­About Unique Japan Tours

Unique Japan Tours (part of Japan Ireland Travel) is an independent travel company offering the following services to those seeking holiday advice and assistance when traveling to Japan:

• Independent Japan Travel Plans ­ ­
• Escorted Small Group Tours Japan
• Tailor-made Groups Japan
• Incentive & Business Travel to Japan

As well as specialising in holidays to Japan, we offer Japanese tourists similar programmes in and around Ireland. These holidays are sold in Japan under our Japan Ireland Travel brand. We are Ireland's first specialist travel company selling travel programs to and from Japan and Ireland. We provide a comprehensive and professional service for people wishing to travel for business, pleasure, adventure and education to and from each country. Our headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland, but we welcome all nationalities when planning trips to Japan.

Our Team

• Darina Nakagawa (Director & General Manager)

­­­­Darina first went to Japan i­n 1998 as part of her University Degree 3rd year exchange programme (Business Studies with Japanese). She spent a number of years studying all things Japanese until she moved back to Ireland, with her (now) husband Masaki, in 2003. On her return, she spent a further year doing an MBS in International Marketing at the Smurfit Graduate School of Business, where she used ­this time to research the idea of specialising in two markets, Japan and Ireland for travel purposes. While in Japan she spent most of her spare time traveling around, in between working full time for a typically run Japanese recruitment firm. Her passion for Japan has continued and takes regular trips out to keep in touch with her contacts for both business and pleasure. Darina enjoys horse riding, cycling, hiking, relaxing, adventure traveling and exploring Japan!! When she is not working, she is a mother to Lydia Coco and sits on the council of the Ireland Japan Association!! 

(Email: darina@uniquejapantours.com / Tel: 01-6787008)

• ­­Masaki Nakagawa (Assistant Director & Tour Manager)

­Married to Darina, Masak­i moved to Ireland in 2003 on a quest to learn English and meet his future in-laws. Although his intentions were to return back to his native home in Kisarazu (Chiba Prefecture) soon after, Japan Ireland Travel & Unique Japan Tours has played a significant role in the fate of his future. Luckily, Masaki gets to travel back quite frequently to Japan as a tour leader for our small group tours. While he is not in Japan, he guides Japanese visitors around Ireland. He is as laid back as they come, yet is meticulous at every thing he does, not unlike most Japanese people. His hobbies include traveling, fishing, camping, leather crafts, and walking dogs!!!

Email: masaki@uniquejapantours.com / Tel: ­01-6787009

• Kumiko Yagi (Japan Operations & Website Assistant)

Kumiko comes from Himeji, near K­yoto in Japan. She joined our company in September 2008. She has quickly worked her way from being a new comer to the travel business, to managing all operations and reservations for our self guided travel to Japan. She sometimes acts as a tour leader when in Japan which gives her the chance to see her family and eat the food she misses while living in Ireland. Before joining our company she worked in website design. She has recently obtained a tour guide license in Dublin and a license to­ operate tours in Japan. Her hobbies include dressing people in Kimono for weddings etc., teaching about the art of Kimono, tea ceremony and traveling.

Email: kumiko@uniquejapantours.com / Tel: ­­01-6787008

•  Lorenz Limban (Accounts) 

Lorenz (a.k.a Twitchelle) is from The Phillipines. She is studying in Dublin to become a chartered accountant. When not studying or taking care of our general book keeping, she works part-time caring for the elderly at a Dublin nursing home.

Helpers along the way......

As we are able to outsource a lot of jobs to private companies and individuals, our over heads are kept to a minimum. This means that You, the Customer, can save money which is reflected in our prices. We aim to offer affordable tours & plans to Japan, so no matter what your budget is, do not hesitate to contact us!! We use regular guides in Japan who­­ are very familiar with our tours and know exactly what our customers want, before you meet them. ­