3 of us (all males) are scheduled to spend 5 days in Japan in mid Oct. We will be headquartered in Tokyo. We would like to hire a guide and driver so as to avoid the “regimented package tour routine”.

I have heard that there are specially licensed people available. Any experiences (pro or con) would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

htr

We had a guide in Tokyo, but without car. We found her name in Fodor and Frommers forum, we wrote her and decided together what we shall visit each day. We had her as our guide for two days. She was very helpful and she is a nice person. I think that two days are enough with the guide, after this you become more familiar with the town, with public transportation and you will be able to visit alone.
The public transport is very good, in time, clean, safe and I think that is faster than by car.
If you are interested, the details of the guide are:
Junko Matsuda
Tel:03-3749-0445
Mobile phone: 090-3374-0079
email: [email protected]

I second for Junko. We just returned from Tokyo and she is terrific. Makes your stay in Tokyo more manageable. highly recommend. Not cheap, but excellent!

Let her know Robyn and Allan Webb say hello!!

I highly recommend Chizuko Waller.
https://id280.securedata.net/japanes...zuko/index.htm

She will also do whatever your interests are. Perfect English (she lived in the states for several years and is married to an American) she is enormously knowledgeable about the culture, arts, food etc. And a great personality.

glorialf:

Thank you for your response. When i tried to email her at:

https://id280.securedata.net/japanes...zuko/index.htm

the email was undeliverable Reason given: "alias or illegal". Have you any suggestions?

htr
htr

htr
That is her website address not an email address.
Aloha!