We are a husband and wife team—Genki, a former certified public auditor, and Emi, a former banker—who first met in Vietnam. The COVID-19 pandemic inspired us to leave our corporate jobs and re-evaluate our lives. During the strict lockdown in Vietnam, we made a decision: “Let’s do what we really want to while we can.” That choice led us on a journey across 23 countries over the course of 13 months.

After returning to Japan, we decided to search for a place to call home. We converted a Nissan Caravan into a DIY camper van and began traveling around the country, thinking, “Let’s take a year to figure it out.” But just three weeks into our trip, we arrived at Ikuchijima. Something about it felt fateful. We thought, “Is this destiny?”—and in 2024, we made the move.

During our journey around the world, we embraced unique cultural exchange programs like Wwoofing, Workaway, and Couchsurfing—concepts not widely familiar in Japan. We held Japanese calligraphy workshops in communities across the globe, including a kibbutz in Israel, sharing and promoting Japanese culture wherever we went.

When we look back on our travels, it’s not just the beautiful scenery that stays with us—it’s the people we met and the meaningful connections we made. Traveling has the power to change lives, to leave lasting memories and inspire transformation. It certainly did for us. That’s why we decided to open a guesthouse: to offer others the opportunity to have those kinds of meaningful travel experiences.

Today, Genki works on the island as a certified accountant and licensed real estate agent, managing accounting, real estate, and our guesthouse business. Emi is a certified calligraphy master, working as a calligrapher, designer, and tattoo artist.

Genki

• 13 months of traveling as a couple
• 6 months of solo backpacking
• 2 years in Vietnam
• 2 years in the U.S.
• 8 months in Mexico

Emi

• 13 months of traveling as a couple
• 7 years in Vietnam
• 6 months in the U.S.
• 7 months in Mexico