Best of Istanbul City Private Walking Tour in English/Japanese

After making the reservation, I received a polite Japanese guidance message via WhatsApp the day before. Although I'm not completely unable to speak English, I was very relieved and grateful to be able to communicate in Japanese. They carefully listened to my requests, and since it was my first time in Turkey and Istanbul, I told them that I wanted to learn about the overall picture of the city and the must-see attractions. They selected and guided me to places where explanations were needed or where it was better to have an interpreter. They also kindly told me about places and shops that I could visit on my own the next day. She was a very, very wonderful guide, her Japanese was excellent, and I had a wonderful day.

Participated on January 2, 2026, with a total of 4 people: a couple in their 50s and two daughters in their 20s. The guide was a kind Turkish woman in her 50s who was gentle and loved cats. She guided us through Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. The tour lasted about 7 hours with breaks. I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes. It was difficult to understand where the meeting point ticket booth was, so I'll upload a photo. It's on the right side of the road facing Hagia Sophia, further back. The entrance fees for Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace were expensive at 66,000 yen for the family of four, but we were able to enter without waiting in the long lines, and we didn't have the anxiety or frustration of not understanding the language. We were able to receive explanations of the buildings' history in Japanese, efficiently tour the key points, and save time, which I felt was invaluable. I was hesitant to go to Topkapi Palace at first because the entrance fee was particularly high, but I'm so glad I went. The guide was very trustworthy.