15 Private Walking Tours in Japan Worth Booking

1.Hotspots & Hidden Gems Walking Tour Private or Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,300 reviews · 3 - 7 hours · from $33Our pick

Explore Osaka’s markets, alleys, Dotonbori, America-mura, and Shinsekai on a flexible walking tour with local food stops.

“Taka did an amazing job of sharing his love for his home with us. We enjoyed learning more about the area than we’d have figured out on our own. Although transportation is not included we let Taka know that we had IC cards so we were able to take the train to Osaka Castle. We especially appreciated that he waited until later in the tour to visit so we could see the castle both in the sunlight and after dark! We highly recommend this tour with Taka.”

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2.Nara Half Day Trip Walking Tour (Private Option Available)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 937 reviews · from $105Top rated

Explore Nara’s temples, deer, forest shrine, lunch, and old merchant homes on a five-hour small-group walking tour.

“This tour was one of our highlights in Japan. Our tour guide, Yuuki, was outstanding, the sites were breathtaking and the other tour participants were really friendly. Highly recommend.”

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3.Private Custom Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 533 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $53

Build your ideal Tokyo day with a private local guide, flexible neighborhoods, transit help, food tips, and cultural insight.

“Brilliant guide. Customised to our own interests. Excellent English. Local so excellent knowledge of the city. Couldn’t have been better. Would absolutely recommend.”

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4.Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 469 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $53

A practical review of Tokyo’s private walking tour, with local guides, flexible routes, temples, markets, neighborhoods, and subway tips.

“Miwa is the warmest spirit to get to know Tokyo through. She is intelligent and taught my family and I about history, pop culture, and local spiritual customs. The experience was meaningful thanks to her. On top of that she went out of her way to make sure that we felt confident and independent going forward with our trip without her. I can’t recommend Miwa enough!”

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5.Private Walking Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 419 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $82

Review of Tokyo’s private Lokafy walking tour, with local guides, flexible routes, metro help, neighborhood tips, pricing, and practical advice.

“Eduardo was prompt, polite, friendly and knowledgeable. His English and Japanese was perfect. We wanted to learn the transport system, see Tokyo from a high rise, find a Pokémon centre, get a good tip for lunch, see Cherry blossoms and something cultural. Every box was ticked; from our accom in Shinjuku to Ikebukuro and Akasura temple in just 3 hours. Couldn’t have asked for better.”

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6.Akihabara Anime & Game Adventure Walking Tour (Group or Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 404 reviews · from $90

Explore Akihabara’s retro games, anime shops, gachapon, arcades, and a maid cafe on a guided three-hour Tokyo walking tour.

“Don’t do this tour! A complete waste of money. It was very boring and the guide was very weird and made my kids and I feel very uncomfortable. He kept taking pictures of my children without asking and took a couple of the group; he said to prove to the company he in fact did the tour. When I asked him to take a picture of me and my kids, he said he was not allowed to do that, but yet kept taking unauthorized pictures of us, specifically of my 13 year old dauther. The guide kept causing and saying how awful Japan was. I am not particularly sensitive to…”

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7.Private Customized Walking Tour with a Local Insider

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 383 reviews · 2 - 6 hours · from $64

Explore Kyoto your way on a private walking tour with a local host, from temples and Gion alleys to food stops and useful city tips.

“Kenya was absolutely amazing - completely immersed me in the experience, customized it to my needs and desires, and was absolutely phenomenal 11/10!”

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8.Private Custom Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 350 reviews · from $56

Explore Tokyo your way with a private local guide, custom stops, train help, cultural insight, and professional photos for $56 per person.

“Toko was a wonderful guide. She helped us figure out the metro system and was generous in her time and attitude. She put together a wonderful introduction to Tokyo. It was a truly memorable day.”

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9.Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 144 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $62

See Kyoto your way on a private walking tour with a local guide, from famous temples to quiet streets, with flexible timing and useful city tips.

“Gef is a really great guide and we thoroughly recommend spending time with him on this tour. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Japan, architecture and the tour that he gave us, also very relaxed and accommodating. It couldn’t have been better so thanks Gef and good luck with all your future endeavours…we are planning how we can get back to Japan again soon!!! Claire and Stan”

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10.Kanazawa: Private Walking Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 141 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $82

Review of Kanazawa’s private local walking tour, with custom routes, food tips, historic sights, prices, practical advice, and guide insights.

“Hanna was great. She is very kind, personable and knowledgeable of Kanazawa. We enjoyed the day even in the rain.”

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11.Customizable Private Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 129 reviews · 4 hours · from $87

Review of Tokyo’s private four-hour walking tour, with flexible sightseeing, local guides, subway help, food stops, and practical value advice.

“The tour guide, Eduardo, was friendly and professional. He designed my personal tour to accommodate my age and physical abilities. He knew that I wanted to avoid crowded areas, so he took me to a few different areas where the views were incredible and the experience was very unique. I would highly recommend requesting Eduardo to be your tour guide!”

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12.Private 2.5 Hour Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 121 reviews · 2 hours

Explore Kyoto’s shrines, Zen gardens, pagoda, and Kiyomizu Temple with a private English-speaking guide on this thoughtful walking tour.

“The tour was perfect and very interesting. Our guide was the kindest 💛”

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13.Private Walking Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 118 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $82

Review of Kyoto’s private Lokafy walking tour, with local guides, custom routes, practical tips, pricing, access, and honest advice.

“Jason was very accommodating of our wishes and quite knowledgeable of Japanese culture and history. Jason has a very easy going presence, and is a very authentic earnest young man we highly recommend him.”

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14.Kanazawa Private/Group Walking Tour: Local & Major Highlight

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $48

Explore Kanazawa’s market, samurai district, castle, garden, shrines, and geisha quarter with a flexible local guide.

“The walking tour was everything we’d hoped for - knowing how to link historical information with the influences on Kanazawa today. Terrific local knowledge and happy to answer any questions we had. Also, Aiko is just a very warm, lovely person who is so proud of Kanazawa.”

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15.Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 97 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $62

See Osaka your way on a private walking tour with a local guide, custom sights, transit help, cultural insight, and flexible timing.

“Shaye was awesome! Mine was a same day booking, which they were thankfully able to accommodate. I got to see Harukas 300, a shrine and Dotonbori in my three hours. There is just so much to see in Dotonbori and it was 100% worth it. Shaye was very knowledgeable with the history of the diff places and knew where to go. Lots of time saved by going with someone that knows where your destinations are. Thank you Shaye and Guydeez team! Highly recommended.”

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