Category: Uncategorized

  • Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo by Car

    Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo by Car

    Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo by Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:30 Meet at Hotel
    • 2. 9:45 Kenchoji Temple (viewed from outside without entering)
    • 3. 10:00 Engakuji Temple
    • 4. 11:00 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
    • 5. 12:30 Hokokuji Temple
    • 6. 13:00 Lunch: soba at Nakamura-an
    • 7. 13:30 Komachi Street
    • 8. 14:00 Hasedera Temple
    • 9. 14:45 Great Buddha at Kotokuin Temple
    • 10. 15:15 Zeniarai Benten
    • 11. 15:30 Kuzuharaoka Shrine
    • 12. 18:00 Disband at Hotel

    Title: What Is a Private Car Day Tour of Kamakura Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were very satisfied, feeling that using a car allowed them to visit many famous sights in one go, making for highly efficient and productive sightseeing. Not only in the car but also at each site, the guests asked a rapid stream of cross-genre questions covering Japanese culture, religion, tradition, modern life, politics and economics, and food, which was truly delightful, though it meant there was almost no time to catch my breath over the full 8 hours. I received questions that were difficult to answer, such as "Why do you pass through a tunnel to reach Zeniarai Benten?" and questions requiring broad knowledge, such as "What was the epidemic that led to the founding of Hasedera Temple?" Traveling by car helped conserve physical energy, but my brain was working at full capacity. No matter how excellent a guide is, I believe it is impossible to answer every question 100% perfectly. However, that does not mean one should easily look up the "correct answer" on the spot. What I felt matters most is to hold your own firm perspective, carry on the conversation in your own words, persuade and earn trust, and help the guests feel at ease and enjoy themselves.

    Click here for more details: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo by Car with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Kei

    Born and raised in Tokyo a half-century ago, I have lived in Tokyo all my life except for one year in the UK to study for a master’s course. I am a Tokyo Native with viewpoints based on broader local knowledge than anyone else. I have specialised in Japanese history, culture, and architecture since I was an architect.
    Also, I am a foodie emphasising Japanese traditional & healthy foods. I’ve been to many countries around the world, such as the US, Central America, Europe, and Asia. As such, I believe I can anticipate the needs of foreign tourists in Japan.

    Despite my experience as a guide for just two years, we can make the best out of our tour by travelling from your hotel to spots time-efficiently with my local knowledge, while accommodating your unexpected requests during the tour.
    My strong area includes Yanesen; Old Temples in a Quaint Village, Kamakura, Asakusa Sensoji, Meiji Shrine and Imperial Palace. All give you peace of mind.

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    Oct 22, 2025
    I5562SWphilipk
    Great intro to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kei was a genial and knowledgeable host, who…

    Oct 12, 2025
    Gary H
    Great tour of Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We loved our tour! Our guide was…

    Oct 5, 2025
    C
    Cindy_S
    Had one day in Tokyo and…
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Had one day in Tokyo…

    Sep 15, 2025
    chrishN2970OC
    A highly enjoyable tour of Tokyo with knowledgeable local guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen & Kichijoji

    Tokyo in One Day: Shinjuku Gyoen & Kichijoji

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet@k5
    • 　 Nihonbashi→Kyobashi
    • 10:30 Shinjuku Gyoen
    • 11:30 Walk around Shinjuku
    • 12:30 Walk around Kichijoji
    • 13:45 Lunch@Iseya
    • 15:45 Disband@Petit Village

    What Is a Private Off-the-Beaten-Path Tokyo Family Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku Gyoen and Kichijoji The guests were a family visiting from North America. As part of the group was a very young child, the tour was paced around the child's mood throughout the day. Since the guests planned to visit the major sightseeing spots on their own, they requested hidden-gem locations, so I guided them to Shinjuku Gyoen and Kichijoji. Having arrived only the day before, the child was affected by jet lag and was sleepy and fussy from the morning, but seemed to enjoy moving around and did a lot of walking. The Ginza Line was still crowded during the 9 o'clock hour, so after discussing with one of the guests, we decided to walk to Edogrand in Kyobashi to pass the time with a kimono fitting and origami. However, the child was too fussy to try on the kimono, so the guests decided to visit Edogrand on their own another time, and we took the subway to Shinjuku Gyoen. The English-style garden at Shinjuku Gyoen was a wonderful place for a small child to run around, and the guests were delighted. The guests had a folding stroller, but the child wanted to walk. The child did not want to hold hands, which the guests found challenging, but I was impressed by how patiently they handled the situation no matter how much the child cried. After running around a lot at Shinjuku Gyoen, we walked to Shinjuku with the stroller. We were about to have lunch in Kichijoji when the child fell asleep just beforehand, so we postponed lunch and spent the time shopping at nearby stores and buying sandwiches from the food section of the station building to eat lightly on a bench until the child woke up. Once the child woke, we had a somewhat late lunch, and I guided them to the location of a cat cafe before saying goodbye. I felt that with guests traveling with a small child, you have to adapt flexibly, watching the child's condition on the day. For that reason, I thought it would be good to consider various possibilities and prepare many candidate destinations. Depending on the location of the hotel, boarding the train during the morning rush hour can be difficult, so I felt that it is necessary to either shift the tour time or guide guests somewhere within walking distance before taking the train. The guests were very satisfied, but there are still points to improve, which I would like to apply to future tours. There were moments of fussiness, but the child would also break into dance when happy and come running over to me, and I was soothed by such an adorable child.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayKyobashi～Shinjuku-gyoemmae210JPY
    Section 2TrainShinjuku～Kichijoji230JPY
    Total440JPY

    Tour Report by Yoko

    I’m Yoko Kusumoto, a government lisenced English-speaking guide.
    I have been living in Tokyo for more than 20 years, and it’s my pleasure to show you around Tokyo. I recommend Meiji Shrine and Asakusa if you are first time in Japan. I also recommend off-the-beaton path spots like Fukagawa Fudodo and Gotokuji Temple(lucky cat temple).
    I was born and brought up in Kamakura, where the first shogun’s government was established. It will be my pleasure to introduce you my hometown as well.

    I live with my husband and one teenage son.
    I like traveling, flowers, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, and exploring Tokyo.

    I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.

    Request Booking

    Jun 2, 2026
    ericahT6840AD
    Awesome!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some…

    May 20, 2026
    CharKris17
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo Walking Tour
    We did a six-hour walking tour of Tokyo with…

    May 3, 2026
    jefftK1794VZ
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
    This was our first time visiting Tokyo and…

    Oct 23, 2025
    Y6401BOshaunam
    Knowledgable, engaging guide Yoko Kusmoto made day of Tokyo history, architecture and insights exceptional. le.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Okochi Sanso Villa & Kinkaku-ji

    Kyoto in One Day: Okochi Sanso Villa & Kinkaku-ji

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Kyoto
    • 9:50 Togetsukyo Bridge ~ Tenryu-ji Garden ~ Bamboo Grove Walk
    • 11:00 Okochi Sanso Villa
    • 12:30 Lunch at Togenkyo near Kinkaku-ji
    • 13:20 Kinkaku-ji
    • 14:40 Disband at the ticket counter of JR Kyoto Station

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji Today's guests were a group from Oceania who had already traveled to places such as Kanazawa and Tokyo, arriving in Kyoto the previous evening and joining a Gion tour. The weather was fine, the garden of Tenryu-ji Temple was beautiful, and since it was still early at the bamboo grove, there were relatively few people, which was nice. Inside Okochi Sanso Villa there were fewer visitors compared to other spots, so we were able to enjoy the garden at a leisurely pace. The soba restaurant near Kinkaku-ji told us the wait would be 30 minutes, so we had ramen at a shop in front of the bus stop and then went on to Kinkaku-ji. As the guests were tired from the long journey and also needed to buy tickets for Tokyo, I guided them to the ticket counter at Kyoto Station and wrapped up a little early. I believe they enjoyed themselves.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto Kawaramachi～Arashiyama240JPY
    Section 2TrainArashiyama～Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 3BusKitano-Hakubaicho～Kinkakuji-michi230JPY
    Section 4BusKinkakuji-michi～Kitaoji Bus Terminal230JPY
    Section 5SubwayKitaoji～Kyoto260JPY
    Total1,210JPY

    Tour Report by Kaeko

    Thank you very much for choosing JGA experience, and please allow me to briefly introduce myself. I’m Kaeko Tanigawa, your tour guide, and I have been showing tourists from abroad around mainly in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka areas. Every year I’ve guided my guests through those areas for over 80 times. I always try to do my best to help my guests explore and enjoy our unique and attractive locations, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive so many 5-star reviews from the guests I hosted. I’d like to help make your visit to Japan one of the most wonderful memories in your life. I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon. Thank you very much.

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    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…

    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…

    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…

    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…

  • Osaka in One Day: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Gion

    Osaka in One Day: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Gion

    Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Hotel
    • 9:15-10:30 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    • 11:15-12:15 Fushimi Inari
    • 12:30-13:00 (Quick Lunch)
    • 13:30-14:15 Higashiyama Area
    • 14:15-14:45 Gion
    • 16:00 Arrive at hotel
    • Hotel: Hotel New Hankyu Osaka

    Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They were very curious about Japanese culture and asked many questions, which made the day a happy one for me. The route skipped the central part of Kyoto and went from Arashiyama straight to Fushimi Inari, then continued with a walk around the Higashiyama area. Specifically, we covered a great deal on foot: Koshin-do → Yasaka Pagoda → Ninenzaka (with a coffee shop stop) → Ishibei-koji → Kennin-ji (just passing through the garden) → Marishiten-do → Kyoto Ebisu Shrine → Miyagawa-cho Street → Gion (south and north). I had the guests walk quite a lot because they took a strong interest in the guardian lion-dogs at the shrines, so I wanted to introduce them to the wild boars at Marishiten-do and the ox at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine. Overall, the guests were very pleased with the tour.

    Click here for more details: Kyoto in 1 Day from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOsaka～Saga-Arashiyama990JPY
    Section 2TrainSaga-Arashiyama～Inari240JPY
    Section 3TrainInari～Tofukuji150JPY
    Section 4BusTofukuji～Gojozaka230JPY
    Section 5TrainGion-Shijo～Yodoyabashi430JPY
    Section 6SubwayYodoyabashi～Umeda190JPY
    Total2,230JPY

    Tour Report by Ichiro

    Hello!
    I’m Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
    (I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )

    In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.

    I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.

    I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.

    Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.

    Request Booking
  • Osaka: Kasuga Taisha Shrine & Yakushiji Temple

    Osaka: Kasuga Taisha Shrine & Yakushiji Temple

    Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hotel
    • 11:30-12:30 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 12:45-13:00 Nara Park
    • 13:15-14:00 (Lunch)
    • 14:15-15:15 Todaiji Temple (Nandaimon Gate, Great Buddha Hall)
    • 16:00-17:00 Yakushiji Temple
    • 18:00 Arrive at hotel
    • Hotel: Hotel New Otani Osaka

    Title: What Is a Private Nara Park Day Tour Like for Visitors from Asia? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Asia. One of the guests works in the travel business, having previously focused on domestic travel, but wishing to start offering Japan tours from next year, and this visit was partly a preliminary scouting trip. Having arrived at Kansai International Airport the previous evening via a connecting flight, today was effectively their first full day in Japan. For getting around Nara Park, we used a taxi twice, partly because one of the guests was not very fond of walking long distances. The course itself was the standard one, but when I introduced the large bronze lantern in front of the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple, and they saw the images on the panel (there are four pictures of Indian deities playing instruments such as the flute), they were delighted and exclaimed, "Oh, Krishna!" They took many commemorative photos in front of it. Apparently, Krishna is still a popular figure in their home region today.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Osaka: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainOsakajo Koen～Tsuruhashi140JPY
    Section 2TrainKintetsu Tsuruhashi～Kintetsu Nara590JPY
    Section 3TrainKintetsu Nara～Kintetsu Nishinokyo300JPY
    Section 4TrainKintetsu Nishinokyo～Kintetsu Tsuruhashi590JPY
    Section 5TrainTsuruhashi～Osakajo Koen140JPY
    Total1,760JPY

    Tour Report by Ichiro

    Hello!
    I’m Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
    (I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )

    In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.

    I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.

    I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.

    Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.

    Request Booking
  • Kyoto: Kasuga Taisha Shrine & Yakushi-ji Temple

    Kyoto: Kasuga Taisha Shrine & Yakushi-ji Temple

    Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Hotel
    • 9:15-10:15 Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 10:30-10:45 Nara Park
    • 11:00-12:00 Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha Hall)
    • 12:30-13:15 (Lunch)
    • 13:45-14:45 Yakushi-ji Temple
    • 16:00 Arrive at hotel
    • Hotel: Hotel Rings Kyoto (7-min walk northeast of Karasuma Station)

    Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Nara and Yakushiji Temple Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from Oceania visiting Japan for the first time. Since they seemed very interested in the deer, we started by walking up the Noborioji slope from Kintetsu Nara Station and began with feeding the deer. After that, we walked to Kasuga Taisha Shrine via Tobihino, went inside, and I guided them to Fujinami-no-Ya, where the Mantoro lantern festival is recreated. (This spot is always well received.) (The admission to the inner area of Kasuga Taisha had quietly been raised from 500 yen to 700 yen starting October 1, which was a bit frustrating.) After seeing the Great Buddha Hall, we walked to the Sashizu-do area and had a taxi come to meet us, saving time and shortening the walking distance. At Yakushiji Temple, at the spot where you can see the back of the pedestal of the Yakushi Nyorai statue in the Main Hall, I introduced how, tracing the Silk Road in reverse, cultural artifacts from Greece, Persia, India, and China made their way to Japan — a miniature representation of that history — and they were very impressed by this as well.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayShijo～Kyoto220JPY
    Section 2TrainKintetsu Kyoto～Kintetsu Nara760JPY
    Section 3TrainKintetsu Nara～Kintetsu Nishinokyo300JPY
    Section 4TrainKintetsu Nishinokyo～Kintetsu Kyoto760JPY
    Section 5SubwayKyoto～Shijo220JPY
    Total2,260JPY

    Tour Report by Ichiro

    Hello!
    I’m Ichiro F. I’m a government-certified English guide. I guide in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Since I started in March 2023, I’ve already led over 130 tours.
    (I am 64 years old, live in a city that is the western neighbor of Osaka City, married, and have one daughter who is 30 years old. My favorite pastimes are reading books and going to a gym. )

    In September 2019, I retired from an IT company after working there for 37 years, because I turned 60. At that time, I wanted to start something new. I had never lived outside of Japan or used English in my previous job. But, I had been learning English on my own for almost 50 years. I also love reading about Japanese history and culture. That’s why being a guide for English-speaking visitors is perfect for me.

    I got my government license in February 2020, but then COVID-19 happened, and Japan closed its borders. I had to wait three years to start working. But, that time was good for preparing. I learned more about Japan and traveled around Kyoto and other places.

    I finally started guiding in March 2023 and really enjoy it. Japan, especially Kyoto, has many historical places. Japan has four seasons, and I can experience the changes by walking outside with my clients. The more I guide, the more I know about it. Now, I guide about 15 days a month.

    Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe each have their own history and places that amaze foreign visitors. I’m confident I can give you the best experience while visiting Japan. Please feel free to ask what I can offer you.

    Request Booking
  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1330 Meet at Hotel
    • 1400 Nijo Castle
    • 1530 Bamboo Grove ~ Tenryu-ji Temple ~ Togetsukyo Bridge
    • 1715 Gion
    • 1810 Disband in front of Shijo Keihan

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Due to heavy rain, the bullet train from Tokyo was significantly delayed, so the start time was changed from 12:00 to 13:30. As a result, we had to skip the planned visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. During the heavy rain, we toured indoors at Nijo Castle, and by the time we viewed its garden the rain had eased. Afterward the rain stopped, so we were able to carry out a comfortable tour. The next day I received an email from the guests reporting that they had gone on their own to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, which we had skipped, as well as to "Gion Corner," which I had introduced during our stroll through Gion, and that they had a wonderful time.

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

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

    Request Booking

    Oct 10, 2025
    alijohn48
    Just what we were looking for
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Tomy was…

    Aug 8, 2025
    Katherine_G
    Fantastic day touring Kyoto with private tour guide & driver!
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max…

    Jul 22, 2025
    98patrickn
    early morning tour of Kyoto with guide Tomy
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We did an early…

    Jul 20, 2025
    Mark_S
    Great day in Kyoto
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a great…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • It has been extended by 2 hours.
    • 0830 Meet at Hotel
    • 0900 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 1045 Sanjusangendo
    • 1130 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 1240 Lunch "Nishio"
    • 1330 Nijo Castle
    • 1500 Arashiyama
    • 1630 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 1730 Disband at "Torisei" in Sanjo Kiyamachi

    What Is a Full-Day Private Tour in Japan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was a private tour for a group of guests visiting from North America. Since the guests came from North America, they spoke among themselves in their own language within the group. Along the way, the guests stopped to take many photos, made a few detours, and took their time over meals, so the planned 8-hour tour ended up being extended by an additional hour. They had wanted to see many places from the start, so 8 hours was already quite tight. When I discussed with them whether we might need to skip the final stop depending on the timing, they chose to extend the tour, and in the end they were very pleased with the day.

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

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

    Request Booking

    Oct 10, 2025
    alijohn48
    Just what we were looking for
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Tomy was…

    Aug 8, 2025
    Katherine_G
    Fantastic day touring Kyoto with private tour guide & driver!
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max…

    Jul 22, 2025
    98patrickn
    early morning tour of Kyoto with guide Tomy
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We did an early…

    Jul 20, 2025
    Mark_S
    Great day in Kyoto
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    We had a great…

  • Kyoto: Kintetsy Kyoto Sta & Kintatsu Ktoro Sta

    Kyoto: Kintetsy Kyoto Sta & Kintatsu Ktoro Sta

    Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 pick you up in the lobby of your hotel (Hotel)
    • 9:05 (take hotel shuttle bus)
    • 9:35 Kintetsy Kyoto Sta.
    • 10:30 Kintetsu Nara Sta.
    • 10:40 Nara Park (near Kofukuji Temple)
    • you give crackers to deer in the Park
    • 11:50 Todaiji Temple
    • 13:00 (take bus)
    • 13:40 (lunch restaurant at Indian Nepali restaurant)
    • 15:00 walk thru Naramachi
    • 16:13 Kintetsu Nara Sta.
    • 17:05 Kintatsu Ktoro Sta.
    • 17:20 see off in front of the shuttle bus

    What Is a Private Nara Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nara Park and Todaiji The guests were a group visiting Japan from Asia. At Nara Park, the guests fed crackers to the deer and had a wonderful time. Five of the guests entered Todaiji Temple, while the others rested and took care of the little ones. The five who went inside took their time viewing the Great Buddha and other Buddhist statues within the Great Buddha Hall. The guests wished to have Indian food for lunch. Since there were no Indian restaurants near Todaiji Temple, we went to an Indian and Nepali restaurant near Kintetsu Nara Station for lunch. It took quite a while, and since there was no longer time to visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine, we strolled through the shopping street in Naramachi instead. We returned to Kintetsu Kyoto Station, where the guests boarded the hotel shuttle bus, and I saw them off at the gate to end the tour.

    Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Nara760JPY
    Section 2BusIn front of the Great Buddha Hall～Kintetsu Nara100JPY
    Section 3TrainNara～Kyoto760JPY
    Total1,620JPY

    Tour Report by HIDEYOSHI

    Hello, I’m HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as a famous shogun who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
    I was born in Kobe, worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce you Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama.
    In Kyoto, I can guide you Nijojo Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Tempe (Golden Pavilion), Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
    In Osaka, I’ll show you Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky biilding. We have locall foods such as Kushikatau, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
    In Kobe, I’ll take you to former foreign residential area, Sannomiya Shopping Street, Chinese Market, and Arima Onsen.
    In Nara, I’ll guide you Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, and Yakushiji Temple.
    In Wakayama, I take you to Koyasan, the center of Esoteric Buddhism.
    I enjoy guiding foreign tourists.
    I can show you Japanese history, especially samurai period, and Shinto and Buddhism.
    I’ve been looking forward to guiding you !!

    Request Booking

    Jun 1, 2026
    Stephan_F
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great overview of the…
    Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with…

    May 28, 2025
    terrym866
    Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with…

    Oct 17, 2024
    katiya2017
    Walking visit in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
    We booked a full day walking…

    Sep 29, 2024
    Roy_M
    Excellent tour of Kyoto
    Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a very good private tour with…

  • Shizuoka: Kunozan Toshogu Shrine & Shimizu Kashi no Ichi Market

    Shizuoka: Kunozan Toshogu Shrine & Shimizu Kashi no Ichi Market

    Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    November, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:30 Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
    • 10:30 Nihondaira Ropeway
    • 11:00 Nihondaira Yume Terrace
    • 11:30 Nihondaira Ropeway
    • 12:00 Miho no Matsubara
    • 13:00 Shopping and Nagasaki Champon lunch at Shimizu Bay Dream
    • 14:30 Shimizu Kashi no Ichi Market
    • 15:15 Return to Shimizu Port

    What Is a Private Guided Tour of Kunozan Toshogu and Miho no Matsubara in Shizuoka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. Since the guests wanted to walk, we took a taxi to the coast below Kunozan Toshogu, climbed up to the shrine, and then visited Nihondaira Yume Terrace via the ropeway. We took the ropeway again and walked down on foot from the shrine. After moving to Miho no Matsubara and seeing Mihoshirube, we walked along the coast. As the guests had already spent time sightseeing in Tokyo before this, I explained about Tokugawa Ieyasu and Japanese history, and they understood it very well. The weather had become cooler and Mount Fuji was visible all day long, which the guests were very pleased about.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Fuji View Shimizu Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by TerryHirao

    My name is Terry Hirao, Shizuoka’s local tour guide. You can call me Terry, as in Teriyaki. I love Japan and Japanese culture and can show you the best of Japan, its history, breathtaking beauty, delicious foods, Japanese Tea. Shizoka is located in the middle of Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, two largest metropolitan cities and famous for Mt. Fuji, Japanese Tea and a lot more. The most popular destinations in Shizuoka are Nihon Daira Plateau, Kunozan Toshogu Shrines (National Treasure), Miho Pine Tree Grove (World Cultural Heritage). I hope I can help you enjoy your trip!!

    Request Booking

    Nov 6, 2024
    andrew h
    Very knowledgeable tour guide of the area
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Very…

    Oct 21, 2024
    Adventurer_from_Cda
    We had a great time – we enjoyed having Terry H as our guide for Shizuoka/Shimizu! Thank you!
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu…

    Sep 16, 2024
    Jane_R
    Great experience on this Mt Fuji private tour
    Viator review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private Tour: Guide Only
    Terry…

    Aug 21, 2024
    Go02797182361
    Too cloudy for Mt Fuji but still a great tour with Terry
    Tripadvisor review: Shizuoka/Shimizu Mt Fuji View 6 hr Private…