Alexis Crump is a Coordinator for International Relations of the Gastronomy Department in Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture. Tsuruoka was designated a UNESCO 'Creative City of Gastronomy' 2014 in recognition of that food culture including continued agricultural practices and use heirloom crops and wild plants foraged in the forests and mountains, along with creative use and contemporisation of those gastronomic practices. It was the first city in Japan to be awarded the status.

Based in Australia, Alfonso Calero is a photographer with more than 20 years of experience and even longer connection to Japan. Each year he leads small photography tours to Japan - along with other countries - including a 10-day autumn exploration of the Tohoku region. Alfonso's tours balance the natural and cultural attractions of Japan, affording each equal weight while guiding his guests in regards to both the technicality and artistry of photography. Alfonso was a wonderful guest whose enthusiasm and respect for Japan is clear and infectious making him an ideal guide for our journey into Tohoku.

Chuck Olbery is the founder of Hokkaido Powder Guides. Originally from Australia, Chuck and Hokkaido Powder Guides have more than 20 years experience leading backcountry, freeride and customised tours in Hokkaido, including into some of Japan's, if not the world's, most highly rated powder. Originally from Australia, Chuck's experience as a ski guide predates Hokkaido Powder Guides and includes years working in the heli-skiing industry in Canada and New Zealand. Chuck's enthusiasm, knowledge and experience are self-evident, making him an ideal person to discuss skiing and snowboarding Hokkaido's most prominent volcanoes.

Dan Solo is the owner and operator of multiple ski properties in Madarao, Nagano. Originally from Australia, he and his wife Andy relocated Japan many years ago, having been hooked by the lifestyle afforded here. Pursuing their dream of owning their own ski lodge, they did just that and have now grown their portfolio to multiple properties in the connected resorts of Madarao and Tangram, and in Yamanouchi - nearby Shiga Kogen Ski Resort. That experience has included purchase and renovation of existing properties - including their historic / heritage property in Yamanouchi - along with new builds and refits of modern apartments. It goes without saying that Dan has a wealth of experience which he willing shares with others. 

Dr. Carter is a specialist in Buddhist Studies and in the medieval and early modern religious history of Japan, with a focus on the mountain tradition of Shugendō. Dr. Carter received his PhD from UCLA (Buddhist Studies) and a Japan Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins before joining the Faculty of Humanities at Kyushu in 2018. He has published various articles on early modern and contemporary topics in Japanese religions and is the author of A Path into the Mountains: Shugendō and Mount Togakushi (University of Hawai’i, 2022). 

Dr. Michael Dylan Foster is Professor of Japanese at University California Davis. Dr Foster has 30 years researching folklore, literature and popular culture in Japan including long-term ethnographic study of rituals, festivals and tourism in Japan including the Namahage of Oga Peninsula. Dr Foster is an authority on ‘Yokai’ – a generalist Japanese term for all-manner of supernatural beings, monsters, ghosts, demons, ogres and more – having published multiple books on the topic and produced TV series with Japan’s national broadcaster NHK.

Gaku Osaka is the owner of Solashima, a vintage and antique store selling furniture and other items. Gaku acquires his stock from owners looking to downsize including when clearing family homes that are to be sold. As such, in acquiring the furniture and other items he sells, Gaku enters the homes and stories of owners as they part with objects that may have been in their families for generations. As he says himself, some owners are all too ready to part with it and tell him to take whatever he wants, while others are emotional about parting with items they were given or inherited from loved ones. 

Jenya Yuss works with Edge of Niigata, a travel company based in Niigata City and operating tours and experiences in the city and wider prefecture. Though not well-known by international visitors, Niigata has an long and important history as a port city. Edge of Niigata reveals that history to visitors through a range of engaging tours. Jenya is a tremendous advocate for the experiences Edge of Niigata provides along with Niigata itself. 

John Greiner is the founder of Iwanai Resort and has more than 35 years experience skiing and loving the mountains of Hokkaido. Among those mountains, John has long rated Iwanai as the best, a love that led him to found the ski resort which today is regarded as providing access to Japan's best cat skiing mountain. As John explains, the resort does not tend to market itself nor does he agree to interviews. Basically he lets the skiing and snowboarding on offer at Iwanai, and it's reputation among those in the know, speak for itself. 

Keiko Kuwakino is the Michelin-starred head chef of Satoyama Jujo and its restaurant, Sanaburi, in Minami-Uonuma, Niigata. Awarded that Michelin-star in 2020, Keiko has since gone on to receive a Terroir Award and a score of 15.5 by Gault Millau in 2022 while also nominated as one of Japan’s 100 Best Chefs. Keiko’s acclaimed cuisine draws on the traditional plants and methods local to the Minami-Uonuma area, with ‘sansai’ (mountain / wild vegetables) and ‘tsukemono’ (pickled / preserved vegetables) being fundamental to the seasonal menus she serves to guests. Keiko's profile as one of Japan's leading chefs continues to grow, along with the revitalisation she is leading of Minami-Uonuma's proud gastronomic culture.

Kōei Ervin is a Shingon Buddhist priest and Shugendō practitioner based in Shikoku - the smallest of Japan's four main islands. As Kōei explains on his blog, his name was given to me by my preceptor at my ordination, is written with two Chinese characters: the first is 弘, which means "spreading," and the second is 英, which means "blossoms." Through his blog 'Scattered Blossoms', Kōei documents his life as a Buddhist priest and experiences on the Shikoku Henro - Japan's 88 temple, 1200km / 745 mile pilgrimage trail that circumambulates the island. As a guide with Shikoku Tours, Kōei accompanies guests along the Henro. His own story is just as compelling as that of the Henro.

Kouhei Nishida is an outdoor guide, founder of Shinano Discovery - an outdoor guiding and experience company based in Nagano - while also a key member of the team behind the creation of the Amatomi Trail. Opened to the public in 2021, the Amatomi Trail stretches 86km / 54 miles and is one of, if not the most accessible, hiking trail in Japan. A keen hiker and snowboarder, Kouhei's enthusiasm for life in Nagano and the trail which provides access to some of Japan's most significant mixed cultural / natural landscapes speaks for itself; and when coupled with his tremendous knowledge of the area, he makes for a compelling guide and podcast guest.

Lauren Scharf is a board member of the Minka Preservation Society - an organisation dedicated to the conservation of Japan’s heritage and historic homes - and a proud kominka-owner herself. With long experience in the high-end travel space, Lauren brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion of Japan, its lifestyle and culture and the appeal of acquiring, renovating and living a traditional Japanese house. Having self-renovated her home with her husband, Lauren has ongoing hands-on experience of the love, frustration and ultimately lifelong dedication these homes tend to provoke from their owners.

Liam Mugavin is co-founder of A.I.R. Myoko – a ski in, ski out chalet which combines design, gastronomy and other artisanal influences to offer a different type of experience when it comes to ski accommodation in Japan. Originally from Australia, Liam is a successful designer-maker whose background underpins the concept of chalet he operates, along with his business partner and other members of the team. At the time of interview, Liam is midway through renovation of a traditional 'kominka' he relocated to Myoko from Itoigawa, with an intention to use the large, impressive building as his studio and further accommodation.

Marcus Consolini is the owner and general manager of Daimon Shuzo, a 200-year old sake brewery located on the outskirts of Osaka. In addition to his very hands on role with Daimon Brewery, Marcus is a board member of Minka Preservation Society, an organisation dedicated to the conservation and adaptive reuse of Japan's 'kominka' (traditional homes / buildings). As Marcus explains, he has been involved in multiple restoration projects including of his own properties in rural Japan and based on that knowledge, offers invaluable advice for those interested in purchasing and renovating a historical home in Japan. 

Mark Davis is a Tokyo-based landscape photographer whose work focuses on the natural environments of Japan. Mark’s photography takes him into many areas of regional Japan with a particular interest in the snow country and its varied seasons. As such, his photography tells a more complete story of the snow country, and Japan in general, in revealing the transient of beauty of spring, summer and autumn in addition to its celebrated winter. As Mark explains on his website, "As an American nature and landscape photographer, I have fallen in love with the breathtaking natural tapestry that Japan has to offer. This incredible country has ignited an extraordinary passion for photography within me".

Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is an ordained priest in the Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism and President and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. He is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York, a New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison along with several other roles. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki graduated Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 1983 having majored in Buddhist history before undertaking advanced study in Jodoshinshu doctrine to Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka from 1983 to 1985. He has an MA in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994 and a earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is the author of the 2017 publication “The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate”.

Richard Pearce is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Daisen, a Tottori-based NPO dedicated to saving the Japanese Giant Salamander and the habitat it relies upon. The Japanese giant salamander is one of the largest and amphibians in the world. and has remained nearly unchanged for 23 million years. It is protected as a Special Natural Monument of Japan yet despite that, faces the possibility of extinction due to human activity. Passionate and outspoken, Richard is a wonderful advocate for the salamander and more broadly, wildlife and environmental activism in Japan. 

Richard Smith is an experienced outdoor guide based in Hokkaido. Originally from the Isles of Scilly - British islands in the Atlantic Ocean - Richard was born into adventure and the outdoors. Starting his career on the ocean teaching sailing, he then moved to the Canadian Rockies before heading onto Japan and New Zealand working as ski patrol and a ski guide. Now permanently based in Hokkaido, he is a key member of the Adventure Hokkaido team and our guide in exploring Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan.

Shinji Yokota is a professional photographer and nature guided based in Nagano. Shinji guides at and specialises in capturing the landscapes and quiet moments of Shiga Kogen Highlands in Nagano. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1980, Shiga Kogen is part of the wider Joshinetsu Kogen National Park and largely overlaps with Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort - Japan's largest and highest major ski resort. It is known for its diverse alpine flora and fauna, lakes and ponds, and distinct seasons including harsh yet beautiful winter. 

Takako Iida is an experienced outdoor guide based in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano. She operates Nozawa Onsen Tours and guides more widely in Japan, including Oze National Park, the Kumano Kodo and other destinations.  Takako has worked a scuba diving guide, a whale shark swimming guide in Australia, a hiking guide in New Zealand, a kayaking guide in Canada, a summer rafting guide in Japan on top of having worked ski patrol at Nozawa Onsen for more than six seasons. Experienced, knowledgeable and engaging, Takako is the ideal person to accompany us along the hiking trails of Oze.

Vincent Ng is otherwise known on Instagram as Kyoto Insider. As Kyoto Insider, Vince documents his life in rural Kyoto, and in doing so, explores the interconnection of food chain origins while showing off his lifestyle and the idyllic beauty of the countryside. Vince is actively involved in the revitalisation of his village, performing many roles and working to attract prospective migrants as a rural tourism and migration consultant. In addition, he is the Managing Director of Ipanshadan Houjin Minka Preservation Society – an organisation dedicated to the conservation of Japan’s wonderful heritage and historical homes. 

Yui Ogawa is the Community Manager of Norikura Zero Labo, a program pushing Norikura - the alpine area around Mount Norikura in Chubu Sangaku National Park - toward being Japan’s first carbon neutral park. Yui academic background both in Japan and abroad led her into the environmental sector including as a researcher and consultant for a Tokyo-based think-tank. Working remotely in Norikura during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yui fell in love with the lifestyle and made the decision to leave Japan (and the world's) largest city to relocate to the small alpine community where she now fronts Norikura Zero Labo.

Zack Berman is the owner and operator of Momi-no-Ki Lodge in Minakami, Gunma. Originally from the United States, Zack and his wife Amanda own and operate the large self-contained lodge in the heart of Minakami – a hot spring town now well-established as one of Japan’s best outdoor destinations. Zack is a wonderful advocate for Minakami and the lifestyle afforded by living there, the adventure and potential of outdoor pursuits in Japan, and the reality of operating a business as a foreign resident of Japan.