About Tour Guide Kanae O.

“Highlight of our trip and most memorable experience ever!”

I can’t express how incredible my experience with our guide, Kanae, was during our private tour exploring my heritage in Japan. I am a sansei (third-generation Japanese American), and my family and I decided to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan. Kanae picked us up at our hotel in Kyoto and drove us to Shiga Prefecture, where we visited the castle ruins connected to my ancestors. She also helped interpret for me at the local historical museum and city hall. Kanae was so kind and generous with her time and knowledge, and she was incredibly easy to communicate with. She tailored our tour exactly to what I had dreamed of and went far beyond our expectations. Our full day with Kanae was the highlight of my trip. I will always be grateful to her for her kindness and for introducing me to the beauty and hospitality of Japan.

Kanae O.

(84 reviews)

Sue, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. It was truly an honor to be a part of your heritage journey and to help you connect with your family history in Shiga. Seeing the places connected to your ancestors and learning more about your roots was a special experience for me as well. I am so happy that the day became a meaningful part of your trip to Japan. Thank you for trusting me with such an important experience. Meeting you and your family was a real pleasure, and I will always remember our time together. I wish you and your family all the very best, and I hope you will have the opportunity to visit Japan again someday.

“Quiet temples and beautiful gardens”

We had a great day with Kanae visiting some less touristic temples with serene and beautiful gardens. It was lovely to have fewer crowds after a hectic day visiting the more touristic sights the day before. Being able to use her car to get around was a bonus which we really appreciated. Kanae is an excellent guide who has a lot of knowledge, she has a friendly outgoing manner and we would not hesitate to recommend her to others.

Kanae O.

(84 reviews)

Lindsay, thank you so much for your lovely review. I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed visiting Kyoto’s quieter temples and beautiful gardens after the busy sightseeing spots. It was a pleasure spending the day with both of you. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. It was wonderful meeting you, and I hope to see you again if you ever return to Japan.

“Great day with Kanae!”

Kanae was an excellent host for our day of sightseeing. She was knowledgable and we had great conversations about life in Japan. We packed so much into our day with her that we couldn’t have done on our own. We are very grateful to her for showing us around her beautiful hometown!

Kanae O.

(84 reviews)

Dear Jennifer, Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your words. I had a wonderful time with both of you and really enjoyed spending the day together. It was a pleasure showing you around Kyoto, and I’m so glad we were able to make the most of the day and visit so many places. Your interest and openness made the experience even more enjoyable for me. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I hope you had a great time throughout your trip in Japan—and next time, please don’t forget to try aburi mochi! Warm regards, Kanae