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!
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Nara Private Tour - Restaurant near Horyuji temple
Restaurant near Horyuji temple
Nara Private Tour - Horyuji temple: Spirit of Prince Shotoku
Horyuji temple: Spirit of Prince Shotoku
Nara Private Tour - Todaiji temple where Daibutsu is located inside
Todaiji temple where Daibutsu is located inside
Nara Private Tour - Houkiji temple: Autumn of Ikaruga area
Houkiji temple: Autumn of Ikaruga area
Nara Private Tour - Kasuga Taisha Shrine; My favorite place to guide
Kasuga Taisha Shrine; My favorite place to guide
Nara Private Tour - Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle
Nara Private Tour - Osaka Dotonbori
Osaka Dotonbori
Nara Private Tour - Kyoto Kiyomizu-Sanneisaka
Kyoto Kiyomizu-Sanneisaka
Nara Private Tour - Kyoto Kinkakuji Temple -- Golden Pavillion
Kyoto Kinkakuji Temple -- Golden Pavillion
Tour Guide - Makoto Y.

Joined 2017

Makoto Y.

4.94 / 5
(127 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

Available Areas

Kyoto, Nara (Living), Osaka, Mount Koya, Kobe

Languages

English, Japanese

Response Time

3 hours on average

Availability Updated

1 day ago

About Tour Guide Makoto Y.

Hello, I’m Makoto (Mac) and I'm a national-licensed tour guide.

My previous career as an automotive engineer, gave me the opportunity to learn English and to live in the US, Germany, and England. After I retired, I learned more about the Japanese history especially focusing on Nara and Kyoto to become a historical specialist of the Nara area. I now live in Ikaruga town in Nara prefecture, where the UNESCO World Heritage, Horyuji temple is located. I regularly offer guides on the Fujinoki tumulus, which is located near the Horyuji temple. It contains very interesting Archaeological findings from the end of the Kofun Period.

Recently, there are many foreign tourists who come to Japan, and I hope they enjoy learning about the culture and history of Japan. I would like to help tourists have a broader and deeper understanding of the Japanese culture and that is the reason why I decided to become a tour guide to help and support their experience in Japan.

Nara is the place where Japan started. The capital was located in Asuka, Fujiwara and Nara before it moved to Kyoto. Therefore, there are many places to visit in Nara to trace the original history of Japan, which I have a depth of knowledge.

Let’s explore the roots of Japan together!!

Important

No special conditions

Tours

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

Categories

Highlights
Highlights
Art, Culture, & Historical
Art, Culture, & Historical
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Reviews

Off the Beaten Path - Customized Nara Tour

We had specific asks for Makoto on our customized tour of Nara and he delivered! Would definitely recommend the “Off the Beaten Path,” tour of Nara to avoid the crowds and learn the rich history as it’s more than deers. Our jam packed itinerary included: ~ A stroll through a local farmers market on the route to Naramachi ~ Stopped by an Inden (deer leather with lacquer prints) shop ~ Toured Nigiwai-no-ie (traditional townhouse) ~ Meandered into Naramachi Museum where we saw the biggest dish in Japan ~ Stopped by Yotsuba for sake tasting/snacking on kaki-no-ha-zushi (pressed sushi) ~ Viewed Nakatani-dou (mochi pounding) ~ Perused a Tabi Sock store (Nara is the top producer of socks in Japan) ~ Relaxed at Rokumei Coffee and made origami deers All around amazing tour with Mak and the best way to spend our Sunday after Christmas!

Marci A.

Makoto Y.

Dear Marci, Thank you for your nice comments. I am so pleased to confirm you have enjoyed the tour. I have also enjoyed so much as this tour is customized new tour for me. It is the first time that I saw the monk doing the Takuhatsu activity, who is American monk. This is the special experience of this tour, and I could have this experience because of your special tour planning. Thank you so much and thank you again for choosing me of your guide this time. Makoto

A Wonderful Kyoto Day with Mr. Makoto

Our tour with Mr. Makoto was fantastic. He guided us through Kyoto’s historic sites with knowledge, warmth, and genuine kindness. He was especially patient and engaging with our 7-year-old, pointing out fun details at each temple and helping him collect colorful fall leaves. He brought us to a quiet, beautiful spot in Arashiyama for lunch—one we never would have found on our own. It truly felt like exploring Kyoto with a friend. Highly recommend. His kindness is priceless.

Namrata K.

Makoto Y.

Dear Namrata, Thank you for your nice comment. I am so glad to know that you have enjoyed the tour. I also enjoyed guiding you as you are very keen to learn Japanese culture and history. Your son is so nice aod smart. I hope you visit Japan again and we meet someday, Thanks again for your choosing me or your guid. Makoto

Pleasant day in Osaka

My wife and I had a very pleasant day with our guide Makoto in Osaka. He impressed us with his deep knowledge of Japanese history visiting Osaka Castle, and we were impressed how well prepared he was when we visited Doshomachi Street, normally not on Osaka tours, but interesting a this is where the Japanese pharmaceutical industry originated with Tanabe in the 17th Century, and there are interesting company museums and exhibits of how the industry evolved from trading chinese herbal medicines to modern age.

Thomas C.

Makoto Y.

Thank you for your nice comments. I also had a very pleasant day because I had a good chance to learn about Japanese history again through this tour. Switzerland has nice big pharmaceutical industry even though it is small country. I learned that both Japan and Switzerland have similar background to develop such special industry of pharmacy and precision machinery such as watch because we do not have much natural resource. We have to utilize human resource effectively, which I learned this time. Thanks again for your choosing me of your guide this time. Makoto

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