reallifestory
It’s the middle of summer and I step off the overnight bus from Osaka. I was pleasantly surprised by clear blue skies when I expected another typical muggy day in Japan. The destination is Kawaguchi, on the north side of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture. My companions were a bunch of buddies from Kobe, two experienced campers and three amateurs. Wiping the sleep from our eyes, we marched towards the banks of Lake Kawaguchi where we make our camp. Establishing basecampSituated next to the bridge that spans Lake Kawaguchi, the New Bridge Campsite was where we chose to spend the next three nigh...
GaijinPot
I share a common dilemma with many globe-trotters: wanting to travel everywhere but not always having someone to travel with me. I used to think that if I couldn’t get a buddy to come along on my adventures, then there were no adventures to be had. It turns out that couldn’t be further from the truth. Since moving to Japan, I quickly learned that there are unique and incredible experiences that one may only be able to have while traveling solo. Here’s my story of how one lonesome but relaxing weekend at an onsen (hot spring) town was unexpectedly eventful. Finding my destinationThe first step ...
GaijinPot
I’d been working in Niseko for two months when my friend and housemate Ed bought a car. Niseko is a ski town with a huge second-hand market for almost anything, particularly in winter. So when a local farmer approached Ed with an offer for his almost prehistoric Toyota for only ¥50,000 (about $500), we jumped at the chance. The caveat was that the car was tiny, cramped, could only play CDs and didn’t have the best heating. While a road trip is a classic method of exploring places like Hokkaido, you can undertake the same journey I did by using the JR line from Sapporo, the Furano line from Asa...
GaijinPot
I’ll never forget the day of my interview to work in Japan. I was sitting outside waiting for my turn when an ex-ALT approached me. They said, “What if you get placed on an island?” “Oh yeah, I heard about that. Chances are slim, though,” I replied. Island ALTs always felt like an urban legend before I came to Japan to teach English. You know they exist, but they are never you, right? So when it was confirmed my placement in Japan would be on an island, I imagined boats shipping me away to some deserted location. I was used to city life in Osaka from when I studied abroad. I had no idea what t...
GaijinPot
Japan’s 6,852 isles are why the country is called a shima-guni, or island nation. The concept of an “island nation,” which underlines the sense of relative isolation, seems to be the go-to word to explain anything that feels uniquely Japanese and out of the norm for most foreigners. The sense of isolation and unique culture becomes even more evident as one leaves Japan’s four main islands hosting most of its population—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu—and sails away to one of the hundreds of small inhabited islands. Here are just three of those islands that feel worlds away and will lure y...
GaijinPot
As a young adult, my dream was not unlike many others longing to live in Japan: move to a big city like Tokyo, work and live there, speak Japanese. For those who have the grit, drive and talent, this path may very well be attainable. However, my goals changed quite a bit. As I grew older, I realized that I was not too fond of the hustle and bustle of big cities. Moreover, the competition for work sounded stifling and soul-crushing. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and even the colder cities of Hokkaido can have a superabundance of skilled foreign workers—typically with impressive Japanese skills. Thus, I c...
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Yakushima, located 135 kilometers off the coast of Kagoshima in southern Kyushu, is home to just 13,000 residents yet draws around 300,000 visitors every year. The island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, is known for its misty, shrouded forest and is home to ancient cedar trees like Jomon Sugi—the largest and oldest tree in Japan, estimated to be between 2,000 and 7,000 years old. The island’s moss forests and the gnarled, winding roots of its ancient trees partly inspired the beloved Hayao Miyazaki film, Princess Mononoke. Yakushima incites mystery and adventure for the solo traveler an...
GaijinPot
There are some jobs in Japan I never thought I’d experience: sushi chef, train conductor and working in an izakaya (a Japanese tavern). Izakaya are unique places filled with beer, tapas-style plates and—sometimes—rowdy customers. I thought my passive nature didn’t seem suited to this work, but once the opportunity arose, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and applied. Getting the JobTrying to find a job in Japan with limited Japanese and visa restrictions can be tricky. I knew I wanted to travel outside of the city and feel the heartbeat of the countryside, but I needed a way of supporting...
GaijinPot
The rainy season heralds the start of summer. It’s a period of hot and humid days that can last right through until the end of September, with sweltering temperatures that peak in August. The sweat, humidity and mosquitos can make anyone feel grumpy. Thankfully, most Japanese houses and apartments are equipped with air conditioners, as are the vast majority of shops and restaurants and, perhaps most mercifully, trains. But of course, you cannot simply cloister yourself away for three months. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some things that can help you make your summer in Japan a little more ...
GaijinPot
On the edge of a woodsy Nagano Prefecture road, the Picchio Wildlife Research Center team held the perimeter and yelled instructions. A young college intern yanked on a rope tied to a metallic, drum-like container, and, suddenly, a 55-kilogram Japanese black bear bolted from its door. Another team member shot a projectile skyward. It thunderously exploded in a smoky cloud. The startled bear dashed through the thick green foliage and disappeared down a steep valley. A fearless black-and-white Karelian Bear Dog and her handler trailed after it to confirm the escape. Fortunately, since the bear w...
GaijinPot
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