Shohei Toyoda is a professional musician and guide based in Kyoto. Shohei spent his childhood living in Ohio. His passion for acoustic guitar compelled him to pursue a degree in music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since graduating in 2008, he has been teaching and performing professionally, and has earned several prestigious international awards. Fulfilling a dream of returning to live in Japan, Shohei has called Kyoto home since 2012. Kyoto is the perfect place for Shohei as it's filled with rich history, many important World Heritage sites, and beautiful art, and has an incredible culinary scene. His passion for guiding and sharing Japanese culture and history was sparked when he had the chance to escort prominent guitarists on their tours and workshops in Japan. When he isn’t performing, he is studying and reading about Japan's history, particularly Shintoism, Buddhism, and all the local stories behind Kyoto's temples, shrines, gardens and castles.