About Tour Guide Keiichi S.

“Wonderfull Day Tour of Snow Monkey and Obuse Town”

We wanted to photograph the snow monkeys in snowy conditions and with help from Kei (and Mother Nature) - we had the perfect condition on the day we went. Kei provided suggestions with timing (getting there early and on a weekday), train schedules and also other places to visit while in the area. I appreciate that he responded to my many questions right away. He was very patient with us while we were photographing the snow monkeys for most of the morning and he very kindly photographed us throughout our day and shared the photos with us at the end of our trip. We went out for lunch and toured around the quaint town of Obuse before heading back to Tokyo. I also enjoyed the various facts Kei shared about the surrounding area and also fun to chat with him about life in Japan. I highly recommend Kei for your next adventure!

Keiichi S.

(20 reviews)

Dear Li, Thank you again for joining my tour and for your wonderful review. It really made my day. It was my first time guiding professional photographers, and I was so impressed by how patiently you followed your subjects and waited for the perfect moment. If you managed to capture some shots that you like, I’m really happy – and if you don’t mind, I would love to see a few of them! I also took some photos of the two of you while you were working. If you like those pictures, that would make me very happy. There are so many other great spots for snowy landscapes in this region, so I really hope we can explore some of them together on another trip in the future. Warmest regards, Kei

“What a wonderful experience!”

We were fortunate to be able to have Mr. Kei as our guide, He was personal, engaging and knowledgeable. Our main goal of visiting Nagano was to see the famous snow monkeys, we have first planned to use the public transportation but sincere there were only the two of us( husband and I) Mr. Kei kindly offered to drive us in his small car , it was great ! We were able to reach our destination earlier- avoided more crowds and also gained interesting tidbits of local information along the way. Mr. Kei was certainly very familiar with the Judokudani snow monkey park, he knew every turn and slippery slopes well , patiently cautioned us where to slow down - I appreciated it much because I was clumsy and already had an injured hand. He also knew exactly where to take some really fantastic photos. All in all the trip was even more wonderful than we expected, thanks to Mr. Kei for helping us to create a beautiful and lasting memory. Lulu

Keiichi S.

(20 reviews)

Dear Lulu, Thank you very much for your wonderful review and kind words about my guiding. ​ We were really lucky to have such beautiful blue skies that day, which made our time together even more enjoyable. ​ I was also very happy that we could take a photo together in front of your hotel at the end of the tour – it became a very nice memory for me as well. ​ I hope the rest of your stay in Japan was safe, relaxing, and full of great experiences. ​ Warm regards, Kei

“Excellent guide”

My family asked Kei for a tour of the region where my great-grandfather lived. Exceeding all expectations and challenges, Kei went far beyond simply taking them there. I only gave him a name and an address that I had, which was the house where my great-grandfather lived 50 years ago. With this single piece of information, even before our trip, on his own initiative, Kei sought out more information about our roots. And to our pleasant surprise, he found not only the location but also relatives who still live there! With this, on the day of my family’s tour, he was already equipped with a wealth of information and photographic records related to our ancestors. None of this would have been possible without Kei's effort and dedication! Thank you for providing them with such a rich day full of stories and knowledge; it was a truly important day for my family. Thank you again!

Keiichi S.

(20 reviews)

Thank you very much for your kind and positive feedback on my guiding service. Many fortunate things happened during your family roots search this time, and I was truly fascinated by how everything connected so smoothly. First of all, it was quite a coincidence that when you contacted me, I happened to have a friend from the same old town as your ancestors. Through him, we were able to get in touch with your relatives, and eventually we connected with the head of the family who still lives in the original village. When my friend and I visited him before your tour, we learned that he was about to leave home for about a month starting the very next day — such perfect timing! During our visit, he kindly showed us the family tree that he had created, which clearly showed your lineage. He also guided us to the family grave. Thanks to that, when your father and brothers visited, I was able to take them to the grave so they could offer flowers and pay their respects. They also had a chance to meet the headmaster’s wife. My friend and I were amazed by these extraordinary coincidences and talked about how they might have been guided by your ancestors and the deities watching over both Japan and Brazil. I’m so glad everything worked out beautifully. Kei