Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in Half a Day: Uji Byodo-in Temple & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto in Half a Day: Uji Byodo-in Temple & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
    • 10:00~11:20 Uji Byodo-in Temple
    • 12:15~13:00 Nijo Castle
    • 13:20 Disband at Karasuma Shijo

    Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Uji and Nijo Castle in Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. Before this tour they had joined a seven-day cycling tour starting from Tokyo and had arrived in Kyoto two days earlier, and they mentioned they still had some muscle soreness. Today we visited Byodo-in Temple in Uji and Nijo Castle. At a 800-year-old tea shop near the foot of Uji Bridge, the guests happily purchased a set for whisking matcha. At Byodo-in, they were captivated by the 1,000-year-old Phoenix Hall, the Amida Buddha statue, and the Buddhist statues and the Tale of Genji picture scrolls in the museum. At Nijo Castle, they were deeply impressed by the Karamon Gate, the wall paintings, carvings, and gardens of the Ninomaru Palace. We also discussed the background and reasons leading to the return of political power to the Emperor (Taisei Hokan). This private one-day tour in 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.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGion-Shijo～Uji320JPY
    Section 2TrainJR Uji～Kyoto240JPY
    Section 3SubwayKyoto～Nijojo-mae260JPY
    Section 4SubwayNijojo-mae～Karasuma Shijo220JPY
    Total1,040JPY

    Tour Report by shige

    Hello, This is Shige. I was born and brought up in Osaka. I have been enjoying working as a tour guide since 2016 after retired from a manufacturing company in which I worked at the overseas department. So I experienced a lot of business with customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and USA where my three years of living and working at the subsidiary company with my family was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, Japan has a long history including ancient remains, historic buildings and cultures at each period over 2000 years. I hope you will enjoy exploring Japan in this tour. I look forward to seeing you soon.
    Shige.

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    May 23, 2026
    Sarajean_s
    Viator review: Kyoto Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful way to get acquainted with Kyoto
    Shige was a…

    May 21, 2026
    828vickeyb
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shige is a great tour guide for Kyoto
    Shige was an excellent…

    Apr 12, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Walking Tour with Shige
    Shige was an amazing tour guide and companion…

    Jul 4, 2025
    Marcus_C
    Osaka tour 2025
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour around Osaka. Our guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) 9:00 Meet up @ Hotel Century Southern Tower (2-2-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
    • 2) 9:30 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 3) 10:30 Komeda Coffee Shinjuku Gyoenmae (1-10-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
    • 4) 11:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 5) 13:30 Lunch @ Kotekichi Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace (Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace 2F, 1-54 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo)
    • 6) 14:40 Ueno Park
    • 7) 15:30 Disband @ Tokyo Skytree (1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)

    **Can You Do a Slow-Paced Private Tokyo Day Tour with Senior Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report** [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private one-day tour of Tokyo for guests visiting from Oceania. Through detailed communication beforehand, the guests had requested to see autumn foliage, the Imperial Palace, Ueno, and Tokyo Skytree, and asked to walk slowly and avoid long-distance walking. I had asked the guests to make an advance reservation for Tokyo Skytree. At the meeting point, however, it turned out that the guests had not made the Tokyo Skytree reservation. For the time being, I started the tour at Shinjuku Gyoen (where a chrysanthemum exhibition was being held, though the autumn foliage was only about 10 percent turned). We walked quite slowly. After visiting the garden, the guests wished to take a coffee break, so we stayed for about 10 minutes. Since long-distance walking was not possible, I excluded the main gate of the Imperial Palace and headed to the East Gardens (on the way from Takebashi Station toward the Kitahanebashi Gate, one of the guests remarked that the scenery looked familiar). After the East Gardens, we went to Ueno for lunch. It was crowded everywhere, so I had them wait for about 15 minutes and then successfully guided them to an okonomiyaki restaurant. After lunch, we took a short walk in Ueno Park to see the ginkgo trees that had begun to change color (one of the guests noted that the view of the electronics shops around Ueno Ameyoko and the JR railway tracks looked familiar), and then headed to Skytree. I guided them to the entrance, they purchased same-day tickets, and we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station～Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Takebashi Station180JPY
    Section 2SubwayTokyo Metro Tozai Line Otemachi Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Ueno Station180JPY
    Section 3SubwayTokyo Metro Ginza Line Ueno Station～Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station180JPY
    Section 4TrainTobu Isesaki Line (Skytree Line) Asakusa Station～Tobu Isesaki Line (Skytree Line) Tokyo Skytree Station160JPY
    Total700JPY

    Tour Report by Tachi

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

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

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

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

  • Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour

    Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour

    Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:30 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 2. 11:30 @ Miyajima
    • 3. 14:00 Lunch @ Hassho, Nishi-Hiroshima
    • 4. 16:00 Disband @ Shukkeien Garden

    Title: What's a Private Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine Tour Like at High Tide? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan. They were very well prepared, gathered accurate information, and were happy to walk a great deal. Today was a spring tide day, and there was a risk that Itsukushima Shrine would be closed right around the time we were due to arrive, so I explained this in advance and asked to push our meeting time back by one hour. When we arrived, entry to the shrine had resumed, but there was a bit of a queue. In addition, the lunch we had originally arranged was cutting it close to its 2:00 closing time, so the tour on Miyajima became somewhat busy. Thanks in part to the cooperation of the guests, we were able to keep to schedule.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainNishi-Hiroshima～Miyajimaguchi330JPY
    Section 2FerryMiyajima～Miyajimaguchi200JPY
    Section 3TrainMiyajimaguchi～Nishi-Hiroshima330JPY
    Section 4TrainNishi-Hiroshima～Hiroshima190JPY
    Total1,050JPY

    Tour Report by Kahori

    Hi, I’m Kahori, a nationally licensed tour guide, and delighted to show people around this area. For the past almost 10 years, I have mainly guided foreign medical professionals around Hiroshima City and Miyajima, gaining a deep understanding of the effects of radiation and the support for A-bomb survivors.
    Hiroshima is a city of rivers and the sea. Along the rivers Cherry trees line, and the calm Seto Inland Sea, dotted with islands, creates a stunning landscape. Also, the sea has many islands called “art islands” which have fantastic arts relating to the art festival “Setouchi Triennale”. In addition to our two World Heritage Sites, this area is rich in attractive resources. I hope many of you will come and experience this fascinating land. Personally, I am very passionate about modern art and enjoy sports like stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on our rivers.
    I look forward to meeting you, interacting with you, and also, learning from you!

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    Oct 6, 2025
    DJ C
    We visited the atomic bomb museum, Hiroshima castle, a beautiful garden, and shrines and Torrey Gate.
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima /…

    Sep 23, 2025
    lorrainel669
    Awesome Hiroshima
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    The tour was fantastic. It covered everything…

    Jul 26, 2025
    T
    Tracy_P
    Outstanding Tour of Hiroshima with Kahori…
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Our tour of…

    Jun 28, 2025
    Fernando A
    We knew the best of Hiroshima in 8 hrs
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1) meet(9:50)　By bus to Nijo Castle
    • 2)Nijo Castle(10:20～11:30) On foot to the restaurant
    • 3)lunch (11:45～12:30)　By subway and Randen to Arashiyama
    • 4)Arashiyama(13:20～14:30)　By JR to Kyoto Station, by taxi to Sanjusangendo
    • 5)Sanjusangendo(15:20～16:00)　After the tour ends, farewell

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and Sanjusangendo We were able to meet earlier than planned, so we made our way to Nijo Castle smoothly. It was a trip for the group. All of the guests seemed to enjoy the lunch. Since they had walked around the Kiyomizu area the previous day, one of the guests was feeling a little tired. In Arashiyama, after strolling through the bamboo grove, we went to Tenryu-ji Temple. As one of the guests wished to rest at Tenryu-ji, I guided the rest of the group through the temple grounds, and they seemed to enjoy it. After this, we had planned to visit Fushimi Inari, but since Fushimi Inari also involves climbing up and down stairs, I was concerned it might be difficult for one of the guests. Instead, I suggested visiting Sanjusangendo, which requires less walking, and we took a taxi from Kyoto Station to Sanjusangendo. As a result, the guests seemed to really enjoy Sanjusangendo, which was wonderful. For photos, since one of the guests preferred not to be in them, we took photos of the rest of the group.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusShijo Kawaramachi～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijojo-mae～Uzumasa Tenjingawa260JPY
    Section 3TrainRanden Tenjingawa～Randen Arashiyama250JPY
    Section 4TrainSaga-Arashiyama Station～Kyoto Station240JPY
    Total980JPY

    Tour Report by Hiro

    Nice to meet you.
    My name is Hiroki Muramoto, please call me Hiro.
    Hiro in Japanese means large or big. Although I’m neither large nor big, you can call me Hiro. How are you doing ?
    I lived in a city nearby Kobe city. Do you know Kobe ? Kobe is famous for Kobe beef and pearl. If you have not yet had Kobe beef, you should taste the authentic Kobe beef. It is very satisfying taste. But I have recently moved to a city in Kyoto prefecture, so I can be in Kyoto city in about one hour. By the way, I am a family of four. I have a son and a daughter. My son now works in Tokyo. I sometimes go to Tokyo to see him. Tokyo is a huge city, but too crowded, so it seems not to suit me. I seem to be better suited to a small city than a big one. Where do you live in ? How many families do you have ? If you like, please tell me about them. I worked in the quality assurance department of a pharmaceutical company and visited the factories of foreign affiliated companies, so I became interested in foreign cultures and obtained a qualification as an interpreter guide in 2015.

    I have been a guide for about eight years. During that time, I have guided in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kochi and so on, although I could do little guiding work between 2020 and 2022 due to COVID-19. However, since last year, my guiding work has been back! So, I am happy to be able to meet different people again. My hobby is travelling, but sadly, I am not in a position to travel abroad easily at the moment due to the very weak yen, and I hope to travel abroad again when the situation eases a bit more.
    How many countries have you been to so far ? Which countries have you liked so far? Another hobby is watching sports – baseball and football. Do you like the baseball ? Do you know Otani, Japanese baseball player ? He has joined Dodgers in Los Angeles this year. I look forward to another successful year for Otani.

    By the way, what interests you in Japan? Food, history, scenery ? As far as tourist attractions are concerned, famous places are too crowded. If you like, I also would like to show you some less crowded places. Are you interested in experiencing something ? If you want to experience something, I can suggest an experience plan for you. If so, please contact me as early as possible. As for food, what kind of food do you like? There are many kinds of delicious food. Of course, you can get good food in fine restaurants, but you can also get good food in downtown restaurants. If you like alcohol, why don’t you try Japanese sake? It can range from light and fragrant to rich in flavor, so you’re sure to find a Japanese sake you like.

    My motto is “Be content with life.” However, I find myself complaining all the time. If you like, please tell me your motto. I want to treat all guests who visit Japan with the spirit of “Treasure every encounter” and guide them so that they can enjoy themselves and have good memories of Japan.
    You only live once (YOLO). So, I also want to enjoy it with you.

    I look forward to meeting you.
    Best regard.

    Request Booking

    Nov 27, 2024
    Julianne_A
    Book it
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    This was a wonderful experience with our guide Hiro. He…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Tokyo Tower

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Tokyo Tower

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:25　Meet up @ Hotel
    • 10:40　Shibuya Scramble Crossing・Hachiko
    • 11:00　Meiji Shrine
    • 12:15　Imperial Palace
    • 12:50　Lunch @ Numazu Uogashi Sushi (Marunouchi Building)
    • 14:10　Senso-ji Temple
    • 15:30　Tokyo Tower
    • 16:40　Dismiss @ Haneda Airport Terminal 3

    What Does a Private Tokyo Day Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, and Tokyo Tower The guest was a visitor from Europe who was visiting Japan for the first time. They came to Japan after visiting other parts of Asia, and had already sightseen in Osaka and Kyoto before traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo the previous day. At Meiji Shrine, the guest seemed deeply impressed by the quiet and solemn atmosphere, which contrasted greatly with nearby Shibuya. At the Imperial Palace, the guest listened with great interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo Shogunate. At Senso-ji Temple, the guest was very interested in the explanation of the differences between temples and shrines. At Tokyo Tower, the guest appeared impressed by the magnificent views of Tokyo. Since the guest was scheduled to depart tonight by plane, returning to Europe via North America, I guided them to Haneda Airport Terminal 3, where we parted ways. As I handled everything according to the guest's wishes, I believe they were satisfied.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
    Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Nijubashimae600JPY
    Section 3TrainTokyo～Ueno170JPY
    Section 4SubwayUeno～Asakusa0JPY
    Section 5SubwayAsakusa～Kamiyacho0JPY
    Section 6SubwayKamiyacho～Shimbashi0JPY
    Section 7TrainShimbashi～Hamamatsucho150JPY
    Section 8TrainHamamatsucho～Haneda Airport Terminal 3520JPY
    Total1,590JPY

    Tour Report by Seizo

    I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto

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    Jul 10, 2026
    surferbikerdude1
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Beautiful Tour of Kamakura
    Seizo Kamiuto was out…

    Jun 9, 2026
    stacy_grana
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with an experienced guide
    Our guide, Seizo, was amazing.…

    Jun 6, 2026
    U9351HJjakes
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Tour
    Seizo Kamiuto was great and super knowledgeable. He had a…

    May 20, 2026
    HugoJ670
    Tripadvisor review: Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Tokio in de zon
    Seizo Kaminto is een uitstekende…

  • Kanagawa in One Day: Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu & Hakonemachi Port

    Kanagawa in One Day: Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu & Hakonemachi Port

    Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meeting place: Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu
    • 10:00 Depart Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu
    • (Taxi)
    • 10:10 Arrive Gora
    • Gora Gora Park / Hakuun-do
    • 10:40 Depart Gora
    • (Taxi)
    • 11:00 Arrive Hakone Open-Air Museum
    • Open-Air Museum Hakone Open-Air Museum
    • 12:00 Depart Hakone Open-Air Museum
    • (Taxi)
    • 12:20 Sounzan Station
    • (Hakone Ropeway)
    • 12:40 Arrive Owakudani Station
    • Owakudani Owakudani
    • Kurotamago-kan
    • 13:30 Depart Owakudani Station
    • (Hakone Ropeway)
    • 13:40 Arrive Togendai Station
    • 13:55 Depart Togendai Port
    • (Hakone Pirate Ship)
    • 14:30 Arrive Hakonemachi Port
    • Hakonemachi 　Hakone Checkpoint Ruins
    • 　Old Highway Cedar Avenue
    • 　Late lunch: Tori-ten Ichiya
    • 15:10 Depart Hakonemachi Port
    • (Taxi)
    • 15:30 Hotel
    • Hotel Short break in the lounge
    • 15:45 Hotel
    • (Taxi)
    • 16:00 Arrive Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu
    • 16:00 Disband: Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

    Private Hakone Day Tour Report: What Can a Licensed Guide Show You in One Day? The guest was a visitor from North America who runs a travel company, in Japan on a research trip to promote Japan tourism from North America. The guest was staying in Japan for three weeks, visiting Tokyo, Nikko, and Hakone, as well as Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima, before returning home. The guest had arrived in Hakone the previous day and planned to take the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto the next morning. At the guest's request, the plan was to visit as many spots as possible, keeping the time at each location short. The guest had emigrated to North America many years ago from Asia. The arrangements for this tour had been made through a friend based in Oceania who also runs a travel company, with the comment that there were no travel companies well-versed in Japan travel in their home region. It was a tour that took place amid lingering mist after the rain, though we were not caught in any rain. At the guest's request, we visited "Hakuun-do Chaen" in Gora Park, where the guest experienced matcha and traditional sweets. After that, we went to the "Hakone Open-Air Museum." Although the scenery could not be enjoyed in the mist, the guest commented, "Of all the museums I have seen around the world, this is the most wonderful." As a souvenir, the guest purchased an art book covering the works in the grounds. After that, we continued to "Owakudani" and the "Pirate Ship," both of which the guest had requested. Saying "I knew about it from SNS," the guest bought and tasted the black eggs. On the pirate ship, the mist began to clear, and the scenery was reasonably good. The guest asked, "Is Hakone a national park?" and "Can an individual buy land and build a villa in Hakone?" From there, we briefly toured the "Hakone Checkpoint Ruins" and the "Old Highway Cedar Avenue," which the guest had said they definitely wanted to see. The guest asked, "What was the checkpoint for?" and I explained about "the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration," "the Tokugawa shogunate system," and "the Five Highways." Saying "I'm getting hungry," the guest had a late lunch. Saying "I definitely want to see the hotel where John Lennon and Chaplin stayed," we went to the Hotel and rested in the lounge. The guest asked, "When did it open?" "Why was a hotel built here so long ago?" and "Who is the owner of the hotel?" I explained about "the Meiji Restoration and its aftermath." The guest commented, "Everywhere in Japan, the towns are orderly and clean. There's no litter." "Everyone is polite." "I felt safe everywhere." The guest also said, "The trains run precisely. I feel I can send travelers here with confidence." I saw the guest off to the hotel where they were staying, and we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Hakone in 1 Day by Private Car with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1OtherSounzan～Togendai1,500JPY
    Section 2OtherTogendai Port～Hakonemachi Port1,200JPY
    Total2,700JPY

    Tour Report by Masa

    Guiding career:
    Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
    FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
    Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
    As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
    Self-introduction:
    In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
    Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
    I am a certified CPA in the United States.
    In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
    Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
    My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
    Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
    One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.

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    Jul 21, 2026
    Christelle_G
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour guide
    Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…

    Jul 1, 2026
    97TexAg
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Tokyo
    Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…

    Jun 2, 2026
    Tagare S
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour and guide!
    This is a great tour, and our…

    Jun 1, 2026
    Lisa_A
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Adler Family Tour
    Our tour with Masa was…

  • Kyoto: Fushimiinari & Ryoanji

    Kyoto: Fushimiinari & Ryoanji

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
    • 10:30 Fushimiinari
    • 12:00 Yaskajinja
    • 12:30 Gion
    • 12:40 Nishiki Market 　　Light lunch
    • 14:00 Kinkakuji(500)
    • 15:00 Ryoanji (600)
    • 16:10 HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
    • End of the tour

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour with a Car? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America. They had mentioned more destinations than could realistically be covered in the available time, so I planned an itinerary to include as many as possible. Since one of the guests had some difficulty walking, I incorporated elevators and shortcuts, but even so I believe we ended up walking around 10,000 steps. Kennin-ji, which had originally been included in the plan, could not be visited in the morning due to a Buddhist memorial service, so we skipped it. It was not a must-see location, so this was not a problem, but I felt that if a place is an absolute must-visit, advance research would be necessary. I had thought we would have lunch at Nishiki Market, but the guests were overwhelmed by the crowds, so we just had some fried chicken, passed through the market, and bought their preferred bread at the bakery in the basement of Daimaru to eat in. Since we had a car, the itinerary went smoothly. It was also good that no extension fee was incurred for the car.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Kazz

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

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

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

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

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

  • Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour

    Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1)meet 9:45 By hire car to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • 2)Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple 10:40～11:10　By hire car to Myoshin-ji Temple
    • 3)Myoshin-ji Temple 11:25～12:15　By hire car to Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • 4)Kyoto Imperial Palace 12:40～13:25　By hire car to the hotel
    • 5)13:45 Arrive at the hotel, say goodbye here

    Title: Can You Do a Private Kyoto Day Tour by Chartered Car? A Licensed Guide's Report on Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Myoshin-ji, and Kyoto Imperial Palace To plan the tour itinerary, I emailed one of the guests, but a message came from the guest's representative instead, proposing that we visit Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Myoshin-ji, and Choraku-ji by taxi. However, because it is difficult to catch a return taxi from Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and because the area to be covered was wide, I recommended using a chartered car (hire). I also informed the representative that the tour date, in November, fell on a day when Choraku-ji is closed. As a result, the itinerary for the day was set as Hotel → Adashino Nenbutsu-ji → Myoshin-ji → Hotel. Since I was not in direct contact with the guest, I asked the representative to be sure to convey to the guests the itinerary, the use of a chartered car, and the fact that admission fees would be paid in cash, so that there would be no dispute on the day. I received confirmation that this had been conveyed. On the day, the guests arrived a little after the meeting time (9:30), but we set off in the arranged vehicle. On the way to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, when I asked why they wished to visit Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and Myoshin-ji, one of the guests said they had not made any particular requests, and expressed that they would like to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace if possible. So I suggested to the guests that we finish Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and Myoshin-ji a little earlier and visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace at the end, and they agreed. As a result, they seemed to greatly enjoy Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and Myoshin-ji (Taizo-in), and they were also pleased to be able to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, so it worked out well.

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

    Tour Report by Hiro

    Nice to meet you.
    My name is Hiroki Muramoto, please call me Hiro.
    Hiro in Japanese means large or big. Although I’m neither large nor big, you can call me Hiro. How are you doing ?
    I lived in a city nearby Kobe city. Do you know Kobe ? Kobe is famous for Kobe beef and pearl. If you have not yet had Kobe beef, you should taste the authentic Kobe beef. It is very satisfying taste. But I have recently moved to a city in Kyoto prefecture, so I can be in Kyoto city in about one hour. By the way, I am a family of four. I have a son and a daughter. My son now works in Tokyo. I sometimes go to Tokyo to see him. Tokyo is a huge city, but too crowded, so it seems not to suit me. I seem to be better suited to a small city than a big one. Where do you live in ? How many families do you have ? If you like, please tell me about them. I worked in the quality assurance department of a pharmaceutical company and visited the factories of foreign affiliated companies, so I became interested in foreign cultures and obtained a qualification as an interpreter guide in 2015.

    I have been a guide for about eight years. During that time, I have guided in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kochi and so on, although I could do little guiding work between 2020 and 2022 due to COVID-19. However, since last year, my guiding work has been back! So, I am happy to be able to meet different people again. My hobby is travelling, but sadly, I am not in a position to travel abroad easily at the moment due to the very weak yen, and I hope to travel abroad again when the situation eases a bit more.
    How many countries have you been to so far ? Which countries have you liked so far? Another hobby is watching sports – baseball and football. Do you like the baseball ? Do you know Otani, Japanese baseball player ? He has joined Dodgers in Los Angeles this year. I look forward to another successful year for Otani.

    By the way, what interests you in Japan? Food, history, scenery ? As far as tourist attractions are concerned, famous places are too crowded. If you like, I also would like to show you some less crowded places. Are you interested in experiencing something ? If you want to experience something, I can suggest an experience plan for you. If so, please contact me as early as possible. As for food, what kind of food do you like? There are many kinds of delicious food. Of course, you can get good food in fine restaurants, but you can also get good food in downtown restaurants. If you like alcohol, why don’t you try Japanese sake? It can range from light and fragrant to rich in flavor, so you’re sure to find a Japanese sake you like.

    My motto is “Be content with life.” However, I find myself complaining all the time. If you like, please tell me your motto. I want to treat all guests who visit Japan with the spirit of “Treasure every encounter” and guide them so that they can enjoy themselves and have good memories of Japan.
    You only live once (YOLO). So, I also want to enjoy it with you.

    I look forward to meeting you.
    Best regard.

    Request Booking

    Nov 27, 2024
    Julianne_A
    Book it
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    This was a wonderful experience with our guide Hiro. He…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • ①　09:00　The General Kyoto Shijo meeting
    • ②　09:10　Itinerary explanation・Explanation about Kyoto
    • ③　10:15　Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • ④　11:30　Nijo Castle
    • ⑤　13:00　Lunch on Teramachi Street
    • ⑥　13:45　Pontocho～Gion stroll (Tatsumi Bridge・Shinbashi・Chugenji Temple・Gion Hanamachi Art Museum・Yasui Konpira Shrine)
    • ⑦　14:30　Yasaka Pagoda～Sannenzaka
    • ⑧　14:50　Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • ⑨　15:30　Dismissal at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

    What Is a Private One-Day Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report from Japan Guide Agency The guests were visiting from North America, and this was their first time in Japan and in Kyoto. Their itinerary took them from Tokyo through Hakone to Kyoto, and from the next day they planned to continue to Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima. In addition to Spanish, they spoke beautiful, fluent English. They were interested in Japanese history and listened patiently to my explanations. On this [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) private one-day tour of Kyoto, we first visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. As a result, I ended up explaining in detail the political history from the past to the present—mainly the roles of the emperor and the shogun, the modern imperial family, and the structure of Japan's current political system—as they asked. At Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the guests enjoyed the wonderful views. Today we were also able to talk about various topics that are normally considered taboo, such as immigration matters in North America, and I learned a great deal about how they perceive such things.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShijo～Imadegawa260JPY
    Total260JPY

    Tour Report by Kazu

    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

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    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…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 09:55 Meet@Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya
    • 2. 10:10 Stay@Shibuya Scramble Crossing
    • 3. 10:20 Move: Subway
    • 4. 11:00 Stay@Nezu Shrine
    • 5. 11:40 Move: Subway
    • 6. 12:20 Lunch@Tsukiji Sushisei Shinkan
    • 7. 12:55 Stay@Tsukiji
    • 8. 13:50 Move: Subway
    • 9. 14:25 Stay@Asakusa
    • 10. 15:40 Move: Subway
    • 11. 16:20 Disband@Shibuya Scramble Crossing

    What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Covering Nezu, Tsukiji, and Asakusa? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. The spots they had initially hoped to visit were four locations: Nezu, Tsukiji, Sensoji Temple, and Akihabara. Since Tsukiji was closed that day, I had considered leaving it out, but some of the guests seemed interested, so we decided to visit it during lunchtime. Otome Inari Shrine in Nezu seemed as popular as ever among international travelers. To take photos at the torii gates here, it feels safest to visit first thing in the morning. The guests had hearty appetites, and at Tsukiji they enjoyed sushi as well as strawberry daifuku and soft serve ice cream. I had planned to briefly show them Akihabara at the end, but we spent more time than expected shopping in Asakusa, and since they also had a restaurant reservation in the evening, we decided to skip the visit to Akihabara. I saw them off to Shibuya, and after confirming the direction toward their accommodation near the scramble crossing, we parted ways.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassShibuya Station～Nezu Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassNezu Station～Tsukiji Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTsukiji Station～Asakusa Station0JPY
    Section 4Free PassAsakusa Station～Shibuya Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Tour Report by Sam

    Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
    I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
    I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
    One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
    Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
    I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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    Jul 21, 2026
    G848SWmaribelm
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Tour of Tokyo sights was great!
    The tour experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Cezary P
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour of Tokyo!
    Sam, was outstanding! Showed…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Michael_C
    Tokyo tour
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a wonderful guide -…

    Jun 18, 2026
    David_W
    Viator review: Tokyo Tsukiji Food & Culture 4hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Fish Market Tour
    Great tour. Got to see…