Hello! I’m Akari.
I was born and raised in Kumamoto City, and spent my four years of university studying international relations in the suburbs of Tokyo. After graduating from university, I traveled around Greece for about two months. I worked as a staff member in the administrative department of the Japanese Government Cabinet Office’s International Youth Programs—“Ship for World Youth” and “Ship for South East Asian and Japanese Youth”—where I lived and worked alongside young people from more than 40 countries aboard cruise ships.
After that, my love for the novel *Anne of Green Gables* led me to work at a souvenir shop owned by the author’s relatives in Canada. At the same time, I worked as a tour guide for Japanese tourists for about two years. I also wrote a column called “Letters from Prince Edward Island” for the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shinbun newspaper.
As an online Japanese teacher, I have taught over 650 students and conducted more than 4,000 lessons over the past 13 years. My rating on italki is 5.0.
As an English-speaking tour guide in Kyoto for over 10 years, I have guided countless guests; my ratings on Airbnb Experiences are 4.9 for private tours, 4.99 for maiko tours, and 5.0 for sake tours.
As an online Japanese teacher, I strive to be someone who can convey not only the language but also Japanese culture, history, Shinto and Buddhism, and social issues. As an English tour guide, I aim to be the kind of guide who hears comments like, “Thanks to your tour, I was able to sightsee while feeling the layers of history and see Kyoto and Japan from a new perspective.”
Starting in 2026, my team has expanded, and I’m now joined by colleagues who lead tours alongside me.
We’re called Expanding Horizons Japan.
Moving forward, both individually and as a team, we’ll continue our efforts to help you experience Kyoto and Japan in a deeper and more enjoyable way.
Expanding Horizons Japan
https://expandinghorizonsjapan.square.site
◆ My LinkedIn profile:
https://jp.linkedin.com/in/akarimurata
◆ Self introduction (30 sec)
https://youtu.be/t1vhaAL1DZg
◆ interview ( italki Japanese Teacher Journey)
Akari Japanese 