About Tour Guide Lee S.

“Change of plans and headed up to the Mountains”

When we met up, Lee suggested that we change our itinerary and head up into the mountains to visit Imani, famous for its wood carvings and large Buddhist temple, Ainokura, a remote mountain village famous for its steep thatched farmhouse roofs and papermaking, and Shirakawago, described as one of the most scenic places in Japan. Despite the chilly, rainy day, Lee ably guided us through the villages and temple, explaining everything from history to religion to culture. We made paper in a very traditional workshop located in a former samauri house in Ainokura and also enjoyed a quick home style lunch in the same village. This was an entirely different side of Japan to experience compared to where we had been in the south. Seeing snow capped mountains behind cherry blossoms was an extraordinary site. Thanks Lee for a great day and getting us back to the ship on time!

Lee S.

(6 reviews)

You are welcome, being we met at a dark dock on Toyama, it just made sense to suggest it due to heavy rush hour traffic and the terrible weather for the day. It was cold everywhere and comfort was important. So, it made sense considering the unforeseeable of the day we were left for your tour. I'm always happy to pivot if it makes more sense. I'm really glad that you enjoyed it.

“What an exceptional guide. 10/10 recommend!!!”

Lee truly went above and beyond to make our experience exceptional from start to finish. Despite the fact that we were delayed, he was incredibly patient and waited for us without any issues. Not only that, but he still made sure we were able to visit the places we had planned, adjusting seamlessly and never making us feel rushed or stressed. What really stood out was his genuine effort to accommodate us in every possible way. He was flexible, attentive, and clearly committed to making sure we had the best experience possible, even under less-than-ideal circumstances. Lee is also a very effective communicator—clear, responsive, and easy to coordinate with throughout. This made everything smooth and stress-free. On top of that, his knowledge as a guide was impressive. He shared useful insights and information that added a lot of value to our time with him. Overall, Lee is reliable, thoughtful, and dedicated to his work. His professionalism and kindness made a lasting impression, and I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and accommodating guide

Lee S.

(6 reviews)

Wow, thank you. In my heart and hopes I truely want to do this for everyone and have equal value, but I always feel it could have been better and every trip with my guests has some new treasure to add to the next one. But this review was above and beyond. So I guess goals are being met on all sides. Thank you and you are welcome. I had a great time as well.

Sam F.

5 / 5

Mar 29, 2026

Maeda Era Districts, Castle Gardens & Petite Four Matcha Experience

Mar 29, 2026

Kanazawa

8 hours 30 mins

“Takayama tour with Hida folk village ”

Lee is a very friendly Canadian who has lived in Japan among the Japanese people for 20 years; we learned so much from hearing about his many experiences of integrating into the homogenous culture. Lee has a great sense of humor and is a good storyteller. He took us around the very quaint and interesting houses in the historically rustic Hida Folk Village (about 10 minutes from downtown by Lee's car). I recommend visiting the folk village to learn how the past generations lived everyday life. We also toured the charming central shopping/eatery district of Takayama -- the classic low-slung wooden houses and shops with paper windows and doors. There's a beautiful Torie gate and hilltop shrine and garden. We also experienced a slightly chaotic, crowded tasting among many saki enthusiasts. This involved exchanging coins for tokens, using tokens to purchase saki cups from a bubblegum-style machine -- gatcha -- and then using more tokens to unlock the spouts on a variety of styles and flavors. Lee was a pleasure to be with and he also gave us very helpful recommendations for things to see and places to eat in Kanazawa.

Lee S.

(6 reviews)

Thank you Sam, it was my pleasure and turned put to be quite the adventure considering the jump from Kanazawa to Takayama ;) Enjoy the rest of your adventures in Japan. Lee S