Hi, I’m Bekah. Welcome to Ikigaitravelers!
I grew up in Arizona and have also lived in Texas and California. This blog is where I journal our life and travels in Japan, share them with friends (like you), and pass on honest, practical information from our own experience.
How we ended up in Japan
Our story starts in Phoenix, Arizona. My then-boyfriend asked me if I would consider moving to Japan. I said sure, and we started applying for jobs. It didn’t take long before we were both interviewed for jobs in Japan. Things were looking good… until March 2020, when everything came to a stop.
Fast forward to October 2022: we finally moved to Yamaguchi Prefecture. My research had suggested that teaching English was the most realistic way in, but in the end I took a government-sponsored job, which, looking back, was a good choice because it covered our relocation costs. You can read more in How to get a Job in Japan and The #1 Hidden Downside to Finding a Job in Japan.
We didn’t come alone. Our three pets, including our dog Everest and our cats, came with us. I started preparing 11 months before the move, and I wrote about the whole process in Bringing your pet to Japan is Expensive, not impossible. After almost a month in a hotel, we moved into a rental house whose owner was willing to accept all three pets (see Living in a Japanese House).
Like all real-life plans, there have been twists and turns nobody could have predicted: highs like visiting Tokyo, and lows like the stress of moving to a new place. We’re incredibly thankful for all of it.
Why “Ikigaitravelers”?
We named the site after ikigai because of the sense of purpose the word evokes. We want to understand the history and culture around us in a way that is intentional and that gives our lives a broader sense of purpose.
What you’ll find here
- Living in Japan: renting a Japanese house, becoming a train commuter (after a lifetime of needing a car in Arizona), how I see money differently now, simple ways to be polite, and buying a home.
- Working in Japan: the job routes I researched and the downsides nobody told me about.
- Travel in Hiroshima & Yamaguchi: the Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle, Miyajima, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima city, and places to go in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
- Tokyo: first-trip tips, expectations vs. reality, and riding Japanese trains for the first time.
- Beyond: Okinawa, Nagasaki’s lantern festival, Osaka, Kyoto’s Kimono Forest, and our first trip to Seoul, South Korea.
Everything I write is based on our own experiences, so please treat it as one perspective and double-check the details with official sources (see the Disclaimer).
A few more things about me
- I’m learning Japanese, and I see it as one of the best long-term investments I can make.
- I follow a plant-based diet, so I always keep an eye out for vegetarian-friendly food when we travel.
- I now prefer taking the train to driving. Past me would never have believed that!
Where we are now
So far we’ve been to places like Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Iwakuni, Nagasaki, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanagawa and Okinawa (Naha, Uruma and Ginowan), and we want to travel the entire country.
The only thing missing is you!
No conversation is complete with just one person. Leave a comment on a post, say hello through the contact page, or follow along on YouTube and Instagram.
Safe travels 🧳
Bekah
