Kaz Shinoda

Kaz Shinoda is a full-time guide born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1957.

From the age of 11 to 14 he lived in South Africa with his family, and often went on safari where he learned about the fascinating world of wildlife first hand. He later became a birdwatcher, and has now been a keen birder for  nearly twenty years, and has travelled throughout Japan in search of birds.

Kaz graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo, then taught English to high school students for more than two decades before dedicating himself to guiding visiting birders in the Tokyo area and around Japan.

As a birding guide with more than a decade's experience he has led birders to many areas of the Japanese Archipelago. As a nationally licensed English-speaking Tour Guide, Kaz is knowledgeable not only about birding in Japan, but also about Japanese geography, history, and especially culture; important subjects that help enhance a birding trip to this culturally unique country.

Kaz lives near Tokyo, the ideal starting point for a birding tour of Japan, or for a few days birding linked to business visits to the capital. He frequently guides individuals and small groups of visiting birders in the Tokyo area on day trips and is also available for longer birding excursions. His guiding experience has taken him from Hokkaido to Okinawa and many places in between including: Tobishima, Hachijo-jima, Kyushu, and Amami.

Kaz has considerable organizational and logistical skills which he brings to bear on well-planned itineraries, while his philosophy, of giving clients an enjoyable and rewarding birding experience amongst friends in Japan, make him a popular guide.

© 2013 Mark Brazil & Chris Cook

Last updated: 20131220