Japan Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“The Past and Present in a 6 hour Tour”

The three of us were impressed with Hiro's knowledge at the Sannai-Maruyama site and enjoyed the morning that we spent there. The tour could be as long or short as we wanted, as Hiro is quite flexible, but we were pleased to take in as much as we could. Lunch followed at an excellent downtown restaurant and since two of us have dietary requirements, Hiro was aware and ensured that we both remained healthy.The cultural present was represented by the Wa Rasse museum which highlights the Nebuta Festival. The floats that we saw were incredibly beautiful, colourful and spirited - impressive works of art. Enjoyed an enthusiastic, joyful and informative tour - in fact we thought so highly of him we are going to have him guide us on another tour when the ship returns in October. Deb B.

“A Fantastic Day in Kochi with Hiroshi—Local Flavors and Thoughtful Extras!”

We had a wonderful day exploring Kochi with Hiroshi! We hired him with a car service, which made traveling between sights comfortable and easy and allowed us to experience so much in one day. He was knowledgeable, easy to understand, and shared interesting information about Kochi, its history, and local culture throughout our tour. We explored Ryugado Cave, a beautiful limestone cave and a welcome cool break from the heat. At Tosa Tsubohachiya, we saw knives hand-forged by local craftsmen. We also visited Kochi Castle, one of Japan’s few original castles, where we climbed the steep stairs all the way to the top! A particular highlight was Hirome Market. Hiroshi’s authentic food recommendations made lunch an experience we will always remember. We enjoyed crispy Yasubei gyoza, Tosa wagyu, seared bonito with salt and with sauce, bonito sashimi, aosa nori tempura, and fresh fruit. We also sampled local Keigetsu sake. It was an incredible introduction to Kochi’s local flavors, and we appreciated having his guidance on what to try. An especially thoughtful touch was that Hiroshi brought a professional camera and photographed our group throughout the day. He shared a Google photo album with us that same day! It was incredibly generous and so nice to have beautiful memories with all of us in the pictures. Hiroshi made our day enjoyable, informative, and memorable. The combination of fascinating sights, delicious local food, comfortable transportation, and his thoughtful approach made this a wonderful tour. We’re so glad we hired him and would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Kochi!

“An Exceptional Guide Who Brought Osaka to Life!”

We had an absolutely fantastic full-day tour of Osaka with Akira! Dynamic, energetic, knowledgeable, and funny, he was one of the best guides we’ve ever had. His passion for Japanese history and culture came through in everything he shared, and his great sense of humor made the entire day entertaining. We were amazed by how much we experienced in one day. We started at Osaka Castle, then explored Shinsekai, soaking up the local atmosphere and trying Osaka’s famous takoyaki. Next came Sennichimae and Dotonbori, with their lively streets, restaurants, shops, and iconic landmarks. We finished our sightseeing at the Umeda Sky Building, enjoying incredible panoramic views before returning to Osaka Port. What really set Akira apart was his ability to make every stop engaging. He didn’t just show us the sights—he brought them to life with stories, history, and cultural insights. He was consistently easy to hear and understand, which we especially appreciated. His explanations were clear, interesting, and memorable, and he kept everyone involved throughout the day. Akira’s enthusiasm was contagious. He clearly loves sharing Japan with visitors, and that joy made the experience special. He kept us moving at a great pace while making a day packed with sightseeing feel fun and enjoyable. If you have the opportunity to book Akira in Osaka, do it! He turned a single day in the city into an unforgettable experience. We cannot recommend him highly enough!