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Joined 2018
Mao Y.
Available Areas
Takayama (Living), Gifu
Languages
English, Japanese (Native)
Response Time
14 hours on average
Availability Updated
5 days ago
About Tour Guide Mao Y.
Hi! I'm Mao. My home town is Takayama and I like here a lot! I’d like to show you! I love meeting friends, chatting, travel around, play sports, drinking and go to my favorite restaurants. I'll offer more local sightseeing spots, eateries, cafes, bars and leisure facility and also I'm familiar with suburban area.
I have an experience of living in BC, Canada and then taught Japanese and culture for kids in a school. After that, I have been worked at a hostel in Takayama. I like to meet people and to know new things for me.
Feel free to contact me!
I carefully select tours that are suitable for this arrangement, and I am happy to discuss details in advance to ensure everyone feels comfortable.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Important
Please contact me before a month basically, but feel free to contact me!
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
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Casual tour in Takayama
I'll guide main part of Takayama and local place. We'll go old town, morning market, sake breweries, shrines and temples area, also good cafes or eateries. Also I can arrange a plan where you want to go like to see cherry blossom, to walk in country side.
Casual tour in Takayama
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Hida Furukawa Tour
Furukawa is a small town next to Takayama. We can go just 15 minutes by train from Takayama. It locate on the way to Toyama, Kanazawa by train. We will go around the town which more calm and not too touristy.
Hida Furukawa Tour
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Country side tour in Takayama
We will go country side in Takayama.This is a journey to landscape in the original state in Japan.Here is a very local side so you can experience deep Japan.
Country side tour in Takayama
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Casual Shirakawago Tour
Shirakawago is a world heritage in Hida, Gifu.I'll show traditional houses and amble around. Here is always beautiful.It shows many faces according to the season, climate and time of the day. Basically, it can booked only Saturday, Sunday, Japanese notional holidays, please contact and ask me!
Casual Shirakawago Tour
Reviews
Patrick H.
“Short tour of Takayama ”
We had a fantastic time with Mao & her 9 mo baby. We toured the best of Takayama and also learned about one of her favorite restaurants well off the tourist trail. We loved it & it was a unique cultural experience. We also loved staying at Sumiyoshi antique ryokan and the food there was Amazing! Mao was very knowledgeable and a delight to tour with. Highly recommend Takayama and Mao!
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Mao Y.
Thank you so much! We really enjoyed spending time with you too, and thank you for being so kind and understanding about having my son with us. I truly hope Japan was a wonderful experience for your grandson. And please give my regards to your niece as well!
Francois D.
“A wonderful local perspective of Takayama!”
We had a fantastic 2.5-hour tour with Mao, and she was truly wonderful. Even for a shorter tour, she took the time to carefully plan an itinerary that was perfectly adapted to all of our interests and specific requests. Mao shared great historical facts, but what we loved most was seeing the city through the eyes of someone born and raised there. It gave us a unique, authentic connection to Takayama that we wouldn't have found otherwise. We really enjoyed our time with her and highly recommend Mao for a personal and insightful tour!
Mao Y.
Thank you for your review! I had a great time with you and felt like I was one of you! I’m really happy you enjoyed your time in Takayama! See you again in Takayama or Canada!
Janie S.
“Mao is a thoroughly competent and cheerful guide. ”
We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with Mao, she is one of the best guides we have had anywhere in the world. She was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. Her spoken English is very good indeed and she gave us thoughtful insights into Takayama specifically and Japan in general. Mao communicated with us very well before the tour. She well organised and has been a pleasure to deal with We recommend her unreservedly.
Mao Y.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! Thinking back to the time I spent with you made me feel really happy.
Other Popular Tour Guides in Takayama
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Naoto K.
Hello! I’m Naoto. Born and raised in Toyama, with Kanazawa as my backyard, I welcome you to Hokuriku—Japan’s sanctuary of culture, nature, and gastronomy. My roots run deep into Takayama, Gifu. I even spent part of my childhood in a traditional thatched-roof house, giving me a lifelong connection to the heritage and craft of Hokuriku and Hida. After living abroad and spending decades in Tokyo, I returned to curate tailored journeys into authentic Japan, far from tourist crowds. In Hokuriku, you experience history through all senses. With my private vehicle, I offer door-to-door comfort to extraordinary places tour buses cannot reach. What Makes Your Journey Extraordinary: Food as Living Culture: From "jewels of the sea" along Toyama Bay (Iwase/Himi) and samurai cuisine to mountain retreat dining, every meal is curated to your tastes. Samurai Legacies & Crafts: Walk through samurai districts and connect with artisans, from Kanazawa’s gold leaf to Inami woodcarving and Gokayama Washi paper. Majestic Nature: Experience contrast—from the Northern Japan Alps to UNESCO-listed villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Immersive Experiences: Craft workshops, culinary sessions, or quiet river excursions with a local insider. Having lived abroad, I act as your cultural translator, bridging the gap between a visitor and local Japan. Every itinerary is 100% customized to your pace. Let’s create an unforgettable journey tailored for you. [Qualifications] Government-Licensed Guide-Interpreter (English) Certified General Travel Services Manager Historical Proficiency Test (Japanese History, Grade 2) English: EIKEN Grade 1 | TOEIC: 985 | TOEFL iBT: 108 U.S. Graduate Degree; 3+ Years Abroad Certified in CPR and AED (Basic Life Supporter) by the Japanese Red Cross Society
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Shoten S.
Hello, my name is Shoten, please call me Sho. I was born in a local area in Toyama prefecture. I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. After graduation, I continued to study English at a local English circle. In international activities, I also guided foreign people around Toyama Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Gifu Prefecture. After retirement, I work as a guide interpreter and a translator. The Hokuriku region has many sightseeing spots, including beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, and traditional crafts like Takaoka copperware and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism, such as the Kurobe dam and industrial tourism. I look forward to welcoming you to the Hokuriku region.
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Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens. Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu. I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
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