Tour GuidesGuides
Private ToursTours
Private Car ToursCars
Virtual ToursVirtual
Nori I.
5.00 / 5
(36 reviews)
Japan
I have lived in the US, UK, and India for approximately 20 years, and I’ve also traveled to about 30 countries. Living abroad for such a long time made me realize Japan’s value and sparked my interest in working as a translator/guide for foreigners. I’m truly passionate about introducing people to historical sites, authentic Japanese culture, and stunning natural spots that may not be widely known to people outside of Japan. There are countless places that I believe people would love. Originally from Nagoya, I cover areas around the city and the Kansai region including Kyoto, Shiga and Mie. I’m here to ensure your trip to Japan becomes an unforgettable memory. Looking forward to meeting you!
Kanae O.
5.00 / 5
(25 reviews)
Japan
Hello! I am Kanae, a nationally licensed guide. While working full-time as a lecturer at a local university in Kyoto, I have also been guiding for two years. Born and raised in Kyoto, I am excited to share the beauty and culture of my hometown with my customers. Kyoto is an enchanting city, and even as a local, I am continually fascinated by its many charming spots. Whether it's the serene temples, vibrant markets, or hidden gems, there is always something new to explore and appreciate in this wonderful city. Also, since my home is close to Shiga Prefecture, I am very familiar with the area. While Shiga may not be as popular as Kyoto, it offers a wealth of attractions for tourists. From historical sites such as temples and shrines to the stunning natural beauty of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, there is much to see and do. I am passionate about promoting Shiga and sharing its unique charm with visitors.
Koichi W.
4.95 / 5
(64 reviews)
Japan
Hi! I'm Koichi. I was born in Osaka, I studied in Kyoto when I was a university student. Now I live in Shiga next to Kyoto. I am a national government licensed tour guide. I have been guiding about 160 groups over the past twelve months. I usually guide my customers mainly in Kansai region including Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Shiga by public transportation systems. Well, I am curious about Japanese history, especially the history of Japan's ancient times since I was raised next to the world biggest mausoleum of the ancient Emperor called "Nintoku" in Sakai city Osaka which has just become one of the world cultural heritage sites. I dug out some ancient earthen ware vessels around there when I was a primary school student like the adventure archaeologist “Indiana Jones" (It’s our secret!!). That was my hobby. Now, one of my hobbies is outdoor activities such as mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and others. So I would like to take you to some good places where you can enjoy Japanese unique nature. I love to guide foreign visitors from all over the world. I think it is my calling or heavenly given job. Let's go and enjoy together! I hope to see you soon.
Tomoe S.
4.94 / 5
(121 reviews)
Japan
Hello! My name is Tomoe. I'm a national licensed guide interpreter(English). I made my page here, TripleLights in October 2018. Thank you for finding me. I was born and grew up in Otsu,Shiga, which is the next city of Kyoto. I graduated from the university in Kyoto and lived there for four years due to my husband's job. I like history and like to visit temples in Nara. My hobby is to plan trips and have visited many cities and towns in Japan and abroad. One of my favorite places is the AIRPORT!! I have enjoyed meeting and guiding people from abroad, to sightseeing spots in my country. I really want many people from abroad to enjoy visiting many places and have wonderful experiences in my country. I'll be really happy if I can have such experiences with you!! Please tell and ask me if there are any places which you want to visit and anything which you want to do in my country. I'll plan the trip only for you. I am cheerful and always positive. I like to talk with people. I would like to talk with many people from many countries. Please tell me about your country, too!! I'm looking forward to seeing you!! * If you want, I will take you back to your hotel (within the time or with the extra hourly rate) Or, I will show you how to go back to your hotel when we finish the tour. * If you want, I will give you some advice about what to and where to eat your lunch/dinner.
Tatsuhiro N.
4.52 / 5
(56 reviews)
Japan
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.
Kazuhiko G.
4.77 / 5
(185 reviews)
Japan
Hello, I’m Kazuhiko. Please call me “Kazu”. I'm a national-licensed tour guide. I have a wife and 4 children. I was born in Osaka city near Kyoto, although I have lived in many places across Japan. I used to work for multinational electric company and I traveled to many countries (U.S., Thailand, Hong Kong etc.) on business. I have enjoyed guiding many foreign tourists in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji etc. for many years. During your tour, you can discover a rich Japanese history spanning about 2,000 years, learn about and experience profound Japanese arts (tea ceremony, flower arrangement etc.), feel the spiritual atmosphere of Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, see a breathtakingly beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji, bamboo forest, Japanese gardens etc.. Moreover, you can taste Japanese cuisine that each season has to offer (Sushi, Tempura, Soba or ramen noodle etc.). You can get close to nature and feed wild deer or monkeys or even a build snowman in winter. I’m sure that I can provide a splendid tour of Japan that will be a lasting memory for you to treasure. Experience the mysteries of Japan with 5 senses !! Your memorable tour awaits you. Please feel free to contact me!!
Michiko N.
5.00 / 5
(22 reviews)
Japan
Hello, I am Michiko , the same name of Japanese ex-Empress. I am a government certified tour guide. I have lived in Nagoya ( located between Tokyo and Osaka) for 35 years since I got married. I worked for JAL as a flight attendant in my 20's. After retiring JAL, I have taught English and Mathematics to junior and senior high school students for 20 years. I love traveling very much both domestically and abroad and enjoy walking around each city and talking with local people so that I can find out the way how to they live and think about their life. It's quite a fun for me. I also love hiking and mountain climbing in spring, summer and autumn, and skiing in winter. In the countryside of Japan there still remain those farming and fishery villages where people have been rooted in their land and community, living the way handed down from generation to generation. You can also enjoy the original Japanese landscape there. Why don't you get out of the hustle and bustle of your busy life and have a rest rich in nature in the rural Japan enjoying beautiful scenery and local food. I'm waiting for you!
Michiko T.
5.00 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan
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!
Mana F.
4.85 / 5
(89 reviews)
Japan
Hello, my name is Mana. I am a National Licensed Tour Guide in English. I was born and raised in Kyoto. I worked for the Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters after I graduated from university. I know lots about Kyoto's cultures and festivals . I am good at walking. After I got married, I have been in Shiga for over 30 years. I work for at high school as a part time teacher. I am flexible in Kyoto and Shiga. See you soon!
Taka M.
5.00 / 5
(9 reviews)
Japan
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.
5.00 / 5
(16 reviews)
Japan
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!
Yuriko S.
4.94 / 5
(53 reviews)
Japan
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!
Yuta I.
5.00 / 5
(29 reviews)
Japan
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.
Kenji O.
5.00 / 5
(10 reviews)
Japan
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.
Toshiyo O.
4.68 / 5
(248 reviews)
Japan
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.
Hiroki D.
4.94 / 5
(18 reviews)
Japan
【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).
Tomoya H.
4.67 / 5
(3 reviews)
Japan
I was born in Osaka, and grown up under nature loving parent, and spent a lot of time on hiking, fishing, camping and skiing in my youth. I have been guiding trekkers from north to south Japan, as well as oversea trails. Even when I'm not at work, enjoy trekking trails in Rokko area which is just by the door. I'm a JMGA (Japan Mountaineering Guides Association) certificated Trekking Guide (stage II), and you'll be enjoying the trail without any issues and worries with me.
Hero I.
4.92 / 5
(48 reviews)
Japan
Hello. I am a Hero from Shiga. I have lived in Denmark, Canada, Germany. I would like to explore Japan with you without the language barrier. I know well about local foods (both cheap nice one and expensive fancy one), nature, sightseeing spots. Also, I can guide hiking, fishing, snorkeling...all kinds of outdoor sports. Let's go on an adventure together. Then I have lived in Nara, Okinawa. My major is marine biology. I played volleyball, rugby, swimming, and diving! So I am happy to talk to you about science. I can guide Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and Shiga!! In addition, other places are negotiable by texting! Also, I know where we can eat tasty melon pan, Gyoza, sushi, sukiyaki, pizza, udon, and Japanese BBQ!! Vegan and vegetarian restaurant too!! Yes, I am super foodie person! Jeg har boet i Nørrebro, København 1 år i 2010. Jeg kan tale dansk lidt. Skal vi snakke Dansk?Jeg vil gerne går tur mit dig!Vi ses i snart!! Hallo. Ich bin Hero. Ich habe auf Helgoland gewhont 1 jahre in 2016. Ich kann Deutsch sprechen ein bisschen!Lass uns auf Tour gehen!! Меня зовут хироши. Я немного говорю по русски. Пожалуйста свяжись со мной! Je suis Hiroshi. J'ai vécu à Toulouse 2 mois. J'aime le fran et tarte aux pommes! Allons faire un voyage ensemble. ヒロと申します。京都・滋賀在住。専門は海洋生物学ですが、世界中の文化や言語、食べ物、考え方に興味があります。ここ10年間様々な海外からの友達をガイドしました。日本人の方も喜んでガイド致します。 自然体験ツアーやハイキング、釣りなどアウトドアも可能です。遠慮なくご連絡ください。 お待ちしております。
Kay F.
4.75 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan
Hi, I'm a National licensed guide living in OSAKA. Raised between KYOTO and OSAKA, I've got two different unique cultures, customs and dialects. So called Bilingual?? I can guide you both cities from Major tourist spots to Off-the-beaten paths. Throughout the tour, I'll show you unique local cultures and history !! Since I got the license in 2015, I've guided foreign tourists to OSAKA, KYOTO and NARA and really enjoyed meeting with foreign guests. And also experienced Mt.KOYA, HIMEJI and KOBE. Based on your request, I suggest the best memorial tour just for you !!
Yoshi K.
5.00 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan
My name is Yoshi, alias known as "Lonesome Cowboy", who used to live and work in El Paso in the Lone Star state of the US. During my stay there, I was able to enjoy opportunities to go around the Southwest (TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO) alone, taking advantage of given long holidays. The total distance I drove was no less than 3,000 km (about 1,900 miles). I dropped by a motel in a countryside town along the highway, drank several glasses of whiskey at the bar, and the next day continued travelling for other new towns that I had never seen before. I felt that I was just a cowboy wandering place to place of the wide country in the middle of the 19th century. Long time has passed since I had come back to Japan from that exciting and fulfilling life there, and I already retired and came back to my hometown, KOHOKU (湖北; The northern region of lake Biwa, Shiga pref.) When I recall back those good old days, a kind of feeling that I would like to serve tourists from abroad has bubbled over in my mind. I want to help you to see and enjoy quite distinctive four seasons, impressive legends and moving stories caused by historic happenings, and casual everyday lives of the village people here. Let me guide you around KOHOKU, which is not definitely on the Golden route of Japan travel and will not become in the future either, but we believe you must be able to feel and catch a kind of essence of the Japanese people who had created and have developed the deep and genuine culture. Such nature, historical events and crystallization of the people's effort are the ultimate attraction of KOKOKU.
Kai M.
Japan
I'm living in Osaka for 50 years. I am happy to share my experience with you to enjoy more about Osaka, Japan.
Noboru S.
5.00 / 5
(13 reviews)
Japan
Hello, everyone! Welcome to Japan. My name is Noboru. I’m a national licensed guide. I was born in Osaka and spent my university student life in Kyoto. And now I have been in Himeji for over 35 years. These cities are in Kansai aea. So,I'm very much familiar with the sightseeing spots and attractions in the area, especially Himeji and its neighboring cities. If you are looking for someone to show you around the area, please join my tour. I will show you special local dishes in the area as well. Looking forward to seeing your smile soon.
Eco H.
5.00 / 5
(2 reviews)
Japan
Eco has called Kyoto his home for the last 7 years, and now he hopes to share with you all he has learned of this wonderful city and the surrounding area. Recent graduate with a background in Japanese history and religion, he is now a professor a university in nearby Kobe city. Therefore, if you are particularly interested in learning more about the history and culture of Kyoto he can provide exciting narratives to go along with visiting the delightful sites. Throughout his time in Kyoto he has been working as a guide for numerous organisations, including guiding around Japanese tourists visiting Kyoto, and has provided many with a unique view of the city.
Norman B.
Japan