Why choose Really Travel?

Because you get to really experience Japan and do the things you’re interested in, without the stress. I’ll organise everything - from showing you the famous sights to living alongside the locals. With a maximum of 8 people over 50, it’s great for solo travellers as well.

How I keep costs down

Normally, such individualised, fully-escorted trips would be very expensive but I can keep prices down because:
1) We mainly stay in my home in Japan.
2) I have 30 years experience of travelling in Japan
3) I work directly with you (no money going to middle men)
4) It’s my hobby rather than a business. I really enjoy helping my guests gain insights into this country with its incredible artistry, contradictions and gentle culture.

When I first moved to Japan in 1990, I never imagined I would end up living there for 27+ years. But there are a lot of things about Japan that are addictive. Today, Japan and Australia feel equally like home. I have been fortunate to have travelled from the northern tip of Hokkaido to the southern most islands of Japan and met many wonderful people.

As well as teaching English, I’ve worked in travel and entertainment in Japan. I met my Kiwi husband in Japan and raising two girls has given us a lot of insight into childcare and Japanese education. The Aussie side of me loves DIY and we’ve worked with Japanese tradies to build and renovate many houses.

For almost 30 years, I have been designing and leading tours both around Japan and internationally. Many of these trips have included a service-learning component, such as cleaning up after the 2011 tsunami and getting safe drinking water in schools in Indonesia. A typical teacher perhaps, I’m always curious to learn and have particular interests in Japanese history, design, ikebana and sustainability.