Who we are
Our Story: Tamami & Michael
Tamami and Michael’s journey began in Sydney with a serendipitous blind date at a Greek restaurant in Newtown on November 17th, 1990. Their shared love for adventure quickly became apparent: their second date was windsurfing together on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and their third was an ambitious 150km walk. This set the tone for countless adventures to come.
Together, they’ve explored many of the classic walking routes in New South Wales and Victoria, tackled most of the major walks in Tasmania, and summited many of Japan’s 100 famous mountains. Over three decades later, their adventure continues. In 2013, they purchased the lodge, and in April 2015, they made the move from Tasmania to their new home in Japan.
Meet Tamami
Brought up climbing in the mountains of her native Japan with her family, Tamami’s connection to the outdoors runs deep. She has dedicated over 23 years to the travel industry, running highly successful guided tours across Japan. An avid endurance athlete, Tamami has completed two marathons and is currently training for her third. Today, she also enjoys trail running and is an accomplished skier.
Meet Michael
Michael’s formative years were spent cycling and camping with his father, exploring the by-ways of the Kent countryside in the UK. At the very early age of 15, he joined the merchant navy, a career that took him to diverse corners of the globe – from cruise ships on the Mediterranean and cargo boats working the West African coast, to tanker runs to Europe, North & South America, and the Middle East.
His twenties saw him working as an electrician in a London teaching hospital (Lewisham). At 25, seeking a change of scenery, Michael embarked on an extraordinary chapter touring the world with Gary Numan. This led to working with an impressive roster of iconic bands, including Dire Straits, DEVO, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, and the Village People, to name just a few. Later, he ran his own production company, spending 20 years producing major events across Australia.
Michael’s passions include trail running, and he is an accomplished skier and windsurfer. With such a varied life, he certainly has many stories to tell!