METIS TRAVEL JAPAN
Metis Travel Japan is a destination management company (DMC) based in Japan and brings together a team of passionate professionals who specialise in mountain tours (walking, trekking, hiking) and other soft adventure activities. We have extensive expertise in what we do and want to share unique experiences through our tours, we are honored to operate as a DMC with tour operators all over the world and look forward to creating a magical experience. Japan is waiting to be discovered!
Makoto Murasawa
Chief Executive Officer
I was born in Nagano and I love discovering the natural world, especially in the winter months when I can get out and go snowboarding. I previously worked for Kuoni, Switzerland’s largest travel wholesaler, in the Tokyo office for 8 years. In this role I was responsible for developing and expanding the Japanese outbound market to Swiss, French and Italian clients by building partnerships with major Japanese wholesalers.
In 2014, I established a DMC, Natural Connection, to market both inbound and outbound tours. We are able to offer a variety of services including guiding, ground arrangements and tour planning.
sofiane sedrati
Managing Director
I also worked for Kuoni for 8 years before founding a DMC called ‘’Natural Connection’’with Makoto.
Born in Algeria from an Algerian father and a Japanese mother, I moved to Japan at the age of 18. Speaking five different languages, I enjoy travelling through North Africa as well as exploring hidden places in Japan.
As the Managing Director at NaturalConnection – Metis Travel, I am responsible for handling ground services for our clients.
Shin Härtel Yamaguchi
Sales Director
I was born and raised in Chigasaki Japan. My father is from Switzerland and my mother is Japanese. Growing up near the ocean, I spent much of my childhood enjoying water Sports as well as skiing and snowboarding in the mountains.
As a teenager I moved to Switzerland to learn German and to further pursue snowboarding in the Swiss alps before becoming a medic in the Swiss Army. After graduation, I worked in a local travel agency in Switzerland as a trilingual guide (Japanese, English, German) where I operated inbound tours to Switzerland mainly from Japan.
I currently spend most of the Summer season in Switzerland as a tour guide for Japanese customers. During the Spring and Autumn season, I am based in Japan also working as a local guide.
Having lived in several countries throughout my life, it has become my passion to show friends and travellers from around the world’s most beautiful and interesting locations in both Japan and Europe. It would be my pleasure to welcome your clients and help you make their holiday an unforgettable experience!