About Tour Guide Chiaki K.

“Shimbata Hidden Gem”

Four of us had a wonderful experience w Chaiki who met us at the Harumi cruise port for a tour of Shimbata. We loved using our Suica card to take the bus and subway out to this neighborhood of Tokyo. We enjoyed walking the charming pedestrian street filled with traditional shops selling moochi candies and hand made udon noodles and other Japanese delicacies . The street was filled with Japanese families on a Saturday outing to the neighborhood and shrine. We enjoyed the shrine and walking in the lovely peaceful Japanese garden spending so much time observing Japanese families celebrating special rituals for new babies and seeing children in tiny kimonos that we had to head to our lunch reservation We had a fabulous time at a susnhi turntable restaurant where we ate ramen and delicious assortment of sushi. We made a stop at the dollar store to buy some reading glasses and saw the Sky Tree tower and free city views from the 36th floor of the building next door. We enjoyed getting to know Chiaki, who was knowledgeable, warm and cheerful and accommodating to our needs. She is a lovely person and we felt very fortunate to have her as our guide. The tour was definitely a highlight of our Tokyo visit! We mingled with Japanese people as they enjoyed the weekend day which made it that much more special. Chaiki helped in so many ways, making sure we got in the correct bus back to our ship at the end of the day. It was overall a great time and we r so glad to have engaged Chaiki and cannot recommend her enough! Thank you — thank you — thank you!!

Chiaki K.

(165 reviews)

Dear Alice, thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! Your words truly made me smile. It was such a pleasure meeting the four of you and spending the day exploring Shibamata together. Shibamata is one of my favorite places to introduce to visitors because it is such a wonderful place showing Japanese ordinary life. I’m glad you enjoyed the charming and traditional environment. I’m also glad that you enjoyed so many little things along the way—from your rotating sushi lunch and shopping stop to seeing Tokyo Skytree and the city views. Most importantly, I’m happy that you felt comfortable throughout the day, and I was glad to hear that you return to your cruise ship safely and stress-free. Thank you for your very kind words about me. I feel fortunate to have met such warm and enthusiastic travelers, and I truly enjoyed getting to know all of you. Please send my best wishes to George, Susan and Russ! I hope you take home many wonderful memories of Japan through your cruise trip, and I would be delighted to see you again someday! Thank you!

“Tokyo beyond the crowds ”

We loved our tour with Chiaki. She showed us how to navigate the local subway and read the signs, which made getting around Tokyo on our own much easier afterward. She helped us get the lay of the land and gave insightful details at every stop. We covered a lot: Tsukiji Outer Market, Fukagawa Fudodo, the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi food hall, the Yanaka and Nezu neighborhoods, and Nezu Shrine. The fire ceremony at Fukagawa Fudodo was incredible, a highlight of our whole trip. What stood out most was that she took us to off-the-beaten-path spots that weren't crowded, a real relief in Tokyo. She's very friendly and pleasant to spend the day with. Five stars.

Chiaki K.

(165 reviews)

Thank you Melissa, for your wonderful and thoughtful review! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed your day with me. I’m also very happy that you enjoyed the quieter, off-the-beaten-path places. Tokyo can certainly be busy, so discovering peaceful neighborhoods and local spots is one of my favorite ways to experience the city. Thank you again for your kind words and five-star recommendation. I truly enjoyed spending the day with you and sharing Tokyo with you. I hope you and Joe have a wonderful time in Tokyo and safely go back home. Arigato!

“Off the beaten path adventure away from the tourist crowds! Just as I requested.”

The fire ceremony at a Buddhist temple was most memorable, thanks to Chiaki’s explanation. She is knowledgeable, thoughtful and accommodating. Highly recommend as our best private tour experience! Great value!

Chiaki K.

(165 reviews)

Dear Cynthia, thank you so much for your wonderful review! Your kind words truly mean a lot to me. Knowing that this was your best private tour experience is such a pleasure! Thank you also for your recommendation. I truly appreciate your trust and hope you’ll return to Japan someday so we can explore more of Tokyo!