Create memorable experiences
with a local guide
Kyoto · Nara

We have traveled extensively around the world and worked with many private guides and Maya is, without question, the best guide we've ever had. She is incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, organized, and genuinely fun to spend the day with. She was so exceptionally prepared, while still making the experience feel relaxed, personal, and full of discovery. Maya doesn't just explain history or point out landmarks - she helps you truly understand Japanese culture through her own experiences, perspective, and stories. She is also an amazing photographer. She took the best photos of us throughout the day - photos we will genuinely treasure forever. She brought us to an incredible local spot we never would have found on our own. We ordered almost everything on the menu, had one of the best meals of our trip, and the total was somehow only around $20. Maya completely transformed our experience in Kyoto and gave us memories we will talk about for years. She is absolutely worth planning a trip around which we did!

We booked 3 days of tours through Maya for our family. Beyond this unbelievable work ethic, Maya is the kindest, most thoughtful, wonderful to be around person. Instantly, our family felt this immediate connection to Maya as she is such a pleasure to be around. Our kids (ages 7 & 9) immediately bonded with her and were in tears when it was time to say our good-byes. From all that we learned to the fun surprises along the way, booking our tours with Maya was the best decision we made in our visit to Japan. From the sites, the foods, the local customs, the education, Maya showed genuine care for our family and made sure that we felt as comfortable as possible throughout everything. She even took great pictures of us along the way and then promptly shared the photos with us. It is just so rare to find an individual as caring, wonderful, and delightful as Maya. Simply put, Maya made our trip to Japan one of our best experiencing ever as a family. Maya really is the best and we can't wait to come back to Kyoto!

We spent an amazing 3 days in Kyoto and 1 in Nara with Maya and couldn't have seen as much nor gotten such invaluable insights into the history, culture, and lifestyle without her. Maya goes above and beyond, from her thorough preparation to her incredible flexibility and agility in making changes and additions to the itinerary in real time. It was such a pleasure spending time and seeing Kyoto/Nara with Maya and we couldn't recommend her more highly!