About Wabisabi Trips

The idea for WabiSabi began while co-founders Shaha and Bryant were working together at a small restaurant in Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. As the main bilingual staff members, they spent their days welcoming travelers from around the world, taking orders, serving meals, and offering complimentary sake tastings.

These daily interactions led to countless conversations with visitors, and one question kept coming up: "What do you personally recommend we experience in Japan?"

After hundreds of conversations, they noticed something important. Many visitors were not just looking for the popular places everyone talks about. They were searching for authentic experiences, meaningful stories, and a deeper connection to Japan.

In their free time after work, Shaha and Bryant spent countless hours sharing ideas and planning how they could help travelers discover a side of Japan that most visitors would never experience on their own. What started as conversations gradually grew into a bigger vision.

In 2022, they turned that vision into reality and launched WabiSabi with a simple mission: to help travelers experience Japan through the eyes of locals and discover hidden gems beyond the typical tourist path. What began with walking tours in Tokyo has since grown into experiences across Japan, connecting thousands of travelers with passionate local guides and places they may never have discovered on their own.

The name WabiSabi was inspired by the traditional Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in simplicity, imperfection, and the often overlooked. We believe Japan is full of this kind of beauty — from timeless craftsmanship and quiet neighborhoods to hidden gems far from the crowds. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences are not the most famous ones, but the ones you never expected to find.