Saitama in Half a Day: Honkawagoe — Guide kazu
February, 2025
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 13:00 Depart from Hotel
- Stroll along Kuranomachi Street
- Visit Kitain Temple and Kawagoe Toshogu Shrine
- 16:30 Arrive at Honkawagoe
What Is a Private Kawagoe Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The meeting point was initially to be confirmed later, but when I checked in about a week beforehand, the guests said they would come by car and asked where would be a good place to meet. By chance, the staff at a hotel told me about a large-capacity parking area behind it, which was a great help. However, as in other places, Kawagoe gets quite crowded on Saturdays and Sundays, making it difficult to find parking, so I felt once again that cases where the guests decide the meeting point later require some extra caution.
The guests were a group from Asia who had been living in the Tokyo area for two years. They did a lot of shopping along the storehouse-lined street. Since we had some time left over, I suggested visiting Kitain if they were not too tired. We managed to get the goshuin stamp, but could not enter the main hall as it closed at 4:00. Even so, we went to Kawagoe Toshogu, and when I gave various explanations, the guests were delighted and took many photos. For the group photos, one of the guests preferred not to be in them and stepped aside.
Transportation cost was 0 as we traveled on foot.
At the Kawagoe Festival Museum, the guests paid the 300 yen admission fee, so there was no cost on my part.
Click here for more details: Kawagoe Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
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 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 was very nice and made sure whatever we wanted to see or know he would accommodate. We covered a lot of ground in the 6 hour tour. He took to a wonderfully delicious sushi restaurant.
We would have been lost without him and probably would have wandered circles all day. I’m very happy with our experience
Thank you Kazu.
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…
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 for places to visit
Knew the subway system very well
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 20, 2026
Fran_R
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
A glance of Tokyo
A good overview of Tokyo with a guide that was very accommodating for our wants and
needs. We saw all the places we had requested. It was a great experience
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…
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 Tokyo sights to see located over a wide area of this busy city. Our guide, Kazu, led us through the day with a smile, giving us lots of historical background about each area. We rode so many subways that we lost count but we felt we got a strong sense of the city’s past and its current culture.