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
- 9:00 Depart from Kochi Shinko Port
- 9:25 Arrive at Ekingura
- 10:10 Depart from Ekingura
- 10:40 Arrive at Kochi Castle
- 12:15 Walk to Hirome Market
- 13:10 Depart from Hirome Market
- 13:25 Arrive at Makino Botanical Garden
- 14:25 Walk to Chikurinji Temple
- 14:50 Depart from Chikurinji Temple
- 15:00 Arrive at Kochi Shinko Port
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Ekingura at 9:25, Kochi Castle at 10:40, Walk to Hirome Market at 12:15, Hirome Market at 13:10, Makino Botanical Garden at 13:25, Walk to Chikurinji Temple at 14:25, Chikurinji Temple at 14:50 and Kochi Shinko Port at 15:00.
Title: What Is a Private Sightseeing Day Tour in Japan Like for a Group? A Licensed Guide's Report
Before the tour, there had been an inquiry expressing concern about the vehicle size for the group. In practice, however, it was well within the anticipated range, and everyone was able to travel comfortably with plenty of space inside the vehicle, so there were no particular issues.
The guests had expressed a wish to visit as many places as possible and to experience Japanese culture, even if the time spent at each spot was short. As a result, the itinerary became somewhat busy, but overall it went largely as planned. Differences in physical stamina within the group became especially noticeable at the castle and temples.
I felt it would be helpful if there were a way to learn in advance about the guests' individual physical conditions.
Click here for more details: Kochi Shore Excursion: Customized Car Tour, Licensed Guide
Hello everyone, I am Saori Nishida.
I was born in Hokkaido, but risen up in Tokyo, and live in Ehime prefecture.
I met my husband in Australia. Our honeymoon was traveling around Japan by hitchhiking, It can be said that I am a natural born traveler like you.
Uwajima city where I live is famous for Japan’s top produce and shipping volume of citrus and pearl. And we are also proud of the quality and quantity of fish farming in our city.
There is one of the 12 existing castle towers. Those castle towers are originally constructed more than 400 years ago. Our city is located on the route of pilgrimage to visit 88 temples on Shikoku island where our prefecture is.
I run a guesthouse with my family : we have small daughters. I think I can pass on the happiness of doing what I like to my children and the younger generation in the community.
My favorite things are sake brewery, temples and shrines, art museum, castles, water activities, and karaoke. I am sure I will get along with one of you.
I always drink coffee in the morning and beer at night. This is how I stay healthy.
My first tour was in 2023. Since then, I have been guiding approximately 300 guests each year on average, spending around 90 days annually taking them to various places across Shikoku as well as to Okayama, Hiroshima, Wakayama, Kyoto, Kyushu, and other regions.
As a licensed English-speaking tour guide, I have worked with a wide range of clients, from individuals to large groups. I can accommodate everything from short tours lasting half a day to extended tours of around two weeks.
Whether it’s a shore excursion from a cruise ship, a Shikoku round-trip tour, guiding for the Shikoku Pilgrimage, or a cycling tour, I lead each experience with energy, humor, and lots of fun!
Shikoku, where I live, is a hidden gem where Japan’s original landscapes and traditional culture still remain deeply preserved. It is also home to the Seto Inland Sea, a region that has gained global attention as a sanctuary of contemporary art. Shikoku is where the 1,200-year-old pilgrimage route, the Shikoku Henro, continues to be walked even today. Here, the old and the new coexist in perfect harmony. I promise to show you a fascinating side of Japan that you’ve never seen before. Let’s travel together!
Sep 30, 2025
Eveline_E
If this tour is available for your date I would grab immediately!
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide…
Sep 30, 2025
Eveline_E
If this tour is available for your date I would grab immediately!
Viator review: Port Pick-Up: Kochi Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Saori was amazing. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Especially when we went to the market, there is no way that we would have been able to navigate without having someone with her expertise telling us where to buy the food, the local must eats, and being receptive to multiple people’s needs. The driver was always available and we never had to wait long at any of our locations for him to be there probably. It was a very comfortable vehicle. I would highly recommend this to anybody who needs to find a port excursion. They were there promptly. They got us back to the ship on time without any delay. We were able to change our itinerary as the day progressed based on the people on the excursion with us since some of them didn’t want to do some of the stops. Communication with a tour company was excellent. I was able to get confirmation immediately as well as driver information as soon as it became available. I would highly recommend.