Hi, I’m Amy
Hi, I’m Amy
I’ve lived in Kyoto for 30 years
I speak English, Japanese, Thai and some Mandarin
I am a Tour guide
Hi, I’m Amy, fallen in love with Kyoto’s timeless beauty, from the peaceful temples and shrines where I often stop to pray for good fortune, to the lively food spots that show off the city’s rich flavors. You’ll often find me exploring Nishiki Market or Pontocho Alley on a food adventure, or wandering through Arashiyama’s bamboo groves and the Geisha district in Gion. I used to work at a famous Wagyu restaurant serving VIP guests, so I know my way around Kyoto’s cuisine and can recommend the best dishes in town. Whether it’s sharing hidden temples, scenic streets, or local eats, I’m always excited to help you experience the real Kyoto like a local friend.
My knowledge & interests
Business administration
Food
Shopping
Street food
Local cuisine
Desserts
Food markets
Fine dining
Unique & unusual foods
Parks
Gardens
Scenic routes
Religious history
Cityscape photography
Street photography
Portrait photography
Classical architecture
Artisanal tea
Department stores
Street markets
Handicrafts & souvenirs
Traditional culture
Popular culture
Religious customs
Lifestyle culture
Rituals & ceremonial customs
Gourmet food
Local speciality drinks
Traditional drinks
Japanese sake
Performance art
Traditional art
Second-hand markets
Bookstores
Antique shops
Action photography
Food photography
Jazz music
Traditional music
Country music
My reviews
-
This was such a great tour and Amy was an amazing guide. I really appreciated her communication leading up to the tour to make sure we saw the things we wanted to. She was very knowledgeable about Japanese history and culture and had great recommendations for restaurants and shops in Kyoto after the tour. She was also very flexible, extending our tour as needed and changing the itinerary based on a traffic jam to Mae thing more efficient. I would definitely book this tour again and highly recommend Amy!
6 February 2026
-
This was our first time in Kyoto. Amy personalized our time together and paid attention to the details! We saw everything we wanted to and more. She also played role of professional photographer. She has a true passion for what she does and was as excited as we were to take in all the sites. She guided us through shops informing us about all the foods, snacks & beverages available. The best way to sum up our time together is this: it was like visiting an old friend who happens to live in Kyoto who took the time to plan a special day to show you why they live there & who makes you want to come back! 5 Stars all the way!!
26 January 2026
-
Thank you Amy for a great tour of Kyoto. I was short on time as I had a flight to catch, but Amy was able to fit a lot into the time we had together including Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-Dera. She was also quite knowledgeable and shared great information about the sites we visited. Thanks again!
24 January 2026
-
Amy was a fantastic host. A slight glitch at the start as we didnt know exactly where we were in Kyoto station and therefore had trouble locating the meeting point, but once together, Amy customised a tour that included almost we wanted to see, only missing a couple of things due to time constrants. Amy had so much history knowledge to share and explained about temples and other sites with enthusiasm give us such a great learning experience about the traditions. Amy helped us to find our way to our Shinkansen when leaving Kyoto and we are very much looking forward to returning and completing the sites of Kyoto with her in the future.
20 January 2026