A Day Trip to Yugawara – Yukata Experience – Take Yours Home
Escape Tokyo’s bustle and discover the nature. Begin with fine dining at Kuruma-ya, known for its historic garden ranked among Japan’s top — the only restaurant nationwide with this honor. Enjoy kaiseki or teppanyaki, plus options like kimono, shooting, or VIP rooms. And a coastal drive along Sagami Bay before returning to Tokyo.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Meeting at Hotel
- Your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby in Tokyo.
Dining Experience at Kuruma-ya
・Choose kaiseki or teppanyaki.
・Optional kimono plan (2.5–3 hours): wear kimono, stroll the historic garden ranked among Japan’s top, enjoy photo session.
・Options: matcha experience, private rooms, tatami seating, VIP service.
Coastal Drive
Scenic ride along Sagami Bay
Ending Point
Accommodation or your preferred location (Tokyo)
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
・Private vehicle with driver from/to Tokyo
・English-speaking guide
・Coastal scenic drive along Sagami Bay
・Lunch at Kuruma-ya (choice of Japanese kaiseki or Western teppanyaki)
・Kimono plan (includes wearing kimono, photo session in the garden, and garden access; kimono can be taken home)
・Matcha experience
・VIP service (upon request)
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Kota A.
Hello everyone! My name is Kota.
After graduation from a university in Japan I spent a year in Vancouver, Canada, on a working holiday. While working as a server at a sushi restaurant, I had many opportunities to interact with guests who loved Japan, while also learning about Canadian culture from them. Those experiences became truly meaningful to me, and now I would like to take on that role here in Japan—sharing the beauty of my country with visitors and creating unforgettable memories together.
Tokyo is a world-famous metropolis, but beyond its well-known landmarks, it is full of hidden gems that are less crowded and waiting to be discovered. I would be delighted to explore such places with you and do my very best to make your trip to Japan a wonderful experience.
Since I am originally from Hiroshima, I am also very familiar with Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. I would be happy to give you helpful advice if you plan to visit those areas. And if our schedules align, I would love to guide you around my hometown Hiroshima, as well as Shiga where I spent my student years, or even Kyoto and Osaka. Please feel free to reach out anytime!
I enjoy watching soccer (especially Manchester United!), and I also like beer and whisky.
I’m really looking forward to meeting you all :)
P.S.
I am not a licensed guide, but I work as a friendly guide.
Rather than providing formal or highly specialized guiding like a school tour, my focus is on offering a more relaxed and friendly experience to help you enjoy your time in Japan.
I appreciate your understanding.
Reviews
Clément O.
“A Wonderful Way to Discover the Real Tokyo”
We had an excellent day in Tokyo with Kota, focused on discovering a more local and everyday side of the city. Kota was a fantastic guide from start to finish. His English is very good and easy to understand, and he has a broad knowledge of many different topics, from Japanese culture and daily life to history, traditions, neighborhoods and local habits. What we especially appreciated was how available he was for questions. We asked him about many different things throughout the day, and he always took the time to answer clearly and explain the context. Beyond his knowledge, Kota is simply a very kind, attentive and pleasant person to spend the day with. He listens carefully, adapts to your interests, and makes the experience feel relaxed and natural. We give him 5 stars without hesitation and would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, friendly and thoughtful guide in Tokyo.
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Kota A.
Dear Clément, Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I'm really happy we got to explore a more local, everyday side of Tokyo together. Being able to talk about everything from daily life and culture to the neighborhoods, based on what you were curious about, means a lot, and I'm glad it helped Tokyo feel a bit more real and personal for you all ;)) Thank you so much for the 5 stars! If you ever find yourselves back in Japan, I'd love to show you around some other areas too. Thanks again for such a great day! Kota
Pamela R.
“Excellent 2 days in and around Tokyo”
Kota was our guide and he was very helpful from our first online planning conversations and he went out of his way to deliver all we planned. Day 1 was in and around Tokyo. We went to a Samurai museum and a major Shinto shrine. After the temple we had our first experience of eel. We went to a craft market to find a mask for our son and we were soon after taken to a post office to post them home. We checked out the national parliament building and Olympic stadium. We were let out at Shabuya crossing to experience the crowds. In the evening a Yayabune cruise on Tokyo Bay which was taco is and fun. Day 2 took us to try and see Mt Fuji. The weather was as against us but Kota did his best to ensure we saw as much of the mounta N as possible and also found us a Japanese winery and a great lunch spot. He then took us to catch the Shinkansen bullet train. It made it ack to Tokyo in 50 minutes whilst Kota battled the return traffic for 3 hours. Kota and his company are friendly helpful and easy to talk to. Kotas English is excellent. We would highly recommend him to any travellers to Japan especially first timers like us
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Kota A.
Dear Pamela, Thank you so much for the lovely review! I'm really happy we finally got to meet and that we had such a wonderful time together ;)) It was a short trip, but I'd be so glad if our time together became part of your memories. I'll always be waiting for you here in Japan, and next time we meet I'd love to show you around Kyoto and Osaka, plus give Mt Fuji a rematch! Feel free to reach out anytime, and thank you again. Kota
Dylan A.
“Made a lifelong friend in Tokyo ”
I’m not even sure where to begin. Traveling to another country can be nerve racking. Feeling like you don’t belong and being unable to speak the local language can sometimes scare people away from visiting altogether. Luckily, my niece and I found Kota. As we searched for tours and guides, we knew we didn’t want a traditional tourist experience or a typical tour guide. What we wanted was a friend, someone who could show us the side of Japan that most tourists never get to see. Someone we could spend hours with and feel as though we had known for years. That is exactly what Kota delivered. From the moment we met him, Kota made us feel welcome. He created an itinerary tailored specifically to what we wanted to experience and took us to places where he said, “If I were out with my friends, this is where I would go.” Those hidden spots away from the main tourist areas and crowds were exactly what we had been hoping to find. We have spent almost two weeks traveling throughout Japan, and our day with Kota has been and will remain the highlight of our entire trip. Words truly cannot describe how much we appreciate everything he showed us or how genuinely we feel that we made a lifelong friend. It’s not a matter of if we return to Japan, but when and when we do, we will absolutely see Kota again. I already know it will feel like visiting someone we grew up with. Thank you again, Kota, for the unforgettable experience and the amazing time you shared with us. We’ll see you sooner rather than later!
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Kota A.
Dear Dylan, Thank you so much for this truly heartfelt review. Reading it brought back so many memories of our day together, and it honestly meant more to me than I can put into words. To me, you were much more than just guests on a tour. The time we spent exploring Tokyo, talking, and laughing together is also a very special memory that I will never forget. I’m so happy that I could share a different side of Tokyo with you and make your time in Japan meaningful. When you return to Japan, we absolutely have to see each other again. Honestly, I already want to see you both again soon! Next time, I hope we can explore somewhere new together, not as a guide and guests, but as old friends. I truly can’t wait until we meet again! Kota
$384/ per group
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