Hi, I’m Iku
Hi, I’m Iku
I’ve lived in Kanazawa for 37 years
I speak English, Japanese
I am an university lecturer
Hi, I’m Ikumi! What I love most about Kanazawa is how history comes alive in its streets, from beautifully preserved samurai districts to charming old townhouses. The people here are warm and welcoming, making the city feel even more special. I enjoy peaceful walks along the riverside during cherry blossom season and exploring Kanazawa Castle Park in the vibrant colors of spring and autumn. With deep knowledge of Kanazawa’s history and traditional crafts like gold leaf, I love sharing the stories that make this city unique. Whether you're here for must-see sights or hidden gems, I’d be happy to guide you!
My knowledge & interests
Street food
Local cuisine
Desserts
Food markets
Fine dining
Unique & unusual foods
Art galleries & museums
Parks
Gardens
Scenic routes
Political history
Economic history
Social history
Architectural history
Religious history
Cityscape photography
Street photography
Classical architecture
Third wave coffee
Local beers
Handicrafts & souvenirs
Traditional culture
Popular culture
Religious customs
Lifestyle culture
Rituals & ceremonial customs
Gourmet food
Traditional drinks
Japanese sake
Painting
Sculpture
Traditional art
Art history
Post-modern architecture
Ethnic culture
Rock music
Hip-hop
My reviews
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Iku our guide go beyond the program and gave us great insights about the japanese culture and made an excellent suggestion to finnish the tour with a Geisha Evening. Superb!
Oct 2025
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We greatly enjoyed our food tour in Kanazawa with Iku. She communicated with us frequently prior to the tour, and went above & beyond with extras like printing our hotels shuttle schedule for the train station. She is a Kanazawa native and was able to share extensive cultural and historical insights about Kanazawa. We had specific requests for areas we wanted to explore and she made sure we got to those areas. The food selections weren’t always to our liking, but that is to be expected. At each stop we had choices about what to try and some were tastier than others. She also took many pictures of us which she shared via What’s App and we really appreciated.
Oct 2025
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Our guide Iku did a terrific job communicating with us before our tour. She included all of our preferred stops on the food tour. As a Kanazawa native, she was able to share details about the history and culture of this area which we really appreciated. The food selections were not always to our liking, but reflected local specialties.
Oct 2025
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Our guide was fantastic. I would recommend her to others and go on a tour with her again. She was perfect.
Oct 2025