Dreams of the Rising Sun

Sakura in Maruyama Park (Kyoto, Japan)

I studied at the University of Tennessee, where I graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree focused on Japan. During this time, I spent one year studying abroad in Japan. I was very close to Osaka, so the city became almost like a second home to me. I enjoyed visits to Kyoto some weekends, as it was also nearby. One of my favorite trips during this time was a weekend in Takayama, a beautiful city in the mountains of Gifu prefecture.

After graduation, I participated in the JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme), teaching English in Japan at Minamata High School, located in Kumamoto Prefecture, across the bay from Nagasaki. During my two years on the program, I spent my time off exploring the gorgeous area of Kyushu, the southern island of Japan, and traveled to other famous destinations such as Hakone, Okinawa, and Hiroshima.

One of my most memorable experiences was a summer hiking trip to Nagano, where I visited the Japanese Alps. I stayed in Suwa, a charming small city which was having a fireworks festival on the mountaintop lake. During the day, I would hike closed ski slopes and explore mountains, while in the evenings I would relax by the lake and watch the stunning fireworks display

While I was working, a group of friends back in the United States decided to take a trip to Japan. I helped them curate an itinerary filled with local Japan travel experiences. When they arrived, I joined them for two weeks of exploring. These two weeks were such a fantastic experience, and it was during this time that I realized how much I enjoyed organizing personalized Japan vacations for others.