About Us
The Story Behind Your Kyoto Experien
1. Our Philosophy
Kyoto, as it was meant to be.
Too often, visitors see a version of Kyoto shaped for tourists — beautiful, but distant.
We started this service because we wanted to reveal the Kyoto that lives behind the screens: quiet, intimate, deeply human. A Kyoto that locals treasure, but is rarely shown to the world.
For those who seek more than sightseeing,
we offer something deeper — a Kyoto that becomes yours.
3. Our Vision
We don’t want you to “visit” Kyoto.
We want you to feel at home here.
Our vision is to create experiences that are not only luxurious,
but deeply human.
The kind you carry with you long after you leave.
2. The Founder
“Sharing the True Essence of Kyoto with the World.” I was born and raised in Kyoto, but left for New York at the age of 16. After spending 14 years in Tokyo and later moving to Orange County, California, I earned my MBA at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and eventually returned to my hometown, Kyoto. Living away from Kyoto for so long allowed me to truly appreciate its depth, beauty, and rich cultural heritage from an outsider’s perspective. Upon returning, I was struck by how much the city had changed—especially the dramatic increase in international tourists. But I also began to wonder: are these visitors really experiencing the real Kyoto? If people are going to travel all the way here, I want them to discover the authentic Kyoto— to feel its timeless charm, to connect with its culture beyond surface-level sightseeing, and to leave with a desire to return again and again. I don’t want visitors to be guided only to commercialized attractions offering cookie-cutter experiences. I believe that introducing the true Kyoto is not only meaningful for travelers, but also for the people who live and work here. When you experience something genuine, it leaves a lasting impression. And those impressions draw people back. That’s the kind of Kyoto I want the world to discover— a Kyoto that reveals itself little by little, through meaningful encounters. Through KIWAMI KYOTO, I hope to help create those unforgettable moments. 「ホンマもんの京都を、世界中の人へ。」 京都で生まれ育ち、16歳でニューヨークへ渡米。 その後東京で14年を過ごし、再びアメリカ・カリフォルニア州オレンジカウンティへ。UCI（カリフォルニア大学アーバイン校）でMBAを取得後、再び故郷・京都に戻ってきました。 長い間、京都を離れて暮らす中で気づいたのは、外から見ることで初めてわかる京都の奥深さ、美しさ、文化の豊かさでした。 そして帰国してまず驚いたのが、訪日外国人観光客の多さ。 けれども同時に、彼らが“本当の京都”をどれだけ体験できているのかに、疑問を抱くようになりました。 せっかく京都に来てくれたのなら、うわべだけの体験ではなく、心から「また来たい」と思ってもらえるような、本物の京都に出会ってほしい。 何度訪れても新しい発見がある、そんな京都の魅力を肌で感じてほしい。 それが「極み京都」を始めた理由です。 観光地らしいサービスではなく、 “暮らすように旅する”という感覚で、 人と人、文化と心がつながる体験を届けたい。 ホンマもんの京都に出会った人は、きっとまた京都に戻ってきたくなる。 その特別な旅のきっかけを、「極み京都」がつくれたらと願っています。
