“Great day with Nobuko visiting lovely Minoh Park”

The Minoh Park near Osaka is famous for its autumn leaves, shrines and waterfalls. All are wonderful to experience even in the off season. I travelled with Nobuko at sakura time. We had a pleasant walk and a visit to the nearby onsen resort hotel afterwards enjoying the spa and sauna. But the best experience was spending time with Nobuko, a very experienced and knowledgeable guide whose information and stories of Japanese life brought a better understanding of what we were seeing and eating! I recommend Nobuko without any hesitation for an Osaka visit.

Nobuko O.

(21 reviews)

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind words, Ellen san!! It was truly a pleasure to guide you through Minoh Park during sakura season. I'm so glad you enjoyed the walk, the onsen, and the chance to relax at the spa and sauna afterward. Sharing stories about Japanese life and culture with you made the experience even more enjoyable for me as well. I always strive to offer a deeper understanding of what we see, taste, and experience during our time together, so it’s wonderful to hear that it added to your journey. Your recommendation means the world to me, and I’m so grateful for your trust and for choosing me as your guide. I sincerely hope that you’ll have many more memorable travels, and I would love to welcome you back to Japan again in the future!

Ana P.

5 / 5

Mar 26, 2025

Osaka Highlights: A Full-Day Exploration of History, Culture, and Local Flavors

Mar 26, 2025

Osaka

8 hours

Customized

“A visit to the Osaka Castle, Aqua line boat, exploring history, food tasting at Dotonbori.”

I contacted Nobuko few weeks ago, and Nobuko promptly replied to my messages. Nobuko, gave me a lot of attention and prepared for me a wonderful itinerary, and even included in our tour a boat ride from the Osaka Castle named Aqua Line that turned out to be amazing! I asked before my arrival that I wanted to visit the Louis Vuitton cafe in Osaka, and Nobuko agreed on taking me there, and even went there to check it out. Nobuko, arrived at my hotel on time was very polite, friendly, and caring and knowledgeable. Nobuko, was helped me to reserve my Shinkansen to Hiroshima, and even went as far is showing me the platform where my train would departed from. Nobuko, patiently explained to me the history of Osaka, and its castle the Shogun who made the Osaka Castle. After, the Osaka Castle tour we took the Aqua Line boat, and went to try some delicious sea food, at a market then we went to Dotonbori, and Nobuko chose a place for me to try Takoyaki that was a Michelin Star award restaurant which was very delicious… We finished our tour with a Dotonbori River Cruise that was very fun, I enjoyed a lot we took many pictures. Nobuko, made my travel experience to Japan very memorable, and I would love to come back again and have more tours with Nobuko. I highly recommend Nobuko or Nono as she affectionately likes to be called as your tour guide. Nono, is very easy going, she speaks fluently English, and is very knowledgeable, and detailed oriented. Nono, took me back to my hotel, and she gave to me a small thoughtful gift from Japan. Thank you Nono for making my travel experience to Japan unforgettable! It was a honor and a pleasure to have chosen you as my tour guide in Osaka.

Nobuko O.

(21 reviews)

Dear Ana san, Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. I am truly honored that you chose me as your guide in Osaka, and I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed every part of the tour. It was my pleasure to help you create memorable experiences, from exploring Osaka Castle and enjoying the Aqua Line boat ride to tasting delicious local seafood and trying Michelin-starred Takoyaki. I’m also happy that you enjoyed the Dotonbori River Cruise and took many wonderful photos. It was important for me to ensure that your visit to the Louis Vuitton Café and your Shinkansen journey to Hiroshima went smoothly. I’m so glad that everything worked out perfectly. Your warm words and appreciation mean a lot to me, and I’m thrilled that I could make your trip to Japan unforgettable. I would love to welcome you back anytime and explore more wonderful places together. Thank you again for your kind words and for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Warm regards, Nobuko

Elijah C.

5 / 5

Jul 22, 2024

One day Koya trip

Jul 22, 2024

Mount Koya

8 hours

Customized

“One day Koya trip”

Nobuko (NoNo) was a great one-day tour guide. She met us promptly at the hotel and took us through the itinerary for the day, making sure we were ready for the experience. Once in Koyasan, she took us for a well-paced walk through the cemetery, stopping at multiple shrines, graves and other points of interest, which we would have otherwise missed the significance of. When we reached the most holy place on the tour, where etiquette had to be strictly observed, NoNo explained in a helpful way to make sure we understood the significance of where we were and how to get the most of this unique experience. We toured further temples after lunch, but NoNo made sure our 13 year old son stayed invested and interested in the tour, including when it was time to take an ice cream break ;). Lastly, she made sure we were correctly checked into the Buddhist Monks' monastery for our overnight stay before leaving us. We recommend you book NoNo for your tour!

Nobuko O.

(21 reviews)

Thank you for your kind feedback, Elijah! san! I'm glad you enjoyed the Koyasan tour and that your son stayed engaged. It was a pleasure to guide you, and I appreciate your recommendation. I hope to see you on another adventure soon! Best Regards, Nono