E19 What Nobody Tells You About Japan: The Gift-Giving, the Loneliness & the Ritual That Stopped Us Cold

Send us Fan MailJapan hit different when you go not just as a tourist, but as someone visiting family who's built an entire life there, and we had no idea how much it would change us. In this episode of From Where to Here, I'm taking you inside two weeks in Japan: Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Tokyo — city by city, moment by moment, from the best to the worst to the ones I didn't see coming.We visited family who've lived in Japan for over 20 years, attended a private maiko performance where I got to ask her questions face to face, stumbled into a mochi-making demonstration at night in Kyoto, and sat through a tea ceremony that made me realize how fast I move through life. We also got laughed off a bus by two Japanese women, lost a train ticket mid-exit, and navigated jet lag, wrong directions, and one very disappointing hot dog at 30,000 feet.This isn't a travel guide. It's a reflection — on cultural contrast, on what disorientation actually feels like when you lean into it, on traveling as a couple for the *second time internationally after eight years together, and on what Japan quietly reveals about loneliness, intentionality, and the way a country can design beauty into the smallest things — including a rice wrapper.If you're planning a trip to Japan, learning Japanese, curious about Japanese culture, or just obsessed with travel that goes deeper than the highlight reel — this one's for you. We cover Japan travel tips for first-timers, what to know before flying Japan Airlines, how to use Google Translate in Japan, the difference between a maiko and a geiko, Kyoto vs Tokyo vs Osaka, the onsen experience, and why you should never skip Nara.I also share what I'd do completely differently and why, after saying "once is enough," I'm already thinking about going back.[DISCLAIMER] This episode touches on the topic of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support. You are not alone.988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (US) | Available 24/7New episodes of From Where to Here drop regularly. Subscribe so you don't miss what's next and drop your Japan recommendations or your next destination suggestion in the comments. We're already planning.----------📩 Let’s stay connected.Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.🎧 Subscribe & FollowFollow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.📱 More language & culture, daily. Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod🤎 If this episode meant something to you…Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.