GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Tour Japan with a Private Guide

Amy Dodgson

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Amy Dodgson

Last updated : Apr 28, 20225 min read

Travel Tips

Group bus tours are fine. They are convenient and will provide you the photo op you want so that you get to say you've been there. However if anyone selling a run of the mill bus tour tells you that its the best way to see a country as special, amazing and historical as Japan, they're lying. 

Our private tour guides can provide you with detailed insight in to the area, offer restaurant suggestions, and tips to help you make the most of your time in each location. If you want to stop to take a break at a trendy cafe or enjoy some matcha soft serve, our guides will be happy to travel at your desired pace. Traveling with a local allows you to experience Japan as authentically as possible. 

Let us introduce to you our most popular local guides who are waiting to show you the best that Japan has to offer...

Yukiko - Tokyo

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Hi, Konnichiwa! I'm Yukiko. I am a Government Certified Guide Interpreter and a Registered Nurse. I also have a license for being a food sanitation manager.
I was born and raised in Tokyo. I used to teach Japanese culture to local elementary school students when I stayed in Canada, America and New Zealand. My happiest moments with these children were when they look forward to another lessons every week. It was a challenging job but this experience broaden my horizon and prompted me to become an English tour guide.
If you take my tour, you will learn deeply about everything that comes into your view, get local information and experience many things.
I am a mother of a four years old girl. So I'd be glad to welcome families with young children and I can arrange a tour depending on your situation. Please feel free to ask.

I'd like to make your stay in Tokyo a real pleasant one.

Book here

Hideo - Kansai area

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Hello, I'm Hideo Yoshida. 
I was born in Kobe and worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce the Kansai region to you ,including Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama.

Kobe is one of the two largest ports in Japan, along with Yokohama. After the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, foreigners built their residences on the hillside of the Kitano-cho area, overlooking the ocean. Many of the foreign residences are now open to the public as museums, including the Weathercock House, with it's symbol weathercock on the triangle-shaped roof.
In Meriken Park, the red Port Tower (the city's landmark), creates a beautiful contrast against the white Kobe Marine Museum. The museum's design was inspired by the waves and sailing ships.

When you have a chance to visit Osaka, please join my tour. I'm sure you'll enjoy the interesting and historical, scenic spots. For example, Shin-Sekai is a downtown area with a strange mix of nostalgic atmosphere and contemporary energy. You can try local foods (kushikatsu, sushi, tempura) at a reasonable price. Billiken (a famous statue of the spirit of luck) will be waiting for you!!. Dotombori is a popular street with a lot of flashy signboards. Osaka is widely known as a "Kuidaore-no-machi", or literally "drinking and eating luxuriously to death." Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi HIDEYOSHI in 1585. Oh, it's my residence, isn't it !

I'll be looking forward to seeing you !!

Book here

Hiroyo - Shizuoka

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Meet our most popular guide for Shizuoka.

Hello, I’m Hiroyo. I was born and brought up in Shizuoka. After living in Tokyo and in England, eventually I came back to Shizuoka. It is really a good place to live.
I have been interested in Japanese traditional culture. I used to be in a Kendo(Japanese fencing) club and a Japanese flower arrangement club when I was a student. I got a degree of Sho-dan(first-dan) in Kendo, and a diploma in follower arrangement. I also got a certificate as a Japanese tea instructor. It would be my great pleasure to help you find out more about Japanese culture.
Shizuoka is a lovely place to visit. It has many historical sites, traditional culture, abundant nature and a wide variety of local specialties including green tea, wasabi, many kinds of fruits and sea food fresh from the sea! You will be sure to enjoy them. Hope to see you here in Shizuoka!

More Information

Mayumi - Hiroshima

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Hi, I'm MAYUMI IIDA form Hiroshima.
I am here to welcome you as your Japanese friend to help you understand Japanese culture, history and everything you want to know more and better. I am sure that you will encounter a lot of charms and surprises in my hometown Hiroshima. Enjoy local hospitality and food with me !

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Written by Amy Dodgson

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GoWithGuide’s writers are passionate travel specialists sharing unique tips and essential information for global explorers.

Kanagawa Tour Guide - Yuki K.

Yuki K.

4.78 / 5
(365 reviews)
Japan

I was born and grew up in Yokohama. I used to work in Tokyo for more than 20 years. I became the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English in 2013. At first, I had attended a volunteer group which provided a tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens until 2015. I guided more than fifty times in the garden as a volunteer and studied about Japanese history and culture. Based on this experience, I became a tour guide of this online site in 2015. Since then, I have guided more than 500 tours in Tokyo as well as Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Nikko, etc., while improving my tours. My tours are very flexible and I always do my best to customize them according to the interests of my guests. I studied about the places and will provide you knowledge to appreciate them more deeply than just visiting there by yourself or a member of group tours. I like foods and I know many restaurants which provide typical Japanese lunch with reasonable price without waiting too long. Therefore, I am sure that I can provide you the best tours customized to your interests. It will be my great pleasure to help you to enjoy your stay in Japan. So please be my guest!!                                                                                                                                 

Kyoto Tour Guide - Hiroshi Y.

Hiroshi Y.

4.67 / 5
(325 reviews)
Japan

Hello,I am HIROSHI YOKOYAMA. Please call me Hiro, not "hero". I have been lived in kyoto for more than 30years. So, I am very familiar with the city of Kyoto and a unique culture developed in Japan as well. I can offer you not only historic places like Nijo castle, Kinkakuji temple ,Kiyomizu temple etc., but also off the beaten track spots Nijo jinya house or nicknamed "ninjya house" ,Katsura Imperial Villa etc.. I am really looking forward to seeing you .                                                                                                                                 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Akira N.

Akira N.

4.94 / 5
(318 reviews)
Japan

Hello, My name is Akira. I am certified national guide interpreter. I have been living in Tokyo for more than 30 years. I love walking in the city with no particular plan finding trasures in the streets such as nice ramen noodle restaurants, cafes, funny billboards, and most of all, narrow alleys that remind me of good old days. I will help you enjoying the days in the city fully and making your vist memorable one. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.                                                                                                                                 

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