For our first time in Japan, an awesome orientation and introduction to Osaka was provided by the wonderful Shuji, who is an extremely knowledgeable historian. He planned a fun and well-paced half-day customized tour for just the two of us. We HIGHLY recommend him to be your guide! Our day began with meeting him in our hotel lobby where we reviewed an Osaka map and discussed in general our itinerary for the day. From there Shuji provided practical tips for navigating our Umeda hotel location, the local metro and train stations, and introduced us to the Namba area, including the Dotombori district and markets, where many options are available for dining. We chose to enjoy lunch at one of his favorite restaurants for an authentic sit-down meal. From there we visited Osaka Castle park and grounds where Shuji presented an interesting and historic overview as well as showing us great photo opportunities. Then, per our request, we had reservations for a ride on the Aqualiner for city views from the water. We disembarked for a lovely waterfront stroll along the embankment of the Daini Neya River, followed by ending our lovely day with Golden Hour drinks at one of Shuji’s hidden gems overlooking a gorgeous rose garden. Shuji is such a kind and generous gentleman and professor. We thoroughly enjoyed our discussions and afternoon with him as he provided the “master key” for fantastic inside tips, traditions and suggestions for making the most of our travels in Japan.
Thank you for the fabulous review! You are such excellent travelers, even without my guide. There is a Japanese saying that one hears one and knows ten, which is exactly what you did. We had a wonderful afternoon. It will be a good memory for me. Thank you so much!
We had an absolutely unforgettable 2-day guided tour with Ms. Nishi N in Himeji. Our group of six, including my 85-year-old mother, was treated to a thoughtfully planned itinerary that covered Himeji Castle, its beautiful gardens, a sake brewery tasting, and some fantastic local lunch spots. Nishi’s incredible knowledge of the history and culture of Himeji brought every location to life, making the entire experience both educational and engaging. She was exceptionally kind and attentive, especially to my mother, ensuring that everything was stress-free and enjoyable for everyone. Nishi knew all the best photo spots, capturing memories we will cherish forever. Her expertise, coupled with her warm personality, made our time with her truly special. Beyond Himeji, she generously shared great recommendations for our next stop in Kyoto, even though we didn’t have a guide there. Thanks to her advice, we made the most of our visit. We can’t wait to return and will definitely be requesting Nishi’s services again when we explore more of the Hyogo, Kobe, and Himeji areas. Highly recommend!
We had an absolutely unforgettable 2-day guided tour with Ms. Nishi N in Himeji. Our group of 6, including my 85-year-old mother, was treated to a thoughtfully planned itinerary that covered Himeji Castle, its beautiful gardens, a sake brewery tasting, and some fantastic local lunch spots. Nishi’s incredible knowledge of the history and culture of Himeji brought every location to life, making the entire experience both educational and engaging. She was exceptionally kind and attentive, especially to my mother, ensuring that everything was stress-free and enjoyable for everyone. Nishi knew all the best photo spots, capturing memories we will cherish forever. Her expertise, coupled with her warm personality, made our time with her truly special. Beyond Himeji, she generously shared great recommendations for our next stop in Kyoto, even though we didn’t have a guide there. Thanks to her advice, we made the most of our visit. We can’t wait to return and will definitely be requesting Nishi’s services again when we explore more of the Hyogo, Kobe, and Himeji areas. Highly recommend!
We recently had the pleasure spending four days exploring Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara with Kaori, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we met, she went above and beyond. She has a deep knowledge of Japan’s history and culture, and tailored the tour to our interests; making it both engaging and informative. Kaori was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly personable. It felt like we were exploring with a friend. Her attention to detail and commitment to ensuring we had a memorable experience truly sets her apart. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide.
With a real local of your choice
Just contact your favorite local
So no group tours with strangers