Rates
Tony Kansai Guide

2026 prices · per group

What a day with Tony costs

Tony charges per group, not per person. City tours (up to 6 people): 2 hours in Kyoto ¥25,000, half day (4 h) ¥38,000 and full day (8 h) ¥58,000; long day trips from ¥70,000. Guided hiking: ¥68,000 per group. That price is the guiding only: tickets, trains, meals and experiences are paid separately, directly.

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

You pay the guide

Only for the guiding: the tour rate, per group.

Separately, directly

Tickets, trains, buses, meals and experiences (kimono, tea, workshops). You pay them on the spot or to the partner; I show you how.

Guide rates

One fixed price per group, not per person: the same for 1 as for 6.

  1. Short tour in Kyoto

    2 hours · up to 6 people

    One district or temple, or a first walk when you arrive.

    See the 2-hour tour
    ¥25,000per groupFor 4 people: ¥6,250 each

  2. Half day

    4 hours · up to 6 people

    Two or three of a city’s main sights.

    ¥38,000per groupFor 4 people: ¥9,500 each

  3. Full day

    8 hours · up to 6 people

    All of Kyoto, or Kyoto and Nara in one day.

    ¥58,000per groupFor 4 people: ¥14,500 each

  4. Long day trip

    A full day beyond the cities

    Kōyasan, Amanohashidate, Kumano…

    from¥70,000per group

  5. Guided hiking

    A mountain day · per group

    Eight trails near Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe: Atago, Hiei, Rokko, Kongo…

    See the hiking routes
    ¥68,000per group

Other cases

Kyoto by bike
Same half-day or full-day rates. Bikes are rented separately. Kyoto private bike tour
Autumn in Kyoto
Mid-November to early December: same rates, and I take one group a day. See the Kyoto autumn day
Several days
The same guide for the whole trip. Tell me how many days you have and what you’d like to see, and I’ll send one fixed price for everything.
More than 6 people
Message me and I’ll tell you how we organise it: a second guide or a supplement.
How to pay
Payment is in cash, in yen, on the day, or in advance with PayPal, Wise or bank transfer. If you pay in advance, do it only once we have confirmed your date on WhatsApp.

What the guide fee covers

Included

  • A day planned for you: route, timings and stops worked out before we set off.
  • Pick-up in your hotel lobby.
  • I show you how to get around: IC card, trains and buses.
  • Where to eat well, including halal or vegetarian if you need it.

Not included: paid separately

  • I don't sell train tickets, hotel rooms or admission tickets.
  • Trains, admissions and meals are paid by you as we go. I'll show you how.
  • Tickets, trains, buses, meals and experiences (kimono, tea, workshops). You pay them on the spot or to the partner; I show you how.

What you can do in each city

Starting points from Osaka; we adjust the day to you. The price is the guide fee, per group.

  • Kyoto
    Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kyoto

    ≈ 30 min by train

    The old capital: temples, shrines and wooden streets. Best started early, before the tour groups arrive.

    • Half dayFushimi Inari and its thousands of torii, plus Kiyomizu-dera.
      ¥38,000
    • Full dayAll of that, plus the lanes of Gion and the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji).
      ¥58,000
  • Osaka
    Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0

    Osaka

    Your hotel is here

    The city of food and of the castle. We get around on foot and by metro, at the pace locals do.

    • Half dayOsaka Castle and its park.
      ¥38,000
    • Full dayThe castle, Kuromon Market, Dōtonbori and Shinsekai.
      ¥58,000
  • Nara
    Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0

    Nara

    ≈ 40 min by train

    Japan's first capital. Deer roam the park freely, and the Great Buddha sits in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.

    • Half dayNara Park, the deer and Tōdai-ji.
      ¥38,000
    • Full dayAll of that, plus Kasuga Taisha shrine and Isui-en garden.
      ¥58,000
  • Himeji
    Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Himeji

    ≈ 1 h by rapid train

    Japan's best-preserved original castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

    • Full dayThe castle and Kōko-en garden, with a stop in Kobe on the way back if you like.
      ¥58,000
  • Kobe
    Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kobe

    ≈ 25 min by train

    A port city between the sea and the mountains, and home to the Kobe Mosque, built in 1935, the oldest in Japan.

    • Half dayMeriken harbour, the Kitano quarter and the mosque.
      ¥38,000
    • Full dayAll of that, plus Nankinmachi Chinatown and the Shin-Kobe ropeway.
      ¥58,000

See the routes hour by hour

Hiking near Kyoto and Osaka

A guided hiking day, per group. Trains, buses and food are extra.

  • 金剛山

    Mt. Kongo

    Highest Peak in Osaka Prefecture

    Altitude 1,125 m · Difficulty: Moderate

    ¥68,000per group
  • 愛宕山

    Mt. Atago

    Kyoto's Highest Peak · The Fire Shrine

    Altitude 924 m · Difficulty: Hard

    ¥68,000per group
  • 比叡山

    Mt. Hiei

    1,200 Years of Tendai Buddhism · Sacred Summit

    Altitude 848 m · Difficulty: Moderate

    ¥68,000per group
  • 六甲山

    Mt. Rokko

    Kobe's Ridge · The Whole Bay Below

    Altitude 931 m · Difficulty: Moderate

    ¥68,000per group
  • 摩耶山

    Mt. Maya

    Million Dollar Night View · Kobe Harbor

    Altitude 699 m · Difficulty: Moderate

    ¥68,000per group
  • 吉野山

    Yoshino

    The Cherry Mountain · UNESCO

    Altitude 858 m · Difficulty: Moderate

    ¥68,000per group
  • ポンポン山

    Ponpon Mountain

    Full Traverse · Kyoto, Osaka & Kobe Simultaneously

    Altitude 679 m · Difficulty: Medium–High · long route

    ¥68,000per group
  • 星のブランコ

    Hoshi no Buranko

    Sky Bridge 50 m High · Ancient Meteor Shrine

    Altitude 155 m · Difficulty: Medium · +1,287 m gain

    ¥68,000per group

See the hiking routes

Guide plans

Ways to spend the day with your guide. They are charged as the tour (2 h, half day or full day); the experiences listed are paid separately.

  • Stress-free first day

    We meet you at your hotel and show you how to get around Japan from day one.

    • Pick-up at your hotel
    • ICOCA card, trains and useful apps
    • How to pay and order in restaurants
    • A first walk around the city

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

    Extras we arrange · paid separately

    Nomad eSIM −20 %Japan Wireless −10 %Radical Storage −10 %

  • Theme day: tea, kimono or samurai

    You pick the theme and your guide plans the day around it: books the experience and goes with you.

    • We choose the theme together
    • Your guide books it and plans the timing
    • Goes with you and translates
    • A walk around the area before or after

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

    Extras we arrange · paid separately

    MAIKOYACamellia Tea Ceremony −10 %Kimono Wargo −10 %Kimono OkamotoShogun Studio JapanSamurai & Ninja Museum

  • Muslim family

    Halal food, time to pray and suitable activities, all planned ahead.

    • Halal restaurants, or no pork and no alcohol
    • Breaks for prayer
    • A route built around the family
    • Suitable activities, like kimono with hijab

    Muslim-family friendly

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

    Extras we arrange · paid separately

    Emondo Miyabi-yukiYumeyakataCooking Sun OsakaJAPANeid

  • Gentle pace

    For older travellers or anyone who prefers no rush: fewer stairs, more breaks.

    • A route with few stairs
    • Breaks and cafés
    • Taxi between stops if needed
    • Flexible timing

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

  • Craft Japan

    Workshops where you make something to take home; your guide books them in Japanese and translates.

    • We pick the workshop you like
    • Booked in Japanese
    • Translation during the workshop
    • Traditional streets around it

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

    Extras we arrange · paid separately

    Yokoyama BambooNakamura RosokuDOMYO KumihimoKobaien

  • Osaka to eat and shop

    Markets, street food and shops: your guide takes you to the good places and translates.

    • Markets like Kuromon
    • Street food in Dotonbori
    • Knives, crafts or electronics
    • Tax-free shopping and how to order

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

    Extras we arrange · paid separately

    Cycle & Eat Osaka / Kyoto −15 %Tower Knives Osaka

  • Several days, same guide

    One guide for the whole trip: plans, coordinates and goes with you every day.

    • A trip plan made for you
    • Trains and bookings coordinated
    • The same guide every day
    • Kansai and long day trips

    Guide rate 2 h ¥25,000 · 4 h ¥38,000 · 8 h ¥58,000

Experiences with our partners

Kimono, tea, workshops, photos and shopping. Not part of the guide fee: paid separately, to the partner, at their price. If you like, I book them and we go together.

  • Kyoto

    Samurai & Ninja Museum

    Kyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum: armour, katanas and shuriken throwing, with an English-speaking guide.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Kimono Wargo

    Kimono and yukata rental in Kyoto: they dress you in the shop and you walk out into Higashiyama or Gion.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately −10 %

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Camellia Tea Ceremony

    Tea ceremony in a Higashiyama teahouse in Kyoto: calm and family-friendly.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately −10 %

    Details

  • Kyoto

    SnapKyoto

    Matt, a photographer in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara: a family or couple photo session in Gion, Arashiyama or wherever we go.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto · Muslim-family friendly

    Yumeyakata

    Kimono rental in Kyoto (Gojo and Oike shops), with hair set, make-up, tea ceremony and photos. They have a prayer room for their customers.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Shogun Studio Japan

    Wear real samurai armour at their Arashiyama studio in Kyoto, with photos to take home. They also do kimono and ninja.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto · Muslim-family friendly

    Emondo Miyabi-yuki

    Dress in the junihitoe, the twelve-layer kimono of the Heian imperial court, in central Kyoto. Something you will not see anywhere else.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto · Muslim-family friendly

    Cooking Sun

    Japanese home-cooking class in Kyoto and Osaka: you cook, then you eat together.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Yokoyama Bamboo

    Bamboo workshop at a Kyoto craftsmen’s shop: make your own basket, chopsticks or tea scoop. 1.5 to 2 hours.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    DOMYO Kumihimo

    Braid your own kumihimo, the traditional silk cord, with DOMYO, makers since 1652. Workshop in English.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Kimono Okamoto

    Kimono rental with 7 shops in Kyoto (Kiyomizu, Gion, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama…): you get dressed right next to the temple you are visiting.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    Nakamura Rosoku

    Japanese candle (warousoku) workshop at a Fushimi maker working since the Meiji era: make your candle, paint it, or both.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kyoto

    MAIKOYA

    Tea ceremony in Kyoto, shared or private, explained in English.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka

    Tower Knives Osaka

    Japanese knife shop by Tsutenkaku tower in Shinsekai. The gift my guests most often take home from Osaka.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka · Muslim-family friendly

    JAPANeid

    A shop in Minamihorie (Osaka) made for Muslims: Japanese treats with no animal ingredients or alcohol, kimono-style hijabs and prayer mats.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka · Muslim-family friendly

    Osaka Cooking Base

    Home-style cooking class in Osaka, next to Tenmangu: okonomiyaki, ramen or gyoza with Yuka, up to 8 guests.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka · Muslim-family friendly

    Tea Ceremony Osaka

    45-minute tea ceremony in Dotonbori, central Osaka. ¥7,480 per adult and ¥4,980 for ages 8 to 11; sessions at 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 h, up to 10 people.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka

    Cooking Sun Osaka

    Japanese cooking class in English near Namba, Osaka. Shared class up to 8 people, private class for 1 to 8, private group class up to 12. Vegetarian option on request.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Osaka

    Cycle & Eat Osaka / Kyoto

    Bike tours and food tours in Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, in small groups and in English.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately −15 %

    Details

  • Nara

    Kobaien

    Nara’s oldest sumi ink maker (since 1577): you shape your own ink stick by hand. Only from October to mid-April, the ink-making season.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kumano (Wakayama)

    Kibori Hamanasu

    Wood-carving workshop with a Kumano craftswoman in Kushimoto (Wakayama). Perfect if you are walking the Kumano Kodo. New: the asanoha design (a Japanese geometric pattern) and a small tray carved with your name. ¥4,000 per person, cash.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kansai

    Flytographer

    Local photographers in Kyoto and Osaka: a photo session with the whole family together on your trip.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Amakusa (Kumamoto)

    Unplugged

    Paddle a sea kayak through the island-dotted waters of Amakusa, weaving between uninhabited islands in Unzen-Amakusa National Park with a local guide, and land on a white shell-sand island to swim and relax. Afternoon Premium (13:00): ¥10,000 per person on weekdays, ¥11,000 at weekends, with same-day photos and video. Morning Simple (9:00, from March): ¥8,000 / ¥9,000.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Kanazawa & Hakusan (Ishikawa)

    Máscara de león de Kaga

    Paint your own Kaga lion head (shishi-gashira), the wooden craft of Hakusan near Kanazawa. ¥6,600 per person, up to 20 people.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Tokyo

    Food Sample Making Cafe

    Make your own Japanese plastic food replicas, like the ones in restaurant windows, in Asakusa, Tokyo. A souvenir you take home.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Hiroshima

    Koto Workshop Hiroshima

    Discover the soul of Japan through the timeless sound of the koto, just one minute from Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome. Up to 10 people.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately −15 %

    Details

  • Hiroshima

    SHAQUDA

    Make-up brush workshop in Kumano (Hiroshima), Japan’s brush town: you assemble your own and they ship it finished in about two weeks (shipping extra).

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Shimabara (Nagasaki)

    Delfines de Kuchinotsu

    Boat trip to see wild dolphins at Kuchinotsu (Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki). Adults ¥4,000, ages 7–12 ¥2,000, ages 4–6 ¥1,000, 3 and under free.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Shiretoko (Hokkaido)

    Shiretoko: hielo y cruceros

    Drift ice walk in Shiretoko, 1 February to mid-March, and cruises along the World Heritage coast from Utoro and Rausu.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

  • Seki (Gifu)

    Kanemasa, forjador de katanas

    Forge your own knife with Master Kanemasa in Seki (Gifu), Japan’s sword town. 4 to 10 hours, from ¥60,000 per person.

    At the partner’s price · paid separately

    Details

Discounts for your trip

Mobile data and luggage storage. Separate from the guide.

  • Nomad eSIM −20 %
  • Japan Wireless −10 %
  • Airalo −450 ¥
  • Radical Storage −10 %
See all perks and codes

Questions

Is the price per person?

No, per group: the same for 1 as for 6 people. Half day ¥38,000, full day ¥58,000 and 2 hours in Kyoto ¥25,000.

Does the guide fee include tickets, trains or meals?

No. You pay the guide only for the guiding. Tickets, trains, buses, meals and experiences are paid separately, on the spot or to the partner.

How much is a hiking guide near Kyoto or Osaka?

¥68,000 per group for a guided hiking day (Atago, Hiei, Rokko, Kongo and more). Transport and food extra.

How much do kimono or the tea ceremony cost?

Whatever each partner charges on their website: paid separately, directly to them. Some give you a discount when you come with me.

How do I pay?

Payment is in cash, in yen, on the day, or in advance with PayPal, Wise or bank transfer. If you pay in advance, do it only once we have confirmed your date on WhatsApp.

Tell me your dates and group size

I reply with a route and one fixed guide price.

Message on WhatsApp