About Tour Guide Keiji H.

Mindaugas, thank you so much for the wonderful time. Since this was your second trip to Japan, I was thrilled to guide you through Koyasan to show you a more unique, local side of the country away from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. You are filled with such an amazing sense of curiosity, and I absolutely loved our non-stop Q&A session. We covered so much ground—from Koyasan and religion to food and your past travels—that we completely forgot about our 4-hour schedule! I would love to continue our conversation, so please come back to visit Koyasan and explore the Kumano Kodo trail with me next time.

Arine and her friend were so frexible that they accept my challenging offers to enjoy Kumano Kodo, such as extra uphill walking to see more beautiful mountainviews and tough cave throughing to experience antient pilgrimage testing. I also enjoyed the walking with them very much, chatting their home stories in Malaysia and answering their questions about Japan. Hope I'll meet them again to explore Kumano Kodo more and longer in near future.

Thomas, his wife, and I enjoyed a beautiful six-day trip to Koyasan and Kumano Kodo during the late autumn, when the autumn leaves were at their peak. Before the trip, we spent three months discussing the details online, searching for hotels and temple lodging with limited availability due to the busy season, deciding which hiking routes to take, and figuring out logistics like river descents, luggage transfers, and transportation via trains and taxis. During the trip, we didn't have big troubles, and any small issues were resolved through open communication between the guests and the guide, finding solutions together. As they frequently enjoy hiking in Switzerland, Thomas and his wife handled the demanding Kumano Kodo hike—55 km and 2,700 meters of elevation gain over three days—effortlessly. They enjoyed conversations with other hikers in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. They also have a deep understanding of Japanese religion and culture, so they truly enjoyed conversations about the Buddhist teachings, paintings, and artworks at Koyasan, as well as the natural beauty along the Kumano Kodo. During our breaks and meals, I had the privilege of hearing about their extensive professional and research experience, which broadened my perspective. I also learned about their life in Switzerland and their past travels around the world and Japan. Both Thomas and his wife were kind to everyone we met, including the locals, hotel staff, and taxi drivers, engaging in warm and heartfelt conversations. I hope they return next time in spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Thank you for the opportunity to guide. Keiji H.