Private Tour
Aizu 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Aizuwakamatsu!
Aizuwakamatsu is a former feudal capital featuring a number of historical attractions that you can visit during a leisurely cycle around its quiet streets. In addition, stop by the number of old-fashioned shops selling local crafts after touring the traditional villages along the rickety train lines in the countryside of the surrounding foothills.
Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Aizuwakamatsu
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private transportation
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Tsuruga Castle Gymnasium
Tsuruga Castle (鶴ヶ城, Tsurugajō) was built in 1384 and changed hands many times between the different rulers of the Aizu region. It was destroyed after the Boshin War of 1868, a rebellion against the newly formed Meiji government, which had taken over control from the Tokugawa shogun and put an end to Japan's feudal era. Tsuruga Castle was one of the last strongholds of samurai loyal to the shogunate. The castle was rebuilt as a concrete reconstruction in the 1960s. In renovation works completed in 2011, the color of the roof tiles was reverted from grey to the original red, a unique color among Japanese castles. Visitors can climb to the top floor of the castle keep and look out onto the surrounding city. The inside of the building is an interesting museum with attractive displays about the history of the castle and the samurai lifestyle.
Aizu Old Samurai Residences
The Aizu samurai residence (会津武家屋敷, Aizu Bukeyashiki) served as the quarters of the region's most important and highest ranked samurai, as well as his family, employees, and servants. The original complex was burnt down during the Boshin War in 1868, but has since been reconstructed and furnished to replicate its appearance in the Edo Period. Because of the prestige of the samurai and the size of his retinue, the samurai residence is quite expansive. There are dozens of different rooms and sections, including gardens, guest rooms, a tea house, an archery range and a rice mill. Inside many of the rooms there are mannequins of the former inhabitants portraying either typical scenes of daily life or dramatic historical events.
Options
Aizu 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Pickup included
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brilliant
957clivew,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time with our guide, Yumi. She was a very happy,friendly person. She had obviously spent a great deal of time preparing for our your because she had pages of graphs and information for us. She was extremely knowledgeable about the sites we visited. A wonderful experience for us.
Lovely afternoon in Aizu
W5404UEannm,
May 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful experience in Aizuwakamatsu with our guide Mitzuko. She was enthusiastic, very knowledgeable about the history of the region, and her English speaking skills were top notch. She worked with us to put together a mix of activities that everyone in our family enjoyed (we visited the Sazaedo temple, Tsurugajo Castle, and did Akabeko painting). Highly recommend this charming tour guide!
Visit to several key places in Tokyo over a 4 hour tour.
X7865PNjohns,
May 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We set up a tour with Japan Guide Agency for 23 May 2025 and our guide was Shuji. We were met at our hotel in Ginza and taken to the Fish Market, to Shibuya District, Imperial Palace and Nezu Shrine. It was great. Shuji is retired but been guiding for 8 years and his English is good and he has a good sense of humour. The Fish Market visit was extremely informative especially with explanations of the different products on sale and how they might be used in traditional Japanese cooking. Next we visited the Shibuya hub where many roads meet in this busy and vibrant area. We then moved towards the Imperial Palace region, past the different Government buildings and Police headquarters to the entrance itself. We didn’t tour the Palace but had a good history lesson of what had happened at the end of WWII. It was very busy with many many tourists. Our final location was a beautiful shrine (Nezu) in the Nezu district. It is set in beautiful grounds with thousands of bushes, shrine buildings and torii arches. The history of the shrine was simply but completely presented as well as a lesson on the differences between Buddhist and Shinto practices. We were fortunate to see a car blessing and a 3-5-7 family visit. Overall, he was great and we appreciated the information provided. On the trip back, he wrote down extensive directions for us to get to the Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens which we later visited.
Great day out
annepK2912BF,
Mar 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great day with Masa. He tailored our tour perfectly for us and constantly checked we were okay with everything and to see if we needed a break at any point.
Excellent tour in Aizuwakamatsu!
lyosh1,
Mar 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great tour of Aizuwakamatsu with our guide, Mitsuko. The town is calming after a few days in Tokyo. Billed as Samurai City, history as told at historic Tsugaro Castle explains transition from Edo samurai culture to the Meiji restoration. We stopped in at the cozy teahouse for matcha and manju, as well. Visiting the Sazae-Do wooden double helix former temple was enchanting. It is next to the memorial to and gravesite of 19 young men who killed themselves in 1868 in Samurai tradition, believing the struggle was lost. We also stopped at Suehiro Sake for a tour which is only given in Japanese, but Mitsuko explained the process prior. Excellent sake. Mitsuko was a great guide, and was very prepared for our tour. Highly recommend.
Perfect guide for a family outing.
p lhenrikw,
Mar 23, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We (parents and two children (9y, 12y)) had a very pleasant trip with Suji (the guide). He helped us get IC cards and told interesting stories about the sites we visited. Suji gave us some interesting insights in Japanese history, myths and religion. He was very well prepared, patient and thoughtful.
Great day in Tokyo
P8222QHchantals,
Mar 23, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time with our guide Chas Yokoi. He is a good chat and knows a lot about japanese history, especially the samurai era.
Amazing your guide
896clivem,
Nov 16, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide was amazing, train info was invaluable both before and after the tour. Much thought had been put into making the most of our chosen destinations and she took great photos
Great tour!
bryannQ9308GS,
Sep 3, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! Our tour guide, Nobuko, was very knowledgeable of the history of Aizuwakamatsu and went above and beyond with escorting us around the area. She even help arrange our transportation after and gave us some small souvenirs as gifts. I would definitely reccommend this tour if visiting Aizuwakamatsu. The area is beautiful and rich with history.
Positive
Eirikfh,
Jul 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our favourite part was definively the asakusa and the temple there. Bruce was very nice and helpful throughout the trip and the tour was very successful
