MEET THE Canyons' crew

We are Canyons

Our Canyons' guides have worked all over the globe and each of them brings top level international guiding qualifications to the team. Not only our guides, but also the gear we use is rigorously tested before making the cut. In line with our belief in continual improvement, we're always training and aiming to further improve the quality and safety of our tours.

Outdoor adventure is not just a job for us, it's our passion, our life. Through adventure, we introduce people to the grandeur of our natural environment in the hope that a newly gained respect for our planet will be attained.

Canyons prides itself on highly professional and experienced international guides. A great guide is the difference between a good tour and a great tour. Our staff will ensure you have a safe (and highly entertaining) outdoor experience.

Mike

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 25 years

Mike is from New Zealand and the founder of Canyons'. He is fluent in Japanese and loves all things outdoors from canyoning and rafting, to BBQs and the ocean.

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・ACA Canyoning Leader
・CIC Canyoning Guide
・Advanced River Rescue (NZ) Facilitator
・New Zealand Grade 4-5 Senior Rafting Guide
・Minakami Rafting Guide
・CAA Level 1 (Canadian Avalanche Association)
・NZSIA ski instructor
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

Adam

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 14 years

An ever-cheerful Kiwi. The Rafting Trip Leader who makes sure that each trip is super-fun and super-safe.
When he gets away from work he can be found playing with his offspring who are a chip off the old block.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・New Zealand Grade 4-5 Senior Rafting Guide
・Minakami Rafting Guide
・RAJ Rafting Guide
・CASI Level 1 Snowboard Instructor
・NZSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

 

Isamu

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 10 years

Born in Tokyo, Japan. Loved by customers and all crew, he is the Canyons charismatic guy.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・IRF Grade 3 Guide
・New Zealand Grade 4-5 Rafting Guide
・Minaki Rafting Guidame
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・First Aid Certificat

Hikaru

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 10 years

Hikaru is the promo guy for Canyons. The many Canyons' promotional videos are his work. A native of Okinawa he loves to enjoy the ocean and the mountains.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・IRF Grade 4 Guide TL
・Minakami Rafting Guide
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・Japan Avalanche Network  Avalanche Operation Level 1
・First Aid Certificat

Tomoki

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 8 years

He is an incredibly attentive and gentle guide which is not what people might think when they first see his tall frame. He is a key player in many of the great events that take place for party people at Canyons.

QUALIFICATIONS

・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・First Aid Certificat

 

Toshi

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 5 years

He is a smart guy and always working hard to improve his skills. During the winter he is pushing his limits in some "pow" around Japan.

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・Japan Avalanche Network  Avalanche Operation Level 1
・First Aid Certificat

Dan

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 10 years

Dan is from New Zealand,working as a tour guide, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and jet boating.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・National Certificate in Outdoor Recreation (River Guide) (Level 4)

・National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 3) 

KO

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 5 years

Born in Australia, he is native Japanese and English speaker. Has a Japanese soul but an Australian heart. 

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・First Aid Certificat

Daiki

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　5 years

Daiki is a Gunma local. He is patient and calm. He puts customers and the crew in a healing mode.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・First Aid Certificat

Mirichi

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　10 years

In Kansai born, a former professional snowboarder. She won the championship this year rafting World Cup (was held in Cairns)! It is a regular player of women's rafting international race.

Qualifications

・Minakami Rafting Guide
・First Aid Certificat

Mark

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　25 years

A great kiwi rafting legend. His rusky voice is a trademark. 

Qualifications

・Wilderness First Aid
・Rescue 3 senior instructor 
・Advanced River Rescue (NZ) Facilitator
・New Zealand NZRA Grade 4-5 Senior Rafting Guide
・Minakami Rafting Guide
・AvCan Avalanche Skills Training 2
・NZSIA Level 3 Ski Instructor
・First Aid Certificat

Kin

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

A "Kansai" girl, she is always smiling and with her physical ability, she is challenging her limits in lots of adventures. 

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid 
・CIC Module 1
・First Aid Certificat
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

Aki

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 11 years

He puts both customers and staff at ease with his calming influence. With his soft-spoken leadership he's like a big brother who can always be relied upon. He is an important part of the team for Canyons both in summer and winter and has been the deputy head at a our snowboard school.

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・Advanced River Rescue (NZ) Facilitator
・JSBA A Instructor
・JSBA Judge
・First Aid Certificat

 

Keita

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 13 years

As Operation Manager he controls all things at Canyons. He holds a Chef's License, is a talented carpenter and is one of the mainstays at Canyons.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・ACA Canyoning Leader
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant

・ACA Canyoning Leader

Chris

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

Natural from England, he is all round sportsmen, and now is challenging for a new adventure.  

QUALIFICATIONS

・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・CSIA Level 2 Instructor
・ISA Level 1 Instructor
・SPA (Single Pitch Award)
・BCU Level 1
・CASI Level 1 Snowboard Instructor
・First Aid Certificat
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

Fergus

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

His both ski and canyoning started in Canyons,he is from UK. He is learning Japanese while enjoying Japan life in Minakami,Hokkaido and Wakayama.

QUALIFICATIONS

・NZSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor
・First Aid Certificat
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

Joe

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

 Energetic Englishman who loves the outdoors. Joe is a snowboard instructor in winter and canyoning guide in summer.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

・BASP Outdoor First Aid
・BASI Level 1 Ski Instructor
・BASI Level 2 Snowboard Instructor
・First Aid Certificate
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

Jorry

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

I am addicted to Skateboard / Snowboard.I like cleaning

QUALIFICATIONS

・Red Cross First Aid Rescuer
・RAJ Rafting Guide
・First Aid Certificat

Taku

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 10 years

Organic farmer in the weekdays and outdoor guiding in the weekend, Taku is a man of many talents.

 

Qualifications

・NZRA Grade 2
・IRF Grade 3
・Minaki Rafting Guidame
・First Aid Certificat

 

Brodie

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

Outdoor Adventure Study (NZ). Caving, Climbing and Canyoning (NZ). ATV Off-road Tour Guiding (Canada). This is my 2nd season working in Japan for Canyons.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness First Responder 80hrs
・First Aid Certificat

ML

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

Outdoor Adventure Study (NZ) Guiding Canyoning, Caving, Climbing, Hiking and Snowshoeing (NZ) 
This is my 2nd season working for Canyons in Japan.

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness First Responder 80hrs
・First Aid Certificat

Yusuke

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

Canyoning guide in Summer.　His main business is rice farmers.

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・First Aid Certificat

King

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　5 years

I'm from New Zealand. Safety kayaking and canyoning guides. In New Zealand, I worked with Tomoki and decided to apply for the Canyons crew. Japan's first, now favorite is Black Thunder and Whitewater kayaking.

Qualifications

・New Zealand canyoning Guide
・First Aid Certificat
・NZ river rescur level1

Luke

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　3 years

I'm from New Zealand and I grew up around the rivers. I started kayaking when I was in high school and I picked up rafting and canyoning when at poleytech.
I've been a hiking, rafting and canyoning guide since high school. Looking forward to what comes next.

 

Qualifications

・First Aid Certificat
・Diploma of Outdoor Instructing and Guiding
・NZRA grade 4/5
・Pre hospital emergency care
・NZOIA leader awards kayak, rock, bush

Sam

GUIDE EXPERIENCE:　First year

He is half New Zealand and Japan.I want to travel around the world as a ski instructor and rafting guide.I also like to play rugby.

Qualifications

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・NZSIA Ski  Instructor level1

Aaron

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: First year

He is enjoying traveling in Japan and cooking.He is patience, dependability, and hard working.

 

Qualifications

・First Aid Certificat

Charlie

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: Training

She is a great outdoor girl. She love Canyoning,Skiing, Rugby, and anything else that gets her outside.

 

Qualifications

・First Aid Certificat

Julian

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: Training

 

 

Qualifications

・First Aid Certificat

Koya

GUIDE EXPERIENCE: 4 years

He just got back from Australia, where he has been for a year, improving his English skills. 

QUALIFICATIONS

・WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid
・CIC Canyoning Guide Assistant
・First Aid Certificat

Cory

Cory escaped the corporate life in Tokyo by moving to Minakami and joining Canyons in 2019. He’s new to the outdoor industry, but definitely not new to the outdoors. His role at Canyons is to help the company to successfully achieve its Mission, Vision and Values through creating and executing effective strategy. 

Akiko

She just returned from work in New Zealand. Responsible for the reception in English skills and smileys.

Sachiko

Being addicted Snowboarding,cooking and rafting!Experience in customer service at a large shoe store!
In charge of the reception.Summer/Minakmai ,Winter/Yuzawa 

Yumiko

 A mother of two children with New Zealand husbands, bilingually using Japanese and English skillfully. In charge of the reception.

Nikki

 

 From England and loves travelling! Nikki is a warm and welcoming member of our reservations team for winter and summer operations.

Hiro

Canyons artist, like every artist he has own magical world. In charge of Canyons design and our lodge.

Risa

Alot of our power comes from the delicious food that Risa makes. She puts her heart into the Special Canyons Burger too.

Miyuki

Powerful girl from Tokyo. She loves to talk and is always chatting and smiling.

Tetsu

Guiding for over 20 years Tetsu is now in charge of sales. He has plenty of great stories!

Akie

Canyons' supporter. She can often be found enjoying the great outdoors with her three lively children.

Sara

From Brazil she loves summer and between season's she is somewhere in the world exploring hidden beaches. With a degree in Tourism and trilingal , she is in charge of the school groups travel planning and organizing.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

・Child Protection L3
・The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessor and Supervisor

 

Yukiho

She cooks in the kitchen of Cafe in Canyons Okutama.

 

 

Chihiro

AWA Kitchen Expert. She cooks and provides Volcano earlier than anyone else.
She is also familiar with Okutama trees and flowers. The person with the ability to understand the physical condition of the tree that stands in front of the cafe.