About
About Jimmy's Izu Tours
Discover a quieter, more authentic Japan, guided by someone who calls Izu home.
Izu Comes First
Most guests who visit Izu tell me the same thing: “We wanted to escape the crowds of Tokyo and Kyoto.”
Izu is different.
It’s a place shaped by volcanoes, rivers, coastlines, farmers, and the quiet resilience of rural Japan.
Time moves slower here. People greet you. Shrines and stories still connect villages to their past.
This is the Izu I guide . . . the real, lived-in one.
Why I Guide Here
My name is Jimmy. I’ve lived in a small community near Ito for years, and I guide because I genuinely love this place.
I grew up in a farming region in the U.S., so rural Japan felt familiar right away. The rhythms, the values, the sense of community, they made Izu feel like home.
Guiding grew naturally out of meeting local farmers, shrine caretakers, and elders, and wanting visitors to experience the Izu that locals know.
How I Guide
Jimmy’s Izu Tours follows three simple ideas:
Slow
We move at a natural, unhurried pace.
No rushing, no pressure: time to actually see where you are.
Local
You’ll meet the people who keep Izu’s traditions alive: farmers, artisans, storytellers.
These encounters are the heart of the day.
Personal
Every tour is shaped around your interests: history, waterfalls, wasabi farms, coastal scenery, folklore, geology, or quiet villages.
Why Travelers Choose Izu
Many guests want:
- A quieter, more authentic Japan
- Real conversations and local culture
- Beautiful nature without crowds
- Rural communities that still feel lived in
Izu offers exactly that, and I help you connect with it.
About Me
- Local guide based in Ito
- Member of the Ike Historical Association
- Collaborator with local farmers, artisans, and ryokan
- Insured and licensed to guide and transport guests
- Japanese ability: Comfortable conversational level
- Hundreds of guests guided annually
Let's Explore Izu Together
If you’re looking for an experience that is slow, personal, and rooted in real local life, I’d be happy to guide you.