The son of a Japanese diplomat with wide experience including school, university and work in Japan, Fusao Ariga has spent nearly a decade leading cultural and historical walking tours in the country. He has a background in history, having gained his PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Among his favorite pastimes are photography, Japanese history, samurai films and appreciating Japanese culinary delights. He is the Founder and Director of JapanTravelogue.com.

John Pilkington is an MA graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He's spent much of his adult life living, studying and working in Japan, and has been guiding historical and cultural walking tours there since 1998. He is interested in traditional theatre and music, as well as the practice of zazen and classical martial arts. John is a much sought after tour leader whose expansive knowledge of Japan and friendly personality have earned him a legion of fans from around the world.

James Harper was first drawn to Japan when he was given the Tale of Genji for Christmas at the age of 14. A degree in Japanese at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London provided the means with which to develop his long-lasting relationship with the country and its culture. In 1994, James helped devise a walking tour exploring Japan's mountainous interior, along the ancient Nakasendo highway, and since then he has had extensive experience helping people enjoy this seemingly impenetrable, but fascinating, country. James possesses an in-depth social and art-historical knowledge of this unique country.

Joe Banerjee has lived in Kyoto for more than two decades. He went to study postwar Japanese labour history at Kyoto University and never left. During his student days he hitch-hiked the length and breadth of Japan and has climbed Mt. Fuji three times. Joe also has many years of experience working in industry in Japan. While Japanese cuisine is his choice for food for the stomach he says the literature of Haruki Murakami is food for the soul.