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OUR STORY
It all started when Rika’s Australian friends called in a favour to create an itinerary for their first trip to Japan.
Being a travel enthusiast herself, she took this mission very seriously and couldn't hide her passion.
Being a Japanese who loves and is proud of her home country, she wanted to show the real side of Japan, not a tourist trap.
She has enjoyed the whole process so much. When her friends came back awed by Japan and loved how easy their custom itinerary made their trip, she decided to officially start Kuroko Boutique Tours and dedicate herself in crafting unparalleled boutique trips to Japan.
WHAT WE DO
We design, curate and lead authentic experience-focused boutique and unique tours of Japan.
Here are our offerings.
For individual travellers -
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Kuroko's small-group guided tours
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Custom itinerary service for self-guided travellers
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For businesses and group travellers -
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Custom Group Tour. We tailor-make your group tour and operate it with you. (i.e. educational, photography, arts & crafts, well-being tours, etc.)
WHO WE ARE
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Rika Nishimura
Tour Planner & Conductor
Rika was born and raised in Kochi on the island of Shikoku, in southern Japan. She spent her 20s in Kyoto before moving to Australia, where she started Kuroko Boutique Tours. She designs, curates and leads bespoke ‘one-of-a-kind’ tours. Her dedication to authenticity transforms each tour into a deep exploration of Japanese culture, tradition, history, landscape, cuisine, and people. Rika’s passion for her homeland is evident in every curated detail of her tours. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, watching history movies and plotting her next great escape. She also harbours a deep appreciation for Japanese pottery and folk art, delightful indulgences that somehow manage to expand her collection with every passing year. Rika, a former professional interpreter, also holds a bachelor's degree in International Law from Ritsumeikan University.
Joan Shiba
Office manager
Joan, a native of the Philippines, moved to Japan in 2017 when she married a Japanese husband. Thanks to the warmth of her Japanese neighbourhood, she has embraced the pleasures of everyday life in rural Mie. She is an avid home cook, mastering Japanese country cooking such as Inabe buckwheat noodles and nukazuke, fermenting vegetables in rice bran. In summer, she enjoys watching the fireworks and drumming at local festivals with her two bubbly sons. She is the backbone of Kuroko Boutique Tours, helping the business operation run smoothly and efficiently. Joan, a former office manager at a Philippine branch of a Japanese medical company, obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Manila University.
Aiko Ono
Reservation / Ground operator
Aiko, a former photographer born and raised in Tokyo, moved to Mie in 2015 to follow her deep love for the ocean and became an Ama, Japan’s traditional female free diver. Surrounded by the sea and mountains on the Shima Peninsula, where she can begin each morning with the sunrise over the sea. She spends around 100 days a year diving using a more than 2,000-year-old traditional free-diving method to harvest abalone, turban shells and seaweed. She brings her creative lens to capturing underwater life, sharing Ama culture, and taking part in local marine conservation activities. Aiko enjoys travelling, shooting beautiful Japan, and cooking with fresh fish and vegetables gifted from neighbours. Aiko handles Kuroko’s ground operations and reservations, drawing on her extensive knowledge of travel in Japan, which she gained working as a travel photographer.
Yuki Sato
Tour Conductor
Yuki was born and raised in Fukushima, the northern part of Japan. A former acting director of the Hokkaido Kucchan Tourism Association, Yuki studied Biological Environmental and Agricultural Economics at Akita University. His deep and extensive knowledge of Japanese native flora and fauna is second to none. Together with his gentle and caring nature, it makes him a great credit as a tour conductor/guide.
He resides in Hokkaido with his family and holds an instructor license for skiing, snowboarding, road biking, and mountain biking. He enjoys outdoor sports and is on an executive committee for the annual road bike event in Hokkaido.
Nae Sekiguchi
Tour Conductor
Nae was born and raised in Tokyo and now lives in Osaka, known for its vibrant culture and warm hospitality. As a tour conductor, she has built her career in international travel and cultural exchange, gaining experience in global business and cross-cultural communication. Her expertise in guiding and coordination ensures that every journey runs smoothly, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the experience. Nae, the yoga instructor and organiser of the World Handstand event, graduated from ICU and Tokyo College of Photography. Outside of work, Nae enjoys skiing, practising yoga, and capturing beautiful moments through photography.　
Eriko Iwatate
Retreat Conductor and Yoga Teacher
Eriko was born and raised in Tokyo and spent 25 years in the United States, where she immersed herself in academic and medical research. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Texas and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), combining her scientific expertise with a passion for wellness. After returning to Japan, she developed a renewed appreciation for her homeland and focuses on connecting people from different cultures, sharing the unique places and traditions that make Japan special. At Kuroko Boutique Tours, Eriko leads our signature wellness retreats, combining her passion for travel with holistic well-being and crafting peaceful, grounding experiences that help you recharge and create unforgettable memories along the way.
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Soryou Yamaguchi
Advisor / Master of Japanese Tradition and Culture
Soryou Yamaguchi is a tea master and Japanese culture researcher from Osaka. He has practised Urasenke Sado for over 30 years. As a tea master, he organises tea ceremonies at special events. He is deeply devoted to Japanese history, shrines, temples, festivals, Kabuki, Bunraku (a Japanese puppet theatre), Noh (classical Japanese dance-drama), hanging scrolls, Japanese poetry, and Ikebana. Yamaguchi is currently enrolled at Tanechiin University for a further understanding of Buddhism and Japanese art culture. Because of Yamaguchi's strong, extensive connections with traditional Japanese communities, schools, and masters, we can offer authentic cultural experiences featuring masters like Yamaguchi to showcase authentic Japan. Outside of work, Yamaguchi is an avid open-water swimmer and shamisen player.
Contact
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