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Discover Japan’s Living Landscapes: Architecture and Community in a Coastal Town ‘Manazuru’

The view of the town from Manazuru Port.

The town of slopes and steps.

Manazuru's town ordinance known as Bi no Kijun

This tour is designed to be flexible.

Community Manazuru

Manazuru Book and Hair (entrance)

Manazuru Book and Hair (backyard)

Manazuru Publishing

Discover Japan’s Living Landscapes: Architecture and Community in a Coastal Town ‘Manazuru’

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2016

Macco K.

4.93 / 5

(15 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kanagawa

Japanese (Native), English

4 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Macco K.)

Up to 4 people

Discover how a small coastal town in Kanagawa has made 'beauty' a civic priority. Just two hours from Tokyo, Manazuru invites you to explore its unique town ordinance, Bi no Kijun (“The Standards of Beauty”), which guides architecture, landscape, and daily life. This walking tour offers insight into how design, nature, and community values come together to shape a harmonious townscape. Perfect for those interested in architecture, urban planning, and sustainable living rooted in tradition.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

12:00 PM

Meeting Point

JR Manazuru Station

- I'll be waiting just outside the ticket gate of Manazuru Station.

12:20 PM

Briefing over Lunch

Over lunch, I'll introduce the tour’s concept and outline, including the town ordinance known as ‘The Standards of Beauty.’

01:40 PM

Community Manazuru

We'll visit Community Manazuru, a public facility and an architectural example that reflects the principles of Manazuru’s town ordinance known as the “Standards of Beauty.”

02:10 PM

Architectural Walk

We’ll walk through the town’s quiet streets and visit some architectural highlights that embody "Bi no Kijun".

Sample stops:

-Manazuru Publishing, a local cultural hub that uses architecture to express editorial values and community engagement.

-Michikusa Bookstore, tucked into a quiet alley, showing how small-scale architecture can enrich the townscape.

-Hon to Biyōshitsu (Books & Hair Salon), a creative hybrid space that reimagines how buildings can serve multiple roles while remaining true to the town’s aesthetic.

03:40 PM

Tea Break

We’ll take a short tea break to relax and reflect on the town’s design philosophy.

Ending Point

JR Manazuru Station (or at a place convenient for you)

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guide fee

What‘s not included

Lunch (for guests and the guide), street food/snacks, drinks

Public transportation fee

Any personal expenses

Tour Important Information

* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

* Please bring enough cash (about 5,000 yen pp at least) since credit cards are not available at many shops and restaurants in Manazuru.

* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Important message from the supplier

I can guide you in Kyoto & Osaka, and Tohoku area (such as Miyagi and Iwate Pref.) if you pay my transportation fee.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2016

Macco K.

4.93 / 5

(15 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Macco K.

Hello :) I am Macco, a licensed tour guide. I love eating and traveling, so I call myself "EATraveler". I'd like you to experience "tasty (oishi)" Japan, so my tour will be full of nice food.

I was born and grew up in Osaka, and now I live in a small fishing town called Manazuru (near Hakone area) after living in Tokyo for more than 10 years. I fell in love with the beautiful scenery of the sea and mountains of Manazuru, and I really enjoy a relaxing life here. So I'd like to show you around this cozy town, which will make you feel nostalgic and relaxed.

I also work as an editor & writer. My recent works are mainly books about food and drinks, such as fermented food, dried food, cocktails and bars, Japanese sake, coffee, cheese, tea, as well as agriculture and food issues. Based on this background, I'd like to offer you amazing food experiences in Japan and enjoy EATraveling together :)

Looking forward to seeing you in Manazuru!

Reviews

Leanne S.

5 / 5

Oct 8, 2025

Tokyo half day tour

Oct 8, 2025

Tokyo

4 hours

Customized

“Lovely, friendly guide”

Macco is a lovely, knowledgeable tour guide who provided a tour and overview of Tokyo that was informative and interesting. I would definitely recommend Macco and meet her again. Her communication is great.

Macco K.

Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad that your parents had a good time with me. (So did I.) Looking forward to seeing you all again in the near future...! Macco

Yvonne M.

5 / 5

Aug 2, 2025

Enjoy Japanese Dinner at Kagurazaka

Aug 2, 2025

Tokyo

3 hours

“Dinner in Kagurazaka ”

A Memorable Japanese Dinner in Kagurazaka with Macco Macco took us to an amazing dinner in Kagurazaka on the evening we arrived in Japan. I chose her tour because our hotel was nearby, and it turned out to be the perfect introduction to the country. She selected a cozy, welcoming restaurant and had made reservations in advance, which made the experience feel seamless and special. Macco was thoughtful and attentive—she asked about our food preferences and chose dishes accordingly. Her kindness, consideration, and deep knowledge of the area made the evening both relaxing and enriching. It was the perfect welcome dinner and set the tone for the rest of our trip. Highly recommended!

Macco K.

Thank you so much again for your warm words, Yvonne san! It means a lot to me. I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed the dinner in Kagurazaka. I also had a great time with you all :) Hope we can spend some time together in the near future!

Yvonne M.

5 / 5

Aug 2, 2025

Airport Pickup

Aug 2, 2025

Tokyo

2 hours

Customized

“Airport Pickup”

We had the most wonderful experience with Macco, our amazing tour guide in Tokyo! From the moment we arrived, she went above and beyond to make our trip smooth and stress-free. Traveling to a new country can be daunting—especially when you don’t speak the language—but Macco made our arrival seamless and welcoming. She kindly offered to pick us up from Haneda Airport, which was a huge relief after a long flight from the U.S. Macco was in constant communication before our arrival, confirming flight numbers, times, and even asking whether we preferred a taxi or train into the city. We chose a taxi, and she handled everything, including communicating with the driver and making sure he had our hotel information. Her fluent Japanese and calm presence immediately made us feel at ease—not just us, but the taxi driver too! On the way to the hotel, we enjoyed a lovely conversation and felt like we were already getting a warm, personal introduction to Japan. Macco is thoughtful, organized, and genuinely kind. She tailored the experience just for us, and we couldn’t have asked for a better welcome or a more capable guide. I highly recommend Macco to anyone visiting Tokyo, especially first-time travelers. Her professionalism, warmth, and deep knowledge of Japan made our start unforgettable.

Macco K.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a good review with 5-star! I really appreciate that. I was happy to welcome you at the airport and enjoy a taxi ride to your hotel together. It was also an unforgeattable experience for me. Thank you for choosing me as your guide. Hope to welcome you back in Japan sometime soon...!