Hi, I’m Ken
Hi, I’m Ken
I’ve lived in Hiroshima for 18 years
I speak English, Japanese
I am Tax Officer
Hey there! I'm Ken, your friendly neighborhood host here in Hiroshima! One of the things I adore most about Hiroshima is the infectious passion of its people. Their warmth makes this city truly special. And let's not forget about the mouthwatering local cuisine—Okonomiyaki is a personal favorite of mine! You'll often find me exploring Hiroshima's rich history. From strolling through ancient neighborhoods like Saijo and Takehara to reflecting on the exhibits at the Atomic Museum, there's always something new to discover. As a true Hiroshima guru, I enjoy showcasing the best sake breweries and hidden culinary gems. Whether you're craving a taste of tradition or seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures, count on me to show you the very best this vibrant city has to offer. Let's create unforgettable memories together in Hiroshima! See you soon.
My knowledge & interests
Majored in Radio and Television
Street food
Local cuisine
Food markets
Fine dining
Unique & unusual foods
Cinema
Parks
Gardens
Scenic routes
Hikes
Cityscape photography
Classical architecture
Wine
Whiskey
Third wave coffee
Local beers
Artisanal tea
Street markets
Handicrafts & souvenirs
Traditional culture
Lifestyle culture
Gourmet food
Traditional drinks
Japanese sake
Traditional art
Folk art
Second-hand markets
Specialty shops
Music stores
Antique shops
Ethnic culture
Pop music
Hip-hop
R&B
My reviews
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My family and I had the 2-hour walking tour with Ken that focused on the bomb dome and bomb memorial/museum. Ken was very prompt in reaching out over WhatsApp to understand our desires for the tour and schedule the meeting time, place, etc. Ken was also very friendly and met us at the Hiroshima train station to help navigate us to the Bomb Dome and local area. He showed us the location of the hypocenter, a cemetery adjacent to the hypocenter, and walked us from the bomb dome over to the museum. Once in the museum, however, there was little interaction, and we were self-guided for the most part. It was helpful to have Ken purchase trolley and museum tickets for us and then reimburse him. Overall, this tour was not a great value for me. It was helpful to have a guide navigate us from the train station to the bomb dome using the trolley, however, I would have preferred that we meet at the museum or bomb dome and not take 20-30 minutes of our 2-hour tour on a trolley ride where there was no interaction. There were interesting pieces of information, but overall we learned little information beyond what could be learned by browsing through the museum on our own. I think a better itinerary would be 2 hours of touring around Hiroshima and the bomb dome area, and then ending the tour at the museum, with the museum being pretty much self-guided anyway.
July 2025
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Really enjoyed having Ken show us some of the sites of Hiroshima. Being a native of the area we appreciated his sharing his insight and stories from his mother who lived through WW II. Planning, communications and logistics were great. Ken even reserved spots for us to eat Hiroshima’s soul food - Okonomiyaki - at the end of the tour. Thank you Ken.
June 2025
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It was great experience and really learned a lot. My guide, Ken, was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. I appreciated his insight and personal stories and eating like a local. He made sure I took lots of pictures to capture the moment. I had fun and would recommend.
May 2025
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Ken was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Hiroshima having been born there. As a bonus, he took us to a great lunch counter for Okonomiyaki after our tour!
May 2025