Looking for English Speaking guide in Japan (1 Viewer)

[Rizzo1336]

Hello,

I am traveling to Japan this summer and am looking for a birding tour guide that is willing to accommodate me for a day of birding. My travel is limited to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Please let me know if you know of any English-speaking guides in any of those regions.

Thanks,

 

[Lisa W]

Hi Rizzo1336, welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful place. I am moving your query to our information wanted area, and will change the thread title to show you are looking for a guide.

 

[temmie]

you could try here:
www.facebook.com/groups/kantori2

some info about Kantori Japan: Kantorilode: Birds of Japan

 

[Montereyman]

Guides are not difficult to find but I highly recommend doing some type of face time so you can confirm their English speaking skills in advance.

 

[albatross02]

Maybe Japanese people which learn English you can contact via hello talk.

Here are bird names

Okhotsk Birds, Japanese Bird Names

If you want learn one or two alphabets japanpod101 on youtube is excellent.
Japanese people use often alphabet Hiragana which has 46 sign and can created 102 silbl sounds.
Katakana is use for foreign names and scientific Japanese names and has as 46 sign and can created 102 silbl sounds.
Especially Hirangana is very often combined which Kanji ( Chinese signs ). There are thenthousends of them.
If you know Hiragana pronouciation of Japanese words is not that difficult like many other Asian languages like Chinese or Korean.

 

[Montereyman]

I have had problems with guides in China and in Japan who could not understand my questions and so could not function as guides. They had training but primarily as text translators and so their verbal skills were lacking.

 

[malaysiabirdwatching]

I've tried as well, but my last attempt in August 2024 was a failure cause the guide spoke very basic English on meeting him, and I didn't engage his services in the end. I ended up just birding on my own around Osaka and Kyoto. Good luck and if you do find someone, please share it here and happy birding!

 

[foresttwitcher]

As said by temmie in post #3, try joining and asking on the Kantori Facebook group (an English speaking group), there is at least one UK expat who guides from the Tokyo area.