Yamagata Private Tour Guides

Roberta G.

5 / 5

Apr 27, 2026

Hands-on Exciting and Exploring Tour in Sakata (6.5 Hours)

Apr 27, 2026

Yamagata

6 hours 30 mins

“We thoroughly enjoyed having Kuniaki as our guide”

Pure Water is his name and Pure Attention to Detail is his mission! Kuniaki suggested booking a 9 passenger van for our group of 8 from the Westerdam cruise ship in Sakata. This worked out great and saved time and whisked us right to our next destination. He always works with the same experienced driver and that worked like a charm and was a good value too. He customized a tour for us and planned a lunch stop at a small local restaurant where we had a delicious inexpensive quick lunch. Kuniaki’s English is very good, his communications in trip planning were excellent and his sense of humor was a joy. Domo Arigato Pure Water (not Waste Water!)

Kuniaki S.

(10 reviews)

Thanks a million for traveling with me, giving me all the wonderful gifts, and even writing such an impressive review for me! Amazingly our tour planning started almost a year ago and we repeatedly shared our thoughts on creating the most suitable tailored tour ever for each and every one of us. For me it sure was a joyful process to go through shaping our own tour and finalizing it. I'm also very glad that you all savored ramen noodles for lunch, which is now very popular all across Japan because Sakata got the championship in the ramen competition several years ago. I'd be more than happy just if our paths would cross again in the future while I'm still at work as a tour guide. In reply to your Japnanese phrase; Do itashi mashite! (Pronounced like " Don't touch my moustache!", meaning the pleasure is all mine.) A special huge thank you from your joke-loving guide, Poor Water (Kuniaki)

“Yamadera and More”

Mai was a wonderful guide, Yamadera was about as beautiful as I could've imagined and Mai was a huge part of that experience. Her knowledge of the area as well as her experience with the hiking trails around Yamadera made the tour one-of-a kind in the best way possible. For those who are looking to get into nature the area, I would strongly recommend Mai for the best experience possible. Thank you, Mai!

Ann C.

5 / 5

Jan 27, 2026

Ann's Spiritual Visit to her Ancestral Homeland, Oishida

Jan 27, 2026

Yamagata

6 hours 30 mins

Customized

“Family Heritage Tour”

Our guide Kuniaki S was exemplary in connecting us with lost relatives, helping us track down historical documents, and locating our ancestral burial site and temple, all the while teaching us about local customs and stories. He created a tour that was transformative for our family. I still marvel at how he made this happen as it is not the usual kind of tour, and think it is because he has a deep ethic to make a visitor’s wishes come true. And to that end, he persists, overcoming hurdles and challenges and thinking creatively to ensure a memorable and tailored experience. He is also fun and energetic, delighting in storytelling and easy to talk with. Our family feels blessed to have found Kuniaki S, and indeed, we hope to be guided by him again. Ann Curry

Kuniaki S.

(10 reviews)

Thank you so much indeed for writing me such a fantastic review! What's so special about this tour is that it was a literally unique "family heritage tour" dedicated to you and your folks, which is far from an ordinary sightseeing one. To achieve this aim, we repeatedly discuss the schedule to create the best itinerary ever. Based on your information, I got in touch with , or even visited the relatives, temple, local facilities, and the municipal offices to smooth the path. Thanks to your great cooperation, it all bore fruit. Now I'm more than happy that you all are satisfied with this tour. I do hope to see you all again on your next trip to Oishida. Wishing this tour will hold a special place in your treasure box of memories. Kuniaki S (Guide Name: Pure Water)