Tour GuidesGuides Private ToursTours Private Car ToursCars Virtual ToursVirtual Tatsuhiro N.
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.
Kazumasa M.
Hi, my name is Kazu. I want to help people who are interested in Japan to enjoy their time here even more and have unforgettable experiences. I was born and raised in Osaka, studied abroad in the United States, and now live in Hyogo after getting married.
Tatsuya I.
My name is Tatsuya Ito. I am living in Nagoya city, Aichi, Japan.
I am a national licensed guide interpreter (English).
I can also speak Chinese (Basic level).
I have been guiding Nagoya Castle as a volunteer guide for 6 years.
I want to take you to many Japanese beautiful places.
I like to travel by train. If you are interested in train travel in Japan, I can introduce nice places to visit with local train.
Ryuichiro M.
I am Ryuichiro, a 27-year-old who was born in Tokyo.
For the past 12 years, I've been living in Kyoto, having moved there after high school.
My university years saw me studying abroad at National University of Singapore, enriching my perspective of the world. I've served as a guide throughout my college years, volunteering for four years and assisting over 30 groups of tourists.
My extensive overseas experiences enable me to empathize with travelers, helping to alleviate their concerns and ensuring they create delightful memories.
I hope to have the opportunity to assist you on your journey.
See you soon.
Michiko T.
Hi! I'm Michiko. Please call me Michiko or Mitchy. I'm a National Government Licensed Guide. I was born in Japan and since then have lived in Osaka. I have another job as a dentist and have worked in a dental clinic in Kyoto for more than 10 years. Osaka and Kyoto are my hometown and have many beautiful places worth visiting. Taking you to those beautiful places will be my big pleasure! I myself love traveling abroad.I've been to Minnesota for a 6weeks homestay when I was a university student, Vienna and Amsterdam for a concert tour as a member of a university student orchestra, China, Thailand and so on. Other than traveling, I like playing violin or ukulele and cooking .
Please contact me, I will do my best to make your trip in Japan unforgettable! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Yoshiharu K.
Hi! I'm Yoshiharu. Please call me Yoshi. Yoshi means "good" in Japanese! I'm a good man (^^);;;.
I was born in Kyoto but I lived there 3 months. Then my family moved to Osaka and I grew up in Osaka.
So I am almost Osakan.
When I was young, my hobby was traveling by bicycle. I went cycling around most part of Japan except Shikoku.
In my family rule, Shikoku is in bad direction because my grand father died just after his Shikoku pilgrimage.
So I want to have a cycling tour not only in Kyoto (coming soon!) but also all part of Japan someday.
I am interested in Japanese history.
I am a National Certificated Guide. And I have "Kyoto Tourism Culture Certification 3rd grade", "Osaka Expert Certification 3rd grade", "Nara Concierge 2nd grade" and "Karuizawa Web test 3rd grade".
So I have expert knowledge about Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Karuizawa and common knowledge about Kobe.
Besides I like gadgets, so I can guide you DenDen town in Osaka.
When you have a chance to visit Kyoto or Osaka or other city in this area,
please contact me anytime and join my tour!
I'll be looking forward to seeing you, spending wonderful time with you.
Taka M.
My name is Taka. I was born and grew up in Koka City, Japan, where the world famous Koka Ninja’s birthplace is. Koka City is just one hour away from JR Kyoto station by train. As a matter of fact, I am a descendant of Ninja/local Samurai. My family name represents the most powerful Ninja/local Samurai clan among the Koka’s 53 Ninja clans. There are twin Castles of my ancestors in my neighborhood.
When I was a college student, I was interested in foreign languages and cultures, and I studied abroad at a university in Ohio, USA as an exchange student for one year. After graduating from a Japanese college with a BA in English, I worked for a prefectural government for 31 years, and I made an early retirement in March 2023. During my service to the government, I was chosen as a Visiting Official in Michigan, USA, which is a sister state of my prefecture, and I stayed there for 2 years as the government’s representative. I have totally 3 years of living experience in the USA, and am able to speak English now.
Since I am retired from the government, I decided to start a new career as a Ninja tour guide for foreign travelers in my hometown. There are Ninja House, over 180 medieval Ninja related castles, shrines, temples, Ninja’s training mountains, and more in Koka, however no one had done the tour guide for foreigners until now. As I am able to speak English, I thought I should start a new job as a Ninja tour guide, and would like to contribute to my hometown Koka.
Koki N.
Hello!
My name is Koki.
I'm English speakinig tour guide living in Gifu city.
I already visited more than 60 nations so far.
I can speak some Manderin & Cantonese too.
Let's enjoy real Japanese culture & history with me.
I would enjoy with you real Samurai history, Kimono culture, local traditional festival, temple,shrine,Japanese tea ceremony, food and Sake.
If you would like to more understand Japanese castle,
I can attend you and teach you about how appreciation point of Japanese castle and garden with beautiful meal and sweets.
Let's travel with me!
Kenji M.
Hi I'm Kenji
I have a government license of tour guide interpreter in English.
I was born and raised in Kyoto, an old capital of Japan over one thousand years
So I'm very familiar with many sightseeing spots and attractions of the city
Kyoto is a fascinating and picturesque city drawing lots of foreign tourists every year
I can show you around not only popular historical sites and relics
but also its various attractions such us Zen silent meditation, traditional sweets cooking,
kimono-clad walking and so on.
I can also provide tailored tours fitting to your liking.
I like a famous Zen phrase "Ichigo Ichie" meaning "Treasure every encounter
for it will never recur"
So I always try to enjoy guiding every tourist with my best hospitality.
Zen concepts have greatly influenced many aspects of Japanese culture
I will explain some of them and allow you to explore Zen world through some of my tours
Please contact me any time.
I'm looking forward to seeing you and spending wonderful time with you.
See you soon !
Yuriko S.
I am Yuriko from Gifu Prefecture. I was an assistant English teacher at junior high school. I started to work as a National Certificate tour guide in 2019.
I'm very interested in kimono, tea ceremony and Japanese castles. I sometimes guide in kimono. There are so many nice places to visit in Gifu and Nagoya! I also guide around Takayama, Shirakawago, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kanazawa if you pay my transportation fee from my hometown. Let's enjoy Japan with me!
Kaori K.
Hello! My name is Kaori.
When I was young I was interested in tourism.
I was studying and working as tour conductor around Kanto area in Japan.
I lived abroad from my early 20s to mid 30s.
Australia, Taiwan, Central America, Great Britain, Spain and Italy.
Now I came back and live in Osaka where I was born.
The reason why I applied for the tour guide is because I was pleased when I guided my foreign friends around Japan.
Me personally love traveling a lot.
Especially trekking in the mountains and MTB trip by myself!
I’ve done El Camino De Santiago in Spain 4times!
Camino francés, Vía de la plata, Camino Norte, Camino de Madrid, Camino de San Salvador, Camino primitivo.
I’ve done Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, too.
I’ve travelled around Morocco, Greece and Italy by MTB :)
I love adventure!
I love to look up sightseeing informations and listen to the story of travelers!
In japan I also lived in several different prefectures such as Osaka, Nara, Wakayama, Tokyo, Kanagawa.
I might be able to guide you not only popular touristic sites but also to local hidden sights!
Please focus things what you like and want!!
I promise to do my best to organize a tour that is consistent with your interests!
Thank you for paying attention for my self-introduction.
I’m looking forward to see you soon.
LOVE
Kaori
Rick I.
My nick name is Rick and Japanese name is Ryoichi. I was born and grew up in Kyoto. Kyoto has so many sightseeing spots based on its 1000 year history. I will propose you the "must see" spots from local eyes not only temples & shrines but also alternative side of Kyoto. As Kyoto certified English guide, I will guide you with high hospitality for your satisfactory stay in Kyoto.
1. For the first visitors
I will prepare the tour with selection out of the spots as Nijo-castle, Imperial Palace, Nishiki-market, Gion amusement quarter, Arashiyama area and some temples and shrines of World Cultural Heritage Sites based on your request and taste.
2. For the visitors who want to see more spots than regular tours
I will prepare some unique tours like visiting Fushimi area for Sake brewery and riding classical boat, visiting some traditional handicrafts ateliers, enjoying traditional performing art, etc.
Please make any inquiry for your preferred type of Kyoto guiding without hesitation. I would be happy to propose you with the type of tour that makes your visit in Kyoto unforgettable one.
Credentials:
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (EN01767)
Kyoto City Licensed English Guide (EN00004)
2nd Grade of the licensing examination on knowledge of Kyoto history & culture
Yuta I.
Hi everyone! My name is Yuta!
Thanks for checking out my profile.
I've been living in Kyoto for over 4 years, and I love exploring and sharing the city's amazing history and culture with people from all over the world. During university, I spent over a year traveling around Europe, which helped me become fluent in English and German.
I studied at the University of Leipzig in Germany and got great experience through an internship there. My wife is German, so I'm always in an international environment, learning about different cultures.
Besides guiding tours, I'm also a social media influencer with over 10,000 Instagram followers. I love sharing interesting content about Japanese and German life, connecting with people globally, and showing off the beauty of Kyoto.
I offer custom tours for individuals and groups, making sure each experience is unique and special. With my deep knowledge of Kyoto's historical sites and architecture, I'll make your visit to Japan's ancient capital fun and enlightening.
During our tour, I'll share cool historical insights and stories about the places we visit, helping you understand Japan's past and its connection to the present. I'm friendly and attentive, so I'll make sure you have a great time in Japan!
Feel free to message me if you have any questions about your trip to Japan!
Hope to see you soon on one of my tours.
Hideo Y.
Hello, I'm HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as the famous shogun who built the Osaka Castle in 1585.
I was born in Kobe and worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce the Kansai region to you ,including Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama.
Kobe is one of the two largest ports in Japan, along with Yokohama. After the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, foreigners built their residences on the hillside of the Kitano-cho area, overlooking the ocean. Many of the foreign residences are now open to the public as museums, including the Weathercock House, with it's symbol weathercock on the triangle-shaped roof.
In Meriken Park, the red Port Tower (the city's landmark), creates a beautiful contrast against the white Kobe Marine Museum. The museum's design was inspired by the waves and sailing ships.
When you have a chance to visit Osaka, please join my tour. I'm sure you'll enjoy the interesting and historical, scenic spots. For example, Shin-Sekai is a downtown area with a strange mix of nostalgic atmosphere and contemporary energy. You can try local foods (kushikatsu, sushi, tempura) at a reasonable price. Billiken (a famous statue of the spirit of luck) will be waiting for you!!. Dotombori is a popular street with a lot of flashy signboards. Osaka is widely known as a "Kuidaore-no-machi", or literally "drinking and eating luxuriously to death." Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi HIDEYOSHI in 1585. Oh, it's my residence, isn't it !
These days "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" area in USJ, or Universal Studios Japan, is also attracting more and more people.
I'll be looking forward to seeing you !!
Naoki H.
Hi! My name is Naoki,
I was born and bred in Osaka. I have a reliable and friendly personality and always enjoy making people smile.
I am a full time Experienced Tour Guide organizing and managing tours, not just in Osaka but all over the Kansai-area including Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Hiroshima.
I have experience in directly managing groups of over 500 travelers so far and also designing specific itineraries for different needs and sights. If you have any specific sights that you would like to see then please let me know and I will accommodate as many sites as possible into any tour.
Outside of my tour guiding, I have had a career over 15 years in Japanese car logistics taking care of lots of international businesses which allows me to have a professional manner in face to face communication.
Osaka is a brilliant city with long history, amazing street food, unique accent (so we have lots of comedians here!) and also known as the most friendly city in Japan. I would love to be the perfect companion for your visit to one of the best cities in Japan! I look forward to seeing you soon!
Best Regards
Naoki
Minori U.
Hello I'm Minori.
Kyoto is a popular destination so you might look for deeper place of it. My area is Yamashina, where you pass when traveling Shiga. It has beautiful mountains and water, also its temples and shrines are less crowded. It's a good place for those who have visited famous sites already.
I used to work at travel agency so I had chances to company a group tour with a guide and it was an amazing experience that I could see people actually having a fun. I also worked in a hotel and learned how important hospitality is to make guests feel comfortable.
I teach kids English so I would like to show them how rewarding and proud it is to show people around our beautiful countries, and English would be helpful in many ways.
Let’s go and see beautiful Kyoto and experience some of the best attractions here with me!
Ahmed A.
Hello! I’m Ahmed, a passionate tour guide based in Kyoto, Japan. Originally from Kuwait, I moved back to Palestine where I earned my Medical Degree (MD) in 2008. In 2015, I was fortunate to receive a Japanese government scholarship to pursue further studies at Kyoto University, one of Japan’s top institutions.
Living in Kyoto opened my eyes to the rich history and stunning scenery of this ancient city, which served as Japan’s capital for over a thousand years. It ignited my passion for culture, history, and food, leading me to embark on a rewarding career as a tour guide.
I have traveled extensively across Europe and Asia, and I love sharing my knowledge of Japanese culture with others. I can provide historical insights at every stop, recommend the best local cuisine, and create personalized itineraries, including day trips from Tokyo to Kyoto.
I’m fluent in English and Arabic, and I thrive on connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Whether you’re interested in exploring temples, experiencing traditional cuisine, or simply enjoying the beauty of Kyoto, I’m here to make your visit unforgettable.
Your safety and comfort are my top priorities. I measure my temperature before our tours and am happy to wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable. While I'm not a driver, I will accompany you in your vehicle or arrange for a separate car and driver if needed.
Book with confidence and get ready to explore Kyoto with me! I can’t wait to show you why I believe this city is the most beautiful in Japan.
Ahmed, MD, PhD, MBA
Toshiyo O.
I was born and raised in Kyoto.Kyoto has a lot of things to see and experience. Kyoto is an ancient city with a lot of world heritage.
I am happy to show you both traditonal aspects of Japan and modern things.
I use public transportation and I am good at walking.
Also I am very flexible.
Kenji O.
I lived in Seattle, WA US for several years to study public policy and urban planning at University of Washington and Washington State Department of Transportation . The US life has awakened me to realize its beauty and value of the Japanese nature and culture. After coming back from US, I have started my professional career of the infrastructure development in both developed and developing countries as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert for more than 20 years. I have provided hospitality and honesty as a Japanese during my professional career.
I can give you not only sightseeing tours but also technical tours with my expertise.
I live in Osaka where an ancient capital city, Kyoto is located within a hour by train. I can show you how Japanese has developed the capital city with urban planning and infrastructure development. I look forward to seeing you here in Japan.
Tad T.
Hello everyone, it's Tad!
I was born in Osaka, raised up in Kobe, and came back to Osaka for my university and work.
I studied clinical psychology in my university. I specialize in children who have developmental disorder such as Down's syndrome, autism, ADHD and I care for the left-behind children whose parents can’t look after them due to their work or private reasons. I used to help them with their homework as a student volunteer.
When I was a university student, I went abroad to Australia for the first time in my life, which made me want to know outside world more. I went to see the outside world, which made me get to know the amazing aspects of my own country.
I truly see the beauty of Japan and kindness of people. So that after the graduation of my university, I decided to move to Australia with working holiday visa for two years. In Australia, I bought a car and traveled whole around Australia doing labor work.
During my time in Australia, I was surprised by the beauty of nature and how wide the world is, and I was helped and well treated by locals. Also I realized that Japan has a very unique and beautiful culture.
That experience made me want to share Japanese culture and help you experience Japanese hospitality. I’d like to do my best to make your precious memories in Japan just like how local people in Australia treated me as a part of their family.
After returning from Australia, I spent 3 months backpacking around 17 countries of Europe.
To tell international guests about Japanese culture, history and hospitality, I became a rickshaw runner in Kyoto Arashiyama.
That’s why I became an officially licensed English guide of Kyoto city and decided to live my life as a professional English guide.
As I’ve lived in Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto, I’m good at guiding these cities and customizing private tours for FIT (foreign independent travel) guests.
Especially I hold a cultural food walk tour which complies with any special dietary restrictions in Osaka’s night out spots.
【Career Summary】
Bilingual professional tourist guide of officially certificated by Kyoto city.
Hold 5 years extensive tourism experience working with private sector and by myself.
Introducing both history and tradition of Japan to the visitors from Japan and all over the globe (Over 1,500 people).
Generally passionate for the arts and people of Japan.
【Qualification】
・Officially licensed English guide of Kyoto city (since Sep 28th 2019)
hence high knowledge about Japanese culture , history and historic site.
・Excellent communication skills in oral and written Japanese and English.
【Summary of your academic and work history】
2003-2007
Kansai University of Welfare Sciences
・Studying clinical psychology (Especially child psychology)
2007-2010
Working holiday in Australia.
・2 years of overseas experience.
2012-2014
EBISUYA Rickshaw
Rikishaw (human powered car) driver in Kyoto, Arashiyama.
・Providing historical guiding and showing beautiful,
historical and famous scenes to passengers.
・Hosted 1,372 guests in total.
2014-2018
Working for a company in Osaka
・Sales person in charge of Australian and Southeast Asian market.
2018-
Bukkyo University (in Kyoto)
・Studying at a correspondence course of English Language and Anglo-American Literature to get an English teacher’s license of middle and high-school students.
2019-
・Hold Bar hopping activity in Osaka
Hosted 120 groups. Review 4.98 (111 reviews)
2019-
・Hold Cooking class activity in my house
Hosted 40 groups. Review 5.0 (34 reviews)
Masahisa M.
Lived in Chicago (5 years), Toronto (1 year), Singapore (2 years), Indonesia (4 years) and Birmingham, UK (11 years) to construct business platform, now retired after 40
years employment in Japan. Dynamic tour guide who develops many different ways along with rich experience overseas to entertain large or small tour groups. Enjoys the interaction with tour groups, very strong group presentation and communication skills, finds each guest question as an opportunity to learn anything new. Constantly learning information about each tour spot to enhance tours. Guided 8,665 guests all over the world across Japan as of Sept 30, 2024 since Feb 2015.
Hiroki D.
【CUSUTOMIZED TOUR IS WELCOMED】
Thank you for visiting my page.
I studied Tourism at a college in the US 15 years ago.
After studying tourism, I worked at a travel agency before setting up a personal tour guide.
My goal is tol create a tour that meets your needs. I promise that I will aim to make you satisfied with tours that major travel agencies cannot imitate.
I speak multiple languages Japanese, English, and Chinese (still studying).
Rio S.
【Guarantee the best guiding quality】
Hello! I'm a humorous tour guide of 100% Osaka local.Please call me Rio.
I can take you to the places which only foreign tourists are too difficult to visit or find out.
As a certificated famous tour guide, I will give you a good memories and fresh discoveries during your Japan journey.
I'm a professional about Kansai area's culture and history, so registered as best sightseeing master from several tour agencies and organizations.
Speak to me in your own language. I can speak many kinds of language like English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese and so on.. So don't hesitate to communicate with me frankly!
I absolutely guarantee the best tour quality.
I wait your coming! Thanks,Ookini!
Yui M.
Hello there, I'm Yui.
I'm original from Hyogo and now I live in Osaka.
I know Kansai area(Osaka,Kobe,Kyoto) quite well.
I will organize the tour every single guests.if you have any request like what would you like to do, what are you interested about etc.... please feel free to ask.
I will charge 4,500yen- per hour. I will charge extra for group( more than 4people).
It will be super helpful for cover my transport fee during the tour.
I love traveling, walking, circling, clime mountains, diving, snowboard etc... I love to spend time in the nature a lot.
I had experience to do working holiday in New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.
I was barista when I was in Australia.
I am flat white addicted.
I love to meet people from all over the world and share the culture.
I traveled more than 20 countries so far and I had such an amazing trip in there.
I went to South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia,Thailand,Malaysia,Australia,NewZealand,Italy,France,Spain,Gibraltar, Germany, Netherland, Czech public, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, England, Scotland, Ireland ,Russia, Canada, Hawaii and Philippines.
Next destination will be Vietnam or Turkey. Will see happens.
I wish I can introduce amazing part of Kansai area and you will have great time with me.
I used to work at Universal Studio Japan so the map is in my head. I am available to do some guide or help in there if you require.
I'm looking forward to receive the message from you and hopefully see you soon.
Thank you.
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