Japan Private Tour Guides

“One day tour of Tokyo”

We had an excellent day thanks to Leandra. She is a brilliant guide, having come up with an itinerary that met our requirements in full. We experienced the culture and sights of the city and made great use of the inexpensive public transport train system. Nothing was too much trouble, Leandra was flexible in adapting the day to our needs, taking good care of us. One of the highlights for us was a wonderful lunch in a sushi restaurant. The food was amazing and so was the price, it was such a reasonable cost. We were also very lucky to see a traditional wedding taking place. We enjoyed our day so much, thank you Leandra for being such good company. Tokyo exceeded our expectations.

“You should book with Naoya san!”

Naoya san is very organized, professional and speaks well. Definitely book with him. He is so nice and knowledgeable. Teaching us a lot! He has so many pictures, makes learning easy.

“Visiting Ancestors Hometown and Tour of Shibata area”

We wanted to visit my ancestors hometown, but knew little about the location and history. Mutsuko took the time to contact the local historical society and research the area where my ancestors had lived. She even did some advanced scouting of the area before our arrival! The visit to my ancestors hometown was very interesting. We were glad we were able to see the area that they had lived in. Mutsuko knew so much about the history of the area. In addition, she also planned a full day of activities including a visit to Shibata castle, former samurai residences, and a former wealthy farmer's residence. If you have an interest in samurai history, Mutsuko can explain in great detail the parties that were fighting against each other. Her historical knowledge is quite amazing! She also took us to visit a locally renowned Inari shrine that was pretty much hidden in the rice fields. The shrine had many torii gates. We never would have been able to find it on our own. Throughout the day, Mutsuko would provide interesting facts about the places we were visiting and also about Niigata in general. We had such a wonderful day with Mutsuko. She has a great personality and is so easy to talk to. I highly recommend that you contact Mutsuko if you are looking for a guide.

Mutsuko W.

(6 reviews)

Chris san, it was an honor to accompany you on your journey to visit your ancesters' hometown. As generations pass, the connection to one’s ancestors often fades. Seeing how deeply Japanese descendants living abroad cherish that bond makes me reflect—are we, who live in Japan, valuing it just as much? At the same time, I am always reminded that the feeling of cherishing one’s family is something universal and truly precious. The landscape of your ancestors’ hometown has likely not changed much over time because it is a quite "inaka", and I believe you were able to see the same scenery they once saw. Watching from the side, I was deeply moved by how rare and meaningful such a journey must be. When you visit Niigata again, I sincerely hope you’ll take a little extra time to explore other areas as well. Thank you very much for your kind and generous feedback. I am truly looking forward to seeing you again. Mutsuko