Joined 2017
Yoshi K.
Available Areas
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Shiga (Living)
Languages
English
Response Time
3 hours on average
Availability Updated
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Tour Categories
About Tour Guide Yoshi K.
My name is Yoshi, alias known as "Lonesome Cowboy", who used to live and work in El Paso in the Lone Star state of the US. During my stay there, I was able to enjoy opportunities to go around the Southwest (TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO) alone, taking advantage of given long holidays. The total distance I drove was no less than 3,000 km (about 1,900 miles).
I dropped by a motel in a countryside town along the highway, drank several glasses of whiskey at the bar, and the next day continued travelling for other new towns that I had never seen before. I felt that I was just a cowboy wandering place to place of the wide country in the middle of the 19th century.
Long time has passed since I had come back to Japan from that exciting and fulfilling life there, and I already retired and came back to my hometown, KOHOKU (湖北; The northern region of lake Biwa, Shiga pref.) When I recall back those good old days, a kind of feeling that I would like to serve tourists from abroad has bubbled over in my mind. I want to help you to see and enjoy quite distinctive four seasons, impressive legends and moving stories caused by historic happenings, and casual everyday lives of the village people here.
Let me guide you around KOHOKU, which is not definitely on the Golden route of Japan travel and will not become in the future either, but we believe you must be able to feel and catch a kind of essence of the Japanese people who had created and have developed the deep and genuine culture. Such nature, historical events and crystallization of the people's effort are the ultimate attraction of KOKOKU.
Important
1. Basically 7 days a week
2. Besides sightseeing spots in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara), the guide has a detailed knowledge in KOHOKU (Northernmost) district in Shiga Pref.
i.e.,
1)Shizugatake Old Battlefield, 2)Lake Yogo, 3)Woody Pal Yogo, 4)Tojyuin temple, 5)Kanzan-ji temple, 6)Zencho-ji temple, 7)Kaizu Osaki for Cherry Blossom Viewing, 8)Keisoku-ji temple for Autumnal Leaves, 9)Throughout Central Kinomoto area, 10)Odani Jyo Castle, 11)Sugatani Hot Spring Resort, 12)Chikubu-shima island, 13)Doganji-temple (A National Treasure), 14)Takatsuki Museum of Ethnic and Historical Materials, 15)Throughout Central Nagahama city, etc.
Tours
All tours can be customized for you. Send me a message with your requests!
Autumnal Leaves at Keisoku-ji & Shizugatake Old Battlefield
Keisoku-ji was re-built by the Venerable, Saicho (767-822 AD), and named after footmarks of a chicken left on accumulated snow. The monk found an Eleven-headed Deity of Mercy in burned-out ruins, and then opened tremendous area of many Buddhist temples. Though the temple became deserted now, the breath-taking beauty of hundreds of colored leaves attracts so many people just like the old days.
Bike Tour around Yogo, an Old Home of Japan in Shiga
Lake Yogo, alias "Mirror Lake" is a northernmost attraction in Shiga pref. Literally, it looks like a natural mirror on a calm day, perfectly reflecting surrounding mountains. The one day tour takes you to representative spots associated with impressive folklores about the lake and its vicinity. We can also visit the stage of the fierce historical battle of Shizugatake of the Provincial Wars.
A Half Day Bike Tour around Lake Yogo in Shiga
Lake Yogo is a northernmost mysterious attraction in Shiga prefecture, and its another name is "Mirror Lake", since it looks like a natural mirror on a calm day, perfectly reflecting surrounding mountains. The lake was a stage of the fierce historical battle of Shizugatake in the midst of the age of Provincial Wars (1583). There are also many folklores associated with the lake.
One Day Bike Tour around Kohoku in Shiga
Kohoku, i.e., northernmost district in Shiga pref. is said to be “The home of Kan-non (Deity of Mercy)”, many of which have been protected by successive villagers of the hamlets since more than 1,200 years ago. You can also appreciate breathtaking autumnal beauty of the old mountainous temple of Keisoku-ji in late fall. Thus, you may feel a genuine cultured atmosphere of old Japan here at Kohoku.
A Winter Tour around Lake Yogo in Shiga (余吴湖畔冬季之远行在滋贺县)
Lake Yogo is a mirror-like spot surrounded with community based forests in a secluded corner of Shiga. Though the district around the lake is often covered with fresh snow almost every day in sever winter season, the sceneries from the lakeside must give sightseers unique landscapes associated with genuine local cultures of Japan and folklores which have come down from more than 1,200 years ago.
One Day Tour around Central Nagahama in Shiga (长滨市内一天远行在滋贺县)
Nagahama (Population: about 120,000; Area: about one sixth of the whole of Shiga) has developed after Hideyoshi, a famous hero in the Provincial War Period, put his base castle here in 1570s. UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Asset, Hikiyama festival has an origin of celebrating a birth of the strongman’s first son. Thus, many spots associated with the old days still remain here and there.
Reviews
“Yoshi was awesome!”
Yoshi was very informative, knowledgeable, time conscious, kind, humble, and considerate. We asked a lot of questions because we truly wanted to understand the Japanese culture, and he -answered them with honesty. We are 69 years old and he often asked us: can you walk 15 minutes to a certain location or can you walk up the stairs? He seemed to be very sensitive about our health mobility. Although he is about our age, he has great wisdom and much more energy than we did. We would highly recommend him.
Yoshi K.
Dear Linda san, and Mike san I was so happy to be able to share the time with you on the 18th. Thank you for your lavish words to this amateurish tour guide. I was glad to know that both of you were listening in earnest, when I explained about the histories and the related episodes, with what little knowledge I have. I already sent my "Homeworks" to your e-mail address, and will send all the photos in a week, as I promised. Again, I was really lucky to get acquainted with the nice couple from Louisiana. From Yoshi
“Excellent guide! ”
Yoshi is an excellent guide! He is a hard-working and wonderful ambassador for his country. Yoshi takes his work seriously and is scrupulously prepared. His care for his clients really shows. He went above and beyond for us. Yoshi is very well-informed about so much, including Japanese history, current Japanese affairs, and the flowers and trees of Japan. He is interesting, energetic, kind, and hospitable. Our only wish was that we had more time with Yoshi! We are grateful we met him.
Yoshi K.
Dear Julie san and Ron san. Thank you very much for your nice feedback. As our mission as a tour guide is, of course, to insure our customers' satisfaction, I've believed (as a former Quality Engineer) that we have to do our maximum effort, sacrificing our short lunch and rest time. I'm so glad to know that you kindly felt a touch of it. Again, I was extremely happy to be able to have an opportunity to go around the best spots with you and Ron san yesterday. Thank you, PS: I will try not to be a "Crybaby" any more. From Yoshi Apr., 19 (Fri.), 2019; 22:23
Siti M.
Impressive Three-Day Tour around Old Capitals (Nara, Kyoto, Osaka) of Japan (Revised on Mar., 18)
Customized
“Nara Kyoto Osaka revisited”
Very lucky to have Yoshi san as our guide who took care of us from the time he picked us up from the hotel until he send us back to the hotel. I'm very impressed and appreciative when he accomodate to our slow movement. He planned well according to what we wanted even at the short notice of visiting Nara Womens University. Really love the Kimono experience and picnic under cherry blossoms at Osaka castle. Our family especially my daughter had a lovely and wonderful time. Thank you Yoshi san for understanding and being an amazing tour guide for us. - Siti, Malaysia.
Yoshi K.
Siti san, Zainal san, alias sweet Sumo wrestler, and a promising No.1 journalist in Malaysia, Farah san, I thank you very much for selecting such an amateurish tour guide like me for your memorable tour tripping around Kansai district, Japan. I was relieved that the weather on the days during your trip was relatively good (not so cold and not so warm), and we could make it in time when the cherry blossoms that all of you must have eagerly anticipated started. You were able to dabble at OHANAMI (Cherry viewing) at Osaka Jyo park, eating Takoyaki, weren't we? The gift that charming Farah san surprisingly gave me must have become one of my most important treasuries. Thank you so much. PS : As I promised so, I'm going to send all the photos that I took for your wonderful family through e-mail in a few days. From Yoshi
Posts By This Supplier
Lake Yogo in the Late Fall
Shiga, Japan
I've made it a rule to take a walk around Lake Yogo every afternoon in order to keep fit. Today, I happened to find that the ground at a small lakeside park was just like a red carpet of fallen leaves. The landscape matched very well with the blue surface...
A Half Day Walking Tour along Old Hokkoku Street in Central Nagahama, Shiga Pref.
Shiga, Japan
Sightseers can savor retro-inspired atmosphere of the central area in the old castle town. Nagahama started blossoming after Hideyoshi had based here in 1574 AD. Since the district faces Lake Biwa (hence, playing a role of good shipping port) and was loca...
[ Motion Picture] The Fall Foliage at Keisoku-ji and Shakudo-ji Temple of Kohoku Area
Shiga, Japan
Both of the temples of Keisoku-ji (鶏足寺) and Shakudo-ji (石道寺) used to be two of the biggest and mightiest Buddhists Meccas built at Kodakami-yama mountain (己高山) in Heian period (about 1,200 years ago). Since the area was believed most peaceful and divine p...
Smelts Fishing at Lake Yogo
Shiga, Japan
The fishing has now become a winter feature at around Lake Yogo. Since it was a bit warmer day than usual on that day, the result was not necessarilly good and the size of the fish was not so satisfactory, either. They say that the full-scale season will ...
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