Tour guide in Kyoto Daisuke K.

My name is Daisuke, please just call me Dice :) I moved back to Kyoto from Australia in 2021 and finally became a full-time tour guide in 2023 which was my dream! I take you to must-see sites as well as hidden gems where no other tourists are. I'm dedicated to the area around Kyoto so let me share the city's deep culture and history with you! I'm also a photographer, culinary/mixology expert as well as hospitality specialist. So I will fully use my skills and experiences in my tours! *I'm also a guide in Takayama/Shirakawago. ** I do not accept cruise travelers since there is a considerable distance between ship terminal and the inland city Kyoto. ■My tours All my tours are fully bespoke for you although there are some recommended itinerary. So as a rule of thumb, you can request anything! All my tours include well-prepared materials such as printed slides (about Kyoto, sake and locations), high quality photography service and planned travel tips for before/after the tour for the rest of your stay in Japan. ■My speciality I'm a natural born entertainer and have a decade of experience in high-end hospitality both in Japan and Australia. I love hospitality job because I love caring people. My speciality is Japanese history, food and crafts. Particularly I'm dedicated to everything about Kyoto - it's deep!!! ■Culinary knowledge I worked at world-class bars and restaurants as a cocktail mixologist so I'm knowledgeable in modern culinary too! Kyoto is interested in this perspective. In my spare time, I go to farmers and work with them to understand Kyoto's unique agriculture by experiencing it. ■My background I was born in Niigata in 1988, a city by the sea of Japan. My family runs Japanese tea shop and tea ceremony for a century. We weren't even close to rich but my parents would always take us kids to family trip twice a year. I always loved to travel with my family. Even just being in touristy locations and watching other tourists makes me happy ever since. ■Career to become a tour guide When I was in my mid 20's, I decided that tourism is what I want to do through my life, since then, I'm dedicated to it - learning and experiencing everything I need in order to provide best service I can dream of. I was a personal attendant/concierge at one of the most luxurious ryokan (Japanese inn) in Hida Takayama where I first got certified as tour guide, then worked as project leader at concierge team in Mercedes Benz in Tokyo. I felt in need of understanding western culture fully, not just to be able to speak the language, and decided to spend minimum of three years in a western country. I chose Australia (that's where my wife is from!) and became a cocktail mixologist, and luckily, I got a chance to work at two of the best cocktail bars in the world. I felt I was ready but COVID related restriction was still in place in Japan, then I met wonderful gin brand called KI NO BI and worked there for a couple of years where I learned great local farmers and craftsmen in Kyoto. Finally in 2023, Japan's tourism was opened again and I can do my dream job as a tour guide in my favorite city Kyoto! Can't wait to see you all here :) ■My spare time - Photography - Going to nature - Martial arts - Being a foodie My next dream project is to grow wasabi :) Regional Government Licensed Guide Interpreter - 2015 Certified Information Privacy Manager by IAPP - 2022 Kyoto Tourism Culture Certification - 2023 Driver's License (I arrange and drive a car for 10,000 JPY) World Class Mixologist (The World's 50 Best Bars) The 4th Generation Head of Kiguchi-en Tea House A nephew of a Buddhist monk I do NOT have any restrictions in regard to my guiding, I can offer a full range of experiences at all time! I can also drive a private vehicle - from luxury van to minibus. Please feel free to request me :)