Joined 2025
Steve R.
Available Areas
Kumamoto (Living)
Languages
English (Native), Japanese, Spanish (Native)
Response Time
Less than an hour
Availability Updated
3 days ago
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 driver’s 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
It’s very important that you inform me of any food allergies you may have. This way, I can make sure to notify the restaurant staff and ensure your safety and comfort.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Categories
ONE PIECE 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.
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.
Amakusa Full Day Tour
Amakusa (天草), which means "Heaven's Grass," is a picturesque region located in the western part of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, known for its stunning coastal landscapes, historical sites, and unique cultural heritage. It comprises a group of islands scattered in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Reviews
Eric T.
“You Can't Go Wrong With Steve!”
Booking a private tour with Steve was one of the best choices we made during our visit to Japan. Having the convenience of a charismatic and knowledgable private tour guide was extremely worthwhile. It made for an efficient and relaxing day exploring all of the locations we wanted to see. Steve gave us the flexibility during the day to see what we wanted to and the agency to manage our own time which was a detail we highly appreciated. He also gave us the space to explore where necessary but was also always around when you needed him. Steve is also a fast and friendly communicator and an extremely helpful person. He was able to help me plan a special and personal day and I'm so grateful for all of his contributions to make the day a success. Steve, I sincerely wish you all the best and thank you once again!
Claudiu D.
“A successful tour”
Steve has been very accommodating of our statue visit plans as we had already covered Luffy and Chopper and helped us visit the remainder of the 8 as well as making it snappy when sorting out acquisition of the straw hat figures! We were super happy to have him show as around and teach us a bit about the events, culture and correct/help us with some of our basic japanese. We'd be happy to have him as our tour guide again, thank you very much!
Steve R.
Thank you so much for the review! Other tour guides should also know how wonderful you were as guests. You were kind, funny, accepting. You were wonderful conversationalists, you taught me about IT and nutrition. I hope you have a great time in Japan!
Nicolle F.
“Steve is the best!!!”
I just want to thank Steve for everything. Thanks to his patience and kindness, my brothers and I were able to fulfill a dream: visiting all the One Piece statues in Japan. He was always helpful, thoughtful, and made the whole experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have done it without him! Wish you the best my friend!!!
Steve R.
Nicolle! Thank you so much for your kind words. It was an absolute pleasure taking your family on this tour. Other tour guides should also know what wonderful guests you were as well. I miss you all so much!
Other Popular Tour Guides in Kumamoto
Satoru O.
Bonjour, je m’appelle Satoru. Je suis guide certifié par l’Etat. Lors de votre voyage au Japon, vous aurez certainement quelques inquiétudes quant au fait de devoir vous exprimer dans une langue si différente de la vôtre. Vous serez peut-être aussi un peu stressé à l'idée de ne pas réussir à faire tout ce que vous avez prévu pour votre voyage. C'est avec plaisir que je vous apporterai mon aide pour que vous puissiez passer les vacances de vos rêves. Je ferai de mon mieux pour que votre voyage soit à la fois amusant et intéressant. Qu'aimeriez-vous manger ? Qu'aimeriez-vous acheter ? Vous serez surpris par la quantité de choix à laquelle vous ferez face. Je vous guiderai parmi toutes ces bonnes et belles choses. A chaque étape de votre voyage, vous vous poserez des questions telles que "Pourquoi?" ou "Comment?". Je serai là pour y répondre toujours de façon simple et rigolote. Je suis conscient que votre temps au Japon est précieux et qu'il représente aussi un gros budget. Je ferai en sorte que votre voyage soit inoubliable en partageant avec vous ma passion pour la culture japonaise. A bientôt au Japon.
