MEET THE BLOGGER
Hello, fellow Japonophiles! My name is Bri and I’m the blogger behind Nomad in Japan.
こんにちは, Bri-desu! (Hello, I’m Bri). I’m a full-time travel blogger, photographer, and content creator whose been living abroad and traveling full-time for ten years.
I’ve lived in myriad places—Nepal, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, France, Netherlands, Portugal, and more, which I’ve documented over the years on my main blog, Bucketlist Bri. I’ve always enjoyed traveling slowly (3-6+ months) to really experience the essence of a place and its people.
Even though I am able to go anywhere as a digital nomad, I find myself returning to Japan again and again. And now I wish to share my love for Japan with you on this blog by sharing all of my insider tips and guides from exploring Japan on and off the beaten path!
Whether you’re planning your first visit or dreaming of coming back, I hope this blog inspires you to explore Japan with curiosity and an open heart.
Now, on my fifth trip to Japan, I’ve started this blog as a way to share everything I’ve learned.
I want to help you experience the Japan I’ve fallen in love with—the zen of a matcha ceremony in a centuries-old teahouse, the electric chatter of a late-night ramen shop, the sense of awe of hiking a misty forest path underneath 10,000 torii gates.
My Japan blog guides are about more than checking off tourist hotspots. They’re about helping you slow down and connect with Japan’s incredible culture, history, and people!
1. Ikuta Jinja, Kobe
2. Fushimi Inari, Kyoto
3. Nishishinsaibashi, Osaka
1. Me during my kimono tea ceremony in Kyoto / 2. Udon (tsukemen) for one in Tokyo / 3. Wandering Kyoto’s oldest garden at the Shinsenen Buddhist temple / 4. Osaka streets at night
It all started when I took my first solo trip to Japan in 2023.
There’s a photo of me when I was six years old: I was on the couch with my hair in pigtails, wearing only my Rugrats underwear, with eyes glued to the screen, playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on my Nintendo 64.
At the time, I didn’t know much about Japan, but those cute animations and mysterious, lantern-lit villages kindled a spark in me—and thus began a fascination with a place I couldn’t yet name but felt deeply connected to.
Fast forward twenty-five years to 2023, when I finally boarded a plane bound for Japan for my first solo trip. It was just me, a carry-on bag, and a long-held excitement to explore Japan. I spent ten days wandering through Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo, getting lost on purpose in quiet shrines, crowded markets, and retro neighborhoods. That first trip changed everything—it was the beginning of a love story and somewhat obsession of Japan. I have now spent 9+ months wondering Japan across five different trips—sometimes month-long solo sagas or hunkering down housesitting for months in Tokyo with my partner.
Japan’s Golden Route
I’ve been lucky enough to visit some truly amazing places in Japan, as a solo traveler and otherwise, and my bucket list is ever-growing! If it’s your first time in Japan, read my guides to get to know the Japanese “Golden Route” or classic triangle: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka.
This or That:
Japan Edition
Here’s my take on big issues! Your thoughts?
| COFFEE | |
| MANGA | |
| RAMEN | |
| MOUNTAINS | |
| PLANE | |
| HOTEL | |
| EAT IN |
My Japan Bucket List
Here are a few items on my Japan bucket list including off-beat places, hidden gems, national parks, and epic experiences!
| Visit Universal Studios & Super Nintendo World, Osaka |
| Hike the historic Nakasendo Trail (中山道) |
| Explore Tokyo’s Izu & Ogasawara Islands (Bonin islands) |
| Dive in the Kerama Islands, Okinawa |
| Reach the top of Mount Inari, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto |
| Learn Bushido (the way of the Samurai) and wield a real katana |
| Stay overnight at a Buddhist temple in Koyasan |
| Ski in the Japanese ‘Alps’ in Nagano |
| Experience a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto and Uji |
| Soak in the tattoo-friendly onsens in Kinosaki Onsen town, Toyooka |