My experience and what brought me to this field 》Contact me
Thank you for visiting my page. I’m Sonoko, a nationally licensed tour guide in English who started my career in 2019.
I’ve guided my guests (individual groups and large groups) to many major attractions in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Mt. Koya, Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, and Takayama, as well as to some minor attractions, like a flight simulation center, a tour inside the National Parliament Building, Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior) cafe, a Japanese sake brewery, a large-scale motor show and a samurai ninja experience.
Fortunately, I’ve satisfied my guests and obtained some repeaters through close communication before and during tours.
Then what brought me to this field was my three-month solo trip to Europe and Morocco in 2012. One of my pleasures of travel was communicating with locals and exploring towns. Sometimes, it wasn’t easy to do these things, especially in non-English-speaking countries.
In Morocco, I hired a licensed local guide fluent in Japanese to help me explore the famous night market in Fez, which was like a vast maze. Besides, people sold products without any price tag on the market. Thanks to the guide’s great assistance, I could effectively communicate with shop owners and visit many interesting local stores, cafes, and restaurants.
With the enhancement of the internet environment, collecting information is much easier than before. But most of the latest and seasonal information is often only available in local languages. So why don’t you hire a private guide like me to help make your Tokyo journey more comfortable and practical?
About me 》Contact me
I was born and raised in Fukuoka, two hours flight from Tokyo. In my fourth year at my university in Kyushu Island, I took a one-year exchange program at the University of Pittsburgh, the U.S.A.
After graduating, I moved to Kanagawa, near Tokyo, to work for an electronic parts manufacturing and sales company headquartered in Chicago, the U.S.A. After leaving this company, I traveled alone in Europe and Morocco for three months. After returning to Japan, I focused on raising two sons (one born in 2014 and the other in 2017) for a while and finally started guiding in 2019. So, I’m used to dealing with kids’ guests, too. I’ve lived in the Kanto region(Kanagawa→Chiba→Tokyo) for over 13 years and mainly explored Tokyo.
Also, since I’ve worked for the Samurai Museum, a private museum in Shinjuku that exhibits authentic traditional Japanese armor, weapons, and other items related to samurai warriors’ history and culture, I am good at guiding this field.
I can provide you with one of the best travel experiences, full of passion, knowledge, and hospitality!
Since I know some licensed guide friends in Hokkaido, Fukushima, Aichi, and Osaka, I may be able to introduce you to someone suitable for you if you plan to visit these areas.
