Shohei

"Play by Ear" Traveler

Responds quickly
  • I live in Kyoto
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 7 hours

Hi there! Nice to meet you

Hi! My name is Shohei

(Show-hey....like, Hey! are you watching my Show!?)

**Don't see a tour that suits your needs??**

you can always message me and I would be more than happy to plan a private custom tour just for you! (ie, Kyoto-Nara day trip, visit our world heritage sites like Kiyomizu Temple and Nijo castle, visit prominent Japanese gardens etc)

**WHAT I DON'T DO,,,, food tours, cycling tours, tours with cars, geisha tours**

**I ONLY do walking tours up to 8 PEOPLE

I was born in Japan, moved to US at age 4. Our family moved to Dublin, OH and that's where I spent all my childhood. After high school, I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston to study guitar and pursue my musical career.

Guitar is my passion, and I've playing for more than 20 years. (check out my spotify page https://x.gd/VH5Pp) I've been living in Kyoto since 2012 and loving every moment of this beautiful place! So many beautiful world heritage architectures, rich history, beautiful art, and can't forget about the top quality food!

I love to show people around because there are so many things to share,,,, from hidden gems, grand shrines, zen gardens, medieval streets, buddha statues in the alley, etc. I especially love to visit spiritual places, like shrines and temples. Story telling is also my favorite thing to do with the guests,,,, and I surely would love to hear stories about you and your culture as well!

looking forward to seeing you and having a good time!

  • I live in Kyoto
  • I speak English
  • Verified Local host
  • Response time less than 7 hours

My Kyoto in pictures

Book one of my offers in Kyoto

Let's explore Kyoto together! As your local guide, I'll show you the best of Kyoto on a private & personalized tour for you.

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All Withlocals tours are completely customisable to your needs. Just let me know your preferences for a private and personalized experience!

Responds quickly

Reviews

Kerstin
2 September 2025
Wegen der Hitze haben wir uns für einen Abendspaziergang mit das nächtliche Kyoto entschieden und es war ein sehr schönes Erlebnis. Von historisch bis modern, wir konnten viele Seiten dieser schönen Stadt kennen lernen und auch einige Tipps für den nächsten Tag mitnehmen. Shoei ist ein netter offener Typ der uns mit Spaß und viel Wissen einen guten Eindruck, auch abseits der großen Touristenmassen vermittelt konnte. Schöner nächtlicher Spaziergang
John
1 September 2025
I highly recommend Shohei. My wife and I had a tour of the Shotgun Palace and the golden pavilion with Shohei. His explanations of the history and customs of these sites were fantastic. He is very knowledgeable, fun and has a great sense of humor. He has lived in the US and helped me better understand Japan's history and culture. You will certainly enjoy a tour with Shoei!Shohei is an excellent guide
jim
22 August 2025
Great knowledge of the sites
tembe
13 August 2025
Perfect choice as a guide for Kyoto. Gave us a great insider look at Kyoto and in a short period of time we saw everything. He is fun and informative with a great command of English. Shohei is amazing
Michael
21 July 2025
Penelope
19 July 2025
Great tour, highly recommended!
Nicole
15 July 2025
A nice tour with a good overview of some of the sights. Definitely wouldn't have gotten as much out of it on our own. Nice tour
Penelope
10 July 2025
Stephen
29 June 2025
What makes Shohei great is that he's a native English speaker and equally versed in all things Kyoto. That combined with his ability to adapt to harsh rain storms and changing needs made him an ideal guide for my family of four.Adaptive, Agile and Knowledgable!
Steve
26 June 2025
Shohei was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic sharing the Japan experience with us. 10

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