Ari アリ

About Ari

Ari is the co-founder of Japan Travel Pros and a main point of contact for many travelers planning their Japan trips with us.

Based in Kobe, he combines decades of global travel experience with many years of living in Japan to help clients see this great country with clarity and confidence.

The Japan Travel Pros approach, steered by Ari, is not about handing over a static document or list of standard recommendations. Ari takes the time to understand what travelers really want out of their trip… whether it’s discovering neighborhoods beyond the guidebooks, balancing must-see highlights with local experiences or finding the logistics that make your Japan journey smooth.

Before starting Japan Travel Pros, Ari worked in the travel industry for one of the world’s largest online travel agencies. That background sharpened his understanding of what travelers need before they ever set foot on a flight from home, and it continues to inform how he designs itineraries and advises clients today.

Living here gives Ari a close-up perspective on how Japan is changing. He keeps up with the small details that can make a big difference for travelers; e.g. what neighborhoods are worth a stroll, which markets have become too touristy, where to find the best ramen and how to navigate the quirks of Japan’s rail system.

Outside of travel planning, Ari enjoys exploring local shotengai shopping streets, testing out Japan’s endless variety of food (often cooked at home by Japan Travel Pros co-founder Aki) and appreciating the small, everyday details that speak to what life in Japan is really like.

That, and ensuring that the Japan Travel Pros team is always providing you, our valued clients, with peak level service.

Q&A with Ari

What inspired you to create Japan Travel Pros?

“Japan is an amazing travel destination. I’ve known that for 40 years, but in most of that time not a whole lot of other people knew that. But then Japan burst onto the global travel scene. During the pandemic (when Japan’s borders were closed), we knew that the reopening would mean floodgates for inbound travel. But the pre-pandemic Japan travel boom shows us that a lot of people were going to the same places and doing the same things. We knew there was a better way, and we set out with a mission to help people visit Japan and experience more than the ordinary.

What’s your favorite region in Japan?

Kansai. I’m biased, of course. But look at it! In a short radius you’ve got Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Himeji & more. You could visit Japan for a week or 10 days and not leave the Kansai region. But also, yeah you probably should check out some other parts of Japan, of course.

What’s the most challenging trip you’ve planned?

(Grins) … Every client brings us something different. We’ve helped put together some pretty complex Japan itineraries, to which I always say, “bring it on.” You’re probably not paying us to tell you to go to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka and see the same spots as everyone else. So we’re happy to get complex, challenging, complicated… let’s do this!

Tip for first-time travelers?

Breathe. Lol no really, do some Zen meditation or yoga or whatever it takes to step back from the FOMO, not overthink your Japan itinerary, and keep it simple… relatively. Sometimes in life, and in Japan, less is more, you know? Not that you want to show up to Japan without a plan. But also, make it your plan, make it meaningful for your goals & desires, and make it flexible to build in downtime and options for calling an audible here and there.

What’s the key to eating well in Japan?

That “don’t overthink it” motto? Ditto for food. Eating in Japan is great every day. Don’t get caught up in the FOMO, though, and try not to follow what content creators or CHAT-ty LLM’s tell you to do. Book a few meals ahead of time, for sure, like a kaiseki and maybe a Michelin-quality dinner if you like. But then follow your nose, your gut, and your intuition. Go where Japanese go. By the way, bear in mind that when you’re in a lot of these tourist zones in Japan, there probably aren’t a lot of Japanese people around you (80% of Japan’s international tourists are from East Asia & SE Asia). That means you probably need to get out of the tourist hotspots and get into some local neighborhoods. That’s where the real gems are.

Quick Facts About Ari

Favorite Food? “Anything Aki cooks”

Favorite city? “Kobe (duh)”

Coffee or tea? “Coffee.” (really Ari, not matcha? ;) )

Morning or night? “Morning. Especially anywhere there might be tourists, yeah go early.”

Hidden gem? “They keep getting revealed too quickly these days. Book a free Zoom call and ask me what’s good.” (Always Be Closing, Ari)