great communication before the tour and laid out an entire day for us. Was very accommodating and understood when the heat got to us and needed to take a break. He was very knowledgeable and gave us great pieces of information about the beautiful city of Kyoto. Would highly recommend the tour and Michi!!

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. He had a great plan for our tour and everything went smoothly. He talked about the history of the city, industry, and culture and kept our daughters engaged. Highly recommended!

Jul 13, 2026
Beth_D
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent Tour and Guide
Michi was an excellent tour guide! He was very knowledgeable about the history of all the sites we visited, was able to answer all of core questions, and knew where to find cold water when we were all thirsty! We really enjoyed our whole 4 hour tour.

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. Even in the rain we were able to visit the shrines/temples we wanted to see. We wished we had started earlier as we would have linke to have seen other things off the beaten path. We ended in Gion and were able to walk around the area. Shoji brought a wealth of knowledge about the area and Japanese culture.

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 with Shoji Ogawa. A very knowledgeable and
interesting person who showed me special temples that were quiet and peaceful.

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 absolutely must take this tour — and if you’re lucky, you’ll have Mr. Shoji Ogawa as your guide. In just six hours, he managed to give us an incredibly rich and insightful experience. He didn’t just show us the historic, architectural, and cultural highlights of Kyoto — he also explained the complexities of modern Japan, including how the unique structure of Japanese society helped the country avoid colonization and achieve remarkable success despite limited natural resources. His knowledge, clarity, and passion made this tour truly unforgettable.

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 tour of Nara with our tour guide Shoji. He was very knowledgeable and taught us so much about Japanese history. He was extremely flexible and helped us create the best tour for us. We wouldn’t have had near the positive experience or seen as many locations if we had tried to do the tour on our own. I recommend this tour and guide to anyone wanting to experience Nara.

Jul 25, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Half-day with private guide in Kyoto
We spent half a day with Kaeko Tanigawa taking us to Daitoku-ji and Kinkaku-ji temples and Nijo castle in Kyoto. She is very nice, customer-oriented and knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history.
To be highly recommended!

Jul 24, 2026
J6711TVnancyb
Tripadvisor review: Japan Guide Agency
Family Fun Day in Kyoto with young children
Kaeko Tanigawa was fantastic at helping us create a tour that worked for our family with two young children. It was a very hot day, but the air conditioned van was perfect. We loved making ramen together, feeding monkeys, and seeing a few top sites of Kyoto.

Jul 13, 2026
elizabethtW414DU
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Private Tour
Kaeko was absolutely amazing from start to finish, and my husband and I had the best time with her during our honeymoon in Kyoto in April! She reached out well before our trip to get to know our interests and carefully planned an itinerary that was perfectly tailored to us—even helping us choose the perfect lunch spot.
Throughout the tour, Kaeko was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and personable. She shared so much history and local insight while making the day feel relaxed and fun. What really stood out was that her expertise extended far beyond our 6-hour tour. She provided countless recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and hidden gems that made the rest of our time in Kyoto even more memorable.
If you’re looking for a personalized, thoughtful, and unforgettable experience in Kyoto, I can’t recommend Kaeko highly enough. She was one of the highlights of our entire trip!

Jul 12, 2026
johnkE8649IH
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Excellent Kyoto Day Tour
We had a wonderful experience touring Kyoto with Kaeko Tanigawa. She was so knowledgeable and we never felt rushed. She made some excellent recommendations for restaurants and other things to do around town. Highly recommend if you have a chance to book with her!