The perfect tour. Will use again when back in Kyoto
Cannot say enough great things about Richard as a tour guide! We explored Nijo Castle and his narration was immersive which made every room come more alive. His thoughtfulness and deliberation of his delivery comes only from a passion that is rather obvious (and contagious). I appreciated the balance of sharing historical facts and how he views some of the same cultural traits evident in today's fashion, housing and etiquette. It is with the highest recommendation to choose any of Richard's tours, you will not be disappointed! We are grateful he shared his gift with us.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for such a generous review. Your words about my passion being “contagious” genuinely mean a lot to me.
Nijo Castle is full of details that can easily be overlooked, and I love using those details to connect the world of the shogun and samurai to aspects of Japanese culture that guests can still recognize today.
It was a real pleasure sharing Nijo Castle with both of you, and I’m truly grateful you chose to spend that time with me. Thank you as well for your confidence in recommending my other tours—it means a great deal.
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F8569AHjohns
July 16, 2026
A knowledgeable guide can make a huge difference
I was originally going to check out Nijo Castle on my own, but when I saw that Richard was hosting tours I knew I had to book him after going on one of his tours a few days beforehand!
Richard comes prepared with deep knowledge and historical context about the castle. He explained the history of the castle, the architecture, how the rooms were used in the past, and how samurai culture was lived in the castle. Just because of the timing I managed to get a solo tour with Richard, and while going through the castle I noticed several times other people stopping to listening as Richard explained things to me. He speaks with such authority that someone even started asking him questions, and he graciously spread his knowledge to the edification of both myself and other curious guest.
Absolutely worth your time and money. There's a lot more I want to see in Kyoto, and next time visit I will be booking more tours with Richard and TripTomo!
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事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review. The fact that you decided to join another tour after our “5-Star Geisha Night Walk” truly means a lot to me.
My goal at Nijo Castle is to help guests understand not just what they’re looking at, but how the castle actually functioned and what life was like within its walls. My goal is to make it fun and memorable, not just simply walking through the rooms.
It was a pleasure spending more time with you, and I’m truly grateful for your trust in choosing multiple tours with TripTomo. I look forward to welcoming you back to Kyoto someday.
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Venema9
June 13, 2026
Great guide, on the castle but also Japanese culture and the Samurai world
It was absolutely great! My interest in Japanese culture, and especially the samurai times started as a kid when I watched the 1980 Shogun tv-series. My guide Richard explained me a lot details about the castle but also about, Japanese culture, samurai, daimyo and the shogun. I loved it, thanks Richard!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! It was an absolute blast guiding a fellow fan of Shōgun through the castle grounds.
On my tour, I love giving fans of the show a chance to go much deeper into the actual history. My goal is always to bring the world of the samurai, daimyo, and shogunate to life in a fun, interactive way so that you can really experience the atmosphere of the era rather than just looking at old buildings. I'm thrilled I could help make that history a memorable part of your trip.
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Natasha_P
May 25, 2026
Best tour ever!
This was the best tour we had while traveling in Japan! Richard was amazing, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. You could tell he truly loves what he does. If you’re able to add this tour to your itinerary, definitely do it you won’t regret it!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the incredible praise! Hearing that this was your best tour in Japan means the world to me, and I’m thrilled that my passion for Japan came through.
I always treat our walk through Nijo Castle as a real investment in the rest of your time here, so I love keeping the experience unscripted, high-energy, and completely interactive. Thank you for bringing such great energy to the tour, and safe travels!
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GraceK482
May 21, 2026
Nijo Castle and Gardens in the rain
Richard gave us a wonderful, informative experience at Nijo Castle despite the rain and crowds. He knows how to pace the tour to avoid clumping us up with tons of people without us feeling like we were being herded. He is knowledgeable, full of interesting facts and theories about historic and modern-day Japan. I learned to appreciate rocks! I would ask him for another tour in a heartbeat.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I’m glad we could outmaneuver the crowds and the rain to have such a great time—and I love that you left with an appreciation for the traditional rock gardens!
I intentionally keep my groups to a maximum of 8 people because it’s the only way to navigate busy days smoothly and facilitate a fun, interactive experience. While massive 15-30 person tours get caught in the crowd bottlenecks and stick to a basic script, our small group gives us the agility to move freely and have a real conversation about the history. It was an absolute pleasure hosting all of you!
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Teresa_P
May 9, 2026
Excellent Guided Tour of Nijo Castle
This was a fantastic experience with Richard as my guide through Nijo Castle. Richard was easy to find at the castle entrance and filled the entire tour with interesting insight and details about Shogun history, traditions, art, culture and castle design. He also explained how the castle interacted with the Kyoto Imperial Palace which is about 2 km away. The castle and gardens are fully accessible and were not very crowded when I was there the day before Japan's busy Golden Week began. I highly recommend this tour!
事業者からの返答
Thank you for the fantastic review! I’m glad you enjoyed the deep dive into how the castle connected with the broader history of Kyoto.
I intentionally keep my groups very small because it’s the only way to facilitate a fun, interactive experience. While the other tours are restricted to a basic script, our small group allows us to have a real conversation, where I can share those nuanced details and 'hidden' connections that make the history truly come alive. It was a pleasure hosting you!
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seth_d
May 7, 2026
Must do in Kyoto
This was the best tour we have done in Japan so far. We got excellent explanations of the history, culture, etiquette etc of the castle in the shogun era from a native
Japanese local who also put things into the context of modern Japanese culture — all with impeccable English. He was polite, knowledgeable, gave great explanations. It was clear that he has a passion for sharing his culture and history that made the experience much more impactful. He was also kind enough to take time to recommend local restaurants / spots. I would recommend this tour as a must do in Kyoto and would gladly repeat the tour if I came back with someone who had not been here before.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the intimacy of the experience. I intentionally keep my groups very small because it’s the only way to experience the castle intimately in depth.
While the massive 15-30 person tours are restricted to the 'script,' our quality small group allows me the freedom to share those nuanced details and personal recommendations that make a trip to Kyoto truly special. It was a pleasure hosting you!
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Lisa_V
May 2, 2026
Castle Visit with Great Shogun History
Our guide Richard was very knowledgeable about Japanese history and nuanced in the stories he shared. The castle is stunning with unexpected details that reflect our modern sensibilities.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I’m glad you appreciated the nuance in those stories.
I’m firm about keeping my groups limited to just 8 guests—while many other tours at Nijo pack in 15 or 30 people at a time. In those large crowds, you lose the ability to have a real dialogue. By keeping things small, I’m able to share the specific, 'hidden-in-plain-sight' details and political secrets that simply can't be communicated to a massive group. It allows us to move deeper into the culture & history than the standard scripted tours allow, and I'm thrilled that made the difference for you!"
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Richard_S
April 27, 2026
A super guide in Kyoto
What a great tour and guide!! We learned much about the castle, the Samari society and general background of Japan. Guide is very knowledgeable and have a fantastic way of communicating.
事業者からの返答
Thanks for the great review! I’m happy to hear that the background on the castle and the broader history of Japan resonated with you. I strive to structure my tours so they are both professionally informative and personally engaging—never scripted. It’s a joy to show guests the real Kyoto I know and love, and I’m glad you found the experience and the communication style so effective!
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Oliver_W
April 18, 2026
Amazing tour of Nijo...
Amazing tour of Nijo Castle with Richard! Very knowledgeable about the rich history of the castle. The moment we stepped through the gates he brought you back in time with how the samurai and castle functioned. Beautiful site to see and learned many new things. Highly recommend this tour if you are in Kyoto!
事業者からの返答
Thank you—I’m glad you enjoyed your time at Nijo Castle.
I try to present the castle in a way that makes the structure and the people who used it feel real, rather than just something to observe. It’s great to hear that came through from the moment you entered. Thank you that comment!
It was a pleasure having you on the tour, and I really appreciate the recommendation.
