Shimizu Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“Incredible Day at Mt. Fuji, Shiraito Waterfalls, and Lake Tanuki!”

Our family of four — my wife and I, along with our 10 and 13-year-old daughters — recently had the privilege of experiencing an unforgettable private tour with Yasuhiro M., affectionately known as “Motchee,” while visiting Japan on a cruise. From start to finish, the day was truly exceptional and a highlight of our trip! Motchee arrived 30 minutes early at the Shimizu port to greet us with a warm smile. He was incredibly knowledgeable, not just about Mt. Fuji and the surrounding sights, but also about Japanese culture, traditions, and daily life. He patiently answered all our questions — and even tailored his explanations in a way that kept our daughters engaged and curious. The itinerary was beautifully crafted, taking us from the peaceful Shiraito Waterfalls, to the tranquil Lake Tanuki, the spiritually rich Fuji Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, and the fascinating and modern Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center. Along the way, Motchee shared insights and stories that brought each location to life — far beyond what we could’ve experienced on our own or through a large group tour. What truly stood out was his flexibility and attentiveness. On a hot afternoon, he graciously made time for an unscheduled stop so the kids could cool off with ice cream — a small gesture that made a big impression. His driving was extremely safe and conscientious, giving us peace of mind throughout the day. We made it back to the cruise ship with plenty of time to spare! He If you’re a family looking to avoid the crowds and impersonality of cruise line bus tours, we wholeheartedly recommend Motchee’s private tour. His kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail made us feel like honored guests rather than tourists. He even took family photos at each location and shared them with us - so we can always remember the majesty of Mt. Fuji and this incredible tour. Domo arigatou gozai, Motchee!!!!! — Mark N and family

“Excellent comprehensive tour of Shimizu ”

Moto was a wonderful tour guide. He gave us choices of things to do and see. After being picked up from our cruise ship in a clean, air conditioned van, we took the Nihondaira ropeway tram to look out over Suruga Bay. The six of us experienced a traditional tea ceremony at a small green shop with a tea field where we also got to pick some new tea leaves. Lunch was at a lovely hotel restaurant. The hotel, to me, appeared to be beautifully maintained from many years ago. It was not a tourist restaurant, but one that locals went to for a special lunchtime experience. There was a young couple in traditional wedding apparel having their wedding pictures taken in the beautiful Japanese gardens. We climbed high to view a shrine and Mt Fuji. It was a beautiful clear day and our views of the mountain were perfect. There were vendors selling sweet strawberries and delicious Fuji apples larger than softballs that were sliced and cored for us. At one of the Five Lakes, our group was given a motor boat ride around the perimeter of the lake, where once again we viewed Mt Fuji in a very different way. Visited Miho sea coast with black sand beach and the green pine grove where the pine trees are twisted into unusual, but beautiful configurations. Moto always provided us with lots of history and answered our questions. Restrooms everywhere were clean and very modern. At the end of our very full tour, Moto returned us to our cruise ship. Shimizu was the Japan I had always imagined and wanted to visit.

Motoyuki H.

(36 reviews)

Thanks for your excellent review! I appreciate your interest in our nature and culture. I always intend to offer something surprising to guests. What will you discover in the next time? I'm waiting for the chance to guide you again. Good days!

“Day with Fumie”

Our family of eight had a great time touring with Fumie. The tour was a mixture of fantastic sites and opportunities to learn. Fumie made it special for each of us ranging in ages from 79 to 14. Thank you Fumie for a wonderful day!!

Fumie U.

(25 reviews)

Thank you for using my service on your special family trip to Japan! You should be proud to have such a wonderful family. And yes, we had a great time together. The owner couple of the tea farm was very nice and you probably discovered beautiful nature and history of Japan. I hope you will come back to our country in the near future. Thank you!