About Me

I’ve been traveling since 1991

I’ve been traveling since I was 18 years old, and my very first international trip was to Paris. That experience opened my eyes to how exciting it can be to discover a completely different place, culture, and way of life. Since then, traveling has always been an important part of my life. Over the years I’ve learned that the best memories are not always the famous landmarks, but the people you meet, the local food, the small streets, and the unexpected moments along the way. That is the kind of experience I want to share with visitors to Japan — something personal, relaxed, and a little different from a typical guided tour.

Japan

After Paris, I set off on a bicycle to travel across Japan and experience the real Japan for myself. I left in the summer, traveled north along the Sea of Japan side all the way toward the northern end of the country, then made my way back south along the Pacific side. What I expected to be a summer adventure turned into a full six-month journey. By the time I was heading home, I was practically chasing the snow south. That trip showed me a side of Japan you don’t always find in guidebooks — small towns, countryside roads, local people, regional food, and places I would never have discovered if I had simply traveled from one famous destination to another. That experience still shapes the way I like to travel today, and the way I want to show Japan to others.

U.S.

I later moved to the United States and ended up spending decades there — almost half of my life. Even while living there, traveling never really stopped. I explored many parts of the country, from big cities to wide-open landscapes, national parks, deserts, mountains, and long road trips. Places like Yosemite, Zion, the Grand Canyon, and many others gave me a completely different kind of travel experience from Japan. Living abroad for so many years also changed the way I see Japan. It helped me understand what can feel interesting, surprising, confusing, or special to someone visiting from another country. That perspective is a big part of how I like to share Japan today.

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Today

Today, I’m back in Japan to be closer to my family, and in many ways I’m discovering Japan all over again myself. When I returned, one of the first things I noticed was how many more international visitors were coming to Japan. It made me feel that maybe this was the right time to share the country I know — not just the famous places, but the smaller details, local atmosphere, and everyday side of Japan that can be easy to miss. After spending so many years traveling, living in the U.S., meeting different people, and experiencing other cultures, I now see Japan from both sides — as someone who grew up here and as someone who spent decades away. I’m also a photographer, so I naturally look at places a little differently. I notice light, composition, small details, interesting streets, textures, expressions, and views that other people may simply walk past. Japan with AJ brings all of those experiences together — travel, photography, life abroad, and my own connection to Japan — and gives me a way to share them with visitors in a friendly, personal, and real way.

I’ve visited about 10 countries around the world

I was never really counting countries or trying to collect numbers — I just kept traveling whenever I had the chance. Only recently did I realize how many places I’ve actually been fortunate enough to experience.

Every country taught me something different, whether it was through the people, food, landscapes, culture, or simply the way everyday life works.

And I’m definitely not finished. There are still so many places I want to see, experience, photograph, and learn from.

So, if Japan is one of the places on your journey, I’d be happy to be a small part of your trip and help you experience it in a more personal way.

Make Your Visit Unforgettable.

Make your time in Japan more personal, relaxed, and memorable — with experiences shaped around what you truly want to see and enjoy.

Contact me