From the moment we met Yoji at the train station we knew we were in good hands. He is kind, attentive and patient. He spent time prior to our visit contacting the 4th generation craftsman, Yoshinori san, to plan our tour. We stopped along the way at a sushi “conveyor belt” restaurant, which was quite entertaining! Once we got to the Orin workshop it was clear it was a magical place. Yoshinori san explained how he forms the bowls and “tunes” them to the sound they are meant to have. He provides Orin bowls to many Buddhist temples throughout Japan and beyond. We each got to experience a bowl singing around our head and on our abdomen while lying on our backs. We took all the time we needed to select a bowl to take home. It was a very meaningful experience and we appreciate Yoji’s willingness to do the extra work to make it happen and to be our interpreter with the craftsman.
Touring with Tomoko felt like visiting a friend. She listened to our requests and turned them into a casual but intentional stroll through various parts of Tokyo, sprinkling in a few surprises, including a visit to her own neighborhood. She is extremely well informed about history and culture and genuinely proud of her city and country - we learned a few Japanese phrases that increased our enjoyment interacting with shopkeepers and other locals. We recommend her wholeheartedly!
We had a wonderful tour with Toshihiro! He was very kind and considerate to the 3 of us. The tour was a long day but there were many opportunities to rest and cool off on the subway rides. Toshihiro met us at our hotel and helped us navigate the city easily. We saw and learned so much as Toshihiro was extremely knowledgable. He even adapted our tour based on our preferences and things we had already seen. We highly recommend this tour!
Very professional, absolutely amazing guide
Thank you, enjoyed the day with your group. See you in Sarajevo or Madrid :)
With a real local of your choice
Just contact your favorite local
So no group tours with strangers