Therese from France
Rocks and Sand
Autumn 2024

“Our day (in the rain) with Andrew exceeded all our expectations. Andrew's spirituality, his knowledge and his passion for nature greatly enhanced our experience of the magnificent landscape, the temples, gardens, cemeteries and other locations. Due to his perspectives we were able to see and understand so much more when subsequently visiting other Kyoto temples and gardens. Andrew's thoughtfulness also extended to the spots he chose to stop for a hot drink or a meal. And he is also a genuinely nice person to spend a day with. We cannot recommend this tour highly enough.”

Robert from U.S.A
”Zen Garden, Zen Mind”
Autumn 2024

“Andrew lead us in a half-day garden tour in Kyoto -- and it was, hands down, a highlight of our two-week trip to Japan. His insights into Zen gardening and Japanese culture and history were fascinating. We liked him even more than our other Japanese guides because he brought with him a deep knowledge of the country and gardening, having lived in Japan for several years, but also a unique perspective that only a newcomer expat could deliver. He is both a landscape architect but also a historian and armchair-sociologist of Japanese culture. Thanks, Andrew, for an insightful, enriching half day!”

Elizabeth from USA
”The Path Less Traveled”
Spring 2024

“Our day with Andrew was a highlight of our time in Kyoto. The day of our tour was incredibly rainy and Andrew made every effort adjust our itinerary to accommodate the weather. Andrew's knowledge, energy, and perspective made this a truly unique experience - we learned and appreciated each site far more than we would have on our own. We can't wait to spend time with him again on our next trip.”

Giles from the Canada
“Descending Arashiyama and Zen Garden, Zen Mind”
Spring 2024

“We had the privilege of having Andrew guide us for a day and a half through the temples and gardens of Kyoto. These visits allowed us to penetrate the heart of Japanese history and spirituality. His explanations of the symbolism that underlie the design of these gardens are luminous and profound. By sharing his own story which led him to Japan in his desire to deepen the aesthetics of gardens and Zen philosophy, he knows how to give us the essence of the Japanese spirit.”

Charles from USA
“Zen Garden, Zen Mind”
Winter 2023

“I have been on 3 different tours with An Design, one with my son (16 at the time) and two with my whole family (kids 15-23). And I have learned new things about gardens, Zen, and Japan every single time!

Andrew is a wonderful host, and I feel very lucky to be able to spend time with someone with such deep knowledge of these topics. His marketing is a very accurate description: "Kyoto, Spiritual, Insightful." He is incredibly expert with a long background in garden design and botany both in the US and Japan. And he found a way to connect with every member of my family over the course of the tour. My fifteen year old sports nut afterwards said, "Zen Gardens are so cool!" My 23-year old daughter named it her most memorable experience in Japan. And within moments of beginning the tour, my wife turned to me and said "This is what I came to Japan for.”