OUR GUIDES & TEAM
Discover Another Kyoto is a guiding service based in Kyoto’s Keihoku region, created with a vision to revitalise the Keihoku countryside and to usher more of Japan’s city-dwellers and foreign travelers into this special rural part of Japan.
The founders of Discover Another Kyoto are a bunch of well-travelled young Japanese urbanites, who, after being fascinated by the Japanese countryside, decided to leave their lives in the mega cities behind and to settle down with a more sustainable lifestyle among the Keihoku mountains.
Escape the hustle of of the city, and catch a breath of fresh air in the country-side of rural Japan. Destination Keihoku welcomes you.
Kei -- Local Host and Interpreter
Fluent in Japanese, English and Chinese
Even if he isn’t taking guests out through the secret alleyways of Kyoto or trekking through the mountains of Keihoku, you would probably be catching Kei in a deep conversation about Japanese history or be hearing him learn his next foreign language.
From travelling around the world twice to completing the “El Camino de Santiago” pilgrimage of 900km walk in Northern Spain, Kei has been travelling extensively within and outside of Japan since his university days. His love for discovery extends to him being a self professed “language and culture” nerd, enthusiastically learning about Japanese and foreign culture. He currently speaks Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, French and basic Russian!
Kei is definitely a guide you can have hours of conversations with, and who can give you sharp insights into the layers of Japanese culture. If you are a travelling culture vulture, then Kei is perfect guide for you.
Read more about Kei
Hiro -- Local Host and Photographer
Fluent in Japanese, English
Local guide, host and professional photographer, Hiro is an outdoorsy, funny and music-loving “mountain man” who has backpacked across the world and lived Australia for two years. Originally from Kagoshima, Hiro moved with his family to Keihoku about 2 years ago to start an agricultural project with the local community here.
Hiro speaks fluent Japanese and English and he loves chatting with his guests over a beer. So you like music, dancing and a relaxed countryside experience, Hiro would be your perfect guide.
Read more about Hiro
Midori -- Local Host and Tea Ceremony Master
Fluent in Japanese, English
With an ancestral homeland in Kyoto, and a father whose family owns a traditional Kimono shop, Midori is someone who grew up understanding and appreciating the intricacies of traditional Japanese cultural ceremonies.
An expert in traditional Japanese Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Sado (tea ceremony) Midori is well-known among her guests as being an excellent cook and a highly knowledgeable guide on Japanese arts and culture.
Midori also greatly enjoys being with nature through trekking and forestry among Keihoku’s many forests. She has been able to blend her two passions together by teaching guests to pick wild flowers from the mountains, and to use them for Ikebana.
"I was initially a bit nervous about how much transit time we'd have going to and from the city of Kyoto, but Hideo and Yukako's hospitality, helpfulness and warmth, combined with the delightfulness of the house itself, made it all worth it. It felt like staying with friends."
-- Connie from America
Hideo -- Local Host and Wild Motorcyclist
Fluent in Japanese, English
Not your typical country-side guy, Hideo is a manufacturer of kimonos and the owner of a traditional thatched house himself. Born and bred right here at Keihoku, Hideo loves riding his motorbike, playing with his dogs, sea fishing, and making pickled vegetables.
Hideo is someone who sure knows that adventure knows no bounds. At age 20, he travelled to South Europe and North Africa alone, and at age 50, travelled through 14 countries in Eastern Europe by himself on his cruiser bike. Thanks to his extensive travels, Hideo is one of the few locals who speak perfect English.
He was inspired to be a guide here at Keihoku because of all the help he received during his travels, and would like to help tourists in return.