Japan Private Tours

“Shimizu Highlights”

Had a wonderful time with Moto despite the inclement weather. It was disappointing not to be able to see Mt. Fuji, but Moto was creative and resourceful in finding interesting and enjoyable alternatives for us.

“4 days spent with Akira in Tokyo”

It is always difficult to choose a guide in a foreign country without a recommendation. So, we went through all the guides listed in Gowith guide, read the reviews and chose Arika. We were not disappointed. Prior to our visit, Akira asked us some basic questions about ourselves, including any dietary restriction. He told us in advance that there was much walking.Most importantly, he asked us what we wanted to see and do. So we were well prepared and he was too. Planning is essential for a successful guided tour. Akira met us at our hotel each day and off we went visiting many of the “top ten” sites of Tokyo, but we also saw “Akira’s Japan”. We rode the subway, which for anyone unfamiliar with Tokyo, would have been a painful experience. With Akira’s guidance, we saved so much valuable time. We visited many beautiful shrines and Akira explained the traditions and customs of each site. We also visited some magnificent gardens and he even managed to arrange for us to travel on a bullet train. We had lunches at some of Akira’s favourite restaurants - all very delicious and he made sure we drank coffee at some very special coffee houses. Akira is a very special person, with a good sense of humour and patience dealing with two first-timers to Japan. We fell in love with Japan and can’t wait to make a return visit, when we will certainly link up with Akira. Thank you, Akira, for making our visit to special and memorable. We look froward to staying in touch. Debbie and Derek

“Kaori's custom quirky tour!”

We asked for a tour to include classic "must see" Kamakura sights AND every day people fun things. We were fortunate to visit on a national holiday and to be able to combine both aspects in a single day. As cat lovers, we asked for and Kaori found, a cat cafe: treats for the most magnificent felines and us! She shared her wonderfully deep knowledge about history, religion, and culture ( and the railway system!). She provided maps and schedules as well as her own tablet to show us significant eras in Japanese history. That helped us make sense of all the historical sites which we saw. Her communication in advance of the trip was considerate of our wishes, thorough in her replies and research, and helped us prepare the perfect day. We look forward to touring with her again.

Kaori S.

(130 reviews)

Dear Nancy-san, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review, especially while you're still traveling! I’m so happy to hear that my explanations helped you enjoy and understand each spot in Kamakura. We were so lucky to have such a lovely autumn day for our tour. Spending time at the cat café was such a relaxing treat to wrap up our day! I look forward to seeing you again for another adventure - a quirky Tokyo tour next time! Wishing you a fantastic and memorable trip to Kyushu! Please pass my best love to Mary-Ann san too! Big hugs, Kaori