Japan used to be a country of emigrants. Many Japanese emigrated abroad.
Currently, there are about 3 million Nikkei living overseas. Nikkei are now from the Yonsei to Rokusei generations, and in many cases contacts with Japan had already faded out.
I would arrange a roots searching tour for you no matter your where your ancestors were from.
Visit your roots and have conversations with local people, if you are lucky enough, you might be able to find your relatives.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
TBD(at your hotel or JR station)
Your roots searching tour in Wakayama
Arrival time and tour duration depend on the location of your roots. Ask for details.
Ending Point
TBD(at your hotel or JR station)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
transportation fee(you and guide), lunch(you and guide), etc.
Transportation costs depend on the location of your roots. We may use a taxi depending on the location of your roots.
Arrival time and tour duration depend on the location of your roots.
Transportation costs depend on the location of your roots. We may use a taxi depending on the location of your roots.
As I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government at International Affairs Division for many years, I have a wealth of knowledge about emigration.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Chris R.
“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”
To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.
Arlene N.
“Best of Kyoto”
My sister and I had the best tour of Kyoto with Hiroyuki. He expertly guided us through several beautiful and historic sites, and shared historical facts at every stop. We highly recommend this full day tour of Kyoto with Mr Hiro.
Benjamin S.
“Smooth sailing and rewarding tour”
Hiro is knowledgeable about Japanese and Osaka history and culture. We learned a lot from his explanations. He is very accommodating when it comes to forming a customized itinerary. He provided solutions when urgent needs arose - need for water, bathroom, etc. He was truthful about what a Maid Cafe experience is, and advised us on whether to go or not. Overall, we had a good experience touring Osaka with Hiro as our guide.
Hiroyuki T.
Benjamin san, It was really nice meeting you and your family in Osaka. It is sometimes very difficult to deal with a family with young adults. But your family was not. You really have a nice family. Please say hello to each family member for me. Thank you very much once again, hope to see again in the future. Hiro
$262/ per group