Alena grew up in East Germany and she found herself working in Tokyo when the 11 March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami struck Japan. She always wanted to live in the countryside and this created an opportunity to make the big decision and move to Wakayama prefecture where she is now a Certified Forest Theraphy Guide, an experienced facilitator, and so much more. Find out about spiritual travel and exploring the Kii Peninsula, home to Wakayama, Nara, and Mie prefectures, just the south of Kyoto.

Dean Newcombe came to Japan to work as a model which then turned into acting and reporting for NHK World. Inspired by his off the beaten track adventures around Japan he started a YouTube channel called 'runAway Japan' where you can watch him stay at a Yokai (Japanese monster) hotel or hike with his family. Travelling nearly 2,000 km across Japan with a TV crew, he left his heart in Tottori prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan. He advises to keep your eyes and heart open because - there is a Japan out there for anyone and everyone.

Japan is very well known for the bright neon lights of its cities but far away from the hubbub of the larger metropolitan areas lies a much quieter, rural Japan. Upwards of 60% of Japan is classified as woodland (and around 73% as mountain) so the truth is those big cities are only far less than 50% of the picture. Sam was born and raised in Somerset, UK, but after moving to the remote region of Shimane as a part of the JET programme, he fell in love (in more ways than one!). Now he lives on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, where he runs tours as Hidden Japan Travel for visitors looking to dig a little deeper.

Joy was one of the JET Programme trailblazers in the 90s, involved with local tourism from 1999 she is one of the founders of GetHiroshima an amazing online resource for visitors and locals, and the creator of 'Inbound Ambassador' a sustainability-focused business. Join us to discover Japan's most exciting sustainable initiatives and the best plan for a family road trip in the Chugoku area. Time to venture outside the Peace Park in Hiroshima and Miyajima, and undercover the other local treasures!

Tom Mayes took up Japanese as something 'new' in college which changed the tracks of his life. One of the founding creators of the Experience Japan Exhibition which inspires UK students to come and study in Japan, he wanted to forge new connections between the two countries closest to his heart. His interest in hiking in Japan was sparked by the stunning sunset view behind Nagano's Mt. Asanoyama he witnessed from his shinkansen seat...