Kenji brought us to a couple of great, local establishments for some fun waygu and saki tasting! Very enjoyable evening with a great guide!
Private tour in Tokyo Kenji K
4.8
(38) reviews
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Kenji K.
4.9
Guide rating
143
Reviews
Tours delivered
9 hrs
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Founder/Sushi Evangelist at Tokyo Omakase Sushi Class®️, offering cultural tours in Tokyo. My journey began in the vibrant cultural mosaic of Singapore, where I spent my early years before moving to my parents' homeland of Akita. This blend of multicultural and traditional Japanese environments shaped my appreciation for diverse experiences. I later moved to Tokyo to study at Keio University, where my academic pursuits further enriched my understanding of both global and local perspectives. After graduating, I joined EY as an accountant. However, the 2008 financial crisis led to my layoff, prompting a significant shift in my life. Seeking to improve my English and remain connected with the world, I began hosting travelers through Couchsurfing. This experience ignited my passion for hospitality and the powerful connections forged over shared meals. In 2019, anticipating the influx of global visitors for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, I decided to leave EY and pursue my dream of starting a tour business. I envisioned guiding international travelers and sharing Japan's rich culture. However, the pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, halting the tourism industry and redirecting my path. During this period, I turned to food photography to sustain myself. Visiting nearly 300 restaurants and interacting with chefs deepened my interest in culinary arts. This newfound passion led me to attend a sushi chef school, where I honed my skills and immersed myself in the art of sushi making. With my newfound expertise, I launched sushi-making classes for international visitors. These classes allowed me to blend my culinary skills and hospitality experience, providing travelers with unique, hands-on cultural experiences. I found immense joy in teaching and connecting with people from around the world through the art of sushi. Today, my mission is to offer transformative cultural experiences to travelers and mentor aspiring tour guides. My journey, from the multicultural beginnings in Singapore to the challenges of the pandemic, has taught me the importance of adaptability, resilience, and the unifying power of food. I am committed to enchanting travelers with unexpected experiences, guiding future tour leaders towards success, and continuing to grow as an entrepreneur. ****** It is challenging to accommodate travellars with restrictions such as being VEGANS/VEGITARIANS. My tours use subways/taxis even on FRIDAYS,SATURDAYS due to my health condition. Thank you for your understanding.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Kenji K.
1st of all, please DO LET ME KNOW YOUR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS if you have. If not, simply tell me "No food restrictions." This tour is for the foodie who love to eat Wagyu beef and fish related dishes like sushi. On this tour, participants and I are going to a non-touristy area of Nakano. Participants can enjoy the seasonal foods which local eateries/bars/restaurants offer. Arriving at this hidden area, you will see an arcade on a shopping street. We take a look at the district with my instruction about how we live in suburbia. After a short walk of introduction, we go further into the backstreets to try foods. Japanese chefs always try to be creative. We will taste such a creative dish we cannot find anywhere else. Also, you can have one of the most popular foods, WAGYU beef. Enjoy yourself with marbled beef melting in your mouth. NOTED: Since this is a tour more focused on MEAT and FISH, it is challenging to accommodate traveller with restrictions such as being VEGAN.
Kenji brought us to a couple of great, local establishments for some fun waygu and saki tasting! Very enjoyable evening with a great guide!
Kenji was amazing! This was a special night for us and we loved getting to know Kenji and explore Nakano. Of all the food tours we've done, I think this one was the best. We truly felt like locals and would do it again in a heartbeat next time we are in Tokyo.
I very much enjoyed this exploration of one of Tokyo's neighborhoods. Through a dense shopping disctrict to a warren of restaurants and bars; delightful. We enjoyed a sample of different cuisine in several restaurants. The guide's English is very good and the conversation was comfortable and informative.
We had a great time with Kenji. He is so very personable and friendly. He took us to places outside of central Tokyo we would never have found on our own. The food was amazing! One of the best meals we’ve ever had, including exquisite meat dishes, sushi, and sake! Thanks K for everything!
Great tour with a great guide. Best sushi my son and I have eaten in our lives. Good local feel to all places we visited.
Kenji was amazing!! He took us to some amazing places. Everything tasted so good! Enjoyed trying everything! The owner of the Waygu restaurant was so very kind. We have missed our guide/chef for the remainder of our trip.
Sample of tour time itinerary: • 17:30Meeting in front of JR Nakano station and 1st place for foods - Creative fish dishes with Sake • 18:30 2nd place for foods - Seasonal Tempura at a small bar. (Here customers have to order a drink per person. That's why I sometimes skip it and change it to go to a sushi bar) • 19:30 3rd place for foods - Tasting A5 ranked Wagyu beef • 20:30 finish
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We walk inside the district.
Nakano City, Tokyo, Japan
The north exit of JR Nakano station
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