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
- 10:00 (Nagoya Port) – 10:50 (Nagoya Castle) – 13:30 (Atsuta Shrine) – 14:20 (Osu Kannon) 15:30 – 16:00 (Nagoya Port)

What Is a Private Nagoya Castle and Osu Kannon Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America, and the bright, cheerful atmosphere made guiding them a pleasure. Nagoya Castle was very well received, and I took extra time to guide the group through the Honmaru Palace. There were many thoughtful and intellectually curious questions, such as the difference between a shogun and an emperor, the difference between Shinto and Buddhism, and the reasons Buddhism spread. The group was considerate of one another, and the guiding was done at a relaxed, slow pace with everyone's comfort in mind. The group found Osu Kannon (a temple) more interesting than Atsuta Shrine and looked around inside with great interest. They said the atmosphere of the temple was wonderful. At Osu Kannon, they preferred about an hour of free time, and they seemed to enjoy shopping and taking a break.
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Nakajimabashi / Nagoya City Bus~Rokubancho | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Rokubancho~Nagoya Port | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Nagoya Port~Nagoya Castle | 270JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Nagoya Castle~Atsuta Shrine Tenmacho | 270JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Atsuta Shrine Tenmacho~Kamimaezu | 240JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Osu Kannon~Nagoya Port | 270JPY |
| Section 7 | Subway | Nagoya Port~Rokubancho / Nagoya City Bus | 240JPY |
| Section 8 | Bus | Rokubancho / Nagoya City Bus~Nakajimabashi / Nagoya City Bus | 210JPY |
| Total | 1,950JPY | ||
Hey there, I’m Masami Maeda, and I’m all about guiding you through some incredible adventures! Teaching English at high school was cool and all, but I craved something more exciting. That’s when I discovered my love for guiding.
Traveling is my jam. I’ve spent years soaking up the vibes in the US and the UK. In fact, I even did a stint at Warwick University, where I got totally hooked on Drama and Theatre Education. It was like stepping into a whole new world!
When I’m not busy showing folks around, you’ll find me doing all sorts of things. Ballet classes? Yep, I’m there. And I’m a huge fan of Japanese rakugo – both watching and performing. It’s a blast!
My style of guiding? Think of it as a mix of storytelling and cultural immersion. I want you to feel like you’re really part of the places we visit, not just an onlooker. Let’s dive deep into the heart of each destination and uncover the hidden gems together.
So, if you’re up for an adventure filled with laughter, learning, and maybe a few surprises along the way, then I’m your guide! Let’s make some unforgettable memories together!
Oct 2, 2025
Phong_N
Great time in Nagoya
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
We were lucky to have Sammy…
Oct 2, 2025
Phong_N
Great time in Nagoya
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
We were lucky to have Sammy as our guide for our tour of Nagoya. Our group of seven got to visit the Nagoya Castle, which was the highlight of the day. We then went over to see the Atsuta Shrine, followed by a visit to the Osukannon Temple and Osukannon Arcade for food and shopping. Sammy was a wealth of knowledge, and we were so happy to find out that she was a Nagoya native. She was super sweet and took great care of us. We took the subway to all of these places, so it was awesome to travel like a local.
Nov 25, 2024
155arlenen
Excellent Tour – Very Professional
Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was an excellent guide,…
Nov 25, 2024
155arlenen
Excellent Tour – Very Professional
Tripadvisor review: Nagoya Half-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was an excellent guide, she was on time. Explained very well the tour details. She was also care about the safety of the group. We were 8 in the group, we took the train, we walk, we took bus. It was an excellent experience. We were on time at the cruise.
Thanks a lot, Sammy San.
Nov 12, 2024
CHERYL_D
Fun day trip around Nagoya City
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was very knowledgable…
Nov 12, 2024
CHERYL_D
Fun day trip around Nagoya City
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was very knowledgable and explained the history and stories behind the sites we
visited. She helped us reserve good restaurants on various days of our trips. She also
showed us the good shopping places and even took our group photos for us.
Apr 3, 2024
dianefik
A great tour guide in Nagoya
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was our tour…
Apr 3, 2024
dianefik
A great tour guide in Nagoya
Viator review: Nagoya Full-day Private Custom Tour with National Licensed Guide
Sammy was our tour guide and she did a great job. We used the railway for our transportation – visited the Nagoya Castle and the Railway museum. The museum is one not to be missed. At the end of our tour we visited the aquarium right at the port. Sammy very capably showed us around and was certainly very knowledgeable. Our group had a very enjoyable day.
