Jim and Fiona Banks are a British couple living with their two teenage daughters in the heart of Kyoto where they run private guesthouses, 'Kyoto Holiday Homes'. We talked about their favourite hidden gems around Kyoto and Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa.

We talked to Alex Davies who has spent the past 5 years in Japan's historical capital working as the head distiller at the award-winning The Kyoto Distillery, the first craft gin distillery in Japan. Alex shared with us his favourite places for tasting Japanese alcohol and his tips on how to experience the other, less ventured, side of Kyoto. 

Dorothee Eshin Takatsu, originally from Germany, is an ordained Zen Priest in the Rinzai Tradition. In 2004 she established her Zen Retreat Center, Horakuan, in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture where she now offers Zen retreats with a creative touch to Japanese and foreign visitors. We talked about how she became a monk in Japan and what kind of experiences await visitors to Horakuan.

Moo and Simon are a Japanese-British couple who fell in love with Kyushu and decided to start their own travel agency there. Kyushu Journeys helps English-speaking visitors plan their dream holidays around the beautiful Kyushu and offers incredible tours. Read on to discover their tips on exploring Kyushu on a budget, themed trips they offer, and top places you need to see when visiting for the first time!

Cornelia was always fascinated by Japanese culture so four years ago she packed her bags and and moved to Japan! She now lives in Yokohama where she's been teaching English and creating content for her YouTube channel where she candidly vlogs about her daily life and travels. Read on to find out more about her top cherry blossom spots in Tokyo and why filming Halloween in Shibuya was one of her favourite moments.