Joined 2024
Serge R.
Available Areas
Aichi (Living), Gifu, Nagoya
Languages
Dutch (Native), English (Native), Japanese
Response Time
2 hours on average
Availability Updated
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About Tour Guide Serge R.
Hi lovely travelers,
I'm Serge, originally from the Netherlands, and Japan has been my home for over three decades now. What brought me here initially was love, and that love has kept me rooted in this beautiful country ever since. Along the way, I discovered another love: Japan itself. Following my stint as a radio jockey and TV presenter, where I co-hosted a dedicated program for the Nagoya Grampus soccer team, I transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role as a media fixer for international media outlets.
Though my job as media fixer, I've been traveling and working throughout all of Japan, exploring unique places and meeting lots of very interesting people.
I would love to share and make you, my dear traveler, experience these places as well. Visiting and getting a tour at Japan's oldest traditional vinegar maker, or experience and taste at a traditional "katsuo bushi" bonito flake maker, or do you prefer to visit some old local shrines or temples. with no-one around you, except for the crickets and trees. Maybe you just want a friend to bring you to your desired locations and interpret and be at your beck and call 24 hours (like I do for the media). If you're looking for flexibility (time, places. transport), you won't find a better match than me.
My work as a fixer taught me a valuable lesson: the key to traveling together successfully, lies in a blend of humor, professionalism, and adaptability.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
Nagoya: car tour to Korankei valley, Toyota museum and more
Join a serene tour of Korankei Valley, a peaceful retreat from Nagoya, with a stop at the Toyota Automobile Museum. Travel in comfort with a private, experienced guide by minivan. Explore historic streets, dip your toes in the river, or enjoy a gentle hike in tranquil Asuke. Perfect for those seeking a break from tourist crowds or major attractions. I'll answer your questions about Japan, capture your journey in photos and videos, and ensure unforgettable memories.
A fun car tour to Inuyama castle and a Phallus temple
Join this unforgettable tour that takes you to Japan's oldest castle. Wear a kimono and wonder through charming streets while savoring local delicacies. Perhaps take a ride in a traditional rickshaw and have matcha green tea in a traditional Japanese garden. Throughout the experience, we capture your memories with video and photos. Finally, we’ll visit the unique Penis Shrine, where you can pray for a bountiful harvest, the flourishing of nature(fertility), and prosperous descendants.
Inuyama Castle, Kimono, and Tea ceremony
Join this unforgettable tour that takes you to Japan's oldest castle. Wear a kimono and wonder through charming streets while savoring local delicacies. Perhaps take a ride in a traditional rickshaw and have matcha green tea in a traditional Japanese garden. Throughout the experience, we capture your memories with video and photos.
Discover Nagoya's Best Hotspots: A Car Journey with a Fun Guide
Join us for a comfortable private car tour of Nagoya and its nearby surroundings, guided by a fun and experienced local expert. Relax and enjoy the views and engaging conversation as we travel from one location to the next. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized to suit your preferences. This tour is great for Cruise ship passengers.
Amazing pottery and ceramics tour in Seto
Discover Seto, a haven for pottery enthusiasts! Visit a pottery museum, watch a master potter, explore shops, and even join a workshop. Stroll along Kamagaki no Komichi, a 400-meter path lined with old kiln tools showcasing Seto's ceramic heritage. Stop by the Maneki Neko Museum, home to the largest collection of "Goodluck" cats. Enjoy lunch at a scenic soba restaurant before heading to Tajimi to explore the Mino Ceramics Park, with exhibits by local and global artists, a tea ceremony, and more.
Nagoya Private Car Tour for Auto Enthusiasts
Buckle up, car lovers! This tour is a dream for anyone obsessed with horsepower and the scent of fresh interiors. First stop: the Toyota Automobile Museum, a treasure trove of mint-condition classics and modern marvels. Then, we cruise to Toyota City, birthplace of the Toyota family, to explore the Toyota Kaikan, where you can sit in, touch, and admire the latest models (no licking!). And, of course, your guide is a true car maniac—because what’s a car tour without a car-obsessed driver?
Reviews
Lisa M.
“A great day with Serge”
Serge designed a day trip for us to explore some "family roots" and visit the area that our family was previously from. He incorporated everything we wanted into our day, and was very engaging and personable. He worked to make the day interesting for our 11 and 13 year old boys as well. We would highly recommend Serge to anyone needing a guide in the Nagoya area.
Serge R.
Thank you Lisa, it was an honor to guide you guys around. The love and respect you have for eachother in your family was inspiring. Hope to see you all again in the future. With love Serge
Sharon G.
“A fun-filled tour with sightseeing and unique workshops”
Right off the bat, we knew Serge would be great - he was responsive, gave wonderful suggestions for our tour and nothing seemed too difficult for him to arrange. We had requested for a visit to Korankei Gorge to see the autumn colours, a pottery workshop and another activity which would be fun for all members of our family. It was a tall order, since most places would be closed by 5pm (the first 2 activities would already take up nearly 7 hours including travelling time), but Serge managed to convince a food “sampuru” artist (an award-winning one, no less!) to host us at his own home for a workshop, making food replicas/samples (the sort you see in a display showcase in front of a Japanese restaurant). Having Serge as our guide was like having an old friend taking us around; thanks to Serge, we had a fun-filled day and took home happy memories of the unique experiences!
Serge R.
Thank you so much Sharon for a lovely day, I really hope we can see each other in the future. Lots of love and happy giggles, serge
Paul T.
“Top notch tour guide”
We had a wonderful experience with Serge. He contacted us the day before the tour to suggest that we should consider starting our tour at an earlier time due to potential traffic issues going to Korankei Gorge. We were pleased with his suggestion as we even had extra time to go to another lovely spot. Serge gave us three options for the second place to visit. We chose to go to Shikizakura to see the cherry blossoms and colourful autumn leaves. We were not disappointed. He even took candid shots of us. We met Serge as our private tour guide but parted as a friend. He is very passionate at what he does and knowledgeable as a guide. Tip: A great photographer too. Do not hesitate to have him as your tour guide. You will not be disappointed.
Serge R.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Honestly, I feel like I have the best job in the world! With people like you, it never feels like work. From the moment you stepped into my car, the conversation flowed so naturally, it was as if the concept of "strangers" simply vanished. I laughed so much, and I was deeply inspired by the respect and love you share for each other. Thank you both for such a wonderful day—I’m already looking forward to our paths crossing again!
Other Popular Tour Guides in Aichi
Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens. Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu. I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
Noel M.
Hello everyone! Many thanks for checking out my profile. I'm originally from New Zealand but have spent my adult life here in Japan. The Nagoya area has been my home since the early nineties. I have witnessed the region's transformation from a sleepy industrial city to the vibrant metropolis of today. I would love the opportunity to tell you about some of my adventures and also a few of the outstanding people I've met. I spent many years practicing karate and have also developed a deep interest in Buddhism. I speak Japanese confidently. I'm new to GoWithGuide but have previous experience giving walking tours. To be able to introduce you to a few of my favourite Nagoya suburbs would be a treat. There are fascinating, historic temples as well as a stupa that purportedly contains a portion of the Buddha's ashes. Also, there are numerous tempting eateries and a few quirky shops. I prefer guiding guests around these less visited areas as you can get a feel for how the locals live. I look forward to meeting you soon.
Masayuki K.
Hello, my name is Masa. I was born in Japan and grew up in the United States. After returning to Japan, I've worked all across the country. I spent a year traveling around Japan in a car that I DIY-converted into a camper. I hope to share the experiences and the knowledges of how to enjoy our culture to the most with people from all over the world. I would like to introduce Japan's beautiful tourist spots that you can enjoy in every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—along with local delicacies beloved by the people in each area, and how to enjoy the unique cultures rooted in each region, such as: sushi, wagyu beef, cherry blossoms, rich milk bread, fluffy pancakes, convenient store's meals and snacks, maid cafe, izakaya(restaurant specialized to drink an alcohol), sake factory and so on. If you tell me what kind of experiences you would like to have, I will create a custom travel plan tailored to your preferences. I can guide you by car, so we can go anywhere in Japan without being restricted by public transportation schedules, allowing for more freedom in your travel. This is something only someone who has traveled the entire country, like me, can do! I’ll do my best to support you, so please enjoy your time in Japan to the fullest!
