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 renovating an old Japanese farmhouse and 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob's connection with Japan goes back 37 years, to 1973, when his parents were diplomats in Tokyo. After nine months living in Japan, he studied Japanese language and literature at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies. He then worked in Japan as an English teacher in state schools for three years on the JET program. He has spent much of the last twenty five years working as a Japanese translator and interpreter, and is a Member of the Institute of Translators and Interpreters. He has translated Against the Wind, a book by Yasuyuki Ozeki about a bicycle journey Yaz made from Tokyo to Dublin in 1998, and co-translated the recipe book, Nobu Now!, by super-chef Nobu Matsuhisa. His latest non-fiction project is a translation of the bestselling book Miracle Apples, about an organic apple farmer in Aomori Prefecture. Bob did his Mountain Leader training in North Wales in 2001. Bob now lives in Japan, running his own travel and adventure walking business.

 

 

 

 

 

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 had 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.