I’ve lived in Kyoto for 6 years
I speak English and some Japanese
I am a Restaurant Owner and Chef
Hello, I'm Michael, and I would like to introduce myself and share with you why I live in Kyoto and love it so much. My journey began seven years ago when I took a break from my Italian restaurant in Houston, Texas, and traveled to Japan. Starting in Sendai and Matsushima, I went down to Miyajima and Hiroshima, and then I worked my way back to Tokyo. Along the way, I stopped in Kobe, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. After only two days and nights in Kyoto, I knew that this city was special. Once back in the USA, I made a plan for the next chapter of my life. Living in Japan! Moving and living here has been, and is so rewarding. The people are so kind, the country is amazingly beautiful and the food is absolutely delicious. During the first few years, I explored the countryside and traversed most of the city, worked as a rafting guide on the Setagawa River, and, up until last December, owned and operated one of only three Cajun establishments in all of Japan. My hobbies include surfing, scuba, camping, enjoying wines from across the globe, museums, the fine arts and obviously cooking. I hope you will allow me to spend a little time with you so I can show you what makes Kyoto one of a kind. Thank you
Had a great time with Michael. He knows so much about Kyoto, its history and the best places to be.
March 2025
Michael reached out ahead of time to introduce himself, exchanging his background. We got to know him beforehand. I was looking forward to meeting him. He did not disappoint us at all.
March 2025
Michael gave us an afternoon that was full of information, interesting and beyond what we imagined. We are very grateful for the experiences. He was so thoughtful of our mum in a wheelchair.
March 2025
We loved the tour around Kyoto, and we were amazed at how much information Mike had about the area. We not only got to see the surrounding area, but also were introduced to a little bit of its history.
January 2025