Interpreter guide service for
unique experiences in Naruto
Welcome, and thank you for visiting my website! My name is Masami Mura, a nationally licensed professional tour guide based in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.
What sets my tours apart are a few key features:
・I specialize in private tours for individuals or small groups, ensuring a more personal and flexible experience.
・I connect directly with travelers through this website, so there’s no middleman—just you and me.
・ I focus exclusively on Naruto City and the surrounding areas, offering in-depth, locally rooted experiences.
Like many in the travel industry, I had no work as a guide during the COVID-19 pandemic. It made me realize how precious face-to-face connections truly are. When I was finally able to guide again, it brought me such joy to hear guests laugh and tell me how happy they were to be here. That’s when I knew—this is what I love doing.Because of that, I always prepare with great care to make sure each guest feels welcomed, enriched, and delighted throughout the tour.
Where is Naruto?
Naruto is a city at the northeastern tip of Tokushima, Japan.
Naruto has a train station, but it is inconvenient for rail traffic from other major cities.
Even within Shikoku, the trains are sparse at one per hour, so the fastest and most direct method of reaching Naruto is to take a bus from Kansai Area across the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge.
JR Bus operates Awa Express buses between Kansai (Osaka or Kobe or Kyoto) and Tokushima, stopping along the way at Kosoku Naruto (Please get off at this bus stop!) which is a bus stop along the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto highway.
Depending on traffic conditions, it takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Osaka and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kobe to Naruto by highway bus.
Top attractions in Naruto
1. Naruto Whirlpools
Natural phenomena in the Strait of Naruto
2. Otsuka Museum of Art
Huge museum filled with reproduced Western art
3. Ryozenji Temple
First temple along the Shikoku Pilgrimage
4. Fukuju Soy Sauce Brewery
Founded in 1826, Fukuju Soy Sauce has carefully preserved the traditional production methods handed down since its establishment to this day.The soy sauce is naturally fermented over a period of more than a year, giving it a rich aroma and depth. Tours of the 200-year-old brewery are available.
You can taste and purchase various types of soy sauce and miso at the store.
5. Mori Toki Pottery
Mori Pottery, which has been producing Ōtani ware for about 240 years, is home to one of Japan’s largest climbing kilns, designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.They produce large ceramic pieces such as indigo jars and water lily pots, as well as miscellaneous items perfect for everyday use.
Why private guide is good for you?
Guide can help you interact with people at your destination.
Since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, many international travelers have returned to Japan. However, this has led to overcrowding in popular tourist destinations. If you've found your way to this website, chances are you're looking for something different—an experience off the beaten path, perhaps in Japan's beautiful countryside.
Naruto is one such place. Here, you can enjoy breathtaking nature, rich history, and authentic culture in a calm, uncrowded setting. But unlike the big cities, rural areas like Naruto may not have extensive English signage or support.
You might be thinking: Can’t I just use Google Translate?
But what about the friendly lady at a local diner, the owner of a traditional soy sauce brewery, or the curious schoolchildren who greet you on the street? They probably won’t have Google Translate ready.
Would you still like to connect with them?
These spontaneous, human interactions often become the most treasured memories of a trip.
As your guide, I can of course explain the sights and their background—but more than that, I’ll help you engage with local people in meaningful ways. I’ll be your bridge to experiences you simply can’t get from a guidebook or translation app.
A private guide is flexible, and everything is personalized
Naruto is a spacious city, with most of its key attractions located outside the central area. For example, Naruto Park and the famous whirlpools are about six kilometers north of downtown, while Ryozenji Temple—the starting point of the Shikoku Pilgrimage—is roughly ten kilometers to the west.
Unlike in Japan’s major cities, public transportation in Naruto is limited. Buses and trains are infrequent and not always convenient for sightseeing. To comfortably explore the area, having access to a car is essential.
For private tours with up to three guests, I can provide transportation in my own car. When we begin planning your tour, I’ll ask about the places you’d like to visit and the types of food you want to try. Based on your preferences, I’ll create a personalized itinerary just for you.
One of the biggest advantages of a private tour is flexibility. Even on the day of the tour, we can adjust the plan depending on the weather, your interests, or how you’re feeling—something you simply can’t do on a large group tour.
Happy voice from customers!
This trip to Naruto was very pleasant.
Masami was very professional, patient and punctual. Each attraction was arranged in an orderly manner. The detailed introduction of the world famous paintings in the Naruto Art Museum and Naruto Whirlpools benefited me a lot. On the way back, she kindly sent us to the Tokushima Museum and watched the Awa Dance. This trip to Naruto was very pleasant. I will definitely recommend Masami as their tour guide to my relatives and friends who come to Tokushima in the future.
What about the price?
I think price and payment terms are important to both of us when you hire a private guide. My standard guide fee is 6,000 Japanese yen per hour. This includes 10% consumption tax, and for up to three people, I will use my car, so this also includes transportation to and from the location of your choice within Naruto City and between tourist attractions within Naruto City. Other expenses such as entrance fees to facilities for you and me, meals, parking fees for my car, highway charges, etc. are not included. Let me know where you would like to go in Naruto and I will give you an estimate. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. The remaining 50% of the fee must be paid at least 3 days prior to the tour date. For more information, including the cancellation policy, please see the Price page.
