Category: Uncategorized

  • Osaka in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Tenryu-ji Temple

    Osaka in One Day: Kinkaku-ji Temple & Tenryu-ji Temple

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet up @ Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi
    • 11:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • 12:40 Sagano Romantic Train ~ Bamboo Grove ~ Tenryu-ji Temple North Gate
    • 13:00 Tenryu-ji Temple
    • 14:05 Lunch
    • 16:25 Kiyomizu-dera Temple ~ Sannenzaka ~ Yasaka Pagoda ~ Kodai-ji Temple Parking
    • 16:55 Transfer: Taxi
    • 17:00 Disband @ Hotel Kyoto
    • At the guest's request, we disbanded in Kyoto one hour early.

    What Is a Private Kyoto Day Tour from Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. Most of the group were visiting Japan for the first time. It was a very cold day, but we were able to visit all the places they had requested, so I believe they were fully satisfied. One member of the group had difficulty walking and preferred to avoid long distances and slopes, so they waited in the vehicle except at Kinkaku-ji Temple. The plan was a round trip from Osaka, but since the group was moving to a hotel in Kyoto that day, at their request we ended the tour in Kyoto and finished one hour earlier than planned.

    Thanks for joining our tour. I’m Hiro Nakagawa, assigned to be your guide for this tour. I was eligible as a National Licensed Tour Guide in 2017. I have guided many tourists from overseas since then. Japan is a beautiful country with full of various attractions. Please enjoy your time in this country to the fullest. I will help you with that. What are you interested in this country? I will introduce this country’s long history, traditional culture, beautiful seasonal highlights, and delicious food to you. Please let me know your preferences. If it’s other than which I mentioned, I’m preparing it for you as much as possible. Let’s enjoy the trip together!

    Jul 13, 2025
    H2enjoy
    Wonderful Day Trip to Mt. Koya from the Osaka Cruise Terminal
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure)…

    Jun 20, 2025
    zoranm709
    Kyoto great tour experience.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was…

    Jun 18, 2025
    Adventurer310309
    Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife…

    May 26, 2025
    SK G
    Excellent tour
    Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable…

  • Hiroshima: museum

    Hiroshima: museum

    Tour Itinerary

    • 12:30 Meet at Hiroshima Station
    • 12:30 By bus to the museum
    • 13:00 Arrive at the museum
    •     Museum, monument tour, Orizuru Tower
    • 16:30 Disband

    What Is a Private Hiroshima Peace Memorial Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report I guided a group visiting from North America. One of the guests in particular viewed the exhibits with great enthusiasm, and there were moments when the rest of the group waited a while until that person finished looking around. When I showed the paper crane that President Obama folded himself during his visit to Hiroshima, one of the guests showed great interest. The guests had also heard beforehand that you could fold a paper crane at the Orizuru Tower and drop it from the top of the tower, so at the end I guided them to the Orizuru Tower. They had a bit of a hard time folding the paper crane, but with the help of the staff, they managed to complete it despite the struggle. I am sure it became a very good memory for them.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1BusHiroshima Station~Museum220JPY
    Total220JPY

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

    Sep 25, 2025
    pedropM3071GD
    Amazing day trip
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    This was an amazing experience to…

    Jul 25, 2025
    ourtravelingt
    Great personalized tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Our tour was fabulous and our…

    Jul 13, 2025
    katherinepE2305IO
    Hiroshima Tour 4hr Walking
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an amazing guide. He…

    Jul 7, 2025
    Preston_H
    Great tour guide!
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was an incredible guide who…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet up Airbnb Okubo
    • 2. 9:30 Meiji Shrine
    • 3. 11:15 Asakusa
    • 4. 12:45 Lunch (Kanazawa Maimon Sushi Tamahime Otemachi)
    • 5. 14:00 Imperial Palace East Gardens
    • 6. 15:00 Disband Metro Otemachi Station

    What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour of Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from Oceania visiting Japan for the first time, having arrived the day before. They planned to spend about a week in Tokyo before visiting Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and other places, and they also intended to ski in Hokkaido, for a total stay of around 25 days in Japan. I guided the group through Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens. They enjoyed themselves, taking photos at each location. Some of the guests listened attentively to my explanations, while others seemed distracted at times. I keenly felt the need to find ways to keep those with less interest engaged. As it was a Saturday and Asakusa was quite crowded, we moved to the Otemachi area near the Imperial Palace East Gardens for the sushi lunch they had requested. Since the group planned to visit Akihabara after the tour, I explained how to get from Otemachi to Akihabara and we parted ways at the Otemachi metro station.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassHigashi-Shinjuku~Meiji-jingumae600JPY
    Section 2Free PassMeiji-jingumae~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 3Free PassAsakusa~Otemachi0JPY
    Total600JPY

    Hello, I’m Haruhiko Yokota, a certified tour guide based in Tokyo and a top-ranked guide registered with JGA Inc. Please feel free to call me Haru.
    I’ve been living in Tokyo for about 30 years and conducted close to 200 tours between 2023 and 2025. I’m very familiar with most major sightseeing spots in and around Tokyo, ranging from traditional temples and shrines to modern attractions. I also enjoy traveling throughout Japan, which has given me extensive knowledge of popular destinations across the country.
    I’m happy to customize your tour to match your interests and preferences. If you have any requests or questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to make your tour both enjoyable and memorable!

    Sep 29, 2026
    S77OGjoyh
    Excellent Guided walking tour of temple, shrine and outdoor food market Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day…

    Sep 16, 2026
    Kerry_M
    10/10 tour with Haruhiko Yokota
    Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    We toured Tokyo with Haruhiko Yokota…

    Jul 13, 2026
    529gregj
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Haru is an excellent guide in Tokyo
    Haru (Haruhiko…

    Jul 12, 2026
    Felice R
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Touring gardens in Tokyo with the perfect guide , Haru…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 10:00 Meet up@Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto
    • 2. 10:45 @Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 3. 11:30 @Kiyomizu-dera
    • 4. 13:00 @Ryoan-ji
    • 5. 13:45 @Kinkaku-ji
    • 6. 15:20 @Philosopher's Path
    • 7. 16:00 Disband@Hotel

    What Is a Private Kyoto Taxi Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari and More The tour started a little late, as the guests contacted me to say they were still having breakfast. They had expressed interest in Nijo Castle, but since the castle was right in front of the Hotel, I explained that using the reserved taxi for it would be a waste, and they agreed, so we decided to head to Fushimi Inari Taisha instead. One of the guests mentioned having attended a junior high school in the Yasaka area for a year back in 1997, but the driver, Shigemori, was very knowledgeable about Kyoto and knew that the school no longer existed and had since become the Kanji Museum. The driver took us right up to the site, and the guest seemed deeply moved. At Kiyomizu-dera, the actual "Kanji of the Year" was on display, and we were told it would be exhibited at the Kanji Museum from the 21st. The guests felt this was a curious and meaningful coincidence. Since they had eaten a late breakfast, lunch was not needed, which left us with some time to spare, so after consulting with the driver, I suggested a short stroll along the Philosopher's Path and a drive by taxi near the large torii gate of Heian Shrine, which the guests happily accepted. We returned to the Hotel right at 16:00, and the guests were very pleased.

    Hi! My name is YUKA. I’ve got the government license in 2018 and joined a half year traning to do the guide. But a half year later I started my carreer, Covid came. I should have given up guiding. During the Covid, I’ve read many books and made my own materials to explain Japanese culture, history, etc. I love guiding because the guests expand my horizon all the time and let me know their own country and culture, etc. It is really important for us all to know each other and respect each other to make this world peace. Thank you for coming to Japan! Let’s enjoy Japan together!

    Sep 29, 2026
    duncans746
    Yuka was great
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Yuka was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable,…

    Sep 23, 2026
    navinderp2024
    Great day in Kyoto
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    We had a great tour…

    Aug 9, 2026
    piperl686
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Honeymoon Tour in Kyoto
    We were so impressed by…

    Aug 5, 2026
    Anita_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great day of sightseeing in Kyoto
    Yuka was a…

  • Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Hotel – 9:00 Tsukiji Outer Market – 10:00 Namiyoke Shrine – 11:00 Kappabashi Kitchenware Street – 12:20 Disband at Asakusa

    What Is a Private Tsukiji and Kappabashi Food Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had a strong interest in Japanese food culture, so we arranged to visit Tsukiji and the Kappabashi Kitchenware Street, starting from the Tsukiji Outer Market. Early on, the group stopped at a knife shop, though no purchase was made there, and everyone enjoyed some grilled scallops. The group was already familiar with "Sushizanmai" and had fun taking commemorative photos with the life-sized figure of its president. At Namiyoke Shrine, the group passed through the "Chinowa" ring, a ritual held twice a year to ward off misfortune for the coming half year, before heading to the Kappabashi Kitchenware Street. After thoroughly enjoying shopping for various kitchen tools, I guided the group to a long-established beef hot pot restaurant in Asakusa, where we parted ways.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHigashi-Shinjuku~Tsukiji Market272JPY
    Section 2BusTsukiji 6-chome~Ginza 4-chome210JPY
    Section 3SubwayGinza~Tawaramachi209JPY
    Total691JPY

    Welcome to Japan. My name is Michio, your tour guide in Tokyo and Japan. I was born and grown up in Tokyo, and still living in western suburb of Tokyo with my wife, except for 10 years outside of Japan travelling and living in 60 countries. So I might have visited your country and still remember a few words.
    Japan has unique history, nature and culture, and there are plenty of secrets and wonders behind them such as food culture, Zen and Ninja.
    So please explore and discover the hidden and most beautiful part of Japan together. Let’s experience!

    Oct 25, 2025
    Carla_G
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking…
    Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our 4-hour Tokyo walking tour was fantastic! Michio…

    Oct 24, 2025
    410trishab
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 — Outstanding Tour with Michio and Nobuhiko!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from…

    Oct 11, 2025
    GoPlaces52694049181
    We enjoyed our time in Tokyo with Michio our tour guide.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We…

    Oct 10, 2025
    PiscesV
    Sushi for breakfast at 630am? Yes please!!
    Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Hotel → Shinjuku → Shibuya → Tsukiji (lunch) → Nezu/Yanaka → Asakusa → 17:00 Arrive at hotel

    Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests planned to visit Tokyo, then Osaka and Kyoto, before returning to Tokyo. Since they were interested in staying at a hot spring ryokan, I introduced Atami and Hakone-Yumoto and handed them a note with simple transportation directions. Of the places we visited today, Tsukiji and the Nezu–Yanaka area seemed to impress them the most, while Asakusa appeared a bit too touristy, drawing a somewhat lukewarm reaction. Since they were planning to go around the Kabukicho area at night, I advised them not to respond to touts. Overall the tour seemed to go well, and I am hopeful for a high rating.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShinjuku~Shibuya170JPY
    Section 2TrainShibuya~Hamamatsucho210JPY
    Section 3SubwayDaimon~Tsukiji Market180JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji~Nezu180JPY
    Section 5TrainNippori~Ueno150JPY
    Section 6SubwayUeno~Asakusa180JPY
    Section 7SubwayAsakusa~Ueno-hirokoji180JPY
    Section 8SubwayUeno-okachimachi~Higashi-shinjuku220JPY
    Total1,470JPY

    Hello ! My name is Kazuo Inoue, please call me ,”kazu”.
    I started guide business in 2016, 8 years ago . So I have a lot of experience as a guide .
    Also I have joined Tokyo city guide club ,specialising in Asakusa, Meiji shrine,Imperial Palace.
    I have much of knowledge of Tokyo , especially history. I am a specialist of Tokyo.
    I can guide not only main sightseeing spots , but also Tokyo off the beaten path ,
    like Nezu Yanaka, Shibamata , the surbuarb of Tokyo.
    ( the photo is the ring of the Sumo-stadium in Ryogoku ,Tokyo)

    I am looking forward to seeing you. kazu

    May 26, 2026
    jilliand744
    Tokyo sightseeing
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a good experience with our guide Kazu. He…

    May 7, 2026
    artsZ6836LO
    Kazu in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kazu was very flexible and knowledgeable

    Made good suggestions…

    Apr 20, 2026
    Fran_R
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    A glance of Tokyo
    A good overview of…

    Apr 7, 2026
    Passenger03573064762
    From ancient traditions to rapid trains
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had an ambitious set of…

  • Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • ① 09:00 Meet at ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto
    • ② 09:05 Itinerary explanation and about the history of Kyoto
    • ③ 09:45 Nijo Castle
    • ④ 11:30 Kinkaku-ji Temple
    • ⑤ 13:00 Kyoto Imperial Palace
    • ⑥ 14:45 Sanjusangen-do Temple
    • ⑦ 15:45 Disband at Gion-Shijo

    Title: What Is a Private Kyoto Tour Focused on Kinkaku-ji and Sanjusangendo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from the Middle East and it was their first time in Kyoto. Their main goal for this visit was Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion). As shown in the photos, one of them had read the English translation of Yukio Mishima's novel "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" many times. Still carrying the lingering impressions of the novel, which vividly depicts the psychology of a young monk leading up to his setting fire to the pavilion, they seemed to feel a sense of "we have finally arrived at Kinkaku-ji!" They were deeply moved by the Golden Pavilion before their eyes, its reflection on the water's surface, and the serene atmosphere of the pond. I am not very knowledgeable about photography, but one of the guests appeared to be a professional photographer, taking many photos with a single-lens reflex camera at Kinkaku-ji. Watching this, I felt that beyond simply wanting to see the setting of the novel, they truly had a photographer's eye even during sightseeing. At Sanjusangendo as well, both were completely absorbed in the overwhelming statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva, gazing intently and hardly moving from the spot, which left a strong impression on me. We ran a little over on time, but I felt it was truly worth going to Sanjusangendo.

    Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama

    Jul 29, 2026
    James_G
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Great guide and very…
    Great guide and very knowledgeable.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    peterhR6472GA
    Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    A wonderful day with Kazu…

    Jul 12, 2026
    cgalvez73
    Fantastic tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…

    Jun 23, 2026
    Winni_H
    Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
    Highly recommended when in Kyoto
    Our tour guide…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle and stay there

    Osaka in Half a Day: Osaka Castle and stay there

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Pick up at hotel
    • 9:15-12:00 Move to Osaka Castle and stay there.
    • 12:00-13:30 Stay at Shitennoji Temple& Lunch
    • 13:40-14:00 Move to Nihonbashi
    • 14:00-14:30 Kuromon Market
    • 14:30-14:50 Dotonbori / Hozenji Yokocho Alley
    • Around 14:55 End of tour

    Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Osaka Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were staying at an Airbnb near a hotel in Osaka. The day before, they had gotten lost and arrived late, and in the morning they still seemed to be getting ready, only coming out a little after 9:15 once I had contacted them via a messaging app. I always arrive near the meeting point 30 minutes early and send a confirmation email 15 minutes beforehand, so I ended up waiting outside for a full 30 minutes. Still, the guests were very pleasant and interested in history and religion, so we toured Osaka Castle thoroughly, and by then it was already noon. At Shitennoji Temple it was the last fair day of the year, and one of the guests, who was very keen on cameras, found and bought some camera parts. There were rare items not usually available in shops as well as inexpensive secondhand kimono, and since admission to the temple's main hall was free today, the guests looked around eagerly, by which point we had already passed the scheduled tour time. By the time we visited Kuromon Market, Dotonbori, and Hozenji Yokocho it was nearly 3:00 p.m., yet once again I kept to my policy of not charging extra.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayEbisucho~Tanimachi 4-chome240JPY
    Section 2SubwayTanimachi 4-chome~Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka190JPY
    Section 3SubwayShitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka~Nihonbashi190JPY
    Total620JPY

    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.

    Aug 17, 2026
    yasmintX6792FN
    Great trip
    Tripadvisor review: Mt. Koya Sacred Sites Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide
    It was a great time and very interesting…

    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…

  • Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 1. 9:00 Meet at the hotel
    • 2. 9:30 Guide to Nandaimon Gate
    • 3. 10:00 Guide to the Great Buddha Hall
    • 4. 11:00 Guide to Okumura Group
    • 5. 11:45 Guide to Kasuga Taisha Shrine
    • 6. 12:30 Guide to Hokke-do Hall
    • 7. 13:00 Guide to Nigatsu-do Hall
    • 8. 13:30 Guide to Hikawa Shrine
    • 9. 14:00 Guide to Yoshikien Garden
    • 10. 14:30 Guide to Kofuku-ji Temple
    • 11. 15:00 Guide to the shopping street including Nakatani-do
    • 12: 15:15 Disband in front of Kintetsu Nara Station

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report I met the guests, a group visiting from North America, on time at their Hotel, and after discussing the day's sightseeing route, we decided to focus the main itinerary on Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Nigatsu-do, and Kofuku-ji, and to stay flexible for the rest. One of the guests had visited Japan several times before, and the guests were both very interested in Japan, so the tour proceeded with many questions about religion. At the Great Buddha Hall, I explained Japanese Buddhism while comparing Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Since the guests felt a bit chilly and wished to take a break, we had tea at a café within the Todai-ji grounds and talked about the Japanese view of religion. After that, because one of the guests had professional ties to civil engineering and construction, I arranged for them to experience earthquake-resistant structures and their mechanisms at Okumura-gumi, which was greatly appreciated. We then walked to Kasuga Taisha while I explained the background of the deer in Nara Park, and I described Shinto in comparison with Buddhism. Finally, I guided them to Himuro Shrine, Yoshikien Garden, Kofuku-ji, and Nakatanidou, bringing the day's sightseeing to a close. The weather was fine, making for an enjoyable day of guiding, and at the end the guests offered warm and courteous thanks.

    After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
    As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
    And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
    With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.

    Apr 26, 2026
    39ferdinandr
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Exceptional and entertaining
    Great tour better the tour guide Toshi.

    Apr 9, 2026
    X1429XKclaudiam
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sehr zu empfehlen
    Wir haben als Familie diese 6-stundige Tour durch Kyoto…

    Jun 28, 2025
    WilliamAlfonso_R
    Toshi is a very eloquent, knowledgeable, and diligent tour guide.
    Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Toshi was…

    May 30, 2025
    Z
    ZevP5
    Best Tour Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Yoshi was the best guide!! He was so…

  • Osaka in Half a Day: Namba Doguyasuji & Shinsaibashi Parco

    Osaka in Half a Day: Namba Doguyasuji & Shinsaibashi Parco

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet @ The St. Regis Osaka
    • 11:45 @ Namba Doguyasuji
    • 12:15 @ Kuromon Market
    • 13:00 @ Dotonbori (including Hozenji)
    • 13:45 @ Shinsaibashi Daimaru (Pokemon Cafe)
    • 14:15 @ Shinsaibashi Parco (Hands)
    • 14:30 Disband @ Osaka Metro Shinsaibashi Station

    What Is a Private Osaka Food and Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who moved through the day smoothly. They had visited Japan several times before and had a good deal of knowledge about the country. Both seemed very interested in Japan and came across as genuine admirers of the culture. At the first stop, "Doguyasuji," a district known to be frequented even by professional cooks, they purchased keychains of remarkably realistic food samples as souvenirs. At Kuromon Market they tried a variety of samples, bought dried fruit, and enjoyed fatty tuna, all of which they found very satisfying. At Dotonbori they were delighted to appear on the large screen. At Shinsaibashi they waited in line to buy the popular cheese tarts. When I mentioned that their home area in North America is a sister city with Kobe, where I live, they were very interested and said they would love to visit Kobe next year. They wanted to go to a ramen shop near their hotel, so I explained the location, and we parted ways there.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayHonmachi~Namba190JPY
    Total190JPY

    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

    Sep 27, 2026
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