Published on Mar, 2024

I can't say enough about this tour. Minako met us as we came off the cruise ship in Kobe and escorted us via train to see Nara. She was helpful, pleasant and full of information without trying to bore us with too many details. She seemed to know just how much we wanted to talk without being too intrusive. I felt like I had a relative showing me the city rather than an official tour guide. We fed the deer at Nara park and visited the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Minako even went out of her way to try to find a souvenir mug that my wife was looking for. Anyone visiting Kobe/Osaka/Nara must use All Star Osaka Walk if they want a tour of the area.

Published on Mar, 2024

I can't say enough about this tour. Minako met us as we came off the cruise ship in Kobe and escorted us via train to see Nara. She was helpful, pleasant and full of information without trying to bore us with too many details. She seemed to know just how much we wanted to talk without being too intrusive. I felt like I had a relative showing me the city rather than an official tour guide. We fed the deer at Nara park and visited the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Minako even went out of her way to try to find a souvenir mug that my wife was looking for. Anyone visiting Kobe/Osaka/Nara must use All Star Osaka Walk if they want a tour of the area.

Published on Oct, 2023

Thank you Kiko for the wonderful experience exploring Nara. We have memories we will forever cherish You were so kind & knowledgeable. Thank you

Published on Mar, 2023

Kaori is awesome. We had a wonderful day learning about the history and beauty of Nara. She met us at the cruise ship port in Kobe and had the whole day visit to Nara planned out. We took the train from Kobe to Nara. In Nara park, we bought special deer crackers. See photo of Alan feeding the (very tame) deer. Lunch was included Kaori had booked at a tiny restaurant (only four tables) and ate oone of Nara's specialties - somen (thin) noodles. Kaori came equipped with small Japanese coins that she gave us, several times, to throw into a special place at the shrine and temple so that we could make a prayer (wish). At the end, she bought us all a very tasty baked thing, stuffed with red bean paste. See the picture of the three of us holding them. On the train ride back, we had a chance to talk to her about a whole range of things. It would be great to spend another day with her.

Published on Sep, 2019

My son and I had two wonderful days of private touring, the first day with Minako in Osaka and the second day with her husband Ichiro in Nara. Both were extremely knowledgeable guides for the areas on our list. It truly is a walking tour, with some connections by train and subway, so be ready to be on your feet a good bit. But we were shown many interesting and unusual attractions that most tourists do not even hear about, much less get to see. In one of them, my son picked up a beautifully-crafted, forged kitchen knife that cuts like a light saber. I highly recommend the private tours if you want a deeper dive into Japanese history and culture; otherwise, I am sure that Minako and Ichiro and the other guides will make their regular walking tours very worthwhile. A lifetime of memories for a father and son!