Mett Jess Hallams who like many before her, came to Japan 'for just one year' and never really left. During her JET Programme placement in Fukushima, she fell in love with the local people, and now continues to promote it from Miyagi prefecture where she works in tourism. Jess shared with us her tips on exploring and tasting Tohoku (trust us, there is plenty of delicious food there). Read on to find out more about her adventures and training to become a sake sommelier!

Sharla is a YouTuber and a Tohoku local, she started her Japanese adventure 16 years ago when she moved to Morioka in Iwate prefecture to teach English. One marketing and tourism degree in Tokyo later, she is now an established name in the j-vloggosphere with both of her YouTube channels having over 600,000 subscribers each! Read on to find out more about road trips in Japan and her top 3 spots you need to add to your itinerary.

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.

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!