Elisabeth Leamy
2026-05-24 
Yuko is a top notch guide! She combines just the right amount of history and fun so that we felt like we learned important things about Kyoto while also enjoying lots of laughs. (She’s very funny!) Yuko was also very willing to share her perspective on what it’s like to live in Kyoto today, which we loved. She was patient with my 83-year-old father who was moving slowly due to a recent hip replacement and had great vintage shopping ideas for my 19-year-old daughter. Perfect blend! In addition to all the beautiful sights and wise insights, she arranged a delicious lunch at a charming soba restaurant. We loved our day with Yuko.
Katia
2026-05-19
Fantastic guide in Kyoto who possessed a deep understanding of both traditional and contemporary Japanese history and culture. Open to exploring our interests beyond the typical tourist spots. Highly recommended!
Luisa Baume
2026-05-18
My husband and I are traveling in Japan with close friends in Japan and had to luck of meeting Yuko by chance through the Kyoto visitors site. What luck! Yuko not only showed us a blend of important sites, small unknown sites not frequented by the usual tours, together with a 200 years old lunch place by a river and a 300 year old shaved ice store. She was able to combine these rest minutes within, what turned out to be a full sightseeing day. Speaking perfect English, it was extremely interesting gathering her knowledge on Kyoto and Japanese history. She would be highly recommended for as a guide for Kyoto, Brava !!!
Alain Baume
2026-05-18
We had the luck of being escorted for the day from Yu-Chan a.k.a. Yuko. Since we are quite disorganized the was able to reshuffle or entire itinerary of the day at the last moment. Yuko is not only a very pleasant person but a true expert on Japanese history. She speaks perfect English, which is something quite rare in Japan, and was able to describe not only the sites but the mentality and customs of the population. She showed us incredible tucked away sites, not frequented by the masses, again something not easy in a city like Kyoto. Yuko is multinational having lived in several countries and an extremely cultured person. If you have the luck of having her as a guide, take it, she is the best!
Melissa Shelton
2026-04-21
Yu, made our touring time in Kyoto a memorable experience. We were able to see and learn about this beautiful culture from a native of Kyoto. She customized our tour to fill our wishes and went above and beyond to help us with some shopping. Highly recommend this experience and any others with her. We plan to return and use Yu as our private guide to enhance our excursions.
