dj1970

Folks, Which are the popular companies offering English guided tours in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto? Thanks.

Braindrain

The grand-daddy is JTB. Might even be a local office where you are...

abmj-jr

Can't really help with Tokyo or Osaka but for Kyoto, this guy has received rave reviews here from past customers:

http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~doitaxi/ .

JR

djjaguar64

Go with JTB, we have tried it, its the best. You can also book your tour before you leave for Japan, strongly suggested.

msb0b

Hato Bus offers 1 day and half day tours of Tokyo.

http://www.hatobus.com/en/index.html

hclee01

You can try Nippon Travel as well: http://www.nta.co.jp/english/index.asp

LapLap

The prices from JTB can be stratospheric, particularly if you require transportation.

Not so long ago, whilst in Yokohama, I made enquiries directly with a JTB representative on behalf of a colleague. The guy had some mobility problems and wished to tour locally with an English speaking guide and vehicle. The prices were so high, I gave him the alternative cost of a return trip to Kyoto with the Nozomi bullet train and a full day tour with Doi Taxi. It was considerably cheaper and he took that option instead.

Here are the details (Oct 2006)
Another Kyoto tour company (for those who can walk) that has got good reviews in this forum is this one: http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/h-s-love/

jib71

http://www.michitravel.com/

Jay71

Tokyo Free Guide
We found this tour service from an article in the Washington Post but we didn't get a chance to use them. It's a free volunteer guide service where someone will take you around where you want to go. You just need to pay for their transportation costs and admission fees. We didn't get a chance to use them because we probably asked for a guide during a busy weekend and they didn't have any volunteers for that day.

http://www.tokyofreeguide.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...300727_pf.html

jib71

Bicycle tour
http://www.englishok.jp/shops/tokyo_great_cycling_tour/

dj1970

Has anyone used the free guide service? It sounds like a great idea to explore and learn from the local and save some money (we're on tight budget).

I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

abmj-jr

Most major Japanese cities have the "free guide" service. They are usually students or retired folks who volunteer to guide visitors a few days per month in order to practice their English and show off their city. In most cases, their activites are coordinated by the town tourism council. There are "Goodwill Guides" in many cities and some also have "Student Guides." You can check at the tourist information counter at the main station. Look for the big "!" symbol or check your guidebook for the location. You might have some luck having the T.I.C. where you are call ahead to arrange a next day guide reservation at your next stop. Hotels might be able to do it, too.

If you use one of the volunteer guides, you are expected to pay for his or her transportation - subways, buses, cabs, etc. to all locations you visit. It is also considered proper to buy his or her lunch.

I've never used the service but have seen such folks waiting near the Information Counter at Kyoto, Nara and other major tourist sites.

I really recommend purchasing a good guidebook for your visit. Most will have information on the "Goodwill Guides." I know the Frommer's Guide has telephone numbers for some cities to call in advance and arrange a guide.

ADD. After going on above, I found a link to relevant information. Scroll down past the professional guide info to the volunteer guide section: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/es...deservice.html .

JR

LapLap

My view is that it's worth bearing in mind why the guide may have volunteered his/her time. Sometimes you may have an older volunteer with plenty of free time who wants to keep their language skills brushed up. Other times you may have a younger student anxious to develop their own skills. What you won't be able to count on is a thorough understanding of the places they will be 'guides' for you of. (My experience has been of volunteer guides at museums and places such as Meiji Mura, they had all the good will in the world, but were not particularly knowledgeable even about these places/facilities they were so obviously passionate about.)

My advice is to do a bit of preparatory work yourself. The guides' main reason to volunteer is usually to develop their language skills and engage in cultural exchange. Relying on them for thorough information about the places you want to see and visit can prove disappointing. However, if you combine their services with those provided by the attractions you'd like to visit you can tap into expert opinions.

Most places have Japanese speaking guides with thorough knowledge in their area of interest. You can email the places you want to see to find out the timetables of talks and tours. A volunteer guide accompanying you will have a more manageable task interpreting information for you than having to provide it for themselves. (This certainly works for me - my husband speaks Japanese but doesn't read or write it, but through him I have access to the opinions of experts and scholars, he makes a wonderful volunteer guide!)

Cheetah_SA

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but it seemed better than starting a new one.

Off to Japan in less than a week and for the first time in my life I am seriously considering using half and/or full day tours in Tokyo and Kyoto. Usually I like to bumble along on my own and offset the time wasted and the occasional angst/bewilderment against the more real experience and the (unavoidable, but usually rewarding) contact with locals. But I fear Japan may be a bit more daunting and maybe I am getting old and soft. So I may intersperse my independent forays into the cities with the odd organised tour.

This might be good for places that are hard to reach, difficult to find, best experienced with a guide, etc. I see Hato Bus is also offering Sakura tours (hits 3 spots in an afternoon). This might be a lot more efficient and pleasant than me chasing cherry blossoms around Tokyo.

I assume not all operators or all tours are created equal. So my question is whether anyone has specific recommendations.

PS - I'm not too price sensitive (I'm resigned to Japan knocking a big hole in my bank account) but I do baulk at JTB's 14000 yen per person for an excursion to the Miho Museum when by public transport it would cost no more than 2000.

LapLap

As an older, bumbling tourist, Japan may prove to be the least daunting place you have yet been to. If you are Caucasian, look like you might speak English, and as long as you don't seem to be someone who would bark back at any offers of assistance, the instances of consideration and kindness you will experience from a procession of random strangers will quickly build up your confidence (tip - don't seek assistance from passing strangers - take out a map or other prop and look bemused and assistance will come)

Sorry I can't give advice on guides for Tokyo (as mentioned earlier in this thread, the one time I seriously looked into it with JTB we abandoned the plan as way too costly)

I can give you a link to an alternative company offering Sakura tours
http://hisexperience.jp/index.php?op...d=54&Itemid=25

I imagine it would be a wonderful idea to take part in a tour like this (or one offered by Hato Bus) at the start of your trip to help you orientate yourself. But I'm sure within a couple of days you'll feel rather differently about your capacity to get around (and interact) on your own.

Have a wonderful time!