We Help 3+ Million Travellers Plan Their Japan Trips Every Year!
Hello! My name is Nele (pronounced Nay-la or ネイラ). I’m an award-winning, full-time travel blogger, content creator, writer and founder of The Navigatio.
Even though I’ve visited over 30 countries, it’s Japan I keep coming back to. My love of all things Japan, probably sparked by watching too much Pokémon as a kid, has turned into a quest to spend as much time there as possible since my first trip in 2018. Now, with 3 million readers a year, The Navigatio is a globally trusted, Japan-obsessed resource for showcasing the best of the country to anyone planning their trip of a lifetime.
A few more fun things about me:
- My husband and I try to spend a few months in Japan every year.
- We even got engaged in Hakone and had our wedding ceremony in Kyoto.
- So far, I’ve managed to tick 26 of the 47 prefectures off my list.
- My favourite town in Japan is Kinosaki Onsen, and my favourite area is Shikoku.
- I love collecting stamps!
No matter how many times I visit Japan, I can’t get enough of it!
Why Trust Our Guides?
My visits are 99% self funded, as I choose not to take on sponsorships very often unless I really believe in the company. Because of this, readers can trust that my opinion is truly my own. Our guides and itineraries are both deeply curated and a real representation of what to expect while in Japan.
Half of our small team also lives full-time in Japan, and regularly updates and adds to guides to ensure our information is as up to date as possible. Having our finger on the pulse with local news and changes for incoming visitors inside Japan is super important to me, as making travelling to Japan more accessible means more people will have the confidence to plan their trip.
We Work Alongside Japan
My passion for sustainable travel has led me to work alongside the tourism boards of multiple prefectures and towns in Japan to highlight so much more than the Golden Route. With a mission to help spread tourism further across the country, I’m able to create new interest in less-visited but just as beautiful and culturally rich towns and cities that would otherwise be intimidating to visit.
So far, I’ve had the pleasure of working directly with local tourism boards, including Wakayama, Nara and Kinosaki Onsen. Their feedback on the positive impact of The Navigatio inspires me to continue bringing awareness to more places less travelled by tourists.
We’ve also been seen briefly on Japanese TV a couple of times, discussing our love for all of the decorated manhole covers, and while visiting the opening of a second-hand speciality store.
Our Community
With multiple Japan-focused Facebook groups, the largest of which has 900,000+ members, and an email list of 40,000+ subscribers, The Navigatio proudly has one of the largest Japan forum communities online.
Staying dedicated to quality keeps our members highly engaged in Japan travel-related discussions and a constant flow of new and valuable information to help people plan their trips.
The level of trust we’ve built with our readers really makes a difference, and our community loves to let us know how The Navigatio helps them!
Recognition Inside and Outside of Japan
Since I started working in travel journalism and content creation in 2018, I won the 2024 Traverse Creators Award for 12-month achievement and was invited as a speaker at TBEX Quebec to talk on a panel about affiliate marketing for travel content creators in 2025. The Navigatio has been listed as one of the 30 best Japan blogs in 2026 on FeedSpot, a website listing the best blogs online. I’ve also been featured on multiple news outlets, including MSN, Good Housekeeping, and Metro. Medium and Niche Pursuits have kindly featured interviews, and I’ve written travel features for brands like Love to Visit and Focus Magazine.
The Navigatio Has Been Featured In…
The Navigatio Has Partnered With…
Over the years, we have partnered with several brands in the travel industry, including local tourism boards in Japan. We are very selective of who we partner with; the trust of our audience is the top priority, and we only collaborate with brands we personally have used and loved. If you are a brand and are interested in collaborating, please check out our work with us page for more information on how to get in touch.
The Navigatio’s Team
Daniel Smith
Daniel first visited Kyoto as an exchange student in 2013 and returned to live in Japan full-time in 2015. Over the last ten years in the Land of the Rising Sun, he has visited all 47 prefectures, lived in three cities and eaten a worrying amount of convenience store bento. Daniel currently lives in Tokyo, where he spends his free time exploring the city’s craft beer scene and plotting his next excursion into the Japanese countryside.
Richard Caddock
Richard grew up loving video games, so when Nele asked him to come to Japan, the answer was easy. He didn’t expect to fall in love with the country as much as he did! He and Nele even got married in Japan and now spend a few months in Japan every year. He helps with research, shooting and editing of The Navigatio‘s YouTube Channel. You can contact Richard through his LinkedIn.
Sabrina Isenberg
Ever since her first long-term stay in Kyoto in 2018, Sabrina has kept returning to Japan for both study and work. Her trips across all of Japan’s main islands eventually brought her to share her insights on local culture and must-visit spots on The Navigatio. On her travels, she is always on the lookout for the best cafés and bookshops. She holds two master’s degrees in European and East Asian Studies.
