Joined 2019
Haruo T.
Available Areas
Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Yokohama (Living)
Languages
English
Response Time
21 hours on average
Availability Updated
Today
About Tour Guide Haruo T.
I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. I have a license to teach in high schools and was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the University of Birmingham. Until 2015 I had been teaching English at public high schools in Kanagawa for 37 years. During that time, I had some experience of guiding students from overseas through sister-school relationship around Tokyo and Kanagawa. Therefore, I had good command of English with the TOEIC score of 935.
As for a tour guide experience I earned the certificate of National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter in English and since then I have guided tourists to the popular sites around Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura and Yokosuka. My guiding focuses on introducing not only Japanese historical and cultural backgrounds but also giving tourists some tips to travel Japan only by themselves, such as how to use trains and subways, find good restaurants, reserve tickets, buy survenier, and speak basic Japanese. In addition, my tour includes opportunities to experience Japanese culture like Zen meditation, ninja performance, visiting anime's location sites based on tourists' request. Besides, by means of my hobbies of writing English Haiku and Waka (traditional Japanese poems) and performing Rakugo (traditional Japanese funny story telling) in English, I can surely entertain tourists during the tour.
My moto as a tour guide is let the tourists have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Japan with my profound, intelligible and interestiog guiding.
Important
I have changed the day when I am available.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
Tokyo: First Day on Your Trip to Japan
This tour is for the tourists who have just arrived in Japan and would like to explore Tokyo on the first day of your trip. See the typical major sites like Meijijingu Shrine, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Wholesale Market, Imperial Palace and Asakusa, while travelling across the city from the west to the east. Also learn about some tips for strolling Tokyo by yourselves, such as transportation, reservation, dinning and shopping, unique tourist sites and so on, according to your requests and interests.
Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour
This tour takes you to historical sites on wars and peace. In the morning, explore Kamakura to visit the sites related to the battles of samurais to learn about battles in the middle age. After lunch at Komachidori Street, move to the city of Yokosuka to visit Yokosuka Navel Port and Memorial Battleship Mikasa to know about the wars in the modern era. If you want to take the tour of either Kamakura or Yokosuka, it is possible to change the itinerary.
Yokohama Shore Excursion
This is a one-day shore excursion for those who visit Yokohama port during your cruise overseas. During the limited time see the must-see sites and experience some attractions of your interest. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan with a population of about 3.8 million. It is the first port which opened to the world after a long seclusion policy by the last Samurai government (Tokugawa Shogunate). Enjoy both historical sites and newly developed seafront center.
Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!
This tour takes you to Kamakura, the first Samurai capital, and Enoshima, which is a sandbar island on Japanese Long Beach called Shownan. You visit Hachimangu Shrine and Great Buddha to learn about the history and culture of Kamakura Shogunate (Samurai Government). On the latter half of the tour, you enjoy exploring the picturesque and religious island, Enoshima, which is now a popular, and attractive tour site. After you leave Japan, you will never forget this wonderful moment.
Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital
This 4-hour tour takes you to four major and popular tourist sites in Kamakura. Visit Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine to learn about Shintoism, (Japanese indigenous religion), and the culture and history of Kamakura Shogunate, (the first samurai government). Stroll Komachidori Street to enjoy foods and drinks as well as shopping. At Kotokuin Temple, see the great statue of Amida Buddha, and at Hasedera Temple, see the statue of eleven-headed Kannon to know more about Buddhism and it's statues.
Reviews
Marcus O.
“Great tour with an excellent guide”
Haruo is a very kind and pleasant guide. It was a pleasure, to explore the town with him and we truely can recommend him. He explained the historic and the modern meanings of the stops of our tour and made all of the experience really interesting. We had a very good time with him and it was very helpful.
Haruo T.
I can’t say thank you enough for your kind words. I hope your Pokémon souvenir has a great impact on your children. Please don’t worry too much about the result of Omikuji fortune telling drawing. That is a kind of advice for you. I also enjoyed the tour, especially cherry blossom viewing with you. Good luck and take care of yourselves. Danke.
Teresa B.
“Great Day With Haruo ”
We had a wonderful day with Haruo in Tokyo! He was incredibly patient and flexible, especially when we had to change our original plans due to the rain. He was very open and eager to learn more about our culture, and at the same time, we could ask him anything about Japanese traditions, culture, and daily life. It was a truly enriching experience — thank you, Haruo! He’s not only the best tour guide, but also the ultimate videographer when it comes to making you look like a celebrity while crossing Shibuya Crossing!
Haruo T.
I appreciate your kind and heartwarming words. I had a great time with the tourists who were so interested in our culture and history. Especially the questions you asked me were so interesting that they induced more deep and profound explanations. Also thank you your patience and cooperation for bad weather and crowdedness. At the end of the tour I felt like strolling around Tokyo with my friends. Take care and keep in touch.
Robert B.
“A Very Full and Fun Day! ”
Haruo and I had a wonderful day exploring the beauty and history of Kamakura, and then after a quick train trip, we did a tour of Yokosuka's naval history and reviewed the American and Japanese fleets. Haruo is a superb guide with an excellent understanding and explanation of the rich history of Kamakura and Yokosuka. A very fun companion and superb English speaker, you will very much enjoy your day with him.
Haruo T.
Hi, Robert. I can’t thank you enough for your kind words. Since you have learned a lot about the culture and history of Japan, I enjoyed talking about various aspects, like history, literature, religion and so on with you. Also I appreciated your sympathy and support on my injury. I’m sure you’ll have a great time at photo session. Best wishes Haruo Takagi
Other Popular Tour Guides in Yokohama
Yuko O.
Hello, potential tourists! I'm Yuko, Yokohama local tour guide with English government license. I have been living in Yokohama for 40 years, and have been working in Tokyo for 35 years; 20 years as a business person,10 years as a teacher, then I became a tour guide in 2015. Yokohama is a major port city, and the 2nd largest city in Japan. It is one of the most popular sightseeing spots for Japanese tourists as well. However, for non-Japanese guests who are to experience things unique to Japan, without a tour guide, it could not be so stimulating, - a beautiful harbor, traditional garden, fashionable shopping mall, which could be likely to appear not so different from Tokyo, or other Western or Asian port cities. Actually, Yokohama is very special for Japan ! Without Yokohama, Japan would not have been developed into what it is now! Would you find real attraction of Yokohama with me ? Also I'm familiar with Tokyo, an urban city and Kamakura, an ancient city. See you in Yokohama, Japan!
Yoshi S.
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Hiroshi S.
Hello, I'm Hiroshi. I am a National Government Licensed Tour Guide Interpreter in English. I have got a master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S. I have been living in a city of Fujisawa, which is the city next to Kamakura, for more than 20 years, and also lived in Kamakura for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited almost all the temples and shrines in Kamakura. So I am sure I can offer you a pleasant trip to the historical city, Kamakura. In addition to Kamakura, I can also guide Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Nikko, etc. because I have visited many places in Kanto area. For example, in Tokyo I can show you around the sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, etc. I like baseball and used to play baseball, but now enjoy watching professional baseball games. And I like watching Rakugo, Japanese traditional story-telling performance. Of course, I also like travelling very much, and am interested in Japanese culture and history. So I would like to show you Japanese tradition and culture. Let’s enjoy a trip in Japan together. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
