Kumano Private Tour Guides

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Popular Kumano Tour Guides

Hiroyuki T.

4.96 / 5
(127 reviews)
Japan

Hi! I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am very good at cultural heritages. And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area. I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government. I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am a cultural heritage management and international relations professional. I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.

Noboru S.

5.00 / 5
(13 reviews)
Japan

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Japan. My name is Noboru. I’m a national licensed guide. I was born in Osaka and spent my university student life in Kyoto. And now I have been in Himeji for over 35 years. These cities are in Kansai aea. So,I'm very much familiar with the sightseeing spots and attractions in the area, especially Himeji and its neighboring cities. If you are looking for someone to show you around the area, please join my tour. I will show you special local dishes in the area as well. Looking forward to seeing your smile soon.

Kiyoko H.

4.50 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan

Hello, my name is Kiyoko. I am an English guide of Kumano Kodo. I live in Kushimoto, which is the most southern tip of Honshu (main island). I got my regional guide license in 2016. Since then, I have been practicing guiding Kumano Kodo in English. You will learn about ancient pilgrimage, shrines, temples, asceticism. You will be impressed by beautiful nature. You will also feel rejuvenated after walking Kumano Kodo. I want to share my experience with you.

Yasuo H.

4.50 / 5
(4 reviews)
Japan

I was born and grew up in Wakayama prefecture. Since I was very young, I walked and run by motorcycle and car in the mountain region of Kii peninsula (Wakayama). I learned the nature of Wakayama well it’s tenderness and danger. I wish to make the only one trip for my customers. There are many natural and historical sites in Wakayama because of its unique geographical nature and the longest history in Japan. You can enjoy various type of trip as ancient road walk, spectacular landscapes of the coastlines, suspension bridges, mountains and hot springs.

Yoko M.

5.00 / 5
(3 reviews)
Japan

Hi&Konnichiwa! I am "YOKO" live in Katsuura Wakayama near Nachi Katsuura town, a spiritual place where a big waterfall is worshiped. I am a certified English tour guide of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Walking in Kumano, listening to the sounds of birds singing and leaves whispering, you will have a chance to revitalize yourself and get some inspiration to take back home. My family grows organic rice, tea and vegetables.   I have had the good fortune to travel widely and experience a range of countries and cultures, including a trip to France, learning English in Florida, a working holiday in Australia, volunteer work in Bangladesh, and backpacking in India,etc. I love meeting and talking with people from all over the world. I like Yoga, hiking, traveling and snorkeling. I look forward to sharing the beauty of the Kumano pilgrimage routes with you, while also learning about your adventures!

Keiji H.

5.00 / 5
(1 reviews)
Japan

I have traveled to more than 40 countries. I always have spent happy time with local people. To return their favor, I have become a Kumano Kodo guide to help tourists enjoy Kodos. I am a government certified guide and have guided over 50 international clients in 6 years. I can help you with Kumano expertise, risk management, and hospitality skills I am a plum farmer and make umeboshi now. So I would tell you stories of as well as Japanese farming and food. Only local guides help you finding spots to rest in today's weather, locating a clean public restroom, and choosing the best sashimi for the season. Most importantly, you can acquire useful information without having to glance at tiny screens, not with phones but with local guides.

Hatsumi S.

Japan

I am a tour guide for a world heritage site of Kumano kodo . You can see beautiful mountain range and seasonal flowers, get the fresh air and hear bird twittering . Also I'd like to show you Japanese culture and history by walking on ancient pilgrimage roads and visiting Shinto shrines. The nature of Kumano will help you to relieve daily stress and rediscover yourself. Why don't you enjoy walking in the beautiful nature and experiencing Japanese culture and history with me?

Day Trips from Kumano

Reviews

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Susan H.

5 / 5
Oct 7, 2024

Great Intro to Shinjuku

Tim showed us how to find great spots to eat and drink and explained so much about the Shinjuku/Shibuya areas as well as life in Tokyo that you can’t pick up from just walking around yourself. He also provided helpful suggestions for sightseeing on our own, as well as restaurant and bar recommendations. Tim is personable and easy to talk to, and adapted the itinerary as we went to make sure it fit exactly what we wanted to do. Would recommend to anyone hoping to get the most out of their trip.

Ginny F.

5 / 5
Oct 7, 2024

Perfect Introduction to Osaka: Customized Half-Day Tour with Expert Guide Shuji

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.

Shuji O.

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!

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Sharon N.

5 / 5
Oct 7, 2024

5 Stars - Exceptional Experience with Nishi in Himeji!

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!

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Sharon N.

5 / 5
Oct 7, 2024

5 Stars - Exceptional Experience with Nishi in Himeji!

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!

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Local Tour Guides in Kumano

Our local guides are ready to help you plan, customize and realize your ideal tour in Kumano. All GoWithGuide guides are real locals who know the area on a deep and personal level, and they can’t wait to share their knowledge with you. When traveling, everyone wants to get the most bang out of their buck. How to do that? Ask the right person to be your tour guide, of course! As opposed to fixed itineraries that are too formal and geared towards large groups, arranging a trip with the help of a local guide will mean the trip will be about what YOU want to see and do. Go ahead and send a message to one (or several!) of our local guides. They would love to show you their Kumano!