Japan Private Tour Guides

“Exceptional”

Had a great day with Kanazawa. We had ticked everything off our list and had a bit of time to spare so he suggested a shrine which was in the area, possibly the highlight of our day. Cannot fault this service. Nice car, felt very safe all day. Thank you

“8 hours in Kamakura from Yokohama ”

First off, being met by a guide, at the hotel is always a plus. If you like guides who are up front, matter of fact, and who knows the area she is offering a tour for, Yoko is a great choice. If you like face to face sharing of historical information attached to the many temples and shrines in Kamakura, Yoko is a great choice. If you want to have a personalized tour taking into account your own tour goals, interests, and lunch preference, Yoko is a great choice. There certainly was a lot of walking. Yoko was upfront about the tour in her narrative, and kept to her word of covering the “must see” things but also took us deeper into Kamakura neighborhoods to explore the “off the beaten path temples/shrines/sites. It is not a hike for those without stamina. Nor one for. those who may be sensitive to the heat of Japan’s July. Despite the challenge is weather and terrain (balanced by my own limits of physicality) Yoko gave us ample time to rest in the shade, use the facilities, have a drink or snack, or peruse an AC chilled store, all the while also being sure we covered as much as we could in the 8 hour shared experience. Yoko provided a first time run through experience that was both informative and intriguing…enough so that my 17 year old son was attentive, and excited he was able to enjoy Kamakura the way we all did. Japan can be very busy, especially at the transit stations, so I would suggest you keep up with your guide, don’t feel rushed just stay close because they are trying to get you somewhere in the time given. If you are looking for a leisurely stroll without a time based march through the day, then don’t choose this tour. There is lots of steps to take (literally) to cover the terrain that Yoko would like to show. It was a ethno-cultural day of temples and shrines, and that was a lot to take in. We got what we expected to get, and hopefully enough confidence to return on our own some time in the future.

Yoko T.

(155 reviews)

Thank you so much for the detailed review, Patrice san. It was a tremendously Atsui day so Otsukare-sama-deshita. I always adjust the Kamakura tour based on the level of physical strength of the guests. Some elderly in the group couldn't do stairs and some weren't interested in the shopping streets at all. I was happy that the four of you could walk a lot but sorry I didn't notice you had troubles with your shoes until the very last minute when we came back to Yokohama. You were so energetic that I failed to sense that and I enjoyed talking with you and your family. There is so much to see in Kamakura that maybe you didn't have enough time but we took time at Komachi Street too. I was glad that you enjoyed the lunch and liked Shirasu, baby sardines, that not many people could appreciate. Somehow we could come back to your hotel neighborhood slightly before being mobbed with the rush hour crowds. Please tell Dylan that the store Mugiwara is at Shibuya Magnet just in case he forgot it 'cause he wasn't jotting down but maybe he remembers anyway. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and cruises. Have fun, please!!

“A Perfect Tour”

Katsu-San (Winner!) planned out tour to Shimabara and Unzen with two days notice and did extra research to ensure we had the most meaningful and personalized trip possible. He was incredibly kind, thoughtful, and went out of his way to make sure we were enjoying each part of the tour. He was also very flexible when we asked for something not on the itinerary. There is no better way to explore an unknown area of Japan. Katsu-San took care of everything so we could completely relax and enjoy our time with no stress and no complicated decision making.

Katsu N.

(13 reviews)

Dear Isao and family, Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. I’m truly honored by your kind words. I hope your memories of quiet gardens, samurai stories, and volcanic steam stay with you for a long time. And whenever you return to Kyushu, I’ll be more than happy to welcome you back. Warmest regards, Katsuhisa Your private guide in Kyushu