Joined 2017
Masahisa M.
Available Areas
Kyoto, Mie, Nara (Living), Osaka, Wakayama, Kobe
Languages
English
Response Time
3 hours on average
Availability Updated
3 days ago
About Tour Guide Masahisa M.
Lived in Chicago (5 years), Toronto (1 year), Singapore (2 years), Indonesia (4 years) and Birmingham, UK (11 years) to construct business platform, now retired after 40
years employment in Japan. Dynamic tour guide who develops many different ways along with rich experience overseas to entertain large or small tour groups. Enjoys the interaction with tour groups, very strong group presentation and communication skills, finds each guest question as an opportunity to learn anything new. Constantly learning information about each tour spot to enhance tours. Guided 9,173 guests all over the world across Japan as of Mar 31, 2025 since Feb 2015.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakutou (East district) and Central district. Visiting Rakutou, Gion, Yasaka-jinja shrine, Kodai-ji temple, Kiyomizu-dera temple are the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto. Particularly well known for the deity of love and marriage in Rakutou area.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakusai (West district) and Central district. Visiting Rakusai , Tenryu-ji temple represents the Kitayama culture. Nijyo-jo castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace in Rakuchu (Central district) are the cultural center during Heian, Momoyama and Edo periods.
Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
Nara is ideal for those who wish to see not only numerous historical structures but also to touch, feed wild deers roaming freely around in the Nara Park. There are 8 UNESCO heritages in Nara spotted sparsely in the historic regions which have full of rich tales in Nara period (from 710 to 794). Visiting 4 UNESCO heritages (3 temples and 1 shrine) in this tour in addition to one Japanese garden.
Exploring Osaka
8,000 years ago, Osaka slept under a large seashore lake. This city of lake later turned to a city of smoke and eventually grew into the 2nd key international city after Tokyo. Birth place of industry in Japan, such as bank, insurance, steel, machinery, spinning, medicine, ship building, electrical appliance, etc. Touching days of Osaka ,Then and Now.
Exploring Kobe, Hyogo
Kobe come to a vital life again from intense earthquake that hit on Jan 17, 1995. Kobe always creates us a resplendent, exotic mood that the cosmopolitan city has. The old foreign settlement where sophisticated modern architecture still remains upper town must be the reason to ferment that atmosphere and give the period of cosmopolitan flavor. At Meriken Wharf, you can hear the whistles of ships and touch cultural history in this city.
Exploring Koyasan
Women were forbidden to enter Koyasan until 1872. Koyasan, literally means Mt Koya, a 900 high highland located in Wakayama Prefecture is a center of Buddhist study. A founder of Shingon Sect, Kobo Daishi Kukai who was granted by emperor Saga to use this land in 816. You can touch the Buddhist concept of vicissitude in a walk through the path toward innermost sanctum in deep ceder tree forest.
Reviews
Timothy L.
“Exploring Nara”
Masahis was a most professional and excellent tour guide. We had time constraints, and he efficiently guided us traveling from Kyoto, through Nara, and back, an informative tour with informative commentary, much appreciated.
Masahisa M.
Timothy Thank you for traveling a great distance to visit us. I am deeply impressed by the remarkable achievements of your family, including your son, who ranked first in the state in the mathematics contest, and collective contributions of your family to the medical field. Should the opportunity arise, please visit us again. Thanks Masahisa
Services U.
“Kind, reliable, and well-organized guide who made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable”
Masahisa's frequent and thoughtful communication before the tour showed his great personality and made us feel at ease joining the tour. Even in crowded areas, he kindly helped with taking photos, and everything was handled on time and smoothly. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience!
Masahisa M.
Services U I would be grateful if my involvement could be of any help to your company this time. Motivated solely by the desire to see 'Tara's Hill,' the land mentioned by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, I visited there and found myself able to imagine the desolate seaside depicted in The Quiet Man. Thanks Masahisa
Mark W.
“Knowledgeable Kyoto Guide”
Mike (Masahisa) did a great job guiding our group of 4 adults around Kyoto during the Cherry Blossom season. He worked tirelessly ahead of our visit to help customize the tour to meet our needs. In addition, he provided numerous travel tips to help us easily manage the logistics. Kyoto sites are very busy with a heavy tourist load. Mike navigated us around the city to ensure we saw the highlights without getting bogged down. He was very knowledgeable of Japanese History so he was able to bring each temple and shrine to life. And he was fun, so we thoroughly enjoyed our two day with him. Highly recommend
Masahisa M.
Mark I appreciate your visit from afar and would like to express my thanks once again. I was amazed by profound knowledge of all of you and appreciation for Japanese sake. Amid the increasingly crowded conditions in Kyoto during the peak tourist season, to be honest, I was relieved to have been able to include a moment of serenity and elegance that Kyoto still retains in your itinerary. However, despite making various arrangements as per your prior request, because of the Spring Dance performances that began on April 1st this year at the Kaburenjo Theaters located in the four historic hanamachi districts—Gion Kobu, Miyagawa-cho, Ponto-cho, and Kamishichiken—I regret that I was unable to secure the necessary arrangements for your party. This remains my sole regret. Thanks Masahisa
Other Popular Tour Guides in Nara
Koichi W.
Hi! I'm Koichi. I was born in Osaka, I studied in Kyoto when I was a university student. Now I live in Shiga next to Kyoto. I am a national government licensed tour guide. I have been guiding about 160 groups over the past twelve months. I usually guide my customers mainly in Kansai region including Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Shiga by public transportation systems. Well, I am curious about Japanese history, especially the history of Japan's ancient times since I was raised next to the world biggest mausoleum of the ancient Emperor called "Nintoku" in Sakai city Osaka which has just become one of the world cultural heritage sites. I dug out some ancient earthen ware vessels around there when I was a primary school student like the adventure archaeologist “Indiana Jones" (It’s our secret!!). That was my hobby. Now, one of my hobbies is outdoor activities such as mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and others. So I would like to take you to some good places where you can enjoy Japanese unique nature. I love to guide foreign visitors from all over the world. I think it is my calling or heavenly given job. Let's go and enjoy together! I hope to see you soon.
Yasuhisa K.
I have worked in the multi-national organizations including UN agency for around 30 years and stationed at various cities including Rome, Bangkok and Hanoi. Although I have retired from those international carriers, I wish to keep the international cooperation and develop the friendship with people who visits our country. As I like history and am practicing Noh song and wood curving of Buddha images, I have decided to live in Nara where is surrounded by many historical places and traditional cultures, when I returned back to Japan in 2017. I wish to offer you custom made trip ideas to be able to enjoy the atmosphere of old city, Nara. I am also planning to develop trip plans to enjoy the local cultures. Please call me Yasu.
Yosshi S.
Thank you for visiting my page. I will guide you to the ancient capital cities with 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming and screening history. I grew up in Osaka, studied in Kyoto, and worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for the national and local governments. During this time, I surveyed many community development sites throughout Japan. I welcomed business leaders to encourage investment in the cities. After quitting my career, I became a film-loving professional engineer. I visited unique cities in foreign countries to see urban planning and locations that appeared in picturesque film scenes and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now). The more I saw foreign cities, the more I loved my hometown. I wanted to know about the travel industry and got a national license as a Guide-Interpreter and Travel Service Manager. I have started guiding based in the old capital cities. The entire area of old Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara has been a Metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace, and the actual location of the Palace has changed 15 times since the 7th century. This area has many historical spots and hidden attractions in different times and places: the townscape, temples, shrines, landscaped gardens, and historical drama locations (SAMURAI drama). I will create your favorite tour using my list, and guide you leisurely. I look forward to hearing from you.
