ABOUT ME

My Story

I was born in IZU Peninsula located about 150 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Tucked between beautiful mountains and the Pacific Ocean I grew up eating fresh fishes and vegetables. My love of natural foods began there and my mom, a national registered nutritionist, has influenced my entire life with healthy eating habits. It is important to keep food culture alive and I want to raise my family this way. I will highlight restaurants and foods from this healthy philosophy in my tours.

In addition to nutrition I also love history. It comes from my dad who worked as a high school history teacher and local scholar. The prefectural history committee asked him to publish accounts of the rich forests in Honkawane owned by the imperial family in the past, and to detail how the woods were transported by boat and later by a steam train that still operates today. My dad used to tell me local history has created Japanese history and that history can be found everywhere. Because of this, my guiding tour will include elements of the past.

My Tokyo tours combine the foods of my mom and the history of my dad. I look forward to introducing you to this amazing city!

My Experience

I have been working in the travel industry for 13 years. Prior to starting Ashitaba Tours, I worked as a tour guide travelling abroad with Japanese groups. We enjoyed local culture and foods in over 65 countries.

Later, I worked for the biggest travel agency in Japan and arranged hundreds of tours all over the country for clients both domestic and abroad. I hold a national license which permits me to guide all over Japan.

I started living in Tokyo as a university student (Tokyo Woman’s Christian University) at the age of 18. The image of Tokyo is a giant metropolis to most travelers, but Japan has a rich history that the city has integrated greatly. You can see Japanese daily life, traditional beliefs, and seasonal festivals if you know where to look. Tokyo has 83 metropolitan parks and is greener than most people think! I seek out these places in my daily life and I will take you to them too.

It is my great pleasure to share Japanese culture and my experience with you!