Tour guide in Takayama Hisa M.

I am a licensed tour guide with more than 15 year experience and have been living in this region for more than 10 years. Takayama, Shirakawago and Furuakwa are the areas I offer tours. I moved to this region in 2010 after having lived in different places in Japan and overseas. One reason is I can live close to the mountains. As a keen outdoor enthusiast, living next to the mountains is great. There are good places for hiking. And in winter, it snows. This is a perfect time for skiing. Another reason is traditional culture. When I first came here, I was so impressed with traditional houses. They make the towns look really different from modern cities and towns, at least Tokyo where I originally came from. And local festivals, food and handicrafts found here are all what I really enjoy. And the surrounding countryside is beautiful. Seasonal changes makes the scenery absolutely stunning. After spending ten years, I am still here and enjoy everyday life with my family. I am really happy to share my love to this region and hope visitors will like this area as much as I do. My guiding background started in New Zealand. Studied Certificate of Adventure Tourism course at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in 2004, I started working as a hiking guide for a local tour operator, Ultimate Hikes, and led international tourists on Milford Track known as "The Finest Walk in The World". After my 4th season finished, I decided to go back to Japan. I thought showing my home country to people visiting Japan would be the best choice for me. In 2010, luckily I found a job as a head guide/activity manager at a local tour operator, SATOYAMA EXPERIENCE, which became a leading tour company later. I created tours for overseas tourists and led cycling tours in the surrounding countryside, walking tours in Takayama and Furukawa towns, and snowshoeing tours in the snowy mountains. I spent more than 9 years in the company and conducted more than 1, 500 tours. I have never been bored of what I have been doing. Every single tour is different. Meeting new people and spending time with them is special. I hope to meet you when you come here. Thank you for reading this. I look forward to your future bookings. Below are my qualifications. -National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (issued by the Japanese government) -Certification of Adventure Tourism (issued by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, NZ) -Wilderness First Responder (issued by Wilderness Medical Associates) This is my first aid certification. Every three years, I attend a 40 hours course and revalidate my certification. -Nature Guide Stage 2 (issued by Japan Mountain Guide Association) This qualification allows me to guide people in the low mountains and to conduct nature tours all year around. -Certified Interpretive Guide (Issued by National Association for Interpretation) -International Kikisake-shi (Issued by SSI International) Kikisake-shi is similar to a wine sommelier, but I am not good at tasting at all. I just have knowledge about sake. Whenever I can, I take training courses every year and expand my knowledge and develop my skills I am not a driver. I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and driver.