Tamatha

Japan & South America Specialist

I first went to Japan from 2006 to 2008 with the JET Program, teaching English to high schoolers. I fell in love with the profession and went back to the States to get an MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) before moving to Tokyo in 2011. I taught English at a university there until 2016, focusing on international studies. In my free time I wrote about travel in Japan for local publications including "Tokyo Weekender" and edited a chapter of the 2017 Rough Guides guidebook to Japan.

I've also spent a year living in Chile and Colombia as an English teacher and travelled extensively throughout South America. Some of my favourite spots are Colombia's coffee region, Easter Island, and Fitz Roy in Argentina.

When I'm not thinking about travel, I enjoy running, scuba diving, drinking coffee, and spending time with my two kids (note the coffee).

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Tamatha talked with us about our dreams for the trip and was able to create a perfect itinerary.

Caroline and Michael Barrett travelled to Japan for 14 days in October 2022, organised by Tamatha F

My husband and I travelled to Japan in October/November 2022 for our 15th wedding anniversary — our return to international travel! We felt intimidated by planning our own trip to Japan, with neither of us knowing Japanese. Tamatha talked with us about our dreams for the trip and was able to create a perfect itinerary. She crafted two weeks of hiking, contemporary art, snow monkeys, a traditional ryokan with onsen baths, temples, geisha, food tours, and Halloween in Tokyo. We’d never used a travel service before, but after such an amazing experience with Tamatha, we’ve already booked a trip with Audley to Peru for this year.

I recommend visiting - Hakodate, Japan

The port city of Hakodate on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island is off the beaten track but becoming more popular now that the Shinkansen (bullet train) connects it with Tokyo.

Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade and it has interesting connections to Russia as well as impressive seafood. You can even catch your own squid at the morning market. After exploring the historical parts of Hakodate I'd recommend seeing the view from Mount Hakodate by night (get there early to beat the crowds), or heading north to Onuma Quasi National Park, renting a bike and cycling your way around the lake.

I recommend staying at - The Ryokan Kurashiki, Japan

First Class

Kurashiki reminds me of a quiet neighbourhood in Kyoto. Specifically, its historic Bikan Quarter is home to lovely craft shops, traditional buildings and a verdant canal. The Ryokan Kurashiki is adjacent to this canal, the perfect spot for exploring the winding streets of Kurashiki on foot. Compared to other ryokan in Japan, this one is quite special in terms of service and cuisine. There's a reason why so many celebrities have stayed here. I loved escaping to my spacious room after a multi-course dinner and soaking in the private on-site bath.

I'll never forget when…

Cruising down the Sumida River aboard a yakatabune (a traditional Japanese boat) is a quintessential Tokyo experience. Along with a meal and drinks, you get impressive views of the city and an incredibly social experience. On my last night in Tokyo I took a cruise but was disappointed the boat's karaoke system wasn't in use. By the end of the night I persuaded the host to let me have a go and I sang the one Japanese song I knew. I got an enthusiastic reaction from the other passengers and it felt so good to feel part of a community where boundaries are often broken down through music