Early Days in Singapore
The story begins with my younger days, just after graduating from college. I believed one of the best ways to understand my own country was to live abroad, view it from the outside, and make comparisons. This idea inspired me to move abroad and build a life in Singapore.
Singapore may be small geographically, but it is incredibly diverse culturally. I was deeply influenced by the people I met there, especially after I started cycling with my folding bike. I explored every corner of Singapore by bike, interacting with locals along the way. Some may dismiss Singapore as boring due to its size, but my experience taught me otherwise. Every corner revealed something unique, far beyond what was listed in travel guides. This showed me the importance of visiting real places and connecting with them directly. I grew to love Singapore, and I ended up living there for a decade.
When I returned to Japan after 10 years, I continued cycling. Amazingly, even as a local, I discovered countless hidden places and fascinating people in Japan. Through cycling, I began to see my home country with fresh eyes, and I fell in love with it all over again. Exploring Japan by bike was nothing short of fascinating.
Back to 2018
My journey as a tour guide began in 2018, sparked by a photo of a cycling tour that appeared on my social media timeline. The post included the words, “Guides urgently needed!” Until that moment, I had never imagined combining my love for cycling with guiding visitors. Cycling had always been my hobby, and guiding, in my mind, was limited to bus or walking tours. But the idea of merging the two intrigued me.
When a trial session for a bike tour was announced, I immediately signed up. Under the cold winter sky, I went to Tokyo to meet the organizers. Until that day, I thought I knew Tokyo well, being both Japanese and born in the city.
Rediscoveries
For me, the tour was a series of discoveries. I cycled to a quiet park in Tokyo I had never known existed. I learned local information I had never encountered before. I even rediscovered places in Tokyo I thought I knew well. What struck me most was the dramatic shifts in scenery between different areas. Cycling seamlessly connects these areas, like threading them together. It was such a pleasure to learn new things about Tokyo through cycling.
Starting as a Guide
About six months later, I made my debut as a bike tour guide. It was a hot summer day, and my guests from the Netherlands looked visibly tired under the scorching sun. We decided to take a coffee break—a flexibility unique to bike tours.
Over coffee, we discussed topics ranging from politics and economics to religion, education, and daily life in Japan. Through these conversations, my guests gained a deeper understanding of how Japanese people live and think.
The moment we shook hands at the end of the tour was unforgettable. I felt that I had offered something truly special—an experience only a bike tour could provide, and one that only I could create. The satisfaction on my guests’ faces was evident in their handshake.
My Mission
In a way, I see myself as a representative of Japan. For many tourists, I might be the first Japanese person they meet, and their introduction to the country starts with me. I want them to learn about Japan while taking photos, pedaling through the city, enjoying coffee, or savoring traditional sweets together.
There is already a wealth of information online and countless entertaining YouTube videos. But some things can only be learned through authentic experiences—like cycling through the streets of Tokyo.
Cycling through the city and introducing people to Japan are moments of pure bliss. And isn’t this something truly worth dedicating my life to? After six years as an employed guide, I made up my mind to start my own business: Tokyo Bike Bliss.
