Thumbing through my old photos, I am filled with a bout of reminiscence.
Even though life was simple, I embraced that kind of simplicity to a T.
If you’re still piecing together the rest of your Japan trip, I’ve covered everything else, cities, seasons, budgeting, getting around, in my complete Japan travel guide.
Sure, we lived in a studio home where the kitchen is beside the bed, we had to cook rice on the floor, we had limited space to put everything, and there were nightmare-inducing creepy crawlies (stink bugs and long-legged spiders hanging outside our window) during autumn.
Small-town living is boring
Being stuck at home all day in Japan can get incredibly dull, especially when the usual entertainment options—like pachinko games, comics, and arcades—weren’t really my thing. Plus, the local food options, while delicious, weren’t always the most affordable. It got so monotonous that I actually started looking forward to weekend trips to the mall. And back home, I’d usually find malls boring, but in Japan, I’d get excited about browsing through all the cute Japanese goodies.
On top of that, staying connected was essential for keeping sane during those quieter moments. Thankfully, I had my eSIM Japan sorted, so I never had to worry about losing connectivity. Whether I was streaming shows, keeping in touch with family, or even hunting down the best hidden food gems nearby, my esim was a lifesaver. It was so easy to set up and saved me from the hassle of swapping out physical SIM cards while travelling, which was a massive win.
Living independently = growing up
Do I look like a housewife?
This allowed me to really focus on working on my blog as a full-time blogger, something I struggled with in the city (where distractions were aplenty). I could also turn my focus towards upskilling and more offline work, such as taking up (free) Japanese language lessons, signing up for Japanese cooking lessons (I don’t even cook at home!) and really learning to live independently.
You see, that’s the other thing about travelling. It teaches you how to be an independent, responsible person. You tend to your own chores, you are responsible for your diet, your hygiene, your attitude. There’s no one else you can blame or rely on for your lackadaisical attitude.
So many of my friends from home have turned 30 and they don’t cook their own food nor wash their own laundry. They’ve got their parents or maids to help them. It can be quite a disgrace when I share our life culture with my Western counterparts.
My kind of entertainment
On weekends, I would be looking for new cafes to visit. I’d get excited whenever we get to go on those cute cafe dates – him doodling while I write in complete peace.
Sashimi-making!
We had the opportunity to experience a priceless exquisite sashimi-making class with fine knife-manship. We’d drive 2.5 hours just to sit in a Starbucks that overlooked a river in another town.
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- Hiking in Japan
When we could sum up our collective energies, we’d go on hikes every weekend to push my body out of my comfort and cleanliness zones. That’s something me as a city girl aren’t quite acclimatised to, and I’m glad I have the outlet here to push my body and comfort levels.
Japan is known for its cleanliness, and the same can be said about its natural environment! There was one day I found myself trodding on crystal-clear river streams in the middle of a hike.
I’ve never seen water quite this clear, so much so I can see the bottom of the river bed, filled with stones of all colours.
I craved visiting the same historical streets that offered nothing but a beautiful historical sight. I feel content just getting out and running by the river, breathing fresh, Japanese air (if that’s even a thing). I comfort myself in revisiting the same old hangouts.
Grocery shopping became a respite for me, and I found myself beginning to enjoy doing it. You’d think I’ll be eating out all day given the delicious Japanese food, but no. Eating out was limited to once or twice a week, and it became a luxury I always look forward to.
That is the definition of simple contentment.
Nature calls
Living in the countryside, we are never far from nature. Whether it is spotting fireflies or catching tiny frogs or getting up close to a waterfall, it’s always a mere 5-minute drive.
Whenever I needed some fresh air, all I needed to do was grab a bike or a pair of sneakers and I could run or bike along the rice fields, into the beautiful pastel sky, watching the setting sun.
Picking wild, overgrown flowers from the road side
Before winter came, we’d grab our bikes after work for a little ride and go pick wild lavender flowers by the roadside for to decorate our home. When it was windy, I would stop in my tracks to admire the freshly grown crops dancing in rhythmic ripples. It was almost cathartic, and hypnotic even.
My first time living through winter!
I got to experience the highs from waking up to a sheet of white blanketing the windows, to being in awe at the icy sharp icicles that form from water dripping down our roofs and tasting freshly fallen snow.
I got to drive into nothing but snow-filled wilderness, and hone in on the beautiful silence that we surrender ourselves to, when everything is either indoors, hibernating, or snowed under.
It’s the epitome of tranquility. It’s a kind of peace I’d never before thought it was possible to feel.
Routine = 100% productive
Me typing furiously from Japan!
Because everything was so simple and routined, establishing a set routine that was free of distraction was what i crave and miss the most from living in a countryside. From getting up at normal office hours to working through the day with the exception of fixed lunch hours where I would be forced to stop and have lunch with Phil during his lunch break.
Whether it was working from home, at a Starbucks cafe, or other cafes around Kanazawa, there was a sense of peace, calmness and stability from powering through my work during these quiet times. Every time I needed to think, I could just look out by the window (I always choose window-facing seats!) and everything would seem to appear in slow motion.
There is no sense of hurriedness, no obligation. Everyone seemed content in their lives, whether it was them hitting a cafe for a cup of coffee, or an old granny heading to the bakery store to fuel up.
There was no over-stimulation like I experience in Singapore. It’s hard to explain unless you are experiencing the difference between the city and the country.
When I’m working in Japan, I could focus a 100%. My words would flow naturally as I reflect upon my journeys and adventures and I could actually let my thoughts flow without interruption.
I even had some fun learning how to DJ!
We read, write and play board games after work. Hell, we almost bought jigsaw puzzles to indulge in together.
And so that is why I crave living in the countryside so much – not so much the location I’m in, but what it brings to and how it feeds the soul. That’s the same feeling I get when I travel solo, like I did in Cambria (California) or Cape Town (South Africa). Being on my own makes me feel reborn.
It’s a kind of renewal for the mind and the body.
