Let me help you create your unique Japan Experience!
I’m a Japan travel adviser and a bilingual licensed guide, certified by the Japanese government.
Originally from a small town in central Japan, I grew up in a monolingual and monocultural environment --- being raised by Japanese parents who speak no other language except Japanese. During my childhood, I participated in local community engagement and traditional events and spent a Japanese school life in the seniority system.
When I moved to the UK at the age of 18, I didn't speak English. I only knew basic words and grammatical rules. At the beginning, I had a hard time communicating with other English speakers. I was embarrassed about making mistakes. I was even treated unfairly because of my limited command of English at that time. Eventually, I overcame these challenges and completed my undergraduate and postgraduate education in the UK.
During this time, I have moved from rural Scottish town St Andrews to more vibrant cosmopolitan city Oxford to the world’s most magnetic capital London. I met and became friends with people from all over the world, and travelled around the UK and Europe including Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Munich, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Florence, Tuscany, Potenza, and many more!
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Since returning to Japan, I have taken trips to Fiji, New Caledonia, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Canada, San Francisco, New York, and Brazil. I was so fortunate to have made local friends along the journey and everywhere I travelled to.
As a journalist and a professional communicator, I've been focusing on building relationships, bringing out the charms of the people, products and services, and telling their stories.
I was living in Tokyo for more than ten years and so I know how to get around the city, what areas to stay at, and a nice day-trip destination like the back of my hand. Having recently moved back to the central region of Japan, I take the time to explore my new neighbourhood and the rest of my country. When travelling, I take every opportunity to interact with locals and experience the best of each region.
Besides being a podcast host, a travel adviser, and a friendly private tour guide, I have worked as a part-time consultant to local governments: Nagano City and Miyazu City of the Kyoto by the Sea region. While supporting their efforts in tourism development, I have learned a lot about their charms as well as challenges in their local community.
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It is a journey of getting to know Japanese people and diving deep into authentic Japanese culture.
It encourages you to leave familiarity, get out of your comfort zone, and actively seek out new experiences.
Immersive travel allows you the chance to experience Japan like a local.
The aim is for you to discover something new
– whether it’s about yourself or something else – through making meaningful connections with the local community.
There are many reasons why Japan is a perfect destination for you to try immersive travel.
First, Japan is a safe country. A friend of mine who frequently visits Japan told me that Japan is a country where you don’t need to constantly have your guard up and that’s very rare in other parts of the world.
Whether you are travelling alone or are interacting with complete strangers in town, you can totally feel safe. And the Japanese are best described as nice and friendly people, although you may feel that they are a bit shy at first.
More importantly, Japanese traditions and customs are very different from what you are accustomed to in Western countries and so you will be constantly gaining new experiences in Japan.
