Osaka (A Birthday Adventure in Kansai)

I know the mid to late twenties are often when people stop caring about their birthday, but on turning 26, I was determined to make it special.

I stubbornly refuse to lose that glimmer of excitement because, I mean, the world is negative enough as it is without ruining birthdays too. The actual day was pretty normal and apart from a phone call to my twin sister, it could’ve passed for any random day. But exactly a week later is when I could properly celebrate.

I’d booked a trip as a present to myself but because my birthday was the day after I finished work for the summer, I thought it would’ve been too tight a squeeze to catch the bus the night before. Taking hostel availability into account, I shifted it back a week, and I was anticipating it eagerly.

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Japan Diary: August 2019 {2/2}

In the last half of my August Diary, I’d visited Sankeien Garden, saw countless Pikachu, and treated myself to a day in Kawasaki.

My summer holiday had been mostly excellent so far (minus medical check-ups and my visit to the ward office) but there was one job I couldn’t procrastinate

Japan Diary: August 2019 {1/2} Summer in Yokohama

It feels like forever since I last wrote. In fact, when I started this diary, the last time I was on WordPress to actually write was about four weeks before. Sure, I had a backlog of posts so it wasn’t like I was completely silent, but that’s a longer break than I’m comfortable with.

26 Japanese Stereotypes Before 26

I recently celebrated my 26^th birthday, and every time I get a year older, I like to look back over the last twelve months. Last year, I did a post talking about things I learnt in my 25^th year and a lot of those lessons I carried into this year too.

So, to do something different, I wanted to document 26 typical ‘Japanese things’ that I’d done before turning 26 years old. If I’ve previously mentioned it in a blog, I’ll leave a link so you can find out more!

Japan Diary: July 2019

After finishing June with a trip to the cinema to see the new Spiderman movie, the first week of July was time to get serious.

The seventh was rapidly approaching and time seemed to be getting faster every day. I began to panic, because that day was the day when I would be taking the JLPT.

[GW 2019] Fukuoka Flashbacks and a Big Buddha

With my day in Karatsu being so perfect, I woke up the next morning refreshed. I spent some time packing up my things and getting ready leave because this was my last day in Kyushu. It was a shame I couldn’t stay for longer but my shinkansen ticket was already booked and I’d need to be back for Saturday anyway.

[GW 2019] Karatsu, Saga Prefecture

With the day before being the final day of the Heisei era, I woke up on May 1st excited to make the most of the first day of Reiwa. Start as you mean to go on, right?

Apart from revisiting places from my past, this was the thing I was most looking forward to.

[GW 2019] Dazaifu and the end of Heisei.

I woke up on April 30th with ambitious plans. I hurriedly showered, dressed and did my make-up, having a brief conversation with the hostel owner before heading back to Hakata station.

[GW 2019] Back to Fukuoka

Despite the fact that it was only weeks after my challenge to be in seven cities in seven days, I was itching to get back out travelling again. I was facing ten days with no school thanks to our extended Golden Week and I was determined to not spend all that time in Yokohama.

Japan Diary: June 2019

While June seemed to promise nothing but keeping my head down, working and studying, at least I could cross off one thing on the very first day.