Osaka and Kōbe offer travelers to Honshu a lasting glimpse into modern life in urban, cosmopolitan Japan. While Osaka is the working heart of the island, hillside Kōbe offers lovely ocean vistas. Take a private Osaka tour and discover these Japanese cities with a knowledgeable local guide.

Osaka is an excellent place to experience the fast-paced, electric atmosphere unique to large Japanese cities. Your guide will connect you to the local cuisine, and be sure you try dishes like Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza!) Head to Osaka-jō, the city's Castle, for spectacular views of the city below. On the way to Kobe, you'll cross over the world's longest suspension bridge, and perhaps take a stroll along the city's Marine Promenade. Back in Osaka for the evening, you won't want to miss the spectacle of Dōtombori, the city's flashy, neon nightlife district.

Your guide will tailor a flexible and private Osaka tour that reflects your personal interests in Japanese culture.

Osaka

In this tour, you can visit very famous tour spots in the ancient capital , Kyoto.
We use my car for transportation.
We visit Arashiyama Area, Tenryu-Ji temple (If you like to visit), Bamboo forest, Ryo-An-Ji temple (Rock Garden), Golden Pavilion, Nishiki Market, Gion Area and Fushimi Inari Shrine when the time permits.

[West Side]
Arashiyama Area, Tenryu-Ji temple and Bamboo forest are located west side of Kyoto where you can enjoy a very restful moment.

[North West Side]
Ryo-An-Ji temple (Rock Garden) is Zen Buddhism temple. There is a very famous the Rock Garden which has 15 rocks inside and is telling 55 Zen teaching. Let's discover why there are 15 rocks in this garden. . .
When you visit Kyoto for the first time then you must visit the Golden Pavilion! You can see the very opposite side of Zen teaching of Buddhism.

[Downtown Area]
Nishiki Market and Gion Area are showing old fashion style of Kyoto.

[South Side]
Fushimi Inari Shrine is the top awarded tour spot in Japan for the past 4 years.

Let's find what ancient capital of Japan Kyoto is - by private transport

Explore Kyoto Full Day Tour

I am pleased to share this historic district's beauty with you!

Gion is the famous geisha quarter on the eastern bank of the Kamo-river. While Gion's true origins were in teahouses catering to weary visitors to the nearby shrine Yasaka-jinja, by the mid-18th century, the area was Kyoto's largest pleasure district.

On this tour, you will enjoy the history and culture of the Gion area while walking at a leisurely pace. Along the way, you will learn more about geisha education and their unique training system. The area also has many beautiful historical streets and paths.

I live near this district and very much enjoy a stroll around the area. Also, as a member of the major festival celebrating the district, I love the beautiful, subtle, and authentic atmosphere.

3 hours private walking tour with a local expert

Discover Kyoto's Gion District - Private Tour

Western Highlights in Kyoto for first time visitors - Full Day Tour

Kyoto is a big city where about 1. 5 million people live, full of attractive things from old times to present day such as stone garden of Zen temple, orange gates of Shito shrine, traditional café, local cuisine loved by Kyoto people, modern art museum and so on. I think Kyoto is a kind of "Theme Park". Particularly the most attractive thing in Kyoto is a unique atmosphere Kyoto creates, mixture of the old and new. You can see a small shrine that local people prey to next to a modern shopping arcade. If you walk into a backstreet in Gion amusement quarter from the hustle and bustle of the main street, you may come across kimono-clad Geisha, female entertainers called Geiko and Maiko. On the corner of down town, the smell of burned Teriyaki sauce may attract you to a nice gourmet restaurant. 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!!

"Shishinden" main hall in Kyoto Imperial palace

Oikeniwa Garden in Kyoto Imperial GardenPalace

Explore major sites and discover some hidden gems with a private guide

This tour offers the best collection of very popular tourist destinations in Osaka, especially for first-time visitors.
Osaka is full of entertainment to please visitors in many ways from very reasonable tasty local gourmet to traveling back to historical old times.
Full of photogenic spots and beautiful/unique scenery in my tour I'm sure that you can take wonderful memorial shots.
I will explain to you about our unique culture, history, religion, lifestyles, social concerns and so on.
We mainly use public transportation but also use a taxi as needed ex. saving time or guest's request.
I'm sure you will love this tour because you can understand Japanese culture, life and sprit compactly and enjoy various local delicacy just in a day.
Please contact me and I will create a customized tour base on your preferences and spots you'd like to visit.

Let's enjoy a great entertainment city with best spot selection.

Osaka Highlights Private Tour (full day)

Unveiling Osaka's Charms - Full Day Private Tour

Osaka is a beautiful and exciting city with a lot to offer visitors. particularly fond of its vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly people. its well-preserved historical sites and its modern architecture. Overall, Osaka is a city that everyone would highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable travel experience.

This tour of Osaka will take you to some of the city's most famous landmarks, including Osaka Castle, Harukas Abeno Tower, and Shitennō-ji Temple. You will also have the opportunity to experience the local culture by visiting Shinsekai, a food heaven that is famous for its delicious street food, and Kuromon Ichiba, an atmospheric market where you can try different street foods. The tour will end at the Dotonbori Glico Spot, the most famous tourist destination in Osaka.

If you wish to customize this tour, please do not hesitate to ask!

Discover Osaka's rich history and Culture: delve into the city's cultural delights

Serene Zen -- Festive Shinto Private Tour

Visitors to Japan are typically surprised to learn that the majority of the Japanese people practice both Buddhist and Shinto rituals. From a Western viewpoint, it seems incongruous, if not nearly heretical, to practice two religions at once. How do the Japanese do it?

This tour is designed to examine this complex development from both a doctrinal and historical viewpoint. Why didn't Buddhism, with its sophisticated philosophy and doctrine of personal salvation, simply displace the indigenous, animistic Shinto belief in nature deities like the Sun Goddess or Inari, deity of agriculture? Why do Japanese typically get married in a Shinto ceremony but have their funerals at a Buddhist temple? And, of course, why do many Japanese young couples now have a Christian marriage ceremony even though neither the bride or groom are Christians!

In short, this tour offers an in-depth understanding of religious practice in Japan today .

Note: If you are only 1 or 2 persons, please contact me for a new quote.

Main Entrance Gate to Tofukuji Zen Temple with Lotus Pond in the foreground

Traditional Zen (Dry Landscape) Garden at Tofukuji Zen temple

Modern Zen (Dry Landscape) Garden at Tofukuji Zen temple

Ritual Cleansing prior to entering Fushimi Inari Shrine

Main Entrance Gate to Fushimi Inari Shrine

Main Worship Hall at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Combination modern and traditional Zen (Dry Landscape) Garden at Tofukuji Zen temple

Entrance to the One Thousand Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine. The red and white poles are in preparation for an evening festival.

Zen (Dry Landscape) Garden in the Shape of the Big Dipper

Torii Gate at entrance to Fushimi Inari Shrine

A tour for those who wish an in-depth introduction to Zen Buddhism and Shinto

Full day private guided tour of Must See in Kyoto

Suitable for first time visitors and travelers with limited time in Kyoto.

During the tour we will visit four places that you can find in all Kyoto guidebooks. Golden Pavilion, a great spot for taking wonderful photos, any season, any weather, Ryoan-ji Rock Garden, perfect for a few moments of meditation. Then visit to Nijo Castle, the residence of Tokugawa Shoguns, and walk to traditional streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to the Kiyomizu Temple. 　　

As it is a private tour, I can adjust the schedule, duration and activities according to your preferences. Please let me know if you should have any special requests.

Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji Rock Garden, Shogun's Residence and Kiyomizu Temple, visiting Kyoto essentials

I'll pick you up. Then hop to the old-style Tsutenkaku tower and the Shinsekai historic area.

Head up to Osaka Castle. Enjoy walking, pics, etc. there awhile. (Cherry blossoms, in season only!)

Train to Umeda. Maybe take a tour bus that loops Umeda if we have time. Then walk to the Sky Building, go up to "garden" on top. (Try to catch sunset up there if the weather is nice!)

Go to Doutombouri riverfront area. See the famous "Glico man" sign and the Don Quijote shop/ferris wheel.
I'll drop you off there, maybe you can go find dinner in the area. Lots of restaurant choices in this "glitzy" tourist area.

Other options and choices as you like on the day. I'm flexible.

River walk, Osaka Castle, Scenic Views and a Beautiful Sunset (if lucky!)

Osaka's Best [6 Hours]

Kyoto: Sacred Hill to Ancient Alleys [4 hours]

Start at the ancient, pure, pristine top, and slowly slide deep into the underbelly of Kyoto, Japan as afternoon passes into evening. (This is an easier 'hill hike' than most people offer, since we go downhill almost all the way!)

-Learn why a famous temple was placed on its mountaintop setting (and it's not what they say)
-The hustle and bustle of shopping streets older than most countries
-Secret spots and hidden hideaways away from the crowd
-See one of the most famous gardens and explore temple construction
-Unusual facts about how temples age and are decorated
-Enjoy Japanese traditional snacks, as you like
-How the Geisha lived in the past, as well as now
-See how Japanese cities must have looked in the past

Activities may vary by day/time (e. g. museums usually close on Mondays, many shops close at ~4:30PM or 5:00PM in Uji)
Unlisted 'bonus' activities added as time permits.
All times approximate.
This tour may be further customized! Please message me.

Spiritual Heights to Scandalous Depths

Private Walking Food Tour in Downtown Osaka

Osaka is the gastronomic capital of Japan! It is famous for delicious food and is called 'The Kitchen of the Nation'. People in Osaka are very good at starting their own businesses so they created their own food by using many ingredients which came from other areas of Japan.
This tour will show you downtown, a fish market and a kitchenware market.

Dotonbori is one of downtown areas in Osaka. It was originally a part of the Osaka Castle grounds. It has been an entertainment district since then. Today it is a food district which people in Osaka are proud of.

Kuromon Market was a fish market around 300 years ago in this area where a temple was located. Nowadays we can see many kinds of fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.
Kitchenware Market: This market used to offer kitchen utensils that were of restaurant quality only. Nowadays, the market sells both professional and domestic quality items.

Let's enjoy walking in these three areas, eating Osaka's specialties, and seeing unique kitchenware.

Enjoy walking the markets and eating street food in this gastronomic city

Ultimate Japanese food experience &amp; night tour

Kyoto has retained its 1000-year status as a culinary capital in Japan. With your host playing the dual role of ingredient explainer and menu decipherer, let the smells of street food guide you down a five-block marketplace filled with spectacular snacks - from seafood-stuffed dough balls under a blanket of unfurling bonito flakes, karikari takoyaki, to fresh beef sushi (yes, beef!).

The epitome of Japanese haute cuisine, kaiseki, is a must-try for any foodie. And if you're feeling adventurous? Try Senmaizuke, a delicious, traditional Kyoto pickle made from Shogoin turnips, or slurp up fragrant green tea noodles in a city known for its uji matcha. Veggie lovers can dig into ultra-umami Issenyoushoku!

Explore "Kyoto's kitchen," where you will eat and drink your way through this historic neighborhood.

Explore the Authentic Kyoto with a History and Culture Guide

I love gardens.
Japanese and English gardens are especially my favourite. It's delightful to compare the differences in their sense of nature.
An English garden designer in the 19th century wrote in her book, "There is something religious in Japanese gardens. " She was attracted to landscape gardens and dry gardens.
The first diplomat from the UK travelled extensively to rural villages. There, he saw ideal English gardens.
Kyoto still inherited the old Japan it used to be.
Temples, shrines, and traditional architecture are also indispensable parts of Kyoto culture.
It is special and unique, nowhere in Japan and across the world.

"The Authentic Kyoto Tour" is planned for those interested in deep Kyoto, recommendable to families with kids, history, culture, nature, and food lovers, first visitors to Kyoto, spiritual persons, young and senior couples, and architects.

Destinations can be adjustable to your wishes.

Nara tours

Explore with 329 tours and 58 guides.

Tadashi K.

$ 446 (USD)

Daisuke S.

$ 297 (USD)

Koichi W.

$ 268 (USD)

Kenji M.

$ 386 (USD)

Khalid E.

$ 520 (USD)

Brian V.

$ 245 (USD)

Adam O.

$ 357 (USD)

Jay T.

$ 353 (USD)

Jay T.

$ 260 (USD)

Atsuko T.

$ 89 (USD)

Chia T.

$ 186 (USD)

Masaki H.

$ 446 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Nara

Customize your tour