A guide who speaks your language, in every sense
Most guides can show you Akihabara. Fewer can tell you which floor of which building has the out-of-print artbooks, why a certain card set sells out on release day, or which platform in Kyoto gives the best view of a passing shinkansen. Mario can, because these are his own passions. He is a genuine otaku, with a deep knowledge of anime, Pokémon and its trading card game, Japanese railways, cameras, and computers and electronics. If that sounds like you, a day with Mario feels less like a tour and more like exploring with a friend who already knows the map.
He is also a professional private guide who has guided English-speaking travelers for four years, is based in Kansai and married into a Japanese family. That combination matters: he can read the Japanese signs and product labels, ask staff the right questions, and reserve experiences that only accept bookings in Japanese.
Five passions, five kinds of day
| Interest | Where Mario takes you | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Anime and manga | Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro’s Otome Road, Ghibli Museum | Anime tour in Tokyo |
| Pokémon and trading cards | Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto; card shops in Akihabara and Nipponbashi | Where to buy Pokémon cards |
| Trains and railways | Kyoto Railway Museum, SCMaglev and Railway Park, sightseeing trains, shinkansen viewpoints | Train enthusiast tour |
| Cameras and lenses | Shinjuku, Nakano, Umeda: new and used cameras and lenses | Camera shopping guide |
| Electronics and retro games | Den Den Town in Osaka, Akihabara’s electronics and retro game shops | Electronics and retro games |
Tokyo or Kansai?
Tokyo has the biggest concentration: Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro and the large camera stores of Shinjuku. Kansai has its own scene, often calmer and easier to browse: Den Den Town in Nipponbashi, Osaka’s Umeda electronics stores, Pokémon Centers in Osaka and Kyoto, and the Kyoto Railway Museum. Mario is based in Kansai, so days in Osaka and Kyoto have no guide travel costs; for Tokyo, his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost, or you can fold the otaku days into a multi-day journey with Mario.
A sample otaku day in Osaka
- 10:00 Hotel lobby pick-up; the Pokémon Center in Umeda opens its doors.
- 11:00 Umeda’s giant electronics and camera floors: lenses, gadgets, the latest consoles.
- 12:30 Lunch near Namba; Osaka’s street food or a reserved restaurant.
- 13:30 Den Den Town, Nipponbashi: card shops, figures, retro games, model kits and electronics parts, with Mario reading labels and condition notes in Japanese.
- 16:30 Shipping or packing advice for fragile purchases, then back to your hotel.
A sample otaku day in Tokyo
- 10:00 Akihabara as the shops open: anime goods, card shops and retro games.
- 13:00 Lunch, then the Chuo line to Nakano Broadway and its maze of collector shops.
- 15:30 Ikebukuro: Sunshine City and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, or the camera floors of Shinjuku.
- 18:00 Return to your hotel, with tax-free paperwork checked and fragile items packed.
Why go with someone who knows the subject
- Time: Akihabara and Den Den Town have hundreds of small shops on upper floors. Knowing where to look saves hours.
- Language: condition grades, edition details and warranty terms are often only in Japanese.
- Judgment: Mario will tell you honestly when a price looks high or an item is easy to find elsewhere.
- Balance: he can mix fandom with temples, gardens and food, so non-fans in your party enjoy the day too.
Families with young fans
Pokémon, anime and trains are often the reason a child is excited about Japan in the first place. Mario plans family days that pair a Pokémon Center or the Kyoto Railway Museum with a temple, a park and a good lunch, at a pace that works for everyone. See also Japan family trip with a private guide.
Rates
Half day (4 hours) ¥45,600; full day (8 hours) ¥69,600; extra hours ¥7,200; per private party. Outside Kansai, Mario’s train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost. Your purchases, transport, admissions and meals are your own.