Patricia Yarrow
Patricia is a long-time Tokyoite, with research interests in Japanese sake (nihonshu), travel and exploration, and travel literature. Her Masters in Japanese literature from University of Colorado at Boulder provided a deeper context and appreciation for what she encounters. Favourite places that became Context tours include Tsukiji fish market, Asakusa, Aesthetics and Architecture of Omotesando, Akihabara's otaku anime scene, Ryogoku, her home town, and Kamakura. She lives in Ryogoku, home of sumo and traditional Edo lifestyle. * * * * *
She recently completed a career teaching English (largely in academic reading and writing) at Meiji University, Meiji Gakuin University, and Tsuda University. In 2023, she relaunched her English instructor work with Kaichi International University. An Air Force "brat", she lived in Japan when very young, then throughout the USA, to London, and mid-country France. Japan felt like home, in the end, and she transplanted herself there in 2005. :-)
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Other interests include running "Informasia", a monthly academic presentations on Zoom (https://www.informasia.co/) photography, Japanese cuisine, museums, body building and wandering around the streets of Tokyo poking into places. She enjoys sharing the surprises and making sense of the seeming chaos with visitors.
What an absolutely delightful morning touring with Patricia! The tour took us through many neighborhoods and covered varied structures. I highly recommend Patricia and this tour.
Patricia was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun. She was well prepared and provided a printed itinerary with many interesting details. It was a pleasant experience.
Patricia was a lovely guide and we had a nice time in the fish market. However, this tour did not meet our expectations. Based on the description: "led by a local expert deeply knowledgeable about the market. Together, we'll visit the outer market and look at how Japan’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the seasons and geography, the central role that seafood plays in the Japanese diet, and—of course—taste some amazing Tsukiji sushi." I did not expect an American English Professor. Patricia has done a nice job learning more about the market, but we take these tours to get local perspectives about Japanese culture. I expected a Japanese guide with a more thorough knowledge of Japanese cooking and the ingredients.
