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ABOUT DiGJAPAN!

About DiGJAPAN! Dig deeper and discover more with DiGJAPAN!
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Your guide for the adventure of a lifetime

For many, a trip to Japan is a once in a lifetime adventure. So when you go, you want to see, taste, and do it all. But when a country has so much to offer, how do you know where to start?

When traveling to Japan, nothing beats having a local as your guide. DiGJAPAN! is that guide, providing accurate information on everything from famous places to delicious foods to amazing cultural experiences.

Meet the DiGJAPAN! Team

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Yuko Tsuruoka

Tokyo

Travel style: Once I find a place that I like, I keep going back. My recent favorites are Nagano and Yamagata.

Favorite thing about Japan: Onsen and wine. My favorite wineries in Japan are Tamba Wine in Kyoto and Takahata Wine in Yamagata. For onsen, I recommend Kabeyu Onsen and Yunotsu Onsen.

Unusual talents: Whenever I go on a trip, other tourists always end up mistaking me for a local and asking me for direction.

 

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Jeongyeon Kim

Seoul, South Korea
Has lived in Japan since 2009

Travel style: I enjoy traveling by bicycle. I've taken one long trip by bicycle every year for the past three years.

Favorite thing about Japan: From Japanese sweets to pastries, there always some new and delicious goodie for sale in Japan, so every day is fun!

Unusual talents: I can eat an entire Domino's piza by myself.

 

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Iki Tseng

Taipei, Taiwan
Has lived in Japan since 2011

Travel style: I'm the type who'll take a train or bus straight to my destination, do what I came to do, and then head back home. I love finding new spots and delicious foods.

Favorite thing about Japan: I love how each season has its own special beauty, like sakura in the spring, foliage in the fall, and snow in the winter. I also love the incredible attention paid to the detail of things produced in Japan.

Unusual talents: I can eat super hot takoyaki in one bite.

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Yayu Wang

Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Has lived in Japan since 2002

Travel style: I like to have everything completely planned out before I travel. I treat every trip as a once in a lifetime experience.

Favorite thing about Japan: I have a lot– the beauty of the four seasons, food you'll never get tired of, the depth of Japan's traditional culture, and the way the country protects it's old architecture!

Unusual talents: I never fail when it comes to finding good restaurants.

 

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Rachael Ragalye

Connecticut, USA
Has lived in Japan since 2012

Travel style: I like to travel to different places through volunteering. It’s a great way to interact with local people. The best so far has been volunteering at the 2015 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

Favorite thing about Japan: I love both modern and traditional Japanese performning arts.

Unusual talents: I’m very good at expressing myself with my eyebrows.

 

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Teruhiko Nishizawa

Saitama Prefecture

Travel style: I don't normally plan exactly where I'll go on a trip in advance. I usually use my hotel as a base and walk around looking for interesting things.

Favorite thing about Japan: The names of places. There used to be a belief that words in Japanese held a certain power called "kotodama." This is why it kind of makes me a little sad when the old names of places get changed to something new.

Unusual talents: I'm really good at running through crowds without bumping into anyone. Or I was. I haven't tried in a while…

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Di Zhang

Beijing, China
Has lived in Japan since 2006

Travel style: Whether it's to the mountains, the sea, or the city, I like filling my travels with laughter and friends.

Favorite thing about Japan: I think it’s amazing how everything is so well-maintained in Japan. You could travel way off the beaten path to some remote little mountain trail and still find toilet paper in the restrooms. It’s fantastic!

Unusual talents: I’m proud that I get mistaken for a local when I travel abroad. I seem to be very good at blending into my surroundings!

 

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Junya Kano

Kanagawa Prefecture

Travel style: I used to be into backpacking. Whatever the destination, I would go off with just one bag.

Favorite thing about Japan: To start with, the food is great. I love both regional specialties and familiar favorites.

Unusual talents: I'm really good at packing light. My rule is that if I have to think about whether or not I'll need it, then I leave it at home.

 

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Miyuki Sasaki

Iwate Prefecture

Travel style: I try to plan my trips to coincide with festivals or other seasonal events. I travel to my destination by train, sightseeing bus, or by renting a car.

Favorite thing about Japan: I love nihonshu, or sake as it's often called abroad. Nothing beats drinking locally brewed nihonshu paired with local foods. Bliss!

Unusual talents: I can always fall asleep wherever and whenever-- even on overnight trains or buses!

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Chiharu Matsunaga

Kanagawa Prefecture

Travel style: I always try to take streetcars, ropeways, and sightseeing boats when I travel. I really want to try riding in a rickshaw in Kyoto someday.

Favorite thing about Japan: I think it's great that there are different ways of enjoying the seasons in Japan: looking at cherry blossoms in the spring, fireworks in the summer, enjoying colorful leaves in the fall, and soaking in onsen in the winter.

Unusual talents: I'm really good at remembering people's names and faces.

 

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Takamori Toida

Tokyo

Travel style: Recently, my "travels" have been walking around the neighborhood with my kid. It's fun finding places off the beaten path.

Favorite thing about Japan: I love the way the landscape changes from season to season. The food is also amazing here.

Unusual talents: I really don't like praying mantises, so I developed the ability to sense their presence and avoid them.

 

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Mattanee Wongkitrungruang (Farng)

Bangkok, Thailand
Has lived in Japan since 2010

Travel style: I've traveled all over Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. I'm also really good at traveling on a budget.

Favorite thing about Japan: I enjoy scenery where you can really experience the seasons. I've fallen in love with the seafood in Japan (especially crab!) and ramen.

Unusual talents: I think I've gotten really good at taking pictures and bargain hunting.