Guiding tourists in English for 45 years in Kyoto, a 79-year-old resident of Osaka has started his own unique tours this year for foreign visitors to introduce some sake breweries and temples in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City. Having selected the Rakunan area of Kyoto City, which doesn't have as much available sightseeing information as the Rakuchu area, he explained his enthusiastic desire saying, "I want to contribute to tourism promotion in the spirit of a Kyoto-lover."

He is Shizuya Satoh, and he lives in Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture. In 1965, while he worked as a translator and interpreter in the Japanese office of a foreign trading company, he enrolled as a tour guide at travel agency. Since the Tokyo Olympic Games, the number of tourists has increased, and he himself was attracted to the culture of Kyoto, so served as a tour guide there.

Since 1995, he has acted as a tour-guide volunteer or a commentator in English at Kyoto City International Foundation, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, and the Museum of Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, and he also participates as a guide at international conferences held in Kyoto and Osaka.

He proposed a tour of Fushimi, saying "There is a lot of information about Gion, the eastern area of Kyoto City, however, the southern area is an unknown world. There must be many foreigners who are interested in Japanese sake." There is a fee for the tour, and it is by advance reservation only. The approximately three-hour tour provides the opportunity to experience the culture of sake and Kyoto's history, while visiting Chokenji Temple, Okura Memorial Hall, Teradaya Inn and other landmarks. With his professional consideration, he has arranged the starting and finishing point to be Keihan Railways Chushojima Station, which is a limited express stop and has easy access to Kyoto and Uji.

Smiling, Satoh said, "Though I was born and raised in Osaka, I love Kyoto. I would like not only to promote this business, but also to assist in promoting Kyoto tourism." For more information, he can be contacted at 072-831-2797.