GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
Shiga Private Tour - We warmly welcome you to Japan!!  from mother in law, wife, daughter, granddaughter, son in law, my doggy called "Piesuke" and me.
We warmly welcome you to Japan!! from mother in law, wife, daughter, granddaughter, son in law, my doggy called "Piesuke" and me.
Shiga Private Tour - My home town, Shiga, next to Kyoto. I'ts famous for the Japan's biggest lake, Biwa. You can easily get there from Kyoto and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.
My home town, Shiga, next to Kyoto. I'ts famous for the Japan's biggest lake, Biwa. You can easily get there from Kyoto and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.
Shiga Private Tour - Osaka Castle in Osaka
Osaka Castle in Osaka
Shiga Private Tour - Miho museum in Shigaraki Shiga
Miho museum in Shigaraki Shiga
Shiga Private Tour - Nishiki Ichiba Market, It's a Japanese traditional fresh food market. you can taste various kinds of Japanese foods, beverages!
Nishiki Ichiba Market, It's a Japanese traditional fresh food market. you can taste various kinds of Japanese foods, beverages!
Shiga Private Tour - This big orange gate called "Torii"  is the entrance of The Heian Jingu Grand Shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the two emperors, the emperor Kammu and the emperor Komei.  The emperor Kammu is the first emperor in Kyoto, and the emperor Komei is the last emperor in Kyoto. They are deified and enshrined here.
This big orange gate called "Torii" is the entrance of The Heian Jingu Grand Shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the two emperors, the emperor Kammu and the emperor Komei. The emperor Kammu is the first emperor in Kyoto, and the emperor Komei is the last emperor in Kyoto. They are deified and enshrined here.
Shiga Private Tour - Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine located at the foot of east mountains is the most popular sight-seeing spot in Kyoto. I recommend you go there in the early morning, so you could feel the calm and sacred atmosphere.
Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine located at the foot of east mountains is the most popular sight-seeing spot in Kyoto. I recommend you go there in the early morning, so you could feel the calm and sacred atmosphere.
Shiga Private Tour - Toji temple, the head quarters of Buddhist temple of Shingon sect. Five story pagoda in Toji temple is the highest wooden pagoda in Japan.
Toji temple, the head quarters of Buddhist temple of Shingon sect. Five story pagoda in Toji temple is the highest wooden pagoda in Japan.
Shiga Private Tour -
Shiga Private Tour - Horyuji Japan's first UNESCO site
Horyuji Japan's first UNESCO site
Shiga Private Tour - Todaiji Great Buddha Hall
Todaiji Great Buddha Hall
Shiga Private Tour - Bronze Statue of Great Buddha
Bronze Statue of Great Buddha
Shiga Private Tour - Nara Deer Park
Nara Deer Park
Shiga Private Tour - Chion-in Temple Gate
Chion-in Temple Gate
Shiga Private Tour - On the top of Mt. Daimonji
On the top of Mt. Daimonji
Shiga Private Tour - Jingoji Temple in Takao
Jingoji Temple in Takao
Tour Guide - Koichi W.

Joined 2018

Koichi W.

4.96 / 5
(70 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Available Areas

Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Shiga (Living), Kobe

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Languages

Japanese (Native), English

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Response Time

6 hours on average

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

Availability Updated

1 day ago

About Tour Guide Koichi W.

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.

Important

I usually use public transportation systems such as trains, buses, taxi, and so on.

I like outdoor activities. If you would like to do hiking, cycling etc., please feel free to ask me in advance.

Tours

All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!

Categories

Highlights
Highlights
Art, Culture, & Historical
Art, Culture, & Historical
Nature & Outdoor
Nature & Outdoor
Off the Beaten Path
Off the Beaten Path
Day Trip
Day Trip
Unique Experience
Unique Experience
Early Bird Tour Western Kyoto including Bamboo Forest and Kinkakuji Kinkakujicover image

Early Bird Tour Western Kyoto including Bamboo Forest and Kinkakuji Kinkakuji

Kyoto
5 hours

Shall we explore some of the most popular sightseeing destinations in Kyoto while most tourists are preparing for their tour? I would also like to take you some hidden gemes in Kyoto. Beat the crowds!

FROM$214/ per group
Full-Day Nara tour from Kyoto with a private guidecover image

Full-Day Nara tour from Kyoto with a private guide

Nara
8 hours

Nara is a very beautiful and interesting city known by the old name of "Yamato". It was established as the first permanent Japan's capital in the year 710. There are a lot of historical monuments in this ancient city, such as Todaiji Great Buddha Hall, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple and so on. Nara"deer"park is also one of must-see areas. Let's walk around and play with the lovely deer!!

FROM$355/ per group
Eastern Highlights in Kyoto for the first time visitor - Full Day Tour -cover image

Eastern Highlights in Kyoto for the first time visitor - Full Day Tour -

Kyoto
8 hours

Kyoto is a city full of charm, both ancient and modern such as the stone gardens of Zen temples, orange gates of Shito shrines, traditional cafés, local cuisine loved by Kyoto people, modern art museums and so on. I would like to show you not only major sightseeing spots but also small tips to enjoy the city. Let's explore together and discover the real Kyoto with me!!

FROM$342/ per group
Kyoto Hiking tour Fushimi Inari to sanjusangen-docover image

Kyoto Hiking tour Fushimi Inari to sanjusangen-do

Kyoto
5 hours

Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for many torii gates like an orange tunnel. But most tourists just visit only the entrance. I would like to show you the deep inside of Fushimi Inari Shrine through tunnel and take you to the top of mountain. From Inari mountain, we will walk a part of “Higashiyama Trail” hiking course, then we will visit the family temple of imperial house and Sanjusangen-do temple.

FROM$235/ per group
Western Highlights in Kyoto for the first time visitor Full Day Tourcover image

Western Highlights in Kyoto for the first time visitor Full Day Tour

Kyoto
8 hours

Kyoto is a city full of charm, both ancient and modern such as the stone gardens of Zen temples, orange gates of Shito shrines, traditional cafés, local cuisine loved by Kyoto people, modern art museums and so on. I would like to show you not only major sightseeing spots but also small tips to enjoy the city. Let's explore together and discover the real Kyoto with me!!

FROM$342/ per group
Hike in mysterious mountains of Kyoto -Kurama to Kibune-cover image

Hike in mysterious mountains of Kyoto -Kurama to Kibune-

Kyoto
6 hours

We will visit Kuramadera which is a Buddhist temple located along the steep wooded mountainside. Behind the temple's main building, the hiking trail continues through the forest to Kibune, a small town famous for Kibune Shrine dedicated to the goddess of the water "Tamayorihime". The hike from Kurama-dera to Kibune takes about one hour. If you like, you can also enjoy "Onsen" hot spring at Kurama.

FROM$255/ per group

Reviews

Outstanding Guided Tour Experience with Koichi!

Me and my family had the pleasure of spending a day exploring the beautiful city of Kyoto with Koichi as our guide, and I can confidently say that it was an awesome experience. From the very beginning we were impressed by how friendly and kind Koichi was always with us, not to mention his enormous excitement in explaining Kyoto's historical and tourist attractions, which made the whole experience even richer and more fun! Koichi’s passion for the city was contagious, and his ability to tailor the tour to our interests made the experience feel incredibly personal. Furthermore, Koichi knows all the best photo spots, which are simply sensational! If you are visiting Kyoto or Osaka, and want to fully immerse yourself in its beauty and history, I highly recommend Koichi as your guide. He will definitely make your visit an extraordinary one!

Eduardo C.

Koichi W.

Hi! Thank you very much for giving me such a nice rating and wonderful comment. I am very happy to have shared a wonderful time with you and your lovely family members. I really hope to see you in the near future. Arigato and Ookini very much!!

Amazing day at Higashiyama!

We spent the day visiting the most popular tourist attractions in Higashiyama, such as Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizudera and Gion, with Koichi and it was wonderful! The schedule avoided being in crowds, and it was possible to enjoy and learn about each destination. It went really well!

Eduardo C.

Koichi W.

Thank you for your kind and heartwarming review. I am very happy to have been with you. I wish you could come to my home town Shiga next time.

Fun day in Nara and Uji!

Another very good day with Koichi as our guide. Today we went to Nara park, saw the cute deer, visited the amazing Todai-ji temple and the Byodoin Hall in Uji. It was great that Koichi knew several stores with typical sweets, and knew several restaurant options with different types of food to recommend to us!

Eduardo C.

Koichi W.

Thank very much for giving such a good rating and wonderful comment. Arigato-gozaimasu! I miss you (^_-)

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