About Heartland Japan

What Defines
Our Tours?

Heartland Japan's tours are built on five core principles. Each represents our unique approach to creating journeys that reveal the authentic spirit of Japan—its landscapes, communities, traditions, and the stories that connect them.

Heartland Japan tours

Heartland's Classic

We redefine the "classic" travel route by adding a distinctive Heartland touch. Rather than simply following well-known paths, we enhance them with thoughtfully curated excursions and hands-on experiences that offer a fresh and unexpected perspective on familiar destinations.

Heartland's Community-based

At the heart of our tours is the belief that local communities must benefit from tourism. We prioritize the preservation of regional traditions and cultures, and we design tours that directly contribute to community vitality.

Heartland's Adventure

Adventure looks different for every traveler. Our tours blend physical activity, cross-cultural experiences, and meaningful local interactions to create journeys that are both memorable and transformative.

Heartland's Sustainable

We honor and support the individuals who work tirelessly to maintain natural trails and protect the environment. We aim to create opportunities for these traditions to be carried forward to the next generation through meaningful travel.

Heartland's Luxury

True luxury lies in experiences that open the heart, shift perspectives, and become unforgettable. We create transformative journeys that balance comfort with a touch of challenge, offering travelers the most genuine and enriching encounters with local culture.

Tour Level

We rate our tours on a five-level difficulty scale to help you choose experiences that match your comfort level.

Very Easy

★★★★

Easy

★★★★★

Moderate

★★★★★

Hard

★★★★

Very Hard

★★★★★

Keijiro Sawano, CEO

Message from our CEO

I grew up in the fishing village of Susa in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The population is now around 2,000 and continues to decline.

Heartland Japan's "Heartland" signifies a "place close to one's heart." Everyone has a place in their heart where they feel most at ease. That is their "Heartland." Our mission is to help you create your own Heartland in Japan.

You're not satisfied with typical sightseeing at popular destinations.
You want to explore the unknown Japan beyond the guidebooks.
You want to hear the stories of the people who live there.

Those are our customers.

We help you create your own Heartland in Japan.
And seeing your smile. That is our reward.

Our Team

The people behind your journey across Japan.

Keijiro Sawano

Keijiro Sawano

CEO & Founder

Mikiko Hayashi

Mikiko Hayashi

COO & Senior Consultant

Noriko Ōshima

Noriko Ōshima

Travel Consultant

Nobuko Masuda

Nobuko Masuda

Senior Travel Consultant

Natsumi Totilo

Natsumi Totilo

Travel Consultant

Miyuki Kando

Miyuki Kando

Travel Consultant

Mayumi Endo

Mayumi Endo

Travel Consultant

Mika Twombly

Mika Twombly

Travel Consultant

Yukiko

Yukiko

Travel Consultant

Mariko Ikeda

Mariko Ikeda

Editorial Director

Motoko Ishizaka

Motoko Ishizaka

Administrator

Yoko Matsuda

Yoko Matsuda

Travel Consultant

Naomi Hirata

Naomi Hirata

Web Director

Naoko Yokouchi

Naoko Yokouchi

Consultant

Makiko Takai

Makiko Takai

Travel Consultant

Aya Sakakibara

Aya Sakakibara

Travel Consultant

Find Your Next Adventure
with Heartland Japan

Curated small-group and private tours across regional Japan.