Mana was a wonderful private tour guide for us concert. Everything to our needs and was very knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour.!
I can't say enough about our experience on the walking tour with Zarina as our guide! Several days before our tour, she asked what our interests were - culture, history, nature, etc. She met us at our hotel, and we walked to a site where she began relating the history of Hokkaido from ancient times to Japan unification. We then went to historic buildings, the fish market, a sake tasting, and some neighborhoods. Also stopped for a special Sapporo dish - soup curry. Delicious! Everywhere we went Zarina gave us the background and even some interesting lore and stories. Turns out she was going for her PhD related to anthropology and archeology focused on Hokkaido. My friend and I LOVED how knowledgeable she was and how eager and excited she was to share. Zarina is a stupendous tour guide, and the flexibility offered by the private tour was perfect for us. I highly recommend this tour, and especially the tour guide!
Five stars for Toshi in Tokyo
Our private half day tour with Toshi was a highlight of our Tokyo trip. He took us to a shrine tucked into a residential neighborhood where we were surrounded by locals going about their day, then to a lovely small park in the middle of the city that most visitors would walk right past. We finished at the Imperial Palace, which gave the morning a great balance of quiet local corners and big history.
Toshi is a Tokyo local, and he showed us the neighborhoods where he has lived, which made the whole morning feel personal. We talked food, history, and the best times of day to visit different spots, and I asked questions nonstop. He had a thoughtful answer for every one.
It was also a smart way to start our time in the city. He gave us a real lay of the land and walked us through the transportation system, so we felt confident getting around on our own afterward.
I'd recommend Toshi to anyone heading to Tokyo. If you can, book him early in your trip.