Joined 2023
Nori I.
Available Areas
Kyoto, Mie, Shiga (Living)
Languages
English, Japanese (Native)
Response Time
6 hours on average
Availability Updated
Today
About Tour Guide Nori I.
I have lived in the US, UK, and India for approximately 20 years, and I’ve also traveled to about 30 countries. Living abroad for such a long time made me realize Japan’s value and sparked my interest in working as a translator/guide for foreigners. I’m truly passionate about introducing people to historical sites, authentic Japanese culture, and stunning natural spots that may not be widely known to people outside of Japan. There are countless places that I believe people would love.
Originally from Nagoya, I cover areas around the city and the Kansai region including Kyoto, Shiga and Mie. I’m here to ensure your trip to Japan becomes an unforgettable memory. Looking forward to meeting you!
Important
For some tours I can not guide everyday due to store closings. Please check my availability on each tour page. Thank you!
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. Also, Kyoto is getting very crowded due to a lot of foreigners visiting there. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference. I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with Wabi Sabi such as those in Sagano and the oldest Japanese sweet shop in Murasakino.
Fully customizable private half day tour in Kyoto
There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. Also, Kyoto is getting very crowded due to a lot of foreigners visiting there. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference. I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with Wabi Sabi such as those in Sagano and the oldest Japanese sweet shop in Murasakino.
Private Car Tour - Enjoy the authentic castle towns and famous Oumi beef just outside Kyoto
First, while it is early enough, we will drive and hike a little bit on the ancient steps to one of the oldest temples in Kyoto and Shiga called Hyakusaiji. After that, we will explore a castle that has a tower that is one of the five originals remaining in Japan, Hikone Castle. We will enjoy Oumi beef for lunch. Oumi beef is if not better, as good as Kobe beef known as one of the three best beefs in Japan. We will enjoy the scenery in Oumihachiman from the mountain top and the old moat.
Reviews
Vivian A.
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
“Fantastic day in beautiful Kyoto with Nori!”
Nori took us on a fun and informative full day tour of beautiful Kyoto. As a Kyoto native with deep roots in the local landscape (his father was a Tea Master!), Nori added interesting historical and cultural information to all of our stops. He is flexible and will customize your day to your specific interests (or suggest key sites), and Nori’s English is fluent having spent years abroad in English speaking countries. We saw many of the beautiful Temples and gardens and loved every minute. Highly recommend!
Nori I.
(26 reviews)Thank you very much for the kind comments! It was one of my most excited tours I have ever done. Seeing the great tea master in public itself is a very rare thing but also meeting my family by coincidence during tour never happens. I was able to learn a lot by conversing with both of you too. I really enjoyed it! Hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. If you have any questions or anything, just send me a message please. Have a safe rest of your journey!
Jeremy S.
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
“Perfect Day in Kyoto with an Amazing Guide!”
We had an incredible experience in Kyoto with Nori as our guide! From the moment he met us at our hotel, he was organized and thoughtful, taking time to go over our itinerary before we set out. His passion and pride for Kyoto and Japan were evident in every story he shared and every detail he pointed out. Nori gave us a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and history, and we loved all the highlights he showed us: the Monkey Park in Arashiyama, the Bamboo Forest, and many beautiful gardens. We even got to taste traditional-style mochi, a delightful experience we’ll never forget. Nori made our visit truly special—highly recommend!
Nori I.
(26 reviews)Thanks so much for your kind comments. I am really glad that you were able to enjoy my tour. I can not plan what those monkeys do but those moments that we interacted with them were priceless! There is so much more to see here in Kyoto. Hope you guys will come back in the future!
“Excellent tour guide!”
Thank you Nori-san! I'm looking forward to more tours from you!
Nori I.
(26 reviews)Thanks! Yes, hopefully we can!
