Joined 2014
Jack M.
Available Areas
Tochigi (Living), Nikko
Languages
English
Response Time
7 hours on average
Availability Updated
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Tour Categories
About Tour Guide Jack M.
Hi there!! I am an English speaking tour guide based in Utsunomiya city near Nikko. Since I came back from Auckland, New Zealand I started my own business as an English Speaking Guide. I have been a guide for 6 years. My favorite things to do these days are 1. visit historical places in Tochigi prefecture, 2. find nice restaurants and bars in Utsunomiya 3. wear hats while I am working outside.
Important
If you want to enjoy Nikko, please think about staying Nikko or Utsunomiya, I will take you around the night tour if you stay in Utsunomiya.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Nikko walking tour (The world heritage site and hidden treasure spots)
Experience the most personalized guided tour in Nikko, where I will meet you at JR Utsunomiya station or Tobu Nikko station. We'll take the bus to Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park. I will show you around both inside and in the garden. After the lunch break, we will go to Kanmangafuchi Gorge. Then we will walk to Toshogu Shrine and spend one and a half hours there. We will visit Rinnoji's Sanbutsudo Hall. On returning to Nikko station, we will stop at the Shinkyo Bridge.
Greedy Nikko Tour (enjoy both historical sites and beautiful lakes and waterfalls)
After arriving at JR Utsunomiya station, your guide will take you to Nikko National Park and World Heritage Site. On the way to Nikko, we'll pass through an avenue lined with Japanese cedars. This avenue is recorded as the longest tree lined avenue in the Guinness Book of World Records. We will see Yunoko Lake in Yumoto area and also enjoy "Ashiyu" or foot bathing. We'll visit the Yutaki Waterfall, the Ryuzu Waterfall, and the Kegon Waterfall. Around Chuzenji Lake, we'll spend some time at the Italian Embassy Villa memorial park. Lunch will be at Chuzenji Lake or Sannai area. Our last visit will be the Toshogu-Shrine.
Pottery Village Mashiko (Hamada Shoji's ware) Museum, Cafe and Laughing King of Hell Statue.
We visit Mashiko village outskirt of Utsunomiya, capital of Tochigi prefecture. Making Mashiko famous is Hamada Shoji after he moved to Mashiko. Mashiko ware was for daily use ceramics like pots, plates as such. Therefore it was not really an art, initially but since Hamada Shoji settled in this village, ｐractical utility and artistic beauty combine to make us comfortable life. Now Mashiko village accept a lot of artists from other area. Actually not only artists but entrepreneurs. You can enjoy nice Cafes in Mashiko. You can enjoy cups, plates using Mashiko ware and food itself is superb. So we visit this town and see museums and shops and also indigo dye factory. In Saimyoji temple, we can see a laughing King of Hell statue.
Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest walk and Nasu Highland
We go to Nasu by motorway and stop at Sesshoseki (Killing stone) and then to Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest. We walk there around a couple of hours and have lunch. There is no restaurant in that area so that you should buy your lunch at one of the covenience stores on the way to Nasu. After lunch if the weather permits we go to the ninth station of Chausudake mountain by ropeway. We enjoy spectacular scenery from there. Then dropping off at the visitor center to learn about Nasu. We pass through Nasu Imperial villa and we will drop by some souvenir shops if you like.
Reviews
Denise H.
Nikko walking tour (The world heritage site and hidden treasure spots)
“We had a fabulous time”
We had a great time in Nikko with Jack. He gave us a lot of information and kept 3 teenage boys engaged. We have a wonderful soba lunch at a local restaurant. A good time was had by all.
Jack M.
(63 reviews)Thank you for your compliments. I'm glad to hear that you had a good time with me in Nikko. It's getting hot even in Nikko. I hope I will be your guide again next time you come back to Nikko.
Anne stickley M.
Nikko walking tour (The world heritage site and hidden treasure spots)
“A great guide for Nikko”
Jack met us at the train station and after purchasing tickets for Toshogu shrine at the station (to avoid lines at Toshogu), we boarded a bus to the Imperial Villa. After that, we walked to Kanmangafuchi (the gorge with the jizo bosatsu statues), Taiyuin, Futarasan and Toshogu Shrine. We also stopped by Sambutsudo, but there was a special event taking place there so we couldn’t go inside, but we could still see the Buddha statues from the outside. Jack provided the historical background of the places we visited, and noted many interesting features and facts about each location. He also took us to a nice noodle shop for lunch, where we got to taste yuba, a local tofu delicacy. It was a delightful day, and our group (including a couple from Germany) would not hesitate recommending Jack as your guide for this tour. Thank you, Jack, for the great service you gave us last week!
“Great guide”
My family and I had a lovely day out with Jack exploring Okunikko, he navigated the hairpin roads with ease and we were able to see all the beautiful waterfalls and lake Chuzenji. Our tour of Toshogu Shrine was also very interesting and Jack gave us lots of facts about the temples and shrines at this site, which makes it more memorable than if we had gone on our own. Jack was also very accommodating when I requested for my family of 5 to have a tour, and he organised a larger car so we could enjoy the day together. I would recommend Jack to anyone who wants to visit Nikko! I only wish we could spend more time in this beautiful place.
Jack M.
(63 reviews)Thank you so much for your comment. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed the day with you and your family. We saw a knocked down old lady and an almost upsidedown car around out car park, didn't we? Hope no one was critical condition! Enjoy rest of your trip. Jack
