Connecting you to the local side of Kyoto

Go beyond just the touristy stuff with tours designed to connect you to Local Kyoto!

Discover Local Kyoto, a deeper experience awaits.

Hi there, my name is Greg. Working at one of Kyoto’s best hotels, I noticed visitors would return disappointed because they felt they wasted their limited time only seeing the touristy stuff!

Are you sure you won’t end up wasting your time on only the touristy stuff, missing out on a deeper side of Kyoto?

I don’t want this to happen to you. There is so much to see and do in Kyoto but it’s difficult to find the temples, cafe or restaurants, only the locals know.

Working with me feels just like you have a local friend, who happens to be a guide. Clients just like you have joined my tours. Don’t get stuck coming all the way to Japan for that trip of a lifetime, only to feel disappointed, not getting a taste of “Local Kyoto” A.K.A. experience a personal feel for Kyoto’s people, culture and history.

Join one of my tours to experience the hidden side of Kyoto, only a long-time resident and experienced guide like myself, can give you instant access to.

I can’t wait to help you connect to Local Kyoto!

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Tour Highlights

Local Kyoto Tours

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Tours

Benefits of working with me

No language barriers

I'm a native English speaker originally from Canada who speaks Japanese fluently, helping to smooth out any communication problems.

Professional & Experienced Guide

With my 2 years at one of the best hotels in Kyoto and almost 10 years of full-time guiding, I know exactly what you are looking for and possess the knowledge and expertise to take you beyond the touristy stuff!!

Just like a local Friend

I'm just like a local friend, who happens to be a guide. However, more than just a guide, I'm someone you can easily relate to and I can speak on Japan from both a Japanese and Western perspective. I've gone through the pain of learning the language and other difficulties, so you don't have to!!

Unique Access to locals

With my access to locals, you are able to connect to Kyoto in ways you'd find difficult on your own.

Join a tour in 4 easy steps:

1. Click JOIN A TOUR

2. Choose your tour

3. Finalize the booking

4. Discover the hidden side of Kyoto

Experiencing Local Kyoto is a once in a lifetime chance, you don't want to miss out on!

Do you really want to risk getting stuck with only the touristy side of Kyoto? Sure you could do it on your own but you don’t know the off-the-beaten-track places like I do and how to get there.

Taking a tour with me, this doesn’t happen.

I’ll help you connect with Local Kyoto!

My tours help you get access to Local Kyoto.

You’ll feel happy and bring home memories of a lifetime.

I've helped these clients discover the Hidden Gems:

"We had walked around Gion the year before without any guidance. We were aimlessly walking down streets. I really didn't expect to see actual Geiko and Maiko on the street. I definitely recommend taking this tour because I felt like I had an insider's view into Gion in a way that simply would not have worked if I was just working from a guidebook."

Jennifer Primosch⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have a much better sense of the history of some of Kyoto’s districts and like I’ve been shown around by a very knowledgeable “insider”/local-one with a deep understanding of Japanese history and culture. What I especially appreciated was that Greg was interested in knowing what we wanted to hear about/know about and really tailored the tour to our interests."

Natalie Young⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Before the tour, I was super overwhelmed by Kyoto and navigating around, trying to hit all the landmarks without getting lost. Didn’t expect to spend time at the Zen temple, just talking about tea ceremony and had no idea it was similar to a martial art. I would definitely recommend this tour to a friend."

Hudson Eddy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Greg’s in-depth knowledge of Japan gave us additional insights into the neighborhoods we walked through and the various stops on our itinerary. Filled with a lot of variety, each day was fun and engaging.
Greg showed us things that we would NEVER have found on our own – a scale model of old Osaka, the fall colors in Mino Park, and even edible maple leaves!"

Lisa Erdos⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Certificate of Excellence 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on TripAdvisor

Discover the hidden side of Kyoto. A simple click away.

What You'll get:

Native English, Fluent Japanese Speaker

Local Kyoto resident-over 15 years

Experienced Guide

Access to off-beaten-track-places

Access to local restaurants, places only the locals know

Easy to understand and interesting cultural insights

Have Questions? We've Got Answers

Why do I need your services?

You will find many resources but are they still relevant and can you actually trust them? And are you guaranteed you won’t get lost and lose valuable time? I’m a long-term resident and a licensed guide who has personally invested my own time, energy, and money into learning about Kyoto. I’ve also guided many clients just like you who want to discover the hidden side of Kyoto

Why are you worth the extra money?

Taking a tour guarantees you instant access to off-the-beaten-track places you won’t be able to find on your own. I take out the worry, extra hassles of dealing with language and provide you with local insider tips and information tailored to you.

What makes you different from other guides?

More than just a guide, I’m more like a “local friend” who helps you get an insider’s look into Kyoto.

I’m easily to relate to and communicate with since I’m a native English speaker from Canada, yet I’m also fluent in Japanese.

I’ve actually lived and breathed Japan, encountering tons of personal experiences over 15 years, providing you with insights into Japanese people, culture and beyond.

How do I book a tour?

There is a booking form we ask clients to fill out. You simply list basic information concerning your tour choice, name and contact details and we reply as soon as possible.

Connecting you to the local side of Kyoto