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

  • 1:00 PM Meet at Okayama Station, 1:30 PM Korakuen Garden, 2:30 PM Okayama Castle, 3:30 PM Fruit shop in Omotecho, 3:50 PM Travel to Kurashiki, 4:20 PM Bikan Historical Quarter, 4:30 PM Ivy Square, 4:40 PM Tsurugatayama Park, 5:00 PM Disband in front of your ryokan

Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Okayama and Kurashiki Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

We met smoothly at the ticket gate of Okayama Station. The guests were from Oceania and were visiting Japan for the first time. The weather was clear and the climate was very pleasant. At Korakuen, the first place we visited, the guests seemed deeply impressed by the beauty of the garden. We walked to Okayama Castle, where we first climbed up to the main keep (6th floor) to look around. Overall, in addition to the views, the exhibits such as the swords, the hands-on corner, and the video screening (about 11 minutes) were well received. I guided the guests to a fruit shop in the Omotecho shopping arcade, where they purchased muscat grapes and other grapes. We then traveled to Kurashiki on the Sanyo Main Line, and Tsurugatayama Park, located at the top of a hill, was especially popular. I saw the guests off at their ryokan located within the Bikan Historical Quarter (they had already checked in), and we parted ways there.

[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. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1OtherOkayama Station~Shiroshita160JPY
Section 2OtherShiroshita~Okayama Station160JPY
Section 3TrainOkayama~Kurashiki330JPY
Total650JPY

English / Guide in English and German / Guiding areas are in Tokyo, Yokohama and my home town Okayama. (Since I’m based in Tokyo, I might not be able to guide in Okayama, depending on the timing.) My profile in German follows!
First of all, thank you very much for your taking time to have a look at my profile. My name is Naoki Shimono. Naoki would be fine. I’m a certified tour guide in English and German. After long years of work at Japanese electronics manufacturer, always in charge of international marketing, I’m focusing on tour guide and interpreter. As of now, I did tour guide more than 50 times in English and more than 50 times in German. Not only in Tokyo but also other cities, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hakodate, Niigata, Shimizu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha etc. It is always a big pleasure for me to show around Japan to guests from abroad. I’m looking forward to seeing you in Japan!

Deutsch / Reiseleiter auf Deutsch und Englisch / In Tokio und Yokohama sowie in meiner Heimatstadt Okayama. (Da ich in Tokio ansässig bin, kann ich je nach Zeitpunkt möglicherweise nicht in Okayama als Reiseleiter tätig sein.)
Zunächst einmal vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, mein Profil anzusehen. Mein Name ist Naoki Shimono. Naoki wäre schön. Ich bin zertifizierter Reiseleiter in Englisch und Deutsch. Nach langjähriger Tätigkeit bei einem japanischen Elektronikhersteller, wo ich stets für das internationale Marketing verantwortlich war, konzentriere ich mich nun auf die Reiseleitung und Dolmetschertätigkeit. Bisher habe ich über 50 Mal auf Englisch und über 50 Mal auf Deutsch als Reiseleiter gearbeitet. Nicht nur in Tokio, sondern auch in anderen Städten wie Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hakodate, Niigata, Shimizu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha usw. Es ist mir immer eine große Freude, Gästen aus dem Ausland Japan zu zeigen. Ich freue mich darauf, Sie in Japan zu sehen!

Oct 16, 2025
Songqi_L
Highly recommend!
Viator review: Okayama Full-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
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Oct 11, 2025
Gizelle K
Wonderful Experience
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