Shimane Private Tours & Local Tour Guides
Discover Things to Do and Plan a Trip to Shimane, Japan with a Local Guide
Popular Shimane Tour Guides
Hugh C.
4.93 / 5
(69 reviews)
Japan
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.
Kenichi N.
5.00 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan
Hello!My name is Kenichi Nagae,call me Ken. I`m from Matue,the capital of Shimane prefecture. I was a boatman of Horikawa Sightseeing Boat. I guide Matsue's sight and history. I can take you to sushi restaurant,supermarket that Matsue people go. I love Japanese castles,shrines,history and soba noodles. Hope to see you here!
Hideo Y.
4.52 / 5
(143 reviews)
Japan
Hello, I'm HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as the famous shogun who built the Osaka Castle in 1585. 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 ! These days "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" area in USJ, or Universal Studios Japan, is also attracting more and more people. I'll be looking forward to seeing you !!
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Japan
Hi, I'm Ritsuko. I started guiding for tourists as a local volunteer guide and has been serving as a national certified guide since 2014. I really like meeting people from around the world. Nothing is more fun and valuable than listening to them and sharing views and thoughts. I was born and raised in Shimane. I lived in other cities in Japan and abroad for my career and study. Shimane's abundant natural beauty brought me back here, then I started working as a guide. In my earlier career, I had served as a speech and communication therapist at hospitals for 11 years. I provided individual rehabilitation programs for patients who has various language problems and needs. I have met a lot of people in different generations. Personality, interest and background are different from people to people. Through my career, I have acquired skills to catch what he or she needs and provided suitable service for them. My current clients are happy with my smile, attentiveness and easy-to-understand guide. In my tour, you can not only go to spots and learn history and culture, but you have a lot of opportunity to experience such as climbing up a high light house, choosing your favorite Japanese sweets for matcha green tea, meditation in an old temple, etc. So, ask me if you have a plan to visit Japan. I will help you enjoy every minute of your stay in Japan. I hope to see you soon!
Daizaburo N.
Japan
Hi ! I am Daizaburo. Please call me Dai-chan (chan is a suffix expressing friendliness). I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter living in Shimane and Tokyo. I was born and brought up in Shimane and worked as a teacher of English in highschool for more than 30 years. I have been intersted in tour guides for a long time. I visited many places of interests throughout Japan and above all I was charmed with Tokyo. I am flexible about destinations and can arrange the tour according to your request. I will try hard to make your stay in Japan very special and memorable. Let's explore our beautiful and exciting country together. I'm very friendly and kind, too. For any concerns, please just contact me. I am here to help you! See you soon !
Popular Shimane Private Tours
Adachi Museum and Matsue Sightseeing
Shimane
7 hours 30 min
I'd like to take you to Adachi Museum, Matsue Castle and Vogel Park. The Garden of the Museum has been ranked number one out of over 700 gardens in Japan by JOJG, or Journal of Japanese gardening, in the United States from 2003 to 2016 for 14 years. Matsue castle was designated as a national treasure in 2015. Vogel park is a flower and bird park.
FROM$272/ per group
Hideo Y.
4.52 / 5
(143 reviews)
Izumo Grand Shrine and Matsue Sightseeing
Shimane
7 hours 30 min
I would like to take you to Izumo Taisha, Matsue Castle and Yushien Gaden. Izumo Taisha Shrine is one of the most revered and oldest Shinto Shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to Okuninishi-no-mikoto, popularly known as "Daikokusama" or the deity of nation building and good marriage. Matsue castle was designated as a national treasure in 2015. YLuckily you cluld see 30,000 peonies in spring and 100,00 dahlias in autumn.
FROM$285/ per group
Hideo Y.
4.52 / 5
(143 reviews)
Around Matsue Castle tour in Shimane
Shimane
6 hours
Are you interested in Matsue Castle? Getting into the castle fields,you will be surprised how beautiful the constructions are.And you will know how difficult to defeat the castle. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the castle town from the top of
FROM$198/ per group
Kenichi N.
5.00 / 5
(4 reviews)
Spiritual Tour in Izumo
Shimane
4 hours 30 min
This is a short walking tour around Izumo Grand Shrine, one of the most sacred and important shrines in Japan. If you want to refresh yourself in great nature or you have interests in ancient Japan, Izumo is the place for you. You'll have a glimpse of ancient Japanese culture still exists here. At Hinomisaki, you can enjoy the scenic beauty of blue ocean along with the highest masonry lighthouse in Japan.
FROM$226/ per group
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Trip around Izumo Grand Shrine
Shimane
7 hours 30 min
If you want to steep yourself in natural beauty or you have an interest in the history of ancient Japan, Izumo is the place for you. Izumo has been known as home of gods since ancient times. We visit old shrines that enshrines the most important deities in Japan. Enjoy the tranquil and spiritual atmosphere of Izumo. The museum shows you rich ancient culture and people's life in this region. Then enjoy the scenic beauty at Hinomisaki with a soaring lighthouse standing by the blue ocean.
FROM$402/ per group
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Matsue Castle and Sightseeing Boat Tour
Shimane
5 hours 30 min
This is a historic walking and boat tour around Matsue Castle, one of the only 12 original castles existing in Japan. Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of castle town. I'm sure you feel as if you are time traveling to the old days. A sightseeing boat tour around the castle at any season will give you special moment. I will tell you about the history of Matsue and how people live here cherishing their local heritage.
FROM$330/ per group
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Trip around Adachi Museum of Art
Shimane
7 hours
In this tour, you will enjoy natural beauty in Shimane with wonderful arts and gardens in the museum. Yasugi city, where the museum is, offers activities as below. Choose from according to your interests and the season. I can customize the tour for you. *options: meditation or sutra copying at the temple, hot spring, indigo dyeing experience, making or observing pottery, grape harvesting (from the end of July to September, peer harvesting (September)
FROM$402/ per group
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Shimane Must-See-Places As-You-Like One-Day Tour
Shimane
7 hours
This tour helps you make the most of your visit to Shimane. It is basically a walking tour using public transportation. I will plan your tour based on your requests and show you an itinerary in advance, so you will not miss the places you want to go in Shimane. Lunch will also arranged according to your request.
FROM$158/ per group
Daizaburo N.
New Shimane Private Tours
A World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine Walking Tour
Shimane
8 hours 30 min
A walking tour aound the nostalgic Omori town with silver mine shafts: UNESCO World Heritage Site. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine produced 1/3 of the world production of silver at its peak period. You will enjoy the distinctive townscape of Omori and how silver from here attracted and connected the world in the middle ages. If you like nature walking and traditional Japanese culture, this place is highly recommended. Omori townscape https://www.all-iwami.com/feature/detail_58.html
FROM$420/ per group
Ritsuko Y.
5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Yunotsu: Pottery, Awesome-Onsen Experience & Old stone-laid road Walking Tour
Shimane
7 hours
This tour helps you understand another more introspective side to Japan. In this rual area, people are still connected to the land and belief system. This area is a part of UNESCO world Heritage Site (Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine). I will plan your tour based on your requests and show you an itinerary in advance. Lunch will also be arraged according to your request, though not so many options.
FROM$158/ per group
Daizaburo N.
Popular Shimane Private Cars
Day Tour between Izumo and Matsue (Shimane) with a Private Car
Shimane
5 hours
Experienced local taxi drivers will cordially show you around the area so that you can visit both must-see and hidden sightseeing spots and enjoy local food.
FROM$304/ per group
Tr taxi R.
4.85 / 5
(199 reviews)
Day Tour between Izumo and Matsue (Shimane) with a Private Car
Shimane
5 hours
Experienced local taxi drivers will cordially show you around the area so that you can visit both must-see and hidden sightseeing spots and enjoy local food.
FROM$422/ per group
Tr taxi R.
4.85 / 5
(199 reviews)
Shimane Tour Reviews
“A Great Tour Wheme”
We did 2 tours with Hideo. The Shimane (Izumo and Matsue) tour reviewed here and also the Kochi Golden Tour. They were both excellent and were and were customized for my group. Some of the places that he recommended for us to visit were ones that I would never thought of on my own. My wife is a slow walker and he handled this issue very well. It amazes me how much we saw and learned in one day. He provided us with information about what sites we were seeing and also with the historical background about the sites. The places he picked for us to see were excellent. I started working w Hideo w a preconceived idea of what I wanted to see. He made some suggestions for good alternatives and in every case his alternative ideas made our tour better. . A possible issue for some people is that he is soft spoken and he can sometimes a bit hard to understand but this was not a problem for us. A good thing about his tours was that his rates were very reasonable. I would not hesitate to use him if we visited Japan again.
Hideo Y.
(143 reviews)I'm very happy to receive your excellent review. In Kchi we enjoyed walking through Sunday Market with 1 kilometers. Yes, this market is open every Sundat from 6AM to 5PM. The market has about 400 shops with fruits, vegetables, antiques with 300-year history. The road is lined with palm trees. They remind us of exotic atmosphere of southern land. We visited Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecrure from the port of Sakai Minato. In Kaguraden Hall we looked at twisted straw rope with 13 meters long and the weight of 5,000 kg. On the way back to Sakai minato, we dropped in at Yushien garden. We could see about 30,000 beautiful peony flowers floating on the pond. I'm sure you had a great time at Yushien. I wish you all the best for your good health and continued success and I look forward to seeing you again.
“Matsue castle and surrounding area”
Ken was an amazing guide! His English is great. He listens to what you want and plans accordingly. He is friendly and kind. Debbie
Kenichi N.
(4 reviews)Thank you Debbie and Bruce!You are so kind and nice to me.It has been raining today in Sakaiminato area.The weather made our tour very nice!I am so happy to be with your first trip in Japan.Ken
“Fabulous tour of Matsue and Adachi Museum of Art”
Ken arrived early to meet us at the port and expertly guided our group of 7 around Matsue and the Adachi Museum of Art. He took us on a fun boat tour and then to the castle. We had lunch at a very authentic, local soba noodle restaurant and then went to Adachi to see the beautiful gardens. We enjoyed chatting with Ken along the way -- he spent a year in the UK at one point so we had no trouble communicating in English with him. He was able to make small adjustments to our itinerary to accommodate the older, less mobile members of our group. We were so glad to meet Ken and would highly recommend him as a tour guide.
Kenichi N.
(4 reviews)Holly,I love you and your family,they were very kind and so nice to me.It was a shame that I was not able to remember your family`s name.I was verry happy that all your family talked to me.Thank you for mentioning about my English.I remenber we talked about it in the car,speaking is ok,listening is so so?I am very glad to meet you and your family.Ken
Shimane Private Tour Guide
Whether it’s your first time to Shimane or you are back to discover more, a good tour guide can make all the difference. Enjoy the best of what Shimane has to offer, without all the fuss of planning everything by yourself!
You can pick your favorite itinerary from the Shimane tours offered by our local guides, but feel free to ask for customizations based on your preferences. We want to help travelers get the most out of their trips, and we believe a good tour with a local guide is the best way to ensure that.
There is so much to see and do in Shimane, and the best way to get the most out of your time there is to have a local expert with you. GoWithGuide is committed to delivering unforgettable tour experiences, so let us help you create your next favorite memory.
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