Joined 2019
Hiroyuki T.
Available Areas
Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Wakayama (Living), Mount Koya, Kumano
Languages
English
Response Time
3 hours on average
Availability Updated
1 day ago
About Tour Guide Hiroyuki T.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
Cultural Properties in Ancient Capital of Kyoto- from Osaka
Cultural Properties in Ancient Capital of Kyoto- from Osaka
One Day in Mount Koya. Feel the Sacredness and Holiness
One Day in Mount Koya. Feel the Sacredness and Holiness
Reviews
Arlene N.
“Osaka Hidden Gem”
This was another memorable day tour with Hiroyuki, and my sister and I had a great time exploring different parts of Osaka. In keeping with his story-telling style, Mr Hiro shared his knowledge of the city, its architecture and its history, adding to the richness of the tour experience. My sister walks with a cane and Mr Hiro took extra care with her while we were navigating through subways and train stations, and along garden paths and old city streets. Thank you for your kindness and patience. We can’t wait to return for more tours with Hiroyuki.
Chris R.
“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”
To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for spending time with me in Kyoto. Kyoto is the place! It is always nice to see people from Utah. I have a lot of beautiful memories there. It is good to know that you liked the tour and I like people like you who pay a lot of respect to our cultural and religions. Thank you very much once again, hope to see you again in the future, if I live long.
Arlene N.
“Best of Kyoto”
My sister and I had the best tour of Kyoto with Hiroyuki. He expertly guided us through several beautiful and historic sites, and shared historical facts at every stop. We highly recommend this full day tour of Kyoto with Mr Hiro.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for spending two days with me in Osaka and Kyoto. I hope that you liked the tour. There are a lot more to see in this area like Mt Koya, Kumano and hot springs. Please come back here and I will see you later. Hiro
Other Popular Tour Guides in Wakayama
Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport. I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds. I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature. I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan. If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Miyuki O.
Hi! I'm an official English guide in Wakayama prefecture. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I got a job as a teacher. I currently teaches at a cram school while also working mainly as a guide. I also obtained the national guide licence. I would like to expand my guide area to cover the entire Kinki region, but I like Wakayama the most because of its spiritual nature.
Akari Y.
I have started guiding in the Kansai area since 2023. I am passionate about introducing the history of Japan. I am happy to introduce guests from overseas to the Japanese culture established by our predecessors. I will introduce Japanese culture, food, cuisine, sake, nature, manga, spiritual culture, history, Buddhism, Shinto, Shugendo, pilgrimage paths, and other topics of interest. Let me introduce myself. I was born in Osaka and grew up in Osaka and Kyoto. I have lived in the U.S., China, and Australia when I was young.
