Tristan Scholze

I love traveling and learning about people and nature all around the world and have been based in Japan for well over a decade and a half now. In addition to my work at JapanTravel, I run Rainbow Bridges English Academy in Fukuoka and am very interested in teaching, languages, communication, and photography, among other things.

Fukuoka, the largest city on the southern island of Kyushu, is a rising star in east Asia and ranked by Monocle Magazine as the city having the 10th highest "Quality of Life" on Earth. Big enough to have world-class restaurants, fantastic shopping, exciting events like the world swimming championships, and a national champion baseball team, Fukuoka also is surrounded with natural beauty and charming countryside villages.

Saga is next to Fukuoka, and holds many rural treasures. From its exquisite cafes to scenic campgrounds, historic sites to hot spring resorts, Saga calls me back for frequent visits. It's also known for fine ceramics, castle towns, and its coastal beauty.

I love heading downtown to meet up with friends for a night out as well as being able to hop on my motorcycle and be riding through forest-covered mountains or to sandy beaches in 20 minutes. This area is very photogenic and even after years of exploration, there are still plenty of places to discover each weekend!

Some of my photographs are available for purchase on iStock, and Shutterstock, and Dreamstime.