Hi, I’m Hiro
Hi, I’m Hiro
I’ve lived in Kyoto for 6 years
I speak English, Japanese
I am Entrepreneur
Hi, I'm Hiro, your local host in Kyoto! I’m passionate about the rich history and hidden gems this beautiful city has to offer. What I love most about Kyoto is how every detail in the city has a story, from the design of the streets to the smallest features of its shrines and temples. You’ll often find me wandering through quiet, lesser-known historical sites or enjoying a peaceful moment in a cozy coffee shop. I know the Gion and Nijo Castle areas inside out, and I’m always excited to share my favorite traditional restaurants, especially those offering great drink selections. Let’s explore the city together and uncover the secrets of Kyoto, away from the crowds!
My knowledge & interests
Faculty of Arts, Department of English
Food
History
Culture & customs
Street food
Local cuisine
Desserts
Food markets
Fine dining
Theater
Cinema
Street art
Parks
Gardens
Social history
Religious history
Cityscape photography
Street photography
Modern architecture
Classical architecture
Whiskey
Third wave coffee
Department stores
Handicrafts & souvenirs
Traditional culture
Popular culture
Religious customs
Rituals & ceremonial customs
Japanese sake
Traditional art
Wildlife photography
Night photography
Traditional music
Electronic music
Hip-hop
R&B
Reggae
My reviews
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Our tour with Hiro was excellent. He understood our desire to see historical sites and to go off the beaten path and provided us just the right tour. His English was excellent and he had a great sense of humor. And he imparted knowledge of Shinto and Buddhist practices. Highly recommend this tour.
December 2024
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Impossible to overstate what an amazing tour guide Hiro was! We had only one day in Kyoto—and so we decided to book a three-hour tour to try and make the most of our morning there. In that time, he took us to the most stunning temples and shrines, a gorgeous, traditional tea house, and a mouth-watering, local spot to grab lunch—all while providing thoughtful, insightful commentary (in perfect English!) on the history of the city. He made our day in Kyoto entirely unforgettable, and left us with pages and pages of recommendations to fill our remaining days in Japan. From the bottom of my heart, book your tour with him NOW!
November 2024
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Hope was so informative and helpful. A good tour guide shows you the things you didn't know you oh wanted to see. We went the wrong place and he helped us figure it out and compensated for it.
November 2024
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My father and I had a 3-hour private tour with Hiro, and while our entire visit to Japan was memorable, this was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Hiro was incredibly knowledgeable and shared several important insights that enhanced each stop of the tour. We visited three locations I had not considered during my planning, including a relaxing cup of tea in a Japanese garden to conclude the tour. My dad referred to our walk with Hiro several times during the rest of the trip and after we left Japan, and I can't thank Hiro enough for his patience and friendliness. Highly recommend.
October 2024