Tamatha

Japan, Polar & 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 traveled extensively throughout South America. Some of my favorite 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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We could not have put this together without Tamatha's knowledge and help.

Uviller family traveled to Chile for 16 days in December 2022, organized by Tamatha F

My family and I were fortunate enough to travel to Chile in December 2022, our official return to tourism. Normally, we like to plan our own trips, but we didn't have the time. Fortunately, one call to Tamatha was enough for her to understand exactly what kinds of adventures we wanted and how we like to travel. We tweaked the itinerary once and were good to go. We got to experience three different landscapes and engage in activities as diverse as a cooking class in someone's apartment in colorful Valparaiso (following a visit to the local market), visiting the penguins on Chiloe, rafting down two different rivers, hiking on a volcano, swimming in view of glaciers, and visiting the iconic Patagonia National Park. We could not have put this together without Tamatha's knowledge and help. She was a delight to work with. This is our second hugely successful trip with Audley, and we look forward to partnering with them again.

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 neighborhood 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