KOBE, SHIOYA, a quaint fishing town walking tour

From the moment we met Sumile, we stopped being tourists and became welcomed guests. She is truly the best guide we’ve ever had — a genuine A+. She led us into local life, to a public primary school where a New Year bonfire quietly glowed with community warmth. Later, in a cozy coffee shop, we enjoyed rich coffee and smooth matcha, and received a touching gift: a hand-brushed kanji for “love.” By the harbor, we visited a seaweed production plant, then shared a relaxed lunch of fresh sashimi and sushi. Thanks to Sumile, this was more than sightseeing — it was a heartfelt memory!

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. Sumile is a lovely person and made us feel like family right from the start. It was a great experience learning about Shioya but more so getting to know so many locals in the town, with us visiting many businesses and speaking to the owners. Overall it was a fantastic tour and it was great to meet “Auntie” Sumile and the locals. Aragato Goziamuse Sumile-san!

Sumile san is the Japanese friend you've always wanted. She is friendly and warm, generously sharing what she loves and her friends with me. I was the only person who booked so it was an amazing "private" tour at my pace. There is so much to see and do at a seemingly quiet little town, which i would never tread into if not for her. I read about her tour somewhere (I just can't remember where!) And decided to make a stop at Shioya enroute from Arima Onsen to Osaka. No regrets and I love that she helps me connects with the community, introducing me to the everyday life and people of Shioya, who loves their community. Such a kampung spirit in a world where people are more insular than ever. Go book this tour and experience if for yourself. You are most welcome.

I really enjoyed my tour in Shioya. It was a very personalized tour since in total it was me, the tour guide, and one other person who was Japanese. Many tours take you to the very popular spots that are very touristy. What I appreciated about this tour was that it felt like I was visiting a friend or relative who was taking me to local spots. We went to a small nori factory that was a small family business. I learned so much about making nori. In fact, when I told tour guides on my other tours, they also told me that they had never been to a nori factory. We also had the opportunity to purchase some amazing nori. Our tour guide also took us to a local cafe where the owner had a special event and was selling some unique crafts. Our tour guide also took us to a local sushi restaurant. She knew so many people in the town and she didn’t hesitate to introduce us to some of the residents of the town. The tour guide also gave me great recommendations for other places to visit in the Kobe area while I was there. I would highly recommend this tour.

We had a fabulous afternoon with Sumile exploring her hometown of Shioya. We were looking to get the feel of a smaller city, and this tour was perfect. We met several local shop owners and were treated to sushi, coffee/tea and other goodies. This was a very authentic experience to see what a local's life is like. Sumile is a joy to have as a guide. She shared interesting facts and stories about Shioya which added to the authenticity of the trip. I highly recommend this trip to spend a peaceful day away from the big cities!