Published on Feb, 2024

This tour is exceptional. Andrew is so knowledgeable and personable. We enjoyed his company so much and he made the day really special. There was a moment in the afternoon when I realised just how superbly the tour is designed because we were going against the flow of tourist traffic. It’s really clever of Andrew to start at the top and work the way down. It’s relaxing and engaging. Every stop was fascinating. I got so much more out of this day than I ever could have if I’d tried to plan the day myself, Andrew’s knowledge is priceless.

Published on Nov, 2023

Andrew's tour was the absolute highlight of our 2 ½ week visit to Japan. We highly recommend booking this tour, as it significantly transformed our perspective on Kyoto and Japanese gardens as a whole. We spent 1 ½ fascinating days with Andrew as he captivated us by explaining Japanese gardens to us! Andrew is amazing and it is hard to convey how much we loved meeting and learning from him. Andrew helped us to see Japanese gardens and therefore Japan in a way we would have never understood without him. He serves as a cultural interpreter, unraveling the design of the Japanese garden. His expertise is profound, and he possesses a remarkable ability to explain what we would never have been able to see or understand. Andrew is the type of individual with whom one can engage in extensive and enlightening conversations for hours on end. He’s fun, knowledgeable and always filled with phenomenal information. Andrew isn't just a guide; he's a captivating conversationalist. Spending hours immersed in dialogue with him is an enlightening journey in itself. He provides an abundance of wisdom and unravels more than we could ever have imagined.

Published on Oct, 2023

We visited Kyoto in September 2023, as 6 adult family members. This was a very pleasant day in Arashiyama, with a good variety of activities and sights. The tour was well-placed such that we did not feel rushed and the older members of our group (some over 70) were easily able to keep up. Overall, it felt like a pleasant stroll through a lovely part of Kyoto. We visited several temples and gardens, the stunning estate of a silent film star, the bamboo forest, and various little sites in between. There was time to stop for lunch and/or tea and snacks (although our group decided not to have tea.) We were also able to stop at some lovely handicraft shops, such as an indigo-dye workshop and a pottery workshop. It was really nice to get outside the more crowded areas of Kyoto and see some of the local neighborhoods, and to visit some spots that we would not have visited if we had created our own itinerary for the day. The best part was that I did not have to think about what to see during our day in Arashiyama. Andrew took care of all of that for us and his selection was perfect. On a personal level, our group really enjoyed Andrew's personality and all the information he has to impart about the temples and other locations we visited. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him and would certainly book more tours with Andrew on a future visit to Kyoto.

Published on Jan, 2023

Andrew finds fun, hidden gems and livens them up further with his stories about gardens--what's there, what it might mean, and how it's created. He also works hard to build strong relationships with the people connected to (or simply working around) these beautiful spots, which creates good will toward the people in his tour groups. Really a nice way to spend a day in Kyoto. Also recommend his half-day Zen garden trip, might be better for families with kids/teens. Also, he points out great sweetshops & restaurants!!

Published on Apr, 2022

Andrew offers something really very special. The love he has for his adoptive city, and his sensitivity to the details & moods of the place, is a real treat to share in. As someone with a little contextual knowledge, I found Andrew not only proved a humble teacher, but an encouraging and supportive partner in learning about the temples and human history of Kyoto. I had a truly special time with him.