Saori

Hi. My name is Saori I’m a certified national tour guide for foreigners in English. I currently live in a busy city, Osaka, but grew up in a small port town of Ishikawa prefecture. The region is famous for seafood, sake, and hot springs. There is an Okunoto Triennale in the north region, as well. Ishikawa and Setouchi alike attract me with its beautiful nature, local delicacies, and festivals. Needless to say, I love art and gifts from nature so much. Therefore, it is natural that I got two more certificates, Kagawa Setouchi regional tour guide for foreigners and Sake Sommelier, both in English.
So, I can help you make your own private tour in the Western region including Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Okayama, Kagawa, or Ishikawa based on the season and your condition. I’d like to take you not only to temples and shrines, but also to show around local culture.
For example, you may visit some sake breweries in Hyogo, one of the biggest sake towns in Japan. Some breweries allow you to see and compare how they used to brew and how they brew now. You may try their fresh sake. So you can find out what type of sake you may really like. Not only big sake towns like Hiroshima and Kyoto, there are many small Sake breweries throughout Japan. Sake is made of rice and water. If you are visiting a town renowned for its good water, there could be a good sake brewery as well.
For your extra time, you may visit a craft studio or shop to learn how they make it. You would see their elaborate, traditional technique. Some allow you to make it by yourself. The only one in the world. My favorite places are painting a small cup at a pottery studio, making Udon noodle at an Udon noodle school, shaping fine-grained Wasanbon sugar confection, or indigo dying a small handkerchief.
Even if you don’t have plenty of time, an arcade or shopping street can be a nice place to go. You most likey to see how the town has been formed and what their specialties are. It is the place where you feel real local culture and communicate with local people. Some towns are specialized in seafood. Some are sweets. Some can be full of craft studios.
Those places are not only for foreign tourists. We, the Japanese, also love and enjoy such local places by eating, drinking, and finding something new during your stay. I would like you to enjoy it as we do. That is why I do the tour guide for foreign tourists like you.
Thank you!