Kobe has developed as an international port city, and people from abroad have created their own unique culture there which made Kobe an exotic city. Chinatown, and Ijinkan, former residences for early foreign settlers, are typical examples. Kobe is also known as a famous its sake, there are many sake breweries in the Nada area. On this tour, we will visit China Town and Sorakuen, a Japan garden which has an Ijinkan, and a sake brewery in Nada.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Osaka
Sake brewer in Nada
It is said that sake brewing has been carried out in this region, which was blessed with rice and water as raw materials, brewing technology and climate, since the 14th century. Even today, Nada's sake brewing industry leads the sake industry in Japan, with shipments accounting for one-quarter of the national shipment volume. In this tour, we will visit the Sake Brewery Museum, which has been renovated from an old sake brewery built in the early 20th century, and try sake tasting
China Town
Kobe Chinatown has more than 100 restaurants and shops within a range of 200 meters from east to west and 100 meters from north to south, and there are also many vendors selling dim sum, sweets and gift items. It is said that there are 10,000 overseas Chinese in Kobe, and it is recognized that many of them are good at business and that China Town in Kobe is the result that they have built very good relationship with the Japanese society.
Sorakuen Garden
Completed in 1911 by a former samurai and successful businessman in Kobe, this vast mansion consists of gardens and houses. The garden is a pond strolling style, but a plaza was added under the influence of Western culture. Many buildings were lost in the war, except for the former Kodera family stables, gates, and fences, but after the war, the former Hassam residence, ijinkan, and a 17the century boathouse used by the former feudal lord were relocated.
Ending Point
At Osaka station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guiding fee
transportation fare(you and guide);
lunch
entrance fee
insurance
Tours are NOT covered by insurance.
Transportation fare (train tickets); JPY 1,500 round trip per person plus guide, entrance fee; JPY 300 per person and lunch for guests and guide are NOT included.
Ask for details.
Direct payment for tickets, lunch and others will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE "JR PASS", PLEASE INFORM ME BEFORE BOOKIG.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Joel G.
“Excellent Guide”
Hiroyuki-san was a patient and thoughtful guide to Kyoto.
Arlene N.
“Osaka Hidden Gem”
This was another memorable day tour with Hiroyuki, and my sister and I had a great time exploring different parts of Osaka. In keeping with his story-telling style, Mr Hiro shared his knowledge of the city, its architecture and its history, adding to the richness of the tour experience. My sister walks with a cane and Mr Hiro took extra care with her while we were navigating through subways and train stations, and along garden paths and old city streets. Thank you for your kindness and patience. We can’t wait to return for more tours with Hiroyuki.
Hiroyuki T.
Yes, same here! I cannot wait to see you again. See you again next year! Hiro
Chris R.
“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”
To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for spending time with me in Kyoto. Kyoto is the place! It is always nice to see people from Utah. I have a lot of beautiful memories there. It is good to know that you liked the tour and I like people like you who pay a lot of respect to our cultural and religions. Thank you very much once again, hope to see you again in the future, if I live long.
$314/ per group