Michael Zislis II
CEO / Founder
Michael Zislis II has been to Japan more than ten times in the last decade (but he's not counting.) He’s lived two years in the rural countryside, where conversations come slow and silence speaks volumes. He’s worked inside a Japanese company in Yokohama, where expectations are unspoken and precision is the default. He’s sat at the counters of some of Japan’s best sushi and ramen shops ...not as a foodie, but as a student of craft. In his spare time, he writes haiku. Because some truths don’t need a lot of words.... They just need the right ones.
Welcome Traveler!
I’m Michael Zislis II, founder and CEO of JPN Guides. I am a lifelong traveler, passionate storyteller, and a relentless student of Japan. Over the past decade, I’ve returned to these enchanted isles again and again, each time peeling back another layer of history, language, and cultural nuance. What began as curiosity has grown into a deep and enduring relationship with Japan. One built on respect, immersion, and countless bowls of midnight noodles.
My life has been shaped by encounters that don’t make it into guidebooks: late-night conversations with fellow onsen-goers, quiet mornings spent watching fog roll over mountain shrines, and long hours at the counters of master sushi chefs who speak more with their hands than their words. I’ve lived in the remote countryside of Niigata, where life moves to the rhythm of rice harvests and snowmelt. I’ve worked in Yokohama inside a Japanese company, learning firsthand how precision, humility, and harmony shape daily life.
I believe Japan reveals itself in the details. A warm oshibori before a meal. A station clerk’s silent bow. The scent of incense in a forgotten temple alley. These small moments, often overlooked, are where the soul of Japan truly lives. They are the moments I live for ...and the ones I’m here to help you find.
At JPN Guides, I bridge cultural depth with real human connection. Whether you're experiencing your first omakase or wandering the centuries-old backstreets of Shukunegi, my goal is to help you move beyond sightseeing and into something deeper, more personal, more alive. I’m honored to lead a passionate, talented team who shares that vision, and to welcome you into the journey.
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Contact
Every great journey begins with a conversation. If you're dreaming up your next trip to Japan (or just want to trade haiku, ramen spots, or ideas) I’d be honored to connect.
+1 (310) 698-9490