Eight Years in Japan: Talking with Our Kanto Coordinator & Trainer, Sandra

Originally from Barcelona, Sandra has lived and worked in Japan for eight years. As our newly appointed Kanto Coordinator & Trainer, she leads the charge in mentoring our team and ensuring our tours maintain the highest quality across the region. With close to a decade of experience, she has developed a deep understanding of the local food scene and the stories behind the shops she visits. Whether she is overseeing guide development for the Kanto region or introducing guests to regional flavors, Sandra’s work is informed by her long-term perspective as a seasoned resident.

Join us as we chat about her journey and her favorite local finds.

Hi Sandra, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your roles at Arigato Travel?

Hi, I’m Sandra. I’m originally from Spain (Barcelona), and I’ve been living in Japan for several years now. My background is in foreign trade, and I’m currently a Guide, the Kanto Coordinator, and a trainer. I’ve always been especially interested in the people’s side of travel: guest experience, team support, and how good systems make everyone’s work easier.
At Arigato Travel, I work both as a guide and in HR and training-related roles. I continue guiding tours to stay closely connected to our guests and products, but a large part of my work focuses on supporting guides behind the scenes. This includes HR operations, training coordination, onboarding, and mentorship programs like the Buddy System, documentation, and improving internal processes.

My role is very much about being a bridge between guides and the office: making sure guides feel supported, heard, and well-prepared, while also helping the company build clear, sustainable systems that allow us to grow without losing quality or team culture.

You’ve been here for around 8 years now; a lot has changed in that time! Could you tell us a bit about what originally brought you from Barcelona to Japan and how that journey eventually led you to the Arigato Travel team?

I moved to Japan about seven years ago. Like many people who come here, I first started out teaching English. While I enjoyed it, I knew fairly quickly that I wanted to build a longer-term career connected to culture, people, and meaningful experiences.
Over time, my interest naturally shifted toward tourism and guiding. I’ve always loved food and connecting with people from different backgrounds, so becoming a guide felt like a very natural step. That path eventually led me to Arigato Travel, where I could combine all of those things in a way that really aligned with my values.

Since joining Arigato Travel, my role has grown significantly. I started primarily as a guide, but over the years, I’ve taken on more responsibility in training, HR operations, mentorship, and internal systems. Today, I work closely with guides and the office team to support quality, consistency, and growth, while still staying connected to the guest experience through guiding.

Being here for such a long time has allowed me to grow alongside the company, and I feel very proud to be part of how Arigato Travel has evolved.

As both a Leader Guide and the Kanto Coordinator, you see two sides of Arigato Travel. How does your experience leading tours on the ground help you when you’re supporting and growing our team behind the scenes?

Being active as a guide is actually what makes my HR work effective. When I’m supporting guides behind the scenes, I’m not speaking in theory; I’m speaking from daily, real experience on tours. I understand the pressure of timing, guest expectations, last-minute changes, physical fatigue, and emotional energy because I’m living it too.

That perspective helps me design training, systems, and support that are realistic and practical, not just “good on paper.” It also builds trust with the guides because they know I truly understand their challenges and am working to make their jobs easier, not harder. On the other side, my HR role has made me a better guide as well. I’m more aware of communication styles, team dynamics, and how small changes can improve both guest experience and guide wellbeing.

For me, the two roles strengthen each other, and that balance is what allows me to support Arigato Travel in a more grounded and meaningful way.

Of the areas you usually cover on a tour, is there one that you personally love the most? What should guests look for if they want to find and explore similar, low-key spots on their own?

For me, it’s definitely the Shimbashi Hidden Gems tour. I love it because it shows a side of Tokyo that’s very real and very local: no flashy attractions, just everyday places where people unwind after work. The atmosphere feels authentic, a bit nostalgic, and full of small stories you’d never notice if you didn’t know where to look.

If guests want to discover similar low-key spots on their own, I’d suggest paying attention to areas around local train stations, especially places filled with tiny izakayas, standing bars, or narrow side streets that come alive in the evening. Look for places packed with locals rather than tourists, handwritten menus, and shops that don’t try too hard to stand out. Wandering without a strict plan, trusting your curiosity, and being open to small, unpolished places is often how you find the most memorable experiences.

Coming from a culture as vibrant as Spain’s, was there anything about the Japanese way of life that was surprisingly easy to adapt to, or perhaps something that took a bit longer to feel “normal”?

Coming from Spain, I expected the cultural adjustment to be much harder than it actually was. What surprised me most was how easy it felt to adapt to daily life in Japan. Things like public transport, organization, punctuality, and the general sense of consideration for others immediately made sense to me. I really appreciated the respect for shared spaces and the quiet, unspoken rules that help everything run smoothly. It gave me a strong feeling of safety and structure from the start.

What took longer to feel “normal” was the indirect style of communication. In Spain, we tend to be very open, emotional, and direct, so learning to read between the lines, understand silence, and pick up on subtle cues took time. At first, I sometimes worried I was missing something or being too straightforward without realizing it. Over the years, though, I’ve come to really value that nuance, and now I feel like I sit somewhere comfortably in between both cultures.

In the end, living in Japan has shaped me a lot, both personally and professionally, and blending these two ways of thinking has become one of my biggest strengths.

On your days off, which neighborhoods or areas do you find yourself returning to for the best food? Are there specific regional specialties or local spots that have become your personal staples over the years?

On my days off, I almost always gravitate back to neighborhoods that feel lived-in rather than flashy, places where people eat because it’s good, not because it’s trendy. Areas like Shinbashi, Asakusa, and parts of Ueno are big favorites for me. They have that everyday Tokyo energy and so many long-standing, no-frills restaurants that really know what they’re doing.

Food-wise, I’m very loyal to comfort staples. I love classic teishoku, good yakitori, simple soba, and small family-run places that have clearly been around for decades. Over the years, I’ve also developed a soft spot for old-school izakaya and neighborhood lunch spots where the menu barely changes, and the staff recognizes regulars. Those places feel like the heart of Japanese food culture to me; honest, consistent, and deeply connected to the local community.

Outside of the food scene and guiding, how do you like to spend your free time in Japan? Is there a particular hobby or a way you like to unwind that has helped you feel more settled here?

Outside of guiding and food, I really value calm, everyday ways of unwinding. I enjoy spending time at home reading, playing video games, or simply relaxing and recharging after busy tour days. One of my favorite routines is walking my dog, which gives me a reason to slow down, get outside, and enjoy the neighborhood in a very grounded, local way.

Living in Japan has also taught me to appreciate small, quiet moments, noticing seasonal changes, taking peaceful walks, or enjoying a relaxed coffee break. These simple habits, especially getting outside with my dog, have helped me feel settled here over the years and keep a healthy balance between the high energy of guiding and personal downtime.

Finally, do you have one travel tip you’d like all guests to know before visiting Japan?

If I had to share just one tip, it would be this: come to Japan with curiosity and flexibility. Things don’t always work the way you expect, and that’s part of the magic. Be observant, follow local etiquette, and don’t be afraid of small moments, like a quiet neighborhood street, a tiny restaurant with no English menu, or a short chat with someone helping you out. Those everyday experiences often end up being the most memorable part of the trip.

Thanks, Sandra, for sharing your story and your expertise with us! Your years of local experience and your unique perspective from Barcelona to Japan add so much value to the Arigato Travel team. We really appreciate your time and your dedication to helping our guests and guides navigate the local culture.

Check her profile on our Team page: https://arigatotravel.com/about-us/our-team

Featured Photo Credit: Sandra

Ready to explore the local side of Tokyo alongside passionate experts like Sandra? Book one of our Tokyo Food Tours today to eat like a local and discover the city’s hidden culinary gems with our amazing guide team!