ABOUT US
Osaka—where visitors can enjoy the vibrant bustle of a big city that attracts special products from all over the country, also known as the ‘Nation's Kitchen.’
Awaji Island—which is surrounded by a landscape rich in nature and a selected region which historically presented foodstuffs to the emperor, a ‘Miketsu-Kuni’.
Bilingual guides with local knowledge and experience will guide you through special places in these two regions in a semi-customized tour.
OUR VALUES
Community
We believe strongly in giving back to our communities. We rely on a robust network of local businesses that operate within our communities. We always strive to find local partners to work with to ensure the vibrance and livelihood of the communities that support us. We do our utmost to support them in return.
Quality
Because we are a niche company, we are interested more in providing high-quality experiences to a few customers rather than focussing on high-volumes. We are also very selective about the places we take our guests and listen carefully to our customers' needs. We hope that you are pleased with the services we provide.
Sustainability
We operate all tours with sustainability and environmental awareness at the forefront of our minds. This can mean many things to many people. For us it means, choosing environmentally friendly transportation methods, minimizing single-use plastic products, and remaining vigilant for improvements in reducing our carbon-footprint.
Discovery
It is our sincere hope that you will come away from our tours with a deeper perspective. Some of our activities allow space for introspection. Others are more focused on the world around us. We hope that you will find something new about yourself or new perspectives on the broader world or Japanese culture after your time with us.
OUR TEAM
Maisie McPherson
A trained Japanese-English interpreter, Maisie has a talent for connecting travelers with the fun and interesting side of Osaka culture. She has called the city home for nearly 20 years and her career promoting the city spans over a decade. While sharing English language information about tourist destinations in Osaka Prefecture is her main passion, she has traveled far and wide within Japan. She has experience in producing multiple destination texts for the Japan Tourism Agency’s Sightseeing Database.
Masae Tokushige
Born in Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from college in New York, she worked for Felissimo Corporation in Kobe for 12 years. In 2012, she started a two-location life in Kobe and Awaji Island, participating for tour planning research group in the Awaji Island. In 2019, she joined Shimatoworks Inc. and started tour planning, sales, and guiding for foreign visitors. She’s also a board member of PEACE BY PEACE COTTON, a project that supports the conversion to organic cotton farmers in India and supports their children to return to school, scholarships.
Miki Fujimori
Born in Nagano, Japan. Studied abroad in Germany during high school. Raised in an environment of constant contact with foreign languages from an early age, with a mother who is an English teacher. She can guide in three languages: Japanese, German, and English. She joined SHIMATOWORKS Inc. in 2024, where she creates content for children and plans inbound tourism projects.