(Highlights)
Dotombori is to Osaka what Gion is to Kyoto. The district is located in the area popularly called "Minami (south)", or south of Osaka city centering on Kintets` Railway Namba station, as compared with "Kita (north)", where JR Osaka station is the hub. On both sides of Dotombori river line business offices, shops, entertainment facilities and all sorts of restaurants and eateries. You can enjoy cruising the 20-minute river on board the yellow-colored boat, which is run two to third times an hour between 1 pm and 9 pm.
(How to enjoy)
Walk along the banks of Dotombori river, spend happy time on board the cruising boat while doing the sites on both sides, or enjoy eating or shopping in the area above the river bank. It would be better for you to be there in the evening in summer when the daytime heat subsides and cool wind prevails. There are many well-known places which have distinctive characteristics: Ebisubashi-suji shopping street, where many shops from Edo period line; Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, where there are fashionable shops; Soemon-cho Shopping Street good for night life; Dotombori Shopping Street, otherwise called "Kuidaore-no-mahci, where you can spend all your money eating; Sennichi-mae Shopping Street; and Hozenji-yokocho Street, known for the mossed "Mizukake-fudoson" Buddha statue and for the long-running TV drams in former days. All these places are good for eating and walking. By the way, "suji" means a street running from north to south in Osaka.
(Others)
JR transportation fare from Kyoto to Osaka is 560 yen and the subway fare from Osaka to Namba, 240 yen. The fare for the cruise boat ride is 900 yen.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel.
Dotombori river (cruising).
Restaurants known for the popular Japanese term
Ending Point
At your hotel.
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kyoto area
transportation fee (you and guide), lunch, dinner, hotel-pick-up in areas beyond Kyoto area
I would like at least 7 days notice before a booking.
It took me some 20 years to be qualified for this job and I feel honored for being able to help tourists from abroad understand our nation and culture. Japan is a beautiful country with a long history, tradition and rich cultural heritages, having various features in each of the four distinct seasons. Although there are now many visitors from abroad, mainly from Asian countries, they are mostly interested in shopping taking advantage of cheaper yen rather than understanding our people and culture. Kyoto and Nara are the two cities best known by foreign tourists, but not all the aspects of Japanese culture are concentrated there. If you visit the countryside other than these two cities, you will never fail to see the beautiful natural surroundings and people who will warmly welcome you. I wish to work as the bridge between Japanese people and tourists from all over the world.
Alfonso S.
“Good old man”
A very nice and educated old men not to fluent in English and hard to understand his ocasional explanations at the different sites visited. We had to walk very long distances in the heat to reach public transportation, when we could have save time and sweat by taking a cab. We are sure that probably in Japanese he would have been a better experience. Anyway he was very kind with us.
Tatsuhiro N.
Hi Alfonso-san, Thank you very much for your honest and straightforward feedback on the three-day tour. I humbly accept every bit of your opinion and sincerely apologize to you for having you walk a long and arduous distance under the intense heat. In hindsight, I thought we should have taken a taxi to move from one place to another, but I was afraid of the cost it could have entailed. I sincerely take your comment to heart so that I can offer my future customers an even better service than ever before. At the same time, I will polish my listening comprehension with the help of radio English conversation programs more attentively. I will also learn more about the history and the attractions of each of the sights in Kyoto and elsewhere. Finally, I wish you all a greater health and success in your business. And if ever a chance should offer itself, I would look forward to having more customers from your country. Let me add one most important point: Thank you very much for the tip. Enjoy the rest of your stay in our country. Regards, Hiro
Amandeep S.
“Excellent experience with Hiro San”
It was a pleasure to tour the city through Hiro San’s eyes. He was very patient and adjusted the pace of the tour as per us. Quite knowledgeable and jovial Regards Amandeep
Tatsuhiro N.
Hi Amandeep-san, Thank you very much for your compliment. I am much encouraged and given an energy to do a better job from tomorrow. Wish your entire family an excellent health. Regards, Hiro
James H.
“Great day with Hiro-San”
Absolutely one if the highlights of our trip to Japan. Our guide Hiro was fantastic. Can’t praise him enough. Hiro was patient and kind with our mixed group of 11. Hiro was so forthcoming with his knowledge. I can not say enough good things about this wonderful man. Jim H
Tatsuhiro N.
Hi James-san, Thank you very much for your favorable comment. I am glad you and your loved ones spent a wonderful day with the tame deer in Nara. That`s the best reward for me. Wish you all a better health and a happier life ahead. Regards, Hiro
$141/ per group