Tell us about your career journey since joining the company.
When I first joined the company, I began my career in front desk operations. My responsibilities included processing reservations for private machiya holiday homes in Kyoto, responding to guest inquiries, and assisting with check-ins.
Later, the opening of a new hotel gave me the opportunity to expand my role beyond reservations and guest service. As the company opened more accommodations, my role expanded to include café operations and menu planning. I also gained experience in room inspections, service development, event planning, social media, and creating hotel signage and menus.
I later worked in the reservations department before moving into marketing during the COVID-19 pandemic. After taking maternity and parental leave, I returned to the marketing team, where I now draw on the guest service and operational experience I have gained throughout my career.
What have you gained from the different roles you have held, and which experiences have stayed with you?
I always found it rewarding to hear directly from our guests and to welcome back guests who had travelled from overseas to stay with us again.
One of my most memorable experiences was from my time working at a hotel front desk. We often welcomed families travelling from overseas with young children. As I enjoy spending time with children, I would fold origami with them and think of ways to make their stay more enjoyable. I still remember how happy I felt when a child gave me a letter at check-out.
Another memorable moment came after a photograph of me working at the hotel front desk appeared in a magazine. I later learned that someone had seen the photograph and that it had inspired them to join the company. It made me realize that the work I do, and even the way I present myself through that work, can sometimes encourage someone else to take a new step in their own career.
What has motivated you to remain with the company over the years?
One of the main reasons is simply that I love Japan. My work allows me to engage with the culture and history I care about every day. I also enjoy incorporating my personal interests, such as Japanese castles, sake, samurai, and the Shinsengumi, into my work.
Another source of motivation is being able to see measurable results from my efforts. Reservations, guest reviews, social media and website traffic, and blog search rankings all help show how our initiatives are performing. Seeing those numbers improve motivates me to keep going and achieve even better results.
What has helped you balance work and family life since returning from maternity and parental leave?
Before returning to work, I was worried that balancing my job with raising a child might create difficulties for those around me. Once I returned, however, my colleagues and the company were very understanding of my circumstances, which made it much easier for me to settle back into work.
I was especially grateful for the flexibility in adjusting my schedule and the support that made it easier to respond when my child suddenly needed to stay home. With children, things do not always go according to plan, so it was reassuring to have people work with me to find practical ways for me to continue in my role.
I also make adjustments of my own. In consultation with my manager, I organize my priorities and prepare blog articles and social media posts ahead of schedule whenever possible. This helps me remain flexible when unexpected changes arise.
When do you find your work most rewarding?
I find it most rewarding when I can see that our guests have enjoyed their stay. Kind reviews and social media posts remind me that I played a small part in creating a memorable experience and motivate me to help even more people enjoy their travels.
I also love sharing Japanese history and culture with people around the world through our social media, blog, and websites. When my work helps someone discover something new about Japan or reaches a wide audience, I feel that my efforts have been worthwhile.
What would you like to take on or achieve in the future?
I currently focus primarily on social media, blog content, and international online travel agencies within the marketing department. In the future, I would also like to deepen my knowledge of design and how websites work. By combining these new skills with the experience I have gained in previous roles, I hope to continue broadening what I can contribute.
I would also like to develop our official English-language blog into a resource that is read as widely as other leading travel and information websites about Japan. My goal is to communicate the appeal of Japanese history, culture, and travel in a clear and engaging way from my own perspective.
I hope to create more content that inspires readers to think, “I want to visit Japan” or “I want to stay in a machiya,” while ultimately encouraging them to turn that interest into an actual reservation.