Let’s Start ! Let’s try using English to guide！

On Saturday 2 September, with a hint of autumn in the air,
The third session of the ‘Special summer course for memorable guides’ was held.
This time, five students took part.

We will prepare for the next practice on Saturday, September 9 at Kurashiki Ivy Square.

We started by reflecting on the content of the previous course.
We all shared the importance of ‘placemaking’ and what we felt during the guided practice exercises.

The next step was to share the homework assigned in the previous session.
Each of us had researched Kurashiki Ivy Square.
We discussed what we had found and wrote it down on the board.
When it came to leading the tour ourselves, we realised that this information was not enough.

We’re planning on giving a 10-minute guide for the next practice, but there wasn’t enough information to complete it.
Once we had a clear idea of the task, we decided to look up information about Kurashiki Ivy Square on our smartphones and share it with everyone at the instructor’s suggestion.

Afterwards, there was a lecture about Kurashiki Ivy Square from a lecturer who knows Kurashiki well.
There were many things we heard for the first time, such as the history of Kurashiki Ivy Square and events that once happened here, and everyone was interested and took notes.
They are finally getting excited for the actual event which is coming up next week.

Next, we will perform role-playing using the facilities of Kurashiki Observatory.
As a final touch to the lessons we had completed in the first and second sessions, we took on the challenge of providing a guide in English about the content we had put together last time.

■For the first article, click here↓
The first of four special summer courses (4 sessions) on how to be a memorable guide
■For the second article, click here↓
What is the ‘placemaking’ needed to be a memorable guide?

This time, we had a person who is active as a volunteer guide for “Kurashiki Welcome Tourist Guide” come to support us and give us advise in English. The practice is not only about communicating in English, but also about “placemaking”, guiding travelers and being aware of first and second impressions, which are important for a guide.

Our staff members were also very impressed when they saw the students actually guiding the tour.
The English-speaking guide at Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory was excellent from a communication perspective, as everyone clearly understood their own issues and improved upon them.

We received feedback, from a volunteer guide, on expressions and points to note in English:
『Don’t use “sorry” too much. “Thank you!” is fine.』
『 It would be great if you started the guide with a cheerful “Let’s start!” or “Hello!”』
We can make use of this information when guiding foreign tourists at the next Kurashiki Ivy Square.

Finally, the next and final session of this course will be held on Saturday 9 September.

As a culmination of the past, guides will be provided to foreign tourists at Kurashiki Ivy Square in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter!

TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL for organising tours around Kurashiki

Based in Kurashiki, we create activities and tours of the attractive contents of the Takahashi River basin and sell them mainly to visitors to Japan. We can also customise tours that are not listed here to meet your requirements on an order-made basis. Kurashiki City is not only home to the Bikan Historical Quarter, but also to many other attractive places. It has a large park close to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, and is famous for its Sakatsu pottery; Tamashima, a port town where tea culture has taken root; and Kojima, the birthplace of domestic jeans, where you can see the Great Seto Bridge up close. We do not just walk around the towns and return home, but organise trips where you can learn more about the area and leave with a lasting impression through experiences that can only be had in those places. Please contact, for more information.

Tours offered by『TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL』

■Private Kimono Photo Walk in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Kimono tour of photo spots in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
■Get to Know Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Tour around the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter with an English-speaking guide
■Half-Day Shared Tour at Kurashiki with Local Guide
Tours guided by local person who have lived in Kurashiki City for many years and who will show you around the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter