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Joined 2020
Koichiro Y.
Available Areas
Tokyo (Living), Hakone, Kamakura
Languages
English
Response Time
5 hours on average
Availability Updated
1 day ago
About Tour Guide Koichiro Y.
Hello! I’m Koichiro. Please call me “Yamasan”. It derives from my family name and my friends call me so.
I worked for a machinery company as a project manager and engineer for mechanical and electrical construction projects both domestic and overseas for over 35 years. I recall my first overseas project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when I was 26, and the second was in Singapore. I visited many countries for surveys, meetings, commissioning, project handing over, and so on.
In 2014 at the age of 60, I decided to retire from the company and live the expected further 30 years of life with a new career and experiences. I, then, studied translation and guide interpretation. I passed the national examination for licensed guides (English) in 2015 and registered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in February 2016.
Until now, I have been guiding many beautiful guests mainly to popular sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Omote-Sando, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Tokyo Skytree, and also cultural experiences of Origami making, Furoshiki wrapping, and Sushi cooking.
I am happy that I can freely arrange a customized tour together with you, or can propose my tours to you. I want to show you some parts of daily Tokyo life and introduce you to Bunkyo City which is located in the heart of Tokyo, just north of Chiyoda City where the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station are. The city is Tokyo’s typical residential and academic area where I was born, grew up, and live a happy life now.
Now, we can tour around the world but have not yet overcome COVID-19 completely. Recently, the number of passengers wearing masks on public transportation in Tokyo reduced to some 25% but we should mind about it still. Please carry your mask to wear it where or when necessary (December 2024, Yamasan).
Important
The inbound tour has been resumed. Wearing a mask depends on individual decisions, and you can enjoy tours and cultural experiences in Japan now.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
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Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
Bunkyo City is in the heart of central Tokyo, just north of Chiyoda City where the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station are. The city is Tokyo’s typical residential and academic area where I was born, grew up, and live now. We'll move around the city with a Bunkyo City Community Bus, B-guru ( “beagle”, the mascot character of the bus), and visit Edo-Tokyo Japanese gardens and other calm and pleasant sites. You'll also catch a glimpse of Tokyo citizens’ life during the tour.
Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One
You are interested in Sake, aren’t you? Sake is popularly explained as “rice wine”, but the expression is not correct. On this tour, you will visit Ozawa Shuzo in Ome City, Tokyo, and learn about various issues on sake. After beautiful Japanese lunch, the brewery visit, and tasting of various types of sake there, you will touch nature in a suburban area in metropolitan Tokyo.
Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One
Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
The tour consists of two characteristic Japanese cultures; typical strolling style Japanese gardens, Rikugien, and origami paper folding. Rikugien is one of nine Japanese gardens in the Tokyo Metropolis. Its strolling-style garden has a fine and warm touch with scenery images from classical Japanese poems. After the visit, you will be invited to the guide’s residence nearby, and have a joyful origami workshop of 90 minutes.
Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
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Your First Origami Online Workshop
Touch the tip of Japanese culture prior to your tour by picking up this online experience of Origami. It is an art and a joy of paper folding which can be enjoyed by everybody interested in this oriental culture. With just an hour workshop, you will be able to create your own Origami works such as a great samurai helmet, a pretty butterfly, a joyful jumping frog, a paper container for candies, and a traditional Japanese crane (orizuru) from square sheets of paper.
Your First Origami Online Workshop
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Toshimaya Shuzo is one of ten sake breweries in Tokyo. It is located in a residential area in Higashi-Murayama City not far from central Tokyo. They organize brewery tours on Saturdays and guide their facilities introducing their sake brewing philosophies and offering several types of their sake products for tasting. In the afternoon, the tour visits Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park in Koganei City on the way back to central Tokyo.
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
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Tokyo Staple Spots for First Visitors
Welcome to Tokyo! This tour is a walking tour designed for first-time visitors to Tokyo and includes the six most popular and essential spots of Tsukiji Outer Market, the Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Omotesando Shopping Street, Tokyo Tower, and Asakusa. Number of visiting spots and visiting order may be reviewed referring to guests' requirements, location of their accommodation, weather conditions, etc.
Tokyo Staple Spots for First Visitors
Reviews
Mārtiņš D.
“Great and well planned tour”
Yamasan did an amazing job planning and making the most of our day tour in Tokyo. He was considerate of our wishes and also helped to look for additional points of interest and also logistics. Probably due to his engineering background, I was amazed by all the preparation work that he had done before the tour - an excel file with exact timings for logistics and each spot. Yamasan is very knowledgable and we learned a lot, even the laziest of our group. And very touching end of the tour with the personal touch.
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your brilliant comment. I believe that tours cannot be executed happily without nice guests. Everyone in your group was gentle and curious about Japanese cultures, and I was very happy to be with. I should appreciate your splendid leadership in the group and the nice driver on the day too. I hope you will have another chance to visit my country. I have many more spots to be introduced to you.
Michael L.
“Wonderful two days”
We were so fortunate to be able to spend two days with Yamasan as he showed us his city of Tokyo. We wanted to see the less touristy side of Tokyo and get a flavor of a different areas and sites. We loved the experience. Navigating trains, subways and buses was a challenge. The second day we spent in Kamakura which was a very different city. The shrines and temples were amazing as well as the market streets. You will enjoy your time with Yamasan
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your great review comment. That's too much for me. For the first day, I was afraid that I had put too many spots in the itinerary to show my city, Tokyo. But now, I'm relieved to hear your comment. On the second day, the weather was not perfect, but that helped us to enjoy our Kamakura tour without congestion. It was lucky to see late-blooming multi-petal sakura (cherry blossoms) and a rare species of white wisteria at Jomyoji Temple.
Julie C.
“New Edo Era Museum + more”
We cannot speak highly enough of Koichiro Y who guided us on an historical tour of Japan at the new Edo Era Museum. He met us at our hotel and accompanied us throughout the day, introducing us to many aspects of Japanese culture, everyday life, the public transport system and especially to Edo Era history at the extremely impressive new museum in Tokyo. Koichiro Y is a knowledgeable guide, who communicates thoughtfully in perfect English. He adapted the tour to suit our needs and interests. He is a kind, competent and generous man. We are grateful to him for a most memorable day in Tokyo.
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your great review comments. It's too much for me. I have to improve my English more. The renovated Edo-Tokyo Museum was fantastic, but we needed more time to learn more about Edo Era and modernized Japan after Meiji Restoration. I want to guide you beautiful Japanese gardens and other aspects of Tokyo too. Please enjoy you cruise tour around Japan!
Other Popular Tour Guides in Tokyo
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Hardy M.
Being a former student and staff member of the University of Tokyo, I have a natural ability to communicate with people from all corners of the world. Regardless of whether you prefer to speak English, French, or Globish with me ! I have practiced Aikido, Iaido (Katana), and Kyudo (Bow) martial arts, and I have also worked on the restoration of Japanese armor. Therefore, I am well-versed in the art of war in ancient Japan. But my passion for history goes further, and during my guided tours, I will share various anecdotes that will bring ancient Japan to life for you ! I'm also a huge fan of old Japanese video games, especially RPGs, so if you want a true otaku experience, follow me to Nakano Broadway and Akihabara! If you're interested in arranging a tour that's tailored to your preferences, feel free to send me a message !
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Shin N.
Welcome to Japan! I'm Shin. I have been an English Guide in Japan more than10 years. I can guide Tokyo, Kanagawa and almost all metropolitan sightseeing and walking spots. I was born in Kobe, grown up in Osaka, and studied in Kyoto, so not only Tokyo but I also have a good knowledge of Japanese historical cities. I love talking about Japanese food & culture, walking quiet narrow streets, drinking tasty Japanese whisky, Sumo, Rugby & Sports, and Japanese mountains. I climbed Mt. Fuji 18 times with foreign guests. We enjoyed the auspicious moments of sunrising from the summit. I would like to support you to make your stay in Japan memorable and precious one. It is grateful if you refer to my proposed tour schedule, in the case you have your own interests, I am happy to tailor the tour schedule responding your requests. Please feel free to contact me. I look forward to sharing wonderful time in Japan with you. Be my guest!
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Yoshi S.
Hello, I'm Yoshi!! I started my second career as a tour guide after retiring from the Japanese computer company I had worked for about 40 years. I was born in Asakusa and grew up in down town in Tokyo. I’m married with two daughters and three grandchildren, two girls and a boy. I've experienced guiding international visitors in Tokyo and other famous sightseeing spots as a guide for several years. I will be so happy to help you enjoy your stay in Japan. Look forward to joining my tour!!
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