WithGoGuide
  • Lovely couple at Kyoto's Nijo-jo Castle where Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun announced the return of government power to the emperor in 1867, ending the Tokugawa shogunate government.
  • Kyoto's Kinkakuji Temple, Golden Pavilion, with its inverted image reflected in the pond might be the most beautiful.
  • Wonderful couple exploring Kaiten-zushi, meaning circulating sushi, in Kyoto
  • Lovely family at the time-honored Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
  • Little rascal at Kyoto's Iwatayama Monkey Park near Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Over 10 monkeys are born every year.
  • "Leave us alone, please! Mom is now showing me how to meditate to the evening sun!!
  • Cheerful group at a bridge over the Kamogawa River in Kyoto
  • Bar on kawadoko, limited-time extended veranda over the Kamogawa River during the summer only
  • Nice couple with kimono clad women at Kyoto's Gion Shirakawa which still retains Maiko's traditional culture among others
  • Maiko at Kyoto's Gion which still has the atmosphere of a traditional Maiko neighborhood
  • Japanese style restaurant in Pontocho, downtown Kyoto with colorful umbrellas in front of its narrow alley
  • Nice group striking a pose in front of a Ninjya restaurant downtown Kyoto
  • Kyoto's 5-story pagoda near Kiyomizudera Temple
  • Experience of purifying oneself at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Firstly, scoop some water with a ladle by your right hand and then pour some water over your left hand. Next purify your right hand. Secondly, rinse your lips slightly with water by your left hand. Finally, put the ladle where it was.
  • Lovely couple with Torii shrine gates at Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine which is dedicated to the god of "business prosperity" and "dreams-come-true."
  • One of 20 plus Japanese Sake breweries at Kyoto's Fushimi
  • How about sake tasting at a traditional Fushimi sake brewery?
  • Lovely family strolling along a quiet canal in Ohmi-hachiman city, near Lake Biwa, in Shiga Prefecture
  • Beautiful and gentle "Current Shoguns" against the backdrop of Osaka Castle
  • Strolling through Kuromon Food Market near Dotombori downtown Osaka
  • Dotombori downtown Osaka
  • Cheerful couples at Osaka Kuromon Food Market
  • Osaka's Umeda Sky Building with Sky Garden
  • Herd of wild deer in Nara Park, regarded as a messenger of the deities enshrined in Kasuga Grand Shrine
  • "Sitting beauties & their cool husbands" with Nara Park's friendly wild deer in the background
  • Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple in Nara, World Heritage Site
  • Lovely family photo in Nara Park
  • Lady enjoying feeding a herd of wild deer in Nara Park
  • Youngest-ever future movie star & his lovely family in Nara
  • Sake tasting at a cozy sake brewery in Nara
  • Would you like some Sake? .... Why not sake tasting at Nara Sake brewery? .... "KAMPAI(Cheers) !!"
  • Friendly group at Kobe's Nankin-machi China town
  • Himeji Castle in early April, Japan's first World Heritage Site which was also ranked #9 out of top 30 attractions in Japan by international travelers by Trip adviser, 2019.
  • Experience of a tea ceremony is available at Kokoen Japanese Garden in Himeji
  • Looks like the Mona Lisa in kimono!! Yes, indeed!! A lady dressed in a vivid Yukata (light kimono) at a long-established kimono shop in Himeji castle town.
  • Ninjya training experience in and around Himeji Castle, World Heritage Site
  • Udon noodle restaurant in Himeji: observing the process of cooking
  • Cozy couple standing at the expanded veranda of a mail hall of Shoshazan Engyoji Temple which was ranked #20 out of top 30 attractions in Japan by international travelers by Trip adviser, 2019.
  • Terrific demonstration by Joe Okada, an active guide aged 89, cutting off an apple & a radish on MY stomach with a SWARD!! I was almost yelling out like,"HELP me, pleaaaaase!!!" ......................... What's become of me?
  • I'm here, 100%, to HELP you explore Japan.:) (Note: I had this picture taken by a teenaged wannabe professional photographer at Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I'm sure I look cool!?)
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Shogo K.

4.85(26) reviews
 

Available Areas

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

 

Languages

English

 

Response Time

Less than an hour

 

Availability Updated

3 days ago

 
Send a Message

About

Hi! I'm Shogo, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English. "Shogo"? Looks a little bit hard to pronounce. So if you are interested in Samurai or Busho, call me "Shogun". (rather humble and hen-pecked at home, though.:)

Just a little bit information about myself. I was born and grew up in Himeji, about 50km west of Kobe. When a child I quite often visited world-famous Himeji Castle. So it's like "MY castle." As a student, I lived in Kyoto for four years. I'm a father of three, and have lived in Kobe with my family for over 30 years.

So I'm quite familiar with various tourist spots/attractions in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Kobe and the like, all in western Japan. Also I've lived in Lawrence, Kansas, for two years in my 20s as a Jayhawk. Great old memory!:)

Here are some of my specialties.

First, I can show you around popular historical sites and relics in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Himeji. You'll surely feel the depth of Japanese culture by visiting these places. Second, I can offer you special tours of fancy sake breweries in Kobe, Nara and Kyoto. Third, I also guide you around Hiroshima, including magnificent Itsukushima Shrine.

My goal/dream as guide interpreter is to help you explore and understand Japan and its culture with warm hospitality or Omotenashi. So please reach out to me any time, 24/7. For your super memorable trip, "Always with YOU" Shogo!:)

<Latest news about Japan's response to the pandemic as of October 11, 2022>

Earlier today the government lifted the maximum number of international tourists, 50k per day. Furthermore a short-term tourist visa is not required any more. And also solo travelers are permitted.:)

So looks like our moment has come!! I'll see you soon. Thank you very much, as always.:)

Important

I can also guide you in Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima), 1-day tour. My transportation fees to/from Hiroshima cost about 20,000 JPY, return.

Tours

Kyoto Full Day Private Tour

Kyoto
9 hours

This is a one-day tour of Kyoto. Kyoto is an ancient capital for over 1,000 years. You will visit Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kiyomizudera Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. All of these places are World Heritage Sites. You will also walk about at Gion area in central Kyoto, where, by chance, you will see a beautiful Maiko/Geiko.

FROM$451/ per group

Himeji Castle & Engyoji Temple Full-Day Private Tour

Himeji
8 hours

We'll visit three places, rich in Japan's history and culture. Firstly, Himeji Castle designated as Japan's first World Heritage Site in 1993, and ranked 7th as a place to visit in 2019 by NY Times. And Kokoen Japanese Style Garden nearby. Finally, Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, ranked 20th by TripAdviser in 2019 as Japan's representative spiritual heartland. Himeji is one hour away by the Shinkansen from Kyoto.

FROM$401/ per group

Nara and Osaka Full Day Private Tour

Osaka
9 hours

In this tour we will visit must-see places in Nara and Osaka. Nara was an ancient capital of Japan in the 8th century. We'll visit Todaiji Temple, housing the gigantic Great Statue of Buddha, and Kasuga Grand Shrine. Let's go to a nearby nice sake brewery, if you love sake. Osaka Castle was built in the 16th century. Let's go up to the top of the castle tower. You will feel as if you were a shogun. We also visit bustling Dotombori Downtown Osaka.

FROM$451/ per group

Awesome Osaka Full Day Private Tour

Osaka
6 hours

This one-day private tour includes must-see tourist spots in Osaka. We will visit Osaka Castle, Kuromon Market plus Dotombori both downtown Osaka. In this tour we will see the present and past of Osaka and its energetic people.

FROM$300/ per group

Discover Western Kyoto Full Day Private Tour

Kyoto
6 hours

This is a full day tour of western Kyoto, ancient capital for over 1,000 years. We will visit must-see places in Kyoto such as Nijojo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and Gion. Nijojo Castle and Kinkakuji Temple are World Heritage Sites. It will literally be great fun to stroll along Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and Gion area where, by chance, we will see a beautiful Maiko/Geiko.

FROM$300/ per group

Discover Eastern Kyoto Full Day Private Tour

Kyoto
6 hours

This is a full day private tour of eastern Kyoto. We will visit must-see places in eastern Kyoto with over 1,200 years of history, such as Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka alleys, Kiyomizudera Temple, Sanjusangendo Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Fushimi sake brewery, and Gion area.

FROM$300/ per group

Reviews

S

Somila S.

Jan 21, 2020

“ great guided tour ”

many thanks Shogo for your fatastic guided tour in Osaka. We thoroughly enjoyed your company.

Shogo K.

Dear Somila, I am so much grateful to your wonderful review. You are so nice a family. Also it's amazing that your family are so intrested in Japanese culture and tried exploring things Japanese, like mochi pounding to the fullest. I do hope you enjoyed staying in Japan. Thanks for everything, Somila. Best regards, Shogo

T

Tami D.

Nov 17, 2019

“ Osaka/Nara/Kyoto Tours ”

If you're looking for a tour guide then look no further! My husband and I had the pleasure of having Shogo as our guide for 2 days. We have booked other guides on Triplelights in the past, and Shogo is one of the best: he's easy going, flexible, and knowledgeable. We highly recommend and would definitely book him again! Thank you Shogo for the photos, and also for going above and beyond on our Kyoto tour. We had a lot of fun, and hoping to see you again in the near future.

Shogo K.

Dear Tami, Thank you for your rave review of our tours for two days. You and your husband were so friendly and lovely a couple to me, looking very much like on your "Honeymoon," that I felt as if I were much younger in my thirties with my old close friends. Actually I found tour guiding real rewarding. Thank you Tami for giving me pleasant days. Best regards, Shogo

P

Patrick S.

Nov 6, 2019

“ Day trip to Kyoto & Narra ”

We found Shogo to be very knowledgeable, friendly and he made our day trip special. My son especially enjoyed the Sushi, Deer in Narra and the monkeys in Kyoto.

Shogo K.

Dear Patrick, I am so much grateful to your nice review of our Kyoto & Nara 1-day-tour. It's always my great pleasure to guide such a nice family trying to explore things Japanese to the fullest. I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed the sushi at Arashiyama, Kyoto. Maybe you found some differences between Japan's sushi and Kiwi sushi, because fish for the sushi might be a little different. Since all of your family are sport lovers, I sincerely hope you'll visit Japan again. See you, Patrick. Best regards, Shogo

D

Dermot C.

Nov 1, 2019

“ Kyoto and Himeji highlights ”

Shogo was our guide for 2 days. He is very good company and his knowledge about all of the sites was interesting. On the trip around Kyoto he took us on local transport including the tram which was a great way to travel around the city. Overall we recommend Shogo as the perfect English speaking guide.

Shogo K.

Dear Dermot, Thank you so much for your nice review of our tours. I hope you enjoyed strolling in Kyoto plus Himeji. Also I assume that you had a great time watching Rugby World Cup in Japan. Hopefully you will come back for the next World Cup expected in Japan in future. So again, Go Ireland!!! Best regards, Shogo

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