About Japan Ireland Travel
Japan Ireland Travel is a fully independent company offering:
- Independent Travel Plans
- Escorted Small Group Tours
- Tailor-made Groups
- Incentive & Luxury Travel
throughout the whole of Japan. As well as specialising in Japan, we offer Japanese tourists similar programmes in and around Ireland. 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 Team
Darina Slattery
Director & General Manager
(Email: darina@japanirelandtravel.ie / Tel: 01-6787008)
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 cycling, hiking, relaxing, adventure traveling and exploring Japan!! When she is not working, she acts as Chairperson for the Ireland Japan Association (since 2009).
Masaki Nakagawa
Assistant Director & Tour Manager
Email: masaki@japanirelandtravel.ie / Tel: 01-6787009
Married to Darina, Masaki moved to Ireland in 2003 on a quest to learn English and meet the folks!!! Although his intentions were to return back to his native home (Kisarazu City in Chiba Prefecture) soon after, Japan Ireland Travel has played a huge role in the fate of his future. Luckily, Masaki gets to travel back quite frequently to Japan as a tour leader for JIT's small group tours. While he is not in Japan, Masaki welcomes and takes care of Japanese visitors in Ireland by showing them the sights and green hills. 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!!!
Kumiko Yagi
Japan Operations & Website Assistant
Email: kumiko@japanirelandtravel.ie / Tel: 01-6787008
Kumiko comes from Himeji, near Kyoto, Japan. She joined the company in September 2008. She has quickly worked her way from being a new comer to the travel business, to managing all operations in Ireland for the Japanese visitor and more recently to leading our small group tours in Japan. Before joining our company she worked in website design. She has recently obtained a license in Dublin for guiding and in Japan for running a travel company. Her hobbies include dressing people in Kimono for weddings etc., teaching about the art of Kimono, tea ceremony and traveling.
Lu Wang
Accounts
Email: info@japanirelandtravel.ie / Tel: 01-6787008
Lu Lu is from FuShun City in LiaoNing Province, China. She has been studying Accounting and Finance in Dublin since 2005 and works part time for Japan Ireland Travel as a general book keeper. She has been living in Ireland since 2003. Her hobbies include cooking, going to the cinema, and traveling. Lu Lu has not been to Japan yet but hopes to bring her books out there some day!
Rika Hiroshiba
Ireland Operations & Sales
Email: nihongo@japanirelandtravel.ie / Tel: 01-6787008
Rika joined the company in April 2009. Originally from Nara, Japan's ancient capital, she now lives in Dublin with her Dutch husband. She spent many years studying the art of Tea Ceremony, a highly disciplined and ancient way of drinking tea in Japan. Rika takes care of our inbound business, i.e. selling and operating tours in Ireland to the Japanese travel market. 
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!!