Okayama Private Tours &amp; Local Tour Guides

Hello. I'm Yoko Miyake. Please call me Yoko. I'm a licensed guide. I love travelling. I have visited all the prefectures in Japan. Though Japan has many good places to visit, I hope many foreign travellers will visit my hometown Kurashiki and enjoy their stay there. Because I was born in Kurashiki, and I have lived there since then, I know a lot about Kurashiki. Of course I can show you other good places in Okayama Prefecture and near Okayama Prefecture.

Hugh C.

4.94 / 5

(78 reviews)

Hi! Thanks for reviewing my profile. I am Australian, from Sydney originally but my life with Japan and its culture and history spans 30 odd years and I have been a Hiroshima resident for 18 of those 30 years. I joined GoWithGuide just recently but be assured I have led many tours in Hiroshima and more widely throughout metropolitan and regional Japan, sharing conversations about the unique society, its fascinating culture and history. I also have written several tourism blogs for inbound tour companies and also the Hiroshima Prefectural Tourism Bureau. I speak fluent Japanese and I have immersed myself in the experience of living here in modern and traditional culture and spent many years studying martial arts Aikido and Iaido. I also have a strong interest in Buddhist teachings. My Japanese calligraphy work over the years has been received recognition and several awards and commissions both in Japan and elsewhere. I'm looking forward to spending a great experience sharing the culture and history of Hiroshima with you.

Kenji O.

5.00 / 5

(9 reviews)

I lived in Seattle, WA US for several years to study public policy and urban planning at University of Washington and Washington State Department of Transportation . The US life has awakened me to realize its beauty and value of the Japanese nature and culture. After coming back from US, I have started my professional career of the infrastructure development in both developed and developing countries as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert for more than 20 years. I have provided hospitality and honesty as a Japanese during my professional career. I can give you not only sightseeing tours but also technical tours with my expertise. I live in Osaka where an ancient capital city, Kyoto is located within a hour by train. I can show you how Japanese has developed the capital city with urban planning and infrastructure development. I look forward to seeing you here in Japan.

Keiji M.

4.47 / 5

(17 reviews)

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Hello everyone. My name is Keiji living in Okayama. Okayama is located halfway between Hiroshima and Osaka. Nowadays a lot of people are attracted by Naoshima that is a small island famous for Art and Architecture. Okayama is the entrance to the island therefore I often show international guests around Naoshima. Okayama itself has many tourist attractions such as Kurashiki famous for Bikan historical quarter, Korakuen garden, Okayama castle and so on. If you'd like to include Hiroshima or Osaka on your plan, I can show you round them as these cities are in the distance of an hour train ride. I'm an easygoing and extrovert person. I'm always waiting for you to contact me..

New Okayama Tour Guides

Naoya K.

I am Okayama local. My son and I will show you around our most favourite place. We are sure you can experience the great nature of Okayama, and we hope you think you want to come back again.

Noboru S.

5.00 / 5

(13 reviews)

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Japan. My name is Noboru. I’m a national licensed guide. I was born in Osaka and spent my university student life in Kyoto. And now I have been in Himeji for over 35 years. These cities are in Kansai aea. So,I'm very much familiar with the sightseeing spots and attractions in the area, especially Himeji and its neighboring cities. If you are looking for someone to show you around the area, please join my tour. I will show you special local dishes in the area as well. Looking forward to seeing your smile soon.

Nao O.

Hello! I'm Nao. I was born and raised in Himeji, which is famous for the Himeji Castle (egret castle). I'm guiding in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hyogo (especially Kobe and Himeji). I'd been in the US for three years attending a university. During the stay I went to the Yellow Stone twice, and visited California. I took a summer French class for a month in Canada, so I speak French a little. I love travelling. I went to many places in Japan. I visited Hokkaido, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Nikko, Mt. Fuji and so on. I love music ― pops, rock, gospel and classical music. I'm a fan of Beethoven. Some day I'd like to go to Vienna and visit his houses and the forest, where he composed "the Pastoral Symphony". There are lots of attractions in Japan. You can visit shrines, temples, deer park etc. You can enjoy USJ, river cruise, anime museum, Japanese sake, Onsen and of course delicious Japanese dishes. Let's have fun together !

Mayumi A.

5.00 / 5

(7 reviews)

I am Mayumi, SETOUCHI lover and a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter for English-speaking guests. I left busy Tokyo where I had lived for many years and moved to this calm city Okayama recently in order to change my way of living in my mid fifties. Before settling down here I spent some months like a traveler and found much comfort and amenity of this region. I came to wish to share such value with others.That is why I started a second job as a private tour guide. Honestly speaking, I am not experienced guide, yet I would like to make every effort to satisfy your requests and make your stay happier. Okayama is one of the most attractive cities in Western Japan. It is known for Kouraku-en which is one of the three most scenic landscape gardens in Japan. Okayama has a mild climate and is famous for fruit production such as white peach and grapes.You must love them. Also the location of Okayama is wonderful, it faces the Seto Inland Sea.You can enjoy idyllic scenery and a lot of outdoor activities are possible. If you are interested in slow life or inner peace,it is your destination. I would like to offer you very special opportunities to deepen your experience in Western Japan. Please visit Okayama and let me guide you. ◆My guidable area : SETOUCHI-islands, Setouchi Art Trienale 2019, Benesse Art Site, Okayama and Kagawa ◆Personal life : I am a working mother. I am fond of walks, cycling, skiing and traveling. At home, I enjoy cooking and gardening.

Popular Okayama Private Tours

Art Island "Naoshima” one day trip

9 hours 40 min

Naoshima is an art island. There are good art museums in this island, Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House Museum, Valley Gallery, Lee Ufan Museum, and so on. Art House Project in Honmura Area is also interesting. Some of them are made by a Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. They are very wonderful. You can enjoy outside works in the island. The most famous outside works are two red and yellow pumpkins by Yayoi Kusama.

Naoshima Art Island Excursion Day Tour

7 hours 30 min

This is a wonderful day exploring the art on Naoshima, one of three islands creating a contemporary art experience set amidst the rice fields and mountains on the island and merging with the rural setting in the surrounding Seto Inland Sea. It features architecture by Tadao Ando. We will ferry from Uno Port to Naoshima and travel by local bus, or if you would like, hire bicycles and cycle around to visit the Chichu Art Museum and other art project installations in the town.

Tour of Okayama rich in history

We stroll in Okayama visiting Okayama castle and Korakuen garden designated as one of three famous gardens in Japan in the morning. We move to Kurashiki near Okayama. We do sightseeing Kurashiki historical quarter rich in old Japanese style houses and visit either Ohara museum of art or Sake brewery there where Japanese alcohol is made.

Quiet one day trip of Kurashiki Bikan historical area

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7 hours

Kurashiki was a center of trades in Edo Period. And some warehouses and many houses in those days are left here now . When you walk along the stream , you will feel that you travel into the town in Edo Period. You can ride a small boat rowed with paddles along the stream , and you can also ride the rickshaw. You can visit old merchant's house, Ohara Museum , and Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum.

New Okayama Private Tours

Teshima Art Island Excursion Day Tour

9 hours

This is a wonderful day exploring the art on Teshima, one of three islands creating a contemporary art experience set amidst the rice fields and mountains on the island and merging with the rural setting in the surrounding Seto Inland Sea. We will ferry from Uno Port to Teshima and travel hire (electric assisted)bicycles and cycle around to visit the Teshima Art Museum and other art project installations in the town.

Okayama and Kurashiki

A day tour includes visiting Okayama castle (where you might like to try your hand at making a ceramic or get a photo of yourself in a kimono) and the elegant Korakuen gardens followed by a visit to Kurashiki and the old preserved quarter there. There is an option for a lovely cycling experience across the Kibi plain along riversides, past temples, and shrines.

SETOUCHI,Hinase-islands Short Cruise [All Season]

It is exciting to visit small islands, where there is no traffic network, no convenience-store, no wifi…but plenty of time and rooms to stretch out. Let’s get out of dense downtown and take a deep breath on the ocean !

Okayama evening walk : Garden & Castle Illumination

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3 hours

Special Nighttime Opening & Illumination is held at Kouraku-en Garden and Okayama Castle according to specific schedule in each season. Let’s take a walk and enter the castle tower to enjoy night view of the city. ★About schedule and details , I will inform you via email.

Day Trips from Okayama

Hiroshima

Kobe

Hyogo

Tottori

Okayama Tour Reviews

Jon H.

5 / 5

Sep 30, 2024

Quiet one day trip of Kurashiki Bikan historical area

6 hours

Sep 30, 2024

“Above and Way Beyond Expectations, Yoko!”

Yoko was tremendously helpful both long before our custom tour and even after! She patiently answered so many questions I had as a first time visitor to Soja City/Kurashiki, Okayama in the weeks before our tour. She set up a taxi driver and helped me navigate Japanese gravesite customs. Someone in the taxi compoany even happened to know my family and where my family's grave was located! Her English is excellent and she is a caring and capable guide that w connected with so easily. Our visit to my family's grave in Soja City was magical for me, my wife, and our daughter and granddaughter. Our granddaughter asked me if she could meet a relative her age. Yoko and the ancestors made that happen. (See picture with two happy 10 year olds, one from the US, one from Soja CIty, Japan). We bid our newly found relatives goodbye and returned to Kurashiki. After a refreshing lunch, we had a wonderful (and cooling!) visit to the Ohara Art Museum and Ohara houses. After our tour, Yoko was once again such a star! My cousin wanted to visit our family grave a couple days after us. Yoko helped arrange a taxi for them and my cousin got to spend additional time with our Soja City relatives! Yoko is such a caring, generous, knowledgable and helpful guide! Words cannot express our deep gratitude to her. Our request was complex and she delivered! We cannot recommend her to you enough!

Yoko M.

Thank you for a nice review. I also had a nice time with you and your family. I appreciate you.

Aidan C.

5 / 5

Jul 3, 2024

Art Island "Naoshima” one day trip

Jul 3, 2024

“A wonderful day in Okayama!”

We saw a lot on this tour. Important to have an umbrella on hand if touring in June as it rained a bit. Yoko packed a lot into this day which was good. Because it rained the river boats were not operating. We instead walked along the beautiful river bank. Yoko understood and spoke good English.

Yoko M.

Thank you for your nice review. I am very happy to read it. Is your leg all right? We walked long. So I am worried about that. I wish you can get Nintendo tickets. Yoko

Aidan C.

5 / 5

Jul 3, 2024

Kurashiki Bikan historical area and Korakuen Park and Okayama Castle in Okayama

7 hours 30 min

Jul 3, 2024

“Naoshima Art Island!”

This is an interesting island to visit. Yoko helped us navigate transportation. It does take a fair bit of time to get to the island including a train from Okayama (which can require a transfer), a ferry and local buses on the island. We enjoyed seeing the red and yellow pumpkins. Yoko knows the island well and was able to highlight key sites and told us about the artworks.

Yoko M.