First of all, please tell us about the characteristics and appeal of the rickshaw.

It is said that the rickshaw was invented in Japan during the Meiji era(1868-1912). It was around the end of the Showa period(1926-1989) that the sightseeing rickshaw began. As you can see when you actually ride in a rickshaw, the wheels are one meter in diameter, so the height of the rickshaw is higher than that of a car, and you have a higher line of sight than in a car. Riding a rickshaw through the city attracts a lot of attention, and the scenery you view is special and extraordinary. It goes at a unique speed, slower than a car and faster than walking, making it a perfect way to enjoy the scenery.

How did you become a rickshaw puller?

I thought I was suited to the customer service industry based on my part-time job experience during college, so after graduation I worked at a restaurant in Kanazawa. Later, I changed jobs to a hotel because I wanted to learn customer service of a higher rank. I welcomed guests from Japan and abroad at a hotel in the center of Kanazawa City. What triggered me was my first rickshaw ride when I visited Hida Takayama (Gifu Prefecture) as a tourist while I was a hotel worker. The rickshaw puller who guided me was very bright and left a great impression on me. After a while, I found a job opening for a rickshaw puller in Kanazawa and thought, “I really want to give it a try,” so I changed jobs and here I am today.

What is the point of the rickshaw experience?

Kanazawa Sightseeing rickshaw Romanya has experience and know-how accumulated over the past 10 years since its establishment. We check out the hottest spots and new shops every day and share them with our members to brush up and update our tours. We make it a point to provide you with little tidbits that you would not know just by walking around, and take pictures at photo spots as we guide you.

The most popular course is the “15-minute Course” around the Higashi Chaya District area, but we also recommend the “60-minute Course” that takes a full hour to explore Kanazawa's tourist spots. Starting from the Higashi Chaya District area, the tour will take you to the Hakuchoro(Swan) Road, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Oyama jinja Shrine, Nagamachi Samurai District or Omicho Market, making it the perfect tour for those who want to take a digest tour of Kanazawa.

I think people who have ridden on a rickshaw simply enjoy it. It is a very rewarding job because we often get direct reactions from our customers, such as seeing their happy faces and hearing their comments, “I enjoy the ride. I want to continue to do my best so that I can be the energetic and energetic rickshaw man of my dreams, just as I was impressed when I rode a rickshaw for the first time.

What are some of Kanazawa's attractions and what spots do you recommend?

As I drive around the city every day, I realize that Kanazawa has many spots where you can feel the history of the past, and that the city is unique and intricately designed. There are many intricate alleys and lanes that are perfect for walking from place to place. There are so many attractions packed into a compact area that it is hard to count them all.

What does Kanazawa mean to you?

I guess it is the place where I was born and raised, and a town that makes me want to convey its charms. When I pull a rickshaw in my hometown, I am often approached by neighbors who have taken care of me since I was a child. When this happens, I feel as if I am representing Kanazawa, and I want to convey the charm of Kanazawa to as many people as possible! 

Kanazawa Sightseeing Rickshaw Romanya ,Kento SENDA

Born in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. After graduating from university, I worked at a restaurant in the city and learned customer service as a hotel worker before joining “Kanazawa Sightseeing Rickshaw Romanya. Currently, I'm working hard to train junior staff as a manager.