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
- 9:55 Hotel meet
- 10:40 JR Otaru Station
- 10:50 Otaru Canal
- 11:10 Ukiyo-e Art Museum
- 12:25 Lunch (fresh fish bowl)
- 13:20. Free time (shopping)
- 14:50 Kikkogura (sake brewery, sake tasting, etc.)
- 15:50 JR Minami-Otaru Station
- 16:45 Disband upon arrival at Sapporo Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:55 at Hotel meet and ended at 16:45. The day ran to 6 hours and 50 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch (fresh fish bowl) at 12:25.
Over the course of the day the route took in JR Otaru Station at 10:40, Otaru Canal at 10:50, Ukiyo-e Art Museum at 11:10, Free time (shopping) at 13:20, Kikkogura (sake brewery, sake tasting, etc.) at 14:50 and JR Minami-Otaru Station at 15:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Sapporo to Otaru by train (800JPY); Minami-Otaru to Sapporo by train (800JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 1,600JPY per person.
What's a Private Otaru Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Canal, Ukiyo-e Museum, and Sake Brewery
The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Their trip was to celebrate a milestone in their lives. After arriving in Otaru, I guided them to an ukiyo-e art museum located near the Otaru Canal. They enjoyed viewing many ukiyo-e prints. The morning felt cool, but it became quite hot in the afternoon. After lunch, the guests had free time to shop, though it seemed quite hot. Following the shopping, we visited a local sake brewery, where they experienced sake tasting. Since one of the guests was not yet of legal drinking age, the rest of the group enjoyed the tasting. A staff member at the brewery gave a very careful and detailed explanation, and everyone seemed to enjoy the sake tasting. After the tasting, we returned to Sapporo from Minami-Otaru Station near the brewery and parted ways. The photo was taken at the Otaru Canal.
Click here for more details: Otaru Day Trip from Sapporo in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Sapporo～Otaru | 800JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Minami-Otaru～Sapporo | 800JPY |
| Total | 1,600JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hokkaido tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel meet at 9:55, and the tour finished at upon arrival at Sapporo Station at 16:45.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 50 minutes in total, from 9:55 to 16:45.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited JR Otaru Station, Otaru Canal, Ukiyo-e Art Museum, Free time (shopping), Kikkogura (sake brewery, sake tasting, etc.) and JR Minami-Otaru Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,600JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazu is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Hokkaido itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
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Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
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My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.