I’ve lived in Nagoya for 43 years
I speak English
I am English Instructor
Geographically located in the middle of Japan, it is very convenient to get around. It takes only 30 minutes to Kyoto by train. Tokyo is only about an hour away. You can go out on a day trip. Ise Jingu Shrine and Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site, are also conveniently accessible and are transit destinations for most tourists. The city is an industrial city with a well-developed town due to the location of Toyota's headquarters. There is a large shopping district in a modern shopping area, which has a strong cross-cultural flavor. The Osu shopping district is famous for cosplay and is called the world's sacred ground. Cosplayers from all over the world visit the area. At Osu Kannon, you can encounter antique markets and get food from all over the world. And, speaking of Nagoya, mornings! For the price of a cup of coffee, you can get a great deal, and some people even go as far as brunch when they are open until 11:00 a.m.Nagoya is a city of coffee shops. Even Komeda, which has made its way around the world, originated in Nagoya. Local dishes(Nagoya-Meshi) such as red bean toast and miso are very popular. Historically, Aichi Prefecture is said to have the largest number of temples in Japan. Inuyama Castle and Atsuta Shrine are places I always like to take my guests to. What I am considering for guests from overseas is renting out an important cultural property, kimono dressing, and tea ceremony experience. It is a retreat program to enhance spirituality with hiking and vegetarian cooking in the satoyama of Toyota Asuke. Since I am friends with the ascetic, kimono, and tea ceremony teachers, I am confident that they will enjoy the casual atmosphere without any special arrangements.
Takako was an amazing guide—funny, approachable, and easy to talk to. She took the time to ask about our preferences and carefully planned the trip according to our wishes. We were interested in buying traditional Japanese clothing, and not only did she take us to a spot with beautiful, reasonably priced yukatas, but she also helped us choose and fit the pieces, explaining how they should be worn. Without her, such a smooth shopping experience wouldn't have been possible. As a local who speaks fluent English, she was able to explain the culture in depth and show us hidden gems. We even managed to fit in a visit to Nagoya Castle, making the tour really versatile. We truly enjoyed the experience.
read full reviewOctober 2024
Es war ein wunderschöner Abend mit Takako im Restaurant neben Fugu auch andere lokale Köstlichkeiten zu essen. Das Essen war ausgezeichnet und Takako ist eine sehr sympathische und freundliche Person. Nach dem Abendessen sind wir noch in eine lokale Craft Brauerei und haben den Abend ausklingen lassen. Wir denken gerne an diesen schönen Abend zurück It was a wonderful evening with Takako in the restaurant eating fugu as well as other local delicacies. The food was excellent and Takako is a very personable and friendly person. After dinner we went to a local craft brewery and ended the evening. We look back fondly on this beautiful evening
read full reviewJune 2024
And I just wanted to make sure that she is really outstanding. I can't put it in any other words, because she got to all the places that I remembered...
read full reviewMay 2024
We are well travelled and have always used organised tours or cruise ship shore excursions. Our first private tour experience with Takako in Nagoya was wonderful and we will now always use City Unscripted where ever possible. We were travelling with a 9 year old and Takako was accommodating, kind and patient. We enjoyed our time spent with her, especially our experience of having a picnic in a park full of Cherry Blossom trees and eating Japanese food that we selected together. She ensured that we had lovely photos of our Nagoya memories.
read full reviewApril 2024