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Hiroshi Tsuji

Born and raised in Japan, I have long appreciated the understated beauty of the Japanese countryside and the distinct character of its local traditions. My passion lies in introducing these regional treasures to people from around the world, offering them a deeper understanding of Japan's deep culture. Now, I am fortunate to channel this perspective into curating bespoke itineraries that celebrate the essence of local experiences.

My career began in the banking sector, a field far removed from my current path. Later, I earned an MBA from UCLA, where engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds who shared a curiosity about Japan ignited my shift to the travel industry. This journey led me to establish my own Destination Management Company (DMC) in Japan. I aim to ensure that each client enjoys a seamless and enriching travel experience, from the initial dream of travel to their safe return home

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"At Oshinobi Travel, we take pride in our deep expertise in Japan’s rich culture, history, and diverse regions.

I specialize in crafting personalized itineraries that offer guests unique and memorable experiences, blending iconic destinations with hidden treasures. Imagine walking through the historic streets of Kyoto, savoring the art of wagashi making, or participating in an intimate tea ceremony. Explore the stunning natural beauty of Nikko or step into the breathtaking village views of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nearby Takayama.

Whether you appreciate traditional crafts, breathtaking landscapes, or authentic cultural encounters, I can design a memorable journey tailored to your passions and interests. Let us guide you in experiencing the true essence of Japan."

How did you get involved in travel?

"During my time in banking, I often faced significant pressure. Travel became my way of escape and renewal. Whether it was jumping on a train to a local destination, discovering hidden gems in the countryside, connecting with people, enjoying a local food, or simply stargazing in the quiet of the night, these moments allowed me to step away from the everyday bustle and reconnect with myself.

Travel also played a vital role during my MBA journey. I organized a Japan trip with my Japanese classmates, bringing together peers from around the world. We shared sake, explored Kyoto, wandered through Tokyo, admired cherry blossoms, and shared conversations that bridged cultures and created lifelong memories.

Today, I have an opportunity of transforming my love for travel into a profession. I am deeply motivated to craft unforgettable journeys for people from all walks of life, offering them opportunities to immerse themselves in the beauty and joy that Japan has to offer."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I will never forget the Japan Trek I organized as an MBA student. After COVID-19, the level of interest from my classmates far exceeded my expectations, with over 200 people applying to join. Naturally, planning the trek proved far more challenging than I had anticipated. In addition to crafting an itinerary that appealed to a diverse group, I had to manage logistical details such as communicating dietary restrictions to lodges, coordinating breakfast menus, drafting clear cancellation policies, and creating user-friendly booklets. Navigating cultural differences added another layer of complexity.

Despite the challenges, I successfully brought the trek to life, and the memories remain vivid. I still recall the breathtaking nighttime view of cherry blossoms from a Japanese cruise, the sake we shared, and the private wadaiko performance at the farewell party. The group photo we took with over 200 participants is a treasure I will always cherish."

Hiroshi is part of the following groups: Japan Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
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Recent trip reviews for Hiroshi

KimKim Oshinobi gave us a fantastic introduction to Japan
Japan | Jul 5 - Jul 18, 2025

K
Kirsten B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 25, 2025
This was our first trip with KimKim — who was recommended to us by friends who recently had a great experience — and we’d have to say it was a pretty flawless ride. Completely easy and enjoyable start to finish, and ultimately unforgettable. We are a family of four (including two college-age sons) and none of us had ever been to Japan. KimKim connected us with a regional specialist (Jasmine Z) who took time to get to know us a bit online and figure out what we liked / didn’t like, what... Read more

This was our first trip with KimKim — who was recommended to us by friends who recently had a great experience — and we’d have to say it was a pretty flawless ride. Completely easy and enjoyable start to finish, and ultimately unforgettable.

We are a family of four (including two college-age sons) and none of us had ever been to Japan. KimKim connected us with a regional specialist (Jasmine Z) who took time to get to know us a bit online and figure out what we liked / didn’t like, what specific anchor places/events would need to be worked in, and what our budget would be. After that we were working with a Tokyo-based travel company, Hiroshi T., and his colleague Emi M., (Oshinobi Travel) who could not have been more pleasant, efficient, and accommodating. We did essentially 5 cities/hotels in 14 days, including Tokyo on the entry and exit, plus about three day-long excursions. All main island (Honshu) this time. Our itinerary was documented day by day on a shared Google doc, and tweaked a bit through Q&A up to about a month ahead of departure. Pre-trip, KimKim hosted a phone call with Hiroshi at a mutually convenient time to walk through the whole itinerary and answer questions. Result: Amazing trip.

Hiroshi’s hotel choices were all Japanese-owned hotels, superbly located, and nicely varied, all very high quality and all with epic breakfasts, which made getting out of bed an event to look forward to. Hiroshi made a point of meeting us in person and spending essentially half of his day making sure we were able to find and attend a particular site that was difficult for non-Japanese visitors to negotiate. In every city, transfers/drivers as needed were available and on-time. They lined up superb guides in (Ms. Kyoko in Tokyo, and Mr. Shohei in Kyoto, and Ms. Miyuki in Kawaguchiko); we felt that the guides not only provided key history and cultural insights, but gave us a leg up on a hundred different travel basics & hacks, which gave us the confidence to make our way around on the days (most of them) when we didn’t have a guide. Our time was dramatically more efficient given the foundation they gave us. Hiroshi provided train tickets and explicit use instructions in a nicely organized portfolio, so it was easy to track chronologically through our itinerary, and saved us tons of time figuring out the amazing but rather complex transportation systems. As English (and non-Japanese) speakers, we appreciated their command of both languages. We’ll also note that communication was super easy — they were seemingly available all the time (including weekends) when needed, via WhatsApp, and copious itinerary, contact, and basic travel information was shared through Google docs. That info, coupled with our own use of Apple Maps (for transit and walking navigation) and Google Translate (totally useful in the clutch more than a few times) made for a surprisingly smooth journey through even the largest city on the planet.

Kudos and thanks to the KimKim team and Oshinobi (Hiroshi and Emi) for getting it right at every turn and for helping our family make some great memories.

Local specialist: Hiroshi Tsuji
Read all Japan reviews

Family trip to Japan, July 2025
Japan | Jun 28 - Jul 8, 2025

R
Rajesh G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 18, 2025
We had a great trip and Hiroshi and the team were great. One potential item for improvement would be improved communication during the planning stage. Sometimes we were confused about why our itinerary was set up the way it was, but when we asked for clarification the explanation always made sense. Highlights of our trip were the Ryoken in Narai, Sushi in Osaka, day trip to Hiroshima, Kimono photoshoot and Kinstugi in Kyoto, walking the Nakasendo. Great trip. Read more

We had a great trip and Hiroshi and the team were great. One potential item for improvement would be improved communication during the planning stage. Sometimes we were confused about why our itinerary was set up the way it was, but when we asked for clarification the explanation always made sense.

Highlights of our trip were the Ryoken in Narai, Sushi in Osaka, day trip to Hiroshima, Kimono photoshoot and Kinstugi in Kyoto, walking the Nakasendo. Great trip.

Hotel Reviews
Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel
Osaka

The view!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku
Tokyo

Great location in Asakusa. Just be aware the neighborhood gets quiet after 8 PM, so if you want a later meal there are slim pickings.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Gora KARAKU

Beautiful facility with opportunities to improve service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The service is not up to par. For example dinner is included and we were asked for the time when we checked in. The food was fine, but the service was not. We were served a kaiseki meal in less than an hour. Servers hurried the experience and it was rushed and uncomfortable. The service is below average for a property of this caliber.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The onsen facilities were lovely.
Cross Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto

Amazing location in Kyoto, close to everything. Rooms were compact and breakfast was all tourists. I think this is typical for Kyoto at this time of year.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Byaku Narai
Nagano

Beautiful property in a quiet Japanese village.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Experience Making Your Own Sushi Followed with a Top-Notch Sushi Dinner
Experience Making Your Own Sushi Followed with a Top-Notch Sushi Dinner
Osaka

My favorite meal of the trip. Outstanding Omakase experience.

Quality of Experience
Private Kintsugi Experience with Kiyomizu-yaki: Restoring Beauty with Gold and Silver
Private Kintsugi Experience with Kiyomizu-yaki: Restoring Beauty with Gold and Silver
Kyoto

What a neat experience at a 7th generation family business.

Quality of Experience
Dressing Up in Traditional Kimono and Enjoy a Photoshoot!
Dressing Up in Traditional Kimono and Enjoy a Photoshoot!
Kyoto

I thought this would be silly, but it was a lot of fun. We all enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Hiroshi Tsuji

Never Again
Japan | May 17 - May 26, 2025

S
Stephen H.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on May 27, 2025
We worked with Jasmine and Hiroshi of Oshinobi Travel, and regret the decision. Although their service did provide several memorable experiences (Miyokaiku carpentry tour, Yoko the guide for Nikko, Emi's help in coordinating connections), these were overshadowed by repeated disappointments: The wrong ryokan was booked for the Nakasendo trail, and this was a major disappointment. But even more upsetting was the lack of response to making any correction or taking any responsibility for the... Read more

We worked with Jasmine and Hiroshi of Oshinobi Travel, and regret the decision.

Although their service did provide several memorable experiences (Miyokaiku carpentry tour, Yoko the guide for Nikko, Emi's help in coordinating connections), these were overshadowed by repeated disappointments:

The wrong ryokan was booked for the Nakasendo trail, and this was a major disappointment. But even more upsetting was the lack of response to making any correction or taking any responsibility for the oversight. Instead, fault was seemingly placed on us (via the Kim Kim dialog). I requested a refund, and was denied.

Even when we cancelled planned arrangements--such as a guide we no longer needed--no compensation was offered. We enjoyed most of their guides, but some did not have the requisite knowledge / experience of the places we visited (temples, gardens, etc.)

The hotels they selected on their own were standard Western rooms, except for specific requests we had made. We did enjoy the ryokan they booked in Kyoto. The places you stay matter in terms of the experience you have.

The train bookings were also standard / basic, and could have easily been upgraded, given the cost of the trip.

Overall, for the ~$30,000.00 we spent for 10 days, we felt we had an average experience. We had booked with Esprit Travel in the past--and for less--and had trip experiences that were exceptional. We will book with Esprit next time we visit.

Hotel Reviews
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Tokyo

Simply a Wonderful hotel... With History, a Soul, and wonderful staff and food.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa
Nikko

Also sterile, western experience.

Hatago Tawaraya Ryokan
Nakatsugawa

The Wrong ryokan, and hence our disappointment. Not much of a Soul, but clean.

Kyoto Yuzuya Ryokan
Kyoto

Loved this place, and its location. We will return.

Authenticity & Character
A true ryokan experience.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shourekiji Temple Stay
Ayabe

Enjoyed the interactions with the hosts, especially the participation in the Buddhist traditions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very remote--1.5 hours from Kyoto
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Leisure Time at Nikko
Leisure Time at Nikko
Nikko

Our guide, Yoko, did an amazing job here. Although she had been told we were planning to hike, we went to Nikko for the temples and World Heritage Sites. This took some adjustment on her part, which she did artfully, and took us on an amazing tour. At the end of the tour--which included almost Everything at a leisurely pace--she even sent us off by taking us to various food spots (including saki) for the train ride home.

Embark a Special Himeji Miyadaiku Carpentry Tour and Castle Exploration
Embark a Special Himeji Miyadaiku Carpentry Tour and Castle Exploration
Japan

Our best arranged experience, overall. We met the master carpenter at his shop, where he educated us about joinery and various techniques. And then the carpenter himself took us on the tour of the Himeji castle, which he himself had restored 10 years earlier. The guide / translator also did an exceptional job.

Private Transportation Service
Private Transportation Service
Japan

The private transportation was very expensive. We requested a car after we cancelled a previous arrangement, and Hiroshi gave me a price of $350-400 for the morning of the request. We walked instead, had immersive experiences in Kyoto, and then simply took a cab back to the ryokan for a total cost of $8.00.

Local specialist: Hiroshi Tsuji

Japan April 2025
Japan | Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2025

Robert
Robert M.
Canada | Reviewed on May 03, 2025
KimKim & Oshinobi Travel (Reina, Hiroshi & Emi) helped plan and execute an unbelievable trip to Japan in April 2025 in which 4 of us visited Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Koyasan. Leaving things a bit late (end of February), KimKim was the only travel agent able to put together the itinerary we wanted, finding us hotels, activities and guides that were all top notch. The travel logistics (trains, cars, subways, etc.), coordination and level of service during our trip were second to... Read more

KimKim & Oshinobi Travel (Reina, Hiroshi & Emi) helped plan and execute an unbelievable trip to Japan in April 2025 in which 4 of us visited Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Koyasan. Leaving things a bit late (end of February), KimKim was the only travel agent able to put together the itinerary we wanted, finding us hotels, activities and guides that were all top notch. The travel logistics (trains, cars, subways, etc.), coordination and level of service during our trip were second to none, with excellent responsiveness on WhatsApp or by phone during all hours of the day. The suggested activities were all excellent choices as well, and we would not have wanted to miss any of them. Thanks very much for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews
Fufu Hakone
Hakone
Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
Kyoto

Executive Rooms are roomy and worth the money. Standard rooms very cramped.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Tsukiji Fish Market Walking Tour
Tsukiji Fish Market Walking Tour
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Reina Ohira
Read all Japan reviews