Japan Guides

I'm planning a visit to Japan and have seen adverts for free guides. Don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but are these genuine? I wondered why they were free.

Many tonws/cities/prefectures run a volunteer English guide service qand you can susally find these at major castles also. Find where your going aqnd hit up the city or prefectural tourism department. They usually have an English section and contact details.

There are many goodwill guides to guide you around locally for free.But you will need to pay for the guide's travel fares, lunch and any tickets to enter facilities.
So it is not free after all.
You also need to book for a guide in advance by phone or e-mail.They are not always available on your requested day though.
If you ask for a professional guide, of course it will cost you much more but you can have a guide on the specified day through the website of the Japan Guide Association.

one reason is the guides are retired people or housewives who dont need to make money and would like to have a nice time with someone.