T O S H I
3rd Dan Kendo black belt, Toshinori (generally just Toshi) is a writer, and kind-hearted enthusiast of Japanese history, religion, and culture.
Born in Japan, he spent his childhood abroad in Sydney, which gave him plenty of opportunity to become perfectly bilingual. His BA was done in English, and his MBA in Japanese, and his English counter-intuitively lacks any particular accent, Australian or otherwise.
Toshi’s family has lived in Tokyo for four generations, and he himself has been back in Japan for 24 years.
He started his career in finance in his 20s but moved on quickly and has worked as a freelance translator, editor, and writer for fifteen years, in addition to his guiding work.
Toshi’s particular expertise lies in Japanese shrines and temples, and with a couple of shinto priests in his family, he can do something 99% of Japanese people cannot: perform traditional Shinto ritual prayers
He loves to take his guests to Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, and he can also help visitors make sense of the different Buddhist sects in Japan at temples such as Zojoji Temple in Tokyo and Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto (the teachings are very different depending on the sect).
For Toshi, the entire city of Kyoto is an open-air museum, and one which he estimates he has visited every single piece of on foot.
When not guiding, Toshi is a rather well-travelled man, having now been to 25 different countries, practicing his meditation every day.
As required, help with transport can be provided, as can restaurant and bar suggestions, as well as all sorts of help with ideas for itineraries, of course.
Contact
E.g. Hotel if you know it, and if you have any mobility needs...
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