Japan Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“Best Guided Tour to Osaka and Kyoto”

Osaka & Kyoto with Tatsuya! We had an absolutely wonderful guided tour of Osaka and Kyoto with Tatsuya, and we can’t recommend him highly enough. From the very beginning, he crafted a perfect itinerary that made our day feel smooth, engaging, and genuinely memorable. Fantastic planning & smooth pickup: Tatsuya picked us up from our hotel early in the morning in an **air-conditioned car that was very roomy and comfortable. Efficient and enjoyable full day: We spent about 11 hours with him, and somehow it never felt rushed—just well-paced and thoughtfully arranged. Great cultural experiences: We visited a few temples and experienced Osaka and Kyoto in a meaningful way, not just as a checklist of tourist stops. Authentic traditional lunch: We enjoyed a traditional Japanese lunch in Kyoto at a restaurant where we had to remove our shoes and sit at a lower table. The food was pretty good, and the whole experience felt authentic and special. Invaluable translation support: We were especially thankful that Tatsuya was there to translate—it made everything easier to understand and helped us feel comfortable throughout the day. Even though I can’t recall every single place we visited, what I do know is this: we truly couldn’t have done as much on our own. Tatsuya’s knowledge, organization, and welcoming presence made all the difference. Thank you so much, Tatsuya! We’re looking forward to seeing you in Chicago very soon!

“The One Piece Best Tour I Could Have Asked For!”

I booked this tour with Venus for my birthday on July 21, with one very specific mission: visiting all 10 One Piece statues across Kumamoto. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my entire trip to Japan. Venus was absolutely amazing from start to finish. She arrived right on time, communication and coordination were effortless, and she knew exactly where every single statue was located. Everything was so well organized that I could simply relax and enjoy the journey without worrying about routes, timing, or transportation. What made the tour even better was Venus herself. She was incredibly friendly, easy to talk to, and we had so many great conversations during the drives. Her English is excellent, which made communication completely effortless throughout the day. Most importantly, she helped me accomplish my birthday goal of visiting and getting photos with all 10 One Piece statues in Kumamoto in one day! As a One Piece fan, this was genuinely a bucket-list experience for me, and having it happen on my birthday made it even more special. I’m incredibly grateful that I chose Venus for this tour. She didn’t just take me from one statue to another—she helped turn my birthday into a memory I will probably remember for the rest of my life. 10/10 experience. Easily one of the highlights of my Japan trip and honestly the best tour I’ve ever had. If you’re visiting Kumamoto, especially if you’re a One Piece fan hoping to see all 10 statues, I cannot recommend Venus enough. I hope more travelers get the chance to experience Kumamoto with her. Thank you so much, Venus, for making my birthday unforgettable! ‍️️

“Wonderful and meaningful Hiroshima experience!”

We had an absolutely wonderful tour in Hiroshima with Kate. From picking us up at our hotel until bringing us back, everything was perfectly taken care of. In her calm, warm and personal way, Kate introduced our family to the impactful history of Hiroshima, while also sharing its powerful message of hope and peace. She is very knowledgeable, but what made the experience truly special was her genuine warmth and the personal conversations we had throughout the day. We feel very grateful that we could experience Hiroshima together as a family, and Kate made our visit even more meaningful and memorable. We wholeheartedly recommend Kate to anyone visiting Hiroshima. An exceptional guide and, above all, a very warm person.