Japan Diary: August 2022 {2/2}

Two days after visiting the Ofuna Kannon, I went to collect my last two stamps from my favourite temples in Yokohama.

Japan Diary: August 2022 {1/2}

Usually I’d be starting this at the beginning of the month, then updating as things happened, but here I am, 6:30am on August 30^th, typing my first sentences.

I’m in the living room of my family home, having woken up three hours ago and giving up any attempt at getting any more rest. The jetlag isn’t hurting too much so far, but the fact that I’m here at all feels strange and unusual. It’s summer – a season which I haven’t seen in this country for the past five years – and this time, there’s no going back after a couple of weeks.

I have officially left Japan, and it’s weird.

Japan Diary: July 2022

The start of July called for more organisation than I’m used to, but I was determined to hit the ground running. Time was running out to get things done and while there was still plenty of it, I knew there wouldn’t be if I procrastinated.

29 Life Lessons Before 29 (4+ Years in Japan Edition)

It’s that time of year again: the annual birthday post!

However, instead of writing a completely brand new idea, I thought that this year I could revisit my very first birthday post from back in 2018. Four years ago, I reflected on twenty five life lessons which I’d learnt before turning 25, and I figured that it’d be interesting to look back on those and see what else I’ve realised (…particularly poignant considering I’m coming to the end of my time in Japan).

The learning curve is certainly steep when you first move to a different country, but it’d be foolish to think that all my growth happened in the initial few months. I’ve never stopped learning, and sometimes I’d need to face a lesson multiple times for things to finally click.

So… without further ado, let’s look at my original list.

TOKYO: A Tale of Two Towers

With Monday July 18^th being my last national holiday in Japan before unemployment started calling my name, I wanted to make the most of it while still staying relatively close to home.

A few places in Yokohama were out because of closures or being fully booked, so it was time to look a little further afield. Time was running out to complete the goals set out in my 4 Years in Japan post, and it was that sense of urgency which pushed me towards Tokyo, finally visiting the iconic towers after almost half a decade here.

Big Changes are Coming

I’m going to be honest, I’ve been putting off writing this. In fact, I’ve been putting it off so much that it’s started to seep into my other posts, giving me a horrendous case of the old writers’ block. 

Japan Diary: June 2022

June started off the best way I know how: with plenty of opportunity to socialise.

Space, science, and a seriously big Buddha. [IBARAKI]

This trip was a long time coming.

Japan Diary: May 2022

While my first few days of May were very uneventful, Golden Week was about to kick off properly. 

The largest lake and an unexpected adventure [LAKE BIWA]

I woke up on my last day in Shiga feeling a little on edge.