Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour

    Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Arashiyama – Meet at Randen Arashiyama Station　9:45 Kinkaku-ji　11:30 Kyoto Imperial Palace　12:50 Lunch　13:20 Nijo Castle　15:30 Yasaka Pagoda / Kongo-ji　16:10 Kiyomizu-dera
    • 17:45 Drop off at Yasaka Shrine and end the tour

    Title: What's a Private Kyoto Walking Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guest visited Japan with the group. Today they had gone to Arashiyama early in the morning, so we met at the site. The group came to Japan wanting to get to know the country well themselves. They planned to make an inspection trip of more than two weeks, covering Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, and other places. I did my best to summarize the characteristics of each destination as efficiently as possible. Since the trip doubled as a reconnaissance visit, they moved around a great deal and took many photographs. They seemed to enjoy photography personally, but also photographed signs, posters, my materials, and anything else that might be useful for reference. Because the group occasionally needed to take breaks, things took even more time, and although we had originally planned to visit Sanjusangendo, we cut it. The tour of Kiyomizu-dera ended after 5:00 p.m., but since I guided the group all the way to Yasaka Shrine, we went considerably over the scheduled time. The photo was taken at the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainRanden Arashiyama～Kitano-Hakubaicho250JPY
    Section 2BusKitano-Hakubaicho～Kinkakuji-michi1,100JPY
    Section 3BusKinkakuji-michi～Kitaoji Bus Terminal0JPY
    Section 4SubwayKitaoji～Imadegawa0JPY
    Section 5SubwayImadegawa～Nijojo-mae0JPY
    Section 6SubwayNijojo-mae～Higashiyama0JPY
    Section 7BusHigashiyama-Sanjo～Kiyomizu-michi0JPY
    Total1,350JPY

    Tour Report by KAZU

    I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.

    Request Booking

    Jul 24, 2026
    Trail65429092687
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Tour
    Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…

    Jul 23, 2026
    489caelinp
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto Guided Tour
    My friend and I had a great experience…

    Jul 16, 2026
    margaretsM7923ON
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
    Great way to see Kyoto
    Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.

    Jul 9, 2026
    Sandra_B
    Kazuo was great and…
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kazuo was great and provided…

  • Wakayama in One Day: Koyasan Station & Stay around Ichinohashi

    Wakayama in One Day: Koyasan Station & Stay around Ichinohashi

    Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:24　Meet at Hashimoto Station and accompany to Koyasan
    • 9:12　　　　　　　Arrive at Koyasan Station
    • 9:17～9:30　　Move to Daimon by local bus 360 yen
    • 9:30～9:40　　Stay around Daimon
    • 9:40～10:50　Stay at Garan
    • 10:50～11:40　Stay at Kongobuji Temple
    • 11:50～12:00　Move to restaurant by local bus 160 yen
    • 12:00～12:30　Stay at Restaurant Miyama
    • 12:30～12:40　Move to Okunoin Nakanohashi by local bus 160 yen
    • 12:40～13:45　Stay at Okunoin
    • 13:45～13:50　Move to Ichinohashi by local bus 200 yen
    • 13:50～14:10　Watch Goma memorial service at Seijoshin-in
    • 14:10～14:20　Stay around Ichinohashi
    • 14:20～14:45　Walk around town, eat sweets at Miroku-ishi
    • 14:45～15:10　Move to Koyasan Station by local bus 460 yen
    • 15:25　　Accompany to Gokurakubashi Station, tell them the train to return to Osaka, and part ways.

    What Is a Private Day Trip to Koyasan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests had been looking forward to their trip to Koyasan for quite some time. It came after they had traveled around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and they enjoyed the nature of Koyasan and listened with great interest to my explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, esoteric Buddhism, and Kobo Daishi. They had also researched Koyasan's sightseeing spots themselves, and we visited all the places they wanted to see. Perhaps because they were able to move quickly and nimbly, we were able to cover many places very smoothly in a short amount of time, even without rushing, while I provided various explanations along the way. As for the buses (I always carry a timetable when walking around), we happened to be at the bus stop right when we hoped a bus would come, so we could travel without wasting any time. Although it was a day trip, the guests were able to watch the goma fire ritual and also taste shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), so I believe they enjoyed it more than enough. Since there was some concern about the train transfers, we exchanged messages by email and coordinated the timing so we could meet at Hashimoto, and on the way back the guests were able to return to Shin-Imamiya on a limited express train with no transfers.

    Click here for more details: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusKoyasan Station front～Daimon360JPY
    Section 2BusKongobuji front～Tamagawa-dori160JPY
    Section 3BusTamagawa-dori～Okunoin-mae160JPY
    Section 4BusOkunoin-mae～Ichinohashiguchi200JPY
    Section 5BusOdawara-dori～Koyasan Station front460JPY
    Total1,340JPY

    Tour Report by Yuki

    Hi! I’m an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. I’m also a national guide as well. I’d like to expand my guide area to help tourists.
    The town of Osaka offers a different atmosphere than Tokyo. I like both exciting Osaka and nature-filled Wakayama Prefecture.
    If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, you can go to Koyasan for one day, or even for a day trip, so I recommend sightseeing at Koyasan.
    If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, the nature of Koyasan will relax you.
    I will introduce you to the unique culture, history and must-see sights.

    Request Booking

    Jun 23, 2026
    Shelley_E
    Viator review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    There is much to do in…
    There is much to…

    May 28, 2026
    Duncan_R
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Great Tour of Kyoto
    The tour was both very informative and…

    May 28, 2026
    ignaciosilenzi
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Licensed Guide
    Amazing day in Koyasan with Miyuki
    Miyuki was…

    May 23, 2026
    189mirjamf
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Grandioser Einblick in eine fremde Kultur
    Sehr nette und…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00　Meet up @ Hotel Tokyo
    • 2. 9:10　@ Nishi-Shinjuku (in front of the Metropolitan Government Building)
    • 3. 10:20　@ Asakusa (Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, coffee break at "Kaminari Issa", Sumida Park)
    • 4. 11:40　@ Nihonbashi (Takashimaya food section)
    • 5. 12:00　@ Tokyo Station (Yaesu Exit, inside the Marunouchi-side station building, station plaza)
    • 6. 12:30　Lunch @ Suju Dining (inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building)
    • 7. 13:45　@ Ginza (4-chome intersection, Kyukyodo)
    • 8. 14:15　@ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
    • 9. 15:00　@ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket office)
    • 10.15:30　@ Shinjuku Odakyu ticket counter
    • 11. 16:00　Disband @ Hotel Tokyo

    Title: What's a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Ginza, and Ticket Support The guests were visitors from Oceania. One of them had previously visited Japan several times for work, but this was their first time sightseeing here. The breakfast restaurant at their accommodation is on the 45th floor, and this morning they were able to enjoy a view of Mount Fuji. They had arrived in Japan the day before and planned to sightsee in Tokyo through the following day, then travel to Hakone by the Odakyu Romancecar the day after next. After that, they intended to visit Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka. At Asakusa, they enthusiastically took part in drawing omikuji fortunes, using the purification fountain, and offering prayers. During lunch, they handled chopsticks very skillfully, and when I asked about it, they explained that there are quite a few Japanese restaurants in their home region, so they are used to using them. They ordered a sweet-and-sour pork set and a teriyaki salmon set, and savored them, exclaiming how delicious they were. At Kyukyodo in Ginza, they looked over the souvenirs very carefully. Procedures at a JR ticket office were necessary, and while there was a long line at Tokyo Station, the counter in Shibuya was uncrowded, which saved us time. They had also been worried about the ticketing procedures for the Odakyu railway, but we were able to complete all of the planned procedures, so they were very relieved.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Nishi-Shinjuku Station～Ginza Line Asakusa Station600JPY
    Section 2Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station～Nihonbashi Station0JPY
    Section 3Free PassTokyo Metro Ginza Line Tokyo Station～Ginza Line0JPY
    Section 4Free PassTokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Ginza-itchome Station～Sakuradamon Station0JPY
    Section 5Free PassTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Nijubashimae Station～Ginza Line Shibuya Station0JPY
    Section 6Free PassTokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Shibuya Station～Marunouchi Line Shinjuku Station0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Tour Report by Noripy

    Hello, I’m Noripy.
    I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
    I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!

    Request Booking

    Jul 3, 2026
    Jody D
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
    Best Post cruise tour ever
    It was…

    June 19, 2026
    Alec T
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Tokyo in 4 hours
    Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…

    Jun 16, 2026
    Hema_R
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Lovely experience. My…
    Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…

    Jun 3, 2026
    Sara B
    Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkaku-ji

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Ginkaku-ji

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 08:00 Arrived at JR Inari Station and began waiting. Due to a subway accident/delay, the guests' arrival was delayed by about 30 minutes
    • 09:00 Meeting/Briefing: In front of JR Inari Station
    • 09:15 Sightseeing ①: Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 09:55 Moved to Kiyomizu-dera by taxi (originally planned to move by Keihan/city bus, but used a taxi due to the delay)
    • 10:10 Sightseeing ②: Kiyomizu-dera (originally planned to stroll around "Ninenzaka" and "Sannenzaka" after Kiyomizu-dera, but omitted due to crowds)
    • 11:35 Moved to Eikan-do by taxi (originally planned to make the next move by city bus, but used a taxi to make up for the delay)
    • 11:50 Sightseeing ③: Eikan-do Zenrin-ji
    • 13:10 Sightseeing ④: Strolled along the Philosopher's Path
    • 14:20 Sightseeing ⑤: Ginkaku-ji
    • 14:40 After strolling around Ginkaku-ji, disbanded

    Title: Can You Do a 6-Hour Private Walking Tour of Kyoto's Higashiyama Area? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for sightseeing from North America. One of the guests handled all the communication and coordination. My assignment was confirmed on September 20, and I sent my first message right away, but a reply only came about a month later. Their wish list was quite packed for a 6-hour course, with seven locations requested (Fushimi Inari, Higashiyama/Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, the Philosopher's Path, To-ji, and Eikan-do). Since these are connected along the Higashiyama area, I tried to create an itinerary that met their wishes as closely as possible (Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera → Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka → Eikan-do → the Philosopher's Path → Ginkaku-ji). After this, there were also requests such as "Could we do a kimono experience somewhere?", but considering travel time and crowds, I helped them understand that "adding anything more would force us to cancel one of the destinations," and we finalized the itinerary. On the morning of the tour, because the guests wanted to "save as much time as possible and see many places," I set the meeting point right in front of JR Inari Station, directly in front of the first destination, Fushimi Inari. I started waiting at 8:00, thirty minutes early, ready for the 8:30 meeting. However, even at the scheduled 8:30 the guests did not appear, and instead I received a message saying they were trying to head to Inari from their hotel near Nijo Castle, but would be late due to a subway accident and delay. I had chosen an on-site meeting point specifically to save time, but the plan fell apart due to the transportation situation. In any case, the challenge became how to flexibly handle an already tight itinerary now running thirty minutes behind. I decided the only way was to discuss it based on the itinerary once I met the guests. After waiting thirty minutes, the guests arrived at exactly 9:00. They greeted me apologetically, but I proposed, "This happens often, no problem at all. Let's think together about how to make up for this delay and make the tour enjoyable." I raised the points that "to make up for the thirty-minute delay, we would use a taxi for transportation if necessary, and if crowds or other factors made things take too long, we would decide on the spot and consider canceling part of the plan." The guests agreed, saying "that's a good idea," so we proceeded with the itinerary on that basic principle. At each destination, I felt I should not rush through and produce a shallow sightseeing experience, so I tried to take a careful look around and give thorough basic explanations wherever possible. In that respect, the guests were able to thoroughly enjoy Japanese culture, history, and religion at each place we visited. Still, due to time and crowds, we did take taxis for two of the transfers, and amid the crowds at Kiyomizu-dera we canceled "Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka" — regrettable, but I believe these were unavoidable decisions. Fortunately, the guests were all full of energy, and the fact that they could move smoothly on foot was a major plus. At the start, worry got the better of me and I wondered how it would all turn out, but by the end, helped by the fine weather, I feel I was able to provide a very pleasant guiding experience.

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

    Tour Report by Nori

    Hi, everyone! I’m Norifumi Kamon, a government registered guide interpreter. Please call me “Nori”, or “Kamon-san”.
    Let me introdece myself. I was born on April 17th in 1952 in Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu island. I used to be an English teacher of Osaka Prefectural high school. When I retired from a teacher ten years ago, I decided to get a professional guide license. I wanted to play a role of the bridge between Japanese people and the people from all over the world as a second life of mine. After two years efforts, I finally got the guide license. Since then, I have guided several handreds of foreign people mainly in Kyoto and Nara for about five years except Corona Pandemic period. Almost all the tourists were deeply impressed by the beauty of nature, traditoin, culture, and art of Japan. I can surely help you enjoy and be satisfied with the sightseeing in Japan. And I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

    Request Booking

    Apr 9, 2026
    Ron_W
    Viator review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We saw so much in the…
    We saw so much in the…

    Mar 24, 2026
    zackn719
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Knowledgeable guide and a great tour
    We did our private tour with…

    Oct 20, 2025
    66speech
    Highlights of Kyoto.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great experience with Nori. Nori exceeded our expectations with…

    Oct 16, 2025
    Michael_H
    Thoroughly enjoyed the…
    Viator review: Osaka Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Thoroughly enjoyed the day out…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.830 Meet at Hotel
    • 2.900 Tsukiji Market
    • 3.1030 Akihabara 　
    • 4.1115Asakusa
    • 5.1230 Meiji Shrine
    • 6.1330 Harajuku & Shopping at Uniqlo
    • 7.1430 Shibuya Crossing + Hachi
    • 8.1500 Finish at Shibuya

    What Does a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Akihabara, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya After breakfast ran long and a short wait, we headed to Tsukiji. At the intermediate wholesalers' building, the guests came across unusual items and even saw a tuna being filleted into halves. They were delighted, saying everything was so unusual. After that, we walked around the outer market shops and moved on to Akihabara. Here, rather than anime, the guests were interested in cutting-edge mobile phones and home electronics, and said they would come back on their own. After just looking at a maid cafe and game shops, we went from Suehirocho to Asakusa. We passed through Nakamise Street and under the temple gate, and even though I suggested against it, the guests drew omikuji fortunes. One turned out to be "good luck," but the other came out as "bad luck." I offered comfort, saying the good fortune would cover the other, but there was still a bit of disappointment. From Asakusa we went on to Meiji Shrine, where there were many questions about Shinto. The guests enjoyed the chrysanthemum exhibition, the many offerings, sake, sweets, and more. Here they drew omikuji again to turn things around, but the result was not particularly encouraging. (Perhaps caution really is in order.) From there we went around Takeshita Street and on to Shibuya. One small setback here was that, due to Halloween, the walkway of the Inokashira Line overlooking the scramble crossing was blocked off, and the Hachiko statue was covered up. I had not researched this well enough. Still, the guests were generally satisfied, and we parted ways in Shibuya. I recommended a yakiniku restaurant for the evening, but in the end it seems they did not go.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayRoppongi～Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 2SubwayTsukiji～Akihabara178JPY
    Section 3SubwaySuehirocho～Asakusa178JPY
    Section 4SubwayAsakusa～Kanda178JPY
    Section 5TrainKanda～Harajuku178JPY
    Section 6SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Shibuya178JPY
    Total1,068JPY

    Tour Report by Kazu

    My name is KAZU HAKATA. 73years old (as of end AUG2025). I started as a guide from March 2023. Graduated from KYOTO Univ Intl Economics and MBA from INSEAD in France. (14 years in overseas, LUX, Paris, Hong Kong) . I used to work in Banking, Telecommunication, Air Line, Financial Trading as CFO. I did more than 150 days of Guide since 2023,Tokyo( most of the Guides), Nikko, Hakone, Kamakura, and other area. Born in Hyogo Pref. I lived 26 years in Kansai and know quite well Kyoto, Nara, Osaka ,Kobe, Wakayama ( Koya san + Kumano Kodo).
    I know not only touristic sites, but I can show you hidden charming points of JAPAN. If you can enjoy your tour in JAPAN, it is also my pleasure. I will do as much as I can to assist you to understand Japanese history, culture, nature, and a real life in JAPAN.
    [FRANCAIS]
    J’ai commencee a Guide apres avoir obtenu Diplome de Francaise en fevrier 2023. Jusqu’a maintenant j’ai effectue plus de 150 guides dont 1/4 francais. Principalement a Tokyo , mais de temps en temps aux Nikko, Kamakura, Kawaguchiko, Hakone, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Okayama, Naoshima.
    A Tokyo, les sites frequentes sont Tsukiji, Hama Rikyu, Asakusa, Jardin Imperial, Rikugi-En , Yanaka, Ueno, Ameyoko, Musee Nationale, Akihabara, Jardin de Korakuen , Harajuku, Sanctuaire de Meiji, ruelle de Tekeshita , Aoyama, Shibuya, Temple de Gotokuji, etc.
    Comme je suis ne a Hyogo ( ouest du Japon) et etudie a Kyoto, Je connais bien Kyoto,Nara,Osaka, Mont Koya, Hieizan. En plus j’ai travaille a Osaka 2017-2019.pendant cette periode j’ai souvent visitee des sites touristiques a Kyoto, Nara, Osaka. J’ai fait les randonnes a Kumono Kodo et 33 temples en Kansai.

    Request Booking

    Apr 4, 2026
    Rebecca_M
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kazu Rocks!!
    Kazu was a gem! From our booking well in advance…

    Oct 19, 2025
    geoffreysE7617EB
    6-hour Tokyo Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My guide, Kazuyasu Hakata, modified some of the tour,…

    Oct 9, 2025
    zglus
    6 Hr walking Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kazuyas brought us all around Tokyo and was…

    Sep 26, 2025
    JulieD4351
    We saw the fish market, many shrines, the busy walkway, and much more!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed…

  • Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meet at the hotel. By bus to Gora Station. By cable car to Sounzan. By ropeway to Owakudani. Magnificent view of Mt. Fuji. Black eggs. By ropeway to Togendai. 10:45 Pirate ship. View the torii gate of Hakone Shrine from the ship. Disembark at Hakonemachi Port. By bus. From Ninotaira, walk to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. By train to Gora Station. Walk to Hotel Indigo. Disband at 2:10
    • The guests will go by arranged car from the hotel at 2:30 to Odawara Station. 16:06 to Kyoto by Shinkansen

    What Is a Private Day Tour of Hakone Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a very friendly group from North America. They planned to return to the hotel at 2:30 and head to Odawara Station by car. However, since they had come all this way, they expressed a wish to see as many places as possible. After an open and casual discussion, we agreed to skip a sit-down restaurant meal and keep moving, which turned into a packed itinerary where we only had time for a single cup of coffee at the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Even so, as the photos show, the guests enjoyed themselves very much. During the drives between locations, I also introduced Japanese history, culture, and legends, helping them deepen their understanding of Japan at least a little.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassOdawara Station～Odawara Station5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    Tour Report by Hiro

    I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
    I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
    I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
    First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
    Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
    Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
    For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
    Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
    dummy

    Request Booking

    Jun 30, 2026
    G2432BLtimothyc
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
    6 hour tour of Hakone
    we had a great experience with…

    Jun 25, 2026
    T7734IPbrandons
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in hakone
    Niro was perfect for us. He was…

    Jun 8, 2026
    JasonB6980
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hiro-san knows Hakone!
    Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Tourist31988989961
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
    Great Day and Tour
    Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…

  • Hyogo in Half a Day: Kokoen Garden & Himeji Castle

    Hyogo in Half a Day: Kokoen Garden & Himeji Castle

    Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:15 Meet up @ JR Himeji Station
    • 11:30 @ Kokoen Garden
    • 12:15 @ Himeji Castle
    • 14:15 Disband @ JR Himeji Station

    What Is a Private Himeji Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors, and although the meeting point had not been communicated correctly at first, we exchanged messages by email and a messaging app and were able to meet up without any problem. Since one of the guests was feeling a little tired, we proceeded at a somewhat slow pace. Rather than being especially interested in each individual spot, both guests seemed to be primarily focused on taking photographs. By the time we had visited the second stop, Himeji Castle, the tiredness and hunger set in, so we cut the shrine that had been planned as the final stop, and after guiding them to a food court inside Himeji Station, we parted ways.

    Click here for more details: Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by Yama

    Dear my guests,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Fukuya Departamento Store & Itsukushima Shrine

    Hiroshima in One Day: Fukuya Departamento Store & Itsukushima Shrine

    Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Candeo Hiroshima
    • 9:20 Fukuya Departamento Store
    • 9:40 Peace Memorial Museum
    • 13:10 Lunch @Miyajima Shokudo
    • 14:10 Itsukushima Shrine
    • 14:30 End the tour at Ropeway Station

    What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. We ended the tour on Miyajima because they said they wanted to climb Mount Misen. After we met, the start was slightly delayed because one of the guests had forgotten their IC card and we went back to retrieve it. On the way to the museum, I introduced some A-bomb remains. There were still relatively few tour groups at the museum, but the guests felt it was crowded. For lunch, we had noodles on Miyajima. One of the guests kept saying they wanted okonomiyaki for dinner, and even when another guest pointed out that okonomiyaki was available, that did not change. I recommended a well-known okonomiyaki restaurant in central Hiroshima, as well as a long-established, famous sukiyaki restaurant near the Hotel in Hiroshima. Since a relative of one of the guests lives in Nagoya and had mentioned there was nothing to see there, I shared some of the highlights of Nagoya and recommended nearby sightseeing spots that can be reached from there. They said they would not visit Itsukushima Shrine. They had told me from the moment we met that they intended to climb Mount Misen, so for safety I recommended moving early. I explained the key points of Mount Misen at the ropeway entrance and ended the tour there. [Additional note] The reason the tour ended early was that the guests said they were going to climb Mount Misen. Ropeway Momijidani Station to Shishiiwa Station: 0.5 hours Summit walk: about 1 hour Descent on foot: 1–1.5 hours Sunset: 17:19 In line with the advisories from the Hiroshima Prefectural Police and Hatsukaichi City, I took into account descending before sunset. I also told the guests, "Please descend before sunset." In addition, depending on the travel agency, we are asked to provide safety notes in the case of a Mount Misen hike. For all these reasons, considering the guests' safety, I saw them off early. Thank you very much.

    Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHatchobori～Peace Memorial Park220JPY
    Section 2TrainAtomic Bomb Dome-mae～Yokogawa220JPY
    Section 3TrainYokogawa～Miyajimaguchi330JPY
    Total770JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    Hi. I’m Michi. I’m a national licensed tour guide in English.
    I want to introduce many faces and charms of Japan and make your stay in Japan more fascinating and satisfying.

    I was born and raised in Hiroshima. My first tour in English was as a volunteer guide for the visitors to my school when I was a junior high school student. It gave me a great opportunity to study about the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
    I spent my life in Hiroshima except for 6 years; 1 year in the UK as a student and 5 years working in Singapore and Malaysia. During this period I enjoyed meeting and talking with people from different cultural backgrounds.
    These experiences encouraged me to be a licensed tour guide.

    In Hiroshima, there are two famous World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.
    I have experienced many tours of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum & Park since I was a junior high school student. I would like to introduce you to the a-bomb legacies that are still existing in the city and the stories under the mushroom cloud.
    I also would like to share time with you on a historic island, Miyajima. There is one of the most famous Shinto shrines, the Itsukushima Shrine. We can share an enjoyable time by exploring a sacred atmosphere, tradition, nature, food, etc.

    I am also an official ‘A-bomb legacy successor’ designated by the City of Hiroshima. An A-bomb Legacy Successor is a memory keeper of the A-bomb survivors. To ensure that the A-bomb survivors’ experiences and desires for peace are faithfully inherited and shared with as many people as possible, the City has started a three-year training program for official ‘A-bomb Legacy Successors. ‘

    Let me support your stay in Japan and I look forward to showing you the best of Japan!
    Hope to see you soon!

    Request Booking

    Jan 2, 2025
    georgeweller
    Excellent tour by a very knowledgeable guide
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Michi-San was an…

    Nov 8, 2024
    Andrew M
    Awesome experience! Michi was the best guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Awesome…

    Nov 8, 2024
    Andrew_M
    Awesome day! Michi was an amazing guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Awesome day!…

    Sep 16, 2024
    alexandermM7944BB
    Day tour with Michi
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Michi, our guide, was amazing!…

  • Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Sapporo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 8:56 Meet up @ Hotel
    • 2. 9:06 Sapporo Clock Tower
    • 3. 9:50 Nijo Market
    • 4. 11:20 Historical Village of Hokkaido
    • 5. 15:25 Disband @ Hotel

    Title: What Is a Private Tour to Hokkaido Kaitaku no Mura (Historical Village of Hokkaido) Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from South America. Perhaps because they had inherited a strong connection to Japanese culture, they had wished from the outset to visit the Historical Village of Hokkaido (Hokkaido Kaitaku no Mura). The Historical Village of Hokkaido displays many buildings on a vast site that evoke the era from the Meiji period through roughly the Taisho period, and the guests spent a great deal of time here. They looked at each facility with great interest as they entered, and one of the guests in particular seemed deeply moved, finding aspects that overlapped with life in earlier times. The forest surrounding the facilities was turning to autumn colors, and they took many photographs of the scenery as well.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayOdori Park Station～Shin-Sapporo Station290JPY
    Section 2BusShin-Sapporo Bus Terminal～Historical Village of Hokkaido210JPY
    Section 3BusHistorical Village of Hokkaido～Shin-Sapporo Bus Terminal210JPY
    Section 4SubwayShin-Sapporo Station～Odori Park Station290JPY
    Total1,000JPY

    Tour Report by Tom

    I was born and raised in Hokkaido and have been a resident of Sapporo for over 30 years. I have been actively involved in guiding tourists around the scenic spots of Hokkaido, primarily focusing on Sapporo. Even before becoming a licensed interpreter guide, I engaged in volunteer activities to assist and guide foreigners, providing me with valuable opportunities to delve into the rich culture and history of Hokkaido.
    Hokkaido is renowned for its exceptional culinary scene, and I am well-versed in gourmet information. I believe I can offer an excellent experience by guiding individuals through the highly acclaimed food experiences that Hokkaido has to offer.

    Request Booking

    Apr 22, 2026
    Agent PT A
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Super Sapporo in April with Tom.
    Tom was kind…

    Feb 10, 2026
    Alan_C
    Very enjoyable and well…
    Viator review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Very enjoyable and well worth it. Our…

    Sep 24, 2025
    saratW9816BN
    Tour up to the Moiwa mountain and lots more
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We’ve had…

    Sep 2, 2025
    roxannerW1499FK
    Great experience!
    Tripadvisor review: Sapporo 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful city tour with Tom in…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    October, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1.9:15 Meet @JR Kyoto Station in front of the Shinkansen Central Exit
    • 2.9:30 @Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 3.10:25 @Hokan-ji Temple, Ninenzaka (Higashiyama)
    • 4.11:00 @Hanamikoji, Gion Shirakawa, Pontocho
    • 5.11:45 @Nishiki Market
    • 6.13:10 @Eikando (Zenrin-ji Temple)
    • 7.13:55 @Philosopher's Path (about 25 minutes walk)
    • 8. 14:58 Disband @Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Kyoto from Osaka? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who were traveling in Japan. Today they came to Kyoto from Osaka, so we decided the meeting point would be a coffee shop in front of the central Shinkansen exit of Kyoto Station. However, the guests exited from the west side where the local lines are, and there happened to be another branch of the same coffee shop nearby, which they mistook for the meeting point. I asked the guests to stay put while I searched for them, and I was glad we were able to meet up safely. The itinerary followed what we had agreed on through a messaging app. Even so, since there was still time for sightseeing before walking the Philosopher's Path, and on the driver's recommendation, we visited Eikando. Although it was a little early for the autumn foliage, the leaves in the garden of Eikando were beginning to turn color and were beautiful, and there were few people around, so it turned out to be a great place to show them. Initially they had also hoped to see the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, but since it was quite far away, they gave up on that. Instead, they were able to walk the entire Philosopher's Path from Nyakuoji Shrine to the front of Ginkakuji, and they were very satisfied. At the end, I saw them off by car to Kyoto Station, where they purchased their Shinkansen tickets, and I accompanied them to the Hachijo exit of the Shinkansen before we parted ways. The guests were satisfied with the tour overall.

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

    Tour Report by Shoko

    I am an experienced guide, who live in Osaka. I have been a Government-Licensed Guide in English since 2018. I have already guided a lot of tourists overseas in Kansai Area, that is, in the vicinity of my prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. I am especially good at guiding in Kansai Area with sufficient knowledge of history, culture and transportation. I have guided people ranging from a small group of one or two to a group of 20-50 people in a big bus, that is, a coach. I like delicious food, because Osaka is a city of Kuidaorre, which means that people in Osaka love to eat and never spend too much money on food. Therefore, as an Osakan, I will do my best to explore restaurants which serve most delicious foods in wherever I take to my guests.

    Request Booking

    Mar 31, 2026
    Michael A
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Perfectly customized tour
    Shoko San did an amazing job planning a…

    Mar 29, 2026
    judyl582
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Shoko was great
    Shoko was an excellent guide. From the moment she…

    Oct 8, 2025
    441gayh
    World Heritage Kyoto places with the best guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Absolutely perfect! SHOKO was…

    Oct 3, 2025
    Judi H
    Introduction to Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a wonderful tour with Shoko.
    She…