Matt first traveled to Japan at the age of 18, and has been exploring the archipelago ever since, living in Nara, Miyazaki and Tokyo for 10 years, working for an international magazine, leading outdoor trips and travel writing. He returned to the UK in 2005 and set up Oxalis Holidays. He manages the day-to-day operations and has the envious job of researching new tours. An avid lover of Japanese onsen (hot springs), Matt is always on the lookout for the ultimate off-the-beaten track place to 'take the waters'.

Amongst his current projects are writing a book on the old historic trails of Japan.

 

 

 

Yumiko grew up in Tokyo, majored in Chinese ancient literature in college, and studied at Qinhua univ.in Beijing. She lived in the U.S., and then taught English back in Japan. She has been a tour guide since 1999, managing her own English school when she isn't guiding. In her free time she makes kakejiku (Japanese hanging scrolls), and writes stories for children and English haiku.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari was born and grew up in Japan. She has travelled extensively both inside and outside of Japan, and is passionate about introducing the unique culture of her country to foreign visitors. She is a member of the Mushakoji Senke Sado (Tea ceremony) School, and is often to be found walking in the mountains of Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satomi was born and grew up in Nagoya, and has lived in Tokyo over 20 years since she became a professional guide in 1985. She has studied in the US (Tennessee) majoring in Communications.

Satomi has guided from Hokkaido, the Northern Island, to Okinawa, the southern-most prefecture, on a wide variety of trips for both tourist and business clients. Satomi is a keen cyclist, and guides our cultural and walking tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumiko was born in Japan but spent several years living in the UK as a child, and returned to Japan to attend university. She has climbed many of highest peaks in Japan, and has guided foreign visitors both on cultural and hiking trips. She has travelled to more than 80 countries, and is keen hiker, climber and cyclist. Yumiko's hobbies are also gardening, botany and architecture. She is member of the Japan Guide Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Izumi was born and raised in Kyoto. She leads tours all over Japan, but spends most of her time in her native Kyoto as well as the neighbouring cities of Osaka, Kobe and Nara. Izumi has studied Japanese traditional flower arrangements (ikebana) in Kyoto, and also practices meditation in her local temples.
When guiding, she particularly likes taking visitors through the traditional gardens of Japan, and explaining the concepts behind them, such as the concept of borrowed scenery .
Amongst her other interests are the architecture of the old traditional wooden machiya and minka buildings, and Izumi loves walking on the many old trails around Kyoto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kana was born in Nagoya and raised in Kobe, studied in Kyoto and the US. She has studied the tea ceremony in Kyoto and the philosophy of Zen -- "Living in the moment" -- has been always the core part of her spiritual life.  Kana is passionate about Japanese traditional culture, and about explaining it to foreign visitors through her guiding.

Her hobbies include singing; she regularly sings at concerts and including once at a sake brewery, where she sang and played the piano wearing kimono.