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DREAM WITHOUT BORDERS
TRAVEL, STUDY AND LIVE ABROAD
If you needed to hear it, this is your year! Go on that road trip across North America, study abroad a semester in Europe, backpack Southeast Asia, or even just move across the world for a couple years. It's possible, and I'm here to help!
Here you'll find things like travel guides and itineraries, advice for study abroad, how to plan a gap year, as well as how to plan a move abroad with a focus on a my current home—Japan. Come travel with me!
THE WANDERER
Hi! I’m Kirstie, your resident wanderer. Not your typical, quit my job, been on the road for ten years and never looked back kind of story, but I have been backpacking or living abroad on and off since 2015. And now in my fourth year in my current home of Tokyo, I've been lost enough times, renewed enough visas, and missed enough trains to that I think I might just be starting to get the hang of being a wanderer after all.
Whether it's your dream to travel, study, or live abroad long term, I hope I can lend at least a couple tips and tricks to help make it happen!
Tips & Itineraries
I swear by it, planning a trip is half the fun! But I do acknowledge not everyone shares my love of research and spreadsheets, and that planning anything can be overwhelming to start. The last thing anyone wants is to miss something, but overplanning your time also can lead to zero percent fun with one hundred percent exhaustion. So here's where to start!
I've put together sample itineraries, walking tours, and general tips and tricks to help get that planning started. Take an entire itinerary word for word, pick out your favourites and find some resources to search elsewhere, and overall just get excited!
Study Abroad
If you're thinking of studying abroad but aren't sure if it's for you I have only one thing to say—just do it. Studying abroad is one of, if not the most, valuable experiences I've ever had. I loved it so much, I even did it twice!
From the basics of learning the travel ropes to the confidence gained after moving across the globe by yourself, studying abroad teaches you more than any class ever will. Check out my study abroad experiences, how I planned for them, and any recommendations here!
Live Abroad
And here we have it, the big leap—actually moving abroad long-term. It's not easy, but the reward was always enticing enough for me to want to try it. After all, how else can you truly start to feel like you know a place, unless you've lived there as a local?
For tips on how to live and work abroad, with specific focus on Japan and living as an expat in Tokyo, look no further you've found your answers! From visas and opening bank accounts, to struggling with a new language and finding a community, I'll take you through the ups and downs of moving and living abroad.
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet”
Recent Articles
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The Best 2 Week Itinerary For Japan—Full Guide and CostsThis 2 week guide to Japan takes you through the must-see's as well as some off-the-beaten-track locations for the ultimate Japan itinerary. I also answer things like how much it's going to cost, where to stay, and the best time of year to go to Japan.
Tokyo Cherry Blossoms—The Ultimate Sakura Viewing Guide From Peaceful Hidden Rivers to the Most Packed Parks in the CityThere are SO MANY sakura spots around the city, but this is my list of recommendations if you want a little bit of everything. From the crowd-pleasers where it’s worth braving the madness, to hidden gems where you can enjoy the blossoms in relative peace, Tokyo has a little bit of everything.
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What To Pack For A 7 Kg Carry On—A Backpackers GuideIf you’re going to truly budget backpack, getting the 7kg backpack right is a must. Now it sounds crazy, 7kg’s that's it?! But it's possible! This guide will take you through everything you need to know, from what backpack to buy to my entire packing list.
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The Best Tokyo Itinerary for 5 Days (With Options!)As my current home city, I’m confident Tokyo will steal your heart. but it can also be incredibly overwhelming. So let’s break it down day by day for the best Tokyo itinerary for 5 (or more) days!
How to Use an Onsen or Sento in Japan—the in Depth Guide You Need!I love going to onsen in Japan, but I will admit, going for the first time can be intimidating! So let’s run down the do’s and the don’ts, as well as a general flow of how your visit is probably going to go. With these tips, you can bathe with confidence!
Learn Japanese in 2025: The Best Japanese Language Learning Apps, Textbooks, Classes and Strategies In my language learning journey so far, I feel like I’ve tried every app, website, class and textbook out there. So to save you the trouble, I've narrowed down the best apps, textbooks, classes, and other methods so that you don't have to!
How to spend two weeks in Thailand—the best Thailand itinerary and what to do while you're there!Thailand is one of my favourite places in the world. There's no bad itinerary, but if I had to pick, this is my version of the best 2 week Thailand itinerary to plan the ultimate Thailand adventure! From cities to jungle to beaches, it ticks off a bit of everything.
Where to stay in Tokyo—The best areas and the best hotelsWhat's the best area to stay in Tokyo, and which are the best hotels? It depends! Here’s my list of where to stay in Tokyo broken down by budget and the convenience of the location depending on what your priorities are.
Beyond the Golden Route: Where to Go in Japan Besides Tokyo, Kyoto, and OsakaEveryone knows the golden route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. But there are so many other places in Japan that deserve attention! The only problem is a lot of them are pretty out of the way or hard to get to. So here are some hidden gems to visit that fit into the golden route itinerary without adding days of extra travel!
