Takeshi Mori"The Tohoku Storyteller"
My Story
My family has lived in Tohoku for 14 generations. We were farmers, fishermen, and temple caretakers. I grew up hearing stories of the samurai who walked the same mountain paths I hike today. After the 2011 earthquake, I watched my community rebuild with a resilience I had never seen. Those stories — of survival, of seasons, of sake shared after long winters — deserve to be heard. I guide so that Tohoku's spirit is never forgotten.
Why I Guide
Tohoku is Japan's heartland. It's where the country's soul lives — in the mountains, the festivals, the people who endured and rebuilt. Most travelers skip Tohoku. I want to give them a reason to stay.
My Hidden Gem
A mountain temple hidden in the forests of Zao. The priest is a former sake brewer who became a monk at 60. He serves the best vegetarian lunch in Japan on handmade ceramic plates. No sign. No website. Just word of mouth.
Personality & Interests
Specialties
What Travelers Say
"Takeshi shared stories of his grandmother's generation that made me cry. Tohoku isn't just a place — it's a feeling."
"The temple lunch was the best meal of my life. Takeshi knows the real Japan."