Tokyo Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“Made a lifelong friend in Tokyo ”

I’m not even sure where to begin. Traveling to another country can be nerve racking. Feeling like you don’t belong and being unable to speak the local language can sometimes scare people away from visiting altogether. Luckily, my niece and I found Kota. As we searched for tours and guides, we knew we didn’t want a traditional tourist experience or a typical tour guide. What we wanted was a friend, someone who could show us the side of Japan that most tourists never get to see. Someone we could spend hours with and feel as though we had known for years. That is exactly what Kota delivered. From the moment we met him, Kota made us feel welcome. He created an itinerary tailored specifically to what we wanted to experience and took us to places where he said, “If I were out with my friends, this is where I would go.” Those hidden spots away from the main tourist areas and crowds were exactly what we had been hoping to find. We have spent almost two weeks traveling throughout Japan, and our day with Kota has been and will remain the highlight of our entire trip. Words truly cannot describe how much we appreciate everything he showed us or how genuinely we feel that we made a lifelong friend. It’s not a matter of if we return to Japan, but when and when we do, we will absolutely see Kota again. I already know it will feel like visiting someone we grew up with. Thank you again, Kota, for the unforgettable experience and the amazing time you shared with us. We’ll see you sooner rather than later!

“Kyoto is beautiful ”

Our guide was friendly and polite, and the trip was comfortable overall. However, I was disappointed with the level of guidance and planning at both Arashiyama and Nara Park. At Arashiyama, we only walked through the Bamboo Forest and took some photos. The guide did not explain that there were several beautiful attractions nearby, such as Ōkōchi Sansō Garden, Kimono Fores, so we missed them. The same thing happened at Nara Park. We only stopped near the entrance to feed the deer, and the guide did not take us further inside or explain that we could visit important attractions such as Tōdai-ji Temple, the Great Buddha, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and other beautiful areas of the park. As first-time visitors, we relied on the guide to recommend the main attractions and organize a more complete experience. Unfortunately, we only discovered afterward how many important places we had missed. The trip was pleasant, but the guidance was not detailed or thorough enough, which is why I am giving 3 stars. Since we missed several major attractions at both Arashiyama and Nara Park and were not informed about them during the tour, I believe a 3-star rating is fair. We flew over from Dubai, 10 hours and spent 2 hours on train from Tokyo to Kyoto but we missed a lot of attractive places, thats very pity! I should have asked chat GPT, not rely everything on the tour guide.

Fumi M.

(5 reviews)

Thank you for your review. As you mentioned I was not well prepared because I had litttle time to prepare for the last minute destination change in the area of Kyoto and Nara, which is not my home ground.

“Una Tokyo più vera ”

Simone è stata la parte più bella della nostra giornata a Tokyo. Nonostante il caldo intenso di quel pomeriggio abbia reso il percorso più impegnativo del previsto, si è mostrato estremamente flessibile e attento, adattandosi senza problemi alle nostre esigenze dell’ultimo momento — con particolare gentilezza e pazienza verso mio padre, a cui ha dedicato attenzione speciale per tutto il tour. Ma quello che ha reso davvero speciale l’esperienza è stato Shimokitazawa: un quartiere che non conoscevamo e che quasi certamente non avremmo mai scoperto da soli, lontano dai percorsi turistici classici. Simone ce l’ha raccontato con una passione autentica, mostrandoci una Tokyo diversa — più vera, più vissuta — che ha completamente cambiato la nostra percezione della città. Consigliamo Simone senza riserve a chiunque voglia vivere Tokyo con una guida che unisce competenza, sensibilità e una conoscenza profonda dei suoi angoli meno battuti.

Simone M.

(10 reviews)

Grazie di cuore per queste parole splendide. Sapere di avervi fatto scoprire la vera anima di Shimokitazawa — e di aver reso la giornata piacevole per tuo padre nonostante il caldo — è la soddisfazione più grande. Un caro saluto a tutti voi e a presto per nuove esplorazioni!