Category: Uncategorized

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @Hotel (Hotel)
    • 10:10:30 Travel (JR; Kyoto Station → Inari Taisha)
    • 10:30-11:20 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:20-11:30 Travel (Keihan Train; Fushimi Inari → Keihan Shichijo)
    • 11:40-12:30 Visit Sanjusangendo
    • 12:30-12:50 Travel (Keihan Train; Keihan Shichijo → Kiyomizu-Gojo)
    • 13:00-13:50 Lunch (@Gohanya Shinkiro/Gojo)
    • 14:00-14:40 Stroll around Gion
    • 14:40-14:50 Travel (City Bus; Gion → Shijo Kawaramachi)
    • 15:00-15:30 Stroll around Nishiki Market
    • 15:30-15:50 Travel (Karasuma Line; Karasuma Shijo → Kyoto)
    • 15:50-16:00 Stroll Kyoto Station SkyWalk
    • 16:00 Farewell at the hotel

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangendo, Gion, and Nishiki Market The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had traveled to other destinations before arriving in Kyoto, Japan, the previous evening. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. In the morning, I took the guests to Fushimi Inari Taisha and Sanjusangendo, and after lunch we strolled through Gion and Nishiki Market and I showed them the Skywalk at Kyoto Station. The tour proceeded on schedule as planned. As for their impressions, the guests said that Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo in the morning were wonderful. Gion and Nishiki Market in the afternoon were included at the guests' request, but these may have been slightly less than what they had expected.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto～Inari Taisha150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari～Keihan Shichijo170JPY
    Section 3TrainKeihan Shichijo～Kiyomizu-Gojo170JPY
    Section 4BusGion～Kawaramachi Shijo230JPY
    Section 5SubwayKarasuma Shijo～Kyoto220JPY
    Total940JPY

    Tour Report by Michi

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

    Request Booking

    Aug 4, 2026
    Elie_S
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Wonderful and informative walking tour with Michi
    We had a lovely…

    Jul 19, 2026
    Wander35832177180
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Kyoto temple tour
    Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Abby_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Javier P
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Senso-ji Temple & Nijubashi Bridge

    Tokyo in One Day: Senso-ji Temple & Nijubashi Bridge

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at hotel
    • 10:45-11:30 Sightseeing at Senso-ji Temple
    • 11:45-12:30 Sightseeing in Akihabara
    • 12:30-13:45 Move to Tokyo Station, lunch
    • 14:10-14:40. Sightseeing at Nijubashi Bridge
    • 15:20-16:30. Visit Meiji Shrine, dismissal
    • 14:30-15:00

    What Is a Private Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from North America. One of the group was studying Japanese and showed great interest in the various things we saw at each destination. I was not sure whether Akihabara would suit the group, but they seemed to enjoy buying souvenirs for friends and doing some shopping of their own. Since they mentioned that they preferred the outdoors and disliked shopping, I focused the tour on outdoor spots where they could enjoy the clear weather and the history, such as Senso-ji Temple and the Imperial Palace, which seemed to work well. I was happy when they told me, "Thank you for taking us to such beautiful places."

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMita～Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa～Suehirocho178JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara～Tokyo146JPY
    Section 4TrainKasumigaseki～Meiji-jingumae178JPY
    Total722JPY

    Tour Report by Kappa

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

    Request Booking

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

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

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

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

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0900 Meet at Hotel (2 min from Keiyo Line Shiomi Station)
    • 0920 At Tokyo Station, guide to the location of the Station Travel Concierge for later JR Pass exchange and Shinkansen ticket purchase.
    • 　　Explain the historical background from Tokyo Station to Marunouchi. ~ Gyoko-dori Avenue ~ Tatsumi Yagura Turret
    • 1100 Visit Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street (you can take your time here another day)
    • 1240 Shibuya, Hachiko Statue, Scramble Crossing
    • 1340 Asakusa, Nakamise, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine
    • 1450 Tokyo Skytree, after explaining the route to Solamachi,
    • 1500 At the 4F entrance gate, confirm admission and disband

    Can You Do a First-Day Private Tour of Tokyo to Learn the JR Pass and Train System? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of four visiting from Oceania. One of the guests had visited Japan about 25 years ago but did not have clear memories of it. Their main purpose in requesting a guide on their first day was to understand the transportation system and to confirm things like purchasing a JR Pass and Shinkansen tickets. They mentioned that since guide time is valuable, once they knew the locations they would handle the rest on their own later. They planned to stay in Tokyo for several days, but the destinations for the following days had not yet been decided. Ginza and Tokyo Midtown seemed to be candidates, but since shopping was important to some of the guests, they planned to revisit Harajuku and Shibuya. After Tokyo, they planned to visit Takayama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. Since their accommodation was on the Keiyo Line, I chose Tokyo Station as the first destination, partly to introduce the station travel concierge, but the distance from the Keiyo Line platform to the Marunouchi North Exit turned out to be quite long. Due to time constraints (in particular a 15:00 reservation at Skytree), it was not possible to set aside a proper lunch break, so the guests enjoyed things like melon bread and strawberry candy on Takeshita Street and in Asakusa. I introduced the food court at Skytree, so they planned to have their meal either there or somewhere near Sensoji Temple.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShiomi～Tokyo167JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijubashimae～Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku～Shibuya146JPY
    Section 4SubwayShibuya～Asakusa252JPY
    Section 5TrainAsakusa～Tokyo Skytree157JPY
    Total931JPY

    Tour Report by Ted

    I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
    After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

    My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
    My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
    – Senso ji Temple
    – Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
    – Tokyo Skytree
    – Ueno Park
    – Nezu Shrine
    – Imperial Palace outer park
    – Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
    – Ginza
    – Odaiba
    – Hama Rikyu Garden
    – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
    – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
    – Roppongi
    – Meiji Shrine
    – Harajuku & Takeshita Street
    – Shibuya
    – and Any of your interest.

    I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
    Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
    Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

    I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

    Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
    Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

    A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

    In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

    Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
    These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
    Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
    Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
    The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
    Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

    I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

    Request Booking

    Sep 24, 2026
    Leslie_R
    Good tour on first day
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Ted, our guide was…

    Jul 2, 2026
    Susan M
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Family fun in Tokyo.
    A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…

    Jun 26, 2026
    ann r
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Educational with kind, generous guide
    My teenage sons and I learned…

    Jun 14, 2026
    141yunb
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
    We…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Tokyo Ginza
    • 9:50 Meiji Shrine
    • 11:30 Imperial Palace Sakuradamon Gate ~ Nijubashi Bridge ~ Otemon Gate
    • 12:15 Shopping at 7-Eleven in Palace Building, then lunch on a bench
    • 13:00 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 14:30 Akihabara
    • 15:00 Disband in front of Akihabara Station

    Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: The weather was fair and Mobile Suica had been prepared in advance, so the tour proceeded without any trouble. The Ginza Line from Ginza to Omotesando was quite crowded, which seemed to surprise the guests. At one point, the group was pushed out by other passengers and could not board again, which caused some delay. At Meiji Shrine, the guests spent a considerable amount of time taking photos and asking questions. They appeared very interested in Japanese religion and history. At Takeshita Street in Harajuku, it was just before 11:00, so some shops had not yet opened and it was not very crowded, allowing us to move smoothly. The guests tried to enter an otter cafe but gave up because it was full. Since the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were closed, we proceeded from Sakuradamon Gate to the Nijubashi Bridge and Otemon Gate. We bought lunch at a convenience store in the basement of a nearby building, and the guests ate on the benches at Otemachi Station. Two of the guests could not eat certain foods, so they chose their items carefully at the convenience store. In Asakusa, we saw the Skytree, and at Sensoji Temple the guests enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes. At their request, we then went around Akihabara, where I showed them camera accessories at an electronics store. We reached the front of a large electronics retailer at 15:00, and the tour concluded there. The guests each enjoyed the tour in their own way.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGinza～Meiji-jingumae600JPY
    Section 2TrainMeiji-jingumae～Kasumigaseki0JPY
    Section 3TrainOtemachi～Yushima0JPY
    Section 4TrainUeno-hirokoji～Asakusa0JPY
    Section 5TrainAsakusa～Suehirocho0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Tour Report by Koba

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace East Gardens & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo in One Day: Imperial Palace East Gardens & Meiji Shrine

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku
    • 9:50 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 11:50 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 12:30 Lunch @ Okada
    • 14:20 Meiji Shrine
    • 15:30 Disband at Shimokitazawa vintage clothing district

    What Does a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Look Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Shimokitazawa The weather was pleasant, and the guests had an enjoyable time. They already had Mobile Suica from the start, which made getting around easy, but for some reason we spent too much time at the Imperial Palace, which put the whole schedule slightly behind. At the Imperial Palace, they toured at a relaxed pace and took many photos. After seeing the Skytree and Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, they enjoyed the yakitori lunch they had requested. High-quality food and beer were served, and they seemed very satisfied. After visiting Meiji Shrine, we had originally planned to stop by Takeshita Street, but due to time constraints we skipped Takeshita Street and headed from Meiji Shrine to Shimokitazawa, finishing at 15:30 in Shimokitazawa. They toured their desired sightseeing spots at a leisurely pace, and at the end I guided them to the vintage clothing district in Shimokitazawa, which they also seemed to enjoy.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainTochomae～Iidabashi220JPY
    Section 2TrainIidabashi～Takebashi600JPY
    Section 3TrainOtemachi～Asakusa0JPY
    Section 4TrainAsakusa～Meiji-jingumae0JPY
    Section 5TrainMeiji-jingumae～Yoyogi-uehara0JPY
    Section 6TrainYoyogi-uehara～Shimokitazawa136JPY
    Total956JPY

    Tour Report by Koba

    My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
    Please call me Koba.
    Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
    Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

    Request Booking

    Jul 21, 2026
    scottsD8777AR
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Great Touring Tokyo
    Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…

    Jul 9, 2026
    Quest36994121691
    First visit to Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    This was our first visit…

    Jul 8, 2026
    Χρονης Π
    A beautiful tour
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    It was a perfect experience…

    Jul 5, 2026
    I3699SBjonathanw
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    6hr Tokyo guide great experience
    Koba was so nice to my family…

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Tokyo: Tsukiji

    Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 5:00 Hotel
    • 5:20-6:15 Toyosu Market, tuna auction
    • 6:30-8:00 Tsukiji

    What Is a Toyosu and Tsukiji Market Private Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The tour was originally planned for the group, but some of the guests did not join. At the tuna auction in Toyosu, the guests took photos, wanting to share the experience with others later. Normally we would go to a sushi restaurant after this, but since raw fish was not an option, we moved to Tsukiji instead. At the intermediary wholesalers, the guests first bought an apple priced at 1,500 yen each. I believe they were pleased to find a large, satisfying one. They also happily picked up freshly made tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), roasted beans, tea, and more. Finally, we enjoyed delicious coffee and pizza at a pepper cafe before parting ways.

    Click here for more details: Toyosu Tuna Auction & Tsukiji Local Food Tour, Licensed Guide

    Tour Report by ISAO

    Hello , my name is Isao.
    I like cooking and eating while drinking wine and listening to the rock music sometime classical music, too.
    I am a tour guide mainly around Tokyo. I have experience as an E-bike tour guide( Imperial palace, Tokyo station, Asakusa, Sumida river, Ningyocho, Odaiba area, Tsukishima Monja street ) and a food tour. I like to eat local Japanese food and drink many kind of alcohol.
    Besides Tokyo, I also recommend Kamakura and Kawagoe where I was borne.
    I will do my best to help you make good memories of Japan.
    I am looking forward to meeting you soon.

    Request Booking

    May 21, 2026
    Anne_A
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Enjoyable tour of the local markets and…

    May 18, 2026
    Olivia_H
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    An unforgettable Tokyo food and culture experience…

    May 7, 2026
    Susan C
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Highly recommended tuna auction tour
    Iseo…

    Oct 25, 2025
    TravelYes8
    Highly recommended the Toyosu Tuna Auction tour with Isao!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with…

  • Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Sanjusangendo

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 09:00 Hotel Vischio Kyoto by Grabvia
    • 09:30 to 10:30 　 Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • 10:50 to 11:45 Nijo Castle
    • 12:15 to 13:00 Lunch (Udon Tokutoku)
    • 13:20 to 14:00 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 14:10 to 14:50 Sanjusangendo
    • 15:00 Hotel Vischio Kyoto by Granvia

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour With Family Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Today I guided a three-generation family group of guests visiting from North America. Originally we had planned to include Kinkaku-ji, but since this stop was already part of the group's Kyoto tour scheduled for the following day, and because a national relay marathon was being held in Kyoto today with runners passing near Kinkaku-ji causing expected traffic congestion, we skipped Kinkaku-ji. One of the guests was very interested in Japanese shrines and temples and listened attentively to my explanations. Although they mentioned they would not have time to go this time, I strongly recommended that they try to visit Nara as well.

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

    Tour Report by Haru

    Personal data
    Born in : May 1st, 1957
    Hobby : Visiting scenic places,
    historic spots, Japanese
    gardens and old townscape
    Former career : Worked for electric
    company and engaged in
    international sales for
    about 40 years.
    Travel history in the former career :
    Visited about 20 countries about 200 times

    Career as guide interpreter
    Acquisition of guide license : 2016
    Career of guide : 8 years
    Genre of my specialty :
    Japanese historic structures such as
    temple, shrine, castle and garden.
    Area of guide : Kyoto, Nara, Osaka &
    Himeji

    Let’s enjoy Japan with me !!

    Request Booking

    Dec 30, 2024
    shannono1010
    Haru is a Rock Star
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a fantastic guide. He explained…

    Dec 29, 2024
    Ali O
    Amazing!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was amazing on our tour of Nara. He was…

    Dec 4, 2024
    D5658ZEjohnr
    Trip to some of the Kyoto sites on our visit to Japan.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with…

    Dec 3, 2024
    Charlie_Jane00
    Kyoto Tour
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Haru was a well organised and very informative guide. He…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha & Kuromon Market

    Osaka in Half a Day: Sumiyoshi Taisha & Kuromon Market

    Osaka Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @ Double Tree by Hilton Osaka Castle
    • 11:00 @ Sumiyoshi Taisha
    • 13:00 @ Kuromon Market
    • 14:00 Dismiss @ Dotonbori

    Title: What Is a Private Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine Tour in Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests started about 15 minutes late, as they had to return to the meeting point to retrieve a forgotten item after departing. Things went almost smoothly, but I lost sight of the group twice as one of the guests tended to wander off on their own. At Sumiyoshi Taisha, the guests showed great interest and curiosity, viewing everything attentively, asking many questions, and taking lots of photos. On this day, in addition to Omiyamairi and Shichi-Go-San celebrations, we also happened to come across a wedding ceremony, which was a rare and delightful sight for the guests. They experienced praying and drawing omikuji fortunes, picked up one of the small "Godairiki" stones from the popular power spot, and purchased an amulet pouch. It was enjoyable and meaningful to hear rare and very interesting stories about the guests' places of origin, from Oceania and Asia. Because the guests spent a great deal of time viewing Sumiyoshi Taisha, the first stop, we ran out of time and only visited two locations, and we parted ways after I guided them to a taxi stand for their return to the hotel.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTemmabashi～Namba240JPY
    Section 2TrainNamba～Sumiyoshi Taisha240JPY
    Section 3TrainSumiyoshi Taisha～Namba240JPY
    Total720JPY

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
    Ross_W
    Fun with Hidden Gems
    Viator review: Osaka Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide
    Our guide Yama was so…

    Aug 10, 2026
    Sez042
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
    Great experience
    Yama was great, he showed us around and explained…

    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…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine & Nijo Castle

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 7:20 Meet @ Backpacker Hostel k house
    • 7:40-8:30 @ Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
    • 9:10-10:10 @ Sanjusangendo Temple
    • 10:25-12:20 @ Gion, Yasaka Shrine
    • 12:45-13:40 @ Nijo Castle
    • 14:10 Disband @ Kyoto Enjin

    The guest was a visitor from North America on their first trip to Japan, having arrived in Tokyo the day before and come straight to Kyoto. They mentioned having studied Japanese for three years during their school days and said they could read hiragana and katakana. As they follow a vegetarian diet, they asked me right after we met to recommend some good restaurants, and I suggested several. Because it was early morning, Fushimi Inari Taisha had few tourists and was quiet, so we were able to try the Omokaru-ishi (heavy-light stone) without waiting in line. After walking around, the guest wanted to buy an omikuji fortune and a charm, but did not have any cash on hand, so I lent them 5,000 yen in cash on the understanding that they would withdraw cash by credit card later and repay me. At Sanjusangendo, the guest seemed to feel a great affinity upon seeing that many of the Twenty-Eight Attendants share common ground with the deities of Hinduism. They purchased a goshuin stamp book and lined up to receive a goshuin, and since they observed everything from end to end very carefully, the visit took nearly an hour. While walking around Gion, the guest tried to withdraw cash from their credit card at a convenience store but was unsuccessful, so in the end the 5,000 yen I had lent was to be handled by having it transferred to my bank account. They said the transfer would take two or three days, but I am a little worried about whether it will actually be made. After walking around Nijo Castle, it was just about time to finish, so I tried to conclude the tour, but the guest then made various requests, such as wanting to be taken to a shop with vegetarian ramen and asking where they could buy a replacement for their broken suitcase. In the end, I saw them to a ramen shop near Shijo Kawaramachi and we parted ways there.

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

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShichijo Station～Fushimi Inari Station170JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari Station～Shichijo Station170JPY
    Section 3BusMuseum Sanjusangendo-mae～Gion230JPY
    Section 4BusGion～Nijojo-mae230JPY
    Section 5BusNijojo-mae～Shijo Kawaramachi230JPY
    Total1,030JPY

    Tour Report by Kaz

    Hi, thank you very much for choosing the JGA tour!

    My name is Kazuhiro Yoshida, please call me “Kaz”.

    I am an English-speaking National Licensed Tour Guide in Japan, and have been guiding mainly in Kyoto and other Kansai areas since April 2023. I have guided over 1,000 tours in total so far, and I am on my way to becoming one of the best English-speaking tour guides in Japan.

    I have a great passion to show people from all over the world, the deep histories and cultures of Japan, the country I truly love.
    I am focused to take you out on a tour that will become one of the best highlights of your entire trip.

    I am glad to have an opportunity to be your guide, and I hope that we can explore many hidden gems of Japan together!

    Request Booking

    May 19, 2026
    498stephenq
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    An enjoyable visit
    Really enjoyed our visit with Kaz. Friendly, informative, and…

    Apr 11, 2026
    V5131MFjodieh
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoto morning tour with Kaz
    Kaz (Kazuhiro) guided my family in historic…

    Oct 14, 2025
    Scenic61154406959
    Great Historical Perspective
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshida was excellent, he had a great knowledge of…

    Sep 29, 2025
    Jea L
    Excellent Tour of Kyoto with Kaz
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kaz was an excellent tour…

  • Nara in One Day: Kasuga-taisha Shrine Walk 5 minutes

    Nara in One Day: Kasuga-taisha Shrine Walk 5 minutes

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    December, 2024

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:50 Fufu Nara (Start of tour) The 9:30 appointment suddenly changed in the morning
    • Walk 20 minutes
    • 10:30-11:00 Kasuga-taisha Shrine Walk 5 minutes
    • 11:10-20 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill: former katana sword manufacturer's
    • walk 10 minutes
    • 11:30-12:20 Todaiji's Sangatsudo and Nigatsudo Halls
    • lunch at Emado Chaya Walk 5 minutes
    • 12:40 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower walk 10 minutes
    • 12:50-13:20 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
    • walk 5 minutes
    • 13:30 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
    • walk 5 minutes
    • taxi
    • 14:50-16:00 Heijo palace site historical park
    • Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties Heijo Palace Site Museum, etc.
    • taxi
    • 16:20 JR Nara (end of tour)

    When Guests Want to See Nara Palace Site: A Licensed Guide's Private Tour Report The guests were visiting from Asia. Their request was that they very much wanted to see the Nara Palace Site (Heijo Palace Site), hoping it might give them an image of what the ancient capital of Chang'an was like. However, I once again confirmed that the Nara Palace Site is vast and open, and that none of its structures leave a strong impression, which makes it a difficult place to guide. The guests taught me that, much like the Japanese, people from their region tend not to worry too much about distinctions between different religions and will pray at any place of worship. It may well be that this relaxed attitude toward religion was a major reason why, by the time Buddhism reached Japan, it had already absorbed various elements from other faiths. Incidentally, one of the guests is Christian and the other has no particular religion. We were able to talk about topics that I cannot usually cover in a standard tour, such as the story of the envoys to Tang China, the figure of Abe no Nakamaro, and how Sun Yat-sen disliked Chinese clothing (which was in fact the attire of the Manchu of the Qing dynasty) and preferred Japanese clothing (Sun Yat-sen learned in Japan that "wafuku = gofuku = old Chinese clothing"). It was a very enjoyable tour.

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

    Tour Report by Junichi

    Hello! Thank you for choosing Nara! I bet you’ll love Nara. I specialize in Nara because Nara is the unique place where in one day you can cover the history and religions of Japan from the ancient times to the post war era while enjoying rambling in the UNESCO World Heritage park, having communication with lovely deer, surrounded with the beautiful nature.
    I grew up in Nara, went university in Kyoto, enjoyed teaching at high schools and a university in Osaka. The three former capitals of Japan are home to me.
    After retiring from teaching I began guiding so that I can meet various people from various corners of the world with a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each time I guide, I find it hugely rewarding because I learn a lot from my guests sharing the history, culture and all that I know about Nara, Kyoto and Osaka.
    I used to be a marathon runner, mountain climber and skier though I am not much of them anymore.
    What I especially recommend is to stay in Nara a couple of days and enjoy communicating with friendly deer while visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nara in early morning, temples and shrines at night are well worth experiencing.

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    May 16, 2026
    I3520JTcristinat
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Nara with family
    Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and…

    May 3, 2026
    Maria_J
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyable day in Nara
    We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi…

    Apr 11, 2026
    64sandig
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
    ????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day…

    Mar 30, 2026
    dpadillachavez
    Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
    Great day at Nara!
    Best tour on Nara, Junichi…