my first time in japan

After quitting an office job and a breakup, he began his first Japan trip in February 2010 with a new girlfriend. The five-month stay spanned Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Tokyo, and guesthouse life, moving from four weeks’ isolation toward international friendships. He says the trip changed him, recommends similar travel for roughly £2,000 plus airfare, and remains nearly daily contact with one Korean friend.

The retrospective turns an intense, socially formative adventure into cherished memories tempered by lost relationships and lasting distance.