Konnichiwa! Meet Our Team in Japan!

Jörg Albrecht

Managing Director    

Chiaki Kojima

Contracting Manager

Misako Itatsu

Reservations Manager 

Milena Belaschky  

Operations Manager   

Sabine Kaiser   

Team Lead — Sales

& Operations

We are excited to introduce the dedicated faces behind DTH Travel Japan. Since our launch last year, our team has been growing and tirelessly working to cultivate a vibrant presence in both Japan and Germany, driven by our commitment to providing unforgettable journeys. With a focus on group travel, we strive to ensure that every adventure is marked by excellence, recognising that creating memorable itineraries requires meticulous attention to detail and seamless coordination.

As you journey with us, our team is here to guide you, sharing their expertise and passion for the country’s rich culture and breathtaking landscapes. We look forward to collaborating with you as we craft extraordinary experiences and explore the unfamiliar wonders of Japan!

Hidden Valleys, Living Masterpiece

The Izura Coast is a stunning shoreline cherished by Tenshin Okakura, a pioneer of modern Japanese art, who dedicated his life to sharing Japan’s cultural heritage with the world. His deep connection to this location has made it one of Ibaraki’s most treasured destinations.

Beyond the coastline, there was once a mountain that was difficult to enter. Tucked away within this landscape are the remnants of a secret rice terrace, hidden deep within a forested valley and no longer used for farming. Inspired by this scenery that resembles a living Japanese painting, the forgotten terrace has been transformed into an immersive art experience. Presenting Hidden Traces of Rice Terraces — a transformative project that merges technology, flora, and human creativity, reawakening the beauty of this once-forgotten terrace.

This innovative endeavour aims to showcase the shrouded beauty of the rice terraces and their surrounding woodlands as a living artwork — emphasised by spectacles of interactive light, colour, and music — honouring the long-standing relationship between the land and its people. As explained by the art collective on their website, the concept examines how “non-material digital technology can turn nature into art without harming it.”

Here are the highlight exhibitions awaiting to be unravelled by your explorers.

The Water Mirror Path

The exhibit is a captivating part of teamLab’s larger immersive art experience within the hidden rice terraces. As your travellers emerge from the deep mountain forest into a secluded valley, they will be greeted by the remnants of ancient rain-fed rice terraces, now transformed into a serene marshland. These terraces, once crucial for local agriculture, have been reimagined as a canvas for artistic expression, seamlessly blending the long history of human activity with the natural landscape. In this installation, glowing orbs float gently on the water’s surface, creating a mesmerising reflection that invites your guests to walk along the “Water Mirror Path.” The interplay of light and nature creates a parallelism in which the boundaries between art and the environment dissolve. The subtle illumination reflects the continuity of life, reminding us of the enduring relationship between nature and humanity.

Resonating Universe in the Tabunoki Tree

Did you know that trees in a forest communicate and share nutrients through a vast underground network of mycorrhizal fungi? According to forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, the largest and longest-living trees, known as “mother trees,” play a crucial role in this support system, nurturing the surrounding forest.

Inspired by this complex relationship, the artwork invites visitors into a world where light and sound are intertwined. When someone stands near the ancient Tabunoki tree, the nearest sphere begins to glow and resonate with a harmonious tone. This initial resonance triggers a chain reaction, as the surrounding spheres light up and echo the sound, creating a mesmerising display of nature’s interconnectedness. The installation offers an immersive, almost spiritual experience, highlighting the delicate balance between nature, time, and human interaction.

This artwork also draws on the deep reverence for nature found in ancient Japanese culture. A poem from the Man’yoshu — Japan’s oldest surviving collection of poetry — captures the marvel inspired by the Tabunoki tree, also known as Tsumama: “Looking at the Tsumama on the beach, it appears like a tree that has grown roots and aged for a long, long time. What a godly thing it is.”

Flowers Bloom When the Waves Rise — Sea of ​​Izura

This artwork captures the fleeting beauty of life through an immersive visual experience. Inspired by the notion that moments of beauty are transient, with rare blossoms symbolising these instances, each wave mirrors this profound idea. Lights and sounds animate the moving waters, bringing to life nature’s vibrancy and evoking a sense of vitality and connection. As the waves recede, we’re gently reminded of their impermanence and the deeper truth that they belong to something greater — the vast ocean that unites us all.

This piece invites reflection on the interconnectedness of existence, encouraging us to savour each moment’s beauty while understanding that, like the waves, we are part of an endless flow, intrinsically tied to the natural world.

Resonating Secret Valley and Forest

This installation highlights the profound connection with the surrounding environment and its inhabitants. Inspired by the idea that awareness of others — be it people or animals — enhances our perception of the world, the artwork creates a vibrant experience where the presence of life is celebrated. As your explorers or creatures move near the trees, they trigger a mesmerising response: they illuminate brilliantly and emit harmonious tones, sending waves of light and sound rippling outward to neighbouring trees. This cascading display serves as a beautiful reminder of the interconnectedness of all living beings, signifying that even from a distance, the presence of life resonates throughout the forest, creating a shared symphony of existence.

Reversible Rotation in the Forest

Continuing teamLab’s innovative exploration of spatial calligraphy — where calligraphy transcends traditional boundaries and is drawn in three-dimensional space — this artwork reimagines the concept in unique conditions. Set in an even more enchanting and grander scale, the spatial calligraphy within this installation rotates in harmony. Within the artwork, viewers perceive the rotation in either direction, prompting them to engage in their interpretation of movement. This phenomenon beautifully illustrates the concept that perception is unique to each individual; depending on how one chooses to look at it, the art can appear to spin clockwise or counterclockwise.

There are more exhibits to explore, each serving as a gateway not only to sensorial experiences but also to profound insights about the Japanese way of living and life in general. Together with your explorers, let’s ignite curiosity as we journey through the magic of hidden Izura. Please feel free to reply to this email or reach out to any of our team members.

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