Tour Designers Inc.

Concept
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Okinawa
Wellness

The Island Where Life Flows
in Harmony with Nature

Okinawa is known as one of the world’s five Blue Zones—regions celebrated for the longevity and vitality of their people.
Here, the ancient wisdom of living in harmony with nature continues to thrive, quietly guiding the way toward balance between body and spirit.

The “Okinawa Wellness” envisioned by Tour Designers draws inspiration from this timeless wisdom. It is a philosophy rooted in the island’s culture, nature, and daily life — where movement, nourishment, faith, connection, and purpose are interwoven. Each journey invites travelers to experience these elements through their five senses, shaping moments that gently align with who they are, here and now.

No two travelers experience a journey in the same way. Some feel light-hearted, others weary. Some find comfort in nature, while others take time to rediscover it. Okinawa Wellness embraces this diversity — a moment to return to your true self, just as you are.

The sound of the wind through the forest, the scent of the sea, the warmth of handmade crafts, the kindness of a smile — through these encounters, one rediscovers harmony between heart, body, and senses. This is the essence of wellness through journey as we see it.

Okinawa Wellness does not end when the journey is over. Long after returning home, you may find yourself remembering : “The guide in Okinawa said to cherish the five senses.” Or, “The scent of green has changed—perhaps the season is shifting.”
Such small awakenings allow the spirit of Okinawa to live quietly within your daily life.

To pause, to breathe, to feel the world again — that is a moment to return to your true self. Through our journeys, we design those gentle opportunities to reconnect with who you are.

By passing down the wisdom of this island — the wisdom of life that flows through its people and nature — we hope to share the philosophy of Okinawa Wellness with the world, so that its spirit of renewal continues to inspire generations to come.

Nine Elements of the Blue Zone

  • Exercise
  • Diet
  • Beliefs
  • Connection
  • Purpose in Life
  • Slowing Down Your Life
  • Eat Plant-based Foods
  • Drink Red Wine in Moderation
  • Take Care of Your Family
Nine Elements of the Blue Zone

Feel the elements of health and longevity unique to Okinawa
with all your five senses and lead a richer life.

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Journeys are
not just made.

They’re designed.

Every journey with Tour Designers is tailor-made.
We listen deeply to the wishes of our guests and partners, designing experiences that reflect their purpose, values, and dreams.

Our role is not only that of a designer, but also a co-creator.
We weave together the voices of local people, the memories of culture, and the living rhythm of nature—breathing life into each journey.

What we cherish most is the quiet resonance that remains after the journey ends.
Conversations with locals, the stillness of the forest and sea, the wisdom of prayer, and the warmth of a smile — through these encounters, travel transforms from a simple experience into a story that lives on.

When your vision intertwines with the soul of a place, a one-of-a-kind journey is born.

Tours

People Who Design Journeys

Each person here is a “Tour Designer”
— bringing their own perspective and sensibility to create journeys
that connect people and place.

TourDesigners

Why “Tour Designers”?

Tour Designers is made up of individuals — each a “Tour Designer” who creates journeys in close connection with the people and communities of Okinawa.

We don’t simply create tours; we design stories — shaping experiences through the heart and spirit of each place. Every Tour Designer brings their own sense, vision, and care. Together, they form the living essence of Tour Designers.

The “s” in our name carries gratitude and respect for every member who makes this possible, and reflects the spirit of co-creation that defines who we are. Without them, Tour Designers could not exist — which is why we call them not “staff,” but “Tour Designers.”

Tour Guides
Yasufumi Yamashiro

Yasufumi Yamashiro

Tour Designer

Born and raised in Okinawa, I studied abroad in Taiwan after graduating from university and later worked at a local travel agency.
There, I coordinated educational trips to Japan for Taiwanese high school students, arranging study programs and cultural exchanges across various regions. After returning to Okinawa, I joined an inbound travel company, welcoming international visitors and witnessing firsthand the rise and transformation of Japan’s inbound tourism boom.

Through these experiences, I developed a strong conviction that travel should be more than simply visiting well-known places. Journeys that allow travelers to truly feel, learn, and connect with a region’s culture, history, and nature have the power to stay in the heart long after the trip ends.

I believe that travel can support the future of local communities. With this belief, I strive to create sustainable tourism rooted in the people who live here — a style of travel where local stories are honored and meaningful connections can grow naturally.

With kindness and a genuine smile, I hope to design journeys that gently encourage each traveler to reflect, discover, and take their next step forward. Together with my teammates, I continue to design experiences filled with warmth, learning, and a sense of shared purpose.

Sayuri Jahana

Sayuri Jahana

Tour Designer

I was born and raised in Okinawa, and I work on prefectural tourism projects and tour planning as part of the Tour Designers team. Through my work, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for my island’s nature, culture, and the people who bring them to life.

Believing in the power of travel to revitalize communities, I serve as a bridge between the field and the government, between residents and travelers.
My approach is grounded in listening to local voices and shaping sustainable tourism for the future — designing journeys that carry the heart of Okinawa into each traveler’s experience.

Shoya Nakamura

Shoya Nakamura

Tour Designer

Since my high school days, I have aspired to become a guide, feeling a deep connection to the history, culture, music, and language that are woven into the life of this island. The kind of tourism we strive for is not one of simple consumption, but one that cherishes local treasures and allows prosperity to circulate slowly and sustainably within the community.

Through travel, I hope to share not only Okinawa’s breathtaking beauty, but also the truths of its past—including the pain and resilience that have shaped it. Each journey is an invitation to feel, with the heart, the warmth of human connection and a profound gratitude for life itself.

“Life is a journey.”
Every step you take through Okinawa can also be a step toward rediscovering yourself and finding new strength for the future. I hope your time here will open your heart to both the vastness of the world and the richness of home, and I will accompany you with sincerity—ensuring that your journey becomes one filled with meaningful encounters and lasting inspiration.

Kenichiro Mori

Kenichiro Mori

Tour Designer

Originally from Miyazaki, I moved to Okinawa after graduating from university and now work behind the scenes at Tour Designers, supporting the team as a key part of its backbone. I handle tour planning and operations with care, ensuring everything runs smoothly for both our guests and on-site staff.

Together with my colleagues, I strive to create journeys that truly convey the heart of each community. I believe that the unseen efforts behind the scenes lead to comfort, trust, and genuine inspiration for our travelers — and I approach my work every day with sincerity and dedication.

Ai Munakata

Ai Munakata

Tour Guide (English / Japanese) /
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter

Originally from Tokyo, based in Okinawa. As a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter, Ai shares Okinawa’s culture, history, nature, and everyday life with guests from around the world.

Her tours connect the threads between past and present, prayer and everyday living — from the forests of Yanbaru and sacred Ryukyu heritage to cultural and historical sites across the islands.

What she values most is not telling stories herself, but creating space for travelers to discover and weave their own. To her, travel is not an escape from the everyday — it is a time for reflection, a time to return to oneself.

She continues to design journeys that awaken quiet insight, where people and places resonate together in the gentle light and wind of Okinawa.

Certifications & Affiliations
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English)
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor
ATTA’s Adventure EDU (Guide Training / Storytelling / Risk Management)

Keiko Kohatsu

Keiko Kohatsu

Tour Guide (English / Japanese) /
Okinawa Prefectural Licensed Guide Interpreter

Born and raised in Okinawa. Drawing on many years of experience in education, Keiko shares the island’s history and culture with clarity, sincerity, and warmth.

From war sites and World Heritage landmarks to traditional performing arts and everyday life, she weaves the living stories behind each place — guiding travelers to discover the true heart of Okinawa.

As the Okinawan saying “Ichaariba chōdē” goes — Once we meet, we are brothers and sisters. With that spirit, she welcomes every traveler with a smile and a kind heart, creating gentle, memorable moments that linger long after the journey ends.

Certifications & Affiliations
Okinawa Prefectural Licensed Guide Interpreter
Okinawa Traditional Karate Shorin ryu First degree (Shodan)

Shizuka Miyara

Shizuka Miyara

Tour Guide (English / Japanese) /
Okinawa Prefectural Licensed Guide Interpreter

Shizuka Miyara|Tour Guide (English / Japanese) / Okinawa Prefectural Licensed Guide Interpreter

Born and raised in Okinawa. A bilingual guide who gently conveys the culture and spirit of the islands. Through stories woven from history, nature, and everyday life, she creates moments where travelers and local communities truly connect.

With a warm and attentive presence, she offers guiding that feels both refined and heartfelt. Her guests often describe her hospitality as quietly comforting — leaving behind a soft, lingering sense of Okinawa’s warmth.

At the close of each tour, she shares a simple yet heartfelt message — Ichigo Ichie, “Treasure every encounter, as it may not come again.” For Shizuka, every meeting is a once-in-a-lifetime gift, a moment of connection to be cherished long after the journey ends.

Certifications & Affiliations
Okinawa Prefectural Licensed Guide Interpreter

Shotaro Chibana

Shotaro Chibana

Local Guide

I’m a local guide based in Yomitan Village, Okinawa. I began guiding out of a sense of responsibility — seeing the number of local guides decrease made me realize how important it is for someone from the community to carry on our stories. I feel a deep calling to share the memories of Okinawa’s war history and local battle sites with future generations, ensuring that these lessons are never forgotten.

What makes Okinawa truly special to me are its warm-hearted people, rich nature, and unique culture and traditions — things I didn’t fully appreciate when I was younger, but now cherish deeply.

As a guide, I value respect—for our culture, customs, war heritage, and natural environment. Rather than decorating or dramatizing, I aim to present Okinawa as it truly is, in its genuine and unfiltered form.

I hope you’ll remember the feeling—the atmosphere of the place, the sound of the wind, and the quiet strength of the island itself. That is the experience I wish to share through my tours.

Futoshi Taira

Futoshi Taira

Local Guide

After retiring from my previous career and returning to my hometown of Okinawa, I came to realize once again how truly special this island’s nature, history, and culture are. Wishing to preserve and share traditions that are slowly fading, I began guiding as a way to pass them on to future generations.

Okinawa’s distinctive nature, history, and culture—unlike anywhere else in Japan — continue to quietly sustain the rhythm of everyday life. With sincerity and care, I guide visitors through each of these stories, helping them connect with both the island’s present and its past. In my tours, I value not only what can be seen, but also the emotions and moments of awareness that arise within each traveler, sharing the deeper stories that live within this land.

My guiding philosophy is expressed in the Okinawan saying, “Makutu sochinee nankuru naisaa” — “If you act with sincerity and do what is right, things will naturally turn out well.” With this belief close to my heart, I continue to walk these lands, feeling the Okinawan wind and sharing its gentle spirit with all who visit.

Rai Ikematsu

Rai Ikematsu

Local Guide

Originally from Hiroshima, I moved to Tokashiki Island 15 years ago and have since dedicated my work to sharing the joy of living close to nature on a remote island. With a background as a professional diving instructor, I bring extensive experience from the sea, but today my activities also explore the beauty of the island’s land—its forests, culture, and everyday life.

What I value most as a guide is providing opportunities for children to experience the wonder and discovery of nature through my guided tours. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences for families visiting the island.
On my cycling tours, guests ride E-bikes along scenic routes selected to match the season and weather, while I share stories about the island’s history and rich ecosystems. Beyond cycling, I also design nature walks and cultural experiences such as local food workshops, helping visitors connect deeply with the rhythm of island life.

Alongside these activities, I also run a small café, where I welcome guests with homemade dishes and heartfelt hospitality.
As the island’s traditional culture faces the risk of fading, I am committed to promoting sustainable tourism that preserves and celebrates the true spirit of Tokashiki—its people, traditions, and way of life. By creating experiences where travelers and island residents can share the joy of living on this island together, I continue to explore new forms of connection and value through tourism.

When you visit Tokashiki, I hope you’ll stop by and experience this life close to nature for yourself.

Kenichiro Mori

Kenichiro Mori

Cycling Guide

Hi, I’m Moriken, a cycling guide based in Okinawa. Originally from Miyazaki, I moved to Okinawa after graduating from university and now lead cycling tours across the island.

Whether it’s your first time in Okinawa and you want to explore the must-see highlights efficiently, or you’re a seasoned traveler looking for authentic local experiences beyond the guidebooks, I’ll tailor each tour to match your style of travel.

My tours are suitable for all levels—from beginners to intermediate riders who enjoy leisurely “pottering” rides. If you’re nervous about riding on the road or joining a group ride for the first time, you can relax and ride with confidence under my guidance.

My philosophy as a guide is simple:
“To create inspiring experiences together through cycling.”

Let’s feel the wind, ride through the ocean breeze and forest paths, and discover the true, living spirit of Okinawa together.

Sayuri Jahana

Sayuri Jahana

Cycling Guide

Hi, I’m Sally Jahana, a cycling guide and bike travel designer from Okinawa. After studying in the U.S., I started my career at a company where I discovered the joy of cycling—an encounter that changed my life and led me into the world of cycle tourism. Today, I design and operate tours that allow travelers to experience Okinawa’s beautiful nature and rich culture through cycling.

From relaxed scenic rides to challenging long-distance routes, I create courses that match each rider’s pace and style. To me, cycling is not just a mode of transport—it’s a way to discover local stories, connect with people, and nurture both mind and body.

With every ride, I hope to share the freedom, vitality, and sense of well-being that cycling brings in Okinawa’s stunning landscapes.