Of all the tour guides I have had in my travels to many countries throughout the world, I can honestly say that Makoon was the best! He was very well prepared, thoroughly informed, extremely personable, and his English was flawless. What most impressed me was the extensive research he had done about all the sites we visited and the way in which he individualized our tour to our general interests. Moreover, not only did he fill us in on the history and background of what we saw, but he also challenged us to think about the meaning of what we saw and experienced to us, today. In addition to his intellect, research ability, and oral presentation skills, he is a charming and warm young man who made our hours together fly by. I can’t imagine anyone who could do a better job as a tour guide in Kyoto.He is from Kyoto, knows it well and is eager to share his pride of the city and its rich and complex history with tourists. He also volunteered to take pictures of us at various sites, which he then promptly sent to us. If you are visiting Kyoto, plan to spend a few days and hire Makoon for one or more of those days. You will not be disappointed!