Himeji Local Freelance Guide：Kazu

Thank you for visiting this page!

Welcome, and thank you for visiting my website.

My name is Kazu, and I was born and raised in Himeji, Japan.

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world through guiding, language exchange events, sake-related activities, and international friendships.

Those experiences have deepened my appreciation not only for Japan, but also for my hometown of Himeji.

Today, I work as an English-speaking guide and organize Himeji International Exchange, a local community that brings together Japanese residents and people from around the world through language exchanges, food events, and cultural activities.

Through my tours, I hope to help visitors experience Himeji not only through its famous landmarks, but also through its food, culture, sake, and the people who call this city home.

On this page, you'll find:

• Information about my Himeji One-Day Private Tour

• Details about my sake-related tours and experiences

• Reviews and testimonials from past guests

• A more detailed introduction to my background and journey

Thank you again for stopping by.

I'd be delighted if you take a few minutes to explore the rest of the page, and I hope to welcome you to Himeji someday!

Kazu

Himeji Local Experiences

＊Himeji One-Day Private Tour - A Day in Himeji. An Evening with Himeji.-

Most visitors come to Himeji to see the castle.

Few get the chance to experience the city through its people.

This private one-day experience combines history, culture, local food, Japanese traditions, and meaningful local connections.

Perfect for solo travelers, couples, friends, and families looking for something beyond ordinary sightseeing.

All admission fees, transportation, food, drinks, tastings, and experiences are included.

Tour Overview

・Morning：8:45~

Meet at Himeji Station / Himeji Castle Tour

・Late Morning：11:00~

Wagashi Making Experience
Kimono Wearing
Explore a Beautiful Garden in Kimono & Enjoy a Tea Ceremony

・Lunch：13:00~

Local Food Experience at a Local Restaurant
Kanji Writing Experience

・Afternoon：14:30~

Mount Shosha & Engyoji Temple Experience

・Evening：19:00~

Food Hopping Experience with Locals

Himeji Castle Tour

No visit to Himeji is complete without exploring Japan's most spectacular castle.

Together we'll discover the stories, people, and history hidden behind its white walls.

*Highlights

• Visit Japan's most beautiful and best-preserved castle

• Learn about samurai culture and feudal Japan

• Discover hidden defensive features and architectural secrets

• Enjoy panoramic views from the top of the castle keep

• Understand why Himeji Castle became a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Take memorable photos at the best viewpoints

Wagashi Making Experience

Try making traditional Japanese sweets in an enjoyable hands-on experience.

*Highlights

• Make your own traditional Japanese wagashi

• Learn about the basic ingredients used to make wagashi

• Discover the connection between wagashi and Japan’s seasons

• Learn about the role of wagashi in Japanese culture

Kimono, Japanese Garden & Tea Ceremony Experience

Step into traditional Japanese culture through three memorable experiences: wearing a kimono, exploring a beautiful Japanese garden, and enjoying a traditional tea ceremony.

*Highlights

• Wear a traditional kimono

• Learn basic kimono etiquette and customs

• Explore a beautiful Japanese garden in your kimono

• Take memorable photos surrounded by traditional Japanese scenery

• Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony

• Learn about the philosophy and cultural significance of tea ceremony

• Enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets in an authentic setting

Local Food Experience at a Local Restaurant

Take a break and enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant in Himeji.

*Highlights

• Enjoy local food at a carefully selected restaurant

• Discover flavors loved by local residents

• Relax and recharge before your afternoon activities

• Experience a local side of Himeji beyond ordinary sightseeing

Kanji Writing Experience

Create a meaningful souvenir you'll keep long after your trip ends.

*Highlights

• Learn basic Japanese calligraphy techniques

• Practice writing Japanese characters using a brush pen

• Receive your own personalized Kanji name

• Learn the meanings behind your Kanji

• Take home your artwork and brush pen

As a former Japanese language teacher, I'll also introduce the cultural background and meanings behind the characters we choose together.

Mount Shosha & Engyoji Temple Experience

Escape the city and discover one of Japan's most peaceful spiritual destinations.

*Highlights

• Explore the historic Engyoji Temple complex

• Experience one of Japan's most atmospheric mountain temples

• Learn about Japanese Buddhism and temple culture

• Experience shakyo, the traditional practice of copying Buddhist sutras

• Visit a filming location featured in "The Last Samurai"

*Transportation & Hiking Options

Choose the experience that best suits your travel style.

・Ropeway Round Trip

Ideal for travelers who prefer a comfortable and relaxed visit.

・One-Way Hiking + One-Way Ropeway

A balanced option combining nature and convenience.

・Round-Trip Hiking

Perfect for active travelers who want a deeper connection with the mountain and its natural surroundings.

*Important Information

For hiking options, please bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Weather-appropriate clothing

• A bottle of water

• A hat during warmer months

The trail includes stairs, uneven surfaces, and moderate elevation changes.

The Perfect Way to End the Day - Food Hopping with Locals -

Most tours end when the sightseeing ends.

This one doesn't.

To conclude the day, I'll personally host a food hopping experience for you in Himeji.

I am the organizer of Himeji International Exchange, a local community that brings together Japanese residents and people from around the world through language exchanges, food events, and cultural activities.

I’d like to build on HIE’s community activities to offer you a unique experience that most travelers never have.

Instead of simply enjoying local food, you'll spend the evening visiting local food spots while sharing food, conversations, and stories with the people who live here.

You won't be joining a typical food tour.

You'll be joining a local food hopping experience with local people.

*Highlights

• Visit local food spots with Himeji residents

• Enjoy local specialties, drinks, and dinner together

• Share stories and conversation with local people

• Experience Himeji’s local community firsthand

• Finish your day with memorable connections beyond ordinary sightseeing

Many visitors see Himeji Castle.

Very few experience Himeji through its people.

What's Included

What's Included

• Himeji Castle Admission

• Kimono Rental Experience

• Kokoen Garden Admission

• Tea Ceremony Experience

• Kanji Writing Experience

• Personalized Kanji Name

• Complimentary Brush Pen

• Local Food, Drinks, and Sweets

• Afternoon Transportation

• Mount Shosha & Engyoji Temple Experience

• Food Hopping Experience

Pricing

・Total Tour Price / Mount Shosha Option (Round-Trip Hiking)

1 Guest: ¥46,800
2 Guests: ¥61,800
3 Guests: ¥71,800
4 Guests: ¥81,800
5 Guests: ¥91,800

・Total Tour Price / Mount Shosha Option (One-Way Hiking + Ropeway)

1 Guest: ¥47,800
2 Guests: ¥62,800
3 Guests: ¥72,800
4 Guests: ¥82,800
5 Guests: ¥92,800

・Total Tour Price / Mount Shosha Option (Round-Trip Ropeway)

1 Guest: ¥48,800
2 Guests: ¥63,800
3 Guests: ¥73,800
4 Guests: ¥83,800
5 Guests: ¥93,800

For groups larger than 5 guests, please contact me directly.

Who Is This Tour For?

• Solo travelers

• Couples

• Friends traveling together

• Families

• First-time visitors to Japan

• Food lovers

• Sake enthusiasts

• Culture seekers

• Travelers who want to connect with local people

A Day in Himeji. An Evening with Himeji.

See the castle.

Taste the food.

Learn the culture.

Meet the people.

Take home memories that go far beyond sightseeing!

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Sake-Focused Experiences

Why Sake?

Sake is such a wonderful beverage that represents my home country, Japan and I hope to keep spreading the popularity as much as possible.

However, beyond that, what I really apericiate about sake is connecions.

Thanks to the national drink, I've been able to interact with lots of people around the world.

By mingling with my guests, I always feel like exploring their countries and cultures.

For now, it's about myself and my guests.

However, in the future, I want to create more interactions.

I want to be a bridge between people from overseas and Japanese through this wonderful traditional beverage.

Sake -Kanji- Hopping Tour in Himeji

実際のスライダーの動きは、プレビュー/公開ページでご確認ください

＊Discover Sake and Kanji: A Unique Cultural Experience

Join me for an unforgettable tour that blends sake tasting with kanji writing. Explore Himeji’s finest sake and learn to write sake-related kanji and your own name!

＊What to Expect

・Guided Sake Hopping

Visit three top sake spots in Himeji, each offering a unique sake selection and insights into production, grades, flavor profiles and cultural significance of sake.

・Kanji Writing

Practice writing sake-related kanji and write your name in kanji during the tour. Take home your beautifully written kanji as a souvenir.

・Variety of Sake

Enjoy diverse sake styles and deepen your knowledge.

・Delicious Pairings

Savor local food paired with your sake at each stop.

＊Tour Details

・Daytime Tour: 1pm - 5pm

・Night Tour: 6pm - 10pm

・Language: English

・Group size: 5 people

*For groups larger than 5 guests, please contact me directly.

＊Pricing

1 Guest: ¥20,000
2 Guests: ¥32,000
3 Guests: ¥42,000
4 Guests: ¥52,000
5 Guests: ¥62,000

We’ll start at a standing bar run by a local brewery for a kanpai with a selected aperitif sake.

As the second spot, we'll go to a local izakaya and enjoy various sake styles.

We’ll finish at another local izakaya, where you’ll experience kanji writing, learn some practical Japanese phrases at izakaya and taste more sake with delicious food.
Use your new skills to confidently choose and order sake in Japanese!

＊Other Things to Note

・Food and drinks are included

・Tasting locations may vary

＊Additionally, I can offer personalized tours of Himeji Castle and sake brewery visits in the Nada region for an extra fee. Feel free to ask about these options when booking.

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One-Day Sake Brewery Tour in Nadagogo

実際のスライダーの動きは、プレビュー/公開ページでご確認ください

＊Explore the Best of Nadagogo Sake

Looking for an unforgettable sake experience in Kobe?

This one-day tour invites you to explore Japan’s most renowned sake brewing region, where history, craftsmanship, and flavor come together.

Step into Nadagogo, a legendary area where the spirit of sake has been passed down for generations.

＊What is Nadagogo?

Nadagogo, meaning “The Five Villages of Nada,” is Japan’s most famous sake-producing region, located between Kobe and Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture.

With centuries of history, ideal climate conditions, and access to mineral-rich water (Miyamizu), this region produces over 30% of Japan’s sake.

The five areas—Mikage-go, Uozaki-go, Nishinomiya-go, Imazu-go, and Nishigo—each have their own strengths.

Among them, Mikage and Uozaki stand out as the most accessible, diverse, and visitor-friendly areas.

Here, you’ll find a perfect balance of history, craftsmanship, and hospitality—all within walking distance.

＊Why Choose This Tour?

This one-day guided tour takes you through the heart of Imazu-go, Nishinomiya-go, Uozaki-go, and Mikage-go, where some of Japan’s most iconic breweries are located.

Unlike larger commercial tours, this experience is designed for curious travelers who want to:

・Dive deeper into sake culture Taste a wide range of premium sake

・Learn how sake is crafted from rice to bottle

・Walk through historical brewery streets

・Discover stories behind each brand

・Enjoy personalized guidance and hospitality

＊Tour Highlights

・Visit 5 to 8 renowned breweries, including some of the largest producers in Japan and a brand with 500 years of history

・Join two exclusive guided tours inside working breweries

・Taste diverse sake styles including ginjo, daiginjo, nama genshu, and taruzake

・Enjoy a local lunch set at a brewery restaurant

・Learn sake basics: brewing methods, tasting techniques, pairing tips

・Experience a hands-on kanji writing activity using brush pens

・Receive unique sake-related gifts and a personalized keepsake booklet

・Walk through Sakagura-dori, a charming street lined with historic brewery buildings

・Full English support from a passionate local guide

＊Tour Details

・Start time: 9:40 AM

・Meeting point: Hanshin Uozaki Station

・Duration: 7 hours

・Language: English

・Group size: Private or small group

*For groups larger than 5 guests, please contact me directly.

＊Pricing

1 Guest: ¥40,000
2 Guests: ¥60,000
3 Guests: ¥75,000
4 Guests: ¥90,000
5 Guests: ¥105,000

＊This Tour is Perfect For:

・First-time visitors looking for a deep yet relaxed cultural experience

・Couples or friends seeking a memorable and meaningful activity in Kobe

・Sake lovers who want to understand the craft behind the flavor

・Travelers interested in exploring hidden gems with a personal touch

実際のスライダーの動きは、プレビュー/公開ページでご確認ください

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Customized Sake Tour

実際のスライダーの動きは、プレビュー/公開ページでご確認ください

＊Customized Sake Tour

Are you looking for a unique sake experience that perfectly matches your preferences and interests?

Based in Himeji, Hyogo, I offer fully customized sake tours designed to suit your needs, whether you’re a first-time sake enthusiast or a seasoned connoisseur.

From exploring local breweries and learning about the rich history and culture of sake to enjoying exclusive tastings in a specific region, I’ll craft a personalized itinerary to ensure a memorable and engaging experience.

＊Regions Covered

Let me craft a sake experience tailored to your preferences in any of these remarkable regions!

・Hyogo: Known for Nada, Japan's largest sake-producing region, and its premium sake.

・Osaka: A hub of vibrant nightlife and modern sake bars.

・Kyoto: Famous for its traditional sake and historical breweries.

・Nara: The birthplace of Japanese sake.

・Shiga: Stunning scenery paired with exquisite sake.

・Wakayama: Unique sake brewed with local fruits and pristine water from the mountains.

・Okayama: Home of Omachi rice, the heart of sake brewing.

＊Pricing

The cost varies depending on the itinerary, with a guideline of around ¥30,000 per person for a full-day tour.

＊How to Book

Click the button below and fill out an application form for your customized tour.

＊Notice

To allow sufficient time for research and preparation, please make your reservation at least three weeks in advance.

Let’s work together to create a one-of-a-kind sake experience tailored just for you!
Feel free to contact me for more details or to start planning your customized tour.

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Bonus

A free sake book

Each experience above mentioned comes with a sake book I created!

As the title says, the concept of the book is to tell you how to enjoy sake in a lot of ways even if you have limited selections of sake out there in your place.

With 5 points from this book and your creativities, I believe that you will enjoy sake more than before and your everyday lives will become even more fruitful.

Reviews

Korea

I was lucky enough to come across a chance to experience Kazu-san's sake tour, which is one of the must-do activities when visiting Himeji city.

Learning how to read kanji and brew sake in Japan is truly a unique opportunity.

Kazu-san's tour is broken down into three steps, allowing for visits to casual and fancy local standing sake pubs, as well as an izakaya with local Himeji food, which was the highlight of the tour in the Kansai area!

For not only sake lovers but also those who would like to explore the west side of Kansai, I can guarantee this tour works for you!

Spain

It’s been a really amazing experience 🍸🥂

I thought I didn’t really like Sake because I always tried it at casual restaurants ( typical Sake) and didn’tryl the different tastes and qualities that there are available.

It was great to realise that I really like Sake!!🥳

On top of that he’s really good at explaining all the makes and different types of Sakes with good explanations and the meaning of Kanjis and preparation of Sake…

I wanted it to last longer and go for a few more🥂.

I will definitely do it again if I come back to Himeji.

Thank you very much for the experience.

America

A great tour and experience to learn all about Sake!

Kazu is extremely knowledgeable about Sake and is genuinely excited to share this knowledge with you.

While Sake is not my favorite drink, I still thoroughly enjoyed this tour for 2 main reasons.

One: I was able to learn a lot about Sake and gain a much greater appreciation for it - the different types, quality, tastes and how they are made. Extremely fascinating!

Second: Kazu is an amazing person whose passion for Sake is something you can't help but be excited about as well!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to have a local guide give you insight to this part of Japan that would otherwise be quite difficult.

Well worth it!

Germany

This tour was so much fun, definitely one of the highlights of my Japan trip!

I hadn’t really known what to expect because I had never drunk Sake before but Kazu-san explained everything as we went.

The tour is for one or two people, I got to enjoy it alone, which made for great conversation.

I felt very comfortable even though I was a woman travelling alone and we spent a great evening bar hopping and learning some Japanese.

You should eat well before though ;)

Would recommend this to everyone who spends a night in Himeji!

America

An excellent tour of not only the local sake and cuisine of Himeji and Hyogo but Kazu does an excellent job of making you feel welcome in his hometown.

Whether it’s your first time trying sake or it’s your drink of choice, this is an excellent experience you won’t regret.

I’ve drank more than my fair share of sake and not only learned a lot but was also able to try many sakes I otherwise would have missed had I tried to explore Himeji alone.

the Netherlands

This tour was an absolute delight!

Kazu-san took us sake bar hopping in Himeji after we had visited some sake breweries in the Nada region near Kobe (also with Kazu-san!).

I am quite fond of sake and have been learning about for a few years, but my wife is pretty new to it.

We both got a lot out of the tour in our own ways: it’s a great introduction to sake but also a great way of deepening one’s knowledge.

Kazu-san was really friendly and welcoming, and very happy to share his deep expertise of the sake brewing process, different styles and regions, its history and so on.

His enthusiasm for sake is infectious, and he was very good at conveying the mastery that goes into brewing, and how intertwined it is with Japanese culture.

This day and evening was genuinely one of the highlights of our Japan trip and I cannot recommend it enough!

America / Hong Kong

I usually prefer leisurely traveling to immerse myself in the local culture.

Kazu-san’s tour was beyond my expectations!
With his extensive experience of sake making and tasting, he thoroughly prepared a 171 page PowerPoint, even though I was the only participant on the tour!

It was more than just sake tasting and learning about the different types of sakes.
Through sake drinking, I got to learn more about the Japanese customs (I.e., overfilling to show generosity), etiquette when ordering food and drink, and everyday phrases when roaming around Japan. He also regularly checks in to see how I felt about having more drinks.

He speaks very good English for a self-learner!
You can tell that he is a dedicated learner by making quick journal entries on his phone through our conversations and setting English as the default language on his phone.

I was asking quite a lot of questions, all of which he elaborately explained so well. He really is passionate about sake that he wants to spread it with others from all around the world!

France

I had a memorable experience discovering sake in Himeji!

Kazuaki is a real expert and taught me to appreciate the intricacies of this traditional Japanese drink by introducing me to different types of sake and explaining how to taste them properly.

Kazuaki was friendly and professional, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. He answered all my questions with patience and enthusiasm, and was able to adapt his speech to my level of knowledge.

This experience was for me an immersion in Japanese culture, an opportunity to learn and understand the importance of sake in Japanese society.

If you are in Himeji, I highly recommend that you have this unique and rewarding experience with Kazuaki as your guide!

America

This sake tour was one of my highlights for this trip to Japan!

Kazu was so kind to open up a tour on a day that originally wasn’t open since I was only in Himeji for one day.

I felt a lot more confident about picking sake out from a menu, and I got to try some izakaya food local to Himeji.

Kazu was really easy to talk to, and he had a lot of knowledge about the sake making process. Definitely recommend if you are in Himeji!

America

What a great sake tasting experience!

We went to some really interesting small sake bars, drank a lot of delicious sake, and I learned about the variety in styles of sake and enjoyed some very tasty snacks.

I only wish that such great sake was available in the United States….

I guess I will have to come back to Himeji and take this tour again (after I do my homework and learn to write my name in kanji!)

America

Having been in the sake business for 25+ years, it’s not often I learn new things or experience something unique.

But Kazuaki delivered! So thoughtful, knowledgeable, and thorough.

Impeccable English to boot.

What a phenomenal experience!!

Denmark

UK

We had a terrific day with Kazu-San.

Learned a ton about sake, had a fantastic lunch, great conversation.

We highly recommend his tour to anyone who is keen to learn more about sake.

Thank you Kazu-San!

Norwegian/British - UK based

We absolutely loved the tour and had a great day!

We enjoyed learning about the sake making process and how it has evolved over time, as well as learning about (and of course tasting) the different types of sake.

We felt so lucky to get to see barrels being made with traditional methods, and also learning about the different types of vessels and how it changes smell and flavour.

There were so many little nuances which made the day even more special, and everything was so well thought through.

Kazu-san is super lovely, and a great tour guide, and we can't recommend this experience enough.

Meet your Guide, Kazu

Hi, I’m Kazuaki Kaneda, a freelance guide based in Himeji, Japan.

I was born and raised in Himeji, a peaceful city near Kobe and Osaka, best known for Himeji Castle, Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.

Until my late twenties, I worked mainly in the food and beverage industry while dedicating much of my free time to basketball.

At the age of 30, I decided to restart my life through English. After studying seriously for several years, I began working at a local sake brewery, where I welcomed international visitors and shared Japanese sake and culture in English.

That experience eventually led me to guiding.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that what I enjoy most is not simply explaining places or sake, but creating meaningful local experiences and genuine human connections through them.

Today, I mainly work as a freelance guide in Himeji and other parts of Japan, offering local experiences centered around culture, conversation, daily life, and sake.

In 2024, I also started Himeji International Exchange (HIE), a local community that brings together both local residents and international people through language exchange events, dinner meetups, and cultural activities.

Through both guiding and community activities, my goal is to help people experience a more personal and local side of Japan — not only as tourists, but through real human connection.

Whether through a conversation, a shared meal, a local walk, or a glass of sake, I hope our time together becomes a memorable part of your journey in Japan.

＊Experience & Credentials

・Over 9 years working at a local sake brewery

・Certified International Kikizakeshi (Sake Sommelier)

・Creator of an English-language guide on enjoying Japanese sake at home

・Developer of original sake tours for international guests

・Tour-related Licensed Tour Conductor (Ryotei Kanri Shuninsha)

・Guided over 100 sake and cultural tours in various areas across Japan for inbound travelers

・Founder and organizer of Himeji International Exchange, a local & online community promoting cultural and language exchange through weekly events

Likes

日本酒 -nihonshu-

I'm a big fan of Nihonshu.

Nihonshu is widely known as Japan's national drink.

Why do I love it so much?There are three reasons for that.

First of all, Nihonshu tastes surprisingly different from bottle to bottle.

Nihonshu is divided into more than 10 categories depending on its making process and raw materials.

Also, there are about 1,400 酒蔵 -sakagura-, Nihonshu brewries in Japan and each one of them brew Nihonshu with their own styles.

So, there are tons of 日本酒 out there.

It's a lot of fun to try as many bottles of 日本酒 as possible and find your favorite kinds of日本酒.

Second, Nihonshu goes very well with food.

It is said that Nihonshu is food-friendly beverage.

It pairs amazingly well with not only Japanese food but also any kinds of food.

Once you start having Nihonshu and food together, you can't leave the table.

Lastly, Nihonshu is enjoyable at a wide range of temperatures.

Nihonshu changes its face depending on what temperatures you drink at.

Generally, premium Nihonshu like Daiginjo and Ginjo is served chilled, not warmed.

But it doesn't mean you can't warm high grade Nihonshu. Each Nihonshu has its best temperatures and you'll never know until you try it.

Those are the reasons why I love Nihonshu.

If you have never had Nihonshu before, I highly recommend try it out!

Basketball

In my free time, I like to play freestyle basketball.

Have you ever heard of it?

Freestyle basketball is different from normal basketball. It's like doing performance on the stage with basketball.

Ballers compete with each other by showing their ball-handking skills and creative tricks.

Literally, you can do anything as long as you include a ball in your performance.Some are skilled at dribbling.

Some are crazy about spinning. And some use multiple balls.

Some even put dancing moves and acrobatic moves in their routines.

In freestyle basketball, it's free and there's no rule.

That's why I love this sport.

English

English was my favorite subject back in my school days.

I was so much into American culture back then like NBA, English songs, movies and TV dramas.

These interests naturally grew my passion towards English and encouraged me to study harder than any other subject.

Since then, I have been learning English and I’m positive I’ll continue working on it for the rest of my life.

What makes me so passionate about English? There’s one thing that comes to mind immediately when I think about this question, which is.....

“English opens up lots of possibilities.”

Before restarting English and taking it seriously at the age of thirty, what I thought I could do was very limited.

It was so dark and I felt like my life was going nowhere.

However, things completely changed after gaining English skills.

English gave me an opportunity to work at sakagura, Nihonshu brewery.

English motivated me to teach English and having had the teaching experience challenged myself to become a Japanese teacher as well.

And most importantly, English inspired me to do something that helps out people abroad have a better understanding of Nihonshu.

Looking back on it, I could have never imagined doing any of those without English.

English has given me a lot of inspiration and will keep doing so for the rest of my life as long as I keep working on it.

This is why I like English and put my passion towards it.

So far

Setbacks

I was born and raised in a small city, called Himeji in Hyogo prefecture in Japan.

I spent my whole school days in the city. As a kid, I was pretty active.

I’d often go outside and enjoy playing sports with my friends.

I was especially into baseball and basketball. I studied hard as well.

I made it to a college without any trouble.

After graduation, I earned my first job.

Everything went smoothly up until that time.

As I started working as a door-to-door sales rep in the education industry, I found that things would never be the same.

I couldn’t adjust myself to the new environment and ended up quitting.

After that, I realized that it was not something I really wanted to do and thought to myself,

“ I’m going to do what I really want to do from now on.”

and I decided to challenge myself to become a pro freestyle basketballer.

Basketball

In my 20s, I put in a lot of time and effort in basketball to realize my dream.

While chasing the dream, I was working at a pizza shop and a bento (lunch box) store to make a living.

After working the night shift, I went to a park near Himeji castle every day and practiced till I got drenched in sweat.

I really enjoyed doing what I love.

But, I found that it was tough to bring myself to a pro level.

And as the time went by, I started thinking this way,

“Okay, maybe it’s not for me... I love basketball but it's not something I can do for a living. I did all I could, so I have no regrets. I need to find something else I can be as passionate about as I’m about basketball to live my life.”

Before I turned 30, I decided to move on to the next chapter.

English

When I was 29 years old, I changed direction and decided to take English seriously to get some English-related jobs because English was the only thing I had always been interested in aside from basketball.

But, my English back then was not good enough to get a job.

So, I took a break from working at those 2 stores and took an intensive English program to study hard for two years.

It was tough but I loved it.

I thought I found my passion after basketball.

After the program, the passion led me to becoming an English teacher and teaching 300 students for six years.

I liked being a teacher and the experience motivated me to teach Japanese to people from abroad.

I had a 5-year-experience of teaching Japanese to 500 students from more than 10 countries.

Dive into sake world

While doing those 2 language-related jobs, I also worked at a local sake brewery for 6 years. (The brewery was looking for somebody capable of English.)

Interstingly enough, I didn't know anything about sake up until seven years ago, when I started at a locl sake brewery.

Because my role there was to explain about sake and give a short tour within the brewery, I had no choice but to study sake.

As I read some sake books and watched videos, I was getting interested in sake little by little.

Also, one bottle of sake I happened to drink on New Year's day had a huge impact on my relationship with sake.

Thanks to the bottle of sake, I came to appreciate sake even more and started working on it even more passionately.

I still vividly remember the day like yesterday.

A new step

At the very beginning of 2019, I met a woman who was working a freelance teacher and tour guide.

It was the first time getting to know someone like her, which was really inspiring to me.

As I got to know her, I came to think this way,

"I want to do something by myself too just like her.

It didn't take long until I decided to combine my passion, sake and English, and create my own sake tour and workshop designed for people visiting Japan.

However, I thought I felt like I was still not ready becasue my knowledgable about sake was not good enough to make that happen.

In order to have a better understanding of the beverage, I joined events, attended seminars and participated experience programs.

This is how I earned myself several sake certificates and it gave me confidence to finally start doing my own sake tour and workshop.

A couple from the Netherlands

In fall of 2019, I met a guy from the Netherlands.

I found that he loved sake and we hit it off pretty quickly. The next day, we went to a sake bar that has more than 300 selections of sake to choose from.

He looked so excited about having those many choices of sake.

We tasted more than 10 different styles of sake that night.

I still vividly remember him looking so happy every time he had each sip of the sake.

Thanks to the Internet, we still keep in touch with each other and talk about anything like, how things are going, family stuff, jobs, and of course sake too.

He often tells me how much he loves to visit Japan and enjoy sake again like we did at the cool bar in Himeji.

One time, when we had a chat online, he said,

“I haven’t opened the bottle that I bought in Himeji. I keep it for a special occasion.”

I was like in my mind,

“What? It’s been a month already since you left and you love sake so much.

You still keep it ? Why??”

He told me,

“Sake is really difficult to get in the Netherlands. Compared to Japan, there are a lot fewer selections of sake to choose from and sake is much more expensive here.”

After having this conversation, the outbreak of COVID19 hit the whole world.

Because the disease went so viral, the prospect of his making a trip to Japan remained unclear and this ongoing situation was likely to continue for a while...

My sake tour and workshop also stopped

This has disappointed him badly because he thinks not being able to visit Japan means he will have to put up with a situation where he drinks only limited brands of sake that are available at supermarkets or liquor stores around his place.

I felt really sorry for him because I know how much he loves sake.

Up until then, sake was more like for myself.

However, knowing the fact that it's difficult for him to enjoy sake back in his country inspired me to do somethig for people like him.

Also, I’ve come to think that there must be a lot of people like him, who want to drink sake but almost give up doing it thinking that there’s nothing they can do about it for now.

This motivated me to challenge myself to write my first original book to make their sake-lives at home better.

After the book, I kept thinking about what I could do for someone like him, those who are intersted in sake.

It was challenging but, at the same time it was a lot of fun to keep figuring out a way to make difference.

Before I knew it, sake also became my passion just like basketball and English.

Finally!

Four years later, as international travel gradually returned and Japan reopened after the pandemic, I was finally able to resume sake tours.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to welcome guests from a wide range of countries and lead various experiences, including sake brewery tours and sake hopping tours.

Meeting people from different backgrounds and sharing Japan's rich sake culture with them has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey as a guide.

More appreciation

While sake has always remained at the heart of what I do, my interests as a guide have gradually expanded beyond sake-related experiences.

I have taken on a wider variety of tours, including bus tours in Kyoto and Osaka, private walking tours, and eventually multi-day tours across different regions of Japan.

Through these experiences, I have developed a deeper appreciation not only for Japan and its culture, but also for my hometown of Himeji, where I was born and raised.

Giving Back to Himeji

Through these experiences, I have developed a deeper appreciation not only for Japan and its culture, but also for my hometown of Himeji, where I was born and raised.

Meeting people from a wide range of countries and backgrounds has helped me see Himeji from a new perspective and recognize the unique value of the city.

In many ways, this journey has brought me back to where it all began. When I was 17 years old, I had the opportunity to participate in an exchange program organized by Himeji City and visit the United States for the first time.

That experience opened my eyes to the world beyond Japan and sparked a lifelong interest in English, international exchange, and cross-cultural communication.

This realization eventually led me to start Himeji International Exchange (HIE), a community designed to bring local residents and people from around the world together through language, culture, and shared experiences.

Through HIE, I hope to create opportunities for meaningful connections and help people discover a side of Himeji that goes beyond its famous castle.

My Vision

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Looking ahead, my vision is to help build stronger connections between Himeji and the world through international exchange and authentic local experiences.

As Himeji continues to welcome more visitors from around the globe, I hope to create more opportunities for local residents and international visitors to connect, learn from one another, and build lasting relationships.

Ultimately, I hope to contribute to making Himeji a warmer, more internationally connected community where meaningful cross-cultural connections can naturally grow.