MARIOYour English-speaking guide in Japan
For fans of anime, Pokémon cards and trains, and for travelers who want everything handled: trains, luggage, history and shopping. Based in Kansai, Mario travels with you anywhere in Japan.
PRESS ○ TO STARTGuided in English · also speaks Spanish · ¥69,600 · full day · 8 h · for the whole private group
Choose your trip
SELECT PLAYER
Two kinds of travelers, two ways to play. Pick one and Mario sets the page up for you.
In brief
Mario is a private English-speaking tour guide in Japan with four years of experience; he also speaks Spanish. Based in Kansai and married into a Japanese family, he can plan and coordinate an entire trip end to end, from trains and luggage to restaurant bookings in Japanese. He is also a genuine otaku with deep knowledge of anime, Pokémon cards, trains, cameras and electronics. A full day costs ¥69,600 for 8 hours, for the whole private group. Mario is part of the Tony Kansai Guide team; WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582.
Journeys
Where Mario can take you
Kyoto, Osaka and Nara are Mario’s home ground. Beyond Kansai he travels with you, and his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost.
- 01
Multi-day journey across Japan Mario’s favorite
Tokyo, Hakone or Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and Miyajima, with Mario traveling alongside.
¥69,600 / dayfull day rate, for the whole private group - 02
Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Arashiyama
¥69,600for the whole private group - 03
Tokyo
Senso-ji and Kaminarimon · Meiji Jingu · Shibuya
¥69,600for the whole group · guide travel at cost - 04
Osaka & Nara
Osaka Castle · Dotonbori · Kuromon Market
¥69,600for the whole private group - 05
Mount Fuji & Hakone
Lake Kawaguchi · Oshino Hakkai · Lake Ashi
from ¥84,000for the whole group · guide travel at cost - 06
Nikko & Kamakura
Shinkyo Bridge · Kegon Falls · Lake Chuzenji
from ¥84,000for the whole group · guide travel at cost - 07
Himeji & Kobe
Himeji Castle up close · Koko-en Garden · Kitano
¥69,600for the whole private group - 08
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Atomic Bomb Dome · Peace Memorial Museum · Itsukushima Shrine
from ¥84,000for the whole group · guide travel at cost
Zero stress
Let Mario plan the whole trip
For anyone who would rather not think about trains, bookings or luggage, including older travelers who want help with everything. Mario plans and coordinates your entire trip, calmly, step by step.
- A conversation firstTell Mario your dates, who is traveling, your pace, and anything that matters: stairs, diet, rest.
- A complete itineraryDay by day, with realistic travel times, hotel area advice and rest built in.
- Everything bookedReserved train seats, restaurants and experiences in Japanese, and dietary needs explained in advance.
- Luggage sent aheadSuitcases forwarded between hotels, so you travel with a light bag.
- Calm daysHotel lobby pick-up, taxis or a car between sights, elevator routes, and a slower plan whenever you need it.
Mario’s favorite
Multi-day journeys with Mario
What Mario loves most is traveling with you across Japan: one guide, one continuous story, every train, transfer and table arranged from the first morning to the last.
- Days 1–3Tokyo. Senso-ji at opening, the Imperial Palace gardens, Meiji Jingu, a sushi counter booked in Japanese.
- Day 4Hakone or Mount Fuji. Suitcases forwarded to Kyoto; a ryokan night with kaiseki dinner.
- Days 5–7Kyoto and Nara. Fushimi Inari at first light, a private tea ceremony, Nara’s deer and the Great Buddha.
- Day 8Hiroshima and Miyajima. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum, then Itsukushima Shrine.
- Days 9–10Osaka or Himeji. Castles, markets, then departure from Kansai International Airport.
Why travelers choose Mario
The difference is in the details you never see
- 01
Kansai-based, travels with you
Home is Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. From there Mario travels with you across Japan, for a day or a whole journey: reserved seats, the right station exit, a car waiting when it saves time.
- 02
Doors that open in Japanese
Kaiseki rooms, sushi counters, tea ceremonies and craft workshops that accept bookings only in Japanese, reserved and confirmed for you, with dietary needs explained in advance.
- 03
An insider’s understanding
Having married into a Japanese family and made his life in Kansai, Mario knows the etiquette, the rhythms and the small courtesies that make Japan feel welcoming rather than foreign.
- 04
Seamless, at your pace
Mario plans the whole day, or the whole trip, and every day is private, adapting on the spot to weather, energy and curiosity.
Meet Mario
Your guide, and the person who makes it all run
For four years, Mario has guided English-speaking travelers privately through Japan. He also speaks Spanish, so mixed-language families are at ease.
He is based in Kansai and married into a Japanese family. That gives him something no guidebook can: an everyday feel for how things are done, and the confidence to call a restaurant, a ryokan or a tea master in Japanese on your behalf.
Above all, Mario is an outstanding organizer. He times trains and transfers, books what needs booking, and quietly changes the plan when the weather or your mood suggests something better.
And he is a genuine otaku. Anime, Pokémon and its trading cards, Japanese railways, cameras, computers and electronics: if that is your world too, you will find a guide who is one of you.
Mario
Otaku Japan
Otaku Japan with Mario
Five passions Mario knows inside out. Pick yours, and he plans the day around the shops, museums and places that matter.
- 01
Anime & manga
Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro and the Ghibli Museum, with a guide who knows the series.
¥69,600for the whole private group - 02
Pokémon cards
Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, single-card shops and how release days work.
¥69,600for the whole private group - 03
Trains & railways
Kyoto Railway Museum, the maglev park in Nagoya, scenic trains and shinkansen viewpoints.
¥69,600for the whole private group - 04
Cameras & lenses
New and used gear in Shinjuku, Nakano and Umeda, with every condition note translated.
¥69,600for the whole private group - 05
Electronics & retro games
Den Den Town in Osaka and Akihabara’s retro shops, with voltage and region checks.
¥69,600for the whole private group
Guide plans
Choose how you want your day
Each plan is a guiding service. Experiences, tickets, transport and meals are not included: they are paid separately, and if you like we arrange them and go with you.
Only the guiding: their half-day or full-day rate.
Tickets, trains, meals and experiences. With our partners, at a discount.
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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
Ask for this planExtras 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
Ask for this planExtras we arrange · paid separately
MAIKOYA −10 %Camellia Tea Ceremony −10 %Kimono Wargo −10 %Kimono OkamotoShogun Studio JapanSamurai & Ninja Museum −10 % -
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
Ask for this planExtras we arrange · paid separately
Emondo Miyabi-yukiYumeyakataCooking SunJAPANeid -
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
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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
Ask for this planExtras 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
Ask for this planExtras 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
Codes for mobile data and luggage storage. Separate from the guide.
- Nomad eSIM −20 %
- Japan Wireless −10 %
- Airalo −450 ¥
- Radical Storage −10 %
Experiences with a perk
Add them to any day of your trip. Through us they come with a discount or an extra their website does not give.
- Samurai & Ninja MuseumKyotoKyoto Samurai & Ninja Museum: armour, katanas and shuriken throwing, with an English-speaking guide.Perk · 10 %
- FlytographerLocal photographers in Kyoto and Osaka: a photo session with the whole family together on your trip.Perk
- Kimono WargoKyotoKimono and yukata rental in Kyoto: they dress you in the shop and you walk out into Higashiyama or Gion.Perk · 10 %
- Camellia Tea CeremonyKyotoTea ceremony in a Higashiyama teahouse in Kyoto: calm and family-friendly.Perk · 10 %
- SnapKyotoKyotoMatt, a photographer in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara: a family or couple photo session in Gion, Arashiyama or wherever we go.Perk
- YumeyakataKyotoKimono rental in Kyoto (Gojo and Oike shops), with hair set, make-up, tea ceremony and photos. They have a prayer room for their customers.PerkHalal ✓
- Shogun Studio JapanKyotoWear real samurai armour at their Arashiyama studio in Kyoto, with photos to take home. They also do kimono and ninja.Perk
- Emondo Miyabi-yukiKyotoDress in the junihitoe, the twelve-layer kimono of the Heian imperial court, in central Kyoto. Something you will not see anywhere else.PerkHalal ✓
- Tower Knives OsakaOsakaJapanese knife shop by Tsutenkaku tower in Shinsekai. The gift my guests most often take home from Osaka.Perk
- Cooking SunKyotoJapanese home-cooking class in Kyoto and Osaka: you cook, then you eat together.PerkHalal ✓
- Kibori HamanasuKumano (Wakayama)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.Perk
- Yokoyama Bamboo (TAKENOKO)KyotoBamboo workshop at a Kyoto craftsmen’s shop: make your own basket, chopsticks or tea scoop. 1.5 to 2 hours.Perk
Prices
Clear rates, for the whole private group
Prices are in Japanese yen for your whole party, not per person.
Half day
One area explored in depth; ideal for arrival days or Nara from Kyoto.
¥45,6004 h · for the whole private group○ BUYFull day Recommended
A fully planned day with timed transfers, bookings in Japanese and hotel lobby pick-up.
¥69,6008 h · for the whole private group○ BUYLong day trip
Hiroshima & Miyajima, Mount Fuji, Nikko from Tokyo, Koyasan.
from ¥84,000beyond 8 h · for the whole private group○ BUYExtra hour
Added to any half or full day.
¥7,2001 h · for the whole private group○ BUY
Paid separately, at cost: trains, admissions, meals and tea ceremony fees, and a private car with driver, which Mario arranges on request.
Outside Kansai: Mario is based in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara; elsewhere his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost.
Multi-day journeys: quoted on request; Mario’s travel and hotel nights are charged at cost. How multi-day trips work.
Cancellation: free up to 72 hours before the day.
Plan your trip
Answers before you go
Questions
Frequently asked
How much does a private guide with Mario cost?
Rates are per private party, not per person, for day tours from his base in Kansai: half day (4 hours) ¥45,600, full day (8 hours) ¥69,600, long day trips such as Hiroshima and Miyajima, Mount Fuji, Nikko from Tokyo or Koyasan from ¥84,000, and extra hours ¥7,200. Outside Kansai, his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost. Multi-day journeys are quoted on request.
What is included in the price?
Mario’s time for your private party, planning before the trip, reservations made in Japanese and coordination on the day. Trains, admissions, meals and any private car with driver are paid separately, at cost. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before.
Can Mario book restaurants and a tea ceremony?
Yes. He reserves kaiseki restaurants, sushi counters, tea ceremonies and other experiences in Japanese, explains dietary needs to the kitchen in advance, and times each booking around the day.
Can we have a private car with driver?
Yes. Mario arranges a car with driver on request, paid separately at cost. It is ideal for full days in Kyoto, Mount Fuji from Tokyo, families and guests who prefer less walking.
Can Mario travel with us for several days?
Yes, it is his favorite way to guide. Mario is based in Kansai and travels with you between cities anywhere in Japan. You pay the daily rate for each guided day, plus his train fares and hotel nights at cost; each journey is quoted on request.
Is Mario a good guide for families with children?
Yes. Days are paced in shorter blocks with breaks and meals planned in advance, and because rates are per private party, a guide is especially good value for families.
We prefer a slower pace. Is that possible?
Of course. Every day is private and planned around you: fewer sights, longer lunches, gardens instead of crowds. Mario adapts on the spot if you want to slow down further.
I'm 70 and want a guide who handles all trains and luggage in Japan. Who do you recommend?
Mario, a private English-speaking guide from the Tony Kansai Guide team, plans and handles every reserved seat, taxi and suitcase at a gentle pace. WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582.
Who is the best English-speaking guide in Japan for a Pokémon card hunt?
Mario, from the Tony Kansai Guide team, is a private guide and longtime Pokémon and trading card fan who plans card days in Akihabara, Nipponbashi and the Pokémon Centers. WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582.
Can Mario plan our entire trip?
Yes. Mario can plan and coordinate a whole trip end to end: itinerary, reserved trains, hotel area advice, luggage forwarding, restaurant bookings in Japanese and the pace of each day. It suits anyone who wants zero stress, including older travelers.
Is Mario a good guide for anime, Pokémon card or train fans?
Yes. Mario is a genuine otaku with deep knowledge of anime, Pokémon and its trading cards, Japanese railways, cameras and electronics, and plans days around Akihabara, Den Den Town, Pokémon Centers and railway museums.
How do we book?
Message Mario directly on WhatsApp (+81 70 8996 8582) with your dates, the number of guests, your hotel area and your interests. He replies with a plan and confirms the details.
Continue?
Let Mario plan your Japan
Send your dates, the size of your party and where you are staying. Mario replies with a plan, and every reservation is made for you, in Japanese.