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Joined 2025
Steve R.
Available Areas
Kumamoto (Living)
Languages
English (Native), Japanese, Spanish (Native)
Response Time
3 hours on average
Availability Updated
Today
About Tour Guide Steve R.
Hello! I'm Steve and I’m originally from Sydney, Australia, but I’ve lived in Kumamoto City for the past 28 years. I hold a Gold license. I’d love to take you on a tour of some of the region’s most historic and stunning sites. I took my profile picture on the balcony of my home, which sits high on a hill, offering great views of the city both day and night, with majestic mountain ranges in the distance.
I was a school teacher here for 25 years, starting in Japanese public schools before transitioning to an American institution.
I understand that when traveling abroad, many people prefer a local tour guide. While I wasn’t born in Japan, after nearly three decades here, I consider myself as local as it gets! Not only can I share insights about the local culture, but I can also offer a unique perspective as a foreigner who has grown to love this country as my own.
With our comfortable 4x4 full leather interior SUV, we’ll explore hidden gems that typical tour buses can’t reach, making your experience even more special.
On our way to the sites, I’ll describe anything that catches your eye so you don’t miss a thing. I know that returning back from a great trip can feel like the end of something special, so if there’s anything I can do to make the ride more enjoyable, just let me know. On the way back, feel free to play any music you like on the BOSE sound system in the car.
Important
Please read the information in the tour. I provide hotel pick up, and drop off at Tatsudaguchi train station. It will usually take 12 minutes to get to Kumamoto station. We don’t go to restaurants because it takes too much time out of the tour, however we will stop for sandwiches etc.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
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ONE PIECE Statues Tour. All 10.
All 10 statues in one tour. All your favorite ONE PIECE characters are in Kumamoto. As part of a collaboration with Eiichiro Oda, author of ONE PIECE born and raised in Kumamoto City, a total of 10 statues of the Straw Hat Pirates of ONE PIECE have been installed throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. The One Piece statues are part of a larger project to help Kumamoto recover after the 2016 earthquakes and are being built thanks to the cooperation of and extremely generous donation from Mr. Oda.
ONE PIECE Statues Tour. All 10.
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Mount Aso Full Day Tour
Join me for a full-day tour of Mount Aso, the most active volcano in Japan. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and capture photos or videos of anything that catches your eye. With a 4x4 SUV, we will be able to access places that tour buses are not capable of.
Mount Aso Full Day Tour
Reviews
Jenny Y.
“Wonderful experience”
Our tour was on a rainy day, even weather was bad but tour guide Mr. Steve made the tour pleasant. He explained history and symbolic meaning for each statue. We enjoy the tour and will recommend to all One Piece fans!
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Steve R.
Thank you for choosing me as your guide:). It was a pleasure taking you and your kids to the statues!
Felipe C.
“Great experience ”
Steve was awesome overall. We did the 10 statues with no rush, with plenty of time to take pictures, buy the statues figures and learn some trivia about their respective areas. About the miniatures, some of the shops were closed and steve had them available to sell in the car.
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Steve R.
Thank you Felipe!!!, hey, now you'll have to come back for the 11th statue :-D!
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Daniel R.
“Rainy day, sunny mood in the car”
We had a fantastic One Piece statue tour with Steve today. He was incredibly friendly and open from the very first minute, and even though the weather wasn’t great, we had great conversations and the tour was thoroughly entertaining and exciting. We learned a lot from him about Kumamoto and the surrounding region. We also had luck and saw the sunny train! We would highly recommend Steve and would book him again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much!
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Steve R.
Thank you so much my friends! I will certainly go to Germany for a food tour. I’m sure you know the best places for me ( a tourist ) to get a great sausage and schnitzel!!
Other Popular Tour Guides in Kumamoto
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Masatoshi M.
I had worked for the Japan's biggest travel agency JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) for 35 years as a tour escort for Japanese. I visited 68 countries and of course all over Japan as well. So I’m familiar with almost all of the tourist attractions in Japan. More over I’m also a professional magician now. I’m a member magician of The Magic Castle in Hollywood in US. That's why I made a decision to become an English tour guide. I acquired a tour guide license issued by the Japanese government with a lot of hard work in 2016 and I started from the following year. I work as an English guide approximately 130 days a year. My wife is physically disabled, and I usually care for her. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I receive home care and bathing services, so I am unable to go out during the day as I have to prepare for and clean up afterwards. I am available to guide on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I can take up to four people sightseeing in my private car. I am available at any time during evening tours, such as YATAI tours. I look forward to hearing from you. Please ask me first. If it is possible.
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Venus K.
Hi! I am Venus, and I have been living in Kumamoto for over 12 years. Since I realized how amazing this region is, I have wanted people from around the world to visit, experience its beauty, and create wonderful memories. Kumamoto is full of stunning nature, rich history, and warm-hearted local culture. Whether it’s the breathtaking Aso Volcano, peaceful gardens, or delicious local cuisine, every place has something special to offer. I truly enjoy meeting new people from around the world, and I am happy to be sharing smiles, good times, and unforgettable moments with my guests. My guiding style is friendly, flexible, and easy to understand, so everyone feels comfortable and enjoys the journey. I can also take photos for you, so you can fully enjoy the experience and bring home beautiful memories. To make your trip even easier, I offer private car tours (ideal for 2–3 guests), allowing you to travel at your own pace and visit hidden gems not easily reached by public transport. I will do my best to make your trip to Kumamoto fun, memorable, and stress-free. I look forward to welcoming you, sharing smiles, and creating an unforgettable travel experience together!
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