ABOUT ME

I am an avid world traveler and an lover of all things outdoors. I maintain two seasonal jobs - being a biologist during the summer and ski guide during the winter - so that I can pursue my real passion, photography.

My current professions and highly mobile lifestyle are a reflection of my varied and multicultural background. I am a US citizen who grow up in Japan. I speak English and Japanese fluently and I consider parts of both countries to be my home. Being exposed to such contrasting cultures has left a mark on me and I now actively seek out experiences that push my understanding of other people and places.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am interested in mode of traveling that goes beyond simply seeing a new place. I'm looking for experiences that show me the characteristics of a place. To use the cliche, I interested in more than just scratching the surface. I want to see what makes a place unique and how people enjoy that space. More than anything I want to discover a new place with people who are willing to share the ins and outs of a place and who are willing to show me what is truly worthwhile seeing and exploring. I'm also here to make friends and have a good time!

*I currently spend most of the year away from home traveling. I currently can't accept guests, but will start doing so once I am back home. I'd love to start showing people my favorite spots in Tokyo and can't wait for people to start visiting.

Interests

I love being active. Runs through a forest that not many people visit. Bouldering on a wall in the gym or on a good looking piece of rock. Riding bikes through town or down a mountainside. Dancing tango or swing to a live band. And, of course, my favorite: thrashing neck deep powder.

• photography
• dancing
• tango
• traveling
• bouldering
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• skiing
• sports
• rock climbing
• biology
• tourism
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: electronic, hip hop, hardcore rap, or anything that sounds like a mashup of those genres. This isn't music, but I absolutely love listening to nerdy podcasts like Radiolab, TED Radio Hour, Invisibilia, This American Life, Serial, and many other things NPR. I promise I listen to more than just trashy music :)

Movies: Slow West, Inception, Eternal Sunshine on a Spotless Mind, Django, Spirited Away, 21 Jump Street, Memento, Fuse.

Books: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Covenant, A Brief History Of Time.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Going on random and very unplanned trips into very remote and wild places. I have quite a few of these actually. One of the most personally memorable ones was chasing after a group of climbers deep in the mountains of Wyoming. I left town with a friend of mine and headed out on a fifteen mile hike to try to find a group of climbers at an unknown location. We somehow managed to find them, miraculously, and we had a blast hanging out with them. The experience was fun and liberating. I also got some incredible photographs out of the trip: http://www.danielhoshizaki.com/climb_wyoming.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can definitely share my experiences traveling the world, especially some of the most remote places on the planet. I'm here to hear about your experiences of traveling the world or really cool places in your town. I can definitely share my advice on how to use a DSLR and tips on taking sports and landscape photographs. I can teach you some words in Japanese and, surprisingly, Khmer (not sure how often you will get to use that though). I want to learn how to say some phrases in your native language too.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share a sense of curiosity.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, France, Montenegro, Nepal, Philippines, Spain, Tanzania

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cambodia, Japan, Kenya, Thailand, United States