Ikki O.
Available Areas
Chiba, Saitama (Living), Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama
Languages
English, Japanese, Tagalog
Availability Updated
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About Tour Guide Ikki O.
My name is Ikki and I work primarily as a private concierge, consultant, an interpreter/translator/negotiator and also serve as a premium tour guide for some high-profile CEOs, diplomats, dignataries and celebrities.
I am not a regular tour guide but an extra-ordinary tour guide.
If not working as a premium tour guide for some companies, embassies and agencies I am connected with, I work independently as a photographer / stylist / curator / creative which means I can document your stay with beautiful photos and video coverage/s.
Mainly, I run an online shopping website curating Japanese arts and antiques mixed with premium vintage and street fashion clothing but COVID-19 had terrible effect on my main business, thus I am offering my expertise, wisdom and personality here as a premium tour guide.
My passion is in curating the beautiful works of arts, antiques and fashion that Japan has to offer. I work with museum curators, top notch art collectors, auction houses, fashion designers and interiors designers and/or specialists worldwide. This Go With Guide profile is an outlet for me to meet interesting people who values time and intellectual companionship in a tour rather than just having a "tour" per se.
I can drive (option) and show you around Japan and become totally a part of your Japan experience, providing you an out-of-the-box approach using off-the-beaten path adventures which surely will be enjoyable and full of fun. Just think of me as the Asian version of Jason Statham in the movie - The Transporter - I do that kind of thing most of the time mainly and armed with my camera. We can hike and stay in the mountains or we can go road-tripping by the seaside of the beautiful countryside or take the romantic classic train hotels that will make you love Japan all the more.
I enjoy witty conversations with dips of comedy and laughter here and there - while plugging some interesting facts and information about Japanese culture from the prying eyes of a long-term resident of Japan. I have been living here since I came to study for university for a total of 20 years (half of my life) and been digging deep into being a Japan lover ever since.
If you are looking for an extra-ordinary experience with an extra-ordinary tour guide then you have come to the right place.
When you ask for my services and inquire about my tours, please kindly send me a clear briefing of what are your expectations and if there are specific places you wish to visit or experience that you want to try out where ever within Japan. Basically I can go with you or your group to anywhere as long as you shoulder my hotel and lodging costs and transportation back and forth to my home. My rates for out-of-town tour gigs have a premium attached and I decide it on a case to case basis, thus please have some allowance on your budget when asking for a quote.
The rates shown on my tours are basically for only 1 group (2 persons max). I consider 1 group = max of 2 persons. So 7 people is considered 4 groups. Some guides might have a fixed rate for unlimited number of people per group but in my case it is for every 2 persons because I take pride in taking good care of every member while making sure I get to interact with everyone (which undoubtedly takes a lot of energy). If the group is more than 4 people, sometimes I tag along a member of my tour team to help me manage the group dynamics and the safety of everyone while on tours.
My overtime rates range from $150-$250 per hour per group for times past the allocated hours for each tour package that I offer here.
I live in Saitama, about 50 mins north of Tokyo where I am trying to finish and revive and restore a 150 year-old Meiji Period antique house which I wish to convert into a cafe where I can welcome guests in the future. For every tour job, I ask to be covered for my round-trip transportation costs to my home separately which is to be paid upon meeting in an envelope.
For a long day tour of 8 hours, I have to include a 1 hour lunch or meal break in between, making it 9 hours in total. All consumables during the tour, such as transportation (train/taxi/bus/charter), food (lunch or meals), drinks, entrance fees are to be shouldered by the hiring party or client.
If you have questions or any inquiry, please feel free to drop me a message and let us see how I can help you make your vacation or stay the best of the best!
Ikki
Important
Basically, I run my own schedule and time and you can freely consult with me regarding your plan/s or trip. We can discuss it and always have extra activities as options on hand as well. I can handle up to 20 people with my own personal assistant tour guide and can help arrange for your transportation, logistics and everything else needed to make your trip memorable.
Regarding location limitations, I can always accompany you everywhere you want around Japan as long as you shoulder the transportation, lodging and other expenses and cover for the time for me to meet you and return to my home. I don't set any restrictions as long you can include those costs in your budget. I am more than willing to accompany and guide you wherever you want.
The rates I have provided here are just for my basic services, costs such as lodging, hotel, food, and entrance fees and such shall be borne by the hiring party. I understand that there is a basic round-trip transportation fee charged to the client but if it is shouldered and the time is covered as part of the job, I can always be on the go anywhere within Japan.
My rates vary differently based on the various factors below for your understanding:
1) Number of people to be handled (Additional person/people means additional work and energy for me to handle)
2) Difficulty of the tour concept / contents (if it is just a tour or a tour including/needing my professional photography skills as well - please refer to my tour packages)
3) Day Time and Night Time - I can extend my tour hours to night time or late hours if you need more time and company, but I charge extension/overtime fees as outlined below per hour per group if the time overshoots past 6 pm exceeding from our basic Day Tour agreement. (Sometimes I need to take cab to my house/office in Saitama or even a hotel to stay for the night and this premium rate covers for those costs and expenses)
*** RATES are subject to change without prior notice. For a full quotation for your needs, please do consult and ask beforehand to avoid confusion.
*** PEAK SEASON RATES MAY APPLY during the SPRING SEASON (March-May) and I reserve the right to increase my rates depending on my availability and demand.
All surcharges are to be paid and settled at the end point / end time. So please make sure to bring enough cash in yen to cover for other expenses not covered by the original booking.
------------------ RATES CONCEPT and GROUPINGS Explanation ------------------
A. Basic Rate concept: about $50 (5,000 yen) per person per hour
(This is what you will see being displayed below here but essentially, each tour package that I offer here slightly differs in the rates depending on the contents and difficulty and coverage which I offer them).
Please use this is as a peg rate or reference just in case you wish to book me for customized tours. For simple tours, you can request or book me using this basic rate of about $50 per person per hour then. However, I offer savings and discounts if you book me thru any of my available tour packages which I am have here on my profile.
----------- Group Concept applies to the current Tour packages I am offering ------------
*Theoretically for more than 2 persons, I have built-in savings and discounts if you book me using my available tour packages instead.
B. Group concept: I categorize groups per 2 persons. (1-2 persons = 1 group, 3-4 persons = 2 groups, 5-6 persons = 3 groups, etc.) 1 group is up to 2 persons.
Daytime: about $50-$100 per hour per group
Nighttime: about $100 and up~ per hour per group
------------------ EXTENSION / OVERTIME NIGHT TIME RATES ------------------
A: PAST 6 PM til 12 AM MIDNIGHT - (time exceeding past 6 pm if continuing from Day Tours): about $150 per hour per group.
B: PAST MIDNIGHT RATE - (if you book any of my Day or Night Tours and extended until past midnight): $200 per hour per group.
------ STARTING POINTS TO ENDING POINTS and OVERTIME COMPUTATIONS ------
Time starts the moment I meet you at our agreed meeting point (usually your hotel front lobby) and will end when I return you back to your original destination and pick-up point, unless agreed later in the tour where you want to finish as ending point.
Case Sample:
We may finish the day tour officially at 6 pm for example, but you wanted me to take you home either by train or taxi and we reach your hotel and lobby at 7:15 pm.
Extension rates apply on a 30-MINUTES Basis.
Although actual time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Surcharge shall be computed as 1 hour and 30 minutes (1.5 units of OVERTIME A Rate of $150 per hour per group) and shall be $150 x 1.5 = $225 per group.
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If you have questions or anything regarding my premium tour guiding services, please do not hesitate to consult with me, I would be happy to answer your inquiries, and/or outline and explain the costs to you if needed.
I look forward to showing the best of Tokyo / Japan to you as the best and premium tour guide there could possible be!
Ikki O. Japan Tour Reviews
Marcin J.
Flexible Tokyo Family-Friendly Day Tour [Customized & Personalized for families] - DAY 2
Customized
“Tokyo in deepth”
Ikki is a very friendly guy. Good guide not only for families but also other groups willing to see Tokyo. Flexible with timing and what is on the group’s agenda able to quickly change and adopt. I definitely would consider using a guide while in Tokyo., Otherwise, you risk missing important sights.
Andy T.
Tokyo Family-Friendly Day Tour [Customized for families]
“Downtown Tokyo ”
Ikki is very experienced and more than helpful to show you around Tokyo, he definitely can take photos and assist you in certain way. As someone who visit Tokyo for the second time, Ikki actually bring me to certain hidden gem and street for more engaging exploration.
Stephen S.
Tokyo Family-Friendly Day Tour [Customized for families]
“Excellent tour!!”
This was our first time in Japan and Ikki was wonderful with our large group showing us places that are not in the guide books. We would never have found these fascinating areas by ourselves. Thank you Ikki!