“Tour All Around Yahiko and Niigata”

Mutsuko-San is a very fun and accommodating guide. She was able to craft an itinerary around Tsubamesanjo, Yahiko and Niigata cities based on my interests, and when we were ahead of schedule she found ways to show me more of the city to spend some time before our next scheduled stop. She was also very friendly and easy to talk to about anything, which made the tour that much better. I would strongly recommend her for anyone looking for a day tour around the Niigata prefecture area!

Mutsuko W.

(9 reviews)

Hello Jeff-san, I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive and engaging experience. Crafting customized itineraries and offering value-added opportunities is always my goal, and I'm delighted we could maximize your time in the Niigata prefecture. Thank you for your kind recommendation! Best Regards, Mutsuko

“Excellent Tour of Niigata”

My wife and I toured Saito Villa and Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery with Matsuko while ported in Niigata. We very much enjoyed the tour. Matsuko is an outstanding guide. Excellent English and communicated lots of additional information about the sites we visited. Great preparation for our tour and very effective use of our limited available time. We highly recommend her.

Mutsuko W.

(9 reviews)

Steven san, Thank you so much! Reading your wonderfully detailed and kind review about your Niigata tour genuinely made my day. I’m truly happy to hear how much you and your wife enjoyed the experience in Niigata. It was an absolute pleasure guiding you, and I loved sharing the history and local details of Niigata with you both. Your generous comments are incredibly rewarding, and the highest compliment I could receive. Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I hope the rest of your cruise will be lovely. If your travels ever bring you back to Niigata, please feel free to reach out. Warmly, Mutsuko

“Wonderful Niigata Day Tour”

Our family of three from Hawai’i thoroughly enjoyed our day with Mutsuko. Communication and coordinating before the trip was excellent. Mutsuko was responsive and customized our tour integrating our ideas and her expert suggestions as a Niigata local. We rented our own car and she let us drive so we did not have to hire a van and driver. On the day of our tour, she met us at our ryokan and jumped into our car. Although we had a packed itinerary, Mutsuko timed everything so we never felt rushed. We had ample opportunity to explore, visit shops, discover local treats, and take lots of photos. She even helped us buy a suitcase (for all the amazing purchases we made) and find specific ingredients and gifts at the fish market, impromptu stops at local markets, and one very tiny local tea shop where we found a highly specific matcha that was sold out everywhere in Tokyo. Highlights: Mt. Yahiko was rainy and foggy but the ropeway tram was still enjoyable; Yahiko Shrine and surrounding area was beautiful and so peaceful; ate our way through Teradomari fish market where the sashimi was ultra fresh and so reasonable (we even returned the next day for more sashimi, fish cakes, and koshihikari rice ice cream); knife-making at Tojiro was fascinating and our two guides were friendly and encouraging; purchased a high-quality kitchen knife which they engraved with our name in kanji - this will be a treasured keepsake; picked and ate the most sweet delicious strawberries ever (AYCE in 50 min.) at Saito Orchard and Mutsuko won the contest with 35 strawberries; farmer’s market had many Niigata produce and gift items including sasadango and little cubes (about 2 cups) of Niigata rice. Highly recommend Mutsuko as a guide and will definitely contact her when we return to Niigata. Thank you, Mutsuko, for your warmth and friendliness, and your expert planning in creating a memorable experience for our first trip to beautiful Niigata.

Mutsuko W.

(9 reviews)

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with your lovely family and showing you some of the many treasures Niigata has to offer. I'm so glad we could blend your ideas with local experiences--especially the spontaneous stops and unique finds like the special matcha and the perfect suitcase! Even with the rainy weather at Mt. Yahiko, your positive energy and enthusiasm made the day so enjoyable. I'm also impressed by your sashimi adventures and so happy you returned for more--Niigata's seafood really is hard to resist! And I'll never forget our strawberry-picking "competition" at Saito Orchard--what a fun memory! Joan-san, I was truly touched by the beautiful gift bag you prepared for me before the tour. All the snacks and gummies--chosen so thoughtfully based on our earlier messages--were not only delicious but also heartwarming. I'm enjoying every bite with my family, and we all appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I'm honored to have been part of your first trip to Niigata, and I look forward to welcoming you back anytime. Until then, please take care and enjoy using your engraved knife--it truly is a special keepsake! Arigatou Gozaimashita! Warmest regards, Mutsuko