Tokyo (Living), Kamakura, Yokohama
English, Japanese (Native)
6 hours on average
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Hello! I’m Keiko.
The memories of travels are somehow linked with foods: I absolutely agree with this. How about you? Travel and food are the two things I love, and I would be delighted to share my passion with you!
Before becoming a government licensed guide, I worked for 40 years as a bank manager. Throughout my career, I was always in contact with overseas, communicating with many people from across the world. Also, I lived in London for 3 years and went to elementary school there. Having such a background, I naturally became very much interested in cross-cultural exchange. Whenever I travel abroad, I always try to experience local culture, because it gives me a chance to encounter many interesting things.
As a guide, I wish to not only introduce the beauties and wonders of Japan, but also to take you on a first-hand experience tour of our country, especially focusing on Japanese culinary culture. It will be nice if you can take home what you experienced here and enjoy cooking Japanese dishes in your county – a lasting souvenir! My 40 years’ experience in traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine might be helpful here.
Come and explore Tokyo with me!
・I am basically available from Thursday through Sunday. As for Monday through Wednesday, please contact me for availability.
・Some of the experiences/visits require prior reservation. Please send a direct message to me before booking a tour.
Whether you have half a day in Tokyo or plan to move to Tokyo, Keiko is an amazing introduction to Japan! Our taste buds loved roaming through Tsukiji Market. We joined the human tsunami at Shibuya crossing. Our children loved the story of Hachiko and took several photos with his statue. Meijijingu Shrine will forever live within all of us. But the true treasure is Keiko-san. She is the one of the best guides that we have ever had - and her English is excellent!
Kerrilyn-san, thank you very much for your wonderful review! Tokyo is a dynamic city with both old and new elements everywhere, and also a very tasty city. Being a foodie, I love introducing what I find truly tasty to my guests, and if you find it good, too, that will make me happy. In the first several days in Japan, you already came across earthquake alerts and typhoon alerts, so by the time you leave here, you will become experts of Japan. Please enjoy your stay, and if you have a chance, please come back again!
Keiko-san is an extraordinary tour guide! We are a family of six, including two young children and a grandmother in her eighties. Keiko-san ensured that our tour included special and intriguing moments for everyone. In particular, she is extremely prepared, organized, conscientious, knowledgeable, accommodating and caring. Her expertise about the sights we visited and her passion for sharing Japanese culture are remarkable. From sacred temples to shaved ice, she is the best introduction to Japan that we could have hoped for... She even provided essential information about where to get groceries and how to navigate the transportation system. Last but not least, when we parted, our children hugged her. Thank you for a wonderful experience, Keiko-san!
Kerrilyn-san, thank you very much for your wonderful comments! I loved talking and walking with your charming family, especially because you were all so engaging! Being a guide, the places I visit with my guests tend to be those popular tourist spots. But this time, thanks to your special request, I had the pleasure of being able to explore the places totally non-touristic, and to find a very nostalgic yet vibrant retro Showa style shopping street still thriving in the outskirts of Tokyo. The pleasure was mine, because you did actually help me expand my knowledge, and I am indeed thankful to you for appointing me as your guide. Please convey my best wishes to everyone!
Thank you Keiko for the great trip around Tsukiji market and the many stories you told us. Highly recommended!
Dear Tom-san, thank you very much for your nice comments! I hope you all enjoyed sampling the quality products at Tsukiji. Washoku, Japanese cuisine, has an enormous variety, so please try a lot of different things during your trip! Keiko
Our tour with Keiko surpassed all expectations. We felt at immediate ease with Keiko, the experience was like visiting a friend in their home town. What an amazingly detailed and thoughtfully curated introduction to Tokyo. She took time to explain details about the sights and foods we tried and was also happy to answer my many questions. Keiko was very organised and had clearly spent time planning our tour with excellent attention to detail. I had requested to have some breaks factored in. Not only did she thoughtfully find us cool places to rest but she also added a fantastic opportunity to experience origami. We would highly recommend a tour with Keiko, a fantastic host and an amazing start to our Japan adventures, thank you Keiko.
Thank you very much, Catherine-san, for your wonderful comments! I, too, felt like welcoming old friends to Tokyo, and extremely enjoyed walking with you. The day was so hot, and your next place of visit after our tour was without a shade so I was a little worried, but it seems that you had enjoyed your stay and I now feel relieved. If you liked the art of origami, please try making other shapes, too. You can find a lot of videos on the internet. I hope it will be a lasting reminder of your adventures in Japan.