About the guide

Appreciated Bunraku, Japanese traditional Mopet performance.  

Guide profile

 

Since studying English in Australia during my teenage years, I have had the opportunity to visit many cities around the world. During my time abroad, I was fortunate to stay with host families who welcomed me with exceptional kindness, generosity, and warmth. Their hospitality left a lasting impression on me, and I have never forgotten their care and support.

Although I was not able to fully repay their kindness at the time, after returning to Japan I decided to begin guiding international visitors as a way of expressing my gratitude to the people who had welcomed me overseas. My hope is that when you tour with me, you will feel as though you are exploring Japan with a trusted friend or family member.

 

Later, working for a European airline for seven years gave me even more opportunities to travel and experience different cultures, histories, and ways of life around the world. Through those experiences, I often felt that having a local friend or guide would have made my travels even more meaningful and memorable. That realization inspired me to deepen my knowledge of Japan and eventually earn my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification in 2016.

I’d like to be not only your guide, but also a friend during your time in Japan!

 

Since earning my national government-certified guide-interpreter license in 2016, I have conducted more than 800 private tours and guided over 4,000 guests in and around Tokyo and across Japan. I am truly grateful for the kind feedback and warm support I have received from my guests, many of whom have introduced me to their family members, friends and colleagues visiting Japan.

Thanks to these wonderful word-of-mouth recommendations, my guiding business has continued to grow, and I am now fortunate to welcome guests from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Colombia, Mexico, Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and many other countries.

I hope this website gives you a sense of the atmosphere, culture, and charm of Tokyo and Japan. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in my services.



Mails from my guests

I'm so grateful that I've received emails from most of my guests saying they complimented me on my guiding.

Only a couple of the mails are shown below.

Roko is a genuine and fantastic tour guide. It feels like you have a friend rather than someone who is a native showing you around Tokyo. 
We took the road less traveled tour. Since we had already traveled to Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, and Kyoto - we wanted to see parts of Tokyo that not many people get to see. Roko did just that but also included some really cool, lesser known sites and histories of Tokyo. We explored some shops along our walk in a tiny little down and stopped to have some savory muffins, then walked into a beautiful temple with tiny tory gates, tasted some amazing food and candy in Tsukiji Market, explored some vintage shopping, a moon festival, had okonomiyaki and even had our chance to have the Totoro cream puffs at Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory amongst other things. Of course being a local, she knew which trains to go on with ease and we enjoyed our conversations about anything that came to mind. It was a beautiful tour of Tokyo and the next time we visit, I will definitely call Roko to give us a tour of other parts of Tokyo that we didn't get to see. If you are looking for any type of tour, Roko is the one to call. She can create a tour to see anything and everything you want to see. Her communication is top tier and responds quickly to any questions or requests that come to mind. My husband and I look forward to returning to Japan in the near future! 
Blair, LA, Sep 2024

Roko, we can’t thank you enough Roko for your wonderful tour and warm personal connection! Laura and I have been raving about how wonderful our visit to Tokyo was, despite our jet lag.  Let’s stay in contact—perhaps we will come back one day (or see you if you come to the US).

Laura and George, Nov 2024

Hello Roko,

Thank you once again for all your superb in showing us the very best of your wonderful Country, memories that will last a life time. To start and finish our Japanese experience in your lovely company pointing our to us so much we woud have missed otherwise, you deserve 10 points !!!

All our very best, 

Carely, UK,  April 2023

Hi Roko!!

We had a great time at Tokyo Disney! The kids definitely enjoyed!

I'm so sad to be leaving Japan. We miss it already. 

We truly love Japan and will definitely be back one day! Hoping to see you on your trip back:)

Take care always! Thank you for everything!!

Nancy, USA, April 2023

Roko, 

Thank YOU for an extraordinary day. We learned a lot, saw things we never would have and had many laughs!

I hope to keep in touch and may good fortune allow us to meet again one day!

 

Carolyn, USA,  2023

Hi Roko, 

We had a good time tonight, but not as much fun as we had with you today!! You made our trip to Tokyo the best vacation experience we've ever had. We thank you with our spirits and our hearts.

Mike, San Francisco, November 2018 

 

Roko was an excellent guide for our first trip to Japan. She is very knowledgeable and well-travelled herself. Her English is fluent. I assume her German is too, because she worked as a flight attendant for Lufthansa. She took us to the major points of interest and to interesting smaller neighborhoods one might not find in a guidebook. We particularly enjoyed her attention to food. She is known in the places we ate and we received special treatment each time. The outdoor stalls by the old and vanished fish market were fabulous. We had fresh tuna sashimi and wagyu beef skewers for breakfast. The soba restaurant to which she took us for lunch was fabulous.
Even if you are a regular traveler, it is a good idea to have a guide in Tokyo. The city is vast. Not many people speak a foreign language. Only rarely is a Latin alphabet translation posted. The underground Tokyo Metro, especially its stations, are very difficult to navigate for someone unable to read Japanese. Roko makes it easy to get around.

Dan, NY, Jan 2024

Hi Roko! You must be busy with your customers. I just want to let you know that we all made it back home safely. Thanks so much again for your hospitality. Hopefully we'll meet again sometime soon.

Ju, Bangkok, May 2023

Dearest friend,

Thank you for spending the day introducing us to Tokyo. What a wonderful day. Today was the day we've been looking forward to the most on our trip to Japan and it exceeded our expectations. We can't thank you enough for all the memories.

Gale and Elaine, Las Vegas, February 2020

 

Ryoko Tokiwa guided us through Tokyo as if she was a close friend who we were visiting. She personized the tour according to our needs. Roko took care of us making sure we were ok during the long walks, even carrying our water. She was warm, friendly, with a good sense of humor. It was fun being with her at the same time she shared her extensive knowledge of what we were seeing. We were very fortunate having Roko as our guide.

Sandy & Peter, New York  City, July 2017

 

 

My brother-in-law highly recommended Roko as a tour guide and she did not disappoint!  We were so grateful for her services, and how she adjusted our itinerary to reflect each of our family's interests.  Her knowledge of the city, attractions and commentary on culture and customs were invaluable.  Arigatō Roko!!   

Hilary, Hawaii Jun 2023

Hi Roko,

Thank you! It was great to see you again. Thanks for a nice day.

Hope you have a great rest of your week!

Douglas, NY, May 2023

Roko,

I want to sincerely thank you again for joining us on our trip. We would not have been able to enjoy the history and sites without you. We hope that you have really enjoyed the time as well. We did not want you to feel like a tour guide. We are really grateful to have met you.

 

Julie, San Francisco, Dec 2019

 

 

Hi Roko,

Thank you so much for yesterday, we had a great time and enjoyed your company. We would be happy if we could spend time with you again Saturday, starting with the fish market, then going to see the traditional area of Tokyo, maybe Monja street? I would love to see some traditional things if possible, if you have a suggestion of what area,

let me know.

Caro, Australia, October  2016

 

 


Prepare for an unforgettable journey through Japan!

Comfortable and worry-free tailor-made tours                                    with a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter.