About me
Profile of "Omotenashi Tour Guide Kaori"
Kaori Watanabe
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
English：No. EN00119
Chinese：No. CH00007
Member of Tochigi Licensed Guide Interpreter Association
Born in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Graduated in Chinese Language studies, Department of Foreign Languages, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
While studying there, I studied abroad at Beijing University, China as a government-sponsored student.
Since my junior-high school days, I was interested in foreign cultures and resolved to study foreign languages at university. From my student days, I have been in contact with culture and people overseas, through studying abroad (short-term study abroad in London and one year in China), and overseas travel.
After graduating from university, my job involved trade and interpreting.
Fifteen years ago, I started an interpreter guide job, showing people around Japan. Attracted by the opportunity to have “once in a lifetime” encounters with foreign nationals, and feel the joy of having them learn about Japan through me, I have guided and introduced close to 2,000 foreign visitors to Japan over these 13 years, under the motto of “brightly and sincerely”.
Qualifications
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter（Languages：English, Chinese）
Domestic travel service supervisor
General travel service supervisor
Domestic itinerary control supervisor
General itinerary control supervisor
Completed induction course for care worker
Completed training with a Systemic Disability Guide Helper Training course
Completed course to be a guide and helper for the visually-impaired
Completed Advanced First-Aid Course
Level 2 Travel Helper Training Course（Japan Travel Helper Association）
Type2 High School Teaching License (English)
Type1 Junior-High School Teaching License (English)
1st grade Certified Skilled Professional of Financial Planning
GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism (July, 2022)
Real Estate Transaction Agent
Hobbies
Jogging(half marathon finisher)
Pilates
Kimono dressing
Nationalities of customers guided
UK, America, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Chile, Belgium, France, Denmark, Czechia, etc.
People I have met overseas
In London, England, I was trying to get off a train carrying a large suitcase and a man standing next to me, without saying anything, came to the side of me and carried my suitcase, and helped me get off the train.
In the subway in Paris, France, I bought the wrong ticket and found myself unable to get out of an unmanned ticket gate. Seeing me, a waddling old man, indicated that I should go out with him, and I was able to get out of the unmanned gate by going out immediately behind him.
In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, when I caught a taxi from the Lotus Pond to Kaohsiung station, the taxi driver not only treated me for lunch at a canteen, but also bought me some strange potato-like food, resembling a fruit called a “Trapa” at the side of the road. Then, when we reached the destination of Kaohsiung station, he said that he did not need the taxi fare and would not take my money.
Strangely, these memories have not faded, despite the passing of the years. Even in the world we live in today, with the endless stream of news describing conflict, I cannot help thinking of world peace when I remember my encounters with these people.
Places guided/experiences offered to customers
These are the places which I have guided and offered experiences to customers in the past.
【Castles】
Osaka Castle, Nagoya Castle, Odawara-jo Castle, etc.
【Shrines and temples】
Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Nikko Futarasan-jinja Shrine, Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple, Taiyuin Temple, Futaarayama Shrine, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Sensoji Temple, Ise Jingu, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Itsukushima Shrine, etc.
【Museumus&Famous places】
Sapporo Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, Sapporo Olympic Museum, ZAO Okama Crater, Nasu Animal Kingdom, Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, Italian Embassy House Memorial Park, Oya History Museum, Ashikaga Gakko(School), Ashikaga Flower Park, Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum, Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko, JAXA Tsukuba Space Center, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Akihabara, Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Imperial Palace, The National Diet, TOKYO SKYTREE, Museum Meiji-mura, Takayama, Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village), Okayama Korakuen, Hiroshima Peace Memorial(Atomic Bomb Dome) , Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum&emsp, etc.
【Nature】
Goshikinuma Ponds, Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Waterfall, Senjogahara, Mt. Chausu, Sessho-seki (Killing Stone) , Miyajima, Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, etc.
【Japanese culture experience】
Karate, Kyudo (Japanese archery), Kendo, Tea ceremony, Kado (Japanese flower arranging), Indigo dyeing, Japanese confectionery, paper cutting, Kokeshi-making, Japanese puppet shows, Japanese paper, Ceramics, Nikko-bori (sculpture), Sake breweries, Sumo rooms, etc.
【Fruit picking】
Strawberry picking, apple picking, and Mikan (Japanese orange) picking, etc.
【Environment facilities】
garbage disposal facilities, water treatment facilities, etc.
【Disaster prevention facilities】
Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation institution, SONA AREA TOKYO, Disaster prevention facilities, etc.
【School interaction】
High schools and universities in various regions
【Others】
Factories, nursing care facilities, science museums, museums, research facilities, etc.
Self-introduction of "Omotenashi Tour Guide Kaori"