GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
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Japan Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

Plan a Trip to Japan with Local Tour Guides, and Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and More.

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Japan Tour Reviews

A Mixed Experience with Local Guide Services

We booked this tour through Yaron, who outsourced it to Melinda. While we had pre-planned the day's itinerary, extreme typhoon-like weather in Kagoshima forced us to adjust. Melinda was flexible and accommodating to our group’s needs, and fortunately, the weather cleared up enough for us to visit some unique locations. That said, there were some issues that left us disappointed. We had been informed in advance that Melinda would rent a car to drive us around, and that this would incur an additional fee of ¥20,000, payable in person. However, she used her own personal vehicle instead—and still charged us the rental fee. Although tipping isn’t customary in Japan, we offered one as a gesture of appreciation, considering she isn’t Japanese. She politely declined, citing local norms. Her refusal, while understandable, felt inconsistent with charging a rental fee for a vehicle she already owned. Her actions during the tour left a lasting, and not entirely positive impression. She used inappropriate language in front of my son and made comments suggesting she doesn’t particularly enjoy being around children. While she initially came across as friendly, there was an underlying tone of impatience, as if guiding us through Kagoshima was more an obligation than a passion. On the positive side, Melinda introduced us to one of the most incredible temples we’ve ever seen in Japan. Everyone in our group agreed it was a highlight of the entire cruise. Her insights were heartfelt—she’d visited many times, and her daughter was even married there. She also brought us to Tosenkyo Flowering Somen Noodles, a unique and delicious experience where you catch noodles swirling in fresh spring water with chopsticks. It was both fun and memorable. Overall, the tour had its highlights, particularly the temple and somen experience. But the miscommunication about costs and the uncomfortable interactions during the day left us with mixed feelings.

Dina K.

Yaron P.

Dear Dina Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. On one hand I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed some parts of the tour—especially the temple and the Tosenkyo noodles. These are special places that Melinda loves to share with our guests. About the transportation I will try to explain: using a private minivan was my request. After checking rental options, I found that renting a car big enough for your family—plus road expenses and insurance —would cost almost twice as much. From my experience the car rental prices in Kagoshima are especially high on cruise ship days, sometimes much more than on regular days. So my goal was simply to help you save money by asking the guide to use her husband's insured private car. Part of the transportation fee was meant to cover fuel, insurance, cleaning, and the effort of making the car available just for your family. I'm really sorry this was misunderstood, and especially that I didn't explain it clearly enough in our messages before the tour. That's my responsibility. Melinda also planned a special route with places that most tourists don't usually visit, so that your family could enjoy something more unique and personal. Because of the rain forecast and the sudden weather changes, she may have felt stressed or low-energy at times, and if that made anyone feel uncomfortable, I truly apologize !!! I will make sure all future guests feel fully welcome and respected. Thank you again for your honest review. We are always learning and doing our best to improve and I hope you will come again to Kagoshima with your family, this place still have a lot of beauty Best regards PTASHNIK YARON

Kagoshima Family Adventure

Hitomi was wonderful. She arranged a private taxi bus for the day to take us into Kagoshima from the port. She was very organized, and very knowledgeable. Her itinerary for us was perfect with the kimono and armor dressing, and we so enjoyed the soba noodle making and lunch! She made our stop in Kagoshima very memorable!

Wonderful tour for our group of 7!

Our family and friends had a fantastic time with Lisa. Our group ranged from young kids to grandparents and Lisa took great care in planning an itinerary that fit our group, as well as alternatives in case plans need to change at the last minute. She was super knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning about Nara and the history behind the locations we went to. We highly recommend Lisa and would definitely ask her to be our guide again the next time we’re visiting the area!

Japan Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

Uncover Japan’s secrets and gain travel knowledge with a local private tour guide. Unlock hidden gems, cultural immersion, and an unforgettable journey.

With a tour guide, you can get to the good stuff, like the ethereal Tottori Sand Dunes and quaint Kinosaki Onsen. From enjoying bespoke traditional ryokans, to navigating the busy streets of Osaka, a tailored journey through Japan’s wonders only gets better with a local expert leading the way.

Beyond the big ticket destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, getting a personalized itinerary transforms a simple tour into lifelong memories. Customized by a local guide, your itinerary can feature lesser known sites like the Shikisai-no-Oka flower fields, where stunning panoramic views of colorful flowers await.

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