Transcript
CHANTELLE KINCY: Hi, and welcome back to Go Far Girl. Today, we're here with Kay. Kay is a Canadian freelance writer and occasional voice actor who's been living in Japan for more than a decade. She writes about what it's like to raise a child in Japan and to travel with them on her website, Tiny Tot in Tokyo.
CHANTELLE KINCY: You can find that link down in the description. So be sure and check that out so you can follow Kay's adventures through Japan and maybe plan your own adventures. So if you missed last week, you'll definitely want to go back and check that out.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Kay was talking about how she ended up by living in Japan from Canada, what it's been like raising her daughter there and all the juicy details of her life that she was so kind to share with us. But today she really wants to tell us about Japan itself and how you can get to Japan and what you should do while you're there and how to do it. because and Japan is an amazing destination, but it really does feel very overwhelming for people, especially new travelers.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So having someone who's been a tourist but also lives there now is going to be invaluable to your Japan traveling. So, okay, welcome back. Thanks for being with us again.
Kay: what Thank you for having me again.
CHANTELLE KINCY: course. So tell us a little bit about um family travel. So your daughter, is is she toddler, a young child now?
Kay: yeah she's five years old.
CHANTELLE KINCY: She's five. Okay. so that's the age group that we're working with here.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So just for everyone listening.
Kay: Mm hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So what have been kind of your favorite destinations that you've gone to with, with your family, with your husband and your daughter?
Kay: Ah, well, um, Obviously, i like Osaka, but that's not necessarily a destination for me. But for other people, Osaka is absolutely amazing for kids. um And I didn't realize that until I moved here. I find the fit the city far less overwhelming compared to Tokyo. it's For me, it's easier to travel with my daughter, um to go different places. There's lots of like indoor playgrounds, outdoor playgrounds.
Kay: great places to eat. There's Universal Studios Japan. um
CHANTELLE KINCY: Oh, yeah.
Kay: But yeah, apart ah apart from Osaka, I, well, my family really likes Wakayama Prefecture.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Forgot about that.
Kay: And I think not many people know about Wakayama.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: It's like, still, I suppose, a bit of a hidden gem. um
CHANTELLE KINCY: o Tell us about it.
Kay: It's, yeah, it's ah it's, you know, right next to ah Nara Prefecture, which is like right next to, oh, next to Nara and next to Osaka. So It's very easy to get there.
Kay: um It takes about two hours, but I think it's absolutely worth it. um So every summer we make sure to go on a trip to Wakayama and, you know, we go to the beach because the water there is absolutely beautiful.
Kay: It's ah some of the best I've, sorry, it's some of the clearest I've seen in Japan ah so far.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Ooh.
Kay: And, you know, they have world heritage sites. They have, you know, this place called Kumano Kodo, which is a series of pilgrimage trails in Japan. um And what else they have? They have an Animal Kingdom, which is one of the few zoos in Japan where animals are really taken care of and they have plenty of space.
Kay: So yeah, we have a lot of fun going there.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Is public transportation the way to do things in Japan? Or do you drive? and Maybe you drive because you live there, but as a tourist, would you get a car or would you take a train? How do you get around?
Kay: ah It depends on where you want to go If you want to stick to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, you know, cities like that, um you should definitely take public transportation. I do not recommend driving in those cities whatsoever.
Kay: um
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: But if you, you know, want to do a day trip somewhere, definitely consider renting a car. Um, It can be really tricky driving in Japan. Like as a Canadian, I'm so used to our wide, spacious roads. And ah I was so nervous to first drive here. Like it took me a little a little while to get used to it. And still, i'm i'm I can't do certain certain paths. Like for instance, I cannot drive to like the center of Osaka because it's really overwhelming. The traffic is like,
Kay: super crazy.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Cheers.
Kay: um And then when you get out to, you know, the countryside, the roads are so small. And sometimes there'll be a road that's two ways, but like goes in both directions.
Kay: But it's really the size of a one way. So you if a car comes, one of you has to back out.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: And who knows how far you're going to be backing out until you find a spot where you can kind of like pull in and let the other car go. It's crazy, but yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: That's so stressful. Oh my God.
Kay: Yeah. Yeah. So if you're like a very, very confident driver, rent a car, if you're not so confident, I don't know if I would recommend it.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah. If not.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Well, you lost me at the backup part because I would just have a panic.
Kay: Yeah. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: I can go forward. Yeah.
Kay: Yeah. Just keeping it real.
CHANTELLE KINCY: i can go forward
CHANTELLE KINCY: Do you think that Japan is a good family friendly destination overall? Or would you recommend it more for like solo or couples? Or do you really think like anybody can find their place traveling to Japan?
Kay: Oh, anybody. It's like for all ages, I think.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: Although I will say that, you know, maybe if you have a baby, it might it might be a little bit more challenging and because you got the stroller and then you you got the trains. And then for me, like when my daughter was a baby, I was quite nervous about taking the trains. and We were living in Tokyo at the time.
Kay: um And I was just, it was so overwhelming for me taking the trains with her that I just stayed home.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: But ah yeah, other,
CHANTELLE KINCY: But that's kind the case in a big city, New York and LA.
Kay: yeah
CHANTELLE KINCY: I mean, it's always hectic.
Kay: Right, right.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So, you know, that makes sense, I guess, a big city like that and kind of the ins and outs of everything is just hectic.
Kay: Exactly. yeah And that's why i like I like on my blog, I have an article about whether or not to take a stroller. And like, I recommend taking a baby carrier if you can. But I like I also see the benefits of taking a stroller, you know, and
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: I guess it depends on the family.
CHANTELLE KINCY: probably so much baggage for babies for being so little they require so much
Kay: Um, but yeah yeah, exactly, exactly. Right. And then you're carrying everything and getting sweaty and then, uh, yeah, exactly. yeah,
CHANTELLE KINCY: is that the main thing you didn't like about Tokyo is the hecticness of it not that you didn't like it but like why you chose to not live in Tokyo would it just because it was like just too chaotic all the time too big
Kay: yeah yeah. I lived there for seven years and, um, you know, we go back about once a year. Um, and every time, um um Actually, like as a family, we go back once year, but my husband goes back like almost every week for work.
Kay: um And ah every time we're both of us were like, no, like we're so glad we moved.
CHANTELLE KINCY: it's another place yeah
Kay: It's it's not for us. It's not for us. And you know they and of course, they're city people. They thrive in those kind of environments, like and that's great for them. But you know for us, no, it's too much.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah one of my sons is 25 now but he's always oh i just want to live in a big city where i can like
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: walk from work to a, to a bar and then walk to my apartment.
Kay: e
Kay: here
CHANTELLE KINCY: and And I was like, that sounds terrible. That sounds actually terrible. So maybe when I was, would have been great, but like, I don't want to do any of those things.
Kay: Oh, I know. Yeah.
Kay: Exactly. Exactly. you know, my husband and I, we thought the same thing when we were younger, when we when we were in our 20s, about the same age as your son. That's why we wanted to live in Tokyo. Of course, the the jobs are there.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: That's one big thing that took us there. But we were both like, yeah, the big city, like going out every night.
CHANTELLE KINCY: there's always something to do. And yeah, no.
Kay: Oh, yeah. And now, now, no, like, oh yeah I think even if we didn't have um child, like we would much prefer going to like a local park, going camping, like we're those kind of people.
CHANTELLE KINCY: mr For sure.
Kay: Mm
CHANTELLE KINCY: sure. it's funny how that evolves over time, right? Like, i was ah I host women's trips and I'm hosting this trip to France.
Kay: hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: We're doing Christmas markets in December. And um my mom is coming with us and she said, oh my gosh, what am I going to do to keep up with you guys? Because you're all so much younger than me and you're going to just want to be up all night. And I said, mother, my itineraries are not going past 9 p.m.
Kay: no no yes yes absolutely yep yep yep
CHANTELLE KINCY: like We are resting. There will be plenty of bathroom breaks and resting. We are not doing this.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Whereas even just like 10 years ago ago, I would have been like, oh, we got to do this and this and this and this and this. And now I'm like, eh, nah.
Kay: yeah exactly and yeah when
CHANTELLE KINCY: Next time.
Kay: When you mentioned resting like that, that is what I want to do on a trip. Like I want to see maybe a few things, but I also want to relax and enjoy myself. I don't want to come back from a trip more exhausted than I was when I left.
CHANTELLE KINCY: oh Exactly. So wait, I just thought of this. This isn't what we were going to talk about, but where do people in Japan go for a vacation?
Kay: Hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Like where's like the big destination, like Australia or like where do people go?
Kay: Hmm.
Kay: Ah, internationally. Hawaii is a big one. Japanese people love Hawaii.
CHANTELLE KINCY: oh okay.
Kay: So we we actually went last year. um and then our neighbors went ah this year. They just went two months ago. So ah yeah, people get married there a lot. ah Hawaii is big.
Kay: um Where else? Australia, definitely, because it's so close by. ah People go to ah South Korea. South Korea is a big one.
Kay: ah Yeah, people, that it's, you know, mainly, you know, women who go there for, you know, the cosmetics and the food and K-pop. Yeah.
Kay: Yeah, yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay. That just popped into my head because I think about that when I travel somewhere. Like I'll go to the Caribbean and i was like, man, you get to live here. And he's like, yeah, but it's a small island. It gets old after a while. And I was like, oh, that's true. So where do you go? And he's like, to like where you live. And i was like, that's sad. I'm sorry. Like.
Kay: No, I mean, America, like, ah you know, I've been to America a few times, but I'm Canadian.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: So like, yeah, I guess but from the perspective, okay, from the perspective of Japanese people, though, like they, i think they they love visiting America.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: Like my my in-laws went on their, they went to America for their honeymoon, San Francisco.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Interesting. Isn't that something?
Kay: Yeah, ah yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: never would have thought. Huh. Fun. Okay. Well, i just had to throw that in there because it popped in.
Kay: No, it's a good question. Definitely.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So just kind of get a little insight into, you know, what other people think and see, because when you are somewhere, of course, it's not exotic or enticing. You just want to get the heck away.
Kay: o Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So interesting. Interesting.
Kay: yeah I mean, like personally, like, um because I live in Japan, like I would love to go abroad more. um But especially Europe, I love Europe.
Kay: But unfortunately, plane tickets are very expensive. so they're just going going up and up and up so yeah you stay domestic
CHANTELLE KINCY: Are they?
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah. Is living expensive in Japan, would you say?
Kay: um not really i obviously tokyo is very expensive um it really depends on you know where you live if you live in the center of a big city like osaka or tokyo it's going to be the rent is going to be a bit more and you know
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: restaurants and groceries can be a little bit more expensive. And then when you go out to the countryside, it's really, really affordable, but it's really, really inconvenient.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Gotcha.
Kay: But I think compared compared to Canada, it's definitely more affordable to live in Japan.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay. I love that. What would you say to a traveler? So what would be like the right amount of time for a vacation, which I know we would say indefinitely, like just come here forever.
CHANTELLE KINCY: But can you do a vacation justice in 10 14 days, 10 days?
Kay: Mm-hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: fourteen days I mean, how many places would you go? Kind of what if you, if I've never been there and I said, okay, help me plan a trip.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: What would you, what would you tell me?
Kay: o
CHANTELLE KINCY: Because actually I want to plan a trip.
Kay: Well, yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: so Okay.
Kay: I see. i mean, i think minimum 14 days because, you know, you're flying all the way here, right?
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right.
Kay: And you you want some time to kind of adjust to the time difference and maybe, you know, take it easy on some days.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right. right
Kay: it really depends on what you want to do. But I also recommend not trying to do it all. It can be so tempting, especially with social media, just like, you know, Japan influencers saying, go here, go here, go here.
CHANTELLE KINCY: I know.
Kay: Like, and then you'll, you'll have this like fear of missing out.
CHANTELLE KINCY: rent
Kay: Oh, I didn't go there. I should have gone. so you know, but yes.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Well, especially like you said, it's so far away, right? Like it's, you know a huge flight over a day to get there and then a day to get back.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And so, and then like you said, the time difference, I'm 16 hours behind you. So that's, that's difficult to adjust to too. So you do need to factor in that time, Do you see influencers and things like that telling people to go places and you're like, that's a tourist trap, don't go there?
CHANTELLE KINCY: Or like, yeah what are the tips?
Kay: You know, o i yeah, no, yeah, I, I did. um i don't really, you I've actually completely stopped using social media this year. It's like a little bit of a test and see how I'm doing without it.
Kay: um So I don't know what's trending right now.
CHANTELLE KINCY: I love that too.
Kay: um And actually I tried not to, yeah, in general, even last year, I tried not to use social media very much. um But my friends, they, sometimes would go, for instance, visit my friend in Kyoto. You know, she's living there. And at the time she also used social media. She stopped recently as well.
Kay: um But she, you know, she was like, oh yeah, this one restaurant, it's like really somebody living in ah Japan, um recommended it like an influencer. So I, why don't we go check it out? And it was really disappointing.
Kay: um And yeah, I think, you know, these places get hyped sometimes unnecessarily, or people are getting paid to promote it, or, you know, they just want content.
Kay: um And then these places get flooded because you're not you know it's not just one person watching this video it's probably thousands and thousands of people especially if the influencer is very ah popular so yes
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And I think thin places lose their authentic authenticity too because they can't keep up with the people being there or they just don't care as much because they're still making money. So think that it sort of has this kind of spiral effect as well that's not always possible.
Kay: exactly yeah yeah exactly and Right, like, you know, seeing, I don't know, restaurants making things, making foods that are like aesthetically pleasing, but don't taste good.
Kay: Like to me, it's a little silly, um you know, just,
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah. That's so disappointing. I know.
Kay: Right. And, you know, it makes my, my daughter, I guess she's happy. She's five years old. So she likes things like that, you know, going to like the Pokemon cafe.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: Actually, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Pokemon cafe. I thought it would be worse because I had very low expectations,
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: but it was better than I thought it would be. um But yeah, I think for me, you know, okay. When you're first visiting Japan, like, I think it's good to go to the famous spots because they're famous for a reason.
Kay: And I'm talking about very traditional famous spots like in Kyoto, Kiyomizudera, right? It's one of the most famous temples like in the world.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right.
Kay: um You know, go, but just be prepared for the crowds. um But if you go like, you know, super early or if you go like super late, there's going to be less people.
Kay: So, you know, if it's, I guess it's easier to plan your time accordingly if you don't have kids because kids run, you know, run on their own schedule.
CHANTELLE KINCY: For sure. For sure. um Is there a time of year that you think is the best, well, probably the best weather is going to be the highest cost and the most people too.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So is there a time you would recommend not to come?
Kay: Hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Like, does it get too hot? Does it get too rainy?
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: Hmm. Yeah. Well, um, June is rainy season, but recently it's kind of been all over the place. And I feel like climate change is, you know, playing a role when it comes to that.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: So I guess we'll see this year how rainy June is going to be. It's not as, what is it, consistent as it used to be. Like, I think, I feel like last year the beginning of July, it was like raining like crazy when you usually expect that in June.
Kay: um the But when it comes to the season, I absolutely do not recommend people... ah visit Japan, it is summer summer. So that lasts from about July until September, October.
CHANTELLE KINCY: okay
Kay: Usually summer ended, you know, in the beginning of September. But recently it's just been longer and longer and longer. And I remember October, it was still, I was still so in my summer clothes, like sweating.
Kay: was awful. You know, you just, we we just stay inside.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: It's very humid.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Is it, is it muggy and humid? Oh yeah.
Kay: Yes, yes.
CHANTELLE KINCY: That's the worst.
Kay: Yeah. You know, like it's cloying, right? Your clothes are just like stuck to you. So like we don't we don't go out like i try like, you know, I try to take my daughter to like water parks and things like that.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: And she doesn't want to go. She says like, no, I don't want to go outside. Like, okay. And it's really sad because I want her mean to get fresh air.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: But.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Interesting. And then how are, how are winters? I guess that depends on where in Japan you are though, too.
Kay: Hmm. Yeah, actually, I actually like the winter. Like, I think the only downside is you, you know, I, one of the things I really, really love about, um you know, the Kansai area where, you know, Osaka, Kyodo are located is, are the mountains. they have these beautiful, like rolling green mountains.
Kay: And in in the winter, it's like not as stunning, ah but, but um especially in, i think January and February, there are not nearly as many tourists. It's a, you know, low season.
Kay: So, and I think in February, you can see lots of plum blossoms, ah which are very beautiful.
CHANTELLE KINCY: blue
Kay: ah So if you don't mind it being like a tiny bit, you know, nippy ah and it's snowing sometimes, that definitely like come in January, February.
CHANTELLE KINCY: See, that's, I love that so much. I would rather sacrifice perfect weather for less people any day of the week. Like.
Kay: Yeah, yeah, you're definitely going to get that.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Oh, okay.
Kay: Yeah, in February. Oh, but don't come. Sorry, don't come during a Chinese New Year. And I'm hoping I'm saying that in like politically, politically correct way.
CHANTELLE KINCY: ah Okay.
CHANTELLE KINCY: No, that's, that's, yeah, you're fine. yeah Yeah.
Kay: Okay, Lunar are you New Year. um Because, you know, our neighbors, it's their vacation period.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: So a lot of them come too. So yeah, just, you know, trying to look at when are the vacation periods for people in, um you know, South Korea, or Singapore, or um China, Hong Kong, because a lot of visitors to Japan come from there.
CHANTELLE KINCY: See, and that's something I hadn't thought about is other people having different schedules. Yeah. Because I was i just thinking like I'll probably avoid cherry blossom peak because that would be hectic. And, you know, even though it's coarse, it's hectic for a reason, right? Because it's beautiful and people want to see it.
CHANTELLE KINCY: But I just feel like when I go somewhere that far, I'd rather...
Kay: Oh,
CHANTELLE KINCY: have less chaos and be able to see more in a way because you can really experience it and and just be there and not just be fighting like cues and traffic the whole time.
Kay: yeah.
Kay: oh yeah Exactly. Exactly. Actually, right now is a good time. um Golden week just ended. That's like a series of national holidays in Japan and also so in China.
Kay: ah So um last week I went to Universal Studios Japan with my daughter last week. Yes, last week. And I'm trying to remember. And there were it was the emptiest I'd seen it in a very, very long time.
Kay: um
CHANTELLE KINCY: and
Kay: There's surprisingly not that many people, ah not that many travelers. So like Also probably because cherry blossom season ended as well. So yeah, exactly.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Everyone's leaving. Now you can go back to having a good life and going where you want to go. ah
Kay: yeah exactly.
CHANTELLE KINCY: um So you told us about one hidden gem. Do you have another like kind of top secret spot that you think people don't read about, but they should definitely go?
Kay: Well, I really like, where do I like? i like Awajishima. So Awajishima is a small island that's located in Hyogo prefecture.
Kay: And, you know, the the water there is like really beautiful. But I actually don't go there for swimming. It's just, it's place actually like to drive to. So it's, yeah, it's one of those destinations that you need a car to get to.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay. Yeah. Okay.
Kay: But if I'm trying to think about places where that you don't need a car, I would actually recommend going to Yamaguchi prefecture.
CHANTELLE KINCY: okay
Kay: And that's, that's where I lived when I was on the jet program. That is the place where I fell. I really, really fell in love with Japan because it's a side of Japan. Not many people see, but it's, to me, it's a very authentic side of Japan, like not touristy. This is where, this is like how Japanese people live. It has lots of, um you know,
Kay: famous temples and shrines. um It's very, very beautiful. My family, they visited me ah twice and, you know, they've been to Tokyo, they've been to Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, um Nara.
Kay: They said Yamaguchi was their favorite place.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Oh, that see, that's good to know Yeah, I love that.
Kay: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I haven't written about it yet while my blog because I haven't taken my daughter um
CHANTELLE KINCY: Oh, well, now you have a project.
Kay: But yeah, I feel like, yeah, right, exactly. I'm like, maybe I should write about Yamaguchi now. So I do know places, know lots of places.
CHANTELLE KINCY: I love that. Well, anything else you want to share with us about Your love for Japan or any places that we've not talked about that we should. What about food? ah you have to be pretty adventurous for food when you're coming from somewhere or how do you know where to eat?
Kay: No, thankfully,
CHANTELLE KINCY: Mm
Kay: So thank thankfully, yeah, Japan is really great when it comes to offering like tons of different kinds of food. Obviously, the more you go to you know, to a remote area, the less you'll find maybe Western dishes.
Kay: But, you know, you can find and anything, basically anything you want to eat.
CHANTELLE KINCY: hmm.
Kay: Like, you know, I don't live in the center of the city at all. Like we yeah we actually live in kind of like, a a well, we live in the suburbs. of Osaka, like very suburbs area.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: um And, you know, within like 15 minutes of where we live, there's like Vietnamese food and Thai food and lots of Italian restaurants, like anything, anything you want, you can probably find it. Although I have, yeah, ah yeah.
Kay: what ah What is something I haven't been able? Oh, ah well, of course I'm Canadian. I haven't been able to find good poutine here. I think I want some Canadian person to move here and make an authentic like patine restaurant.
CHANTELLE KINCY: ah
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: I need that.
CHANTELLE KINCY: bring some ketchup fries with you when you come that's funny I had um now I can't remember but I had poutine in Nashville of all places but we were at an Indian restaurant in Nashville and so they had tried like combine like
Kay: Exactly. Exactly.
Kay: oh so that's interesting.
CHANTELLE KINCY: poutine with Indian plus make it Southern. And it was just this very odd like combination.
Kay: oh
CHANTELLE KINCY: And I remember thinking, now I kind of just want poutine. Yeah.
Kay: Yeah, yeah, the real thing. But yeah, when you mention these odd combinations, sorry, yeah, yeah, yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Cause it was kind of like, yeah, it was a lot going on. was lot.
Kay: But yeah, when you mentioned like odd combinations, a lot going on, like you might actually find that, well, you will probably find that when you're in Japan, like for instance, like pizza, there'll be um ah mayonnaise corn pizza is a very popular ah dish, for especially for kids.
CHANTELLE KINCY: no no oh
Kay: um Yeah, so on like kids' menus, like my daughter loves it. I wish she didn't, but you know, what are you going to do? ah Yeah, so things like that. um ah have like Neapolitan pasta, but it's made with ketchup.
CHANTELLE KINCY: okay okay yeah
Kay: Like, yeah, ketchup and like ah green peppers and wieners. Like, yeah, things like that.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: So and definitely you'll see some spins on ah you know traditional dishes. What?
CHANTELLE KINCY: We ordered a pizza in Slovenia and we didn't know what was on it. And it was, tuna fish, sliced up hot dogs and nacho cheese in the middle.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And we were like, Oh, okay. Didn't see any of that coming, but great. Let's try
Kay: and No.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: Yeah, and I guess that's the thing.
CHANTELLE KINCY: and
Kay: you're You're exposed to like new kinds of foods. And yeah, if you're not a picky eater, then, you know, it's a good experience. But even if you're a picky eater, like you will, you can find things you can eat here.
CHANTELLE KINCY: you know
Kay: Just make sure you use the Google Translate app. Like, you know, back in the day, we didn't have that luxury. So a lot of things were surprises.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Well, and I tend to just go somewhere and have the waiter or waitress just give me whatever they want because otherwise I don't know what to choose. And that's how we ended up with that weirdo pizza. But, um, I'll just say, you know, get me your favorite thing and then I'll, and I'll try it.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Um,
Kay: But see, that's another thing in Japan.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So I did.
Kay: so sorry. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: No, go for
Kay: Oh yeah. In, in Japan, if you go to a restaurant and if it's like, um, you know, maybe like a bigger restaurant, a chain restaurant where, um, you know, you can't really see the owner anywhere or anything like that.
Kay: Um, if you ask the waiter, like, you know, give me like your favorite dish or a recommendation or something like sometimes they they'll just point out to recommended items on the menu. They will usually not tell you what they personally like.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Interesting, because that goes back to that, what you were saying on the last episode that you just kind of have to get inside their mind and guess.
Kay: Yeah.
Kay: Right. right
Kay: Right. Exactly. Like people will not, especially like, uh, staff working at a store will, not say what they actually like feel. Well, what's actually on their mind.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Interesting.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah. That would drive my anxiety crazy. I think that would be a a hard thing for me to get used to because I'm always kind of inside my head anyways, wondering what people are thinking or if they're being you know authentic.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So that would kind of drive me crazy, I think.
Kay: a
CHANTELLE KINCY: But I guess once you know it's there, then you know it's not about you. And then maybe a little less abrasive.
Kay: Right. Exactly. Right, right. It's never about you. Like they're, they're playing, you know, their part, right? Like their, I guess, role as ah staff in a store or a restaurant and just doing their job.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right, right. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: have to get that
Kay: But yeah, i you know, yeah, you end kind of missing those, like, you know, um, when you go to restaurants in North America, like you can have like casual, like chit chat or whatever with the waiter and they'll, they'll bring up something like totally random about their life.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yes.
Kay: And you're like, okay, but it's fine.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah, yes.
Kay: It's interesting. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Small
Kay: Yeah. You usually will not get that in Japan. A small talk.
CHANTELLE KINCY: talk in general. Not so much.
Kay: Yes. Small talk. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: No, no.
CHANTELLE KINCY: People smile because when we were in Slovenia and I smiled at people, they thought I was psychopath.
Kay: Yes. o
CHANTELLE KINCY: Like they're very friendly.
Kay: That's, that's good to know.
CHANTELLE KINCY: They were very kind, but don't just like look at me and smile because that's scary. Like i was like, okay, sorry. Yeah.
Kay: Ah, Yeah, I, well, I mean, if you're in the middle of, you know what, I don't smile at people anymore.
CHANTELLE KINCY: can you
Kay: Like in the middle of the street and stuff. So like, I don't even know if I recognize if people are smiling, you know, like the service staff, they'll smile for sure.
CHANTELLE KINCY: yeah
Kay: But in the middle of the street, like people, no, I don't think they will.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Isn't that something?
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Because I didn't smile when I was in California, but now that I live in Washington, everyone's really weirdly friendly and like, we'd be on a hike and people would be like, hi, how's it going?
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And for a while I thought they were going to just murder me. I was like, why are you talking to me? Don't look me here. But now like I smile and talk to people. and now when I'm other places, they're like, hi don't look at me like that, please. And was like, oh, sorry.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Yeah.
Kay: Oh, well actually when you're hiking, if you're hiking, i Japanese people will like smile to you and they'll say, Konnichiwa. So yeah, it's's it's very contextual.
CHANTELLE KINCY: okay
Kay: It really depends on like where you are.
CHANTELLE KINCY: That's good to know though, because I want to do some hikes while I'm there. So that's good to know I'm allowed to speak then.
Kay: Yes.
Kay: Yes, yes. even When you're hiking, definitely if you see somebody passing by, say konnichiwa and bow a little bit.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Oh, and bowing. So do we bow? is that a greeting that's just respectful? do you do that when you meet someone always?
Kay: um Yeah, I mean, when like in the workforce, if you meet somebody for the first time and you exchange like business cards, yes, you bow.
Kay: Um, hiking, yes, you do a little bow, not a deep one, just a tiny, like nod of your head basically.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Right. It's a nod. Yeah.
Kay: um right. But otherwise you don't, you don't really need to bow unless you're like ask a really big favor of like the service staff or something. and then you're like, oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And they're like, please, you know, can you do this for me? And do like a little tiny head bow.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay. Okay.
Kay: The tiny head bow is a good one.
CHANTELLE KINCY: See, those are the little things that just always go with it if if in end doubt.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: Yes.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Okay.
Kay: Yes. Whenever in doubt, tiny head bow.
CHANTELLE KINCY: I love that. And um that sounds good. So those are the kind of things that I like to know before I go somewhere, because you're already going to stand out, obviously, right?
Kay: Mm-hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: People know you're a tourist, but I always want to be respectful and at least have like the basics of your culture to be understood.
Kay: Mm-hmm.
CHANTELLE KINCY: That way I'm just not being obnoxious tourist that, you know.
Kay: Mm-hmm.
Kay: Oh, I mean, just speaking to you, I know you're definitely but far, far, far, far from it obnoxious tourists. You're going to be completely fine.
CHANTELLE KINCY: ah root Sometimes I get like secondhand embarrassment from seeing other people the way they act around places. and they're like, well, that's not how we do it in Kentucky. And i'm like, well, go back to Kentucky because that is not what we're doing here.
Kay: yeah Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Well, I love this so much.
Kay: Yeah, as long as you know, you're polite and respectful, I think you're Yeah, you're gonna be completely fine.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And I think that's half the battle, no matter where you live or where you visit, just trying to be respectful and not expect everyone to, you know, do it your way and understand that, you know, there's different ways of doing things.
Kay: Exactly.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And that's what makes traveling fun me too, is learning those different things and picking up kind of those little different habits and, and, and fun little things like that.
Kay: Yeah.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So think that's awesome. Well, I will definitely have to be stalking your blog as I plan this trip and probably hit you with a couple of emails as I get my itinerary going.
CHANTELLE KINCY: So you can check it off for me and make sure I'm doing the right things.
Kay: Oh, yes, please do. yeah
CHANTELLE KINCY: But, um, it's definitely somewhere I'd like to go. um if not next year, the the year after, but I'm hoping for next year. So, and I think that a lot of the people that listening to this podcast are going to want to come with me. So I'll probably just make it a women's group trip.
CHANTELLE KINCY: Um,
Kay: Oh, that sounds fun.
CHANTELLE KINCY: for mistake so yeah hint hint anyone wants to do that leave it in the comments and i'll sign you up so yeah thank you so much for talking with us again you've given us so much of your time and i really appreciate that so very much uh for our listeners just again remind you that kay's website tiny tot in tokyo description um will have the link so go ahead and follow her there she's not on social so that's okay just follow her on her blog
Kay: Okay.
CHANTELLE KINCY: And if you've been waiting for the perfect time to plan your Japan trip, I think this is a sign from the universe that this is it. All right, Kay, thank you so much.
Kay: ah Thank you for having me.
CHANTELLE KINCY: All right.
