About

Hello/Merhaba/こんにちは！

Welcome to my blog! I am a Turkish citizen who lives in Hyogo, Japan. I have dreamt of traveling and exploring the world since childhood. It is no surprise that my first favorite book was a world map! I would spend hours running my fingers over its pages and imagining what kind of places the world sheltered. 

It took me quite a few years to take my first international trip. Finally, I had a chance to be an exchange student for a year in Portugal, my first host country, between 2011-2012. I had a whale of a time exploring Portugal’s lovely cities and spectacular, long beaches while sipping lots of galão. 

Another fantastic opportunity arose that same year, and I went to Ireland and did my internship in Dublin. My all-time favorite place was a town called Bray! It offers a coastal trail with views of the Irish Sea and the Wicklow Mountains. I had my first taste of hiking there!

After a series of serendipitous events, I moved to South Korea in 2015 and spent four years in the cities of Busan and Yangsan. I started my first teaching job, enjoyed delicious Korean food, and explored the lovely beaches of Busan. South Korea shaped how I felt about the world and myself, and opened new doors for me.

I have been living in Japan for four years. I spent a few months in Hiroshima and Shizuoka prefectures when I first arrived, but Kansai is where I call “home” in Japan. Since my arrival, I have explored 35 prefectures and am determined to visit the whole country before leaving! You can read my adventures across Japan in my blog. 

When I am not hiking the majestic trails of Japan, or discovering every nook and cranny of Hyogo, you can find me writing blog posts and letters, reading books, and meditating. I also write about my daily life and thoughts about Japan, and occasionally review adventure books that resonate with me. 

Thank you for reading this! Please keep in touch if you have questions about traveling, working, or living in Japan. 

Love and all that,

Bahanur