Kumiko san was a wonderful guide! She’s so knowledgeable about the islands history broadly and the specifics about the Battle of Okinawa. She interwove details from the lives of her friends and family which really helped bring the history to life. She also made excellent suggestions about how we might tweak the tour so that I could get as much as possible out of it. A real highlight was a smaller museum that she brought to me to. I’d have never found it otherwise and it helped to make the stories of Okinawa during WWII more real. Would highly recommend taking a tour with Kumiko san if you’re deeply interested in the Battle of Okinawa or if you want to learn more about the islands history—she can provide something for everyone’s interest level!
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Private tour in Naha Kumiko T
Okinawa: The Final Great Battle of World War II(up to 2 persons)
5.0
(5) reviews
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8 hours
1
Tour date
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8 hours
1
Kumiko T.
5.0
Guide rating
302
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Tours delivered
6 hrs
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"Enjoy a relaxing and fun trip with an energetic, friendly guide in beautiful islands of Okinawa!" I have been guiding in Okinawa since 2008! I love guiding visitors around Okinawa because I have been interested in a unique history and culture of Okinawa, which are very different from those of mainland Japan. Also how can I resist introducing tourists to amazing natural wonders of Okinawa including lush green subtropical rain forest, unbelievably clear beautiful sea and underwater world, and heavenly beautiful starry sky? I love the peace-loving spirit of Okinawa. Okinawa is the birthplace of karate. I take karate lessons twice a week as I have been impressed by the karate spirit: "the spirit focusing not on winning, but rather on not losing; of not attacking, but rather defending life; and the continual training of the self to achieve this. " In order to satisfy you with a great experience about Okinawa Karate and Okinawa Kobudo, I go to one of the most famous traditional Okinawa Kobudo dojos "Bunbukan". I am a black belt holder (3rd dan) for karate and a black belt holder (3rd dan) for kobudo. I can arrange visits or experience lessons to these dojos for you! While I am not working, I enjoy outdoors and try to go to the gym as much as possible to take classes (boxercise, dance, and muscle-building). I like training my body and having fun with everybody in the classes as well as I feel refreshed after that and feel recharged for work the next day. Also I love joining a study tour led by a university professor, a staff member from the culture section of board of education of local municipalities, or a curator of a museum. For a history-loving person like me, it is always interesting to know more deeply about the history of Okinawa. I am extremely energetic and have been researching many nice places for you to dine in. I can make your stay in Okinawa a memorable one, hoping you will become a big fan of Okinawa as well! * August 2005 Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at University of Maryland University College * 2007 TOEIC 970 * December 2007 Okinawa Prefecture Licensed Guide Interpreter * January 2008 National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter * November 2009 Itinerary Control Manager *2010 Certified as a Nakijin Castle Site Guide by Nakijin Village Board of Education * 2011 Certified as a Naha Walking Guide by Naha City Tourism Association * 2014 Certified as a Nago Walking Guide by Nago City Tourism Association * 2016 Certified as a Ginowan City Cultural Properties Guide by Ginowan City Board of Education * 2017 Certified as a Astronomy Guide (Associate Guide) * 2018 Certified as a PADI Open Water Diver and a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver * 2021 Certified as an Okinawa KARATE Guide Interpreter by Okinawa government *2022 Certified as a Yaese Town Guide by Yaese Tourism Association *2023 Certified as a Peace Guide by Okinawa Prefecture Tourism Volunteer Association *2023 Certified as a Haebaru Town Guide *2024 Certified as a Kitanakagusuku Village Guide by Kitanakaguduku Village Tourism Association *2024 Certified as a Naha City Walking Tour Guide by Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau None
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Kumiko T.
Witness the locations in the order of major events that happened during the Battle of Okinawa!
Overview of your Naha tour
The battle of Okinawa was the longest, bloodiest and the largest sea-land-air in the Pacific War. That is how American people describe the battle. Okinawan describe it as "the typhoon of steel". About one in four Okinawan people perished their lives. When you climb up to the top of Hacksaw Ridge, you can get a clear idea of how a fierce battle was fought and how tough Desmond Doss served to save 75 soldiers. This tour leads you to witness the locations in the order of major events that happened during the Battle of Okinawa including "The April 1 US Invasion Beach, " "The Kakazu Ridge, " "The Sugar Loaf site, " and " "The Big Apple Ridge, " and "The Mabuni Hill". The battle of Okinawa caused a tremendous loss to both Japan and the US. You will realize how important life is and how precious peace is. Join me, a history-loving local guide, on my tour around the war historical sites! *A climb to Mabuni Hill, where the hara-kiri suicide took place would require 30-minute extension of the tour.
Recent Reviews
I booked this tour for my parents in their 70s. I was corresponding with Yumiko and she was very helpful, proactive and responsive. This was my parents' feedback: Our 1 day personalised tour of Hacksaw Ridge and other WW2 sites with was a great success. Yumiko's friendly style and detailed, Iocal knowledge made our visit very informative. She provided pictorial support of how the area appeared in WW2. Her coverage is comprehensive, balanced and compelling. We really enjoyed her company. Highly recommended.
Kumiko was excellent! She chose locations and activities according to our request. We had a wonderful experience and want to return again and relive some of the sights and sounds. I wish we had more time to do another tour with her.
I could not recommend the tour more highly. Kumiko not only shared in-depth information about the military aspects of the battle sites we visited, but included the interesting information on local culture and the impact the war had on the population.
Our guide Ms Kumiko is very knowledgeable and professional. We learnt a lot about the Battle of Okinawa after joining her private day tour. She arranged the whole day itinerary according to the timeline of the Battle of Okinawa, which is easy for tourists to follow and remember the history. Among all the sight seeing spots, visiting the Himeyuri Cenotaph and Peace Museum gave us the greatest shock after seeing how those teenage high school girls suffered or killed while working inside the trenches or underground tunnels. It strongly reminds people the importance of World Peace. Of course visiting other places like Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters and Hacksaw Ridge were also very important. Ms Kumiko brought us to a hidden local cafe for lunch, which is tourist-free and tasted wonderful. Highly recommended this tour if you are also interested in War and History like us!
Your Naha tour itinerary
- A short hike to Maeda Kochi (Hacksaw Ridge) - Enter The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters(JPY600 per PAX) - Lunch at a local cuisine restaurant - Visit Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner, the commanding general of the U. S. 10th Army during the campaign on Okinawa, who was killed on this spot 18 June 1945 Battle of Okinawa. " - (if time permits)Visit Tomori Stone Lions on a top of a hill is one of the Battle's best-known survivors. - Visit Himeyuri Student Nurse Monument which is dedicated to female high school students who worked in field hospitals and perished their lives and enter the museum (JPY450 per PAX) - Walk around Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park to observe Cornerstone of Peace and Flame of Peace ***I highly recommend Himeyuri Museum, but if you prefer Prefecure Museum, we can visit the Prefecture's.
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Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Sedan
*Clean, spacious, comfortable taxi with A/C (up to 2 travelers): private van with a driver * NOT INCLUDED- Expressway toll fee (if applicable): 320 yen to 3,220 yen, depending on which hotel you stay
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Naha, Okinawa, Japan
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