・Name/Age：Kanami Takeuchi, 34

• Address：
  833-8 Maseguchi, Miyota town, Nagano, Japan 389-0207

• Email：karuizawa.en.tour@gmail.com

• Phone：+81-80-9281 6134

• Language：English, Japanese

My Hobbies and Passion

Horseriding, Hiking, Hot springs and Sauna, Meeting new people and learning their culture, Travel, musicals and movies

Area Covered:

West part of Nagano(Karuizawa/Saku/Miyota/Komoro)

I was born in Tokyo in 1991 and spent most of my childhood in Chiba.

When I was 19 years old,I moved to Reno, Nevada to attend University. Later I moved to California, NY, Chicago, and San Francisco to study performing arts. I was mostly hired as a backup dancer for various stages and musicals. My favorite musical that I was part of is 42nd Street!

I returned to Japan when I was around 26 years old and worked as an English teacher.I still teach English to kids. Additionally, I worked as a horse riding guide/instructor for 3 years because of my passion for horses. I was a tour guide on horseback through the forests, guiding many foreign visitors. During these tours, I recommended restaurants and local attractions, sharing my knowledge as a local. I enjoyed conversing with them, learning about their beliefs and culture.

I found fulfillment in showing foreigners the charm of the region and helping them experience the joy of horse riding. Simultaneously, I discovered the beauty of listening to their stories and concerns, providing them a sense of refreshment.

I hope that my tour provides people with memorable travels and life changing experiences.

Why am I working as a freelance guide?

Large travel agencies and tours often take customers to the same popular tourist spots all over the world. The customer service at these spots is often robotic and impersonal, and the famous attractions are usually crowded with foreigners, leaving you questioning whether you are truly experiencing Japan. I aim to show my guests the authentic side of Japan and help them travel like a local.

By handling everything from booking to planning the itinerary and guiding, I am able to truly listen to my customers' needs, and I can provide services with confidence. This is why I have chosen to work as a freelance guide.

If you are truly interested in getting to know and experience Japan, it is important to engage closely with the locals, and learn about the culture and history of the places you visit. As a freelance guide, I strive to convey the unique charm of each region and serve as a bridge between the locals and my customers.

Why my tours are focused on activities?

I always had trouble sticking to just one hobby and job, and was not confident about it for a long time. When my friends who knew about my career in performing arts asked about my jobs, I told them I was working as a horse riding instructor. I have been riding horses as a hobby since I was a child, but my friends were surprised that I had suddenly turned my hobby into a job. I'm currently working as an assistant mountain guide and plan to go out on my own in a few years. I always had so many hobbies and passion, and for a long time, I was ashamed of not keeping one job for the rest of my life. However, I realized I do not need to narrow my passion to one thing but I can share my passions with whoever is interested. ( I do have respect for people who are professionals in one specific area). I am still practicing horse riding and I can proudly say that I am the one to ask if you are looking for a horse trekking place. I know which riding places to go depending on the seasons. I offer unique tour content with activities that other guide-interpreters cannot provide.

Moreover, I highly recommend doing activities in Nagano. During horse riding, you can soothe your mind and body by listening to the birds chirping and taking a forest bath. We have Kintsugi 'golden joinery' for people who would like to experience unique Japanese technique. Because it is not as crowded as a big city, you can have more time to interact with a craftsman and really take the time to experience. What you gain from these experiences is a deeper understanding of the area, which will bring you peace of mind and create memorable trips.

I can also help you find experiential activities outside of my specialty, so please feel free to ask me anything.