About The Backstreet Guides

Private Tours in Tokyo & Kyoto with Local, Japanese Female Guides

Since 2011, The Backstreet Guides has delivered authentic, private tours in Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond, led exclusively by friendly, knowledgeable Japanese women guides who know their cities like only locals can.

Unlike large tour operators or online marketplaces, we personally select and vet every guide on our team. We spend time with each one to ensure they’re fluent in English, culturally sensitive, full of common sense, and above all, a joy to travel with. These aren’t just freelancers; we know them personally and trust them to look after our clients as if they were family.

Private Tours in Tokyo & Kyoto with Local, Japanese Female Guides

Why Choose a Private Tour with The Backstreet Guides?

Local Japanese Female Guides – All our guides are women, born or raised in Japan. You’ll experience Tokyo and Kyoto from a truly local perspective.
Fluent English Speakers – We personally assess each guide’s English ability, communication style, and cultural awareness.
Private & Personalized – All tours are fully private and tailored to your pace, interests, and group size.
Trusted Since 2011 – With thousands of happy guests, our reputation is built on warm service, insider access, and memorable storytelling.
No Outsourcing, No Surprises – Unlike big OTAs, we never assign strangers. Every guide is someone we know, have trained, and fully trust.

Understanding a Zen garden in Kyoto with a local tour guide

Meet Our Guides in Tokyo

Explore Japan’s capital with a private Tokyo tour guide who lives and breathes the city. Our Tokyo guides know more than just the tourist sites; they’ll take you behind the scenes into hidden backstreets, quiet shrines, family-run restaurants, and charming old neighbourhoods like Yanaka, Ueno, or Nezu.

Whether you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time or returning for more, our local female guides create a relaxed, enriching experience filled with cultural insights, local etiquette tips, and a few laughs along the way.

Browse Our Tokyo Tours

Tokyo Private Guides The Backstreet Guides

Discover Kyoto with a Local Guide

From the geisha lanes of Gion to the red gates of Fushimi Inari, Kyoto is best seen with someone who knows its rhythm, rituals, and secrets.

Our private Kyoto guides are lifelong locals and fluent English speakers who’ll guide you through Kyoto’s layers of history. From ancient temples to local markets, with warmth, knowledge, and grace. You’ll understand more, connect deeper, and enjoy every moment without stress or guesswork.

Explore Our Kyoto Tours

Our Difference: Not Just Local - Personally Vetted and Trusted

In today’s world of mass tourism and anonymous online booking platforms, it’s hard to know who your guide will be. That’s where The Backstreet Guides stands apart.

We are a licensed Japanese travel agency (Class 2) and proud members of ANTA (All Nippon Travel Agents Association). We’ve also earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for many consecutive years. But what truly sets us apart isn’t a badge, it’s how we work.

We are a small, local company built on trust and personal connection. Every tour is arranged with care, and every guide is someone we personally know, have trained, and trust to look after our guests.

We never outsource tours to strangers, last-minute freelancers, or untrained student guides. Our team of Japanese women guides is carefully selected for:

Excellent English and cultural communication
Deep local knowledge of their city’s history, food, and hidden gems
Kindness, flexibility, and common sense
A personality we’d feel proud introducing to our own friends

We only bring you to places where we believe your visit will have a positive impact on the people, the community, and you.

A group of Tokyo tourists experiencing a Furisode night with the Backstreet Guides

Senior Tour Advisor & Tokyo Manager

Hiroko

Konnichiwa, Hiro desu! I’m originally from Chiba, the next prefecture east of Tokyo.

For 5 years, I adventured abroad, living in the UK and Canada, before returning to my Japanese roots. Now, I’m passionate about sharing my love for my country, having previously developed my knowledge as a Tokyo tour guide. Whether you’re seeking the neon glow of cityscapes or the tranquility of ancient temples, I’m here to help you.

Contact Me

Tour Advisor

Miki

Hello everyone, Miki desu! I was born and have lived in Tokyo all of my life. I love my city!

I’m really happy to have joined The Backstreet Guides team in 2025. Previously, I have been working in the domestic tourism industry, planning tours for small groups of Japanese people. But now I’m excited to use my knowledge and the skills I’ve learnt to welcome visitors from all over the world to my country. Welcome to Japan!

Contact Me

How it started

The Two Founders

It all began in 2010 with a fateful meeting at a travel event in London! Two like-minded travel industry professionals shared stories of their world travel adventures. A friendship quickly grew and an idea for a Tokyo-based boutique travel company was discussed. In April 2011 The Backstreet Guides Tokyo was born. They continued to grow and build a dedicated team of Japan travel experts and local tour guides.

Owen Skinner & Rie Suenaga