Who We Are

Mike is the founder and head guide of Really Rural Japan. He is a professional bilingual hiking guide from the UK and guides in the Kiso Valley and Ina Valley. He is also the only foreign master craftsman of wara-zaiku, a traditional Japanese craft that makes things out of rice straw, in the world. He loves to tell stories and dive into local myths and legends. A tour with Mike is not just an off-the-shelf scripted experience but more of an exploration of the Japanese countryside/mountainside with a local, one who is enthusiastic to share with you everything that living in Japan has taught him.
Skills/Certifications:
- Wilderness First Responder (80 hour)
- Licensed Tour Conductor
- Fluent in Japanese and English having lived here since 2012.

Yuki is a native of the Kiso Valley, born and raised in Kiso-Fukushima. As a younger man he spent 12 years outside of Japan living and working in Australia and Liberia, during which time he mastered the English language. On his return to Japan, he became a professional translator.
Yuki has always loved his hometown and returned home, becoming a guide when he did. He has a deep passion to purvey the beautiful place he calls home to visitors in the Kiso Valley. He sometimes goes by his alias, The Nakasendo Monster.
Skills/Qualifications
- WAFA (Wilderness Advanced First Aid - 40 hour)
- Native in Japanese and fluent in English.

Really Rural Japan's guide in the Hakone and Fuji region of Japan. Originally from the UK, Dan has been a lifelong outdoor professional. Working in the industry in various positions as a snowboard freestyle coach, bungee instructor, ski patroller and of course as a mountain guide. He has lived in Japan for over 8 years and now resides at the base of Mt.Fuji. Fluent in Japanese and having a love for the country's history, trips with Dan focus on hiking for stunning Fuji views while including interesting details about the local shrines we pass and folklore of the mountains we can see from our view points.
Dan's passion for the mountains of Japan and the stories they hold has led him to start guiding in the Hakone area and on the iconic Fuji. For those looking to get off the beaten path in Hakone or interested in seeing japan's highest mountain up close and personal, a hike with Dan is a sure way to get your fix.

Chris has lived in Nagano since 2004, and has led regional walking tours since 2017. The cross-cultural outlook of his anthropology degree, extensive travels throughout Japan and internationally, and long familiarity with the local culture all inform his tours. Inspiration also comes from his years of Japan-related writing, which ranges from travel articles to a novel.
Before moving to his current base of Matsumoto, he spent seven years in Kiso’s Otaki Village, at the foot of sacred Mt. Ontake. He also lived in the Suwa area for 12 years, and is one of the few non-Japanese people to have had a role in Onbashira, the region’s wild pillar riding festival (which also forms the backdrop of his novel). Chris specializes in encounters with the region’s natural landscapes and spiritual traditions.
In 2014 he co-founded Sangha Shinshu, a monthly meditation group at Matsumoto’s historic Tokoji Temple, which continues to this day. Some of his tours incorporate experiences like mindful walking, shinrinyoku (forest bathing), and takigyo (waterfall meditation).
Chris currently leads tours on the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail in Otaki Village, throughout the Kiso Valley, and in the Suwa and Matsumoto areas.